Paris User’s Guide

Patti Smith - Nomadic Nights
March 28 to June 22, 2008

From The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation

The Fondation Cartier is hosting a major solo exhibition of the visual work of American artist and performer Patti Smith. Drawn from pieces created between 1967 and 2007, it strives to provide an insight into her lyrical, spiritual and poetic universe. Her expressive voice serves to magnify the installations created specifically for the exhibition: a synthesis of photographs, drawings and films.

Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain
Fondation Cartier. 261 bd Raspail 75014 Paris

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On a beautiful summer’s day, the Mosquée de Paris gives one a strong impression of total exile. Situated near the Latin Quarter, this vibrant site is open to the public in exchange for a modest entry fee. Built between 1922 to 1926 under the direction of French architects Heubès, Fournez and Mantout, the majority of the material was imported then assembled on the premises by 450 Maghreb artisans.

The mosque is divided into several distinct sectors - religious (prayer room reserved for the faithful); scholarly (Islamic Institute of Study and library); and, amateurs (via rue Geoffroy-St-Hilaire, the domed Haman, Turkish baths, and the serene Moorish tearoom).

Mosquée de Paris. 2 place du Puits de l’Ermite 75005 Paris

The Best of Gastronomic Cuisine at the Chateau of Versailles

The Dinner of the Chefs 

It’s a truly rare occasion when sixteen of the world’s most respected and gifted “Grands Cuisiniers” come together to cook under one roof. And when the roof happens to be Le Grand Trianon in the magical Château de Versailles, in France, then it transforms a memorable event into a momentous one.

Only 60 guests are invited to enjoy this ultra exclusive experience, savoring a banquet of 17 courses in the Salon des Cotelle whose walls will be adorned with fabulous scenes by the eponymous 17th century painter. The Master Chefs enlisted to recreate their finest dishes on the evening read like a “Who’s Who” in the world of “Haute Cuisine” and all are celebrated in the Michelin red book.

Concept
A Charity Evening. The proceeds of this function will be given to IFRAD - the International Foundation for Research on Alzheimer Disease.

This Dinner will welcome 17 creations and a selection of the rarest wines.

It groups up under the same roof 40 stars in the Michelin Guide, among which Yannick Alléno, the new 3 stars Chef from the Meurice, Jean-Pierre Biffi from the Parisian House of gastronomy Potel & Chabot, Sébastien Bras from the celebrated Bras restaurant in Laguiole, Eric Frechon from the chic Hotel Bristol, the famous Chinese-American Chef Ken Hom, Marc Meneau from the prestigious restaurant L’Esperance, Christophe Michalak World best Patissier 2004 from the Plaza Athénée, Jean-Louis Nomicos from the peerless venue of Lasserre, Alain Passard from the great Parisian restaurant l’Arpège, Gérald Passédat from Le Petit Nice in Marseille, the new 3 stars at the Guide Rouge 2008, Jean-François Piège from the glamorous Hotel Le Crillon, the Twin Brothers Jacques and Laurent Pourcel, Gordon Ramsay and Garry Rhodes the appraised chefs from London, Michel Roth from the marvelous Ritz Paris, the American Star from Chicago Charlie Trotter and along with the World Best Sommelier 2007 Andreas Larsson.

Date: Wednesday September 17, 2008
Schedule: 7.00pm until 00.30am
Venue: Grand Trianon, Salon des Cotelle & Pavillon Français, Hamlet of Queen Marie-Antoinette, in the grounds of Versailles Palace

The Spa Valmont - Le Meurice Hotel

Opening its doors to a new world of beauty care, Valmont provides women with the luxury of highly efficient skin care in a completely refurbished spa at Le Meurice hotel on the rue de Rivoli. This small Parisian palace of 300 m2, with a new Daliesque decor by Philippe Starck, offers a full spa experience based on the principle of harmony, treating your skin with their exclusive line of cleansers, lotions, creams and masks.

