http://www.sitebits.com/france/ France en Copyright &copy; 1999-2009 Gromco, Inc. Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:32:56 EST Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:00:00 EDT info@sitebits.com info@sitebits.com As we have previously mentioned on 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. Slavito http://www.sitebits.com/2011/autolib-coming-18352451.html Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:00:00 EDT 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. <br><br> This addition represents its first major expansion since the hotel's opening in 1925. Gromco http://www.sitebits.com/2009/le-bristol-expands-90261386.html Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:00:00 EDT 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. <br><br> 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... Gromco http://www.sitebits.com/2009/france-lowers-tva-restaurant-tax-66909362.html Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:15:00 EDT 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... Hilary M. http://www.sitebits.com/2009/the-triangle-project-3458777.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:05:00 EST 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. <br><br> However, there are no <i>croissants</i> or impressionists to be found; instead, you'll find doughy cinnamon buns and glossy photographs of Borås, Västergötland in western Sweden. <i>Bienvenue</i> to the Centre Culturel Suédois or the Swedish Cultural Center... Hilary M. http://www.sitebits.com/2008/centre-culturel-suedois-8447031.html Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST 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... Hilary M. http://www.sitebits.com/2008/renzo-piano-marais-midtown-30-years-8276982.html Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:20:00 EST 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)... <br><br> Co-directed by Robert Cantarella and Frédéric Fisbach, the center, at 104 rue d'Aubervilliers was green-lighted by Paris mayor <a href="http://www.sitebits.com/people/bertrand_delanoe.html">Bertrand Delanoë</a> in 2005. More than two years and 100M euros later, Centquatre opened to the public in October. Gromco http://www.sitebits.com/2008/104_new_modern_art_center-1295730.html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:20:00 EST 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. <br><br> 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.... Gromco http://www.sitebits.com/2008/mama-shelter-affordable-design-hotel-3976264.html Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:05:00 EDT Back in June, Parisian decorator Pascale Benhamou finished her project for Hotel Plaza Athénée in Paris's 8th arrondissement. The lobby restaurant, La Galerie des Gobelins (named after Manufacture des Gobelins - a former factory, now a museum, which supplied furniture to French monarchs) got new carpet, furniture and redesigned lighting. <br/><br/> But actually, what caught our attention was not so much the decorative changes of the space as the restaurant's updated menu, which features desserts by world famous pastry chef Christophe Michalak, the winner of the 2005 "Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie"... Gromco http://www.sitebits.com/2008/la-galerie-des-gobelins-new-look.html Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:30:00 EDT On September 3rd, the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) opened a new terminal, 2G. The terminal will mostly serve flights within France (30%) and more broadly, within the Schengen zone (70%). Air France will be the principal carrier using it, along with three "partner" airlines (Régional, Brit Air, CityJet) who are all, in fact, subsidiaries of Air France. <br/><br/> With the addition of 2G, airport Charles de Gaulle aims to improve transfer options between regional flights, strengthening its role as a European "hub" of Air France... Gromco http://www.sitebits.com/2008/2g_opens_cdg.html Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:05:00 EDT Flying high on the success of Vélib, a bike-rental program that turned one year old in July, Paris is thinking about launching another effort, dubbed Autolib. According to a report by the Associated Press, this program will launch by early 2010 with a fleet of 4,000 electric cars (half of them reserved for areas outside the Périphérique) and will allow anybody to quickly rent a car from one of 700 planned stations and drop them off at any other... Slavito http://www.sitebits.com/2008/liked_velib_love_auotlib.html Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:33:00 EDT Groupe Moniteur is a French company which helps establish links between the construction & development industries and the communities in which they work. They are also the owner of Librairie Le Moniteur - a highly specialized bookstore a stone's throw away from the <a href="http://www.sitebits.com/france/paris/places/par-jardin-du-luxembourg.html">Jardin du Luxembourg</a> and Théâtre du Odeon. <br/><br/> Filled with