Paris GTG, May 29, definite--details here
 

After debating days and dates and hearing from more people, we're definitely on for a GTG on Saturday May 29 in Paris. So far the selected venue is Bouillon Racine, a restaurant with bar in a gorgeous Art Nouveau setting at 3 rue Racine, just off the Blvd St. Michel in the 6th--metros Odeon and Cluny. See it at www.bouillon-racine.com (Click on contact to see a map) Time not yet definite, but cocktail hourish, say 4 to 6 or 5 to 7 depending upon bar availability and attendee preferences.

I'm collecting e-mail addresses from Fodorites who definitely or maybe plan to attend so that we can keep folks informed if there is any last minute change in plans, since I'll be in Paris a few days ahead of the 29th and will stop by to line things up with Bouillon-Racine--or quickly find another venue if they can't accommodate us.

So far we have 5 who have e-mailed me--cobbie, LowCountryIslander, Elsie June, nini, and cls2paris--with them and their guests (9 total) and my party of 4, that makes 13 already. I'm hoping to reach muskoka, holzberry and CarolA via this thread since they responded on earlier threads but I have yet to hear from them via e-mail. If you're out there, please get in touch with me.

Anyone reading this thread who may be interested in attending this GTG and want to be informed of specifics as this shapes up, please contact me at [email protected]. Let me know your e-mail address for further contact and updates, how many are in your party and whether you'd prefer the GTG to start at 4 or 5 p.m. to mesh with your other plans.

BTW if you don't have any particular other plans for that evening, check out the menu on the Bouillon Racine website. In years past their food has not been their strong suit, but I've read reports that it has improved recently and the menu looks good. There may be folks attending the GTG who choose to continue their conversations at dinner.

A GTG is a wonderful place to put faces with names, compare notes about what's happening in Paris in real-time, and to talk travel, travel, travel. Try to make it. We'd love to have you.

Sigh... I was envious just from the title but even more so seeing the venue. Have fun and please post photos.

Email sent!

Thanks for doing this!

MademoiselleFifi, so sorry you can't join us. We'd love to have you. We should manage some pix and hopefully someone among the participants will be computer savvy enough to be able to post them. We'll give it the old Fodorite try at least.

JulieVikmanis,
Thanks for organizing. I've sent an email but forgot to give you may time preference. My vote is for 5.
Eliza

Julie, This brings back memories of last year! That's where we had the second one. Great place. Wish I could join you.

eliza61, thanks for the info. You're on the list and you preference is noted.
gomiki, sorry you won't be joining us. do you recall any things about Bouillon Racine that we should be alert to? what time did you gather? was there plenty of space for folks to gather around the bar area? did anyone stay for dinner without having advance reservations? etc. Thanks for any intelligence you can send our way. Julie

Julie...

I failed to give you my time preference too. I'm with elize...5pm would be perfect for me but I can roll with the restaurant's availability! :-D

Hi Julie:

As much as I would love to join everyone for the GTG, I will be on the TGV headed for Strasbourg on May 29th. My timing is off by a few hours, unfortunately, but thank you so very much for organizing this. Maybe next time... Have a great time!

Regards,
muskoka

Thanks Lowcountry.
muskoka, we'll miss you. Enjoy Strasbourg.

I am a month off--would love to join you! Maybe another time--or maybe again in Florida!

wren, I was wondering when your trip was coming up. You're going to Annecy, right? What are your other stops?

We should try for another Florida GTG. Maybe in the fall when things cool off after a long, hot summer.

I don't have a preference for the GTG! Looking forward to it!

Oops, missed a word in my reply! I don't have a time preference!

Hi Julie--well, we decided against Annecy, much to my dismay, but they are having their Animation festival the weekend we would be there..and because of a coincidence, a friend that I have known since elementary school who is married to a Swiss man, will be picking us up in Geneva and entertaining us and showing us the area. I am really looking forward to that--they have a boat they take out on Lake Geneva...and because they have lived there almost 30 years, they really know the area.

Then on to other stops in Switzerland and then on to our maison in Alsace for a week, 2 nights in Champagne and to Paris.

We would always be up for a Florida Fall GTG...I will be happy to help plan one!

Ooo la la.
I am so jealous.
Have a great time!
You are the best, Julie!
Hi Wren!
Wish we were there!

Julie, It was about 5:30PM. It was the end of March so not as crowded as it might be now. We were the only ones there. Nine to start and two more came later. Some of us sat at the bar and the rest stood or sat in a small space next to the bar. We moved around a bit. I think we were there for two hours and then we needed to leave because dinner guests started to come in. No one in our group stayed for dinner.

I hope this helps. If you have questions let me know.

Julie----I have read all of your wonderful posts on Paris, and I wish we were going to be there at the time of your GTG . We've never been there in May (usually go in Sept.) but I'll bet it's lovely at that time of year.

This Sept. we are thinking of Ireland, but the more I look into it, the more I miss Paris.

Everyone asks what we like so much about Paris and I always say that is the feeling that we have when we are there, like we are home.

Would we like to see more of the world, yes. But Paris keeps calling us back.

