Summer Festivals in Paris

Paris / Go See
en by Meg Zimbeck /  Meg, 14. Jul 2010


Paris Tourist Office/Amélie Dupont

At this time of year, locals talk about only one subject – their upcoming holiday plans. That’s because Parisians, if they can afford to, make a mass exodus from the city, turning the capital over to tourists from mid-July until September. With so many shops and restaurants closed, the town can feel a bit deserted. But I appreciate these quiet weeks, and I absolutely love to take advantage of summer festivals during this time.

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Meg Zimbeck

Posh Sipping At The Paris Speakeasies

Paris / Go Night
en by Meg Zimbeck /  Meg, 2. Apr 2010


Photo: Antoine Doyen

Some of the hottest bars in Paris are also among the most difficult to find. Speakeasy chic, which plays up the prohibition-era drama of 1920s America, has become the aesthetic of choice for an increasing number of hip watering holes. Like their counterparts in New York, these Parisian speakeasies have discreet signs and tricky doors - it helps to look good or to know someone inside. Well-trained bartenders are another thing that these clandestine bars have in common. Top-shelf liquor and inventive recipes combine to produce outstanding (and usually expensive) cocktails. Packing a punch and priced at more than €10, these are drinks to sip slowly while you watch the beautiful people go by.

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Meg Zimbeck

Eating the Farm in NYC

New York / Go Eat
en by Meg Zimbeck /  Meg, 22. Mar 2010


Photo: David Parmet

As a girl growing up in Kansas, I fantasized about the food of New York. I turned up my nose at the food of my region and instead yearned for 'exotic' things like bagels (before they were everywhere), thin crust pizza, and pastrami on rye. Imagine my amusement upon learning, during a recent trip from Paris, that the latest New York craze is something called 'haute barnyard.' Coined by New York Magazine's Adam Platt, 'haute barnyard' refers to an urban obsession with farmhouse cuisine - the kind of food from which I ran away years ago. Strangely enough, I rediscovered my country roots on the streets of New York, thanks to a handful of restaurants that have beautifully elevated this humble cuisine.

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Meg Zimbeck

La Cigale: Cocteau, Kung-fu & Kick-ass Shows

Paris / Go Night
en by Meg Zimbeck /  Meg, 16. Feb 2010


La Cigalle Photo: Mu Foo

In the heart of the Pigalle sex district, just down the street from the storied Moulin Rouge, La Cigale is one of my favorite places to see live music in Paris. After the show I get a drink at 'the ant' - La Fourmi - or a late diner at the restaurant Cul de Poule, which means something like Chicken bum.

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Meg Zimbeck

Yo Mama, Yo Music

Paris / Go Night
en by Meg Zimbeck /  Meg, 1. Feb 2010

An out-of-the-way corner of the 20th arrondissement has recently become the center of hipster Paris. It all started with La Fleche d'Or - a locally-treasured concert hall that teeters above abandoned tracks. Formerly a train station, this cavernous space has for years been drawing crowds with it's free nightly shows. That's right, free concerts - with two to three bands playing every night, often followed by a DJ. The talent ranges from local and "interesting" to internationally-known and brilliant. Up-and-coming artists often play their first Paris gig here before returning to bigger shows at la Maroquinerie and other venues.


Photo: la Flèche d'Or

The spacious outdoor terrasse provides a place to talk with friends without having to shout. In the summer, people often spend more time here than inside watching the bands. If you didn't have time to eat beforehand, an adjoining restaurant puts out decent (not great) food. Drink prices are high here - a small beer will run you €6, and a watery cocktail is €8. But considering the free entry, it's still a relatively cheap night out. 


Photo: la Flèche d'Or

I've seen countless good shows here (and quite a few bad ones, too), but my favorite took place last summer when Zach Condon (of the band Beirut) came to play with his idols, the Macedonian marching band Kocani Orkestar. The video gives an idea of the kind of joy that can erupt in this place.

The only downside of la Flèche d'Or is the post-concert journey home. But visitors can avoid that by staying in the hip new hotel Mama Shelter across the street.

LA FLECHE D'OR; 102 bis rue Bagnolet, 75020 Paris

Go further: Find out where in Prague Jason goes when he in mood for Czech art-rock and ZZ Top covers here and were in Stockholm Francis goes crazy at concerts with Swedish pop sensation Robyn here.

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Meg Zimbeck
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