Maison Clarté in Paris: The classy Repetto shoes.

Maison Clarté in Paris: The classy Repetto shoes.

You can go to Maison Clarté in Paris and, like Nan Goldin, buy some of the ornamental pieces in the gorgeous window displays and some of the furniture, or you can go there to buy Repetto shoes. Or both really—the stuffed birds, the chairs, the chandelier by Astier de Villatte and the beautiful antiques are all for sale. Maison Clarté is an exclusive seller of Repetto shoes, classic models as well as collectibles such as the zizi in jean, the MJ with rhinestones or the BB with zippers. The boutique is precious, stumbling upon it made me feel good for the rest of day.

Maison Clarté
8 Rue Charlot
75003 Paris
maisonclarte@hotmail.com
Metro: Saint-Sébastien - Froissart, Filles du Calvaire

Tu-Sat: 10am-8pm
Closed on Sunday and Monday

Zef in Paris: Casual chic clothing for children.

Zef in Paris: Casual chic clothing for children.

Chic and fashionable Parisians dress their kids in Zef clothes. Designer Mariu De Andreis, the daughter of Italian fashion photographer Paolo Roversi, captures the perfect French bobo (bourgeois-bohème) look for her line of kids’ clothing Zef. The quality of fabrics, the elegant patterns, the ethnic touch, the casual yet sophisticated clothes definitely set this brand apart. It is classic and hip, timeless and modern. Sizes range from new born to 12 years old.
Also, the accessories are very tasteful and I can easily imagine grown ups shopping for themselves at Zef!

Zef 1st arrondissement
32 Rue de Richelieu
75001 Paris
tel: 01.42.60.61.04
Metro: Pyramides, Palais-Royal - Musée du Louvre

M-Sat: 11am-7pm (closed for half an hour at lunch)
Closed on Sunday

zef 3rd arrondissement
15 Rue Debelleyme
75003 Paris
tel: 01.42.76.09.65
Metro: Saint-Sébastien - Froissart

7/7
M, Sun: 2pm-7pm
Tu-Sat: 11am-7pm

zef & zef piccolo, espace naissance 6th arrondissement
55 bis Rue des Saint-Pères
75006 Paris
tel: 01.42.22.02.93 / 45.22
Metro: Saint-Germain-des-Près

M-Sat: 10.30am-7pm
Closed on Sunday

zef, espace Printemps Haussmann 9th arrondissement
64 Boulevard Haussmann
75009 Paris
tel: 01.42.82.50.00
Metro: Havre-Caumartin

M-Sat: 9.35am-8pm (open until 10pm on Thursday)
Closed on Sunday

zef 16th arrondissement
93 avenue Kléber
75016 Paris
tel: 01.45.53.55.89
Metro: Trocadéro

M: 2pm-7pm
Tu-Sat: 10.30am-7pm
Closed on Sunday

L’Artisan Fleuriste: flower shop in the 3rd and 7th.

L’Artisan Fleuriste: flower shop in the 3rd and 7th.

Address and opening hours of L’Artisan Fleuriste flower shops in Paris, 3rd and 7th arrondissements.

L’Artisan Fleuriste
95 Rue Vielle du Temple
75003 Paris
3rd arrondissement
tel: 01.42.78.40.40
Metro: Chemin Vert, Saint-Sebastien - Froissart

7/7
M, Sun: 10am-8pm
Tu-F: 10am-9pm

L’Artisan Fleuriste
6 Rue Commaille
75007 Paris
7th arrondissement
tel: 01.42.84.40.40
Metro: Sèvres-Babylone

M: 1.30pm-7pm
Tu, W, Th: 10.30am-8.30pm
F, Sat: 10am-9pm
Closed on Sunday

Hysope & cie: flower shop in the 3rd.

Hysope & cie: flower shop in the 3rd.

Address and opening hours of Hysope & cie flower shop in Paris, 3rd arrondissement.

