FASHION FRIDAY: SUEDE NAILS

I always like to get a manicure & pedicure before I jet set anywhere. But, I also like to bring a bottle of nail polish with me as well, just in case my polish chips while I am away. I am just loving the NEW Suede OPI nail polish. I am going to see if my local Harmon has any, but if not, I know I can order it online as well. Isn't it cool? You can pick one up for about $8.50. This one below is called Suzi Skies in the Pyreness. This color is called You Don't Know Jacques.

ONE & ONLY PALMILLA

There are resorts, and then there are RESORTS...and the One & Only Palmilla in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico is a one & only luxury RESORT! How does a poolside foot massage & a sunglasses cleaning sound, or how about margarita ice pops? Those are just some of the amenities at this amazing 5-star resort. But, luxury always comes with an super-expensive price tag ($525-$1500 a night). Well listen up, my fellow jet setters, due to the talk of swine flu in Mexico and the negative result it's having on tourism there, the One & Only Palmilla is dropping it's prices for the fall. (Not to worry, the swine flu has not been an issue at all at the One & Only Palmilla)

So here's the deal, superior rooms are now going for only $367 a night from November 1st through December 18th. That price includes breakfast and wellness classes, plus an experience like no other at one of the Top 10 Resorts in Mexico according to Travel + Leisure Magazine. There is an infinity pool and every room has an ocean view and butler service...this truly is a RESORT! So get set to jet set and start booking...now all we need to do is find a good deal on a flight!

THE SPOILED UNDER-30 CROWD

I recently celebrated a new milestone...30! And since I know most of my jet setting community who reads this blog falls in that same category as well, I thought I'd share a very funny forward that I received the other day. It's sooooooooooooooooo true, it's scary! :-)

If you are 30 or older you will think this is hilarious!!!!
When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were. When they were growing up; what with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning.... Uphill... Barefoot... BOTH ways Yadda, yadda, yadda

And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way in hell I was going to lay a bunch of crap like that on my kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it! But now that . . . I'm over the ripe old age of thirty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today.

You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in a damn Utopia! And I hate to say it, but you kids today, you don't know how good you've got it! I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have the Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the damn library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalogue!!

There was no email!! We had to actually write somebody a letter - with a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox, and it would take like a week to get there! Stamps were 10 cents!

Child Protective Services didn't care if our parents beat us. As a matter of fact, the parents of all my friends also had permission to kick our ass! Nowhere was safe! There were no MP3' s or Napsters! If you wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the damn record store and shoplift it yourself!

Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio, and the DJ would usually talk over the beginning and @#*% it all up! There were no CD players! We had tape decks in our car. We'd play our favorite tape and "eject" it when finished, and the tape would come undone.. Cause - that's how we rolled, dig?

We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called, they got a busy signal, that's it!

There weren't any freakin' cell phones either. If you left the house, you just didn't make a damn call or receive one. You actually had to be out of touch with your "friends". OH MY GOD !!! Think of the horror.. And then there's TEXTING . yeah , right. You kids have no idea how annoying you are.

And we didn't have fancy Caller ID either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your mom, your boss, your bookie, your drug dealer, a collections agent, you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances, mister!

We didn't have any fancy Sony Playstation video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'Asteroids'. Your guy was a little square! You actually had to use your imagination!! And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen... Forever! And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!

You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on! You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off your ass and walk over to the TV to change the channel! NO REMOTES!!!

There was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning. Do you hear what I'm saying? We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled little rat-bastards!
And we didn't have microwaves. If we wanted to heat something up, we had to use the stove! Imagine that!

That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled. You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in 1980 or before!

Regards,
The Over 30 Crowd

EVERYONE NEEDS A LITTLE NAPA

Napa Valley is one of my all time favorite destinations in the U.S. I went out there a couple of years ago with one of my best friends and had an amazing time, but swore to myself that the next time I go it will definitely have to be with my husband. Napa is just so romantic. So when we do book our trip, the place where I want us to stay is The Wine Country Inn & Gardens.

