I think you could flirt with the ushers, but quite a few of them are women. So they might not know what you are doing. The man selling programs was a very tall, distinguished looking gentleman of about 60 who was wearing a tuxedo. You might try your luck with him, if he is still there. He does not, however, speak English, or at least he told me he did not.<BR>If you want to flirt, just go up to some guy at the bar during intermission.

What! Bob Brown - you mean the women ushers won't appreciate a flirt, too? What are these French coming to?!? Too funny. Okay, so just the guys at the bar then.<BR><BR>Yes, Leslie do tell about the incident with the man who drank Moet from your slipper (e-mail me if you have to - y'never know). Lovely incident, to be sure.<BR><BR>Aahhh, thanks for the support (and the memories - very nice - so the kidsies enjoy?). I promise, no more aacckkk!<BR><BR>Well, C, Bob Brown says I should just flirt with the men at the bar. Maybe I'll get lucky and get a MALE usher. ; )<BR><BR>Okay - so it looks like black dress and fake (ahem- pseudo-) pearls, the Garnier (must remember to stare UP at all the architectural details), do not flirt with the ushers as they are mostly women, do get the Moet champagne and have loads of fun (no aacckkk!). (Big sigh of relief) I think I'm ready!!! : )

Topping

I would vote for the Garnier also because it is so beautiful, if you haven't been there. However, I do think I actually prefer the sightlines in the Basille -- I just go for the performance I want to see, myself. But, I wanted to give you a tip that if you have a small autofocus 35 mm camera that fits in your purse, you should take it (I have a small Olympus), as I took photos inside the Garnier at night when the lamps are lit of the marble stairways, mirrors, lamps, etc and they are just beautiful, nothing you can get in the daytime (I even took one of the Chagall ceiling which turned out fine). I took them without any flash, of course, and they have a nice warm natural light to them.<BR>Have a friend take one of you in your black dress and pearls on the stairway.<BR><BR>(PS the champagne, wine etc are just overpriced like all theaters). They do have some classical music concerts at the Garnier, sometimes, also.<BR>

Sue, I will be seeing Hurlevent on the 5th. Can't wait.

Ohhhh! The Marc Chagall ceiling!! Thank you, Christina, I completely forgot that Chagall did that. Hmmmm - I wonder how that will compare to the Chagall window at the Art Institute Museum in Chicago. Wow!! And I do have small camera, but the purse I'm planning to take is itty bitty. Maybe if I shove?<BR>Sue & Janine, I hope you both enjoy Hurlevent! (and Paris, too!!)

A year ago this week we were in Paris and attended Don Giovanni at the Opera Bastille. I took a long black dress and felt over dressed. It was a week night and most everyone looked like they had come from work and were in suits, work type dresses, etc. There were even some in jeans. It was a wonderful experience except for the intermissions. People are allowed to smoke in the lobby and it just filled up with smoke. When you are not used to that it is not very pleasant. So for the second intermission we just stayed in our seats.

Mary C. Sorry, but<BR>I am not into usher flirting. <BR>I haven't seen a lady one yet that was in the same league as my wife when it comes to looks and bearing. <BR><BR>But you flirt with whom you wish.<BR>Come to think of it, it might be safer to flirt in the Opera Bastille than in Bois de Boulogne.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>< BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR ><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>

Oh Bob, I didn't mean to offend you - I'm sorry if did - I intended for that to come across as lighthearted banter; I suppose it didn't. Please forgive?<BR><BR>It makes me happy to see you so in love with your wife; she seems like a lucky lady!<BR><BR>: )

I thought mine was mostly light hearted too,particularly that comment about not flirting in the Bois de Boulogne, particularly after dark. If you don't grasp that one, email me directly and I will have my wife explain it to you.<BR><BR>Yeah, my wife is still attractive at 65.<BR>She is also slender and energetic, and a model of efficiency.<BR>And she has a certain good humored elegance about her that is genuine as opposed to phony.<BR><BR>Two years ago in Vienna, she even got a stone faced Vienna policeman to speak English in answer to a question. Then he helped us across the street, which was blocked off for a roller blade derby.<BR>I still am not quite sure how she pulled that one off. Smiles do more than frowns, that is for sure.<BR><BR>

Oh, okay!! : )<BR><BR>Is the Bois sort of like the Pigalle area at night? If so, then I understand. But if your wife really wants to explain it to me... ; )<BR><BR>Have a great night (and weekend)!!

The subject is very delicate; but my wife has absolutely no desire to explain it. She will if I ask her to.<BR>I would say that Bois de Boulogne after dark is an advanced Pigalle, if advanced can be used in that context.<BR>Perhaps multifaceted would be better.<BR>Hard to describe without using very explict terms.

Dearest mary-<BR>The Bois de Bologne is where men go to flirt with each other~<BR><BR>We had just better stick to the ushers!C <BR>and Bob Brown, there should be so many more men like you! You are lucky but so is your wife*

mary, the Bois was all kinds of things going on from transvestites to Irma La Duece, whatever you want, it's there.<BR>The night has a 1000eyes and activities.

Thanks Bob, C, Mimi - tres hilarious!! I had NOOOoooo idea!<BR><BR>Think that I will just stick with the ushers. : ) It's more my speed.

Now that others have opened the door, I will add some comments by a student in one of my classes a few years back who grew up in Paris and went to the Sorbonne.<BR>His comment was along these lines:<BR>If it looks like a man, expect a woman underneath. If it looks like a woman, expect a man. If you can't tell, don't ask. You don't want to know. <BR>He also said that considerably more than flirting goes on as well.<BR>Only on Fodors can the opera end up in the woods.

Garnier is a beutiful old opera house, but for state of the art ecoustics and staging, the Opera Bastille is far superior.

Mary, if you go to the opera on the third week of April, i-e beetwen the 15 th and the 21st, you will have the choice at Bastille between a ballet: Don Quichotte (with a choregraphy by Noureev) and an opera : le barbier de S&eacute;ville (Rossini). At Garnier, you will have a choice between an opera : Idom&eacute;n&eacute; (Mozart) with Susan Graham in the role of Idamante, or a ballet (two pieces from the "spectacle de l'&eacute;cole de danse".<BR><BR>Even if it's a ballet, don't wear a ballgown; you're not supposed to be on the stage and danse! There is no dress code but an elegantly dressed lady will undoubtedly be appreciated in Paris.<BR><BR>One tip: be right on time otherwise they will not let you in before the intermission. One minute late and you will be stuck for an hour behind doors !<BR><BR>Que la musique commence !

Bob Brown, thanks for the advice - yes, it is strange how a thread ends up. That's why I like looking at threads that I think I wouldn't otherwise care for. You just never know what you'll find.<BR><BR>Thank you, Bill, for your input. I suppose I will have to let Kristin decide. Acoustics are very important to me, but the ability to gaze up during a performance to see a work of up ranks high, too. : )<BR><BR>Dear Arnaud, thank you also. It appears you've done our research for us. Certainly helps to narrow things down. Kristin has been reading this thread and she'll be happy to see all the great info.<BR><BR>Thanks again, all, and hope you have a lovely weekend!!!