Sunday, August 24, 2008

If the shoe fits


I met up with some friends the other night to catch up after vacations and drown a few sorrows for the upcoming rentrée, and discovered this bar called La Cordonnerie. Located at 142 rue St Denis, this former shoemaker's shop now boasts some of the cheapest beer and happy hour in town, along with what I'd consider to be the aged clientele where those points are extremely important!

71 comments:

  1. There's nothing like a good happy hour!

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  2. Oh, this my kind of bar, Eric. Aged clientele drinking cheap beer. (Yes, I'm kidding) Like the artwork, though!

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  3. Alexa...LOL! Congrats on GF too! Do you think David was being the gentleman? ;-)

    Eric, drink a cheap one for me. "Rentree" is tough no matter what side of the ocean you're on! In this context, those hands look as tired as my own.

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  4. Hey Alexa - GF! Bien joue. :)

    Well, Eric, Alexa may not be hip to the charms of this clientele, but I say "we rock" - and I mean that literally. But seriously, do we know how to nurse a beer or what?! It takes years of experience to do that - especially when its cheap beer. To keep your decorum and not be chuggin' 'em -- now, that's real discipline.

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  5. Incroyable. I used to go very often to this bar. So you probably saw a Xboyfriend of mine there!!
    Eric, don't miss the Couscous day on Thursday! It's free. For real. You just buy a beer and the couscous is free. Mais les places sont chères et rares, il faut y aller vers 19h!

    Yes, people there are not especially young but the atmosphere is quite better than in others 'in/fashion' bars.

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  6. I adore the design of this, with its Van Gogh colouring! Beautiful photo.

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  7. Ooooh, I'm all about the older gents!

    Completely OT, but on our way home from the zoo today guess what Owen said to me: "Mommy, look! A coal train!!" He didn't quite get it when I exclaimed "Where is he?!?"

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  8. I'm glad you had a good visit with friends and a good time! (At this point in my life, getting together with friends has to be at someone's house as together we have 10 children!) But I'm glad someone can go out and have a good time!

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  9. Aged clientele? My favorite kind of place. I hate the trendy 20/30 something kind of places (I hated them already when I was 20/ 30!)

    Great tip, thanks!

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  10. Ha, moi aussi, Tomate. I always preferred a quiet hideaway.

    Van Gogh colors, Michelangelo hands, eh Lynn? I wonder why the reference?

    Eric, I like the photo because it's a mystery. I can't tell if it's an interior wall or an exterior sign.

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  11. Be careful what you all say about the "Aged Clientele" I'm one of the aged;))

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  12. Soosha...LOL! What an intelligent little guy you have there. ;-) Of course, you knew that already. Hey, it's never too early to get the kids into America's true art form (no not beer guzzling)...jazz it up with a Blue Train!

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  13. Oh I can't WAIT to go here next month! I will become a regular I'm sure, because it has cheap beer (I'll be on a budget because the dollar is still not great) and free couscous on Thursday (thanks Guille!) and I much prefer an aged clientele to a young hipster bar, AND it's literally a 2 minute walk (maybe even 1 minute walk) from where I'll be staying. (Not to quibble Eric, but I do believe this address on rue St. Denis is in the 2nd arr.)

    I really like this photo of the trompe-l'œil painting on the wall too. Looks like there's a real crack on the wall that's been incorporated into the painting. Very clever!

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  14. Thanks Petrea! I'm starting to freak out that I haven't buckled down and studied my French (I meant to start that 6 months ago, ooops), but maybe hanging out at La Cordonnerie on a regular basis will help. Carrie I'll give you a full report on this place since you'll be in Paris in a few months too! Guille maybe we can convince Lynn to pop over to Paris for a few days!

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  15. Trust me, I would fit right in with the "aged clientele!"
    (And I can't stand the kind of places that cater to twenty-somethings with plenty of [Daddy's] money to spend—there seems to be quite a lot of those in NYC.)
    Only I don't like beer much, so I wonder if they also serve low-cost rotgut wine.
    Check that out for me, will you Katie? Merci. I'm also very excited for you, btw.

