Here is the second installment, as promised.
Another great place to visit is Bercy Village, http://europeforvisitors.com/paris/articles/bercy-village.htm. It is a park where you can enjoy both shopping and a great dining experience. Do not skip Roastbeef and Frog pub, which is what the French and the English call each other. While on the topic of dining I will name a few restaurants where I have had delightful meals and had the pleasure of "people watching" the French. The first one is a little hidden cafe, 17 Rue St. Paul, 74004 Paris, where you can enjoy a quiet cup of coffee after exploring the wonderful streets of Le Marais (historic district where many different communities come together and one can see historic buildings and visit numerous art galleries). The cafe is inside of a courtyard, isolated from the hum of the city and gives the utmost serenity. If you are on your way to or from Musee D'Orsay and are wondering where to have lunch, I would recommend La Fregate, www.lafregateparis.com, which has an amazing view of Seine and Louvre. Since the former French president's Jacques Chirac's residence is on the same block, you might be lucky and spot him with his entourage. Next are just names of some great restaurants, Juveniles Wine Bar, 47 Rue de Richelieu, 75001 Paris, Cafe Etienne Marcel, 34 Rue Étienne Marcel 75002 Paris, Le Tambour, 41 Rue Montmartre 75002 Paris, (which is around the corner from the cafe where you can stop for an aperitif before coming here for dinner. The drink of choice is Joan Collins... Refreshingly framboise).Le Rosa Bonheur, http://www.zagat.com/r/rosa-bonheur-paris-france(a beer garden type of experience) is another destination where they usually have Sunday night parties.
Finally, if you are in Paris in the spring or summer and find yourself in the 12th arrondissement (which is also near where Bercy Village is), the place to visit is La Promenade Plantee http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promenade_plantée, which is a garden created on a railway bridge next to Gare de Lyon, and leads to the station. Once at the train station, a restaurant to keep in mind is Le Train Bleu, www.le-train-bleu.com. It is a great place to immerse in the Baroque Louis XIV decor.
Paris, of course, is not to be missed for shopping. Pay attention to the sales that are usually mandated and take place in June and January. Go to the big department stores (Printemps, Galleries Lafayette, BHV), where even the famous brands are put on sale, though not the new collections. Do not forget to ask about detax, a 12% refund of the sales tax.
For fans of quai (dock along Seine) walking, biking, and rollerblading, remember that the Seine river drive is closed to traffic and open to pedestrians every Sunday until 16:00.
Hope you enjoy Paris both on and off the beaten path!!!
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