Newsletter #123: January 4, 2013

French Price Hikes for 2013
A Taste of French Spirits
World Class Organ Recitals
Paris Dining Recommendations
The Real Faces of Paris
Escape Paris on a Budget by Train + Bus
Buy/Sell Concert, Sports and Train Tickets
Music at the French Cinema
Green Paris Shopping & Recycling
Getting in Shape for 2013
Latest Museum Exhibitions
Top January Events

Click to read more ...

New Year's Eve in Paris

Still looking for ideas for New Year's Eve in Paris? The city is full of bars, clubs, brasseries, restaurants, pubs, concerts, parties…Phew. It can be overwhelming at the best of times, never mind on December 31^st. Luckily, we’re here to help! Whatever your idea of a good night out, there should be something in this round-up to help you see 2012 out with a bang!

Click to read more ...

Disneyland Paris for the Holidays

As nice as it is to go home for the holidays, if you're stuck in Paris and feeling homesick, there's no better place than Christmas at Disneyland Paris! And right now you can get tickets for as little as €38/person...

Click to read more ...

The Ultimate Paris Souvenir

I've been trying to convince one of my tour clients to get an Eiffel Tower tattoo, but so far I've had no takers. And considering how obsessed some people are with this Dame de Fer (in this case referring to said Tower, not Margaret Thatcher), and also how I seem to be the only woman in the Western world under 40 without a tattoo, I'm honestly surprised.

Click to read more ...

Midnight Mass Procession at Notre Dame de Paris

I recorded this short video of the Christmas Midnight Mass Procession at Notre Dame de Paris on December 24, 2012. The bell you hear ringing is Emmanuel, the 12.8-ton bell cast in 1682. It only rings for special occaisions, and reverberates throughout the Ile de la Cité and the Latin Quarter. The organ music, choir singing, and images from inside the Cathedral were retransmitted live to the crowd outside where special bleachers were arranged for the massive crowds who couldn't fit inside. This is the cathedral's 850th Christmas celebration.

Paris Restaurants Open December 26th-30th

Many of you already have plans for dining on Christmas Day or New Year's Eve, but if you're looking for somewhere nice to eat in between the holidays, this is a short list of restaurants I checked earlier this week (some are also be open on the 31st and 1st, but do call to confirm):

Click to read more ...