Selected guides and advisers

Paris Soirées www.parissoirees.com parissoirees@hotmail.com   Tel.: 01 43 26 12 88   Patricia Laplante-Collins created Paris Soirees Dinners and Paris Networking Cocktail events on the Ile St Louis to bring Americans in Paris together with expats, hip English speaking French and the International Community in a global meetup. Evenings feature Literary, Art, New Age, Business, African- American and Black Paris themes presented in English. There is an intimate salon atmosphere and the focus is all about meeting people learning about the the Paris of today and creating friendships. Patricia is also the founder of African American Literary Soirees.

We have selected for you some great services or guides that will make your new life easier. Do not miss to visit our « selected books » section where you can order online some useful practical and historical guides about parisian life.

At your service
Paris’ premier concierge service. They provide the ultimate personal service to busy individuals or international businesses. Their lifestyle management solutions simplify hectic schedules, reduce on-the-job stress, and give you one of the most sought-after gifts available in today’s fast-paced world : the gift of time !
http://www.atyourserviceparis.com/

Paris Soirées
Patricia Laplante-Collins is proud to have a 21st Century Parisian Salon. Our mission is to simply enlarge your circle of acquaintances in a safe and stimulating atmosphere while promoting Cultural Achievement, The New Age and Paris Personalities. And we have fun! We are THE gathering place for the International Community of Paris. Enjoy! Discuss! Meet new and interesting
People. Every Wednesday and Sunday at Patrica’s Marais apartment on Ile Saint Louis.
parissoirees@hotmail.com

International Herald Tribune
Day after day, find the keys to Medias and commuicatiosn, finance, politics, style, properties, traveling… and much more. Get your copy every day at your door by subscribing today…
http://www.iht.com/subs

Insider Guide to Working and Living in France:
The Ins and Outs http://www.insiderparisguides.com/workandlive/index.html
You may be one of those people who dream of working and living in France and don't know how to go about simply DOING IT. This guide tells how - from the INSIDE OUT -- how others like yourself have managed to work within the French system. Written from personal experience and including lots of individual stories, plus hundreds of Internet resources with the information you'll need to know just a click away. The guide focuses on the problems of Americans, but wherever you are from this guide is invaluable.

Insider Guide to Biking in Paris
http://www.insiderparisguides.com/parisbiking/index.html
Biking around Paris is a great way to explore the city and the surrounding countryside. Two wheels can simply see the sights of Paris faster than two feet. And with a bike, you are quickly out of the city and into the country. This very informative guide tells everything you need to know about biking in Paris plus 10 of Rose's Day Trips Outside Paris with detailed directions for each.

Insider Guide to Practical Answers for Living in France
http://www.insiderparisguides.com/answers/index.html
Though France might seem as familiar as any other Western country, the truth is, from paying taxes to having a baby -- things are done differently in France. These are the more than 200 Questions from REAL people and all the PRACTICAL Answers for LIVING IN FRANCE . . . published over the last eight years in the Paris Free Voice and in Jean Taquet's Monthly Newsletter!

The Writers Insider Guide to Paris
http://www.insiderparisguides.com/writers/index.html
For Novelists, Journalists, Poets, Dreamers, and Doers Alike! Perhaps you are fed up with your 9 to 5 regime; perhaps you are a writer needing a new perspective . . . perhaps, like so many, you are intoxicated by the myth of writing in Paris (have read A Moveable Feast, dreamt of Sartre in Les Deux Magots, been haunted by the Beatniks' or Henry Miller's immortalized adventures) and are interested in discovering what such a life is all about. For whatever reason, you are ready to make Paris your home and haven for new words. Now it is possible.

HL private classes
Personal French classes You’re in Paris for a few days and you wish to learn basic French or improve your French with conversation classes, guided tours in French of exhibitions, museums... Do it with a qualified lecturer who is also a certified university teacher! Please contact Helen, she’ll be happy to show you the best of Paris “en français”.
To plan your classes, write to Helen at h.lecossois@free.fr - classes from 20 euros per hour.

Parler Parlor Conversation Group
http://www.parlerparlor.com/ French-English conversation group in Paris meets four times a week, hosted by Adrian Leeds and Elisabeth Crochard.

SOS HELP
Call us up
01 46 21 46 46
Crisis line in english 3 pm to 11 pm every day.
http://www.soshelpline.org

WICE
A nonprofit cultural and educational association
Arts, education, History, politics, languages… Meet your needs and new friends !
Tel : 01 45 66 75 50
wice@wice-paris.org
http://www.wice-paris.org

The improfessionals
The only english speaking improvisation theatre group in Paris
Improvisation activities for private classes for all levels.
Tel : 01 42 84 00 37
http://www.improfessionals.com

PARIS PERSPECTIVES Pamela Grant pamela.grant@noos.fr After graduating from Vassar College with a degree in Art History, Pamela Grant came to France for a month to pursue French Studies. That was over 10 years ago, and needless to say, the endless beauty and history of the “City of Light,” drew her in. In 1994, Pamela became one of the few foreigners to pass the rigorous French National Guide examination. Le Marais Guided Tours Poison and Passion: 17th Century Culture in the Marais Declared a protected area by Minister of Culture André Malraux in 1961, the Marais boasts over 100 beautiful mansions. This walk spotlights life during the Middle Ages and its heyday in the 17th century. Highlights include contrasting churches and, on a more macabre note, the home of a high-society serial killer! The final stop is the magnificent Place des Vosges (home to Victor Hugo, the Marquise de Sévigné and France’s former Minister of Culture, Jack Lang.) Synagogues and Jewish History in the Marais A walk through the ancient streets of the Marais explores 1,500 years of Jewish life in Paris – both fascinating and tragic. An amazing cloister, the only one to survive the French Revolution, testifies to a dark period for medieval Jews. The tour also includes a visit to a synagogue, or “shtiebl”, pre-dating the French Revolution (when about 500 “unofficial” Jews lived in Paris), the Hector Guimard Synagogue and the imposing synagogue on rue des Tournelles. Notre Dame and the Ile de la Cité A lasting monument to a distant age, Notre Dame de Paris (“Our Lady of Paris”) is alive and vibrant with history. The construction of the cathedral began in 1163 and lasted 200 years. In 1830, condemned to demolition, it was rescued thanks to the effort of author Victor Hugo. This walk takes a look at the fascinating history, the stories carved in stone and the symbolism both inside and outside a cathedral that has been at the heart of Paris for centuries. Other Tours: Other tour options include Versailles, the Louvre and Orsay Museums, the recently renovated Cluny Museum of Medieval Art, the Church of Ste. Chapelle, Père Lachaise Cemetery and The Da Vinci Code: Fact or Fiction. Tours on any specific theme or interest are easily arrangeable for both small and large groups. Car service available on request. What Paris Perspective clients have to say: “Pam did a wonderful job. Her tour was the high point of our first visit to Paris. Her art history background was the perfect platform for a tour of this famous artists’ haven.” Steve B. – Denver, CO “Your knowledge and delivery are first-rate. Everybody in our family was delighted, including our young girls. Thank you again for all your help.” Beth U. - NYC “I greatly enjoyed the walk -– you have the special ability to cram information into a presentable, breezy package without sounding boring or like a know-it-all.” Dan H. - NYC “Pam’s expertise and knowledge, combined with a great love for her adopted city, make her a tour guide extraordinaire. Her captivating walks, filled with fascinating information about one of the world’s most beautiful cities, are a must for anyone visiting Paris!” Eva W. – Toronto, Canada.