Bonjour *|FNAME|*, Skating Toward Another New Year in Paris Parler Paris... Your taste of life in Paris and France http://www.ParlerParis.com Monday, December 29, 2008 Paris, France Recommend to Friends http://www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/tell-a-friend/index.php Printer Friendly http://www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/29-12-08pparis.html Weekly Community Calendar http://www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/calendar.html • Community Calendar Updated Every Wednesday. • Every issue is reprinted at http://parlerparis.blogspot.com/ where you can add your comments and follow the "Twittering" life an American in Paris by clicking on http://twitter.com/parlerparis. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Take 10% Off All January 2009 Bookings in Parler Paris Apartments! Reserve your stay of three nights or more during the month of January in any one of Parler Paris Apartments at a discount of 10%! Welcome is how you will feel in a private apartment in Paris that has to live up to our standards...meaning only the best! Visit our newest apartment...La Table du Roi! "La Table du Roi" ("The Kings's Table) is a one bedroom slice of old world charm, destined to please those looking for luxury and elegance. On the first floor (European) of a 17th-century building on rue du Roi de Sicile in the heart of Le Marais (4th arrondissement), it is steps from rue de Rivoli, rue Vieille du Temple, the Hôtel de Ville, Place de la Bastille, the River Seine and everything that Le Marais has to offer. La Table du Roi is now available for holiday rental! For more information and to reserve your stay in Paris now, visit Parler Paris Apartments or email: Apartments@AdrianLeeds.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Parler Paris Reader, It's so cold that the moisture is running down the inside of my windows while the sky is a bright blue. That's been the scene in Paris for several days now, making for a bright Christmas-New Year holiday in the City of Light. Hats, gloves and mufflers are selling like hot cakes. My daughter's boyfriend was wearing women's tights under his jeans to warm his wind-exposed legs while riding his scooter around town. With zero degrees on the thermometer, we expect some snow to come down, but there's no sign of that..."quel dommage!" -- a white New Year's Eve would be just perfect. Friday night an old friend who moved to an untouristed part of town not all that long ago suggested having a drink at "Mama Shelter," a hotel in the most unlikely spot not far from her apartment and not near any Métro. It's opposite the "Flèche d’Or" Bar-Resto-Club in a Roland Castro-designed contemporary building on rue de Bagnolet that reeks more of "Hotel Six" or an office building in the suburbs than a Paris "hôtel de charme." The names on its label are impressive -- designed by Philippe Starck, created by the Club Med-founding Trigano family and the philosopher, Cyril Aouizerate. You might call it "Bohemian Chic" -- with 172 "sensual and elegant rooms" equipped with iMacs and high-quality MyBed bedding. It was sold as a "leaseback" property -- a totally hands-off, fully managed property investment that allows a guaranteed, but small profit. The equally chic "Murano Urban Resort" just around the corner from me on boulevard du Temple has a similar provenance. (See more about leaseback investments at http://www.frenchpropertyconsultation.com/sales/leasebacks/lb_list.php ) The restaurant and bar at Mama Shelter are too "branché" for my own britches, laden with all the mistakes designers make who don't consider function along with form, although the French expressions written on the dark ceiling as if in chalk on a blackboard, are at least amusing. The lighting at the bar is cleverly disguised in an ice-like surface, and by images on television screens imbedded in glass, but ladies, this lighting is not exactly flattering! What were they thinking?! And don't go in winter when there is absolutely nowhere to park your coat or bag...that would mess up the sleek-rustic confused contemporary decor. It's a good thing the handsome young bar tenders (five of them manning a bar seating 20) were worth the not-so-terribly overpriced drinks, but I wouldn't have wanted to have dinner at a wooden picnic table with backless benches. (For more information, visit http://www.mamashelter.com, at 109, rue de Bagnolet, 75020 Paris.) Saturday midday was spent visiting with a French designer friend we've known since before moving to Paris and who once employed me to do some graphics for her then line of children's clothing. Corinne Prosé is a brave French creative entrepreneur who is an avant-garde thinker struggling to be recognized in a less-than entrepreneurial world. Now installed in her own concept boutique, "Kawaiko," on the up-and-coming red-light district street of rue Saint-Denis, she is the innovator of Kawaiin style centered around four young fictitious caricature women, whose clothing and accessories, as well as toys and gadgets reflect the future of an international youth. To visit her store of goodies for young (and youthful thinking old), trek up to Kawaiko at 146 rue Saint Denis (http://www.kawaikoparis.com/) 01 42 60 66 94) and ignore (or take advantage of) the sex shops along the way. The "Joy