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|Belicoso, Churchill, Robusto, Toro
|Connecticut, Connecticut Broadleaf, Sumatra
|Dominican Republic
|More Details
Delicious buck-a-stick handmades from the makers of Montecristo.
Altadis is responsible for crafting some of the most well-known and respected cigars on the market today, including Romeo y Julieta, Montecristo, and H. Upmann. But, in addition to these legendary brands, they also craft the highly-affordable Casa de Garcia brand. Made on the same rolling tables by the same top-notch rollers, just a heckova lot cheaper.
These affordable everyday treats come available in these tasty varieties:
Connecticut: Smooth, creamy nuances accompany a mellow body.
Maduro: Hearty, backed by notes of espresso and natural sweetness. Medium-bodied.
Sumatra: Subtle notes of spice, wood and nuts delivered through a well-rounded medium body.
Tried many cigars from CI and this is now a favorite. Mild but moist and flavorful. Great value. I will be buying more of these. It doesn't hurt that the logo on the label matches the first letters of my two kid's names.
Have been a cigar smoker for years and also review cigars. I have smoked the maduro in Churchill and it is by far one of the top worst cigars I have ever had. Cuban sandwich with a lot of stems that can be considered sticks, ugly, very tight draw and the first two parts of the cigar have a horrible taste that would spoil maduro cigars for a new smoker. Horrible. Gave them all away. A shame that this cigar comes out of one of the best factories out there which rolls my favorite cigar Montecristo.
No complaints about the price or the taste. Seems like every 3rd one is difficult to get a good draw. Maduro has a rich espresso taste and Sumatra is very earthy and nutty. Not sure if I will buy again but not dissapointed either. Your call.
Nice mild smoke. Good for the first cigar of the day. Certainly worth a $1.15 per stick.
Not bad at all, especially for the price. Very mild flavor, good for an early morning smoke or a companion for yard work or tending the grill.
Mmmmmmmmm I have found another low cost go to cigar when I get low on cash and need a stick. This piece tasted great. I, too, cannot fully describe the taste, but yeah, it was smooth, and really velvety. On the wishlist for more, especially at that bargain price.
Amazing really. I am on my first one and if the rest of the bundle is equal to this I will have found my new everyday-go to cigar. Let me quantify my remarks by saying that I had the fortune to smoke much more expensive and often very famous cigars fairly regularly in my youth... my idea of a cheap cigar was a $5 stick at the local cigar shops on a weekend night in the late 90s. Now that I'm grown and have no money and lots of responsibilities, words like Montecristo and Cohiba are just that....words (and memories.) Last summer and fall I had some terrible luck trying a few different value=brand smokes to try and find a great deal that also smoked great and I kept getting skunked. These bad boys are like a revelation! Casa de Garcia are made by Altadis, one of the best cigar houses in the business. Take a look at their brands, AMONG OTHERS, Montecristo (my be all end all favorite), Romeo y Julieta (another favorite), Don Diego, Butera Royal Vintage, H. Uppmann, Onyx Reserve, and many others. The story I got on these bad boys is that they use leftover (often times premium or super premium) tobaccos from the brands they make, have their senior rollers train new and/or less experienced guys in rolling long-filler cigars with the extra tobaccos, and the result gets labelled as Casa de Garcia. This Connecticut Shade wrapped, Dominican-binder, Dominican and Honduran long filler cigar is just the essence of easy smoking and good, mild taste. A winner no matter how snobby you are, I'm very happy with these. I would imagine 3-6months in the humidor will result in a seriously smooth cigar for less than $1.50 a piece.
Incredible cigar for price! Time for my next bundle.
One of the best "daily" cigars I've found. Even burn, good taste, and great price! I live in Europe half-time and can get cheaper in the open-air markets, but I take these with me instead.
I received five Connecticut robustos from a friend. In my humble opinion they were all about as "middle of the road" as they come. Almost no flavor, but mild and well constructed. Wouldn't buy myself, as I think there are better options in the value category. If you're gonna try a Casa de Garcia, I recommend the Honduras, which is still pretty mild, but has some pleasant flavor for a value cigar.
A great smoke, very mild with a wonderful flavor!
I'm a newbie cigar smoker (since Oct. 2014) and this is the best cigar I've found. It's not overwhelming and mild enough for the beginning cigar smoker. For the price it has clearly become my everyday smoke. From the ones I've smoked, they burn better and more evenly than the $5-$10 cigars. I can see myself with a 200 count humidor packed with Connecticut Churchills. (I'm working on it right now.)
Nice tasty cigar.
Wow! I was a bit hesitant about a cigar of this size, but it was really great.
Great cigar for the price...I have purchased these cigars a couple of times and have not been disappointed.
Not a bad cigar. Burn was even enough and flavor profile was ok. It gets a little stronger as you smoke, but not as bad as cheaper cigars. Overall, This one is a great value. I tried the connecticut, but I think I might prefer the maduro- I'll order those next time.
Didn't expect much from this stick...BUT Boy was I surprised. The ashes did flake on me but thats alright with me. Would def smoke one again.
Great cigar. The Corona Connecticut is my fav! Thanks.
In a blind taste test held by 5 seasoned cigar smokers age 47-68 this baby beat four 90 plus rated cigars. I had to see it to believe it.
I've been happy with my purchase of the Robusto Connecticut version of this product. I've smoked four of the twenty so far and have had great, even burns. I have not had to relight once and the draw is quite nice. Tonight's stick produced about two inches of ash before it fell off. I'm new to cigars so I wanted to start off with ones that are mild-bodied and cheap, but still have quality to them. These are just that.
Solid, well constructed cigar with even burn and smooth taste. Best cigar for price I have ever smoked. Highly recommend.
Holy Crap! What a hidden treasure this cigar is! If you love mild inexpensive cigars this is for you. Mild flavor, well constructed. Regularly get 2" ash that winds up on me! Been smoking them for 2 years. Get for the first time cigar smoker.
To my liking I found the Maduro the best of the two between that and the Connecticut (but I do prefer Maduro's). Both burned evenly, drew well and were very mild to my palate. If you don't want to pay much and have a light smoke while hanging out on the deck or riding around in the sun on your mower...these could fit the bill.
Pretty much what you would expect for the price. Good, but not great. A good choice on the golf course or mowing the lawn where, if you run over it, you're not too devastated.
Bought a Casa de Garcia Maduro at my local shop today opened it up looks are not impressive but one of the best smokes I have had in a long time. I can not believe there $1.00 per cigar. Right now I have a 3 inch ash and have not had to touch up. Razor sharp burn and the flavors are unbelievable. Buy this you won't be sorry WOW.
Great cigars for the price just ordered 20 more if I had a bigger humidor I would order 100 of them.
This is my 2nd review: After trying these...the Connecticut, the Maduro and the Nicaraguan in a variety of sizes, Iv'e come to the conclusion that the Corona size is the best construction wise. The thicker ring sizes seem to have burn problems, but the Coronas burn almost razor sharp almost all the time. I get nearly an hour with the stick and no frustration with tunneling or canoeing. great for those times when I feel like smoking one after another and I don't want to burn through half a box of more expensive sticks.
great everyday cigar.....highly recomend
If you are looking for an inexpensive Good cigar, this is it. Very nice in every way. Burn well, although I sometime have problems with the draw. The flavor is great. Nutty and spicy Cameroon flavor.
For the price you can't go wrong. Easy draw, lots of smoke, beautifully constucted, smokes like a $5.00 cigar!!!
A friend of mine have me a few of these a while back and I really enjoyed them. For the price this is the best cigar going. They are like a monte Cristo second. Great smoke!
Disappointed in the Toro CT, been through about 3 so far just too difficult to smoke, gave away 5 put the rest up for awhile to see if aging helps. The only cigar that I have purchased that I did not enjoy.
So far I've tried the Red... no taste....and the Casa de Garcia original?? in Sumatra and Maduro. The Sumatra has a very thin wrapper that tended to crack in the smoking....also a very dry uneventful taste. The maduro is a bit more zesty and tastes better. Haven't tried the Nicaragua variety yet, but will in the near future. For a cheap every day gar the Maduro might fill the bill.
Sumatra belicoso. 3 deep into a bundle purchase. Great flavor, draw, and construction. Im not a professional reviewer, but these meet all my requirements to be an enjoyable, mild smoke. Could be the best bang for your buck.... Good stuff !!
Great everyday, morning smoke, as it compliments coffee very well. And for $1.30 per belicoso, Im not gonna bash this cigar. It is well constructed, good flavor, very nice burn, and delivers what it promises. What else can you ask for at this price point? Will definitely purchase again.
These are really good. Can't beat this for the price.
Average cigar at a great CI price.
I love these cigars. Mild smooth taste, burns well and very affordable. Great for an every day smoke.
Nice smoke...but what happened to my favorite, the Churchill Red? Loved the flavor and value. Will miss it if it's gone.
I am new to cigars, but for my liking the CDG was absolutely tasteless. It burned well and even though. Maybe I just don't dig "mild". I smoked so far about 10 cigars and all were medium or medium full.
This is one of those you get what you pay off. In my experience these were bitter, difficult to stay lit and had a hard draw. I am all for a good cheap smoke, this just isn't it.
Recently purchased 20 individual cigars from a local vendor. Was very disappointed that four of the cigars were a complete waste. Two had absolutely no draw through the tobacco (a punch was not available) and two other basically fell apart while trying to light. Have been smoking these for the past few years and found this recent purchase very unsatisfying.
Try the Red guys! It is now my ride home cigar. Spark it up n relax, and let the idiots fly in rush hour. The 4.5 robo is very smooooth, lasts about 35 to 45 minutes. Just long enough to get home. The draw is good. Once in a while you will have one with a tight draw. It is truly a very good inexpensive cigar. Give them a try, you will not be disappointed.
Good $1.00 smoke. That about says it all. If you are looking for a cheap (but palatable) cigar then this is for you. Rough veiny wrapper, flaky ash, no finish and a few spongy spots.
