9 reasons why you should go to Paris in August
Paris is always a good idea. But in August, it's even nicer. Why? Well, that's why. I asked Agnès Michot, editor-in-chief of Marie Claire and one of my dearest and most stylish colleagues ever. She is knowledgeable because she studied French Literature in Paris, is French, and goes to this city at least 6 times a year. Be warned, instant travel itch is lurking around the corner.
First and foremost, what almost no one knows is that in August you can park for free in Paris. Not on the big Boulevards, but in the side streets. Just look at a parking meter and you'll see “free on Sunday, holidays, and the month of August.” Moreover, there is plenty of space to park your car because the Parisians are taking a breather in Biarritz, Deauville, or the sunny south.
The little eatery in the middle of Jardin de Luxembourg. Normally, it is completely taken over by Parisian hipsters, but now that they have flown away, you can take their spot. Of course, you order a Salade Nicoise. You then burn off all the calories on the public tennis court in the Jardin.
August shopping. You enjoy the last bits of the sale (which has risen to as much as 70%) and you immediately grab the new collection. Where do you do that? At the Bon Marché, of course. Very Parisian.
The finest pharmacy in the city is City Pharma in Saint Germain. They sell all those nice French pharmacy brands that you can only buy in France. Normally, that place is packed, but now the floor is yours.
What few people know is that hotels are much cheaper in August. Just call Le Meurice – oh no, we don't stay there on principle anymore, to Costes or the Mandarin or George V.
From July 23 to August 24, outdoor movies are screened in Parc de la Villette in Paris. Cinema en plein air. What can you see there? Lolita by Stanley Kubrick, Carrie by Brian de Palma, and Cédric Klapisch's ‘Chacun cherche son chat’, Riad Sattouf's ‘Les Beaux Gosses’, and George Lucas’ ‘American Graffiti’. If you want to know what's playing that evening, check timeout.com
Hurry up, but until August 17, there is Paris Plage along the Seine. You can play beach volleyball or, very French, pétanque. The most fun attraction might be the legion of handsome gendarmes who, on roller skates (!), maintain order.
What is very much à la mode in Paris is drinking cocktails on rooftops. And New York doesn't have exclusive rights to that. Where should you be? This is where you should be.
Piscine Josephine Baker is indeed an indoor pool, but hey, it's much cleaner than the Seine and you have the Seine view. Hipsters picnic in Parc des Buttes-Chaumont; you can bring your own food, but there is also a little stand where you can get tasty things. Lie down on the grass and the city is yours.
On-y-va?
