As we have previously mentioned in these pages, the city of Paris is readying a car equivalent of the hugely popular bike rental service, Vélib'. The new service, predictably named Autolib', will allow renting small 4-seat electric cars for short trips in the city and environs. The vehicles can be dropped off at the most convenient docking station (not necessarily where they were picked up). Pricing is by the minute (a 20-minute minimum), with the rate beyond one hour increasing to encourage customers to take shorter trips.
Starting this month, diners in Paris and, more generally, in continental France, will see the sales tax (TVA) on their meals lowered from 19.6% to 5.5%. This Brussels-endorsed measure is supposed to stave off restaurant closings in France which have been become rampant in recent years, and create new employment in the industry. And, obviously, make dining more affordable to both French citizens and tourists.
But things are never quite simple in France: the discount rate doesn't apply to everything and the restaurants are not obligated to lower the final price on every single item on the menu. Read on for details and examples...
The Parisian skyline is dominated by only several tall structures, notably the Eiffel Tower and the Tour Montparnasse; however, by 2014 the cityscape will welcome a new addition in the fifteenth arrondissement. Dubbed le Project Triangle, or the Triangle Project, the eventual construction by architects Herzog & de Meuron will measure up to 180 meters tall...
Tucked along the narrow and muted streets of the Marais is a lively hub where citizens drop by to enjoy cultural food and thought-provoking artistic offerings.
However, there are no croissants or impressionists to be found; instead, you'll find doughy cinnamon buns and glossy photographs of Borås, Västergötland in western Sweden. Bienvenue to the Centre Culturel Suédois or the Swedish Cultural Center...
Renzo Piano's name sounds as harmonious and striking as his architectural works. The Italian
architect is perhaps best known for his design of the Centre Georges Pompidou, the unmistakable
cultural center in the heart of Paris, and thirty years after its construction, Piano uses similar
techniques in the new New York Times Building, but to a different end...
After more than two years of reconstruction, a former funeral parlor in the 19th arrondissement of Paris reopened in its new incarnation as the city's newest modern arts center christened "104" (Centquatre)...
Co-directed by Robert Cantarella and Frédéric Fisbach, the center, at 104 rue d'Aubervilliers was green-lighted by Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoë
in 2005. More than two years and 100M euros later, Centquatre opened to the public in October.
Affordable design and even 'affordable luxury' is not an oxymoron.
Well, not exactly, anyway... In fact, it's a trend that's been
sweeping the hotel industry in recent years. Using modern
construction methods in combination with innovative cost-cutting
techniques and choosing slightly off-prime locations, a handful of hoteliers have attempted to reshape the industry by providing low-cost designer hotel experience for the younger, tech-savvy crowd.
Mama Shelter is the latest example of the trend. (De)signed by
Philippe Starck,
this modern hotel on Rue Bagnolet in the
20th arrondissement of Paris opened just a couple of weeks ago....
As we have previously mentioned in these pages, the city of Paris is readying a car equivalent of the hugely popular bike rental service, Vélib'. The new service, predictably named Autolib', will allow renting small 4-seat electric cars for short trips in the city and environs. The vehicles can be dropped off at the most convenient docking station (not necessarily where they were picked up). Pricing is by the minute (a 20-minute minimum), with the rate beyond one hour increasing to encourage customers to take shorter trips.
After two years of construction, Le Bristol, one of the swankiest hotels of Paris, will open a new wing with 26 rooms, 5 suites and a new restaurant.
Starting this month, diners in Paris and, more generally, in continental France, will see the sales tax (TVA) on their meals lowered from 19.6% to 5.5%. This Brussels-endorsed measure is supposed to stave off restaurant closings in France which have been become rampant in recent years, and create new employment in the industry. And, obviously, make dining more affordable to both French citizens and tourists.
The Parisian skyline is dominated by only several tall structures, notably the Eiffel Tower and the Tour Montparnasse; however, by 2014 the cityscape will welcome a new addition in the fifteenth arrondissement. Dubbed le Project Triangle, or the Triangle Project, the eventual construction by architects Herzog & de Meuron will measure up to 180 meters tall...
Tucked along the narrow and muted streets of the Marais is a lively hub where citizens drop by to enjoy cultural food and thought-provoking artistic offerings.
Renzo Piano's name sounds as harmonious and striking as his architectural works. The Italian
architect is perhaps best known for his design of the Centre Georges Pompidou, the unmistakable
cultural center in the heart of Paris, and thirty years after its construction, Piano uses similar
techniques in the new New York Times Building, but to a different end...
After more than two years of reconstruction, a former funeral parlor in the 19th arrondissement of Paris reopened in its new incarnation as the city's newest modern arts center christened "104" (Centquatre)...
Affordable design and even 'affordable luxury' is not an oxymoron.
Well, not exactly, anyway... In fact, it's a trend that's been
sweeping the hotel industry in recent years. Using modern
construction methods in combination with innovative cost-cutting
techniques and choosing slightly off-prime locations, a handful of hoteliers have attempted to reshape the industry by providing low-cost designer hotel experience for the younger, tech-savvy crowd.
