BonjourParis

11th Arr

Paris - 11th Arrondissement

If nothing else, the 11th arrondissement is the capitol of Paris Nightlife. The suburbanites tend to rush to the Bastille to dance and drink, while the city centerites tend to hit the doors in the Oberkampf. These are the hip neighborhoods of Paris -- where the youth of Paris go to play and live because they can actually afford to be here (although less and less so, as it has become trendier and trendier). Change has always been the face of the Bastille. On July 14th, 1789, Parisians began the French Revolution here. And what was then a stormed Bastille full of chaos and uprising, is now the Opéra Bastille (the new opera house, not to be confused with the older, gorgeous Opéra). Funky shops and hotels abound in the 11th arrondissement. And for those needing to cash in on a little tourist action, Bofingers restaurant offers up a hefty serving of touristy choucroute, and the Musée Edith Piaf and Cirque d'Hiver offer a fullness to those who crave museums. Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine has off-the-beaten path charm for those who want an old-world walk. For shoppers, especially on Sunday, rue des Francs-Bourgeois is the place to bring your euros, as the shops are an endless mix of sweet chain stores versus specialty shops of every kind -- with the added bonus that if you keep walking southwest, you'll stride into place des Vosges in the Marais. Not an altogether bad time.