Real smooth...mild, I was searching for something that a beginner like me could enjoy. These fit the bill perfectly. I know if I went into local "cigar shops" around town that I would have to pay about 7-10 dollars per stick. These are right on the money!
The cigars are truly awesome. Very smooth and very good stick for the price. Reds are very sweet on the start and remain sweet throughout. Maduros are very good and come with a typical Maduro flavor. My first Maduro that I sparked up was composed of all scraps which was actually very disappointing for me. It was plugged as a result. Unsmokable. Went back to my humidor grab another; fired it up and had absolutely no problems. It seems like the sticks will be hit and miss, but the good ones are definitely good. Must buy.
I was looking for a decent, cheap smoke for golfing and yardwork. This really blew me away far and away better than a lot of $4-5 sticks I've tried. I prefer the Sumatra's.
I was waiting on an order, but got a bit of a weekend jones. I went to the local smoke store and asked for a decent, cheap cigar. The owner said he had never smoked one, but told me he had heard good things about Casa de Garcia, so I bought a couple coronas and to make a long story short, I was blown away. I'll say that the burn didn't start out well, but everything else was a pleasure. So I just ordered a bundle of Churchills and they arrive Monday. Personally, I feel like I've found a hidden treasure.
I am an apprentice to the cigar world so I tend to enjoy the mild smokes. This cigar has an easy draw and an abundance of smoke. It's smooth, burns well, and has a nice ash. The price alone should steer anyone in its direction. If you are like me and enjoy the milder type of cigar, with a price that fits anyone's budget; you'll enjoy this one.
I bought a bundle at my local cigar shop in the dark days before I discovered CI. I needed a handmade to give out at a party and didn't want to break the bank. Got these for 3 bucks a stick and thought that was a great value for the smoke. Had favorable comments from the crowd. Now I see they are around a buck a stick at CI. Definitely keeping a place for them in my humidor.
A friend of mine gave me the connecticut churchill and I instantly fell in love so I had to buy a bundle of 20 from CI!
I sit here in my man cave enjoying a Belicoso Connecticut. The price alone should drive anyone in its direction, it is mild with a nice ash and no bite if ya smoke it too fast like I tend to. I ordered a bundle of 20 in the middle of February and I will be ordering some again soon. Trust me YOU WILL ENJOY THESE.
It's always nice to get something that you would be willing to pay more for. Cdg is one
Tried a stick of the connecticut churchill and absolutely loved it so I had to buy a bundle of 20. it has smooth creamy flavors with a great draw and and okay burn, nothing too bad though. I recommend buying them for a nice everyday cheap smoke!
Had to try one right away. It does have a certain flavor I couldn't identify, but it was NOT unpleasant. These are a good cigar for the price. They'll be in my rotation if the price remains stable.
Received this stick as a sample & had it sitting for about a week. Decided to open my last bottle of Westmalle Trappist and smoke this stick right before dinner. From the 1st draw I had a weird taste, couldn't put my finger on it. As I entered the 2nd third the weird taste started slowly going away but this cigar didn't get any better. Ended up putting the cigar out....I have have a theory on never classifying a cigar as crap until I've smoked at least 2 of them. With that being said, the last stick I have will sit for awhile before I even consider to smoke it.
Really nice cigar for around a buck. Smooth, nice flavor, good burn, did not burn to hot. Will buy again.
CDG is the gar everyone is looking for, a cheap smoke that tastes like a real quality tasting treat.
The king of inexpensive gars! Easily tastes like a 5 or 6 dollar smoke.
Casa De Garcia is a well hidden dream smoke. IMHO, maybe a 90+ for just over a buck. Like everything else cigars have come down to pretty packaging and PR (advertising) and PRICE... CDG is just a damn good smoke at a great price, a buck and change. If it has a flaw it would be the draw, a bit stiff, though there are many of us in the smoking community who find a firm pull a sign of quality. It gives you the feeling of , Hell Yeah, I'm smoking a great cigar. The ash? well keep an eye on her or you'll be wearing it. That baby will hold on for well over 2 inches not looking. If your laying down??? You'll have the whole ash 45 min later. Ah, a second flaw. Hey, I have to be fair. The Churchill on the regular CDG is a bit mild so your first inch or two will leave you longing for more. Then boom, there it is... So maybe not a flaw after all. Go ahead, give em a try. If you are not satisfied or can honestly say this is not one of the BEST cigars for the price, leave your name, I'll refund your purchase price as well...
Wow, great treat for the price. Has a terrific aroma and burns nice and even. Can't beat this one for the price!
Acceptable mild cigar for the price. Construction and burn were okay, flavor wasn't my favorite, aroma is nothing to brag about.


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Things to do in Paris
The Time Out Paris hot list
Read on for our guide to the week's coolest events and most interesting venues. If you manage to tick off all ten, head back to our home page for daily updates on the best restaurants, cultural events, nightlife, and whatever else Paris manages to think up before our next Hot List is published on Monday.
Your perfect weekend in Paris
Make the most of those two sweet days of downtime with our guide to the weekend's best events and activities. We've selected the best galleries, concerts, gigs, cafés, restaurants, bars, clubs, films and more, to make sure you enjoy every minute of your weekend in Paris.
101 things to do in Paris
Welcome to the definitive guide to getting the most out of Paris, be you visiting for a weekend or two weeks. Read on for our list of the 101 best things to do in the capital, put together by Time Out's expert writers and editors. With activities ranging from scaling famous monuments to secret shopping passageways, and from peaceful parks to fast and furious nights out on the town, we've got you covered whatever you're looking for in Paris.
50 things for kids to do in Paris
Follow our guide to the 50 best things to do with kids in Paris to find child-friendly restaurants, weird and wonderful museums, safe and fun places to play outside and all sorts of activities whatever the weather. Whether you want to go shopping for your toddler or find an alternative to queuing for the Eiffel Tower, we've got your family holiday in Paris covered.
Swimming pools in Paris
When Paris's legendary Piscine Molitor – Art Deco showpiece, birthplace of the bikini (and, er, the 'monokini'), star of 'Life of Pi', playground for graffiti artists and ravers – reopened in May 2014, it wasn't in order to welcome back its old public. After languishing in redevelopment limbo for two decades, the pool was eventually snapped up by hotel group Accor, who resolved to convert the site's historic appeal into a luxury brand. The result: a high-end hotel-pool resort that looks good, but costs €180 for a day pass. Parisians are up in arms.Luckily for them, their city abounds in attractive pools that don't cost half a week's wages to access. From the exotic facilities of the Centre Aquatique de Neuilly-sur-Seine (fake beaches, anyone?) to the naturist evenings at the Roger Le Gall, the Olympic dimensions of the Georges-Vallerey to the dramatic steel structure of the Josephine Baker, these venues offer everything that an overheated Parisian could want. So don your gaudiest swimsuit, grab your coppers for the lockers, and head over for a dip.
Paris's best parks and gardens
For a 105km2 city crammed inside a ring road (la péripherique), Paris has rather a lot of parks. Pack a picnic, take a leisurely stroll, or park yourself on a shaded bench somewhere on this list. If you fancy getting sporty, head to one of the city's 'bois' – former royal hunting grounds, just beyond today's centre, where the verdant expanses provide endless boating, walking and cycling opportunities.
Guide to the suburbs of Paris
When François Hollande's culture minister described London as a 'suburb of Paris', she didn't mean it as a compliment to either. Her point was that London is an uglier, more dangerous version of the French capital; at a stroke, she'd denigrated her Anglo-Saxon neighbours and encapsulated Parisians' often contemptuous view of their own suburbs. We're going to turn the comparison on its head: the much maligned banlieue of the French capital is effectively a major city in its own right, in terms of both population – roughly ten million to central Paris's two – and the cultural activity that such a large bulk of people entails.Brutally severed from the tourist's mental map of Paris by the Boulevard Périphérique, the sprawling suburbs have since been cemented in the popular imagination as a terra incognita of gangs and grey buildings. This is unfair. While it's true that vast swathes of the banlieue have nothing to offer to anyone who doesn't live there, and some areas are crime hotspots, a bit of exploring yields delights: parks too big to fit within the Périph', clubs edgier than anything the mainstream central neighbourhoods have to offer, and scores of weird 'n' wonderful theatres and bars. The area is well served by the winding tentacles of the RER and outer Métro lines, and the residents, far from the pariahs the media often portray them to be, constitute some of the most vibrant of Paris's many communities. Clearly, it's somewhere worth knowing.So read on for our guide to t
Paris Plages
If there's one event that sums up Paris in the summer, this is it. Back in 2002, Mayor Bertrand Delanoë began the tradition of lining the banks of the Seine with sand, deckchairs, food stalls and volleyball nets, creating a series of city beaches for those stuck in town during the long hot months. Since 2007 the project has extended along the length of the canal in Bassin de la Villette, making an idyllic summer landscape of pétanque, boules, picnicking, sunbathing and watersports.Paris Plages runs from July 28 until August 18. More details here.See a longer list of summer terraces here.
Restaurants and cafés
The 100 best restaurants in Paris
The search for a good restaurant is never complete in a city like Paris. Our favourite spots of yesteryear close down, and snazzy new venues take their place; cuisines fall out of fashion, and new trends suddenly crop up. We've kept our fingers on the pulse, and concocted a list of the 100 best restaurants in Paris for 2015. The selection is divided into ten categories – everything from budget to haute cuisine, Asian to French traditional – to help you hone in on the kind of food you like. Our criteria weren't strict, but the restaurants that have made the cut all offer something beyond a merely good meal – whether it's originality, cosiness, value for money, or even mini waffles. It's not a definitive list, and if you feel we've missed out some top-notch places, let us know in the comments box below. But if you read on, you'll find that there's definitely enough to keep your tastebuds happy. Bon appétit!
