Lenny Kravitz Likes It: L'As Du Fallafel

L'As Du Fallafel is no secret, but it's really as good as they say it is. From Lonely Planet correspondents to even my most cheapskate-y Parisian friends, people the world over seem to agree that this is the absolute best place to get falafel in Paris, and certainly one of the best cheap eats in town.

The Indispensable Plan De Paris

I know we live in the digital age and all, and that a lot of people have iPhones to help them out when they get lost. But what if you don't have an iPhone, or if it just isn't loading when you're in a jam, or if you're like me and love to get a little bit lost? To me, one of my most prized possessions is the Plan de Paris Par Arrondissement.

Artisans At Work

(photo courtesy of AteliersDeParis.com)

Paris is brimming with specialists. There are entire boutiques dedicated solely to harps, for example, or hand-bound travel journals, and that's something thing I adore about the French culture: how much pride, art, and focused dedication Frenchies put into their chosen field. If you've ever wanted to know how a musical instrument is created, how a florist creates living works of art, or how a period-specific costume is made for the theater, this is your lucky week.

Cheap Thrill: Postcard Hunt

Pont Arcole

If there are two things in this world I love, they are postcards and wandering. There's nothing more wonderful than getting lost, then finally realizing you know exactly where you are. So in dreaming up some cheap activities for a tourist or expat to Paris (or to anywhere!), I gathered inspiration from the fantastic site Dear Photograph and decided to go on a Postcard Hunt.

FREE MACARONS

Holy crap, tomorrow will be the best day of my life.

Doisneau at Les Halles

(photo via Atelier Robert Doisneau)

Photographer Robert Doisneau knew what he was doing, especially when he was capturing the faces of regular folks buying and selling in Paris' Les Halles food and flower market. Go read my article about the free exhibit at Huffington Post now, then rush out to see the exhibit while you still can!

L'Esprit Tchai

With fresh fruit smoothies, quinoa soups, and even homemade burritos, L'Esprit Tchai is the perfect place to grab a quick and cheap night bite (especially if you're hanging out in the cool Oberkampf area).

Cheap Art: Female Photographers in the 18th

Right now there's a free photo exhibition going on at the city hall at place Jules-Joffrin called "Le 18e Vu Par Ses Femmes." It's all about the beautiful 18e arrondissement of Paris as seen through the eyes of its female residents.

Cheap Eats: The French Vending Machine

Today I had a blood sugar meltdown while waiting for the Métro. No problem... when you have the choice between Kinder Bueno, Le Petit Écolier and Balisto bars, a moment of panic becomes a moment of opportunity.

Cheap Thrill: Shakespeare And Company

(photo via versindaba.co.za)

I've always longed for a place to go where I could read or write in quiet, away from home but just as comfortably, undisturbed, for as long as I want. I could never find the right place in Arizona or even New York... coffee houses are too busy, and bookstores often don't have comfy furniture or - my inner snob emerging - "the right vibe."

All I had to do was come to Paris to find it. It's called Shakespeare & Company.