Joan's Personalized Paris

Horse racing anyone? Sundays through May 12, admission to the fabled Longchamps racetrack in suburban Paris is free (ditto for the racetrack at Auteuil).  Accessible by public transit.  Titled ‘Dimanche au Galop’ there are special activities (including for )  as well.  And if horse racing is an interest, why not let me arrange a private […]

Paris is the fashion capital of the world (or at least one of them).  And this week is Fashion Week here.  I’m by no means a fashionista but I discovered a fun way to enjoy this event in Paris without actually working on getting invitations and going to the shows.  It seems that every day […]

When people think of Carnival (carnaval in French) or Mardi Gras (fat Tuesday) they usually think of New Orleans or Rio.  But carnival is celebrated in many other cities of the world, Paris and Nice among them.  So if you’re traveling to France during February you might just have the change to see this celebrated. […]

The date varies every year (today ushered in the Year of the Snake) but if you find yourself in Paris on the Chinese New Year there are always celebrations to check out – parades, street fairs, etc.  Always fun and interesting and, depending on where you live, something you might otherwise not have the opportunity […]

Paris is lovely at night any season of the year but especially in the winter around the holidays.  Financial crisis notwithstanding the Champs-Elysées was well lit this year (with much ballyhooed low-energy consuming bulbs, apparently using significantly less energy than previous years).  And, if you’re coming to Paris soon, you’ll be able to see them […]

A week ago Saturday night was Paris’s 11th Nuit blanche (sleepless night).  It was (unfortunately) a rather wet night but (fortunately) rather mild.  If I’ve got my figures right attendance was down from last year’s 2.5 million visitors (better weather) but even so over 2 million (Parisians and tourists) wandered the damp and atmospheric streets […]

Paris vu par Hollywood, a new free exhibit at the Hôtel de Ville in Paris runs until December 15th, 2012.  Film clips, movie posters, stills and costumes from several decades of Hollywood movies set in the City of Light!  Films like An American in Paris, Charade , Gentlemen Prefer Blonds and Sarbrina with stars like […]

Looking for things to do this weekend in Paris?  Many gardens and hidden courtyards not normally open to the public can be visited this Saturday and Sunday.  And some parks will host special events and concerts.  You can pick up the brochure in any city hall, in many of the larger parks or check things […]

The 31st annual Fête de la musique (Festival of Music) will take place all over France this Thursday, June 21st.  Started under President Mitterand, it’s a day that features free music of all genres – from professionals in concert halls to amateur groups on street corners, in cafes, etc.  Really something for everyone.  And of […]

One of the joys of traveling by metro – the chance to hear some rather good music in some of the stations.  The city of Paris auditions musicians and groups every year and gives permits to about 100 of them (there are of course many ‘unauthorized’ group in the stations, some of whom are also […]