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  16. Eric, you must take your camera with you absolutely EVERYWHERE!! I think what Eric meant when he wrote "aged" was not the two syllable version but the single syllable one. This bar is definitely for very young people on a tight budget. But after reading Guille's comment, I especially feel older than I feel!

    Petrea, if I remember correctly, this painting is on an inside rounded wall in the corner. Am I right Guille or do we need to ask the Ex?

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  18. You're about to feel older, Michael, when le tour des Benauts hits! They are ready to hit the Paris ground running lol! Had another lovely day with them yesterday. Such a great couple they are. Sweet and kind, interesting and clever, fun and friendly. Get ready, Paris!

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  19. Oh no, letting them take a nap is one thing, but I was counting on you wearing them out as well! Loved following the story on your blog Lynn.

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  20. Katie, I'm trying to convince Lynn to come, all the time. The last time was yesterday evening, go figure! She told me that she couldn't. But be sure that for the next pic nic, she has NO choice (you hear me Lynn?!).

    Michael, the painting is inside. No need to ask my ex! (anyway, I still have good connection with him).
    If you feel older than you feel, that's a problem Michael, if you feel older than you really are, it's only psychological and we can arrange that. ;)
    But people there are more 30 than 20, or maybe it changed?

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  21. Michael's right, I did not mean "ay-jed" but "of an age".


    So Guille, when you say, "Yes, people there are not especially young but the atmosphere is quite better than in others 'in/fashion' bars." Er... You crucify me! LOL.

    Petrea, I just saw the great acting role you played. Loved it but it made me think, "I'd better think twice next time Petrea says she likes my photos." LOL!

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  22. Eric, no! It was a compliment, you didn't catch it?! LOL
    I should have added '...in others 'in/fashion' fashion bars where people are 20, are pretentious and spend a lot of money to drink vodka red bull'!
    I definitely prefer not pretentious and simple bars, I definitely prefer my elders than my equals! LOL

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  23. Man, I really need to have a look at Petrea's star performance!

    Fear not, coltrane, Owen's been definitely getting a good intro to our best jazz since he was born! He actually gets a pretty diverse selection from me. And of course I know he's smart. The genetic marker for intelligence is passed down from the mother!!!

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  24. Oops, kinda should clarify there. He gets a diverse selection of music from me, not just jazz. I wont force him to listen to Bob Dylan on every road trip we take like my dad did to us! Not that I don't love Dylan, but I do prefer and appreciate a bit more.

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  25. BTW, David -- thanks for being a gentleman.

    Guille -- when I click on the link to see Petrea, what comes up is AdultFriendFinder.com, "The World's Largest Sex and Swinger Personals Community" !!!
    And, no, Petrea is NOT there!

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  26. Alexa, ARE YOU KIDDING? LOOOL.
    You're sure that she's not there?
    I'll check the link, but the other PDPers saw it, that's strange...

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  27. Okay,I see. Actually when you click on Play, an other window appears with Friends Finder or Party Poker Tour or something. Just close this one and go back to the first one. Then click one time on play to 'buffer' the video and one more time to see it... Does it work?

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  28. Alexa you're not imagining it; I got that same swinger site when I clicked on the link too! I just rented "Fracture", and although I haven't watched it yet, I'm looking forward to seeing Petrea play a doctor!

    I love how overnight La Cordonnerie has gone from an old age pensioners bar, to one for thirtysomethings. I'll still check it out, but it's amusing how much trouble the word aged caused. Guille keep working on Lynn, at least for the picnic next year.

    Lynn I too loved reading all about your time with Mme and M Benaut! Oh, and Lynn did you know that you're on the cover of the September issue of Gourmet magazine? It's a whole issue about Paris on a Budget and you're sitting outside a cafe with Beck! Guille get ready because your neighborhood is listed in "The Hot New Neighborhoods". And Monica there's an article on macarons for you. Plus lots of recipes and good ideas for places to eat, etc. I don't know if Gourmet is available worldwide, but it's worth searching out.