The 50 best dishes in Paris
There may be a fair few snails, slabs of red meat and curious bits of offal in our selection of the 50 best dishes in Paris, but there are also things that will surprise fans of French cooking. Cannelloni? Ramen? Cari from Réunion? Sauerkraut? Today, Paris's timeless bistros and brasseries rub shoulders comfortably with hundreds of restaurants, cafés and canteens serving food from all over France and from around the world. This snapshot of just 50 dishes out of thousands of possibilities gives an image of cooking and eating in Paris at its best: full of tradition and invention, talent and enthusiasm, generosity and greed. These are our editors' favourite dishes (and the restaurants that serve them) in that they're what we consider essential to getting a rounded sense of the city 's food scene. Have we missed one of your favourite Parisian dishes? Think you know a better version than the one we've chosen? Join the conversation in the comments box below.
The best brunches in Paris
'Bruncher' is an established verb in Paris, which should give you an idea of the enthusiasm with which the French capital has adopted this American institution. The city seems to be made for long, indulgent weekend meals washed down with coffee, cocktails and a generous dose of people-watching. Here, we've selected our favourite Paris brunch restaurants serving moreish bacon and eggs, gluten-free goodness and simple all-you-can-eat blowouts. Think we've missed a great Paris brunch? Let us know in the comments below.
Vegetarian restaurants in Paris
Don't let anyone tell you Paris doesn't cater for vegetarian and vegan diets – if you know where to look, delicious wholesome goodness is easily available. The trend for gluten-free is kicking off as well, relief for allergy sufferers and fans of wheatless cooking. Our selection of excellent bakeries, restaurants and cafés offer everything from gluten-free brunches to vegan cupcakes – get stuck in!
Street food in Paris
Street food: a simple concept, almost as old as streets themselves, which is now taking off in Paris despite a slow start. Prepared and/or sold on the city's pavements (to the extent permitted by the law), and designed to be easily eaten on the fly, this not-so-haute cuisine runs the gamut from sandwiches to kebabs, empañadas to dim sum, without ever breaking the bank. Read on for our recommendations.
Middle Eastern restaurants in Paris
Any feature on 'Middle Eastern cuisine' has to begin by confronting that problematic term. To the newbie, the cuisines of Morocco, Lebanon and Kurdistan all too easily merge into one aromatic morass of mezze and grilled meat. But in reality, they differ – at times subtly, at times blatantly – on everything from taste in condiments to table etiquette. To make matters simple, we've decided to split our fave Middle Eastern joints into three broad categories: North African, Asian, and 'street food'. If there's one thing they all share, it's a convivial emphasis on sharing and socialising – in our eyes, an essential ingredient to a damn good meal. So call up your mates and get ready to discover the best Levantine nosh and Maghrebian grub that Paris has to offer.
The best Vietnamese restaurants in Paris
Whether you're after Bánh mì or a smoking bowl of Pho, Paris boasts more than enough Vietnamese restaurants to satisfy your cravings. The 13th arrondissement in particular is teeming with restaurants offering the best Vietnamese food around. There are speciality restaurants dotted all around the city however, so wherever you are and whatever dish you're in the mood for, there'll be a Vietnamese restaurant serving it. Here's our editors' pick of the very best in town. Enjoy.
The best Chinese restaurants in Paris
Book ahead to celebrate the Year of the Horse in one of our best Chinese restaurants this Chinese New Year (January 31). Paris has two main areas for Asian eating: Belleville and Chinatown in the 13th arrondissement, where you can sample excellent Thai, Vietnamese and other South East Asian specialities. Also check out our selection of Vietnamese restaurants in Paris – their Têt Nguyên Dán falls on the same day.
The 100 best bars in Paris
Paris's drinking scene is one of the best and most diverse in the world, with speciality wine bars, craft beer bars and cocktail clubs constantly cropping up across the city. Here's a selection of the best places in Paris to go to get tipsy, tried and tested by Time Out experts. Cheers — or as the French would say — Tchin tchin!
The best table football bars in Paris
There's something compulsive about watching twenty-two men spin around on the spot with all the artlessness of the English national team. No matter the crowd, no matter the vibe, we believe that every bar is better off with a table football table tucked away in a corner somewhere – heck, we've even set one up in the Time Out offices to keep us sane. For a while, it seemed as if trends had overtaken us and foosball was on its way out of the capital; but whether because of Brasil 2014, anticipation of the France 2016 Euro Cup, or simply a collective brainwave on the part of bar managers across the city, the tables are creeping back into Paris's bars. These, then, are the best places to go for a pint and a game or three. Just remember: No spinning.
Secret bars in Paris
In a city saturated with tourists, it's all too easy to forget that there's more to Parisian nightlife than glitzy clubs and overpriced brasseries milking some obscure connection to Hemingway for all its worth. The premium on space in the city has pushed the alternative scene far away, whether to the whispered-of warehouse raves out in the sticks or to the literally underground parties in the catacombs. While you try in vain to get yourself invited to either, we've compiled a list of our six favourite inner-city venues that, despite their popularity with locals and long-time residents, tend to get overlooked by the mainstream crowd. Come here to eat, drink, dance, rap, be rapped at, unwind to smooth jazz, then start all over again come the early hours.Got a favourite secret bar you want to share? Let us know in the comments box below. To discover more offbeat gems, including restaurants, galleries and parks, visit our Secret Paris page.
Bars with board games
What's your poison? Be it Trivial Pursuit or pétanque, no city bar list is complete without a roundup of places to have a gentle game or two over a drink. Of course, things can get a little whackier than Scrabble – check out our selection to get involved in everything from brain-bending French dictation to Star Wars-themed sushi.
Beer in Paris
The French live on wine, celebrate with champagne, and crack out the crème de cassis in their mellower moments; yet until recently, their passion for booze didn't quite extend to beer. But in Paris, a new fad for beer merchants and craft breweries is changing things. No longer are thirsty tourists from Nordic countries obliged to make do with ludicrously priced half-pints of Kronenbourg – suddenly suds looms lager than life over the capital's bar scene, as Parisians indulge a newfound obsession with artisanal ales and other malty alternatives to their beloved wine. Never one to turn down a pint or four, Time Out has checked out the best bars and coolest shops for buying and consuming brewskis – we can barley contain our excitement.
Top 10 gay bars in Paris
Paris is a European capital for all things gay and fabulous, from extravagant local personalities to a neighborhood teeming with addresses for a night of cavorting. The Marais, centrally-located just north of the Hôtel de Ville and south of the Place de la République, is the epicenter for nightlife catering to boys and men of all walks, but it's just the beginning. Starting an evening in or around the Marais is the best way to find out from the locals what's going on in other gay bars around town. Whether you're looking to share casual drinks, dance until dawn, or have a brush with a local Parisian, there's fun to be had any night of the week.
The 100 best French films
What are the greatest French movies ever made? 'Les Enfants du Paradis'? 'La Haine'? 'Taxi'? In an effort to find out Time Out launches a major new project: 'The 100 Best Fench films' – as voted by the film industry itself. Over the past few months, we've polled a select group of actors, directors, writers, producers, critics and other industry bigwigs to discover their favourite ten French films. From there, taking into account the choices of our contributors, we've compiled a countdown of the 100 best French films of all time – with commentary from our critics on every movie listed. You can also read every contributor's top tens over on our French site. So the only question left to answer is: what do you think? Tell us your favourite French films here.
The 50 most romantic films ever
The word 'romance' derives from the name of the vernacular language of medieval France, in which tales of chivalry and desire would be written for the masses who couldn't read Latin. It's a fitting etymology, for common wisdom (and many a travel agency's ad campaign) tells us that love is the lingua franca of the French – and especially of the hyper-amorous Parisians. With this in mind (and heart), we've compiled a list of the 50 most romantic films of all time. Needless to say, French films feature heavily; but far from monopolising the list, they sit alongside some beautiful movies from Britain, America, Japan, Italy, Iran, India and the Ukraine. After all, love knows no borders.Have we missed out your favourite romance? Let us know in the comment box below.
Contes et Féeries
Surprise your iPad-addicted offspring with a series of silent film screenings for kids at the Fondation Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé in the 13th arrondissement. 'Contes et Féeries' ('Stories and Fairy tales') takes place twice a week, inviting film lovers from the age of six upwards to come and enjoy early adaptations of classics such as 'Cinderella', 'Tom Thumb', 'Sleeping Beauty' and 'Aladdin'. A world away from the catchy soundtracks and visual complexity of recent Disney releases, these silent films made during the early 1900s are an alternative introduction to the world of cinema for children. Talented young pianist Thomas Ospital plays along to the images. >> Wednesday 2pm and Saturday 11am at the Fondation Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé. Check out the list of screenings here.
The 50 best films set in Paris
Below, we present the 50 best films set in Paris, organised by era. Be they Nouvelle Vague masterpieces or populist comedies, the capital is always in the starring role. Romance blooms on a belle époque street corner. A dark-eyed girl in Montmartre runs her hand through a bag of dried beans. In the suburbs, Arabs square up to skinheads. Nicotine-stained tales of sexual misadventure unfold in beds all over the city, while gangsters commit crimes and cartoon rats cook up a storm. Paris, which boasts a higher concentration of picture houses than any other city, has been the inspiration and the backdrop for countless films.
Popcorn Project at Club de l'Etoile
Reinventing the experience of going to the movies, the Popcorn Project at Club de l'Etoile is a 'social cine-club' that combines cinema with cocktails and chat: they show classic films and indie treasures (often in English with French subtitles) once a month, buoyed by cocktails, a buffet, music and plenty of discussion (in French). Check out the 2014 programme and book online here.
La Cinémathèque Française
Relocated to Frank Gehry's striking, spacious cubist building, the Cinémathèque Française now boasts four screens, a bookshop, a restaurant, exhibition space and the superb Musée du Cinéma. In the spirit of its founder Henri Langlois, the Cinémathèque hosts retrospectives, cult movies, classics, experimental cinema and Q&A sessions.The Musée alone is worth the trip. As you wind your way through its shadowy rooms, you'll be forgiven for thinking you're being watched – everywhere you look, there's a hundred-year-old camera or projector staring back at you. The exhibition takes you from the birth of cinema in 19th-century 'magic lanterns' and optical illusions through to the first golden age of the Hollywood studios in the 30s. Along the way, you encounter looped projections of silent films, a panoply of Kinetoscopes and Mutoscopes (just wait and see), and a treasure trove of movie memorabilia collected by Langlois over the course of his eventful life. Captions are mostly in French, but the English audio guide helps. In any case, these wonderful exhibits and moving images speak for themselves.Museum opening hours: Mon-Sat 12pm-7pm; Sun 10am-8pm.Full price: €5. Discounted: €4. Under 12s: €2.50. Entry + film ticket: €8.
