Tenth or so time in Paris...

Have you done the St. Martin canal boat tour? It tak.s you through parts of Paris you'd otherwise be unlikely to visit, and ends up in the beautiful Parcs du Villette.

Hi Kira, On my most recent trip to Paris (last month), I visited the Edith Piaf Museum. It's located in the 4th floor apartment of a man by the name of Bernard Marchois, who knew Edith Piaf in the later years of her life. It's less of museum than it is a shrine that he has created in two rooms of his Belleville apartment. He is a very nice, gentle man and will answer questions, but mostly leaves you alone to wander through his collection. You have to call ahead to make an appointment and will be given the code to get into the apartment building. There is no charge, but you can leave a small donation in a tray that he has by the door. And I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. The area (Belleville) has a very working-class feel to it, with a largely immigrant population. If you are interested and would like more information, you can send me a PM.

there is now a Museum of fairground Art at Palace de Bercy (sp), that you can only get into be prior arrangement. i have sen photos (they have a web site). Looks great www.pavillons-de-bercy

There are entire guidebooks and websites devoted to off the beaten path Paris. One I really like is Paris Discovered: Explorations in the City of Light. You find out things like, the oldest house in Paris, the pet cemetary, particularly unique homes and gardens, etc. Be sure to google for events going on--you might be there during the grape harvest at Paris' only vineyard, or Nuit Blance, for example.