Shakespeare and Company bookstore

This famous bookstore is named after the publishing house that first released James Joyce’s Ulysses. Hemingway and Fitzgerald were patrons. It’s a favorite hangout for expatriates from English-speaking countries. George Whitman, who died this week, ran the Paris bookstore for decades. His daughter will continue to operate the store. It's just across the river from Notre-Dame, so next time you're in Paris, stop in and soak up some history.

Info: 5th/Métro St-Michel. 37 rue de la Bûcherie. Tel. 01/43.25.40.93. Open daily noon to midnight.

Paris shop windows!

Paris has some great displays in shop windows. Here's a shop selling mannequins and another selling interesting purses!

Paris Wine Tastings (in English)

What would a trip to Paris be without wine? Try one of these wine tastings (in English). A great experience!

Monday through Saturday at Ô Chateau: You can try either the Paris Pass Tasting (30€) or the Grand Crus Tasting (120€). 68 rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau in the 1st arrondissement.

Every Thursday at Spring Boutique: wine tasting (six wines with cheese and charcuterie) for 60€. 4pm to 5:30pm at 52 rue de l’Arbre Sec in the 1st arrondissement.

The Passages of Paris

In the 1800s, there were 137 glass-roofed shopping arcades (passages) in Paris. Only 24 remain. The oldest, dating back to 1800, is Passage des Panoramas, 11 blvd. Montmartre (known for its stamps). Nearby are Passage Verdeau, 4-6 rue de la Grange Batelière, and Passage Jouffroy, 12 blvd. Montmartre. Info: 2^nd/Métro Grands Boulevards 

Passages are luminous and practical. The glass roofs not only admit light, but shelter shoppers from rain. 

My favorite passage is in the Passage du Grand Cerf in the 2nd near rue Montorgueil (pictured here). For more information, check out  http://www.passagedugrandcerf.com

Paris Restaurants: Fall 2011 (La Grille)

Here's the first installment of our annual fall Paris restaurant update. If you look closely, you'll see an Eating & Drinking in Paris sticker in the window of a Paris restaurant in the photo below.

It's interesting to go off the beaten path to look for a new dining experience. The name of La Grille comes from the 200-year-old wrought-iron grills in front of the restaurant. For years, this small and intimate restaurant (in the 10th arrondissement) was run by M. and Mme. Cullérre. Under their ownership, the restaurant became known for the turbot prepared with an emulsified white-butter sauce. The new owners have kept this delicious dish and you'll find an excellent boeuf bourguignon à la ancienne (braised beef in a red-wine sauce) on the menu (pictured above). For starters, try the frisé aux lardons (curly endive salad with diced bacons).  Main courses will run you from 17 to 66 euro (the turbot prepared for two). Under the former owners, you were surrounded by a rather eccentric collection of lace and dolls. The dolls are gone, and the staff will assist you in ordering even if you don't speak French. Definitely worth the trip. Special thanks to our Parisian friend Patrick for taking us to this hidden gem.

La Grille
10th arrondissement
80 rue du Faubourg Poissonnière.
Tel. 01/47.70.89.73
Métro  Poissonnière
Closed Sun.