The Wine Country Inn has been around since 1975 and is family owned and operated...I just love that because you always get the warmth and attention you deserve when you stay at a place like this. The inn is built well off the highway and is surrounded by vineyards. They have a pool, jacuzzi, spa, complimentary breakfast & afternoon appetizers as well as a free restaurant shuttle to take you into town so that you can relax, drink wine and not have to worry about driving. Rooms range from $250-$600 a night, depending on which room you choose and what time of year you jet set to Napa valley.

The Holidays are around the corner, so now is the perfect time to go...and take a look at the great things happening there this time of year:

October: There are still many days in the 80's & 90's temperature-wise...so take your bathing suit and enjoy the Napa Valley grape harvest while you're there.

November: The Inn holds its annual Ode to Olive celebration (November 19th-22nd) where you can taste different olives, olive oils and cheeses.

December: Head there for a romantic New Year's Eve celebration with your honey. They have a special dinner for $75 per person which includes a four-course meal with wine right at the inn...and also a complimentary champagne toast at midnight.

25-CENT HOTEL ROOMS

I kid you not! Your jet setting friend is always in search of the best deals out there for you and look what I have found...25-cents a night for a three-night stay at various hotels in the U.S. Virgin Islands!!! It's all part of their promotion to honor the Virgin Islands' newly minted state quarter. The U.S. Virgin Islands include St. Croix, St. John & St. Thomas and are very easy to get to...plus you don't need a passport to visit since they are part of the U.S. The offer is only valid through December 15, 2009...so jump on it fast! Just know the fine print...that you the traveler are responsible to pay for taxes and fees, you must stay at least 3-nights (the offer is only good for three nights as well), and you must book airfare when you book the room. Bookit.com has more of the details if you want to read about it. The weather is getting cold and now is a great time to jet set to the Caribbean where it's nice and warm!

ODE TO THE GUINESS

Today I write my Ode to the Guinness because it is one of my favorite beers out there. Right off the bat, I have to say the first time I ever tried a Guinness was at the Guinness Brewery in Dublin, Ireland...so yes, I was spoiled right away because there is no other Guinness anywhere else in the WORLD that tastes as good!

Now to the reasons why a Guinness is good and actually good for you. Contrary to what most people think, Guinness is low in calories (about 10 per ounce), and is mixed with Aligal gas (70% nitrogen to 30% CO2) which makes it less filling than other beers. Guinness also has Vitamin B, Vitamin E, Iron, Magnesium, Riboflavin and Antioxidants in it...so it's sort of healthy in a way too. So go ahead, raise a pint, and say Slainte! (pronouned slan-cha) That means Cheers! in Gaelic. :-)

THE VANDERBILT OPENS TODAY!

The same couple that owns Saul restaurant in Brooklyn now opens their new place today...The Vanderbilt. Saul (also in Brooklyn) serves sophisticated, French-influenced contemporary American food, and The Vanderbilt is meant to be its more casual and less expensive version.

There is a meat smoker at The Vanderbilt, and they offer a variety of meat dishes from steak, to sausage, to pork and house-made jerky...along with berry-filled doughnuts for dessert which sound amazing! Dishes are served tapas style- on small plates- and run between $4-$16.

The Vanderbilt
570 Vanderbilt Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11238
718-623-0570

FASHION FRIDAY: FALLING FOR THE FANNY

Back in the day, fanny packs were all the rage. I'll even break down and admit that I sported a few at one time myself. Then there was a phase where you wouldn't be caught dead with a fanny pack on. Now, like all things do, the fanny has come full circle and is acceptable to wear again thanks to better styles and the fact that high end brands even carry them.

I told you that I am getting ready to jet set somewhere cold soon, where we'll be doing a little bit of hiking. My friend is coming with us and told me that she bought a fanny the other day to hold her camera, sunglasses and other stuff when we hike...and that peaked my interest again in the fanny bag. I did a little bit of shopping around and I want to share with you what I found. I haven't bought anything yet...so I was hoping you could tell me which one you think I should get. Or, maybe I'm just getting old and so my tastes are changing...so if you think that it's horrendously ugly and not worth the purchase...feel free to let me know that too! :-)

1- Shiny Denim Fanny Pack from American Apparel: Price $17
2- Patagonia Hip Pack from Zappos: Price $46 3- Belt Bag by Gucci (I had to throw this in there...I've been wanting one forever!): Price $525

4- LeSportSac Double Zip Belt Bag: Price $54 5- The North Face Sport Hiker Waist Pack at EMS: Price $69

NEW YORK CITY'S VILLAGE HALLOWEEN PARADE

Sticking with the Halloween theme, following my "No Trick All Treat" post yesterday about JetBlue's $31 flights in honor of Halloween...I thought I'd write about something to do on Halloween day. Halloween falls on a Saturday this year...how exciting! That means we can dress up, trick-or-treat and party and not have to go to bed early. So if any of my jet setting community is interested, Halloween weekend (October 30th-November 1st) is the time to jet set to NYC and attend the 36th Annual Village Halloween Parade.