The 30 best animated short films ever made
For many, animation is a world of cute animals, sarcastic ogres, CGI heroes and exotic Japanese creatures – a world governed by a handful of big studios and the occasional European auteur who's made it big. But to hardcore animation fans, this is only part of the story.The time and cost involved in producing an entire feature film means that many of the world's most respected, talented and imaginative animators simply never have the chance to do so, so it's in the world of the short film that they must grow their reputation and develop their art. The result is that some of the most funny, entertaining, technically groundbreaking animated movies are never seen by the wider public – until now. Here's our selection of the 30 best animated short films ever made.
Art and culture
Art Museums
You'll be hard-pushed to find a greater display of paintings than in Paris: The 'isms' – Fauvism, Cubism, Impressionism, Modernism and Post-Modernism (to name but a few) - are particularly well represented in institutions like the Centre Pompidou, the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris and the Musée d'Orsay; but you'll also find plenty of collections that span pre-medieval times to the 1990s. Contemporary works by established and lesser-known artists are omnipresent too; and almost every museum organises temporary exhibitions that fill in the gaps (momentarily at least) in their permanent collections. Here is our list of suggestions…
Contemporary art in the suburbs
Those who don't believe that contemporary art (think 'pretentious, highbrow, trendy, urban') and the suburbs ('rough, dodgy, uncultured, rude') could ever go hand in hand should pop over to the other side of the périphérique from time to time. In the last 20-odd years, between the narrow belt covered by the underground and the oh-so-distant terminuses of the RER lines, contemporary arts centres and galleries have been cropping up all over the place, each bolder and better than the last. Artists' residences, shiny new exhibition spaces, restored historical monuments: here, between concrete and countryside, is where you'll find all the region's best contemporary art.
Art deco Paris
After the First World War, architecture in Paris (like in other great cities across the world) turned away from the asymmetrical, sinuous forms of art nouveau, (made famous in Paris by architects like Hector Guimard, who designed the iconic Métro entrances) to embrace the angular, modernist and often symmetrical forms of cubism and neoclassicism. This aesthetic transformation reflected the nation's desire (during the Roaring Twenties and 1930s) to embrace modernity and leave behind the hardship of the Great War. In Paris, it left the city with some true architectural gems, from art deco palaces at the Trocadéro to modernist constructions by Le Corbusier and stunning municipal swimming pools. Even a handful of parks and gardens were landscaped according to art deco aesthetics.
Secret galleries in Paris
You could fit all six of these venues inside one wing of the Louvre; yet together they represent a vast cross-section of the capital's alternative art scenes, ranging from street art to anonymous photography. It's no coincidence that many of them are situated in squats or beyond the périph – in a city where space is at a premium and rent is through the roof, the suburbs and abandoned public buildings are often the only option for penurious artists. The result is that few people make it to these places, drawn instead to the massive marketing campaigns of the Musée d'Orsay or the Centre Pompidou. With this list, we hope to correct that. Read on to discover our six favourite galleries and museums overlooked by the crowds. To discover more offbeat gems, including parks, restaurants and bars, visit our Secret Paris page.
Art deco museums
Art and design boomed in 1920s and 30s Paris, as the gracious curves of art nouveau (popular from the Belle Époque to World War I) made way for the rectilinear elegance of art deco. In post-war France, the style reflected the country's desire to promote its industrial and artistic savoir-faire – consolidating design and technology in new ways, and with new materials. The five museums listed below pay homage to the movement with rich collections of art deco art, artefacts and furniture – from sumptuous period rooms in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs to neoclassical 1930s sculpture in the Musée Belmondo. If you're really into the style, book a guided tour at the Musée des Années 30, which takes you around art deco buildings in Boulogne-Bilancourt before showing you the museum's collections.
Modern & contemporary art museums
Art galleries aren't the only places to display cutting-edge art and photography these days: the city's museums – big and small – offer some startling collections. From hard-hitting photography exhibitions at the Jeu de Paume, to offbeat multi-media installations at the Gaïté Lyrique, and modern art masterpieces at the Centre Pompidou, prepared to be wowed…
The Centre Pompidou
The primary colours, exposed pipes and air ducts make the Centre Pompidou one of the best-known sights in Paris. The then-unknown Italo-British architectural duo of Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers won the competition with their 'inside-out' boilerhouse approach, which put air-conditioning, pipes, lifts and the escalators on the outside, leaving an adaptable space within. The multi-disciplinary concept of modern art museum (the most important in Europe), library, exhibition and performance spaces, and repertory cinema was also revolutionary.When the centre opened in 1977, its success exceeded all expectations. After a two-year revamp, the centre reopened in 2000 with an enlarged museum, renewed performance spaces, vista-rich Georges restaurant and a mission to get back to the stimulating interdisciplinary mix of old. Entrance to the forum is free (as is the library, which has a separate entrance), but you now have to pay to go up the escalators.The Centre Pompidou (or 'Beaubourg') holds the largest collection of modern art in Europe, rivalled only in its breadth and quality by MoMA in New York. Sample the contents of its vaults (50,000 works of art by 5,000 artists) on the website, as only a fraction - about 600 works - can be seen for real at any one time. There is a partial rehang each year.For the main collection, buy tickets on the ground floor and take the escalators to level four for post-1960s art. Level five spans 1905 to 1960. There are four temporary exhibition spaces
Music and nightlife
Outdoor gigs and concerts
Gigging doesn't have to be about half-lit back rooms in pubs. Clubbing doesn't have to entail a steady drip-drip of sweat on your crown. Classical concerts aren't confined to the forbidding environs of your local cathedral or cultural centre. Come summer, musicians head outdoors like everybody else, and the city's terraces and parks blossom into makeshift concert venues. Whether you're looking to soak up some mellow hip-hop with your sunrays or you're after a full-on boat party, we have the place for you. So don your shades, clear out your earwax and get down.
Classical music concerts in Paris
Catholic chants under Charlemagne, Gabriel Fauré's 'Requiem' premiered at La Madeleine, Olivier Messiaen playing birdsong on the organ of the Sainte-Trinité... France boasts one of the great classical music traditions in the world, and Paris has witnessed some of its most magical moments. Today, the classical music scene thrives in the form of scores of concerts and venues, running the gamut from sacred choral music in Medieval churches to contemporary performances in cutting-edge media centres. Read on for our guide to the best classical and opera to be found in the city.
Music at La Villette
An enormous, modernist cultural theme park and gardens, one of the best things about Parc de La Villette is its varied music programme, courtesy of several differnent venues. Lovers of rock, pop, classical music and DJ nights are all catered for through an exciting series of line-ups – always worth checking out when planning your diary.For the full programme of events at Parc de la Villette, click here.
Roaring Twenties entertainment
In the Roaring Twenties, Paris was jazz hot, glamorous and fashionable; and making merry in clubs and bars was the name of the game. This was the era that saw performers Joséphine Baker, Maurice Chevalier and Mistinguett shoot to stardom. For the first time in history automobiles drove people to picture houses, women danced the Charleston in revealing flapper dresses, and life (now that the ashes of World War I had settled) seemed to brim with new opportunity. Of course, the Wall Street crash and the Great Depression soon put a stop to that; but the legacy of the Années Folles lives today on in theatres and jazz clubs across central Paris. Here are our suggestions for a glamorous night out – Joséphine Baker style – with or without your banana belt.