of Sex-y" workshop Saturday afternoon attracted a handful of diehard women who braved the cold to learn more about their own sexuality and how to get a man by not needing one! Sound confusing? Actually, no, it's quite simple, according to Victoria, Paris' Pleasure Coach," it all starts from within ourselves to give ourselves permission to enjoy sex. Once we do that, she says, others will recognize our openness and willingness and therefore will attract the opposite sex in a natural way. She came prepared with feathers we could take home and use to tickle and tantalize and bananas we tucked into our jeans so we could understand the same sensation a man has that we women don't. It was certainly enlightening and while many of you missed the opportunity, waiter Pascal at La Pierre du Marais didn't -- he took one look at the gadgets on the table and understood immediately what our workshop was all about! Sunday the sky stayed bright and the skaters on the rink at the Hôtel de Ville were undaunted by the freezing temperature. The ice is up till March 1st, 2009, and in two other locations in the city -- at the Tour Montparnasse and near the Bibliothèque François Mitterrand. If you're a "klutz" like me, you'll just be an observer, but if you want to have fun, if not a fall, then lace 'em up! For more information, visit http://www.paris.fr/portail/Sport/Portal.lut?page_id=8204&document_type_id=5&document_id=35807&portlet_id=18957 A la prochaine...till the last day of the year... Share this article with a friend... http://www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/tell-a-friend/index.php Respond to Adrian mailto:info@adrianleeds.com P.S. Thinking about your New Year's Resolutions? Make your dream to live and invest in France come true...this year. Come to the Living and Investing in France Real Estate Conference in New Orleans March 21-22, 2009. Scroll down to learn more or visit http://frenchpropertyconference.com/liveinfrance/LIF_NOLA_2009/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Adrian Leeds of the Adrian Leeds Group, LLC and John Howell of The International Law Partnership Present the... Living and Investing in France Real Estate Conference March 21-22, 2009 New Orleans, Louisiana Click here for more information: http://frenchpropertyconference.com/liveinfrance/LIF_NOLA_2009/ Or Email Schuyler Hoffman: mailto:info@adrianleeds.com?subject=New_Orleans_LIF_Conference Or click here to register now: http://www.adrianleeds.com/liveinfrance/LIF_NOLA_2009/index.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Offer Ends this Week...Eavesdrop on the Travel Secrets of the Pros... Learn travel secrets designed to help you live wherever you want, travel as often as you please, fund your vacations and explore the world like a VIP. Last July, six savvy, sophisticated travelers met for a special three-day workshop where they discussed the tools they use to consistently fund and profit from their vacations. And now, until December 31­you can get your hands on an audio recording of that workshop PLUS online access to every resource they handed out. Instead of $299, this 2008 Workshop-At-Home Package can be yours for just $99 until December 31, 2008. Start today and enjoy the rest of the winter, spring, and summer on your own terms! Go here for details: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/trc/09 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Resolve to make 2009 the year your dream of owning French real estate come true...Subscribe to French Property Insider Today... Offer Ends Soon...Triple Your Reading Pleasure! Save 20% Off France Today and France Amerique plus 37% off French Property Insider!! A Special Offer to Parler Paris and French Property Insider Readers... 1. France Today is an insider’s look at French culture, people and trends — your savvy guide to off-the-beaten-track places and events in Paris and all over France! 2. "France-Amerique est vôtre lien privilégié avec la France et la langue française!" ***Subscribe to either or both "France Today" and "France-Amerique" Magazines (US domestic or international) at 20% off the regular subscription price of $45 (1-year, 11 issues or $75) between now and December 31st, 2008! To benefit from this offer, log on to http://www.francetoday.com/magazine/subscribe.html for "France Today" or http://www.france-amerique.com/fa/subscribe.en.html for "France-Amerique" then click on "subscribe" link, enter the special promotion code "ALEEDS09", select term, fill our all other required fields, allow 4 to 6 weeks for the first issue to be delivered at your special discounted price! 3. French Property Insider is a weekly e-letter sharing insights, recommendations, tips and discoveries about property in both Paris and France! ***Subscribe* between now and December 31, 2008 at a discount of $21.50 off the annual price of $57.50 -- $36 for 50 issues per year!!! To benefit from this offer, click on http://www.FrenchPropertyInsider.com, complete all the details and at the bottom, insert the special promotion code of "316585." Your subscription will be immediately processed and you'll receive French Property Insider the following Thursday at this special reduced price! If you are currently subscribed to FPI, you will be able to add 1 year to your current subscription at this reduced rate! