jean

Help... just found out that I will be going to Paris for 5 days. The plan is to attend flea markets and fairs. I will be looking for items to use in 2 homes and 3 lakeside cabins that are currently under construction. <BR>I was last in Paris 3 years ago with the same two friends and my two choices of restaurants were our favorites (Tallivent & Benoit) they want me to make restaurant plans for this year...I need help. We will be staying in the 8th but certainly do not mind moving around for fun wonderful dinners.<BR>Also any good ideas for household shopping would really be appreciated.<BR>thank you<BR>jean

Trav

May I go too?

elaine

jean<BR>You can do a search on this message board for Paris restaurant and find many suggestions. I also recommend the Zagat restaurant guide for Paris--it has all kinds of Paris restaurants in all categories and price ranges.<BR>In December 2000 I paid my second visit to Le Violon d'Ingres, and was even more thrilled the second time. As far as I can tell, it's perfect. 135 rue St-Dominique, in the 7th. phone 01 45 44 15 05, <BR>fax 01 45 55 48 42. Advance reservations essential. This is a place to dress a bit, people come in business attire. Closed Sun and Mon. Purely French food, with astounding modern twists and variations. Non-intimidating cheese offerings. In general the service is friendly, helpful, and yet with some formality. Crowd a mixture of Americans and Parisians, most arrivals are after 8pm. It was 1400FF for two with a couple of glasses of wine.<BR>Another old favorite restaurant is Chez Julien, in the 4th, corner of 1 rue Pont Louis Philippe and 62 rue de l'Hotel de Ville.. Telephone 42-78-31-64. Closed Sundays. Last time it was approximately the equivalent of $45 per person including a glass of wine each. You can spend less if you order the fixed-price menu. It is simple but <BR>pretty, with very good food. Not very dressy, but not jeans imo.<BR>La Bucherie, 41 rue de la Bucherie, in the 5th. On the left bank, just opposite Notre Dame. This is on one of the oldest streets in Paris. The cafe has a fireplace to feel cozy around, very good food, and excellent desserts. At lunch time they get a mix of casual drop-ins and business people. They are open for lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. Basically continuous service from noon to midnight, so it's a particularly good place to go to, as we did, on your day of arrival when you're not sure if it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner time. We ate a proper European lunch (with courses!) and therefore happily made do with purchased cheese and fruit for "dinner" in our hotel room before we collapsed for the night. La Bucherie's phone is 01 43 54 24 52. Next door is the famous English-language bookstore Shakespeare and Co.<BR>

c

I found some really good home- item shopping on the Left Bank on rue Jacob/rue de Seine/rue de Bac.Of course, in my opinion, Paris is just one big shopping opportunity but these areas have good galleries and fabric shops, great antiques and a couple of Provencal dish/house things..can I come with you, I will carry all your packages? I have lists if you are interested.

jean

Elaine & C - Thank you so much - this is just the kind of info I was looking for.<BR>I am really excited to be going on this adventure.

bette

I will be going to Paris later this spring and hope to do some shopping for unusual item not easily found in the US. Any ideas for shopping would be helpful. I am most interested in French fabrics and hardware. Thank you Bette

Katherine

Hello Jean, I would lovvvee to go with you. I cannot advise about the markets but of course the main one, Clignancourt. It is huge, you have a lot of pearls among the swines. For everyday household things I like La Samaritaine. They have what we would consider "ordinary", and have things with good design (a lot of Italian items as well). I would consider touring places like Malmaison instead of Versailles. Can you imagine the parties that they had there? Anyway have a wonderful time. Have a safe trip as well. Good luck and I hope all is a success.

c

There are a few good places that I know of for fabrics, mostly because they are on the street where we always stay...rue Jacob.There is a thread about fabric shopping in Paris though if you can find it..I will try also.<BR>The ones I know of are the Marche St Pierre in the 18th-that is for fabrics.<BR>Then there is the Marche aux Puces-at the Port de Clignancort-the biggy!<BR>Then there is the Puces de la Porte de Vanves which has furniture and knick knacks.

elvira

If you want cool stuff like doorknobs, coathooks and house numbers, be sure to hit BHV.<BR><BR>For flea markets, try this website:<BR>http://www.paris-france.org/parisweb/fr/vivre/marches/marches01.htm#LES%20MARCHES%20SPECIALISES<BR><BR>K eep your eyes open for posters and banners announcing "brocantes". These are flea markets set up in neighborhoods, sort of one-shot markets held over a weekend - I've even seen some held in sports arenas!<BR><BR>The current is different, so if you buy a chandelier or lamp, you'll have to rewire. It's easier to bargain 1) at the end of the flea market's stint and 2) if you get a whole bunch of stuff from one vendor. If you don't speak French, bring paper so you can write down your offer, s/he can write down the counter. Many vendors, though, do speak English.<BR><BR>At Clignancourt/St Ouen, many of the vendors can help with shipping. UPS exists in Paris, and there are Mailboxes Etc-type places.<BR><BR>Oh oh just remembered: on rue Daubenton, Tuile a Loup, sells Provencal pottery and doo-dads. She packs the stuff in about 500 yds of bubble wrap if you tell her it's going home in your luggage. Across the street is a great cookbook store - cool posters and frameable postcards/notecards even if you don't want cookbooks.

jean

I can hardly wait to get off of the plane. Thank you for such great input.<BR>Jean

Gretchen

Ihope that 3 or your 5 days are Saturday, Sunday and Monday--St. Ouen only open then.

Judie Wood

I am a designer. Found lots of great fabrics near Montmartre. Tassels,fabrics<BR>drapery hardware,tapestries,etc. Just start walking around up and around streets near Anvers metro station. Also<BR>a great book to get. TOUT PARIS(the source guide for the art of french decoration) Barnes and Noble should be able to get it for you. Shops around St. Germaine are very expensive.

Dira

For bargaining at flea markets, I've found that taking along a small calculator works well. I can punch in a number and hand it to the vendor...this process continues until we arrive at a mutually acceptable price. It's a little easier than a pen and paper.

c

Dira-what a great idea! See! you can always learn something here<BR>Now I just have to convince my husband that the new bathroom that has kept us home this winter,and most likely into the spring, will require some special thing that can only be bought at the Puce de Clignancort~

Linda

I just got this off one of these other sites - haven't even tried it yet. Web site - paris-touristoffice.com under "activities" then "second-hand markets" for a recent listing of flea markets etc. <BR>Also, the street "devoted to shoes" is the rue Meslay, Metro:Republique. Another person said there was good shopping (shoes etc.) along the Rue de Dragon (Metro?). I hope these work out for you as well as for me. I'll be there in two weeks and really want to check out the shopping this time.