A few of my favorite things: Paris

A Moment in the Tuileries 1. Luxembourg Gardens- I hate to kick this list off with the obvious by naming Paris’ most popular park, but not only are the gardens one of my favorite spots in Paris, they are also emblematic of Parisian culture. The fact that the Luxembourg Gardens is a public park says a lot about Paris’ accessible beauty and the city’s transfixion with aesthetics. The lush, perfectly manicured lawns lined with vibrantly colored floral arrangements are fit for a king, literally. Yet the park is freely enjoyed by squealing children, teenagers, joggers, cozy couples, and anyone else. The French have a keen sense for what is pretty, and Paris is drenched in French prettiness, from their buildings and gardens, to their paintings, to their food. The “pretty” formula seems to be varying combinations of pastel colors, flowers, white marble, and molding; Monet paints his pinky water lilies, French bakers line their shelves with Easter-colored macarons, and Luxembourg Gardens looks best in the spring.
2. Sunday brunch at Le Cavalier Bleu- In order to transport my favorite New York weekend tradition to Paris, my roommate and I set out to find a perfect Sunday brunch spot. In the 4th arrondissement, on Rue St. Martin looking out onto the Pompidou Center sits Cavalier Bleu, a corner café with an outdoor terrace that stretches out onto Pompidou square, dotted with heating lamps to huddle under. For 9 euro, a glorious French breakfast is yours: the best croissant I’ve had yet, eggs, bacon (which I subbed out for potatoes, without the typical French hassle), bread and jam, coffee/tea, and orange juice so fresh and pulpy they give you a spoon to drink it with. Great way to spend a Sunday morning.
3. Pont des Arts- On warm nights in Paris, this bridge over the Seine is filled with people sprawled out over the wooden planks, laughing, playing guitar, singing, and drinking wine. The bridge is framed on either side by the Institut de France, a stately looking academic building, and the Palais du Louvre. Notre Dame looms in the distance, the bridges that line the river are lit up, the Seine glitters, everyone is relaxed… If only it would stay warm in Paris forever.
4. Nights out on Rue Oberkampf- In the 11th arrondissement on Rue Oberkampf, roughly between Avenue de la République and rue Moret, lies a stretch of action-packed blocks filled with bars, cafés, and restaurants. There’s no need to be picky in this area, each place has its own, funky atmosphere. Overall, the area has an offbeat, grungy-artsy vibe just begging to be gentrified-- so get in while you can. Extra pluses include slightly cheaper-than-average drinks and easily accessible late night snack food (a rarity in Paris).
5. Passage Brady- is an unusual little alley right on the border of the 3rd and 10th arrondissements off of the infamously semi-shady rue St. Denis. The glass-roofed passageway is jam-packed with Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi restaurants and a few supermarkets. You can pay somewhere between 8 and 16 euros and get served an ethnic feast. But keep in mind, if you’re looking for spicy, you’re in for disappointment: the French are weary of spicy foods and owners of ethnic restaurants savvy to the French palate carefully edit the spiciness out of their dishes. The food is good, but bland.
6. A Parisian All-Nighter, La Nuit Blanche- On the first Saturday of October since its debut in 2002, Paris’ Nuit Blanche all-night art festival begins at sunset on Saturday and ends at sunrise on Sunday morning. Performance art is set up by mysterious forces all over the city: a techno electronica light show in a random alley, a bollywood dance performance in front of the Lyon train station, quirky Russian films projected on the side of a building, a brass ensemble and impromptu dance party underneath the Pompidou center, and countless other installations and artwork around the city. On La Nuit Blanche the city positively buzzes with energy and action: the streets and subways are filled with people. Their restless excitement gets them through pulling this all-nighter.
7. Rue Cler, Paris’ most perfect street: The myth of Paris as a charming French village (think: Amélie) exists in near-perfection on Rue Cler in the 7th arrondissement. This little pedestrian block is paved in cobblestone and lined with the quaintest of produce markets, flower shops, fromageries, boulangeries, butcheries, wine shops, cafés, and carefully edited vintage jewelry boutiques. Rue Cler has somehow managed to avoid being overrun by tourists (although there are usually a few), enabling the street to keep its folkloric charm where other, larger Paris quarters (think: Montmartre) have been less successful.