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Own a Fraction of the Best Address in Paris! Imagine Your Holidays at "Le Palace des Vosges"! Fractional Ownership 9 Place des Vosges 4th Arrondissement, Paris Now you can own a share in an AMAZING "maison" -- more of a house in the country than an apartment in Paris, right smack dab in the middle of Paris' most elegant square -- the Place des Vosges. Two Bedroom, Two Bath + Powder Room With Usage of Two Parking Garages (1 = Personal Storage Lockers, 1 = Parking), 81m2 (872 sq ft) Editor's Note: If you haven't already visited the newest videos of Le Palace des Vosges, then do! The videos are accessible at http://www.frenchpropertyfractional.com/PDV_video_tour.html Only 13 shares are available, so don't miss this unique opportunity! For more information visit http://www.frenchpropertyfractional.com/pdv/index.html or mailto:maryellen@adrianleeds.com?cc=adrian@adrianleeds.com&subject=Palace_des_Vosges --------------------------------------------------------------------- In This Week's French Property Insider... The end of the year is always a time for looking back, evaluating, moving forward into the new year. That's what this issue is all about. We're taking a look back at French Property Insider over the last year and selecting what we feel are some of the best and important articles for you to review during the holidays. We've also thrown in a few just for fun... 10 Reasons to Invest in France May 22, 2008 1) France is the most visited country in the world, receiving over 79 million visitors annually (including business visitors, but excluding people staying less than 24 hours.) 2) There is a short supply of properties. It is estimated that France needs to build 500,000 homes a year to meet demand...Subscribers Read On... http://www.frenchpropertyinsider.com/members/content/pastissues/FPI_December_25_2008.html#reasons Learn how to buy property in France!French Property Insider is a weekly e-zine, sharing insights, recommendations, tips, and discoveries about Paris real estate and French property. Each information-packed issue is devoted to educating its readers on how to effectively, efficiently and profitably purchase property in France. ***Subscribe between now and December 31, 2008 at a discount of $21.50 off the annual price of $57.50 -- $36 for 50 issues per year!!! To benefit from this offer, click on FrenchPropertyInsider.com, complete all the details and at the bottom, insert the special promotion code of "316585." Your subscription will be immediately processed and you'll receive French Property Insider the following Thursday at this special reduced price! For more information visit http://www.frenchpropertyinsider.com or email mailto:info@adrianleeds.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- We wanted better guides. So we wrote them. Insider Paris Guides are written for people who love the City of Light. You'll get a Paris insider perspective on Good Value Restaurants... Making a Life... Black Culture... Expat Writers...plus the newest guide, Practical Paris! Visit http://www.insiderparisguides.com/member/go.php?r=39&i=l0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Parler Paris Après Midi http://www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/apresmidi.html Come for a drink and to meet and chat with other readers in Paris... The next gathering is January 13, 2008 and every second Tuesday of the month. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Parler Parlor French-English Conversation Group http://www.parlerparlor.com/ ATTENTION: Parler Parlor will be CLOSED the week between Christmas and New Year's 2008: CLOSED DECEMBER 24, 2008 THROUGH JANUARY 2, 2009, REOPENING JANUARY 3, 2009 Practice speaking French and English. Make friends, discuss interesting topics, learn about other cultures, progress in understanding and speaking, naturally and easily. Meets three times a week -- come as often as you like! Parler Parlor meets Tuesdays 6:30 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. AT LUTÈCE LANGUE 23, boulevard de Sébastopol (at the corner of rue de la Reynie), 1st arrondissement 3rd Floor on the Left (read notice on door to obtain entry code) Métro Châtelet, Les Halles Wednesdays 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. AT BISTROT DE LA GRILLE SAINT GERMAIN 14 rue Mabillon, 6th arrondissement (at rue Guisarde and Le Marché Saint-Germain) 1st Floor Métro Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Mabillon, Odéon For further details, visit http://www.parlerparlor.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy and sell with Parler Paris classifieds: http://www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/advertise.html Read past issues of Parler Paris: http://www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/issues/readpastissues.html Know someone who would be interested in the opportunities in Parler Paris? Forward it for FREE to your friend, relative, or associate here: http://www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/tell-a-friend/index.php To Subscribe: http://www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/subscribe.html To Cancel Your Subscription: *|UNSUB|* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2010, Adrian Leeds® Adrian Leeds Group, LLC, http://www.adrianleeds.com