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To Be Or Not To Be… in Paris?

That is the question. But it’s hardly possible that anyone could answer negatively as Paris is the kind of city where everyone can find something to his or her liking. At daytime Paris is exquisite, decorous and refined. It offers eager travellers all kinds of sightseeings and museums possible: from the most celebrated Louvre with its huge collection of art to the Seita Museum which deals with the history, manufacture and consuming of tobacco.

Guess it’s impossible not to say a few words about the Louvre. It has 8 departments: Near Eastern Antiquities; Egyptian Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculptures; Decorative Arts; Paintings; Prints and Drawings. If you see a huge crowd of people looking at a small painting behind the bullet-proof glass then you’re certainly in the Italian Renaissance Painting Area and the woman looking at you is the famous Mona Lisa. Pride and joy of the museum. One should see the picture with his or her own eyes to understand what hides behind her smile. Some people say it’s a mockery, the others believe the picture radiates tranquility and serenity. And don’t be surprised by the sight of some people running up and down. They are trying to understand if the Woman really follows them with her eyes (and in fact she definitely does!). But besides the fascinating La Giocondo there’s much to be seen in the museum. The Louvre houses more than 35,000 works of art from ancient times up to the present day.

Reserved Paris becomes quite different at night. As distinct from many other European cities which seem to become extinct at night, Parisian life starts when the darkness covers the streets. All kinds of night entertainments are available: if you want luxury and pretence, visit for instance the world-renowned Paris Grand Opera or the Theatre du Chatelet; if you’re looking for less decent entertainments go to the world’s most famous cabaret Moulin Rouge, Crazy Horse Saloon or the Lido.

But that’s for fun-lovers. What is an absolute must is the excursion to the famous Eiffel Tower. More than 200.000.000 people have visited the French miracle since its opening in 1889. At night the Tower spruces up and reminds of a doll in flared skirt. Millions of lights make her evening attire particularly smart. Unforgettable sight!!!

But the most fascinating views can be seen when going up. It has 3 levels. A personal piece of advice: don’t take a lift, go upstairs. The stairs are not crowded (especially before closing time), so being left tete-a-tete you can make real friends with the French pride. Besides you’ll have interesting photos near the grating. Your friends will never guess where the pictures were taken until you tell them that’s inside the Tower.

Another thing to do is to walk along the banks of the Seine River which was glorified by painters and poets. It flows through the whole Paris. Best of all is to take a boat tour and enjoy the night city. Fresh breeze in the face, beautiful sights around and the magnificence of the night… Can one dream of something else? Oh yes. One can if he or she is hungry. Take a tour with the dinner served then. You will be treated to the best food and exquisite French wine.

But if you’re extremely squeamish go to the most famous Paris restaurant – Maxim. Bear in mind that you should book the table and don’t forget about the dress-code!

If that’s too pretentious for you then go to bohemian Montmartre or the Latin Quarter. You really get the feeling that Hemingway or Fitzgerald are sitting in one of the cafes. The air is filled with mirth, good humour and joy of life. And don’t be surprised by the sight of people dancing right in the streets!

Numerous discoveries and miracles are waiting for you in Paris. Both at daytime and night. Culture, history, fun, romance, charm, refinement, dizziness…that’s what Paris is!

P.S. «To be or not to be?» This Shakespeare’s eternal question was jokingly turned into «two beer or not two beer?». In France it’s a crime against humanity not to drink alcohol. Not beer but local wines. Different food demands different wines. When ordering roasted beef you’ll be offered for example Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits or Lalande de Pomerol. With fish you’ll be advised to drink wines like Muscat du Cap Corse or Chateaumeillant.

And don’t forget to order wine and cheese. The French say there are so many varieties of wines as there are kinds of cheese. The taste of the most fastidious person will be satisfied! Paris hotels

Pick up a copy of LGBT monthly Tetu (en francais) to catch up on all the current events around town. Where you should stay: Checkout vacation apartments as an alternative to the cramped hotel room. For Shopping, you must visit the treasure chest known as Colette. Colette, pricey, yes, so bring your sugar daddy.
For nightlife, checkout Queen, the most famous gay club in Paris is a Champs-Elysees mainstay that features some of the craziest nights out in the city. Check out the insane Sunday night “Overkitsh” party for proof. Locals avoid this tourist trap, but stop by for the hot go-go boys around shaking their groove thing to the latest in Euro-House.
The Mix Club’s Sunday tea parties attract the gays likes bee to honey. The space is constantly pumping with the best DJs. Mix Club, for the Lesbians, the hippest Parisian ladies enjoy the vibe.
Cell phones in Paris use the GSM technology, though they do not necessarily use all the same frequencies used in North America. If you would like to buy a pre-paid local SIM card to put in your unlocked before you leave for Paris. If you are planning on using your non-French based GSM phone with your roaming plan from home, be aware, that they will charge you for any minute of airtime used – and will charge your through the nose for data roaming, unless you have an international plan.
What does this mean? It means that if your phone is on in Paris, and you receive a call, but do not answer and let it go to voicemail, You are still being charged until the person hangs up on the voicemail. Another option is that of the telephone card, so that you can make calls from a public phone.
In order to survive you need to know basic gay Paris etiquette so here are a few tips.
1. ALWAYS say “Bonjour Monsieur” and/or “Bonjour Madame” when entering a Paris store or Paris restaurant, or first speaking to someone (i.e. waiter, cashier etc.). Even if you just intend to browse around a Paris store on your own for 30 seconds.
2. When leaving don’t forget to say goodbye, “au revoir Monsieur” and/or “au revoir madame.”
3. Expect to be misunderstood, but use what French you can, whenever you can. Just go with the flow, and do your best to speak as much French as possible.

