First thing to do on arriving in Paris is to pick up the weekly Pariscope (€0.40; it’s in French, but there’s an English section at the very back written by the Time Out Guide). It has cinema and theater listings, concerts and museum exhibitions, gallery shows and nightlife, and comes out every Wednesday. If you understand French, then check the Zurban (€0.80, also each Wednesday), a slightly more detailed version of Pariscope, with shopping ideas, restaurant reviews, club soirées, children’s activities and general goings-on in Paris and Ile-de-France for casually hip, youngish locals. There are a few free English-language guides that come out monthly: The Connexion, The Voice (www.parisvoice.com), Funky Paris (www.funkymaps.com), and the twice monthly FUSAC, all of which can usually be found in the English-language bookshops (WH Smith, Abbey Bookshop, or Shakespeare & Co.) or expat bars around town, with events listings and bar ads targeting English-speaking readers.
The monthly magazine Paris Capital (at most newsstands and some hotels) is a luxury restaurant and nightlife magazine with Paris society pages and ads for expensive watches. Their web site (www.leclubparis.com) is free and partially translated into English. Listings include clubs, cabarets, hotels, bars and the latest trendy restaurants.
The Paris Tourism Office bilingual web site (www.parisbienvenue.com) highlights festivals and events such as the annual Techno Parade and Jazz Festival, as well as more family-friendly entertainment options such as zoos and circuses. There are club and bar addresses, but no descriptions.
Finally the What’s On When? (www.whatsonwhen.com) web site lists events from sports matches to classical music concerts to religious celebrations that can be searched by city, month, theme or specific venue, along with star ratings for each listing and detailed contact information. It’s a great site to browse before arriving in Paris.
<< Dining After Midnight || Ticket Agents >>
