Sally Peabody

What a concept! Pierre Cluizel, accomplished chocolatier, and son of maître chocolatier Michele Cluizel, has opened the world’s first ‘chocolate concept store’ in the heart of St. Germain des Près.  If you have even a slight interest in fine chocolate you should go... as soon as possible!

Paris is unfailingly beautiful, one of the most seductive cities on earth.  With just a little thought, it is simple to share and savor a perfectly romantic Parisian day.

You should visit Paris parks for all the usual reasons… relaxing open space in an urban place, things to do for kids, tranquility, beautiful gardens, trees, flowers…. But in Paris many parks entice with unusual reasons to visit too.

Paris has got to be one of the most documented cities on the planet.  So many blogs, e-newsletters and Paris specialist publications like Bonjour Paris the weekly e-magazine. Bonjour Paris has a subscriber section and also a free section and the non-subscriber part has a very good listing of events and happenings.

Foodie things to enjoy with children in Paris:

Picnic in a park with great views, especially one near a good market or market street (Rue Cler-Champ de Mars, Richard Lenoir Market-Place des Vosges). Even if it is an Orangina and a baguette sandwich it will taste good!

The venerable French tea firm Mariage Frères has opened a new tea counter and small shop in the Carrousel du Louvre near the lowest point of IM Pei’s pyramid as it stretches down into the below-ground level.

No more lines at the Eiffel Tower!

It has only taken 100 plus years to figure out how to ease access to the iconic Eiffel Tower! Now you can go online and purchase a ticket for a specific arrival time, print out the ticket, and go!

January is decidedly not a post-holiday slump month in Paris. The cultural calendar is rich and full and life is good. There is a particularly notable January event that is a must-not-miss if you love to shop for French Chic, and, are lucky enough to be in France.

Paris abounds in 'Concept Shops'. A great way to highlight coming trends and very contemporary fashion, design, homewares and art, concept shops add to that incomparable Parisian 'buzz'. "Ethical Concept Stores" are a new addition to this universe of the hip, cool and contemporary.

It is easy to fill your days in Paris with wonderful things to do, see and taste. Night time can be little more complicated. Of course there is Pariscope and other helpful arts and events publications but something timely, searchable, comprehensive…