The 100 best shops in Paris
There's a magic to shopping in Paris that no other city can match. Its riches encompass to-die-for creations from world-famous designers, delicious discoveries in food markets and antique stores, the finest jewellery and the most outré fashion concepts around. At Time Out Paris, we've summed it all up in 100 essential boutiques that capture the sparkle of shopping in the French capital. Accessories Luxury gloves and gems, bags and belts Books Browse these quirky indie bookstores Concept stores Thousands of quirky gift and clothing ideas Designer Places to splash out Eco-friendly Boutiques that give back Food shops Places to be tempted Geek chic Collectable addresses Interiors Suffering from IKEA fatigue? Kids' shops Handcrafted treats for tiny hands Menswear Fron avant-garde fashions to vintage gent's clothing Record stores Jazz, rock, country, pop, dubstep... Sexy Saucy shopping Shoes Stunning shoe boutiques Vintage Pre-loved boutiques Wine and spirits Boutiques of excellent vintage See also Vintage Paris on a Vespa Vintage shops in London and New York have been adding retro flair to wardrobes for years; but it has taken Paris, the city of 'serious' haute couture and designer boutiques, a wee bit longer to jump onto the bandwagon. Today though, that wagon is well and truly rolling, and it's dripping in everything your vintage heart could desire, from rare 1920s Chanel accessories, Art Déco lighting and 80's kitten-boots, to sexy 70s dresses, 1950s bomber jackets and spec
The best markets in Paris
Find the best markets in Paris for food, antiques, bric-a-brac and more Art and antique markets Our pick of the most interesting art and antique markets the city has to offer. Markets for books and collectables Exotic stamps, original posters, vintage books and more. Pop-up fashion markets Every so often, they open their doors to some of the best-dressed Parisians in town. Flea markets One man's junk is another man's joy in these bazaars of the bizarre. Food and drink markets These markets know that food and drink are best served with a personal touch. Organic markets These lovely markets are a lifeline for ethically conscious cooks. Browse for books, rummage for riches, bargain for bric-a-brac or be a flea market flâneur: Paris's many markets – permanent or weekly, covered or street – are fantastic resources and often very beautiful and atmospheric. For food and drink, markets like Bastille and Saxe-Breteuil are a great opportunity to meet producers and sample new flavours, if not always the cheapest or most efficient way of getting your weekly shopping done. For lovers of antiques, bric-a-brac, books, stamps and more there's a market for every passion, and it's highly recommend you check one out as part of a visit to the city.Almost every neighbourhood and arrondissement has its own market; to track down your local stallholders beyond our selection below, check out the comprehensive and up to date listings of all of Paris's markets on the Mairie de Paris's website her
Paris's pop-up fashion markets
The glamour capital of the world is powered by more than just Louis Vuitton and bobo chic. Those looking to make a real impression come to the city's various pop-up markets to try on something a bit different, whether that's a jumper stitched with feathers or a brand of ethically sourced lipstick. Check out our selection of venus and events below – every so often, they open their doors to some of the best-dressed Parisians in town. Take Me Out It's got the same number of inventive designers, the same mix of accessories, clothes and furniture – if Take Me Out stands out form the crowd, it's for its air of a bonkers car boot sale. Couture stands, performance artists and unusual workshops for kids and grown-ups. Two days of hip jewellery and cupcake overload. For • The artfully dishevelled When • Every three months, 12noon-10pm How much • Free-€3, depending on the venue Where • Various locations Hôtel Bohême Organic produce, recycled treasures, unique pieces: the Hôtel Bohême is the ethical leader of Paris's pop-up stores. Installed over four floors in one of the Marais's wonderful hôtels particuliers, it takes a weekend to celebrate brands from all over the world: organic tea, ecological makeup, handmade children's clothes and more. For • Ethical shoppers When • A few times a year, 12noon-8pm How much • Free entry Where • 71 rue de la Fontaine au Roi Des Filles en Aiguille The 'girls with needles' have been dressing Parisians for the past 10 years. They bring together their d
Antique shops
If you're antique shopping in Paris, these second-hand boutiques, antique markets and auction houses are treasure troves of pre-loved Parisian objets. 1950s dresses, art deco lamps and 1970s plastic tables are just some of the great finds to be had... Antique shops and markets in Paris Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen Covering seven hectares, 3,000 traders and up to 180,000 visitors each weekend, the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen is generally thought to be the biggest flea market in the world. If this conjures up images of a sprawling field filled with broken bed frames, faded curtains and sofas with the stuffing coming out, you're in for a surprise (and are better off going to the Montreuil version). The fleas left long ago, and since 1885 what started as a rag-and-bone shantytown outside the city limits has been organised into a series of enclosed villages, some entirely covered and others with open-air streets and covered boutiques for the antiques dealers. South of this sprawls the canvas-covered part where African tat, joss sticks, fake Converse trainers and cheap batteries are perused by crowds of teenagers - best avoided unless you're after that kind of thing.In recent years rents have shot up. The result is that much of the Puces is more like a museum than a flea market, and restaurants are swiftly replacing antiques dealers who can no longer make ends meet. But once you get under its skin, the Puces still offers an intoxicating blend of the sublime and the ridiculous. Repe
100 Christmas ideas • Shopping
Wrap up your Christmas gift buying with these Christmas markets and more Christmas markets Looking for Christmas markets in Paris? Check out our selection of the best places to head for festive trinkets, carols, crafts and gifts. Christmas gift guide For her Jewellery, headphones, an embroidery class... Options abound when it comes to choosing a gift for her this Christmas. Here's our selection of great gifts from some of Paris's trendiest boutiques. For him Kit a bloke out in true classy Parisian style this Christmas. Cufflinks, a laptop case, a snug cardigan – here's everything he could have hoped for and more... For kids Spoil them this year with a music box, walkie-talkies and fantastic kids' fashion. Novelty If it's silly and Eiffel-Tower-shaped, someone's going to want it. An agreeably offbeat selection of gifts gleaned from Paris's more unconventional stores. Classic You can't go wrong with chocolate and booze – especially when they're the really good stuff from big names in Paris luxury. See more Festive outings From gazing spellbound at twinkly lights and carousels to winter sports and festive day trips, you'll never get bored of glitter with this little lot. Food and drink Eating is simply the best way to embrace the festive spirit. Scoff your way through our pick of the capital's best food and drink events and experiences this yuletide, including gourmet shopping and the best wintry dining. Shopping Don't get overwhelmed by the gorgeous arrays of boutiques and be
Cheap and discount shopping in Paris
Want to look the part, without parting with a small fortune? Our selection of cheap shops and discount stores offer great fashion at knockdown prices. They'll have you looking chic and fabulous in no time at all. Cheap shops and designer outlets in Paris Le Mouton à Cinq Pattes Fashionistas head to the 'five legged sheep' (named after Henri Verneuil's 1954 film 'Le Mouton à cinq pattes') for designer vintage and last season's collections in mint condition: Vittadini, Buscat, Donn Adriana, Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, Jérôme L'Huillier, Alberta Ferreti, Moschino, Liu Jo and numerous other labels. Turnover is fast, so this is no place for an indecision crisis. Labels are sometimes cut out too, so make sure you know what you're buying. Another branch can be found at 138 bd St Germain, 6th. Tati A rough-edged wonderland of garish bargains in the unsavoury heights of Barbès. Expect to find anything from T-shirts to wedding dresses, as well as children's clothes and household goods at this discount heaven. It's unbelievably cheap - the crowds bear witness to its sucess - but don't expect high quality. Tati by name... L'Habilleur All the charm of a typical Marais boutique, but without the eye-popping prices. L'Habilleur has enjoyed a roaring trade for more than ten years, stocking pieces for men and women from labels such as Plein Sud, Issey Miyake, Paul & Joe and more at a whopping 40-60 per cent off. Mon Dieu! This is also the place to pick up customized jeans and neo-Romantic sui
Vintage shopping guide
For unique style without the credit card bills, hit Paris's vintage boutiques. Rockabilly leather, '50s glamour dresses, retro sunglasses and much more will get you a slew of afforable new looks in no time, or you can simply lose happy hours rummaging through the racks, rails, baskets and piles of clothes, accessories and knick-knacks. These are all of Time Out Paris's pre-loved pleasure palaces... GoldyMama Finding well-presented vintage clothes that have been washed, ironed and don't smell like dirty underpants is possible – GoldyMama is the proof. This small boutique in the heights of the 20th has retro treasures aplenty and makes an original spot for gift hunting. 1950s skirts, 40s suits, empire dresses, wacky 70s tops and multi-era accessories line the walls. The choice is as vast as the shop assistants are helpful. Then, once you've tried on half the shop... Omaya vintage The sort of shop you wished you could keep a jealously guarded secret – but Omaya vintage is well known. Opened by two brothers in 2010, it attracts its share of obsessive fahionistas: from Parisians collecting armfuls of leather boots to punks come to pick up a pair of DMs at €40. If some pieces are more contemporary, the majority of the stock comes from the '70s and '80s; military and denim jackets, woollen jumpers, t-shirts and more are all thoroughly organised and ranged on hangers... Episode The Etienne Marcel neighbourhood isn't exactly known for its good value boutiques – rather, it's full of hi
Shopping for vintage furniture
Start with these venues in your quest for the best retro chairs and cupboards An industrial lamp perched on a bedside table, a giant metal cupboard by the entrance... No doubt about it – vintage furniture is the way to go if you're looking to spice up a drab interior. Though it tends toward the expensive side, there's no need to break the bank; a few old-school touches here and there should do the job. Below are a few shops to get you started on your retro odyssey. Robert M. Smith You wouldn't guess it from the outside – through the front window, you can't see much other than neon lights and a few hung clothes – but this vintage boutique has enough in store to keep you coming back for more. The first room, which doubles up as an artisanal workshop, sets the tone: trinkets crowd the shelves, while second-hand bikes and garments of obscure origin fill the floor space. Bargain-hunters will be kept busy – we found an old wicker-framed mirror for €10, and a formica chair for €12. Carry on thence into the salon, decked out in the kind of retro furniture that you'd find in a street market for twice the price... Carouche Carouche isn't an ordinary furniture store, but a singular second hand showroom. Here, objects are interpreted rather than merely sold – they are hunted down, tidied up, and if necessary turned into something completely different. Owner Caroline Giraud has been painting and polishing to give found items new life for ten years – she's travelled the world, particularly
City guide
Paris in 48 hours
Just two days to take in the most beautiful city in the world? We've got you covered Day 1 • From Marais Mansions to Midnight Munchies 9AM Start the day on the Right Bank with an awesome croissant from the hugely popular Moisan, an easy stroll from beautiful 17th-century Place des Vosges. The Marais is abuzz with culture, shops, bars and, in its imposing hôtels particuliers, important cultural institutions: take your pick from the Musée Carnavalet, Musée d'Art et d'Histoire du Judaïsme or the Maison Européenne de la Photographie. Shoppers, meanwhile, will find rich pickings in the streets leading off the main shopping thoroughfare of Rue des Francs-Bourgeois. NOON From the Marais, head across the Seine via the Pont de Sully to the Institut du Monde Arabe, which holds a fine collection of Middle Eastern art and a rooftop café with fabulous views down the Seine. (Other wonderful panoramas in Paris include the summit of the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont and the Sacré-Coeur, although the latter is worth saving for dusk.) After a wander along the Left Bank to lunch in the back room at La Palette, a classic café, meander along the stone quays that border the Seine and leaf through tatty paperbacks at the riverside bouquinistes, before ducking into the Musée d'Orsay for an Impressionist masterclass. 4PM From here, either hop on a boat tour or explore the islands. Snag an ice-cream from Berthillon on the Ile St-Louis, before popping over to the Ile de la Cité to visit the Mémorial des Mar
Paris in 48 hours
Few cities can compare with the cultural attractions, world-class restaurants and restless nightlife that Paris has to offer. But with just two days in the city, it can be tricky figuring out where to start to take in the absolute best. So we've pulled together the definitive guide to getting the most out of Paris in 48 hours. Read on for an itinerary and list of things to do in the capital put together by Time Out's expert writers and editors.
