Colleen's Tips

Ice skating in the winter in Paris

Hôtel de Ville Skating rink 75004
December 1, 2007 to March 9, 2008
Métro: Hôtel de Ville
 

Open: Monday to Thursday: noon to 10 p.m.
Friday: noon to midnight
Saturday: 9 a.m. to midnight
Sunday : 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Group lessons: Saturday and Sunday mornings: 10 a.m. to noon
December 24, 25 and 31 and January 1: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Bobsled open for children under 12 (under 6, children must be accompanied)
 

Open : Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday : 4 :30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Acces to the skating rink is free ; You are “invited” to bring your own skates
Skate rental are available (size 25-49 – European is 5 euros)
Size 27 and smaller are free

la Bibliothèque François Mitterrand skating rink

(Patinoire de la Bibliothèque François Mitterrand) 75013
December 22, 2007 to January 20, 2008
At the angle of the streets Grands Moulins and Olivier Messiaen (Quartier Paris Rive Gauche)
Métro: Bibliothèque François Mitterrand
 

Open every day 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Acces to the skating rink is free ; you are « invited » to bring your own skates
Skate rental are available (size 25-49 – European is 3 euros)
Size 27 and smaller 2 euros

Montparnasse skating rink 75014
Patinoire de Montparnasse
December 1, 2007 to March 9, 2008
Parvis de la gare Montparnasse –
Métro Montparnasse-Bienvenüe / Gaîté
 

Open : Monday to Friday noon to 8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Group lessons: Saturday and Sunday mornings: 10 a.m. to noon
December 24, 25, 31 and January 1: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Admission to the skating rink and the bobsled is free
You are “invited” to bring your own skates
Skate rental are available (size 25-49 – European is 5 euros)
Size 27 and smaller are free

English theatre

While trying to find English theatre in Paris and not knowing where to begin, I did the obvious: I googled in the words: "theatres en anglais paris" and up popped information from the Shakespeare & Co. website. This is the same Shakespeare & Co. of the well-known bookstore fame.

The Théâtre en Anglais website is, however, in French.

For dates, times and location (since they perform around France) are available on their tour (Tournées) page. Click on the production.

For those learning English, they provide the text (texte integrale) to print out and use as a guide.

Another theatre that I am inquiring about is the Sudden Théâtre. I have recently read that they perform an English version of their production once a week. Although their website is being reconstructed, you can still enter and see what they have recently performed and where they are located.

Comedy in English in Paris

Stand up comedy and concerts are available in Paris at La Java.

Karl Beer "presents some of the world's greatest stand-up comedians and simply the best concert acts you can hear anywhere in the world."
 

His website includes sound and video archives, a French version and directions to La Java (this comedy club was once at Hotel du Nord along the Canal Saint-Martin.

Check their website for current acts and ticket prices.

La Java

105, rue due Faubourg du Temple

10th arrondissement

Reservations: 01 53 19 98 88 or by e-mail

PSG football

Matches played and upcoming schedule


History of Parc des Princes (their home field)
 

Sports fans under 16 received a discount on tickets.

Paris locations to buy tickets

PARIS
4th arrondissement
Made In Sport Les Halles (espace PSG)
33 rue Quincampoix

8th arrondissement
PSG Boutique
27 avenue des Champs-Elysées

10th arrondissement
NSH FOOTBALL
Espace PSG
Le spécialiste du football
2 Boulevard Saint Martin
16e arrondissement
Les 3 Obus
120 rue Michel Ange

PSG Abonnements
24 rue du Commandant Guilbaud
Ouverture :
Du lundi au vendredi (et les samedi de match) de 9h00 à 19h00
Fermé les samedi, sauf match à domicile

18th arrondissement
The Athlete's Foot
Espace PSG
122/124 boulevard de la Chapelle

Seat locations

Where is Parc des Princes in Paris and how do you get there; “visualiser le terrain” = click on the stadium to see where the seats are and what your view of the field will be.

Paris radio stations

The following phrases may appear during downloading:

en cas de problème de chargement du player cliquer ici - it says: In case of downloading problems, click here" .

en direct or en ce moment - live

écouter - listen

Radio stations in French

If you have DSL/ADSL the streaming for these radio stations will work as a regular radio.

The list from the Pariscope consists of 56 radio stations. Let me know your taste, I will let you know the Mhz.

