Posts by author Melanie Clatanoff
If you’ll be in the Louvre any time soon, don’t be confused by rather anachronistic installation pieces scattered throughout the museum. In the Puget and Marly sculpture galleries, contemporary artists have put up resin statues and fake trees next to the marble figures of greek gods. It’s all part of the Counterpoint program, which runs » Read more
Photo by Nick_Salmond
Louis XVI’s castle at Versailles is one of Europe’s most awe-inspiring monuments, not to mention one of the most visited tourist spots on the globe. If you’re joining the masses of tourists on the RER C from Paris out to the castle, be sure to visit Marie Antoinette’s estate while you’re there. Yes, this fantasy-park » Read more
Sandeman’s New Europe, the travel company whose free walking tours have already taken Berlin, Munich, Amsterdam, and London by storm, has come to Paris. Every day, rain or shine, tours start at 11 a.m. in front of the St. Michel fountain (metro St. Michel, line 4). No sign-ups are necessary. Prospective tourers just need to » Read more
Artists have always flocked to Paris for inspiration, and Polish-American sculptor Kasia Ozga is no exception. She’s been in Paris for the last year under the auspices of the prestigious Harriet Hale Woolley Grant, and this week the Foundation of the United States is hosting a free exhibit of her sculpture. Entitled “Body|Metaphor,” the exhibit » Read more
Photo courtesy by Melanie Clatanoff
The 11th arrondissement is an unpretentious yet trendy Parisian district. Its heart is rue Oberkampf. Drinks and food along this street run about half what they do in more touristy areas like Saint Michel and the Latin Quarter. Happy Hour in most bars runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with cocktails going for around » Read more
Photo by Melanie Clatanoff Cafés, the pinnacle of French culture, operate with their own rules and regulations. These can get confusing. Here’s a crash course on how they work. Follow them and ensure a faux pas-free trip to France: 1. Always greet the staff Say “bonjour” and make eye contact with the bartender if you » Read more
Photograph by Rita Crane
Apparently the French Ministry of Culture caught on that €8 is a lot to pay just to get lost trying to find the Mona Lisa. For younger visitors, there’s a better way. The Louvre is absolutely free for everyone under 26 years old, every Friday evening. The free hours are from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 » Read more
photograph by Melanie Clatanoff Finally, a decent bar on the rue de Rivoli! The Benjamin is a typical French café with a downright decent happy hour. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. every night, all cocktails are 50% off. The two-person cocktails are the best deal. They normally cost an outrageous €22 (hey, this is » Read more
photograph by Melanie Clatanoff Museums in Paris are free on the first Sunday of the month. So now that you have absolutely no excuse not to soak in a little culture, where to go? We suggest avoiding the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, where there will be a herd of about 6,000 fellow Cheapos standing in » Read more