For those of you who haven't been, this is the parade of all parades! It's the largest public Halloween celebration in the nation! You have to go at least once in your life to see the colorful costumes and personalities that come out for this event. The parade runs up 6th Avenue from Spring Street to 21st Street. It starts at 7pm and ends around 10:30pm. The parade is free...so grab a costume and a bunch of your friends and you're sure to have a blast and a night you won't soon forget!

"NO TRICK, ALL TREAT" HALLOWEEN SALE- $31 FLIGHTS

Just heard about this travel deal and wanted to share it with all of my jet setters...
JetBlue is offering a promotion where you can fly to any destination JetBlue flies to for $31 one-way (provided they have an extra seat they haven't already sold). Sounds too good to be true? It might be. The trick is that you have to fly after noon local time on Halloween (October 31st), and the fare doesn't include your return flight. The offer applies to all nonstop US routes that JetBlue flies to. So it may not be "All Treat" and maybe more "All Trick", but hey, it's worth looking into.

DARK AND STORMY

I had never heard of a Dark and Stormy before last year when I jet setted to Bermuda...and now I feel like I am seeing them on drink menus everywhere. (see picture above of waiter in Bermuda- it's the drink on his tray, not the one he's pouring) Anyway, I know it's a classic drink and many of you may be thinking that I'm crazy to have not known it. Either way, not only do I now know about it, but I also know that it's pretty easy to make. I wanted to share the recipe with you all if you are inspired to make a Sunday cocktail.

RECIPE: DARK & STORMY (makes one drink)

- 2 ounces of any Dark or Spiced Rum

- 4 ounces of Ginger Beer

- Lime wedge

- Squeeze the juice from the lime over ice, then add the other ingredients and mix together

- Enjoy!

THE BATHROOM DIARIES

When you gotta go, you gotta go! But, when you are jet setting and have to go someplace other than your own home, you want to go somewhere that's clean. Well The Bathroom Diaries is where I will now go to find out where I should go. Get my drift? This website shows public restroom locations for more than 120 countries. Once you enter your destination, it will give you an address for the restroom, as well as a rating, hours, details and comments.

Here's an example of a bathroom that came up when I did a restroom search for New York, NY:

Wendy's 26 E 23rd Street
Rating: Excellent
Hours: Business hours
Gender: Generic tile but immacualte & fresh-smelling
Fee: Free
Details: clean safe handicap access
Style: Regular Western toilet
Comments: Very clean

FASHION FRIDAY: VERSATILE VESTS

Fall is the perfect time to wear a vest...and I absolutely love that. Vests are great to throw on and wear as your only outerwear, or they are also great to layer underneath your coat. I am getting ready to jet set to a cold destination pretty soon and so I have been shopping around for the appropriate things to pack. Here are some of the vests that I have my eye on...

The Gap has this great Puffer Vest for only $59.50. It comes in black, off white, brown, navy, or my favorite one...fushia! It has pockets and a detachable hood as well.

If you want to splurge a bit more, JCrew has this Sherpa Puffer Vest for $118. It comes in brown, sage, grey, navy, ivory, and peach. The reasons why I really like this vest (even though it's more expensive) are that it's goosedown filled so it's really warm, it's also lined with fleece which makes it warmer and comfy, and lastly because it hits low at the hip. This vest does not have a hood.For something a little different, but still cute, Forever 21 has this Toggle Fleece Vest for $27.80. It only comes in this dary grey and cream color, but it's lined with fleece so it's comfortable and will help keep you warm.

JET SET SMART STORKHEARTS

Just because you are expecting a little one doesn't mean that you can't still jet set somewhere fabulous. In fact, I think it's the perfect excuse to go some place great with your loved one. I just came across something called Babymoon Guide which will help you get started.