Or simply relax in the spa’s exquisite sauna, Jacuzzi, or steam rooms.

Enjoy one of their exclusive treatments

Glaciers Moisturising Vitality Treatment
This intense moisturising treatment is sure to replenish and rejuvenate any type of skin. Thanks to the collagen mask, wrinkles and fine lines fade away, the complexion is radiant and facial features become fuller.

Intensive Brightening Treatment Valmont for Le Meurice
This treatment features all the properties of Vitamin C: it illuminates the complexion and smoothes the skin to eliminate dark zones and restore all its sparkle. The results are visible. The complexion appears immediately radiant and uniform.

Le Spa Valmont, Hotel Le Meurice.  228, rue de Rivoli 75001 Paris

Nineteen chamber music concerts and recitals showcase both young musicians and established artists, whose repertoire ranges from Swiss music to French popular songs.

All tickets for concerts or shows allow admission to the museum’s permanent collections on the day of the event.

Tuesday 13 May 2008 - 12h30 Musée d’Orsay auditorium niveau -2
Heritage, tradition and influences
Romain Descharmes, piano
Arnold Schönberg
Three Pieces op. 11
Johannes Brahms
Sonata no. 3 in F major op. 5

Tuesday 20 May 2008 - 12h30 Musée d’Orsay auditorium niveau -2
Heritage, tradition and influences
Cécile Daroux, flute
Susan Manoff, piano
Frank Martin, Ballade
César Franck, Sonata
Arthur Honegger
Dance of the Goat
Romance
Paul Hindemith
Sonata

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Babylone - The Lovure
March 14, 2008 to June 2, 2008

With treasures borrowed from collections around the world, the ancient city of Babylon, situated in modern-day Iraq, gets a thorough reconnaissance in a new exhibit at the Louvre.

The exhibit chronicles the legends of Babylon - a Mesopotamian city of staggering advancement and extravagant excess - the myths depicting it as a symbol of God’s anger at his unfaithful people. It is in John’s Book of Revelation that one predicts the fall of this new Babylon, and the metaphor of Babylon as the cursed city became a one of the leitmotifs of the Babylonian legend.

Visitor Information
Musée du Louvre, Napoleon Hall

Open daily (except Tuesdays) from 9am to 6pm, Wednesday and Friday until 10pm

Admission fees:
Tickets for the Babylon exhibition: €9.50
Combined ticket for the Babylon exhibition and permanent collections: €13, €11 after 6pm on Wednesday and Friday
Free admission for visitors under the age of 18

Pierre Hermé - Sables Chloé

We have all tried the decadent chocolate bonbon Chloé, chocolate ganache and raspberry enrobed with dark chocolate…a truly mouth watering delight! Well Monsieur Hermé has outdone himself this time. He took the raspberry and the chocolate and made a light shortbread biscuit calling it the Sablé Chloé! The crispy chocolate biscuit is deliciously accentuated by fine morsels of raspberry. A treat one can hardly surpass.

And there is good news for those who live in France, Germany, England, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco and the Netherlands, Pierre Hermé will deliver his sweets to your front door.

The Galerie Royale - Luxury Shopping Address in the 1st Arrondissement

If you are looking to purchase a luxury souvenir, the Galerie Royale, home to several upscale boutiques is situated between rue Boissy d’Anglas and rue Royale. Entrances are located at number nine and eleven, on rue Royale, and number eight-bis on the rue Boissy d’Anglas.

L’Eclaieur - Fashion Boutique and Bar - Restaurant

In a city where fashion competes with culture it is hardly surprising to find that there is an astonishing number of concept stores selling more than just a few designer labels. L’Eclaireur - Galerie Royale - the latest addition to the ultra-trendy line of boutiques lead by Armand and Martine Hadid, sells an impressive selection of home furnishings, accessories and the latest collections from the world’s most sought after designer labels.