In this article, the Senior Editor of Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News, Phil Chavanne, discusses the role of sneakers as fashion accessories in Paris.

I can’t count the number of times travelers who asked me: ‘Should I wear sneakers in Paris?’ and other variations of the same question. American tourists especially are concerned about ‘not fitting in’ with inappropriate shoes.

That attitude is remarkable indeed. Dressing so as not to shock the sensitivity of the locals: how much more considerate can you get? I can only give kudos to all of you who ever asked the question or thought about it!

Parisians and sneakers

Many first-time visitors to France and Paris are convinced that all French women are picture-perfect fashionistas. This is vastly exaggerated, even though access to stylish clothing and everything fashion is easy in Paris where ‘Elle’ magazine still dictates what’s in and out.

Yet I don’t find such a big difference in perennial tastes in the streets of Paris and in New-York avenues. Even though variations do exist, leading brands are international in nature, and they are imitated everywhere. Globalization and imitations tend to homogenize fashion, making everyday wear look similar in large cities like Paris, London, Milan, and NYC.

But the question about sneakers remains valid. Sneakers have become such a commodity in the US, how is it in Paris?

At first glance, I would venture there is hardly as many women wearing sneakers in Paris as in New York during the work week. The generally accepted business dress code in France looks down on sneakers. Therefore, unless her employer cultivates a younger, sporty image, the Parisian woman wears discreet-looking city shoes to go to work.

Yet sneakers are the ‘it’ shoe when they become design icons. Adidas, Puma and Nike each have their own stores in Paris, where dozens of different models are on display. Judging by the crowds these shops attract, none of these brands suffer from popularity deficit disorder in Paris.

So what’s the major difference in shoe-attitude between the American female consumer and the French female consumer? The latter will wear sneakers as design items, not as workaday shoes. She won’t buy sneakers for comfort. She will buy sneakers if they compliment dress-down pants and make them look smarter. She will buy sneakers which make her feet look thin, small, and classy.

A mere glance at the types of sneakers most commonly seen on women’s feet in Paris is telling: you won’t see any wide, cushy, comfy-looking, plain vanilla sneakers. You will see small, thin-looking, flat-sole, designer sneakers.

For the very same reasons, a pair of ‘escarpins’ by Stephane Kelian or Prada will always be favored over a pair of Pumas. Shoes are a fashion statement, and the more understated it is, the better.

And that’s another major difference between French and American woman. Understatement is a cardinal rule in French fashion. Anything that is too visible is considered garish. This is why the French little black dress is such a fashion icon, and why Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly will always be remembered as ‘the’ American fashionable ladies.

Tourists and sneakers

Does all this mean you can’t wear sneakers when you travel to Paris? Of course not!

First of all, sneakers can be comfortable walking shoes. And walk you will, in Paris. The very best way to discover the city is to walk along its streets. Wearing shoes in which you feel comfortable walking 10 miles a day at a leisurely pace is a majorly important decision for the general mood of your stay in the French capital.

Do not back off from wearing sneakers if these are your best walking shoes. And if you have even better walking shoes, pack them, even if they make you look like you are on a trekking trip!

Frankly, you should not ask yourself this question. Who cares about how you look in the street? Don’t be self-conscious, just be comfortable in your shoes. You are a visitor, these are your vacations, this is your very own time! Jeans and sneakers are international. People won’t be offended by your looks. Unless you dress in pink tops and electric blue pants, with golden sneakers and Jackie-O shades, nobody around will have any second thoughts about your attire.

And if they ever notice your jeans, LL Bean trekking shoes, and Patagonia jacket, well, push come to shove, they might think you’re American. And so what? In all likelihood they will appreciate your visiting Paris.

Restaurants and sneakers

Now, does it mean you can wear sneakers everywhere, on any and every occasion? Probably not.

Restaurants are a case in point. Can you dine out in sneakers?

