The gathering is pretty much the same every week with a different cast. It is just a drop-in type of thing between 3 and 5 p.m. The back area of the cafe is used for metropole. The waiter comes and takes order and you pay for what you order. The day we were there people were only drinking and it was mostly beer. There was a cafe and a wine ordered also. You could get food there if you wanted to. It is very informal. There were 3 young (late 20's)couples from the DC area, 1 single man from Alaska, 1 couple from Germany that had previously lived in Paris and seem to go to meetings alot and finally a 40ish couple from NYC (and us and the "editor", Ric). Before everyone left a group shot was taken as well as a few while we were there. The club "report" is always posted the following day on the website. It was fun, but I haven't had occasion to go back for one reason or another. I would recommend it just to see what it's like.

Nikki - Thanks for the info on the circus. When I lived in Paris my junior year in college, I had a very scary experience near Place de la Bastille. It was one of the more dangerous parts of Paris in the late '60's. But I had not heard about a Circus near there. It must be relatively new in the city.

By the way, my engineer daughter plays 4 instruments and loves music but has no knowledge of nor desire to know about art. It's certainly her loss. But she's still young. I myself discovered art only after living in Paris.

Thanks for your comments.

Carmenr

Hi Carmen, the Cirque d'Hiver is the famous place where Hemingway loved to box. One of the stories related in A Moveable Feast tells how Hem was boxing a fellow while F. Scott Fitzgerald was keeping the time. Scott became so absorbed in the fight that he forgot to call time and Hem got knocked out!

<i>Fear Factor is much worse. A fairly uninformed opinion, although undoubtedly correct, since neither of us has seen the show and never will.</i>
Hilarious, Nikki!

I, too, love Kazana. I bought a blue bead &amp; silver wire bracelet for myself &amp; a teeny tiny book for my daughter.

Oh, I love Bartok!

<i>might just feel that way because the lovely lady lied and complimented me on my French</i>
No, your French is excellent (and effortless) – I was very impressed!

LOL – Sweeney Todd!

I’ve never been upstairs at Caf&eacute; de la Marie – I’ll have to try that next time – the view must be amazing.

<i>which I had somehow overlooked last year while staying mere steps away from it</i>
I hate when that happens. I totally overlooked Le Reminet which is just down the street from Les Degres (probably down that one-way street our taxi friend got pulled over on). When I visited it this time I discovered it was closed for the “winter holiday”. Next time.

I’ve heard great things about Mirama – glad to hear you enjoyed it!

<i>And we thought it was cold in Paris.</i>
Me, too. When we touched down in Cincinnati it was 25 degrees colder than Paris. And I’m still waiting for it to warm up!

Chloer, I guess in Paris everything is relative when it comes to newness. The Pont Neuf (new bridge), for instance, is the oldest bridge in the city. So by some measure the Cirque d'Hiver might be new. Built during the time of Napoleon III, so newer than, say, the Louvre, but older by far than your time in Paris in the 1960's.

Beatchick, the necklace I bought at Kazana has already had an unfortunate mishap. The fastener came off when I was putting it on to wear it for only the second time. I am not at all good with crafts, but I am going to try to wire on a new fastener or something.

So I'd handle your new purchase very carefully.

I'm sorry to hear that, Nikki - will keep a close eye on that.

Nikki - I had to chuckle at your reply. I understand now that the Cirque d'Hiver is a theater whose show is a circus. I'm sure the building has been around maybe for centuries. But my point was that what is being shown is new.

We visited Paris in November, 2004 and I didn't remember seeing this advertised.

Carmenr

chloer, I hadn't noticed the circus much in my planning either until I read a couple of trip reports here on Fodors which mentioned it. Sounded like a great idea, so I bought tickets.

The theater has apparently been used for circuses since its construction in 1852, and has been operated by the same circus family, the Bougliones, since 1934. It appears that the theater is used during other seasons for concerts, fashion shows, movies, and wrestling(!), but during the winter season there is a circus. We went on the closing date for this year's season.

I have finally put together a few photos from this trip:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...0&amp;y=2sshh4

Hi Nikki --

Great pictures! Where is &quot;furniture alley?&quot; Is rue de Charonne (sp?) a furniture street? Also, enjoyed the trip report very much. I'm anxious for my trip in June/July.

The alley with all the furniture was off rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine. I didn't record the name, but I believe there are several similar little passages in the area. The rue de Charonne is a street with some old furniture-related businesses and some newer boutiques, bars and restaurants. Interesting mix.

Wonderful photos, Nikki, especially of the circus!

Nikki,

Thank you SO much for directing me to your delightful &quot;Paris in winter&quot; trip report. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and now have no doubt that this is a lovely time of year to visit.

I loved your circus review...LOL at the horse part! My life totally revolves around horses, and I absolutely adore them, so that wouldn't raise an eyebrow for me. But...the kids crawling around filthy airports? Yikes! I concur...scary!

Pretty please, could you tell more about the tiny little jewelry store where you bought earrings for your mother? That sounds right up my alley. Not that I would have a snowball's chance of finding it upon my arrival in Paris though...I'm not the best with directions.

Thank you again...off to read the second report you linked me to now.

Belinda

Belinda, I'm glad you found this helpful and hope you don't blame me if you go to Paris in the winter and decide it was not the right choice.

There isn't much more to say about the jewelry store, which is located at 6, rue St. Sulpice in the 6th arrondissement. The street is not that long, so you shouldn't have trouble finding it once you get to the street, which runs behind the St. Sulpice church. It is the workshop of Dona Giacometti. All she makes are earrings, all with colored glass balls. My mother loves them, by the way, and tells me she wears them all the time.

Nikki--thanks for posting the link to your trip report. The circus looks amazing--I'll make a note for a future trip.

Like you, I love to travel, and keep thinking I should go somewhere &quot;new&quot; from my list, but this year Paris won for late winter, early spring week, and I have spent more time than ever reading and researching.

This is my 4th trip to Paris in 8 years, and I feel there are so many things to do and see that I must not miss. My husband, who is amused by my obsessive planning, just smiles and says we'll have to start planning the next visit already!

bookmarking

Thanks, Nikki, for many great ideas for the trip I plan to take with my daughter.