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  29. Alexa, I can't imagine why you can't find me among the illustrious individuals on the adult friend finder. I'm happy to be an adult friend.

    !!

    I'm sitting here laughing. When I saw the video there was an ad for some very attractive people, and I thought, "I wonder if they see this in France?"

    You're all sweet to attempt to view my 15 seconds of fame. On the link Guille gave us, I saw two arrows to click: one in the center, which played the ad, and a small one at lower left, which played "How I Met Your Mother." If you don't want to watch the entire episode, you can move the cursor forward to where the scene begins, at around (I think) 7:25 or so. It's brief. At least they put me in a designer dress.

    Good press for the show: they work with a positive attitude and are a friendly bunch.

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  30. Very nice photo.
    Michelangelo hands are such an universal symbol of linked people, lovers, ..., (and whatever the age you are!).
    These hands match perfectly with the French expression 'Trouver chaussure à son pied' (which is well pictured for a former shoemaker's shop!!). Of course Eric's title said it all!

    'drown a few sorrows for the upcoming rentrée'
    LOOOL for my last day of vacation ... (cela tombe à pic!). Currently OMW to Paris (on the A6 and under a big sun).

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  31. Oooooh petrea, you're so fabulous! Seems like there's a lot of famous people here on PDP! *grins*

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  32. Alexa and Katie...you both crack me up!

    Michael...I think you'll have a blast with the Benauts. Monsieur B has a sense of humor I think you'd appreciate. But you likely knew this already. He'd probably enjoy this cheap beer joint. It's the company that's the most important anyway, eh!

    Soosha...you are a cool mom! My listening pleasures at Owen's age were the mixed sounds mainly of Mel Torme, Frank Sinatra, the Mills Brothers, Nat Cole, Louis, Ella,and the big bands of the 40s. My grandparents collection set the stage for my love of music beyond rock n roll.

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  33. I think so too Coltrane. Did I mention that I play the banjo? Imagine what kind of music I grew up listening to!

    Soosha, I don't get the link you included...BTW, so glad to see you here more often now! We missed you for a long time!

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  34. Petrea, thanks! I just hope Owen thinks I'm a cool mom when he gets to be a teenager!

    haha Michael, I'm gonna make you do a bit of digging on the subject. Mainly because I'm rather bored at the moment.

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  35. Petrea! I meant coltrane! Oi, I think my brain has been addled by the large amount of sun I got yesterday!

    And I'm not really surprised you grew up listening to dixieland music. You are from the south, after all. Oh yes, and I enjoy being back here more often too.

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  36. *sigh* That 2nd mini-paragraph was obviously meant for Michael.

    As for you, coltrane, my grandmother is to thank for my taste in music as well. One of my fondest memories is visiting my grandparents during the holidays. I'd be sitting at the kitchen table reading a book while my grandmother was working on Christmas dinner or something, softly singing along to Rosemary or Ella. *sigh* I miss those days.

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  37. I don't get the link either, but I love astronomy...

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  38. Michael...the banjo eh! Fantastic instrument, esp for dixieland music or bluegrass. [No "Deliverance" jokes, I swear. We'll stick with "Bonnie and Clyde" theme music instead] However, it's one of those rare instruments that couldn't quite decide whether to be a drum or a guitar so settled for being both.
    :-) I think my parents would have preferred me sticking with the guitar over drums or perhaps taking up banjo. Good for you! Still play?

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  39. Oh alright, but only because I'm not so bored anymore otherwise I might have dragged it out for hours: How the satellite got it's name

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  40. Sasha Q!!! Bless you, you're a REAL star! Terra will last longer and be much more important to the world than How I Met Your Mother. :)

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  41. lol. Comedy is very important, especially in this day and age where sooooo many people make anti-anxiety meds a huge portion of the top 200 prescribed drugs in the US! But thanx. Yeah, that was my 15 mins.

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  42. Katie: THIS Lynn will be in Paris a few times next month. Maybe we can do a gathering of PDPer's for those in town?

