Fashion At Matières à Réflexion new life is breathed into vintage leather jackets: Laetitia Azpiroz and Cyrille Railliet take old garments and create cool new handbags (19, rue de Poitou, www.matieresareflexion.com, photo). Alexia Hollinger also designs lifelong companions in handbag form out of old fabric and leather (3, rue Thérèse, www.alexiahollinger.com). Liza Arico recycles all types of material and transforms it into funky accessories ranging from hair barrettes to ties (Customisee par, 11, rue du Pont aux Choux, www.costumiseepar.com).
Sports-minded Why go anywhere else? There are plenty of recreational facilities in the city. Besides, you can see more of Paris while engaging in the coolest sports! Urban golf in the streets of Paris is all the rage. Le 19ième Trou organises the Paris Pro Tour Master Classics (www.19mtrou.com, photo) tournament. In the Forum des Halles you can check out other golf enthusiasts’ putting skills (101, Porte Berger, http://en.forumdeshalles.com). Up-to-date golf course information is found at www.urbangolf.fr.
Home sweet home Make yourself at home at Chez Clément. In Paris there has been a growing trend in cosy restaurants (i.e.: 9, pl. Saint-André des Arts, www.chezclement.com, photo). L’Appart likewise offers comfortable surroundings where guests can enjoy meals between the library and the open fireplace (11, rue du Colisée, www.restaurant-l-appart.abcsalles.com). Le Petit Keller is small and snug, just like maman’s dining room (13, rue Keller, www.lepetitkeller.com).
Galleries and cabarets Those with a creative leaning are in their element in multicultural districts. One of the first galleries to open its doors in Belleville is Jocelyn Wolff (78, rue Julien-Lacroix). Other trendy galleries such as Bugada & Cargnel (7–9, rue de l’Equerre) followed suit, and the district now hosts a biennial (www.labiennaledebelleville.fr). The association Ateliers d’Artistes de Belleville provides an overall view of the area’s artistic output, which not only has its own gallery but also organises a open studio day (1, rue Francis Picabia, www.ateliers-artistes-belleville.org). Art is found on the streets as well as on-stage in Belleville. At http://freepariswalks.com you can download a street art tour. If you encounter a giant inflatable zebra on the tour, you’ve arrived at Paris’ smallest cabaret: Le Zebre de Belleville (63, bd. de Belleville, www.lezebre.com, photo).
Pigalle Trendsetters are giving the green light to the red-light district of Pigalle. Le Bout is the address for modern theatre and has already become firmly established on the former nightlife strip (6, rue Frochot, www.lebout.com). Love is still spelled with a capital ‘l’ at Hotel Amour, although today it refers to a love of design. Each of the 20 rooms has been individually designed by a different artist (8, rue de Navarin). A visit to this district is not complete without a trip to Boutique Detaille, where perfumes are concocted to old formulas (10, rue Saint-Lazare, www.detaille.com, photo).