Discover Paris on foot
One of the best ways to see a city is on foot; even better, let a local show you around. The guides at Discover Walks will show you Paris for nothing more than tips, a brilliant opportunity to get intimate with the city.The (English language) walks run every day except for 24 and 25 December, and there are several themes to choose from: Paris landmarks, Montmartre, the Marais, Notre Dame and the heart of Paris, the Left Bank, and a romantic evening river walk. For a fee, they can also arrange private tours and selected 'Paris Adventures', including a spell at a flea market and a boat cruise, games of boules and photo workshops.
The best books about Paris
Sometimes, Paris seems to be a city built for readers – a magical place where no one looks out of place alone at a café with a paperback. The go-to destination for writers, artists and radical philosophers for centuries, the city is fiercely proud of its literary leanings. Notre-Dame and Victor Hugo are spoken of in the same breath, as are Hemingway and the Jardins du Luxembourg, and people can barely see a madeleine without referring to Proust. The smells from restaurant kitchens or the plight of the city's homeless invite discussion of Orwell, while the swinging shut of the iron gate to an elegant apartment building might recall Muriel Barbery.All this can make the city resistant to change – the e-book market in France is minuscule, and Amazon's discounts are restricted to protect independent bookstores. But it all adds to the often dreamlike quality of browsing, buying and enjoying books in Paris, where paper and ink still speak of art, romance and possibility. The Paris buffs interviewed here know this only too well – and be they books for cooks or babies, you'll find plenty of inspiration in their selections.Do you have a favourite Paris read? Let us know in the comments box below.
Christmas in Paris • Day trips
Suffering from festive metropolitan overload? We feel you. Fortunately, a quick day trip out of the city can help you de-Grinch without too much fuss. Forget heading all the way to Strasbourg for the giant Christmas market. Rent a car or hop on a train to one of the Ile de France's most festive Christmas locations, all just an hour or so away. Castles, a glass of bubbly, and of course a little bit of Mickey await...
Roaring Twenties Paris
After the austerity and bloodshed of World War I, France longed for joy and light-heartedness. Pre-war values were rejected as people embraced new lifestyles and new technologies, and discovered a lust for extravagance and partying that had the era named Les Années Folles (the Roaring Twenties, or the 'mad years'). Cars appeared on the roads; picture houses opened, projecting the world's first silent movies; radios appeared in households; jazz flourished, and musical halls – where icons like Josephine Baker and Maurice Chevalier launched their careers – became the places to see and be seen in.Paris was at the heart of it all, not only in terms of fashion and entertainment, but in the domains of decorative art and architecture, as movers and thinkers drew inspiration from cubism, modernism and neoclassicism to create the 'total' style we know and love today: art deco (the term coined thanks to Paris's 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes). Such was the impact of this 'modern style' that it carried on well into the 1930s.Artists and writers also flourished during the era – especially if you knew American expat, art collector and mentor Gertrude Stein, who opened her house (at 27 rue de Fleurus) to the 'Lost Generation' of American literati (including Hemingway and Fitzgerald), and artists like Picasso and Matisse. So huge was the impact these personalities would have on the world that many Left Bank cafés (where the legends hung out when no

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Energy 2030
Energy 2030 Goal
The Alliance to Save Energy advocates a bold but achievable goal of doubling energy productivity in the U.S. by 2030 (getting twice as much economic output from each unit of energy).
Energy 2030 seeks to galvanize action at the federal, state, and local levels of government, as well as in the private sector, by engaging stakeholders in a national, shared commitment to doubling U.S. energy productivity by 2030.
Save $327 billion annually in avoided energy costs
Create 1.3 million jobs
Reduce imports to represent a mere 7% of overall energy consumption
Lower greenhouse gas emissions to 1/3 below the level emitted in 2005
11/03/14 : Media Release
The Energy 2030 On the Road campaign arrived in the Lone Star state today for the seventh event stop in Fort Worth, Texas. By traveling from city to city across the nation, the initiative is garnering endorsements from local stakeholders to double U.S. energy productivity by the year 2030.
10/16/14 : Media Release
The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a final rule establishing criteria for federal agencies that choose to employ green building rating systems (RIN 1904 – AC13). The rule covers new construction and major renovations of federal buildings — including certain residential construction — of $2.5 million or more begun on or after October 14, 2015. The rule does not specify use of any particular certification system, but rather establishes criteria that promote energy efficient building designs and that focus on energy and water management.
06/23/14 : Media Release
Energy Efficiency Stakeholders Lead Discussions At Energy 2030 On the Road: Southeast To Work Towards Doubling Our Nation's Energy Productivity
Today the Alliance to Save Energy (Alliance), Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA), and ASHRAE co-hosted the latest stop on the Energy 2030 On the Road nationwide campaign . The Energy 2030 On the Road : Southeast event , which took place at ASHRAE headquarters in Atlanta, is the latest in a series of campaign stops that aim to get states...
06/17/14 : Media Release
WHAT: The Alliance to Save Energy , Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA), and ASHRAE are cohosting the next Energy 2030 On the Road event in Atlanta, Georgia on June 23. Continuing the momentum from previous campaign stops, the event will encourage energy efficiency stakeholders in the Southeast to endorse the goal to double our nation's energy productivity by the year...


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Resident reactions to adult nightclub proposal being pulled from Rome Zoning Board
ROME >> Several local residents breathed sighs of relief on Wednesday when plans for a proposed adult nightclub were scrapped.
Roughly 150 Rome and Verona residents packed into the Common Council Chambers at Rome City Hall, prepared to voice their opinions on the business that was to go on a vacant property on Route 365 and Greenway New London Road. Among them was Lucinda Swistak of Rome, who had prepared several points she wanted to address and even brought an enlarged map of the surrounding areas.
"This was just not going to meet the character of our community," Swistak said.
She and her husband are the owners of the Swistak Farm.
Swistak mentioned that she has attended all of the previous meetings concerning the adult nightclub to try to prevent an approval of a variance.
"I think you have to understand if you are going to put up an adult entertainment facility that you are going to run into some controversy with it, you have to expect that," she said. "I just don't think he thought these country bumpkins would unite and fight."
The offer was to have a new bar and restaurant on the now vacant property that would have been approximately 4,500 square feet with parking for 62 vehicles, according to Oneida resident Kyle Endemann's application.
Discussion continued online after the Rome Zoning Board meeting Wednesday night.
"Yes!!!!!! thank God!!" wrote Wendy Vineall on The Dispatch's Facebook page in response to the news.
"A win for my hometown. Good for you, Oneida!" wrote Facebook user Valerie Marie Mierzwa. "No economic gain is worth the price of selling your soul to the devil."
"The people who own homes in that area have the right to protest an establishment of that nature in their back yard," wrote Eilis Wagner Byrnes. "If this gentleman wants to pursue a family and community friendly establishment, he's welcome to, but we don't want or need a strip club."
Not everyone was pleased with the outcome, however.
"Yeah with the economy the way it is central New York can afford to stop someone from opening a business," wrote Matt Winchell on The Dispatch's Facebook page. "You people are ridiculous."
"Kyle's plan would have brought business and jobs to the area. It's a shame it didn't work in that location. I hope he continues to pursue it!" wrote Kaylee Schinn.
Endemann wrote an e-mail to Daniel Carpenter, assistant building inspector, stating that he wanted to withdraw his application. He needed a zoning variance for a bar and restaurant, which isn't a specifically allowed use in the F-1 Agricultural Zone, according to Carpenter.
Endemann agreed to speak to the Oneida Daily Dispatch, then stopped returning phone calls.


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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A controversial rule that would have allowed knives on commercial flights is being delayed.
It was supposed to go into effect Thursday, allowing passengers to carry on small knives and some other banned items.
The head of the Transportation Security Administration announced Monday that officials wanted to allow the airline industry, passenger advocates and law enforcement experts to weigh in on what should be allowed on planes.
The policy change has been met with strong opposition from flight attendants, more than 100 members of Congress, families of 9/11 victims and its own air marshals.
In fact, 133 members of Congress signed a letter addressed to TSA Administrator John Pistole. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla., who boarded a plane Tuesday in Jacksonville bound for Washington D.C., said the idea to allow pocket knives on a plane is "downright stupid."
"That was one of the stupidest decisions ever made," she said. "There are already problems and disturbances with the stewardesses that they have to deal with all the time. Let's not put the safety of the traveling public at stake. This was a poor decision."
The change that was supposed to take effect Thursday would have allowed people to carry knives with blades smaller than 2.36 inches long and less than half an inch wide onto planes.
This would have been the first time pocket knives would have been allowed back on planes since Sept. 11, 2001, when terrorists with box cutters hijacked four commercial flights.
When first announced on March 5, the TSA chief said airport security screeners needed to concentrate on greater risks to air travel.
"Knives are dangerous. They haven't become any less dangerous since 9/11," New York Sen. Charles Schumer said. "Let 'em start with things like this -- shampoo, hair cream and toothpaste, which drives passengers crazy."
But faced with opposition, the head of TSA wants passenger advocates and law enforcement experts to weigh in. Law enforcement trainer and consultant Gregory DiFranza did just that.
"I would be highly shocked if a law enforcement group says this is a great idea," said DiFranza, of WinFirst International. "I was highly shocked that this was even a consideration."
DiFranza said any sharp-edged object strikes fear in the public, and following recent attacks on America like the Boston bombings, he said there should be zero tolerance.
"If you're going to have civilians, law enforcement all reaching a consensus, security is not a consensus, it's something everyone needs to take seriously," DiFranza said.
The policy change that was supposed to take effect Thursday would have also allowed some other banned items on board, like hockey sticks and golf clubs.
No date has been given on how long this would be delayed.