Whether you want to jet set to somewhere far and exotic, or just want to be pampered for the day, this is a great place to find what you are looking for. They list suggested destinations for the Caribbean & Mexico, the U.S., Canada and Europe. They also have reviews from parents-to-be who have jet setted to the destinations so you can read and see what they thought about their trip.

Their featured babymoon this month is at the Mohonk Moutain House in New Paltz, New York. Their "Hello Baby" Babymoon package includes the following:

- Side-by-side massages: Moms-to-be will be nurtured by a 50-minute Maternity Massage designed to enhance lower back comfort, relieve leg and foot tension, and promote a sense of well-being. For Dads-to-be, a choice of the 50-minute Eagle Cliff Deep Tissue Massage or the customized Sky Top Revitalizer Facial for men will melt away stress and tension.
- Chocolates delivered with turn-down service each night
- Spa gift for the new parents
- Welcome gift for baby
- Charming accommodations, three meals daily prepared by award-winning chefs, afternoon tea and cookies, and most resort activities

Hey, I love to travel, and I wouldn't want to stop when I get pregnant or even when I have kids. As always, make sure to check with your doctor first before doing anything. If any of you have been on a Babymoon or would like to plan one, please let me know.

GET READY TO LAUGH YOUR HEAD OFF!

Laugh, chuckle, giggle, crack up, howl, roar, or split your side...whatever you call it, get ready to do it because the New York Comedy Festival is coming to town November 4th-8th! Comedians including Dane Cook, Mario Cantone, Ricky Gervais, Tracy Morgan, and Bill Maher will be performing all around the city...and the list of comedians does go on beyond who I've mentioned. Ticket prices range from around $30-$80...depending on which comedian you go to see and what venue you go to to see them perform. As for my jet setters who do not live in or around New York City, check out New York Comedy Festival for some great hotel rates for the week.

GIADA & PAULA & BOBBY...OH MY!