Nice to have this thread active for the weekend crowd. I hope it will draw more late May Paris travelers to join the GTG.

Wren, your trip sounds delightful even without Annecy. Alsace will be delightful. It's just so damned cute. You'll return determined to plant geraniums everywhere.

gomiki, thanks for the info. That's exactly what I was assuming. If we start about 5, they will be open, we can gather around the bar and the area to the right of it, drink, mill about or sit as participants prefer, and then call it quits around 7 or so as the dinner crowd descends. I'll check for whether they have open tables if folks decide they'd like to stay. Sounds like a perfect venue to me.

Judyrem, thanks for the kind words. Wish you could be there too.

TPAYT, I understand your sentiments completely. The tough part comes when you find a second or third city where you feel the same, or almost the same as you do about Paris. Then the decisions get harder and harder. It's no longer trading the comfy known and loved for the untried, but making choices among the comfy known and loved. Such a problem to have!!

You have picked a really lovely setting Julie - only wish I could be there!! Just read through the everyday menu @ 29euros for 3 courses - lunch and dinner. Lovely choices!
Maybe I should think about a GTG in August when we will arrive back in Paris? Will wait to get the low-down from you in your Trip Report!

TPAYT, that's exactly how I feel about Paris. I loved Venice and Amsterdam and Bruges but Paris has my heart.

Julie, it is a perfect venue and it's so unique.

Merci Julie for organizing this GTG. Looking forward to meeting everyone on the 29th. EJ ((#))

Topping once again just in case someone who will be in Paris on May 29 still hasn't seen this and "signed up"

Topping one last time before I leave for Provence. I'll be checking in on line and have also created a mailing list for all those of you who sent me your e-mails. I'll be getting into Paris on tuesday May 25 and hope to check with Bouillon Racine on that day about having our GTG there on May 29 at 5 p.m. I'll then post here and send e-mails to everyone on the list to let you know whether we're confirmed at Bouillon Racine or will be posting another location.

And to anyone who hasn't seen this before who will be in Paris on May 29 and would like to attend a Fodors GTG, respond here and send your e-mail address to [email protected] and we'll gladly welcome you to the gathering. See you in Paris.

ttt for cali88

Bon Voyage Julie! Have an awesome time in Paris!

WAAAaaaaaa! Wish I could join you, Julie
As Gomiki wrote, we had a wonderful time at the Racine
and meeting you.

Cigalechanta, Wish you could be here too. We saw cigales everywhere in Provence and I thought of you. Julie

Ok, folks, I stopped into Bouillon Racine today. It's as beautiful as I remember it and all systems are go for our GTG there at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday May 29. Here's the website with map for how to find the place http://www.bouillon-racine.com/en/contact/index.html

Hope to see lots of folks there. JulieVikmanis

Julie, I am looking forward to your impressions of dinner at Bouillon Racine. It is on my list for a visit either in July or late August depending on what you have to say.
In the meantime, I wish you and all the Fodorites gathering on the 29th, a happy and enjoyable evening!! Bon Apetite!

tod, we had the GTG at Bouillon Racine and I think about 12 of us were there. I'm trying to sort through my notes to be sure I have all the right names for folks. As far as I know though, none of the group stayed on for dinner after the GTG which was held at the bar downstairs. Thus we can't be of much help to you in making your decision about dining there. I can say that the place is absolutely beautiful. I know that the decor is the big draw, not the food, although I have read recent reviews indicating that it has improved of late. Zagat awards it 16 points for food, 25 for decor, and 19 for service with an average meal price of 39 euros.

If you want to see the place, a stop for a drink is a good way to do it without investing in a meal. OTOH my general impression is that you can get a reasonable meal as well. Enjoy.

The GTG was great fun and I want to thank Julie for all her work in organizing it! It was great to meet everyone!

I'll second that! BTW we did enjoy our dinner at Chez Maitre Paul later that evening. As Julie recommended, the chicken with morilles was delicious. Regards, EJ ((#))

Happy to see this report. Friends and I had A gtg at the Racine and met Julie at ger GTG at another place.
Shame on me I forget the hotel.

Thanks for organizing the GTG, Julie. It was fun to meet people in person! I didn't eat at the restaurant either but I might try it next time!

Cigalechanta, it was the Lutetia. Sure wish I'd had more opportunity to talk with you there.
CarolA, ElsieJune, and cls2paris, glad you enjoyed the GTG as did we. ElsieJune, so glad you liked the Chez Maitre Paul chicken. It's long been a Fodors favorite, though not as often mentioned in posts recently.
I hope to do a report soon but am off to Spain Sunday with lots of recs from lowcountryislander (aka Marcy) for great pinxtos places in San Sebastian so it may have to wait a bit. Happy travels to all. Julie

How bummed am I...we are in Paris the prior week.

I just joined the forum. I have been reading the forum for about 2 years and enjoy it. I have been to Paris over 30 times in the past 40 years and will return on October 19 to the 27 this fall. If there is a GTG during that time I would like to attend.

The thread is from 2010. There will be other GTGs.