going to paris....
will rent an apart. for 2 wks 2/21-3/6/2004
plan to eat most dinners in apart.
thus need an arrondissement where local shops "abundant"(for lack of a better word)
thus exclude 1st thru 7th arr
what would you suggest:
for left bank, 13-14-15arr..or
remaining right bank ones.
also an arr where english is somewhat spoken
since i "handbook" phrase french.
thanks in advance for your comments

I don't think that excludes the 1-7th at all. There are large and wonderful markets in the 7th, rue de Buci in the 6th can keep you fed for years!
You will find English spoken in those areas also-the farther away from the areas where the most tourists are, I think would be where English would be spoken less.
Budget-wise, my cousins stayed in an apt in the Marais. They stayed for a month, eating in much of the time. And they don't speak French very well at all.

I agree that wanting local shops does not exclude the 1st-7th at all. It may depend on how much money you want to spend, but I suspect not a lot and that's a reason for wanting to eat most dinners in. I wouldn't choose the 6th myself, and rue de Buci is one of the most expensive markets in Paris. That goes in hand with apartments being more expensive there, also.

I think many areas would certainly fit your purposes. I just stayed in an apt. near the Censier metro stop in the 5th, but not the area near the Seine, and there were tons of shops around there, including the well-known rue MOuffetard, place Monge period market, and many smaller shops.

I've also stayed in the 15th near place Charles Michels and it would fit your criteria also as there are many food shops along rue St-Charles and a large Monoprix supermarket nearby on rue Linois. That area would be a lot cheaper than others. I've also stayed in the 14th a lot and if you stayed near rue Alesia and rue Daguerre there are a million shops and things are cheaper, also. Another good area would be just south of bd Montparnasse, near bd Edgar Quinet, for example.

The only area I like that well in the 13th would be near rue de Tolbiac, west of ave d'Italie. This is a nice area also with shops and there are a couple weekly markets around there (one on ave d'Italie, another on bd Auguste Blanqui). This would not be my preferred area, however, the 14th or 15th would be among 13-15.

English is somewhat spoken in all of these, although not as much the farther away you get from the Seine. YOu could get by, however, you don't have to speak that much just to buy stuff in stores. Less English would be spoken in the 13th and 15th than the 14th near bd Montparnasse, I'd say.

If I could, I would stay near rue Mouffetard, and Place des Monges. The market is wonderful, they have exotic, cheap and good restaurants. And even if you don't speak French, the people int he market are nice, and they are used to the tourists. Hope it was of some help, since I lived in the 16th. , and in Neuilly. But shopped in the Moufetard quite often.

We just came back from Paris. Rented an apartment just at the border bet. the 6th and the 7th. There are plenty of shops in that area, including the famous Bon Marche, where you find wonderful food to take home. Also all sorts of smaller markets, bakeries and everything you could need. There is also a supermarket about 4 short blocks from the apt. I agree, there is food everywhere in Paris, and you DO NOT have to spend a fortune. We ate in several times. That is the advantage of having an apartment. I do not know how much you want to spend. However, I would be careful to get as good a place as you can afford. A nice, comfortable place would make a difference in how you enjoy your trip. I believe the place you stay may make or break your trip.
About the language, I agree, there is no problem buying food or ordering it at a restaurant. I do not speak French, and my wife only a little. The shopkeepers were nice and friendly and we had no problems at all. Just be polite. They always say bonjour, bonsoir, merci etc. Also, the French love Chinese food and there are Chinese restaurants all over. Aparently some very good ones. We did not try them, since we do not have to go all the way to Paris to eat Chinese. I can do that in my own neighborhood!
Hope this helps you somewhat.
Have a wonderful trip!

Let me put in a good word for the 11th arrondissement near the Bastille. It's not touristy, has many small shops on nearly every street, great cafes and resturants and has a distincly pleasant ambiance. No bums, no graffiti. It'not that far from the center of town either. I have stayed there many times.