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Paris-12th arr-Viaduc des Arts-Cafes, restaurants, shops and trendy places.

Since I mentioned the very special "Promenade Plantée" also called "Coulée Verte" to my readers some three years ago, I had no idea this bucolic stroll along the Avenue Dumesnil--a mervelous walk in the skies--, with numerous climbing rose bushes all around you, would become such an attraction for the newly Paris visitors. as well as to the well-established citizens. It must be said it was well hid, no publicity or promotion, however that changed the past two years.
Since, it had the honour of having been trampled by Joe Cocker (between Ledru-Rollin and Hector Malot, and Catherine Deneuve who shot a video "N'oubliez-jamais."
Nine metres overlooking the street, this walk is genial!! Under the shadows of trees and rose bushes, you can do whatever you wish, read, eat or flirt. But for that you must foresee a book, a sandwich or a boy or girl friend. You can all look all about the stroll in my 12th arrondissement section, starting on page /Paris/ParisHtml/Paris_Visit_12th_arr_Plantee_Picpus.htm
But what maybe not many of you know are the few interesting shops and cafés of the "VIADUC DES ARTS" that shows its different boutiques at the foot of the beginning of the stroll, the avenue Daumesnil and around.
Let's try the "CHINA CLUB", 50 rue de Charenton, a ground floor which is a restaurant and piano-bar, order a menthol gin-fizz like Faye Dunaway in a Roman Polanski film). And hop, you are in Shangai. Gong-Li, the rising Chinese movie star, adores the place.

Viaduc cafe

If you prefer a terrace, here is the VIADUC CAFÉ", 43 avenue Daumesnil, but much more trendy than the famous one in Cannes, with parasols, a fresco, and a BC-BG fauna (bon chic bon genre (see a complete description of this sort of fauna in /Paris/ParisHtml/bon_chic_bon_genre.htm), nibbling on a piece of espadon sauce vierge. . It's the super trendy café of the area, where Claude Chabrol and Sandrine Bonnaire like to come, the Tiberi family (former Paris mayor). Some youngsters even come in rollers. Where to buy them, will be mentioned in my next article.
If you want the latest rollers, here is the shop of the "ILIOS" rollers, owned by the world champion Taig Khris, who proposes you an initiation or perfectioning (100 FF an hour in individual). He organizes roller hikes in Vincennes. It is on 4, allée Verdi tel 0144747576
In the jardin de Reilly, high up on the Promenade Plantée (see my site in the 12th) you can picnic on the lawns on Sundays or take a suntan (some do it breast-naked!
The spot you may not miss is LE SQUARE TROUSSEAU, 1 rue Antoine Vollon tel 0143430600. On a lucky night, you can see CLAUDIA SCHIFFER stuff herself with chicken and coca cola, MEL GIBSON asking for another portion of gigot de mouton, Depardieu or Madonna taste a "vin nature". MIOU-MIOU, a little drunk, singing in Breton, with a dazzling atmosphere in the old bistro where more than 170 pictures were shot! The cuisine is very correct and you can have the menu du soir for 250FF.

Vertical

Down to the street and "VERTICAL", 63 avenue Daumesnil. Yes, sir, the largest bean in the world settled down in this atelier boutique, between the tropical creeper and the Guyana palm tree, transformed in vegetal sculptures thanks to a stabilization process (exchange the sap by glycerine). Bernadette Chirac, always funky, asked the owners to redecorate her water closet's walls with undergrowth mousse. Notice that ISSEY MIYAKE and JULIEN CLERC also redecorated their apartment with a genuine tree.
From 29 to 35 avenue Daumesnil, furniture!! STARK, CASTELBAJAC, ANDREE PUTMAN, and Mac CONNICO passed or exposed all in the V.I.A. (Valorisation de l'innovation dans l'ameublement), which presents interesting works from different architects, artists or designers. Tel 01062811
And why not apss a crazy night ion one of the three panoramic restaurants of the HIPPODROME DE VINCENNES, (nocturnes on Tuesdays and Fridays). While nibbling your lobster, you can catch a glimpse of OMAR SHARIF or see the people go and bet at the Sulky cashiers. It's on 2, rue de la Ferme in the 12th tel 0149771125

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