PARIS: TWO-WHEELED ADVENTURES

Forget driving in Paris! And yes, Le Metro will get visitors anywhere for a couple of Euros. BUT the fabulous VÉLIB bicycle system will get anyone anywhere–for free–with a little pedal power in an eco-friendly way. The bicycle rental system was modeled after ones in Lyon and in Barcelona, and was inaugurated in Paris in 2007.

In nice weather it’s great fun to ride around the city and its parks. Since 2007, thousands of Parisians and out-of-towners have picked up one of 25,000 bicycles at one of 1,800 racks around the city, depositing them in another rack, wherever their errand or leisurely whim takes them. Vélib rental is available 24/7 and renting a bicycle is as easy as sliding a credit card in the machines at the rental racks.

Fun Fact: Only in Paris…! Broken or dysfunctional bikes are gathered up and stored in a wire cage along the Seine. A repair manager and his wife live on a nearby comfy river barge for two-week stints, and, along with a team of bike mechanics, make sure the bikes are returned to the streets in good and safe working order.

PARIS - SHOPPING DELIGHTS

HERMÈS ON THE LEFT BANK – The famous luxury brand, Maison Hermès, has opened a temporary store on rue de Grenelle in Paris’ Left Bank. For the next year Hermès devotees can revel in 600 square feet of sophisticated space decorated with fanciful cardboard sculptures by a well-known French designer. Meanwhile… a permanent space is being constructed near the Bon Marché, in the site that was once the huge swimming pool at the lovely Hotel Lutetia.

SWEET SHOP: La Mere de Famille
Paris’ 9th arrondisement is home to a candy shop that has been keeping sweet teeth happy for more than 250 years. The shop, La Mere de Famille, is itself virtual eye-candy, decorated with heavy leaded-glass chandeliers, wooden counters, tiled floors and big glass jars filled with colorful confections. More than 800 regional specialties tempt the customers, including glazed fruits (such as southern France’s famous gourmet prunes), chocolates, nougats, pastel-colored marshmallows, and calissons (almond-paste flavored cookies). While there are several shop branches around Paris, this original store is not to be missed. 35 rue du Faubourg Montmartre

PARIS MUSEUM HOSTS SPANISH MASTERS

From El Greco to Dalí. The Great Spanish masters.
March 12 – August 1, 2010
One of Paris’ finest, yet least-known, museums – the Musée Jacquemart-André – presents a stunning exhibition of Spanish art collected by Juan Antonio Pérez Simón and showcases more than 50 masterpieces by 25 artists. Spanning nearly 500 years, the exhibit features works by El Greco, Murillo, Goya, Picasso, Miro, and Dali, this dazzling collection (appearing in Paris for the first time) represents the evolution of Spanish art through the centuries.

The often-overlooked Parisian museum gem sits just off the Champs Elyseés and houses one of the finest permanent collections of European art in the city. It was once the private home of banker Édouard André and society painter Nélie Jacquemart who left their home and its fine art collections to the Institut de France. In 1913, the home was opened to the public as a museum.

Musée Jacquemart-André
158 Boulevard Haussmann
Open daily from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

VIVE YVES!

Yves Saint-Laurent – 40 Years in the Making
March 11 – August 29
Petit Palais, Musée des Beaux Arts de la Ville de Paris
This spectacular retrospective showcases the career of France’s premier fashion designer, Yves Saint-Laurent. Drawings, films and a display of legendary photographs, including those of Catherine Deneuve dressed in YSL, tell the story of a well-designed life. At the center of the show are more than 300 pieces of clothing, both couture and prêt-à-porter, chronologically depicting the 40-year fashion revolution embodied by Saint-Laurent’s career. Included are the iconic Trapeze collection from the 1950s, as well as the stunning evening gowns from the turn of the millennium.

Chocolatine tidbit: Saint-Laurent’s life and business partner, Pierre Bergé, once said: “Chanel liberated the woman, but Yves Saint-Laurent gave them power.”