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Sariputta And Moggallana
At that time Sariputta and Moggallana, two Brahmans and chiefs of
the followers of Sanjaya, led a religious life. They had promised
each other: "He who first attains Nirvana shall tell the other
Sariputta seeing the venerable Assaji begging for alms, modestly
keeping his eyes to the ground and dignified in deportment,[1]
exclaimed: "Truly this samana has entered the right path; I will
ask him in whose name he has retired from the world and what
doctrine he professes." Being addressed by Sariputta, Assaji
replied: "I am a follower of the Buddha, the Blessed One, but
being a novice I can tell you the substance only of the
Said Sariputta: "Tell me, venerable monk, it is the substance I
want." And Assaji recited the stanza:
"The Buddha did the cause unfold
Of all the things that spring from causes.
And further the great sage has told
How finally all passion pauses."
Having heard this stanza, Sariputta obtained the pure and
spotless eye of truth and said: "Now I see clearly, whatsoever is
subject to origination is also subject to cessation. If this be
the doctrine I have reached the state to enter Nirvana which
heretofore has remained hidden from me."
Sariputta went to Moggallana and told him, and both said: "We
will go to the Blessed One, that he, the Blessed One, may be our
When the Buddha saw Sariputta and Moggallana coming from afar, he
said to his disciples, "These two monks are highly auspicious."
When the two friends had taken refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma
and the Sangha, the Holy One said to his other disciples:
"Sariputta, like the first-born son of a world-ruling monarch, is
well able to assist the king as his chief follower to set the
wheel of the law rolling."
And the people were annoyed. Seeing that many distinguished young
men of the kingdom of Magadha led a religious life under the
direction of the Blessed One, they became angry and murmured:
"Gotama Sakyamuni induces fathers to leave their wives and causes
families to become extinct."
When they saw the bhikkhus, they reviled them, saying: "The great
Sakyamuni has come to Rajagaha subduing the minds of men. Who
will be the next to be led astray by him?"
The bhikkhus told it to the Blessed One, and the Blessed One
said: "This murmuring, O bhikkhus, will not last long. It will
last seven days. If they revile you, O bhikkhus, answer them with
these words:
"'It is by preaching the truth that Tathagatas lead men. Who will
murmur at the wise? Who will blame the virtuous? Who will condemn
self-control, righteousness, and kindness?'"
And the Blessed One proclaimed this verse:
"Commit no wrong but good deeds do
And let thy heart be pure.
All Buddhas teach this doctrine true
Which will for aye endure."
Samsara And Nirvana Sariputta's Faith


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With seemingly unlimited data collection all over the news recently, Michigan's government may soon buck the trend. On Wednesday, State Representative Sam Singh announced a bill that would regulate automatic license plate readers (LPRs) in state, including a mandate that collected data must be deleted within 48 hours unless it's evidence of "specific criminal wrongdoing," according to the Lansing State Journal.
Very few states currently have LPR restrictions, according to the LSJ. For instance, Vermont tosses data after 18 months, and Maine only holds it for 21 days unless data is involved in an investigation. (The paper noted Arkansas, Utah, and Virginia also have some restrictions). New Hampshire is the lone state to ban LPRs outright, and Iowa City made headlines this summer by taking the same approach on a smaller scale. But as Ars discovered when trying to access LPR data as a citizen, often times LPR data can legally be stored indefinitely.
Singh's bill is expected to be formally submitted next week and then considered within the state's legislative process (PDF). Currently, according to The State News, there are no in-state regulations in place to limit how long LPR data is kept.


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Frequently Asked Questions
As well as being the world's largest publisher of nutritional papers and journals, at NNI we organize and host internationally acclaimed workshops and symposia.
An extensive publication library and exclusive videos are created from these events, and some of them may available for free only to registered members.
By sign in and filling out your profile, you can also benefit from accredited continuing education programs and personalized updates based on your interests.
Thank you for signing up!
Have you checked your email spam folder? Sometimes the confirmation email can end up there. If you don't find the confirmation email, you can still try to sign in using the credentials you've just created for your account. You should be able to log in and navigate the website anyway. If this is not the case, please don't hesitate to Contact Us, and we'll be happy to help.
The Nestlé Nutrition Institute (NNI) is a non-for-profit organization based in Switzerland.
NNI does not deal with recruitment. To look for any current vacancies, you can visit http://www.nestle.com/jobs
Yes, since 1981 NNI provides grants that have helped more than 500 young medical doctors and scientists from all over the world pursue postgraduate training at leading institutions in a number of fields relating to nutrition.
This has helped build global capacity in nutrition research, and further global understanding of nutrition and its impact on the health of young women, mothers and children in particular.
*not available to healthcare professionals in the United States.
There are two types of fellowships:
- Research Fellowships: These research grants are open to all young professionals and cover training lasting up to six months in the fields of young women's health, and maternal and infant health and nutrition. More information can be found here.
- Clinical Fellowships Our clinical fellowships are specifically for post-graduate health care professionals from developing countries working in the field of pediatric nutrition and gastroenterology. The clinical programs last from 12 to 24 months and are delivered through the leading institutions listed on our website. More information can be found here.
*not available to healthcare professionals in the United States.
Applications should be sent by email to firstname.lastname@example.com or by fax to + 41 21 924 2836, by March 1st or October 1st.
Applications will be reviewed and applicants informed of the outcome by the end of April/November. We answer to every candidate!
You can download the application form by clicking on the 'Application form for Research Fellowship' link on the Fellowships page.
Q9. I already benefit from another training program grant. Can I still apply to the Research Fellowship?
No. Candidates who, at the time of submitting their application, already have a grant from any other training program, cannot apply.
See all acceptance and exclusions conditions here.
The NNI grant up to 40'000 CHF which can be used to pay course registration fees, round trip travel to the host institution, lodging and living expenses and health insurance coverage for the duration of the course.
A proportion of this amount will be paid to shorter duration projects.
The NNI grant will be given to the Host Institution which will disburse it to the fellow. In no case will any money be given directly from the NNI to the fellow.
Applications should be sent by email to firstname.lastname@example.com or faxed to + 41 21 924 2836 by February 28th/October 1st for the following year's funding. Applications not accompanied by a letter of acceptance of the training institution will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed and applicants informed of the outcome by November.
The amount varies according to the Institution. However, it is approximatively € 35'000 per year.
Go to the Login page and click on the Forgot Password link. Enter your e-mail address and you will receive an e-mail to change your password.
The live webcasts can be accessed via the NNI homepage from where you can click through to the live streaming page. When the workshop has begun, the live stream will begin automatically. By signing up to our newsletter you will also receive updates on how to register and watch the webcast.
Q15. I am unable to watch the workshop webcast live. Will the recording be available at a later time?
Yes! All of our workshops are recorded live. The presentations are available on demand for one week after the workshop has ended and can be accessed via a link on the homepage. The videos are also later uploaded to the NNI website, where you can view them anytime, at your own convenience.
There may be differences in the speed and stability of the internet connection from country to country, and even differences between internet browsers (i.e. Internet Explorer vs. Google Chrome) within the same country. Firstly, try another browser to see if the issue still occurs. Secondly, there is an alternate stream offered during the live webcast which can be accessed by clicking the 'view alternate stream' link on the live streaming page. The internet connection should have at least 2 Mbps in download mode. You can take a Speed test on: http://www.bandwidthplace.com/. A good benchmark is to check if the computer you are using can access any of the Videos found on our website, which would be a good indication that the live broadcast will work fine.


text:
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Official Group
Innovate UK, in collaboration with the Knowledge Transfer Network will be hosting a series of events across the UK to discuss the forthcoming competition 'Infrastructure Systems'.
Infrastructure forms the backbone for economic stability, growth, competitiveness and productivity in modern society and is key for social wellbeing and environmental sustainability. Yet these infrastructure systems in the UK, and globally, face increasing social and environmental pressures. As an example, to be successful in the future, cities need to deliver a thriving economy, great quality of life and reduced environmental footprint, whilst managing growing economic, social and environmental stresses.
Innovate UK are to invest up to £15m in business led, innovative projects in Infrastructure Systems, provisionally including
Where possible, projects should address more than one of these areas particularly through the introduction of cross-cutting technologies (e.g. digital, sensors, autonomous systems) that can address system integration.
The briefing events will include
These events will benefit businesses, academics, researchers and local authorities involved in energy systems, resilient urban systems, connected transport systems (Autonomous Vehicles not in scope) and pulling in new technologies from digital, communications, sensors, electronics and novel materials sectors.
To register for one of the events click on the links below;


text:
WeatherCatPad (WeatherCat for the iPad) version 2.3 is now available for download from the Apple App Store
I have a problem. Each night since I updated the software my WxC stop and I received this e-mail alert:Comms to station have failed, trying to reset. Results to follow...WeatherCat TimeStamp: 03:08:57 09-Nov-17then a few minutes later:Comms reset successful.WeatherCat TimeStamp: 03:09:06 09-Nov-17
but my software is not connected to my Vantage Vue station.I have to quit WXC and restart it in the morning and loose some data.What can I dot about that?
Here are 2 screen shots of the extension you requested. It seem that I have 2 drivers listed. Both of them have only 2 minutes difference on the same date. One is a regular driver and the other one is label 64. Hum!!
My data logger is made by Bellfry Boy and not Davis.
I was away for a few days, upon returning I restarted WxC and the logger sent all the data to my Weather Underground site. No data was lost. So it must keep them after all.
Ok my question is: how to install the new Silabs driver? Do I have to remove the 2 old one that I see in the system information as you showed me on an earlier post? I am a bit scare of loosing control on my WXc.
Page created in 0.066 seconds with 24 queries.


text:
A complete source for Reed Switches, Electromechanical Relays and Magnets since 1976
Hasco has been in the business of Relays, Reed Switches and Reed Relays since 1976. Their products are produced in their ISO certified factory. Hasco stocks 200 styles of their products in New York with drop shipments available to contract manufacturers through out the world.
Hasco has approximately 500 different types of relays and electromechanical relays, as well as 24 types of reed relays, that range from milliamps to 80 amps. They include both DC and AC coil voltages and can also switch from one pole to 4 pole. Free samples are available by clicking here.
