New in Paris: June Edition

Tue 15 Jun 2010

The new French Riviera beach club. Photo by James Merrell.

New Hotels

Hôtel Secret de Paris
Luxurious and beautifully designed, this new boutique hotel, located in the Trinité neighborhood, in the 9th Arrondissement, offers 29 guest rooms. The hotel features themed rooms (think Musée d’Orsay, Moulin Rouge and Opéra Garnier) with ambient lighting, and amenities like a spa steam bath, a sauna, a fitness center and massage.
One by the Five
Though it isn’t brand new, One by the Five is certainly a cool new concept in hotels. It is a unique accommodation, more like an apartment that a hotel, that offers three bathrooms, a kitchen area (with a “love elixir” recipe and a stocked pantry) and a small terrace. It’s loaded with special little touches (some racier than others!) and is a perfect place to bring a partner for an unforgettable night or two.

New Museums and Exhibitions

Valentino Fashion Museum
Rumor has it that designer Valentino Garavani is set to open a new fashion museum in July, which coincidentally is timed perfectly with Paris Haute Couture week. Reportedly the museum will be housed at Château de Wideville, which is just outside Paris, in Yvelines. We’ll keep you updated as we find out more!
Sonia Rykiel Dessine
Fashion designer Sonia Rykiel, known for her flaming red hair and signature stripes, is showcasing something other than fashion in an exhibition at Galerie Catherine Houard, in St.-Germain-des-Prés. More than 200 of Rykiel’s artworks will be on display until June 24.

Hôtel Secret de Paris.

Hot Shopping

Ralph Lauren
The 13,000-square-foot Ralph Lauren flagship store recently opened on the tony boulevard St.-Germain. The store, which took four years to renovate, offers his signature collections and, in a twist found only in Paris, includes a restaurant serving American fare like burgers and steaks from his own Colorado ranch, and fried chicken.
Printemps
If you are heading to Paris this summer, you should include a visit to Printemps. From June 30 to August 3, shop ’til you drop at the annual summer sale, where you’ll find discounts of up to 50 percent on designer fashions and other select items throughout the store. And just to make it more convenient, the store has extended hours on Thursday evenings, until ten o’clock.

Hot Happenings

Fête de la Musique
Held annually on the summer solstice, the Fête de la Musique will take place this year on June 21. The lively music festival turns the streets, bars and cafés of Paris into a cheerful celebration of jazz, hip-hop, rock, techno and other music styles. The best part is that it’s completely free!
Shakespeare Garden Theater Festival
From now through September 26, the Shakespeare Garden Theater Festival is taking place in the outdoor theater located in the Bois de Boulogne park. It is the perfect romantic setting to watch this year’s program, which includes La Locandiera, Twelfth Night and of course A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Cupcake Camp Paris
On July 4 cupcake lovers from all over Paris will come together at Bistrot Vivienne, in the 2nd Arrondissement, for an afternoon of cupcake eating, contests, fun and so much more. The first annual Cupcake Camp Paris is a nonprofit event, with all proceeds being donated to the charity Rebuilding Haiti Now.
Les Grandes Eaux Nocturnes
On selected dates between June 19 and August 28, the Parc du Château de Versailles will be hosting a spectacular show called the Grandes Eaux Nocturnes. Enjoy a magical evening in the royal gardens of Louis XIV, where at nightfall the gardens, ponds and fountains will come alive with colored lights and French Baroque music. The sound and visual journey ends with fireworks.

New Bars and Clubs

Biloba

Paris recently welcomed a new “green” bar to the city center. Biloba, in the 1st Arrondissement, is an eco-cultural bar and tearoom, the first of its kind in the City of Light. The design is eco-friendly, the lighting is by a renewable-energy company and 5 percent of the profits are donated to Friends of the Earth. On offer are organic food, tea and “green” cocktails.

New for Jet-setters