Say, you are strolling along in your casual jeans and comfortable Lands End boots. It’s now dinner time, and you are looking for an enticing restaurant. There is it! The menu displayed outside is appetizing, prices are reasonably expensive, the place is not too crowded… but guests are dressed smartly. Will they let you in? Will you fit in?

I have yet to see in Paris a door sign indicating ‘No Sneakers Allowed In’. True, some high-brow places will expertly leave you at bay: “Do you have a reservation? Sorry, we are full tonight”. But generally speaking, no restaurant will refuse to seat you because you wear sneakers.

The right question is therefore not ‘Will they allow me in?’, but ‘Will you feel comfortable entering a dressy place in sneakers?’ I daresay probably not. And being self-conscious is not the best way to enjoy your meal. Your attention should be in your plate and on your food, not on your shoes and attire.

So my practical rule is ‘Dress according to the place you go to’. If you plan to dine out at expensive, dressy restaurants when you are in Paris, just pack your Pradas. Even better: visit Stephane Kelian’s and Robert Clergerie’s boutiques in Paris, and buy yourself great-looking footwear by these typically Parisian designers.
Other places and sneakers

There are other places where sneakers just won’t cut it.

The Opera House is definitely one of them. But who would be so foolish as not to dress up for opera night? The sneaker point is moot.

What about a cabaret? I would say it is much better to dress up when you have dinner at a cabaret like ‘Moulin Rouge’, ‘Lido’, and ‘Paradis Latin’. Though only the stage is well lit in these places, the fact is people around you will usually be dressed up. You will feel much more comfortable in some more formal wear.

How about the boats on the Seine? If you are boarding a boat for a dinner cruise, don’t wear sneakers. This is a romantic experience, you will want to make the most of it. An evening dress is ‘de rigueur’. On the other hand, if you simply want to cruise up and down the stream, sneakers are fine.

Museums? Forget style, wear very comfortable shoes. Nobody will look at your shoes, art is on the walls. But walking down the Louvre galleries is a tiring experience: so much too see, so many galleries, so slow the pace. The good doctor’s advice: go with cushion and comfort.

Art gallery ‘vernissages’? Style is your cue. Art galleries are small, vernissage evenings are short. Evening dress, black preferably, nothing flashy, and good-looking design shoes. No sneakers.

Wrap-up

Dress according to the place you go to. If in doubt, call in advance to understand the dress code. Pack up a nice pair of shoes, or buy some when you are in Paris. Bring a nice, understated evening dress.

But don’t shy away from sneakers for any not-so-formal occasion. Wear them in the street with no shame. You will blend in without any problem if you wear jeans and a pair of sneakers. Nike is an American brand, and it is very popular in France. Levi’s, Diesel, Wrangler, and Calvin Klein are American brands, and they rule the jeans world in France too.

So be comfortable in your sneakers, and enjoy the view.

There are numerous different types of restaurants in Paris and places that you could choose to eat out at, and many of the restaurants have lots of history and nostalgia, so we thought it would be an idea to focus on one in particular, called the Tour d’Argent.

This is actually the oldest restaurant in Paris and is known throughout the world for its traditional French cuisine and was first opened as an inn back in 1582, with the idea of catering for the aristocrats of the time.

By the early 1600′s it had become so popular that even duels were fought to get a table and savour the delicacies on offer!  Numerous dignitaries and royalty came to eat at the Tour d’Argent including King Louis XIV and the Duke of Morny, who resided at the mansion which is now home to the haute cuisine restaurant called the Taillevent.

But it was in the 19th century that the Tour d’Argent became even more famous when the owner, Frederic Delair created the ritual of the “Canard au Sang”, which is a complex dish known as pressed duck or bloody duck that uses a special solid silver press and it was shortly after devising this now famous recipe, he declared that every duck should bear a number.  For instance, number 328 was served to King Edward VII in 1890.

Andre Terrail purchased the Tour d’Argent in 1910, but the tradition of the numbered duck continued and duck number 40,312 was served to King Alfonso XIII in 1914.  Number 112,151 was served to Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1929 and duck number 938,451 was served to President Mikhail Gorbachev in 2001.

The Tour d’Argent celebrated its one millionth duck in 2003 and even today this tradition still continues where you are presented with a card showing what number duck you had for your meal, but this is just one of the reasons why this restaurant has become such a landmark and famous throughout the world.

Now when you enter the Tour d’Argent you will immediately see displays in their small museum of items such as a menu from the maiden voyage of the Normandie through to a table set as it was in the 1800′s.  This is where you would usually be served aperitifs, yet the restaurant dining room is actually positioned on the sixth floor, which was added in 1936, and is accessed via a lift. 

And because of its location with the fabulous views of Notre Dame Cathedral and the boats cruising the River Seine or looking at the shimmering lights of the city and the Eiffel Tower in the distance of an evening, becomes another reason why this Paris restaurant is so popular.

