Paris
Paris
#1Paris
Posted: 2/15/08 at 2:03pmSo I'm taking my first trip to Paris next month. Any suggestions? I'm doing the usual Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, opera house tour and a day at Disney. I'm having the worst time trying to find information on theatre tickets. Anyone know a good wesite for Paris theatre and tickets?
ShbrtAlley44
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/1/03
#3re: Paris
Posted: 2/15/08 at 2:20pm
Mister Matt, can't help you with theatre - I was never there long enough to see anything. Definitely go to Sainte-Chapelle on Ile de la Cite (same little island as Notre Dame), and Sacre Coeur in Montmartre. Try to go to Sacre Coeur when the nuns are singing. Absolutely gorgeous. If it's warm enough, try to have a little picnic - my favorite spot is on the Champs du Mars at the Eiffel Tower, but there are many, many good places. Might I recommend Moroccan restaurant "La Mansouria"? Yummy couscous. Also Berthillon (on Ile de la Cite) for ice cream.
Updated On: 2/15/08 at 02:20 PM
#4re: Paris
Posted: 2/15/08 at 2:28pm
http://www.ticketnet.fr/shop/en/accueil.asp
above covers all events in Paris, theater, opera, concerts, musical....
ditto to Saints-Chapelle, but make sure to see it when the sun is shining..breathtaking.....also..Disney? Nix that and do a sidetrip to Fontainbleau (as Versailles is WAY too crowded), or the cathedral in Reims, or actually a daytrip to Mont St. Michel.....nothing like it on Earth)
You can do Disney in the US....make sure to visit a Monoprix, their grocery chain an experience not to be missed.
Musee de Orsay is a MUST....frankly we enjoyed that more than the Louvre (but definately do the Louvre which is open at least one night late, do it then less crowded)
#5re: Paris
Posted: 2/15/08 at 2:30pm
http://www.comedie-francaise.fr/dev/index.php
NYadgal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#7re: Paris
Posted: 2/15/08 at 2:40pm
Restaurant 404
69, Rue Gravilliers
75003 Paris, France
+33 1 42 74 57 81
Seriously. Everyone I've ever sent there has adored it. And it is one of my absolute favorite restaurants in Paris.
Be sure to have the 404 cocktail.
And the tea.
Heaven.
Le 404 is an authentic Morroccan restaurant serving the standard traditional fare. It's fairly small, with a capacity to seat 50 odd people and is often frequented by the who's who of the film and fashion world. The decor hints at being middle-eastern, with low seating and chandeliers. At the far end is an open kitchen that dishes out the staple of tagines and couscous, as also some nice Algerian wines. The dishes are meant to be eaten family style, with everyone partaking from a common plate or bowl. An experience well worth, for the food, sights and sounds.
#10re: Paris
Posted: 2/15/08 at 2:42pm
You must go to Laduree (pastry shop) and have their macarons and cannelles.
Miss Pennywise has been plenty of times. Hopefully she'll see this thread.
Mister Matt, a good friend of mine lives there, so I can always e-mail him about theatre.
#12re: Paris
Posted: 2/15/08 at 2:45pm
Another fabulous Chateau, definitely not as crowded as Versailles (but without which Versailles never would have been built) is Vaux le Vicomte, near Melun (about 45 minutes from Paris):
http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/en/accueil.php
NYadgal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#13re: Paris
Posted: 2/15/08 at 2:45pm
Also - if you go to the Musee d'Orsay (and you should), go to the top floor to experience the heavenly Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection first, and then work your way downstairs.
Also, the Musee Jacquemart-Andre is a fascinating peek at the way the aristocratic Parisians lived during the luxurious 19th century. It houses an impressive private art collection, but the fascinating part is the home and lifestyle. You can do an audio self-guided tour. Fascinating! The art, the architecture and the most glorious winter garden! Don't miss it!
#15re: Paris
Posted: 2/15/08 at 2:50pm
actually Vaux le Vicomte is wonderful, I'd even do it over Fontainbleau....I fell in love with Vaux le Vicomte from seeing it in movies
peach
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/29/05
#18re: Paris
Posted: 2/15/08 at 3:12pm
Another great restaurant (best Roast Chicken in the world):
La Rotisserie d'en Face
2, Rue Christine
75006 Paris, France
+33 1 43 26 40 98
www.jacquescagna.com
#19re: Paris
Posted: 2/15/08 at 3:35pm
Wonderful suggestions! I'm going to try and visit as many as possible. The Disney visit is more my idea than J. He's actually been there before, but I am a HUGE Disney fan, so I couldn't make my first trip to Paris without visiting the park. It might seem silly, but I am a very silly person.
Addy - Restaurant 404 sounds heavenly. Exactly the type of place I want to visit. I'll try the museums, but J is not fond of visiting many museums. He gets burned out after visiting one or two per trip. We're going to the Louvre and that may be it for him, but I'll try.
Dottie - I am all about pastries. I am so there.
Monoprix sounds very interesting. Ugh...I'm just going to get fatter and I have my 20th high school reunion in August.
ShbrtAlley44
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/1/03
NYadgal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#21re: Paris
Posted: 2/15/08 at 3:59pm
I'm so excited for you that you are making your first trip to Paris. It will be a dream!
If I might suggest: if J isn't a museum person, then go see the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection at the d'Orsay. The building is fascinating, and the views from the windows on the top floor are beautiful. The "problem" with the Louvre is that it's massive. Which overwhelms even the most avid museum fan. Make sure you at least walk around the building and the courtyard with the pyramids, though. And it's the perfect way to anchor your walk through the Tuileries!
If the Louvre is a 'must', (and I understand why it would be), then do yourself a favor and at least go to the top floor of the d'Orsay, also. I promise that the visit is worth it. It's a simple walk from the Louvre, and if you skip all of the sculpture and other collections on the ground and middle floors, and just go to the top floor, it won't be too much. And you'll love it. I promise.
If not, I'll buy you a drink! 
Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
#22re: Paris
Posted: 2/15/08 at 4:02pm
I second Addy's advice - she is absolutely right.
And if you must go to the Louvre - get there very early, before it opens. It gets so crowded that by midday there are often interminably long lines of people just waiting to get in.
NYadgal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#24re: Paris
Posted: 2/15/08 at 4:16pm
or, again, go to the Louvre on the day it's open late....we got there around 4-5PM and it was not crowded at all....plus there is another way in rather than line up at the silly pyramid, underneath (through the underground mall????) and the lines are never as long there, if at all.
Matt....NO MAN should ever keep you out of a museum......do what I do. When we were in Paris, there is an amazing museum there
Musée National du Moyen-Age
Thermes de Cluny
basically museum of the middle ages, fantastic, where all of the Unicorn Tapistries are....Steve has no interest in the Middle Ages, so, I got up was there when they opened, spent an hour and 20 minutes and then came back to the apartment (we rented an apt) and we went out for the day.
Unicorn tapistries
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