Suggestions for offbeat stuff to do in Paris.

[JackDragna]

I am traveling to Paris at the end of June. I like to see the big sights in a city, but I also like the odd, unusual stuff cities have to offer. If anyone here has been to Paris frequently, or even lives there, I would appreciate some suggestions. Bizarre or macabre historical sites, fun restaurants or bars, unusual shops and the like are mostly what I'm interested in. Thanks many milliuns if you've got something and you post it. :)

[Aiptasia]

1. Visit Jim Morrison's grave

and take a walking tour of the Paris underground (aka the sewers).

[Burma Jones]

2. Go to Burger King

Vincent: And you know what they call a... a... a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris?
Jules: They don't call it a Quarter Pounder with cheese?
Vincent: No man, they got the metric system. They wouldn't know what the fuck a Quarter Pounder is.
Jules: Then what do they call it?
Vincent: They call it a Royale with cheese.
Jules: A Royale with cheese. What do they call a Big Mac?
Vincent: Well, a Big Mac's a Big Mac, but they call it le Big-Mac.
Jules: Le Big-Mac. Ha ha ha ha. What do they call a Whopper?
Vincent: I dunno, I didn't go into Burger King.

[bicentennial_baby]

3. Catacombs!

The bones of 16 million Parisians, underground and artfully arranged! Dark and creepy! :bounce:

[kay1864]

4. Ditto, ditto

Sewer tour is amazing (and IIRC not smelly like you'd think, only in a couple places, and no worse than your average barn). The sewer tunnels are named after the streets above. Rue du Rivoli, etc.

Les Catacombes are a MUST. Caveats: it has weird hours, like 2-4 pm on some days, not 930-530 like most museums, so you have to plan it into your schedule. Also, ask the ticket taker what Metro stop you're near when you exit. You exit about 1/2 mile from where you started, so it's a bit disorienting. Pack a small flashlight so you can see how far back the bones go in some of the rooms.

Ste-Chapelle (small chapel near Notre-Dame). The upper chapel is almost entirely stained glass. Pick up the free English language guide (big laminated card) at the end of the room. Make sure you go when it's sunny for best effect.

How long will you be there?

[grace0418]

8. Ste-Chapelle is AMAZING. I was far more impressed by that than

Notre Dame. I've seen it several times.

[JackDragna]

16. I'll be in Paris about four days or so.

I'm popping in to a few culturally significant cities..Paris, Munich, and Barcelona. Maybe one or two others if I can scrounge up enough change.

[kay1864]

28. Well in that case you should get a Carte Musée for the museums

You can buy them at the Métro stations, when you buy your train passes. Saves time standing in line to buy museum tickets.

[ohiosmith]

5. Go here and get fucked up on Absinthe.

Cantada II
13, street Moret
75011 Paris
01.48.05.96.89.
A goth-punk Bar and an excellent choice of wormwoods

[grace0418]

6. Well every time we go we stay on Rue Cler near Ecole Militaire

It's not macabre or extremely unusual, but it is just lovely and off the beaten path a bit more than the standard Paris attractions. And it's more residential so there aren't as many tourists around.

[kay1864]

10. Let me guess--Hotel Leveque?

And are you a Rick Steves fan?

[grace0418]

14. Yes and yes!

Well, I think Rick Steves is almost unbearable to watch because he's such a dork but I do like his advice. The next time we go to Paris though, we will rent an apartment. We've been doing that for a few years now and we love it. It's a great way to live like a local.

[RedStateShame]

7. Read up on your Anthony Bourdain

The man knows a thing or two about cuisine and culture, especially France.

[bettyellen]

9. aux trois mallietz is a very very old bar that also

has a strange mixed bag caberet show in it's cavern basement.
it's one of the few things going on (late) sunday (i think shows are tue-sun) nights,
lots of local bartenders and performers go. the show was free, just the drinks were expensive, that's paris for you.
it's 56 rue gallande, across from the very old church of st julien on the left bank.
if you go and there's a fernch/ vietnamese elvis impersonator from Lyon, , tell Scotty i said hello.
they also own another bar with good jazz that's hidden in an alley way, i forget the name, so ask the bartender about it.

[kay1864]

11. To find street addresses mentioned above...

www.mappy.com (click on the British flag for the English version)

Works like Mapquest or Yahoo maps, and shows the nearest Métro station.