    If word gets around to the pilots about cheap beer and free couscous on Thurs., there will be a huge influx of even MORE aged clientele. Sorry,front end(more politically correct than cockpit), but you know your reputation.

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  43. Sounds like a great mix, PHX: airline pilots and cheap beer.

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  44. Ooooh Petrea....you didn't just say that did you?! LOL

    Coltrane, yes, I still play from time to time. It's the only instrument native to North America with the slaves creating it from their African roots.

    And Soosha! Well I'll be d....! A satellite named by you! Did you really go to California to watch it take off? Photos? Stories?

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  45. I went to Cali with the intention of seeing the launch. Unfortunately it got delayed a couple of times due to weather and the person who went with me needed to get back home so we left after the 2nd delay and-go figure-the d--n thing launched the day after we left. Of well, I had fun and go a lovely tour of the air force base and did get to see the launch set up up close. Well, as up close as civilians can get, anyway.

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  46. Soosha...Incroyable!!! You're not only a star, but your namesake is cruising among them. Would love to hear more about the California take off too!

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  47. PHX-CDG...would you say those are the type of beer chugging pilots who are "couscous" for Cocoa Puffs too?

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  48. PHX you'll have to alert me when you'll be CDG-bound between Sep 20 and Oct 20 as it would be great fun to get together! I'm sure we can round up a few other PDP suspects too, especially for cheap beer, even if we have to muscle our way past pilots who are couscous for Cocoa Puffs (groan Coltrane!). Maybe Michael will join us and play banjo!

    Very cool story Soosha about your satellite!

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  49. Michael's right, coltrane. That was horrible!

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  50. shoemaker..?? in munich they drink the beer out of a big glas shoe..:-))

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  51. Eric - another lovely photo - I like the blue tones towards the bottom.

    Katie, I wish I could be there to join you! Thanks for the upcoming review. The bar isn'tfar from where I'm staying also.

    Guille, merci pour le information sur le couscous. That's a real gift for my visit. Couscous Thursdays!

    Michael and Coltrane - I'm a banjo fan, too. When I was little my folks played classical, folk music and traditional bluegrass and we had no TV, so I was steeped in it.

    Petrea, I'm still trying to see you and haven't been able to - I come up with yet a different webpage.

    SooshaQ, what an awesome story! And a beautiful entry paragraph - really moving. Its too bad you didn't see the liftoff.

    Coltrane, LOOOOL at your joke; its just my speed - the worse they are, the better they are! Soooo...

    Petrea - Thursday mix: airline pilots, cheap beer and Cocoa Puffs? Oh la la la!! : )

    Lynn - love the pix and posts on the Benaut visit - its great meeting other bloggers this way. Wish I could be there in person.

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  52. Well, as Pont Girl and I agree, we are completely "computerly challenged". I've tried for the 10th time to see Petrea and still no luck. Can anyone help?

    When I click the link it goes to: Megavideo - You're Watching It - Find Your Date in Los Angeles. (Sorry Petrea!) Down below the main video screen there's a small box to link to what looks like Petrea's episode. When I click that it says "temporarily unavailable" on the main screen. I've tried clicking play on the main Find Your LA Date screen, too, and then closing it, but, no luck. : (

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  53. So much History in a building must make you smile :) From Show Makers Shop to Happy Hour, sounds brilliant :)

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  54. Eric,
    Glad for the tip. I am counting on katie to let me know just HOW AGED the clientele is. She know what I'm talking about.
    V

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  55. Interesting that there is a piece of a very famous artwork above that sign...Why would they choose that bit, I wonder?

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  56. Eric, please remember this one when Pam and I come to visit. I was able to access PDP from work today. I'm sure it is a fluke and not going to last! Take care. Deb

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  57. bonjour nous ecrirons dans làllemange lol xD

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  58. lol xD rofl :-P ;-P :-) ;-) ;-(
    :-(

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..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................lol

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  61. Hi,
    my comment to this page...











































































































    muhahahahahahaha...what a funny comment;)

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