There are almost 20 different types of reed switches that are offered on Hasco Relays and Electronics' Web Site.


text:
Hey there, how are you doing?
Hi! My name is Darina, and what's yours?
Hope this letter finds you in a good mood, because I would like to talk to you about something important. I have some interesting information to share with you, and I'm sure you'll like it when you hear it. Please, don't waste time and write me as soon as possible.
My profile here angelru.ru
Sincerely yours,


text:
Search Maps
MapPassages of the Rappahannock and Battle of Fredericksburg, December 10th to 16th, 1862 : copied from the original belonging to Gen'l. Burnside "Map originally prepared following the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862 ... enhanced by the addition of details from a captured map prepared by topographical engineer Jedediah Hotchkiss for the use of Confederate lietenant general Stonewall Jackson. A significant feature of the map is an overlay (overleaf) depicting the rapidly changing positions of Federal troops during and after their successful crossing of the Rappahannock...
- Contributor: Hains, Peter C. (Peter Conover) - Hotchkiss, Jedediah - Doull, Alexander - Callahan, Denis - United States. Topographical Bureau - Wainwright, Charles S. (Charles Shiels)
- Date: 1863


text:
Devoid Sector
|Devoid Sector
|Collection of Systems and VoidSpace
|Key Resources
|Controlled By
Bystander Systems
|Key Locations
|Jörmangandr Two Hundred Thirteen
In a distant sector of space, now hauntingly called the Devoid Sector, three ancient intergalactic armies vie for dominance and control of the sector's precious and newly discovered resource, Ecto-115, in an epic scale war known as the Ecto Conflict.
The element is naturally occurring within only a handful of systems and, interestingly, within each member of the terrifying Zeitgeisteskrankheit, a maddened and wraithlike people driven by a thirst for vengeance and an abominable hunger that can only be sated with the warmth of the living. The Devoid Sector, once upon a time, was their home and they were a peaceful race of builders and innovators. Their original name is now lost to history but it is known that they soared through the stars on the wings of gilded technologies spreading the goodwill of construction to various peoples throughout the star systems. Now, however, following the brutal invasion of the Gunnar-Grim a few hundred years ago, that message is no longer part of their deathly agenda and the memory of their great technologies lie forever locked in the spectral forms of their ghostly starships. Now, they float through the void and debris fields where their homes used to be, as cold as the space between the stars, hunting the unwary.
The Gunnar-Grim in the Devoid Sector are of the Jormangandr Clan, who long ago became separated from their main fleet and were left to wander between galaxies. Over time, the space dwarves became severely hardened by their ordeals. Encounters with other races often led to strife for the already warlike dwarves. With constant battles and continuous operation, their great behemoth of a warship, the Starforge Jormangandr, took a hell of a beating. One of less than one hundred of the universe's largest and mightiest ships, capable of both creating and destroying planets at full capacity, it had been entrusted to the Jormangandr in ancient times by the Mountain King himself, creator god to the dwarven race. Thus, when the great ship limped into what is now the Devoid Sector on its last legs, the Clan wasted no time in availing themselves of any resource they could find to repair the monstrosity. Luckily for them, they had stumbled into a very rich sector of space indeed, full to bursting with life and creative energies. Unluckily for everything else, this boundless wonder merely served as food to feed to the colossal starbeast and it consumed ever greater amounts of material in order to return itself to the height of its power. The other races banded together and mounted an assault on the terrible thing but, even in such a weakened state, their attacks did little good and its dwarven masters were fierce in its defense. In the span of a few short years, the Gunnar-Grim had committed an interstellar genocide, wiping entire star systems and their populations from existence.
However, that same rich energy which sated the Starforge would be the very damnation of the Jormangandr Clan. There was a deep resonance to the power on which the dwarves did not reckon. The massively creative energies, so corrupted by the titanic psychic trauma done to its most masterful manipulators, turned quite deadly and locked the souls of the dead into a hyperphasic state of reality, imbuing them with the sheer, unadulterated force of destruction. They became the Geist and the vulgarity of their birth sprang out like a shockwave through reality. Where the wave touched, often there grew the Element later named Ecto-115 in various forms. A dangerous, volatile, and utterly destructive element, it has never been used to any other purpose. In fact, as far as anyone can tell, it can't be used to any other purpose. The Clan does not yet regret their actions, and probably never will, and sees Ecto-115 as their proprietary right. They've begun rebuilding the sector, in their own image, but are hindered at every turn by the Geist (who are ever more enraged by the Clan's continued presence and its constant attempts at mining their essence) and the newly arrived Ketir-Iah Empire.
The Ketir-Iah are a very old intergalactic empire who have held sway in many parts of the universe for as long as anyone can remember. A potent sorcery runs in the bloodlines of its peoples and the elder race long held authority using the reality-altering, godlike power in its veins. They were seemingly unstoppable. Eons ago, however, a rebellion rose up, captured several royal houses, and performed unspeakable blood sciences on them. They were able to discern and steal the power for themselves. With time, the rebellion grew into a powerful empire in its own right and doled out that power in small, manageable segments to all those who stood against the ancients. The Ketir-Iah were beset on all sides in many galaxies and so they were forced to perform an extravagant ritual which cursed their own magic. While the rewards for using the magic were still prodigious, the punishment was equally as severe. They waited and refrained from its use while their enemies crippled themselves with borrowed power. The Ketir-Iah's sorcery remains cursed to this day, however, and they have been forced to seek other routes to power. In recent years, they learned of Ecto-115 and its devastating properties. They were well placed to send an expeditionary army into the Devoid Sector after it. The army found itself quickly locked in a heated struggle between the Geist, the Jormangandr, and the fiercely violent and defensive Bystander systems. The army thought to retreat but the pounding of the Geist Ectocannons showed them an exponential power they were loathe to leave behind. To their delight, though, they've also discovered that their sorcery is the only weapon anyone knows of that can harm the Geist. Though they must be extraordinarily careful in its execution, they've decided to stay and attempt to harvest the element.
All the while, the crisis in Devoid Sector continues to build and it may come to pass that no one survives the resulting explosion.


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(The Root) — Obesity is more common in African Americans than in other ethnic groups. But when it comes to black people and weight, that's where the agreement seems to end. Is food the culprit? Is exercise the solution? Is there even a real problem to begin with, or should we be focusing on health — or even self-acceptance — rather than the number on the scale?
Against the backdrop of a first lady's mission to slim down the nation's kids, black celebs getting endorsements after shedding inches and a booming weight-loss industry, The Root will publish a series of interviews with medical professionals, activists and fitness enthusiasts that reveal the complexity of this issue and the range of approaches to it.
For the 14th in the series, we spoke to Greg Watson, senior vice president of menu innovation at McDonald's USA, at a Washington, D.C., event highlighting what the restaurant calls its "nutrition journey." What that means is calorie counts on restaurant and drive-through menus nationwide starting last month, a "Favorites Under 400" campaign featuring lower-calorie items and healthier choices (including more fruits and vegetables, and egg-white breakfast sandwiches on whole-grain English muffins) in the works for 2013.
We asked Watson, who's responsible for keeping the McDonald's menu up to date and in line with customer preferences (which, these days, often have to do with health), about what the changes could mean for African Americans and obesity specifically.
"We think it is just going to be a natural way for us to help out in the community," he told The Root.
Here's what else he had to say about his industry's take on obesity, what the company knows about African-American food preferences and what he believes fast-food fruits and veggies could do for urban food deserts.
Read the rest of the interviews in the series here, and check out the rest of The Root's obesity coverage here.
The Root: According to the latest statistics, African Americans are 1.5 times as likely as whites to be obese. Did you consider any special focus on the needs and preferences of the black community when revamping the menu to include calorie counts and healthier foods?
Greg Watson: When we develop our new menu items, we're thinking pretty broadly about the U.S. population. We know that we serve a lot of customers — somewhere in the area of 25 million every day. So it's a pretty broad consumer base. But we know that the overall trends are prevalent across multiple segments. The concerns about getting more whole grains, lower-calorie options and portion control, and more fruits and vegetables are applicable to the African-American community.
And as we're developing our products, we do focus our development on different ethnic segments. There are a couple of items that do well for various segments. The mango-pineapple smoothies do very well with Hispanic and African-American consumers. The wild berry does extremely well with African-American consumers. So we're excited that we can come up with these products that do well overall, but then they do extremely well with a certain segment.
TR: If you could make just one suggestion for people to implement in their daily lives with respect to weight and health, what would it be?
GW: I would say balance is important for your eating experience throughout the day. I would encourage our customers to think about their total calorie intake for the day, and make sure that they balance their meals appropriately. So if you go a little heavy on calories at breakfast, you should back it off the rest of the day. Or, if you work out, maybe you can have more calories. I think balance is the key word.
TR: One issue that some experts we've spoken to say affects the African-American obesity rate is the prevalence of "food deserts," where fresh, healthy food is unavailable. Do you see the increased number of "wholesome choices" on the new menus — in particular, salads and fruit options — as part of the solution to that phenomenon?
GW: That is a big concern for our customers that live in those areas. We're excited that we can bring more fruit and more vegetables into those restaurants. We think it is just going to be a natural way for us to help out in the community, by having these types of items on our menu. We're seeing a pretty favorable response to our real-fruit smoothies, for example — that's half a cup of fruit that our customers are getting whether they think about it that way or not.
TR: What's your response to those who might say that places like McDonald's and the food and beverages they sell are largely to blame for the American obesity crisis generally, and the black obesity crisis specifically?
GW: Well, we know that there is a tendency for people to make that connection, and it's unfortunate. I think that McDonald's, being the leader in the industry, is put at the center of that conversation. But what we do is we continue to focus on our customers' needs. And we know that we're giving our customers choices, and we're giving them variety. We provide nutritious options at great quality and an incredible value.
The more we continue to tell that story, the less we'll be concerned about what people are saying about the industry. We're trying to separate ourselves and say, "McDonald's is doing what's right for the customers."
Jenée Desmond-Harris is The Root's staff writer.