carol

I serendipitously happened upon that accordianiste at the end of the Rue Mouffetard last September, when I went there for a flea market being held on the weekend. Not only were folks singing, they were dancing, too!!! I felt transported back to the pre-war Paris of my imagination. It was wonderful.

Randall Smith

Hi Everyone, <BR> <BR>I wanted to thank Carol for her neat post on the accordeoniste. <BR> <BR>I have another. I'm sure everyone is familiar with the largest department store in Paris, La Samaritaine, but have you been to the restaurant on the 5th floor the Toupary. The food is traditional, they have both lunch and diner ~300ff. Try to get a table by the window. It's a great view of the Seine the dome at Les Invilides, the Eiffel Tower, the dome of the Accadamie Francais. They've done such a good job with the mirror arrangement they have created a trompe d'oeil. As I was setting there I couldn't figure out how there could be two domes that looked like Les Invilides, and why the Eiffel Tower was to the East. TOO MUCH RED WINE I THOUGHT. No I was looking in the mirror. Not too smart. <BR> <BR>The food is good, the decor is very nice, and the veiw is magnificent. Much better than the snack bar on the roof. <BR> <BR>Ciao, <BR> <BR>Randall Smith

Sue

Randall, I too am pleased to see you posting information on Fodor's rather than advertising your apartment. Everything I've read has been really helpful--thanks. We already intend to take the canal boat ride--we've been intending to for years, and your post may just be the thing to inspire us. We are also going to look for the accordianist (any particular hour?). One of our favorite memories is going to the Petit Journal St. Michel to see Claude Bolling, a wonderful jazz pianist/composer, (on the last Tues of the month). The time we went he was introducing a suite for piano and flute and we met a SF jazz DJ who interviewed him at intermission. Quite an adventure for non-nightowls. We are hoping he still performs then and will go again in May.

Susan

Sue: Please tell me exactly where Petit Journal St. Michel is! My son has a tape of Claude Bolling's suite for piano & flute; it's fabulous (I play the flute). We'll be in Paris the last week of Sept. If he's actually still playing there, it would be wonderful. Thanks for any info.

Sue

It's at 71, blvd St. Michel (RER Luxembourg). I remember we ate at Polidor on Monsieur le Prince so we could walk there afterwards. Every time we have been to Paris (yearly) Bolling has been playing there on the last Tues of the month (I know because we always seem to fly out on a Tues--this year it's Wed). We'll be there in May--I'll let you know if he's there then.

Susan

Sue: Thanks so much. Here's hoping he'll still be there in Sept!