I am considering a rental apartment very near the La Fourche Metro station. Anybody familiar with that area in terms of restaurants, food stores, bus lines and general character?

Final two question. How is the name of the Metro station pronounced:
La Forsch or ...?
Also, how is Clichy pronounced? Klee' she ??

La Fourche is pronounced "la foorsh" and Clichy is pronounced "clee shee". Batignolles, a neighborhood near La Fourche, is very nice. It is, in fact, one of Paris' most desirable neighborhoods for younger families. The metro is located on ave de Clichy, and you really wouldn't want an apartment directly on that street because of the heavy traffic and noise.

The apartment is on a short side street. It is not directly on the main avenues.
I know what you mean about the traffic noise.

The last time I was in Paris we had a hotel on Boulveard Raspail near the intersection with Boulevard Montparnasse.
Just walking along the sidewalk on Montparnasse was an experience. Seems like an emergency vehicle of some type was going by every 5 minutes, horn blasting and lights flashing.

The apartment description says it is on a "gated private street." I am not fully sure I understand that other than it has s fence and a gate with somekind of a security code to gain entrance.

I am glad to know it is a good area otherwise. I am sure there are several bus lines that pass through that area.

The gated private street you are mentionning is most likely "Cité Lemercier". A very pleaseant quiet private street. As Truffaut mentionned Les Batignolles are a very lively neighbourhood with an interesting mix of Bobos, working class and artists, a lot of different shops and authenthing bistros and restaurants.

The 17th together with the 11th are the two arrondissements where my partner and I are considering buying a flat, so I do recommend it.

I am very much thinking about the 17th (or the 13th) for my next visit. This sounds very nice. I haven't been there but the most recent "best baguette" (prior to my May 2006 visit) bakery was in the 17th.

We stayed in the 17th last month. Loved the area. We were at Rennequin off of Wagram.

Personally, if I were looking at renting in the area, I'd either opt for something more directly in Batignolles proper or go for something in Montmartre. The dividing line between the 17th and 18th arrondisements along ave de Clichy and ave de St-Ouen isn't overwhelmingly charming.

It's nice around M: Villiers and rue de Levis...

Yes, Villiers and Levis is nice. I prefer Batignolles, however. Of course, I'm probably a bit biased.

I've gotta get up there sometime... I've read a couple of short articles and it sounds nice.

Here are a couple of posts about it:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34660270
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34613308
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34499532

I've been around Brochant metro and liked that area, plus they have the lovely Square des Batignolles park not far away. I guess that isn't too far from La Fourche, either. There is a lovely private gated area in that section (of which I had a small group walking tour, as part of a larger architectural walk in the 17th) called Cite des Fleurs.

I don't think the border of the 18th is that charming, either, although there is a good concert club I've been to around there -- Club Europeen on rue Biot.

Another vote for Les Batignolles. We'd live there if we could afford it. Went to a bar we like in the neighborhood just the other night on rue Lemercier for a quick drink and it turned out to be "free couscous night." Yet another excuse for us to head to the 17th!

suziec and bob_brown, will you divulge the apartments you discuss. we are looking for apartments in the 17th and seem to be limited. our trip is in late october. thanks.