Impressing and Surprising a Paris "Expert"
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 156
Patrick--- Bercy sounds like a good suggestion; is it a place that would be better suited for an afternoon or an evening? Looking at the site it looks nice though I guess I wonder if it feels contrived at all. I'm guessing that if you're recommending it it's probably not but just checking!
Despite casually browsing on this site for months, I had COMPLETELY forgotten the often mentioned Orangerie; of course! Looking at the website I'm struggling for a good estimate as far as time goes--can anyone compare it in size/scale to a one of NYC's museums?
Thanks for the museum suggestion Travelnut.
Christina---the partner is actually more of a rocker---he collects guitars of all types.
Despite casually browsing on this site for months, I had COMPLETELY forgotten the often mentioned Orangerie; of course! Looking at the website I'm struggling for a good estimate as far as time goes--can anyone compare it in size/scale to a one of NYC's museums?
Thanks for the museum suggestion Travelnut.
Christina---the partner is actually more of a rocker---he collects guitars of all types.
#22
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,768
Contrived? Yea, I suppose so. I guess anytime a developer takes an old "slum" and converts it to upscale shops and entertainment venues it would have to be contrived. But it is well done. The shops are sort of "nature store" type places, a museum store, some wine, kitchen, bath, and olive places, etc. And there are about a dozen cafes on the "avenue". The adjacent gardens are very pretty, and I love watching them mow the grass on the sloped "roof/sides" of the Bercy exhibition hall.
The Monet waterlilies at the Orangerie take 10 to 20 minutes. We enjoyed the collection in the lower level for about an hour more. It's not a huge museum.
The Monet waterlilies at the Orangerie take 10 to 20 minutes. We enjoyed the collection in the lower level for about an hour more. It's not a huge museum.
#23
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 210
L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon is a wonderful and relatively new (more than 2 or 3 years, but less than 5)addition to the Paris food scene.
For sightseeing, the Nef du Grand Palais and the Petit Palais both have recently reopened after lengthy renovations.
The place to go for sheet music and instruments is rue de Rome, but a musician who lived in Paris would probably know that already.
For sightseeing, the Nef du Grand Palais and the Petit Palais both have recently reopened after lengthy renovations.
The place to go for sheet music and instruments is rue de Rome, but a musician who lived in Paris would probably know that already.
#24
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,809
well Fraggle, I have no idea about guitars and rockers in terms of stores, but think that probably wouldn't work too well. However, the Music Museum is still a good idea, maybe -- depends on the partner's real interest in music as a whole or a continuum. They have Zappa's Moog synthesizer in there, for example. If he is only interested in rock, then maybe forget that.
#25
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,836
Tod,
I looked up your suggested Restaurant B.E.P. at the Ecole Ferrandi, but could find no mention of a restaurant on any site, except to say it was open from 12:00 to 2:30. Any idea of how to mak reservations, or how much it costs?
Sounds like it is worth pursuing.
Thanks,
I looked up your suggested Restaurant B.E.P. at the Ecole Ferrandi, but could find no mention of a restaurant on any site, except to say it was open from 12:00 to 2:30. Any idea of how to mak reservations, or how much it costs?
Sounds like it is worth pursuing.
Thanks,
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 156
Christina! He's a huge Zappa fan---we actually saw his son Dweezil play this past winter. THANK YOU for the suggestion; I'm sure he will not know that it's there... what a great thing to "stumble on".
Thanks mfallite for the Joel Rubochon mention...I'm prepared to spend a lot for one really great dinner---maybe this is the spot.
I know that he did eat in the restaurant in the Eiffel Tower about 15 years ago--I think he'd like to go again. From my research Le Jules Verne is not the best meal that can be had in Paris but surely memorable. Any recent visitors? Perhaps its bettter now with Ducasse at the helm.
Thanks mfallite for the Joel Rubochon mention...I'm prepared to spend a lot for one really great dinner---maybe this is the spot.
I know that he did eat in the restaurant in the Eiffel Tower about 15 years ago--I think he'd like to go again. From my research Le Jules Verne is not the best meal that can be had in Paris but surely memorable. Any recent visitors? Perhaps its bettter now with Ducasse at the helm.
#28
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,809
You're kidding!!!! isn't that hysterical, who would have thought it. I'm a Zappa fan, too, that's why I really enjoyed seeing it.
