Finding Out What Is Going On in Paris

Sometimes you just want to read what’s ‘on’ and dream, even better, other times you want to know what is happening so you can actually take advantage of the abundant Parisian cultural  riches during a visit.

Once you are in Paris, the best deal in town has to be Pariscope.  Published on Wednesdays and available in all the newsstands, this little TV-guide like booklet is the go to source for seemingly everything that is going on.  Love movies? Check. Concerts ranging from techno music to jazz to classical or world music? Check. Walking tours and special festivals? Yes.  Brocantes, Art and Antiques shows?  Marionette shows for the kids? Absolutely.  Racy stuff like libertine clubs?  Yes, tucked in the back.  There is even a highlighted restaurant or two in each issue contributed by the Time Out staff who cover Paris.   Pariscope will be the best .60 euro cents you’ve ever spent. Sit in a café and get out your highlighter and check off far more things than you will ever realistically do. Always good to have options!

If you want to research specific cultural offerings, for example the Paris Opera, there is a good website listing the full season and offering mail order possibilities for tickets. And always keep an eye on the posters in the metro and the temporary signs outside churches or clubs advertising events that may be last minute or not scheduled far enough in advance to get into print publications.

For up to date events, news about city wide and arrondissement-specific initiatives (for example, where you can find free wifi spots, or development of the Parc de la Villette area) you should definitely check out and bookmark the excellent e-zine called À Paris that the Mairie de Paris publishes.  Full colour, loads of content and wonderfully useful, this publication is not skewed by for profit interests, it is simply published to promote and encourage access to all that Paris has to offer. 

The latest issue outlines all there is to do in Paris during the summer months.  Indeed, www.paris.fr is the city of Paris’ newly renovated website and this excellent resource is available in French and English.

And while you are considering which blogs to add to your Paris sources, include my blog Enjoying Paris Off the Beaten Path. peabodysparis.blogspot.com