| Good news! I have more great Parisian hot spots yet | | | | Order, the rest by lay craftsmen, but all profits go to |
| for the readers of Read on, I believe you won't be | | | | the Order. Their products are typically French: |
| disappointed. | | | | stoneware crockery, jams, biscuits, chocolate, |
| Wine tasting at Galerie Vivienne | | | | marzipan, Provence honey, perfumes, hygiene and |
| If you like your wine, you won't want to miss this | | | | beauty products, fine Catalan house linen, statues, |
| French 1950s-style period wine shop. With its wood | | | | decorations, etc. Their Catalan linen is particularly |
| paneling and charming window displays, it opens up | | | | valued, and they have an incredibly wide array of |
| onto the Galerie Vivienne, one of the most stunning | | | | soaps. |
| indoor arcades in Paris. There lie the wine cellars of | | | | You can lay your hands on country jams for around |
| 'Legrand filles et fils' (Legrand daughters & sons), some | | | | € 5, essential oils from € 4 to |
| of the most highly reputed in Paris. | | | | € 8, post cards for € 0.80, soaps for |
| These cellars have been lovingly and expertly stocked | | | | € 2.75. Prices are very moderate. |
| by three generations of the Legrand family ever since | | | | Should you want to buy gifts, your purchases can be |
| the end of the World War I. Sadly enough, these | | | | beautifully gift-wrapped. The nuns speak English too. |
| cellars are not open to the general public. The shop | | | | Once again, the address is 11, rue du Pont |
| offers however a warm family atmosphere. | | | | Louis-Philippe, 75004 Paris. You can reach them at: 33 |
| Wine prices range from 5 to 10,000 euros a bottle, with | | | | (0)1 4887 8513 and 33 (0)8 7455 6685. |
| a wide selection in the 5-15 euros price bracket. You | | | | Free concerts in an awesome setting! |
| won't go hungry either, as the shop also carries a | | | | Free music anyone? While in Paris you can attend |
| range of delicacies to bring out the flavor of the wine. | | | | free concerts twice a week at Saint-Merri Church in |
| Worthy of note, the shop offers wine tasting and | | | | downtown rue Saint-Martin. This church dates back to |
| lessons! For 60 euros you can attend an introductory | | | | 1550. Its architecture has been inspired by |
| wine tasting session every Monday from 8 to 10 pm. | | | | Notre-Dame's, and in fact it is known as 'Notre-Dame |
| Seating is limited, so book beforehand by phone or by | | | | la petite' (the little Notre-Dame). It is chock-a-block with |
| e-mail. | | | | impressive stained-glass windows, frescos, bas-reliefs, |
| The shop also features a wine tasting corner, open | | | | sculptures, tapestries and paintings, not to mention its |
| from 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm, where you can choose a | | | | beautiful musical center-piece, an awesome organ with |
| wine and get a plate of accompanying delicacies | | | | a long and distinguished history. |
| specially selected to bring out the taste of your wine. | | | | Concerts last around an hour and start on Saturdays |
| The cost is 5.25 euros a glass and 15-30 euros a plate. | | | | at 9:00 pm and on Sundays at 4:00 pm. Although the |
| You can also order desserts. | | | | musical genre is predominately classical, they do play |
| The shop has two entrances: No. 1 Rue de la Banque, | | | | jazz from time to time, and even rarer kinds of music: |
| and No. 12 Galerie Vivienne, 75002 Paris. For wine | | | | classical Indian, Chinese, Armenian, and medieval music. |
| tasting reservations, call: 33 (0)1 4260 0712 or email: | | | | Donations are appreciated but entirely at your |
| Monastica - craftsmanship steeped in tradition | | | | discretion. |
| This is a fantastic place where you can get your | | | | On the first and third Sundays of every month the |
| hands on authentic French handmade products, crafts | | | | Church offers a guided visit of the building after the |
| and souvenirs steeped in tradition -- and do a good | | | | concert. |
| deed at the same time. If you wander at the tip of the | | | | The Saint-Merri Church is situated at 78 rue |
| St Louis Island, you'll discover on Rue du Pont | | | | Saint-Martin, 75004 Paris. The phone number is: 33 (0)1 |
| Louis-Philippe a boutique called Monastica, owned and | | | | 4271 9393. The two closest metro stations are: Hotel |
| run by the nuns of "Les Fraternités de | | | | de Ville (take exit Rue du Renard); and Chatelet (take |
| Jérusalem" (The Brotherhoods of Jerusalem), a | | | | exit Place Sainte Opportune). |
| religious order originally founded in 1975 at the Church | | | | Don't miss my next issue of Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News |
| Saint Gervais in Paris, which has now spread out | | | | newsletter, with yet more discoveries of hot spots, |
| internationally. | | | | shopping gems and the best in authentic Parisian |
| Most products sold by the shop are made by the | | | | eateries. |