If you go to www.radiofrance.fr you can find immediately a sampling of the state radio stations*: FranceInter, FranceInfo, FranceCulture, FranceMusiques, LeMouv', FIP, Hector, Bleu.

My favorite for variety: FIP 105.1* (Click on "en direct" and then "écouter").

(I will be working in the kitchen, for example, with the radio turned on and playing throughout the apartment. If I like or am curious about the sound of the current song, I go into the computer and tune into FIP through the Radio France website.

On the FIP homepage the red block "en direct" tells who is playing at the time. It updates itself. If you click on this red block "en direct", you can see who were the last two artists and who are the next two artists.

The current artist is featured in the rectangular red block with the name of the artist, the song, the album and the year it came out. I think you will become addicted to this radio station!). FIP  is not available between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. over the internet.

Great for jazz: Radio TSF 89.9

Great for practicing your listening skills: France Inter 87.8*

Great for 24-hour news: FranceInfo 105.5*

* State radio stations

Radio station in English

English language radio - it is a mixture of music and talk

http://www.parislive.fm/

Radio Notre-Dame

If you have trouble connecting ("ecouter") right away, click on "programmes" and on that page click on "ecouter".

http://www.radionotredame.com/1115index.asp

TV-Radio.com

"...is the leading European Leader for Broadcasting radio stations and TV Channels on the Internet...."

Their website is available in English. They give you two possibilities of listening to radio stations:

Scroll to "Focus on..."  or  "Listen to our clients".

For those of my readers interested in Bretagne Sud (south Brittany) click on "radiOcéan".

France Inter, France Culture,

FIP, etc.

Biking in and around Paris

The following information comes from the Paris-Ile-de-France official tourist website and the Paris Tourist Office website:

Roue Libre is the RATP (Paris transportation company). They have two main "points de location" for rental, Les Halles and Bastille. They are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

I can highly recommend this personal way to see Paris. For tips and a tour read all about our experience about our bike ride along the Seine.

When you rent a bike at Maison Roue Libre, you can pick up a Paris bike map for free.

If you visit the Paris City Hall website you can download a pdf (Acrobat) format map of the Paris routes.

Their "cyclobus"  located at Bois de Boulogne, Hôtel de Ville, Bois de Vincennes and Denfert-Rochereau is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Their website provides the addresses.

We rented bikes from their office at the Bastille. The bikes come with a lock (before you leave, I would recommend learning the trick to using the lock so that when you stop, you don't have to practice, you already know). A one day weekend rental is 14 euros (weekdays is 9 euros). You can borrow a basket (panier).

They have different formulas for longer than a day rentals. The minimum rental is one hour. Their English website is under construction, but the French will give the addresses of the 15 locations for renting -- click on the "Points de Location" link on their website.

Guided tours in English are available. Their brochures are in French and English.

Bastille, 37 boulevard Bourdon, Paris 4th arrondissement Open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. everyday -- check December and January times (100 to 150 bikes available -- including children's and tandems). As anywhere, you are required to leave a refundable deposit (credit card impression) and a piece of identification (bring a picture ID that you will not need immediately).

Free Bike Tour

A free biking tour starts at the Hôtel de Ville at 9:30 p.m. on Friday nights. The tour leaves at 10 p.m.

Every third Sunday of the month, the tour starts gathering about 10:30 a.m. and leaves at 11 a.m. The Association Paris Rando Vélo (rando is short for randonnée) provides information on the next trip (under the title Les prochaines balades, click on either "vendredi soir" -- Friday night; or "3éme dimanche du mois" -- third Sunday of the month).

The Sunday tour takes about 2 1/2 hours.

As an example, for a Friday night in August, you the Hôtel de Ville at 10 p.m. and arrive back at the Hôtel de Ville at 12:30 a.m. The trip takes 2 1/2 hours.

You can rent your bike at the Bastille office. For a Friday night in August for example, the Bastille Roue Libre office guarantees that they will be open until 1:00 a.m.

In case of rain and slippery streets, the randonnée  will be cancelled.

Bike Tours

Fat Tire Bike Tours - Paris

24, rue Edgar Faure, 15th arrondissement

Metro: Dupleix - 01 56 58 10 54

guided tours of Paris (day and night)

Paris Bike Tour - guided tours in French, English and German with licensed guides (29 euros) 103 rue Villiers de l'Isle Adam, 20th arrondissement (deliver bikes to your hotel) 01 53 39 13 14

Holiday Bikes - Agence Foch Etoile, includes scooters and motorcycles

8 avenue Foch, 16th arrondissement 01 45 00 06 66

Paris à vélo, c'est sympa! (Paris on a bike; it's fun!)