Anyone who knows me knows I owe my newly acquired cooking skills to celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis from Food Network...and that I am a HUGE FAN! And anyone who knows Rich, my husband, knows he's been the biggest fan of celebrity chef Bobby Flay from well before Bobby was as famous as he is today. (Seriously, Food Network was the only channel that would come in on Rich's t.v. when he was a student...and to this day we still don't know how he got the channel without having cable!)Well now to the real "meat" of this story...no pun intended, but I am talking about the "Food Network"...so I just had to go there! :-) Rich and I bought tickets for the NYC Food & Wine Festival which took place this past weekend at locations all throughout Manhattan. Without a doubt, we got tickets to see Cooking Demonstrations by Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay. Just as a little side note, the night before we went, I told my family that I had this dream that I was going to go to Giada's demo and she was going to call up volunteers on stage and that I would jump up and scream "Pick, me!" And that she would pick me and then I would cook with her and she would quiz me about how much I actually knew about her and cooking. I truly did have this dream. Then I told my family, "But, I know it probably won't happen because it's a dream, and that I'd most likely leave disappointed and probably disliking Giada in some way because I didn't get to meet her."Now, back to the story...so our day starts very early Saturday morning because there's a Welcome Center for the Food & Wine Festival where apparently the celebrity chefs would be going to meet and greet and to sign copies of their books. And since I have all four of Giada's cookbooks...I am proud to say...I knew I wanted at least one signed by her. So we get to the tent and stand in a line that's not too long at all. We think that we might have a shot at seeing Giada & Bobby. But, as soon as we get in, Giada & Bobby are not there. Needless to say, we left and decided to head over early to Giada's demo.And I'm glad that we did that because we were pretty much the first ones in line! Next thing you know, Giada pulls up in a Food Network car and hops out with her brother-in-law, his wife, and I think her hair person from the show. I was so stunned that all I could do was have Rich snap pictures and wave. She waved back and went inside the building. Then it hit me...that was Giada. Why didn't I run up to her and ask her to sign my book? Why didn't I ask to take a picture with her? I was so mad at myself. Well, next thing I know I see her husband Todd Thompson. This was it! This was my chance to make up for the chance I missed with Giada. I run up to him and say "Hi, Todd." He turns around and says hello. Then I say to him, "I know everyone loves Giada, but I want you to know that I love you too and I love Anthropologie. (Todd is a designer for Anthropologie- one of my all time favorite stores). So he agrees to take a picture with me. I was psyched!At 11:45am, we are finally led into the auditorium (with about 500 other people). We get seats in the fourth row...not so bad I thought, that was until I saw people who were behind us in line push their way to sit in the front row. Now I was determined to see if I could get someone to give my cookbook to Giada to have her sign it for me. How about my "friend" Todd? I spotted him, ran over to him and asked him if he wouldn't mind doing it. He so politely said yes and disappeared to the back immediately to do it. Next thing I know, he emerges with the book and passes it back to me in the audience. I was glowing!Finally, Giada comes out on stage and the audience goes wild! She says that she wants her demo to be interactive and that she would love volunteers. Could this be for real? It was like my dream. So what did I do? I jumped out of my seat and screamed "Giada please, it's my birthday!" She says "Well how can I say no to that? OK, come up here." Next thing I know, I am pushing my way through my row and onto the stage. Giada then gave me the biggest hug. She is so tiny, I thought I'd crush her...but, she is just too cute!Her crew then put an apron and a mic on me, and then Giada told me I'd be helping her cook lamb chops. She showed me how to season then, and then asked me if I knew how to do it. I seasoned them and then asked "Is the grill pan hot?" The audience cracked up and Giada said "Maybe I should have a seat and you could do this on your own." She told me how to make the mascarpone dipping sauce which has honey in it. I asked her how much honey to put in and she said "2 tablespoons, just eyeball it." Well apparently my eyeballs are bigger than hers because she came over to taste my sauce and said "Wow, that's sweet." I said "You told me to eyeball it." The audience cracked up again. She then showed me how to cut the lamb and plate it...presentation is key...something I've learned from my idol Giada. She went on to make a risotto dish with dried cranberries and apples and an amaretto sour drink with prosecco. (Both of which I have made at home before!)We had a blast up on stage together. I made fun of myself, she made fun of me, and you could tell that everyone around us was getting a kick out of the whole thing. She truly is as warm and genuine as what you see of her on t.v. (not usually the case with all celebrities) She told me that she loves coming to New York for cooking demos because New Yorkers are the best. She surpassed my expectations...as did Todd for helping me to get my book signed. I am still on a high from that day and will probably be for awhile. I just can't believe that my dream actually came true! Now I have to dream that Giada asks me to be on an episode of her show, or asks me to go out to L.A. to work on her show! Hey, you never know, right? :-)Now on to the Paula & Bobby part of this post. After Giada hands me the plate of lamb chops to take back to my seat and share with Rich and some of the audience, Paula Deen walks out onto the stage and surprises Giada. Paula is a hoot..she is so funny...another one of my favorites from Food Network! It was such a treat to see her in person too. I actually did meet her once when I worked on t.v. She did a cooking demonstration for our show and made fun of me when I tried to help her.So that was our Saturday...or should I say my Saturday! Sunday was really Rich's day because we went to see Bobby Flay.

I knew there wouldn't be a repeat performance of Saturday in terms of me going up on stage, but I at least wanted to have Bobby autograph our Grill It cookbook. Well, as we were standing in line waiting to get in, Rich saw Bobby. I ran over to him and asked him to sign his cookbook for us. He did, but he definitely was not as warm as Giada or Todd were the day before. Oh well, I still got his autograph. As for his cooking demo, he did not have any volunteers from the audience, but instead cooked with Melissa D'Arabian...the Next Food Network Star. He made a roasted chicken, brussel sprouts with goat cheese, and a German chocolate cake. He is very funny...definitely loves himself, but still is totally awesome and a great chef! All in all, it was the greatest weekend ever! We'll definitely be going to another Food & Wine Festival in the future...maybe another New York one, or they also hold them In Aspen, Colorado and Miami, Florida as well.

MAN SHOPS GLOBE

One of my all time favorite stores is Anthropologie. They have beautiful clothes, jewelry, and accessories, and they also carry some gorgeous furniture pieces and things for the home. Well, there is a new show on t.v. now called Man Shops Globe where one of Anthropologie's buyers- Keith Johnson- jet sets around the world in search of unusual pieces (artwork, textiles & furniture) to sell at the store. I know, like me, you are probably thinking right now- how in the world did he get that job...and how do I sign up, right?

