Happy belated birthday, Velib! The Parisian bike-sharing program turned one on July 15, and things are still going gangbusters with 1,451 stations, 20,600 bicycles and 3 million subscribers. There's even an iPhone app to help you find the Velib locations closest to you.

While haters will point out that a few dozen people have been injured and even killed while touring the city on Velibs, the environmental impact of the cycle-sharing scheme can't be denied. Biking advocates on the other hand wax poetic about how much nicer the program has made the city for residents and visitors alike.

After the jump, a well-done video about Velib's first year.]]> pbb 2008-07-17T11:00:17-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/10/15536/6343

Tired of waiting in line for two hours just to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower? Fret no longer! The company that runs the landmark has just unveiled plans for a 10-year, $267 million makeover.

Among the ideas are timed tickets that you can book online, helping to ease waits. (They do this at the Tower of London, among other places.) The group also wants to put in more shops and restaurants so that visitors will spend more cash--on top of the $19 it costs to ride to the top.

Not yet on the makeover agenda? Fixing up Alain Ducasse's dumpy new in-tower restaurant.

Related Stories:
· Eiffel Tower Getting 21st Century Facelift [AP]
· Paris Travel coverage [Jaunted]

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If you're over hot dogs, burgers and beer for the Fourth of July, go all out this year and jet to Paris for Gastronomy by the Seine, which kicks off Friday on various yachts dotting the river.

The festival is brand new, and this year's theme is New American Cuisine. Each day of the weekend offers roundtables with industry bigwigs like Gael Greene, Michael Batterberry and Jean-Luc Naret, as well as cooking demos, tastings and tours of related Parisian museums (like the Musée Baccarat) and outdoor food markets (like rue Mouffetard and Place Monge). On the 4th, you can toast to the US with an evening cruise down the Seine aboard Le Paquebot, with a five-course menu celebrating American food.

As you might have guessed, gastromony isn't cheap: Day passes start at about $221, and the dinner cruise will set you back $379. Still, five amazing courses while floating down the Seine sounds like the perfect excuse for a summer splurge.

Related Stories:
· Gastronomy by the Seine [Official Site]
· Datebook: Paris [NYT]
· Fourth of July coverage [Jaunted]

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Summer music festivals are a dime a dozen but we haven't come across many that also pack pro-social punch. Paris' Solidays Festival does. The anti-AIDS event held over 4th of July weekend is part fundraiser, part concert and, this year, part anniversary: It's the festival's 10th birthday.

Last summer, artists as diverse as Lily Allen, Lauryn Hill and Sum 41 joined in solidarity at Longchamp racetrack to support HIV awareness. This year the top billers will be reggae masters Toots and the Maytals along with Asian Dub Foundation, Cesaria Evora, Yael Naim and 200 other performers.

Staying for the full three days is a no-brainer, as passes are cheap ($70) and days are jam-packed with anniversary events. Fireworks, mimes, circus performers and AIDS lecturers will help you pass the time, plus, it's Paris.

Related Stories:
· Solidays Festival [Official Site]
· Music Festivals coverage [Jaunted]
· Paris Travel coverage [Jaunted]

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We think cave dwelling is tres cool, particularly when it involves excessive amounts of vin rouge and loyal Parisians dancing on tables to old French and Hebrew songs. You'll find it at Chez George, one of Paris' oldest wine bars in the relatively tourist-free Mabillon section.

Legend has it that "the house of George" was once a hiding place for Jews during the Nazi occupation. Be it an old barman's tale or accurate fact, we loved the cavern's dimly lit narrow passageways and smoky underground crannies. We also liked that the doorman thought twice before letting us Americans in, a sure sign that we were entering a "locals only" zone.

Related Stories:
· Chez George one of the World's 10 Best Bars? [Parisist]
· Paris Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Bars coverage [Jaunted]]]> CourtScott 2008-06-11T12:30:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/6/10/74044/4459

What do raw mushrooms, inflatable palm trees, Gorgonzola and coffee have in common? That's what we were asking ourselves Saturday when we made a caffeine pit stop at the Louvre's underground Starbucks--and found a full-fledged free-sampling luau in action.

Apparently the bizarre celebration was a promotion for a new Hawaiian coffee flavor which, according to Parisian baristas, goes exquisitely well with two of Hawaii's delicacies, raw mushrooms and pungent cheese. Huh?]]> CourtScott 2008-06-10T10:32:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/6/6/54122/73956

Yes, Velib bikes will get you around Paris, but unless you're familiar with the city, you may be too distracted by trying to read rue signs to see the sights. Before you know it your 30 Velib minutes are up and you're racing to find the nearest bike rack.

Enter Fat Tire Bike Tours, the best four hours (and $37) you might spend in Paris. Run by a group of young, in-the-know Americans, they've got a laid back attitude and effortless cool that makes for a surprisingly refreshing guided tour experience.]]> CourtScott 2008-06-06T14:00:01-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/