Elie Bleu Tabletier - The World’s Finest Humidors

Some of the world’s finest humidors are handcrafted from natural or tinted mahogany and sycamore, by the French artisinal company Elie Bleu. The characteristic of each box is its meticulously brilliant finish, a delicate process done by hand. Their collection includes the stunningly colorful ‘Flor de Alba’ design, a traditional ‘Flor de Tabacos’ in scarlet, and this limited edition Che Guevara range.

Number 1
Purchase your picnic supplies at an outdoor market
Parisians adore their outdoor markets, their style often defined by the market they frequent.
So shed your sheets a bit earlier in the morning, get your hands on a woven straw “panier”, and shop with the Parisians at one of the many markets scattered through out Paris.

For the Bohemian - Marché Aligre
Mediterranean ambiance in the 12th arrondissement, this market “populaire” is open 6 days a week and is one of the least the expensive markets in Paris.

Do not leave without:
Sur les Quais - Fragrant mustards and Mediterranean olive oil
Les Plasirs d’Anna - Decadent breads made with goat cheese and tomato confit, pain de veau and jams
La Graineterie du Marché - Pasta and spices
Aux Caves d’Aligre - Wine
Chez Philippe - Butter and cheese
La Ferme du Bruel - Pounti Terrine (made of pork, swiss chard and prune)
Moisan - Bread

Rest your feet:
Le Baron Rouge - Wine bar, the perfect stop for a Kir au cassis
La Ruche à Miel - Oriental tea room, vegetarian crepes and pastries
Le Square Trousseau - Parisian brasserie, dine with a French celebrity (if you can recognize one)

Upscale - Marché Biologique Raspail
The place to see and be seen, Paris’ bustling organic market bursts at the seams on Sunday morning where residents from the surrounding upscale neighborhoods come to buy their organic fruit and vegetables.

Don’t leave without:
Michel Beucher - Cider
Roberto Banfi - Hot chocolate
Claude Conard - Fruit and vegetables

Number 2
Shop ’til you drop
Parisians adore window shopping, strolling down hip streets, admiring the classic and trendy labels displayed in small boutique windows.

Best shopping streets:
Rue Francs-Bourgeois
Rue des Saints-Pères
Rue des Abbesses
Rue du Bac
Rue Etienne-Marcel
Rue Saint-Honoré
Rue Cherche-Midi

Number 3
Watch the city from your seat at a sidewalk café. There is no doubt about it, Parisians love to whittle away hours in one of the city’s trendy sidewalk cafés.

Where to have café crème, or a glass of bubbly:
Le Café de Flore
Les Deux Magots
Café Charbon
Le Fumoir
Bercy Village
L’Ecritoire
Chez Prune
Café Beaubourg

Number 4
Enjoy the melody of classical, jazz or rock music
Do not forget that the city offers a large selection of musical events every evening of the week. Catch a glimpse of evening entertainment at one of the city’s concert halls:

Where to listen:
Salle Pleyel - Classical music
L’Olympia - Large selection of choices
Bataclan - Rock, Alternative
Duc du Lombard - Jazz
Élysée Montmartre - Rock, Alternative
Le Zénith - Rock, Alternative
Radio France
Théatre des Champs-Elysées
Cité de la Musique

L’Hôtel
Saint-Germain-des-Près

The capital’s legendary L’Hotel, recently redesigned by Jacques Garcia, acted as home and host to many of the most famous names of the last two centuries. L’Hôtel pays tribute to Oscar Wilde, with a Victorian style refurbishment of room 16. Mistinguett, illustrious dancer, spent her nights in room 36, where Art Deco furnishings replicate the style of her époque. The Apartment, a penthouse suite with sweeping views of Paris’ zinc rooftops and the Saint Germain church is a perfect choice for the unreserved.

Amenities
Restaurant and Bar
Le Restaurant – Chef Philippe Bélissent awarded one Michelin star in March 2008
Private swimming pool for two
Steam room

L’Hôtel. 13 rue des Beaux Arts 75006 Paris

Photo courtesy of JP Moser.