books on architecture, urbanism, landscaping and interior design, Librairie Le Moniteur is one the largest specialized bookstores in Paris (and certainly the largest bookstore on the topic that I've seen)... Slavito http://www.sitebits.com/2008/librairie_le_moniteur.html Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:40:00 EDT A few weeks ago, l'EPAD - the government body responsible for developing Paris' La Défense district - announced the completion of an international tender for the construction of a new high-rise tower (La Tour Signal). The project went to Ateliers <a href="http://www.sitebits.com/people/jean_nouvel.html">Jean Nouvel</a>. <br/><br/> The revered French architect (who is the <a href="http://www.sitebits.com/2008/jean-nouvel-pritzker-prize-2008.html">winner of this year's Pritzker Prize</a> in architecture) beat several well-known colleagues including Jacques Ferrier Architectures, Foster+Partners, Studio Libeskind, and Wilmotte et Associés... Gromco http://www.sitebits.com/2008/jean_nouvel_la_tour_signal.html Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:40:00 EDT You may remember the tragic accident at Paris Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle Airport's Terminal 2E four years ago. A large part of its glass roof collapsed killing four people and injuring several others. <br/><br/> Well, it only took four years and about 150M&euro; for engineers to fix the damn roof, but they finally did it. A couple of weeks ago first scheduled flights started using the terminal... Gromco http://www.sitebits.com/2008/roissy-2e-reopens.html Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:05:00 EDT One grey New Year's Day in Paris my sister and I decided to go for a walk. Our senses happily dulled from the night before, we wandered through Montparnasse; a high wall herded us along the sidewalk. <br><br> Suddenly, it broke into large gates: a cemetery lay beyond. We hesitated, but our curiosity was piqued, so we went in... Andrea http://www.sitebits.com/2008/rambling-about-montparnasse-cemetery.html Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:00:00 EST Chicago native Daniel Rose (who originally came to France intending to study philosophy) runs his 16-seat restaurant called "Spring" almost as some sort of a one-man show... Slavito http://www.sitebits.com/2008/spring-in-paris.html Sun, 06 Jan 2008 04:20:00 EST Located a stone's throw away from the Arts & Metiers station, on Rue Turbigo, this little bistro/brasserie offers a relatively simple menu based on French and North African cuisine Slavito http://www.sitebits.com/2007/absinthe_cafe_paris_2007.html Sun, 02 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EST They are a familiar sight on the banks of the Seine - those faintly weary people manning dark-green wooden stalls filled with used and new books, postcards, posters, paintings, compact disks, LP's other pre-digital-era media curiosities. Slavito http://www.sitebits.com/2007/paris-bouquinistes.html Wed, 24 Oct 2007 22:30:00 EDT If skate-sailing is your thing and Paris your kind of town, I have the perfect location for you. By all means, try doing this on Quai d'Orsay next to the Air France terminal. Slavito http://www.sitebits.com/2007/skate_sailing_in_paris.html Tue, 07 Aug 2007 18:00:00 EDT No, not the Paris Mob. I'm talking about l'Empire de la Mort - The Catacombs! <br/><br/> The Catacombs span the entire city of <a href="http://www.sitebits.com/france/paris/">Paris</a>. The tunnels and passageways spiral in an incredible distance of 186 miles! Yet, the legal tourist area spans only about a mile. For a very low entrance fee (2.5&euro; 26 and under, 5&euro; 27+) you can explore the sectioned off tunnels for as long as you want. Just bring a jacket, it's 11 degrees C in there year round... Lori http://www.sitebits.com/2006/the_parisian_underworld.html Mon, 25 Dec 2006 17:20:00 EST The story goes like this: an American college student is seated on the terrasse of a fancy Paris café. When the waiter (finally) arrives, she asks for «<i>a tall skim latté with sweet'n'low.</i>» «<i>- Madame,</i>» says the waiter, «<i>we are not a pharmacy !</i>» <br><br> OK, probably apocryphal. However, learning the Paris coffee rules will make your next trip to that oh-so-picturesque café all the more pleasant... Hillary http://www.sitebits.com/2006/how_to_order_cafe_in_paris.html Mon, 20 Nov 2006 00:05:00 EST For those in Paris, Versailles is worth a detour. Lori http://www.sitebits.com/2006/paris_daytrip_to_versailles.html Fri, 13 Oct 2006 01:20:00 EDT <img ALT="Garde Fromage" class="rightill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/images/2006/garde-fromage.jpg"> We are standing around the kitchen one night, having drinks. I am making dinner. It's the beginning of spring, the windows are open and the mood is large. Someone opens the fridge to grab another beer. Then: Gasp. <br> &#150; "<i>Les amis</i>! You can't keep eggs in the fridge!!" <br> &#150; "What??"... Hillary http://www.sitebits.com/2006/the_french_fridge.html Sun, 02 Jul 2006 00:00:00 EDT