Obviously, because this haute cuisine restaurant plays host to celebrities, presidents, royalty, etc reservations are a must and you will need a healthy bank balance in which to thoroughly appreciate the gourmet dining experience along with their fabulous selection of fine wines, which brings us to another reason for its popularity.

Their incredible wine cellars hold around 400,000 bottles from fine vintages dating back to the 1800′s, rare brandies and even more rare champagnes that date from the 1700′s and the wine list itself is like reading a novel presented with its own stand!  The sommeliers are very knowledgeable and can recommend wines to pair excellently with your cuisine, yet prices can become quite high, with some vintage wines costing thousands of Euros!!  Yet if you are lucky enough, you may even be able to get a tour of the wine cellars before leaving, where a member of staff will escort you down underneath the restaurant and ceremoniously rings a copper bell to announce your arrival prior to entry into the cellars.

For many, to dine at this restaurant is a once in a life time experience, where you make sure you are in your best evening dress and the staff are dressed in tails.  In fact, this is such a traditional restaurant that even today the menu is presented to the lady without the costs and the gentleman has the pricing listed!

But booking a table for lunch is more reasonable than going all out on an evening meal, so if you are on a budget, yet still want to splash out, then this is the option for a wonderful gastronomic experience and a terrific view you will not forget.

There are thousands of different Paris restaurants and cafes and these will range from the small a bistro to haute cuisine, but the quality of food will be a delight to all, no matter how big or small your budget is.

Choosing a restaurant in Paris can give you a real headache, as there are so many different types of cuisine to choose from, and you will be really spoilt for choice deciding where to eat.

But there is something  to suit everyones palate, so why not try something a little different, like Japanese food in France, or you could opt for numerous other International varieties of cuisine from Mexican, American, Turkish, Italian, Brazilian like the very popular Brasil Tropical that also has a cabaret show, Spanish, Indian, and many more to excite your taste buds!

The finest way of eating in Paris is at a Haute Cuisine restaurant, but you need a good bank balance, as this type of meal has elaborate preparations and presentations of the delicacies in small portions and can be found at some of the best hotels and plush restaurants.

However, most Paris restaurants have a ‘Menu du Jour’ and this normally means the most reasonably priced meals or set meals, with the food prepared from what is available locally and always changing through the seasons, it is the freshest produce available.

The French loves their sauces and there are many different sorts, and some are regarded as specialities at certain restaurants where they will accompany most food, so if you get a chance, consider trying some of these.

Having breakfast out is more than likely to be at a Patisserie or cafe in Paris where you can get croissants, bread, numerous varieties of cheese and cold meats, plus pastries that are usually accompanied by a cup of strong black coffee, but if you prefer white coffee, then ask for café au lait, so that you get milk with it.

Whilst experiencing this fabulous city, you will come across numerous cafes and bistros in Paris that have indoor and outdoor dining, but if you decide to eat on the terrace, there is often an additional charge added to your bill. 

Most of the shops in France close for at least two hours of a lunch time, which is when most of the French have their main meal, but there are now lots of restaurants providing a Brunch type service, so it is great time to re-fuel before continuing your sightseeing.

If you need to have a snack in the afternoon prior to an evening meal, where most restaurants only start serving from 7.30pm onwards, you would need to go to a Brasserie as they are usually open all day and serve the same food, whatever the time.

Having a glass of wine with your meal is like a French tradition and is almost expected in most places, but bear in mind that a table wine in France is not normally a cheap and hopefully cheerful option, like it is in the UK, and you can often purchase more reasonably priced wines from the menu, yet there are also always vintage wines available, so if you know what you like then go for it, ad we are sure that you will experience quality, whatever your wine choice.

But thinking about this, normally wine is paired with your meal, so when dining at a plush restaurant it is customary to order a different wine to accompany each different dish served, so as to truly enjoy the cuisine and not take away from any of the exquisite tastes. 

There are so many different options for a Paris restaurant and a couple of these even have museums such as the Musee du Vin.  Here you learn about wine making, its history and different wines, plus do some wine tasting, then you can even enjoy a fabulous meal with the wine and come away feeling a little more knowledgeable.

But if you are still not sure about where to go for your next evening eating out in Paris, then it may be an idea to pick up Le Carnet Gourmand, which is a free guide to restaurants in Paris that are registered with the Tourism office and has a list of around 200 with the type of cuisine, average costs, and other information such as access for the disabled.  To obtain a copy you would need to go to the Office de Tourisme, but this restaurant guide can also be found in numerous Paris hotels and at the restaurants that are listed.

Yet there is one last point we would like to make and that is the fact that Parisians tend to dress up for an evening meal and many restaurants require a jacket or even dinner attire, so we would recommend that you check what the dress code is when booking, or you may be refused entry!