May/16/2008                    Actually in PARIS

shopping                                                                   until the 12/31/2008

La Vallee Village
Outlet 35 mn from the center of Paris and 5 mn from Disneyland.

Open-air malls, floral terraces here and there, pretty pastel- colorouded houses offering previous collections of prestigious brands at prices reduced by least 33% all year round, 7 days a week.
Fashion (men, women, kids), sportswear, fine leather goods, luggage, home ware, tableware, jewellery, beauty products... you'll find over 80 major brand names. 12% tax refund pr purchases over 175€ (Non european Union residents only).

Hours
Open 7 days a week, all year round
From Monday to Saturday 10am-7pm
Sunday 11am-7pm

Services
Umbrellas, pushchairs and wheelchairs
Free Car park
Children's playground
Restaurants

Access
Train: TGV, Thalys and Eurostar
Metro /RER : Val d'Europe and Shuttle
Shuttle from Paris on request
Car: Motorway A4, exit 12
Free Access
www.lavalleevillage.com

exhibition                                                                   until the 6/31/2008

Marie-Antoinette
300 works dedicated to France most notorious queen.

The Grand Palais provides a fascinating exhibition into Marie Antoinette’s complex personality through this exhibition of works from all over Europe.
Marie-Antoinette is France’s most notorious queen. She was adulated on her arrival in Versailles, where her beauty, vivacity and intelligence were widely admired. Worried by her popularity, courtiers at Versailles attempted to limit her political influence. But the young queen was destined to make an impact. Marie-Antoinette soon became known as a patron of the arts.
She brought about changes at Versailles in the realms of decorative arts, music and fashion. However, her extravagance came in for sharp criticism. The young queen was dismissed as “the Austrian” and considered a spendthrift, a schemer and a counter-revolutionary. Admiration, hate, jealousy and high drama all form part of her story, which has retained people’s interest down the ages.

Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais
3 avenue du Gal Eisenhower 75008 Paris
Metro : Champs Elysées Clemenceau or Franklin-Roosevelt
Every day except Tuesdays from 10.00 a.m to 8.00 p.m
+33 1 44 13 17 17
€ 10
www.rmn.fr/gngp-gb/index.html

shopping                                 from the 7/1/2008 to the 12/31/2008

Pylones Stores
Wackiest gift items in Paris

Pylones store’s whimsy and excellent design are increasingly popular. With several stores in Paris, the result is easier access to great gifts and fun Paris souvenirs.
The main attraction though is in the shop itself, the products ranges from baby gifts to funky designed curios. Brightly colored, everything from toasters and kitchen utensils to hairbrushes to watches and jewelry. From small children to adults, you will find something for everyone.
A round silver tin holds a youngster’s teeth for the tooth fairy. Creative types will appreciate plastic clothespins in the shape of swallows.

Montmartre : 7, rue Tardieu. Metro: Abbesses
Ile de la CIté : 57, rue St Louis en Ile. Metro: Cité
Marais : 13 rue St Croix dela Bretonnerie. Metro: Hotel de Ville
Left Bank : 98 rue du Bac. Metro: Rue du Bac
Stores also in NYC and Japan
www.pylones.com

shopping                                 from the 7/1/2008 to the 12/31/2008

Mariage Freres
It's tea time

Four hundred and fifty teas from 32 countries is a very good reason for taking the time to visit one of the Mariage Freres stores in Paris.
These teashops and salons feel straight out of another country, but not in a hoity-toity way. It has a cute, low-key café, and its Birthday Tea blend-which comes in a pretty canister-makes a great gift.

30 rue du Bourg-Tibourg 75001 Paris.
Metro: Hotel de Ville.
33 1 43 47 18 54
www.mariagefreres.com