ROMANCE ON THE SEINE

While Valentine’s Day is tailor-made for the most romantic boat ride on the planet, any occasion is special when celebrated on the iconic bateaux-mouche that ply the river Seine through the heart of Paris. Whether a brief cruise just to say you did it, a leisurely luncheon cruise, or a candle-lit onboard dinner prepared by a Michelin-starred French chef … no traveler to Paris should miss the experience.

Wintertime evening cruises are warm and cozy from within the glass-encased decks, and gliding past the historic monuments of the City of Lights––Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, City Hall, the splendid bridges, the Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis––is an unforgettable and ultimately romantic experience.

Chocolatine wishes you all a HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY…

FINDING THE UNIQUE IN PARIS & BORDEAUX

SECRET PARIS: Museum of Letters & Manuscripts
The first museum of its kind in Europe, this treasure-trove of rare letters and historic manuscripts is cloistered away in a lovely 1608 residence in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés quarter. There are more than 250 originals to be ogled, including: letters by Napoleon and Voltaire; calculations by Einstein on the Theory of Relativity; a Mozart score; and General Eisenhower's cease-fire command on May 7, 1945.
222 Boulevard Saint-Germain
Hours: Wednesday, 1pm-9pm; Thursday – Sunday, 10am-6pm.

WINE BLENDING IN BORDEAUX
For those who love the craftsmanship of producing fine wines, a wine “assemblage” (wine-blending) workshop in Bordeaux offers a unique chance to take wine know-how to the next level. Bordeaux Tourism has teamed up with four vintners from the Medoc area, Les Médocaines, offering half-day “Introduction to Wine Blending” classes on Mondays, February through March 2010. A visit to a local chateau is followed by the blending workshop in the tasting room of another estate. Limited to 8 participants.
Reservations (5 days in advance): http://www.bordeaux-tourisme.com/pl/visites.pl?id=273&df=2&lg=uk

PARIS SINGS IN FEBRUARY!

ZORRO – LE MUSICAL!
The Folies Bergère hosts the fabulous theatrical extravaganza, ZORRO, complete with Flameco dancing, fencing matches and sword fights, incredible sets, music by the Gipsy Kings, and direction by Christopher Renshaw.
WHEN: through April 30, 2010
Prices from E24 – E125
For tickets: http://www.zorro-lemusical.fr./

PLAYING AT: La Salle Pleyel
It’s a real treat to hear a live concert at the beautiful Salle Pleyel, part of the 1927 Pleyel piano manufacturing building. Upcoming February performances include:
•Cecilia Bartoli / Handel’s Julius Caesar
February 9, 12, 14
•Paris Orchestra, Christoph Eschenbach
Special concert series with international guests
February 10, 11, 17, 18, 20
•Berlin Philharmonic
February 26, 27

For online booking: http://www.sallepleyel.fr/anglais/billetterie/achats.aspx

FEBRUARY IN PARIS

VALENTINE DINNER
The restaurant 58 TOUR EIFFEL, on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower offers dazzling views of Paris from 180 feet high. For the evening of Valentine's Day, guests can enjoy a special four-course dinner with wine for E150 per person. For reservations:
http://www.restaurants-toureiffel.com/english/restaurant-tour-eiffel-58.html

TOWER'S TOP FLOOR REOPENS
The top of the Eiffel tower, closed since January 4 for maintenance, reopens on Sunday, February 7.

BACKSTAGE AT THE EIFFEL TOWER
Visitors can now take a behind-the-scenes guided tour into the room housing the original machinery that runs the elevators, a hidden bunker, and the technical control room. For a reservation: visite@purplebeam.com

CHINESE NEW YEAR IN PARIS
Coinciding with Valentine’s Day weekend this year is Chinese New Year – the Year of the Tiger. Paris celebrates the event in elaborate style with colorful parades and noisy firecrackers.
•DETAILS: The first parade falls on Valentine's Day, Sunday, February 14. It starts at 2 p.m. at the Hôtel de Ville (Paris City Hall). The following Sunday, February 21, the parade begins at 1:30 on the Avenue Ivry.