We're probably renting an apartment on R. Chakes Weiss for our next trip but are wondering how long and what kind of a walk is it from R. Charles Weiss to the Plaisance metro? I can see on the map that we would need to cross the main tracks to Montparnasse but I can't really tell what it would be like or how long it would talk to walk it.

I don't know that specific street but if you go into google maps/satellite you'll see the road/walkway goes under the railroad tracks and then it is a direct to the tube station.

You can also 'walk' the little man through the entire neighborhood.

that should be >>and then it is a direct walk to the tube station<<

Thanks janisj, I did finally learn to use that googlemaps/satellite thing at your suggestion and can see the walk is quite doable. A little boring but fine. Now thee question is, how safe is that area and also the "wilds" of the 15th in the other direction to walk at night. There are a number of restaurants we're interested in trying that look to be 1/2 hour walk from our apartment or so out in the boonies of the 15th that we'd probably walk home from around midnight if we thought it was safe. We always feel very safe walking everywhere in central Paris late at night (while using the same awareness we use walking anywhere late at night) but we haven't spent any time walking late at night in the outskirts of Paris so it seems safer to ask. For example, I do know that we wouldn't want to be walking late at night in the Bois de Boulogne.

I'm not sure about the Plaisance Metro stop or the immediate area it's in, but if you look at the metro map and see Vaugirard metro stop, which is the next line over (line 12), and almost in line with Plaisance, I stayed in that area this past October and can say that I never felt unsafe there, even walking late at night (11.00pm - 1.00am). It's less busy after dark than it is in the day of course, but its well lit, has bars and cafes opened until late and seemed safe to me. Then again, I was walking on a 'main' road. Plaisance does not seem that far away, perhaps that area too is similar in nature.... I don't know.

Just in case you're looking for walks in the area, I walked along rue Vaugirard (on which the metro stop of the same name is located) to Montparnasse station several times, passing Volontaires and Pasteur stations along the way. Its a long and busy street with lots of nice looking cafes and restaurants. I also walked westwards from Pasteur station (a large crossroads) to Cambronne station and that too is a nice area. From there I walked to the Eiffel Tower. I also turned this distance (Vaugirard stn to ET) into a running route and it took me about 30 minutes each way (running).

Thanks Mathieu. I'm looking forward to getting to know this entire area of Paris.

The area I'm most wondering about in terms of late night walking is actually South of Vaugirard Metro(heading away from Montparnasse.) It would involve walking by George Brassons park and the Vaugiragd Hospital area. Anyone familiar with this area?

Plafield, I did walk south of Vaugirard but not too far down so thats why I didn't mention it. I don't think its a dicey area and it looked fine to me. There are some traffic-busy main roads crisscrossing around there.
This part of the 15th is typical of the 'outer' or 'Greater' edges of most of the world's large cities (not too flashy but clean and functional), and I like them because it gives me a truer feel for how the ordinary citizens of a city really live, yet being a mere few metro stops away from the ritzy hubbub. Paris has dozens of such neighborhoods and I visited a few while I was there.

There are some beautiful parks and lots of nice cafes and restaurants all over, lots of interesting highrises that have a 20s and 30s style to them with wrought-iron balconies and potted flowers, and also some very good neighborhood bistros in small side streets that visiting tourists will never chance upon to know of. Let me know if you want any recommendations. In addition, Le Cordon Bleu Paris is in this area (which was the reason I was there in the first place) and so there tends to be a small scattering of good eating places staffed by student and professional grads.

I'd love to gear of any great bistros you want to recommend in that area! Thanks.

You might want to head for nearby rue Daguerre, a not well known, but picturesque, market street, so devoid of tourists.

If you love kitchenware, tableware, accessories, M P Sarnie is magnificent. A few doors away is the terrific

http://filsdelaferme.com/filsdelaferme/Accueil.html

Thanks. We stayed near R Daguerre last time and loved this street and the entire area. If the same apartment had been available for our dates this time we'd be back there in a heartbeat. As I said, this time we're further southwest of Montparnasse between Plaisance and Convention metros. But I'll certainly look into Les fils de la ferme as it look promising. It's right up the street from one of our all time favorites, La Regalade on General Leclerc.