If you are in the mood for an old-time American musical, Guys and Dolls arrived in Paris a few weeks ago running until nearly the end of July. When I read about this, I thought it might be a good idea to accumulate, just below, a few sites for you to use to find out what is currently happening in Paris prior to your departure.

The stats for Guys and Dolls: https://en.parisinfo.com/paris-show-exhibition/200948/guys-and-dolls and take a look at Theatre Marigny’s (where this performance takes place) website: https://www.theatremarigny.fr/spectacle/guys-and-dolls/

When I used to head to Paris, I went directly to a nearby kiosk and bought a Pariscope. It was a small-sized newsprint cultural magazine chock full of information on virtually all the events happening in Paris for that week. And, it was offered at the bargain price of around a euro. It came out midweek, followed by being fully updated every week. Also, towards the very back, there were several pages in English! Unfortunately, it phased out due to circulation slowdown, I want to say, and don’t hold me to it, but I think it was due to the shifting over of the ability to access website information.

On top of websites giving you a free supply of ‘what’s happening’, the websites, themselves, have gotten even more user-friendly as they can usually be navigated in English as well as allow event tickets to be bought online.

As you probably have gathered, I highly recommend buying event tickets in advance. In doing so, it limits your time waiting in line and gives you the assurance that you will be able to attend. There is frequently a limit on how many viewers will be allowed into an exhibit, or other event, at any one time. So, advance purchase is another assurance that you will most likely be able to attend the event at your most convenient date and time.

By the way, L’officiel des Spectacles (https://www.offi.fr/expositions-musees) does have a website (https://www.offi.fr/expositions-musees) and it is another small-sized weekly newsprint-styled cultural magazine that has been around since the 40’s and is still available to be purchased at the kiosk newsstands. Unfortunately though, it is only in French.

Oft times I hear about the various events and exhibitions through friends or blogs I follow. I then head to the theatre/museum website that is offering the event. But here are a few websites you might want to check out if you find yourself fortunate enough to be amongst the Parisians.

These generalized sources are loaded down with information. You may be familiar with them from either past visits to Paris or visits to other cities that also are covered by these sources or ones similar to them. You can start with these:

Time Out: https://www.timeout.com/paris/en/arts-culture

where magazine: http://www.wherepariseditions.com/en/pdf_whereparis_english/

Paris tourist office: https://en.parisinfo.com/what-to-do-in-paris/shows-in-paris

Paris Discovery Guide: https://www.parisdiscoveryguide.com

Bonjour Paris: https://bonjourparis.com/whats-on-in-paris/

Well, my ‘remembering when’ of the newspaper magazine, Pariscope, certainly dates me but this will really harken back to yesteryear. I was visiting Paris during the time of the inception of  church concerts being offered to the public. In fact, they were free! However, the only way one could locate their ‘who, what, where, when, how’ was through simple flyers haphazardly lying around in your neighborhood touristy cafes. Well, discovering these concerts has gone down the pathway in a more sophisticated professional manner! There is a website!

I highly recommend them. I often find my way to one at La Saint Chapelle. But there are a number of other locations that have wonderful performances. The last time I attended was for a Christmas holiday performance, with friends.

On the website, you will see they are now offering champagne and concert or dinner and concert with the La Saint Chapelle performances. When I went with my friends, I reserved a table at Les Bouquinistes (http://www.lesbouquinistes.com) post concert, which is just a five-minute walk from the church. What was also wonderful is that we were able to walk across the Pont Saint Michel (bridge leading us from the right bank to the left) and gave us a look up and down the Seine, where we paused for a moment to take in the extraordinary experience of seeing the holiday light magic of the city! Ahh-hhh-hh!

Yet another nearby restaurant is Ze Kitchen Galerie, (http://www.zekitchengalerie.fr/en/kgb-2/) which is just a couple more minutes walk away. And, Laperouse is right in your pathway too, although it is closed now for renovation and a new chef. Here is an article I found about its history: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/laperouse-restaurant

Concert website for all concerts offered:

https://www.classictic.com/en/concerts_at_la_sainte_chapelle/10055/657083/:

Movie website: This Anglo website gives you the current movie theatre schedules in Paris. https://www.angloinfo.com/paris/directory

Those should get you started. If you already have a favorite website you use, please do tell me about it in the ‘comments’ section.