[JVS]

12. Drink wine and absinthe, pass out in your own bodily fluids on the...

Champs Elysées.

[applegrove]

13. Rodin Museum, Saint Eustache (they actually had a working soup

kitchen when I was there - so go and volunteer) - it seems the french are very serious about the homeless from what I can tell. Warms your heart to be a part of a society like that.

At night go to the top of Samaritain Department store and look out at the lights.. cause you'll be just below and in the middle of it all.

Find out if there are any ava marias being sung from the balconies inside Notre Dame or whatever concert.

[grace0418]

15. the Gustave Moreau museum is awesome and it is in his former studio

so it's interesting just to see the space. I definitely recommend purchasing one of those attraction passes. You get into a bazillion museums with the pass and you don't have to feel guilty if you just want to peek around for an hour.

[trof]

17. See Mary Magdalen's tomb under the glass pyramid at the Louvre.

It was in "The Davinci Code".
;-)

On edit: it's under the "vessel" one, not the "blade" one.

[Left Is Write]

25. I was going to suggest fleeing to the countryside with a young French

police cryptographer.

[trof]

18. I liked the entrecote restaurant:

Entrecote: Best Steaks
Updated by marimar_72 on August 5, 2003.

Click Picture to enlarge
Entrecote by marimar_72
Though I`m not a meat person but this steak is to die for,the restaurnt only serves steak with french fries,so if you`re a vegetarian,this is NOT your place. The steaks is cooked with some herb sauce very tender and delicous.It opens for dinner at 7:00 p.m but try to get there before 7 as the line gets really long.

The steak with fries.

Theme: Steakhouse
Price: US$11-20 » Currency Converter
Comparison: more expensive than average
Directions: Behind the Meridien Etoile Hotel.

Entrecote: If you are a meat lover,...
Written by freespirit13 on August 25, 2002.

If you are a meat lover, you'll love L'entrecôte, you go there, wait a little 'cause there's usually a line up and they just ask you how you like your meat and that's all that's on the menu. This place is quite expensive, so instead of eating at so-so restaurants for a few nights, eat there and get baguette sandwiches the other nights. Don't be fooled, some other restaurants call themselves L'entrecôte de Paris, but that's not the real thing, there is only one real entrecôte. You will love that sauce...

There's only one thing on the menu: A filet mignon cooked how you like it with a delicious mustard sauce and fries, and then you get a choice of deserts, the place is known for their excellent proliférols.

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/France/Ile_de_France/Paris-99080/Restaurants-Paris-Entrecote-BR-1.html

[flvegan]

19. Sing "Hotel California" on les Champs Elysees

while sitting on the curb. It's a moneymaker. Trust me...

[JVS]

20. And follow it with a performance of post #12

[flvegan]

22. There is no better encore than that.

[Rabrrrrrr]

21. See if there's still room to clap your hands

[xchrom]

23. i hope this helps

http://www.artquest.org.uk/artroute/intro/index.html

http://www.palaisdetokyo.com/

http://www.qantara.de/webcom/show_article.php/_c-587/_nr-11/_p-1/i.html?PHPSESSID=586932399788bbaf8

http://www.cluas.com/music/features/french-letter_rock-in-france.htm

http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/staticpages/index.php/Venues#France

http://www.secretsofparis.com/46-april-2004/

http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/music_specials/s1402002.htm

http://www.10best.com/Paris/Nightlife/Rock_&_Blues_Music/index.html

[Bossy Monkey]

24. The rue Mouffetard is kind of a hoot

http://www.pps.org/great_public_spaces/one?public_place_id=110
Nearby Les arenes de Lutece aren't in the strictest sense too exciting, but how often do you get to go to a public park and hang out in a Roman ruin?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ar%C3%A8nes_de_Lut%C3%A8ce

[WolverineDG]

26. Visit a hammam

Get a massage &/or sit in the steam room. There's one in the Marais (Les Bains de Marais), but I forget which street it's on. :) Has different days & hours for men & women.

dg

[lumberingbear]

27. Go to the Church of the Miraculous Medal..

And see the the incorrupt body of Saint Catherine Labouré
Check it out here:
http://www.livingwatercommunity.com/Pilgrimage%202005/Miraculous%20Medal%20&%20Sacre%20Coeur%20Pg%203.htm (First picture on left) She died in 1876, and her body was not preserved and did not decay. I saw it. Kind of creepy.