Keith jet sets to antique stores in France, South Africa, Turkey, the Netherlands, Belgium, India, the U.K., Tunisia and Argentina. Check out the show to not only see awesome destinations around the world, but also to see what great stuff Anthropologie may be carrying in their stores very soon! Man Shops Globe is on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on the Sundance Channel.

JE T'AIME PARIS

Je T'aime Paris! I love Paris! And you know what, who doesn't? It is one of the most incredible cities in the world! Well, our good friends Becca & Saleem are jet setting there tomorrow to celebrate Becca's 30th birthday (Happy B-Day my friend!:-) and so they asked me if I coud recommend anything for them to do while they are there. I have not been to Paris since 2007...back before Jet Set Smart...so my notes aren't the greatest, but here's what I came up with for them. I am sharing it with you all in case you jet set to Paris soon!

Things to Do:
- Definitely take the Bateaux Mouches boat ride along the River Sienne- and do it on your first day there. They offer a dinner cruise, which I would not do (cheezy, and not great food), but definitely go for the ride during the day so you can see the sites and take pictures in the light, and also it's a good way to get a lay of the land for your next days where you will be walking to all of the attractions.- See the Eiffel Tower..a must! Take the elevator all of the way up to the top. I also recommend going to see the Eiffel Tower in the early evening when there are less crowds, and also because the tower is lit at night...and it truly is so romantic to be there when this happens!

- Grab some awesome bread, cheese, and wine, and have a little picnic at Jardin de Luxenbourg. This garden is beautiful beyond words. - Go to the Louvre Museum. Make sure you get your picture of the Louvre Pyrmaid out in the front...- The Venus de Milo statue...- The Winged Victory of Samothrace- Make sure to see Notre Dame both on the inside and walk all around it to see and appreciate the gorgeous architecture.- Walk along the famous Champs Elysses (cheezy & filled with not great stores, but a must do) and check out the Arc de Triumph at the end of it...and definitely go to the top of it for breathtaking views of the city. Here you can really get a good sense for how the city is gridded.- Check out the city of Montmarte. See the Sacre Couer church and check out the views from this city which is the highest point in Paris...it's beautiful.- Walk along the cobblestone streets and buy artwork in the center square from local artists.- If you are hungry, stop in to this AMAZING Creperie- LE TIR BOUCHON and order the one with ham & cheese.- If you have the extra time and days, hop the metro and go to the city of Versailles to see the Chateau de Versailles... - It is so incredibly beautiful and romantic...- Make sure to see the Galerie de Glaces (Hall of Mirrors) at Chateau de Versailles- Also see the Gardens, and definitely rent a canoe and ride out on the lake so you can take it all in.Eating:
- Our favorite restaurant in Paris: AU BRIN DE ZINC. This place is the REAL deal, completely filled with Parisians, menu is in French, the waiters speak French...this is why you jet setted all the way to Paris...not to sit with Americans, speaking English, right? The wine list is inexpensive and really good.- Another great spot for dinner: CHEZ PAPA

- Perhaps the most famous cafe in all of Paris: CAFE DE FLORE. It's overpriced, but you still must go and grab either a glass of wine or a croque monsiuer and people watch.- You will see crepe stands on the street...go ahead and get it...it's really good! We ordered banana and chocolate...yummy!- Our favorite bar/cafe for a great night scene: LA PALETTE. This is where people go after work and stay and drink all night. It's fun to people watch, see what the women are wearing, and feel like you are really a part of the culture.

- Make sure you eat a ridiculous amount of baguettes...they are worth the calories. We found this great place- LE GRENIER A PAIN in Montmarte...but you'll see places everywhere. Get them hot and eat them plain...so good, no butter is required!- Chocolate and red wine...my two favorite things in life. Well MICHEL CHOCOLAT CLUIZEL is a gorgeous store with beautiful pieces of chocolate. - We stayed at Hotel Le Lutetia on Blvd. Raspail on the left bank. I absolutely love the left bank for shopping and cafes. It's very trendy and much more casual than the right bank where all of the sites are. After seeing all of the tourists things on the right, make sure to head to the left...you'll love it!