Hysope & cie
104 Rue Vieille du Temple
75003 Paris
tel: 01.44.59.3.00
Metro: Saint-Sebastien - Froissart, Chemin Vert

T-Sat: 11am-7.30pm
Closed on Sunday and Monday

Flairs in Paris at Panic Room

Flairs in Paris at Panic Room

A crossover between pop and electro with an 80’s vintage synthetizer sound, Flairs’ new album Sweat Symphony will hit the shelves on February 16. The album release party will be at Panic Room on February 18, 2009. The trio will be playing in several other Parisian venues: La Flèche d’Or on Valentine’s night, Le Point Ephémère on March 31 and at the Grand Palais—an unusual venue to say the least—on April 29.

February 18, 2009—8pm
Flairs at Panic Room
101 Rue Amelot
75011 Paris
tel: 01.58.30.93.43‎
Metro: Saint-Sebastien - Froissart

Bike tours in Paris

Bike tours in Paris

In case you were thinking about visiting Paris by bike, during the day or at night, on your own or with a guide, on private tours or with a group, know that there are several companies who provide these services. Here are a few selected ones:

Paris Charms and Secrets
A four-hour visit of Paris on electrical bikes. It will take you to the historical places as well as the mysterious spots with practically no physical effort on your part!

Paris Charms and Secrets
106 Rue Vieille du Temple
75003 Paris
tel: 01.40.29.00.00
Metro: Saint Sébastien - Froissart
Tour departure point:
Place Vendôme
75001 Paris

Paris à vélo c’est sympa
These bike tours will safely and peacefully take you to enchanting and unexpected places.

Paris à vélo c’est sympa
22 Rue Alphonse Baudin
75011 Paris
tel: 01.48.87.60.01
Metro: St Sébastien-Froissart, Richard-Lenoir

M-F: 9.30am-1pm - 2pm-5.30pm
Sat-Sun. 9.30-1pm - 2pm-6pm
Closed on Tuesday

Paris Bike Tour
Offers guided bike tours of the historical and cultural Paris, as well as bike rentals for those who prefer to discover the city at their own pace.

Paris Bike Tour
38 Rue de Saintonge
75003 Paris
tel: 01.42.74.22.14
Metro: Filles du calvaire, République

M-Sun: 9am-7pm

Fat Tire Bike Tours Paris
Fat Bike Tours offers guided tours in English only, in and outside of Paris (Versailles, Monet’s gardens). There’s a Paris-by-night ride for those who want to discover the city of lights in all its twinkle. Fat Bike Tours wants to make sure that while you are comfortably riding their beach cruisers — how stylish of them — you are also having a lot fun. Their moto is: see more, less effort, more fun.

Fat Tire Bike Tours Paris
24 Rue Edgar Faure
75015 Paris
tel: 01.56.58.10.54
tel: 1-866-614-6218 (toll-free from North America to our Paris office)
Metro: Dupleix

M-Sun: 9am-6pm
Closed on December 25

Breizh Café: The best crêpes in Paris.

Breizh Café: The best crêpes in Paris.

Breizh Café in Paris is the crêperie at its best. The galettes (name given to savory crêpes made out of buckwheat flour) are an absolute delight. The menu offers an interesting variation of toppings, going from the classic galette complète (ham, egg and cheese) to less traditional ones such as the “fourme d’ambert” served with blue cheese, grapes and walnuts. All the ingredients are top of the line: from free-range to organic goods, you can be sure that you will be served the best. There’s a long list of ciders to choose from, all carefully picked, as well as Breton beers and Breton coca-cola (Breizh cola!)
Aside from the very lovely people working there and the perfect crêpes, there’s one more thing that I find particularly satisfying: Breizh Café’s opening hours - it’s open non-stop from lunch to dinner Wednesday through Sunday.
If you choose to eat at the regular French hours (12pm-2pm and 8pm-10.30pm) I would highly recommend you make a reservation. Otherwise you should be fine just walking in. And how about paying Breizh Café a visit around 4pm for a sweet crêpe such as the applesauce-salty caramel-vanilla ice-cream one, for those too are highly worth the detour.
Paris’ Breizh Café is in the Marais, catercorner from the Musée Picasso gardens.

Breizh Café
109 Rue Vieille du Temple
75003 Paris
tel: 01.42.72.13.77
Metro: Saint-Sebastien-Froissart

W-Sat: 12pm-11pm
Sun: 12pm-10pm
Closed on Monday and Tuesday