That museum covers all periods of music from very early times up to the present, so it really is fascinating and is very well done. They have those cool earphones like they have in some museums now, and you go around to displays and then you get little lectures and can hear what these ancient instruments sound like. Or current ones. The museums is arranged so you can walk through chronologically, so if you aren't interested in Renaissance flutes, you can skip on to the next century, etc. Zappa's synthesizer (and there is a steel pedal guitar in there, also, not going into that as I have a friend who loves though and they drive me up the wall) is near the end, of course. They have a saxophone of Adoph Sax, also. This is an excerpt of a description of some of their recent acquisitions:
<<... des guitares ayant appartenu à Django Reinhardt et au duo Presti-Lagoya, le violon Hel de Stéphane Grapelli, la console électronique du Groupe de recherches musicales de Pierre Schaeffer, un synthétiseur mis au point et utilisé par Frank Zappa, l’ordinateur « 4 X » de l’IRCAM.>>
In other words, they have Django Reinhardt's guitar, Grapelli's violin, and Zappa's synthesizer, among other things.
That museum covers all periods of music from very early times up to the present, so it really is fascinating and is very well done. They have those cool earphones like they have in some museums now, and you go around to displays and then you get little lectures and can hear what these ancient instruments sound like. Or current ones. The museums is arranged so you can walk through chronologically, so if you aren't interested in Renaissance flutes, you can skip on to the next century, etc. Zappa's synthesizer (and there is a steel pedal guitar in there, also, not going into that as I have a friend who loves though and they drive me up the wall) is near the end, of course. They have a saxophone of Adoph Sax, also. This is an excerpt of a description of some of their recent acquisitions:
<<... des guitares ayant appartenu à Django Reinhardt et au duo Presti-Lagoya, le violon Hel de Stéphane Grapelli, la console électronique du Groupe de recherches musicales de Pierre Schaeffer, un synthétiseur mis au point et utilisé par Frank Zappa, l’ordinateur « 4 X » de l’IRCAM.>>
In other words, they have Django Reinhardt's guitar, Grapelli's violin, and Zappa's synthesizer, among other things.
#29
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 47,821
How about lunch at La Maison Fournaise on the Ile des Impressionistes, just a short RER ride out of central Paris, where Renoir painted "Luncheon of the Boating Party'."?
www.restaurant-fournaise.fr
www.restaurant-fournaise.fr
#31
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 108
Fraggle- hope you don't mind but I might pinch some ideas too for my upcoming trip.
My husband is also a muso and a huge Zappa fan, so the music museum will be on our list.
Just a question about Bercy village (if you don't mind fraggle), is it only for repeat visitors as suggested on the afoodiefroggy blog site, or would you recommend it to a first timer?
thanks
kaz
My husband is also a muso and a huge Zappa fan, so the music museum will be on our list.
Just a question about Bercy village (if you don't mind fraggle), is it only for repeat visitors as suggested on the afoodiefroggy blog site, or would you recommend it to a first timer?
thanks
kaz
#32
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 793
Perhaps eating at Dans le Noir. Where you eat in total darkness and are served by blind wait staff. It is very cool!
http://www.danslenoir.com/accueil_an/accueil_an.php
http://www.danslenoir.com/accueil_an/accueil_an.php
#35
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,809
I think Zappa's synthesizer is there permanently, even though they say it is a "recent acquisition", that is a relative term because the city did have a small music museum for years ago in central Paris, I suppose, but this new one is much larger. Anyway, it's been there since I was first there shortly after opening, so that was probably around 1996, ten years ago. The cafe out there is supposed to be trendy/popular, but it never seemed like anything special to me.
#36
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,654
Nukesafe - Looks like the school has moved and now calls itself:
Ecole Gregoire-Ferrandi, 28 rue de l'Abbe Gregoire, 75006. Metro, St.Placide
I found this on the web:
www.ferrandicontact.com
I don't know about the old phone numbers though. They don't give any on their website.
Ecole Gregoire-Ferrandi, 28 rue de l'Abbe Gregoire, 75006. Metro, St.Placide
I found this on the web:
www.ferrandicontact.com
I don't know about the old phone numbers though. They don't give any on their website.
#37
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,836
Thank you very much, Tod, for the information.
Evidently the new restaurant is called L'Epi Dupin, http://www.epidupin.com/ and clicking on the name on the website you referenced brings up the restaurant's site. The menu is €32.
Has anyone tried the place since the change?
Evidently the new restaurant is called L'Epi Dupin, http://www.epidupin.com/ and clicking on the name on the website you referenced brings up the restaurant's site. The menu is €32.
Has anyone tried the place since the change?
