BonjourParis

The title of the book says it, really: Writers in Paris …writers and Paris -- two of my grand passions combined. I've always loved reading, since I was a little kid, and my fascination with Paris -- what I read about it, what I heard about it -- began long before I ever went there. Last Updated ( Sunday, 29 June 2008 )

Paris inspires the urge to be artsy even in those who have even the smallest modicum of creativity. How can it not, with the ornate, grandiose architecture of every monument rising against the horizon; the spirit of artistic giants like Renoir, Van Gogh, and Degas occupying the narrow, winding streets of Montmartre; original works of local artists in the Place de Tertre; the numerous museums filled with the work of masters, porteurs of French fashion fiercely walking down the Champs Elysées; and postcards of finely drawn Parisian cityscape hanging on every souvenir stand? Last Updated ( Sunday, 29 June 2008 )

On the Fourth of July 2008 weekend, Paris will join London, Prague and Madrid in the tradition of holding an annual culinary festival. Called Gastronomy by the Seine, this historic first annual international gourmet festival is designed for food, wine and luxury hospitality professionals. The event celebrates culinary traditions, regional specialties, seasonality and the evolution of flavors and tastes, as well as skilled crafts in table art (such as fine cutlery and crystal) and culinary equipment. Gourmet literature in the form of cookbooks, culinary guides, magazines, and epicurean memoirs will also be featured. The theme of the event is “Innovation, Creativity and Haute Cuisine for All”. Last Updated ( Saturday, 21 June 2008 )

The French are innately chic (darn them). Although we may not be as subtly cool as they are, we can come close by shopping where they shop. Here are the best districts in Paris where shops are abundant and the goods of your dreams are on overflow. Last Updated ( Saturday, 21 June 2008 )

La Madeleine -intricately-decorated, beautifully painted ceilings, great place to just sit and look. If you’re lucky, you can catch the choir singing on a weekday. Because of its premier location steps away from the Place de la Concorde and the Opera Garnier, it’s a great place to wander and if you walk down Boulevard de la Madeleine, you will find many jewelry shops, clothing and shoe stores. Last Updated ( Saturday, 21 June 2008 )

The exuberance with which my wife and I returned from Paris a decade ago was contagious. Our friends, and even those who heard about our trip wanted to know our favorite-do-not-miss-spots. Accordingly we put together a Best of Paris list that we handed out with pride until we got tired to telling people what to do. The true joy of Paris, as I have said earlier, is the one you create for yourself. Last Updated ( Saturday, 21 June 2008 )

It is legal to sell sex in France provided you have reached the age of consent and then consent. The French consider this an inherent human right. In theory, you might think that sex for sale should be impossible because it is illegal to advertise the product in any way. Proxénétisme, the sublimely weird word for procuring, is also forbidden, and passive solicitation is also défendu, this being defined as wearing provocative clothing in an area known to be frequented by prostitutes. The theory, of course, sits on the shelf with other theories, and the prostitutes of Paris are earning their daily baguette. Last Updated ( Thursday, 19 June 2008 )

Paris is known just as much for its green spaces as its concrete jungle. Whether you are looking for a family outing, a perfect picnic, a place to exercise, a spot to people watch or a setting for a romantic lover’s stroll, there is a Parisian park with your name on it. Here are the top 10 places to ‘park’ yourself in Paris. Last Updated ( Thursday, 19 June 2008 )

Paris spends a fortune on cleanliness and places poubelles everywhere, so unlike Singapore under Lee Kuan Yew or Santo Domingo under Rafael Leonidas Trujillo it is not necessary to have public floggings for people who litter: it’s too easy to find a place to throw things away. And anyway, the poubelles, being plastic bags hanging from hoops, are easy to empty frequently, unlike the heavy metal or concrete barrels—some of them bomb-proof—you’ll find in Washington or New York. So much for the obvious. Last Updated ( Monday, 09 June 2008 )