22, rue Alphonse Baudin, 11th arrondissement, 01 48 87 60 01 - Tours in French and English; Dutch, German, Italian and Spanish upon request.

Their themes: Heart of Paris, Paris Nocturne (evening), Unusual Paris, Paris Contrasts, Paris at dawn, Day-long tours

Paris Vélo

2 rue du Fer à Moulin, 5th arrondissement, 01 43 37 59 22

rental times and prices range from 5 hours to one day to multiple days, a week to 1 month.

S.A.R.L. Paris Cycles, Rond Point du Jardin d'Acclimatation, 16th arrondissement, 01 47 47 76 50 (French)

 Roue Libre (RATP/Mairie de Paris)

Photo from our tour.

Purchase this guide on internet or at the Maisons Roue Libre "Les Halles" and "Bastille"

Horse races in France

Calendar of horse races in France If you are interested in all of the race courses in Paris (hippodromes), at the choice of hippodrome on the, scroll to Paris and then click on "Go".

This will bring up all the courses in Paris from today's date forward.

The English calendar is not working as of today. Use the French version and I will translate:

Select a date and then follow the links on the right:

En savoir plus (to know more)

* the Auteuil race course

* the admission prices

* how to find the hippodrome (race course)

Dimanches au Galop (Sunday at the races)

A yearly event at the Paris racetracks is the "Dimanches au Galop" between the last Sunday in March and the eight Sundays during April and May. It gives the Parisians a chance to rediscover their hippodromes and enjoy a family day.

You can picnic inside the racing green or within the park. Guided tours - in English and French show you how to bet. Regularly scheduled tours take you behind the scenes of the race track.

There are plenty of activities for the children (carousel, games, seen the stables, etc.) You can watch the parade of horses, the jockeys being weighed -- get an inside view of the racetrack.

Last season over 85,000 adults and close to 12,000 children participated at the events. It's a great day for the friends and family.

Entrance, parking, shuttle buses, everything is free -- except your bets! but you can win; I speak from experience!

Visit the Longchamp racecourse website for a guide to the Longchamp (events, layout, how to get there - the shuttle service, public transport. Even though it is referring to l'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barrière race, this information will be helpful for your Sunday "Dimanches au Galop".

Hippodromes/Race courses in the Paris region

Auteuil

Longchamp

Chantilly

Deauville

Maisons-Laffitte

Saint-Cloud

Enghien

History of the race courses

Longchamp Racecourse

L'Arc de Triomphe 2006

Saturday, September 30 and Sunday October 1, 2006

One of my readers sent this fantastic text of her experience this year:

Ladies could get in free if they wore a hat.
You can buy tickets on the door (8 Euros).
They only have standard kiosks to bet at (no tic tac toe men), you have to queue for some time to bet each race so in the end we bet on all races in one go
There are English betting companies there but you can only use them if you are a member (i.e. Ladbrokes or Tote).
Most of the staff speak good English.
There aren't enough places to sit so for older members of the group it was tough going.
The parking is cheap (from memory 2 Euros) and very well organised. There is a little kiddie train that takes you from where you park to the entrance.
From where you watch the races it's quite a trek to get to the parade ring, but what does happen is that when the race is finished the horses have to walk past where the crowds are so you get to see them all again, and the winning horse gets accompanied by a woman riding side saddle and she is all dressed up.
The atmosphere is absolutely amazing, they play triumphant music at the start of the races and it is really fantastic, everyone is in a very good mood and I saw no signs of trouble from anyone, it was very family orientated.
I will probably go again next year it was a fantastic experience. -- Emma

Visit the Longchamp website for up to the date information about other races, history, visiting Longchamp, a photo gallery, etc.

Brief history of l'Arc de Triomphe race

"...The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was first run at Longchamp racecourse on Sunday October 3rd 1920. The first horse across the line was Comrade, who picked up FF150,000; second was King's Cross, winning FF18,000, and Pleurs was third, winning FF10,000.

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barrière offers prize-money of 2 million euros including 1,142,800 euros to the winner. The Arc weekend is Europe’s biggest two-day combined purse, with total prize money of 4.5 million euros on offer.

The Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe has been run 84 times since 1920. Sunday 1st October 2006 will herald the 85th running of what is generally considered to be the world's greatest horserace..."--from the Longchamp website.

HIPPODROME DE VINCENNES
2 route de la Ferme
Tel +33 (0)1 49 77 17 17
Full price: 3 euros; reduced price (18-25 yrs and over-60s): 2.50 euros; free admission for under-18s
These prices do not apply during the Prix d’Amérique

HIPPODROME DE LONGCHAMP
Bois de Boulogne route des Tribunes
Tel +33 (0)1 44 30 75 00
Weekdays: full price: 3 euros; reduced price (students and over-60s): 1.50 euros; free admission for under-18s
Sundays and holidays: full price: 4 euros; reduced price (students and over-60s): 2 euros; free admission for under-18s
These prices do not apply during the Grand Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Backstage visits at the racecourses every Sunday at 2.30, 3.30 and 4.30 p.m.
Tel +33 (0)821 213 213 or +33 (0)825 03 01 01 (groups)

LES DIMANCHES AU GALOP
Hippodrome de Longchamp
Tel +33 (0)821 213 213
held in April and May every year: open from 12 p.m.; events begin at 1.30 p.m.
Free admission and access to attractions

Details of racecourses.

Entertainment guides

Entertainment: movies, restaurants, activities

The following magazines and websites are a quick reference of what is going on in Paris (restaurants, entertainment, exhibits, tours, etc.).

L'Officiel des Spéctacles  is the smallest of the weekly guides, but very thorough. The magazine contains lots of information for doing things with children, as well as museums, café theatres, guided visits, park info, sports, film times, etc.

I recommend this one for concerts and services during the holidays. (For Easter they had two pages of Holy Week services (offices de la semaine sainte). When l'Officiel lists the concerts by day of the week, they begin the listing with the addresses of the theaters, churches and auditoriums (adresses des salles).

They have a complete listing of Paris markets (marchés parisiens)  listed by arrondissement with address, metro stop, days of the week and hours.

It also includes a television guide in the back.-- 0,35€.

TimeOut  says: "Whether you come to Paris for the iconic sights, the knockout art or just one almighty, world-class nosh-up, you will discover a thriving and ever-changing city. Its 20 bite-sized arrondissements spiral outwards from the centre. The dividing line is the River Seine, with the Right Bank (River Droite) lying north of the river and the Left Bank (River Gauche) to the south.

Access all the essential information about Paris through our online city guide below...."

You can look for a copy of the free TimeOut guide or download it (Acrobat PDF) from their website under "free guide".

For more precise, up-to-date information, read Pariscope. It took me a loooong time before I felt comfortable reading Pariscope. It intimidated me with his small print!

Pariscope is a weekly entertainment guide. It has the most detailed information. The small format magazine comes out every Wednesday and costs about 0,40€. The radio stations are listed on the back page.

I have translated the important sections of Pariscope for you so it will be easier and less intimidating to read.

ALLOCINE'S website is about films currently showing, the film world and the people in that world. It is fun to surf around whether you can read French or not.  

PARISVOICE is a free magazine on line for "English speaking Parisians".

Website (in French) of upcoming events, a "culturagenda"

Free guide on line

Mini-movie tour in Paris

We wanted to go to this icon of cinema in Paris called the le Grand Rex. It is 1930s architecture on the exterior, and we had always heard how large it was inside with a giant screen. 

Skateboarding

Although there is no skate board park in Paris, locations are available, modest in size, for those with the desire to test their skills. My nephew and his friend brought their boards with them and saw a lot of Paris!

If you have difficulty finding the exact location, just listen. You cannot miss the sound of the wheels on the pavement and the thuds when the kids fly into the air and come down hard on the pavement!

Spots to try:

Jardins du Trocadéro (16th) Metro: Trocadéro

Dôme du Palais de Tokyo, 13, av. du Président Wilson (16th) Metro: Iéna

Les blocks de Bercy (12th), Metro: Bercy

Place de la Bastille (11th) Metro: Bastille Arsenal side (near the canal Saint-Martin marina)

La Fontaine des Innocents (1st) Metro Châtelet-Les Halles

Central alley of boulevard Richard-Lenoir (covers the Canal Saint-Martin) (11th) Metro Bastille at Richard-Lenoir.