fourthrider

My thoughts: L'Escargot-Montorgueil in the 1st, Metro: Halles Escargot served in all kinds of clever and diffferent ways...also great oysters....rue Montorgueil itself is a very active street with lots of interesting places and things to see and do Roger la Grenouille in the 6th, Metro: Odeon Been around since the '30s so by Paris standards it's a newbie :) very reasonable prices very good bistro food and a fun scene all around Have fun

Thank you all, and thank you especially David. I checked with the French Consulate here in San Francisco and according to their pre-recorded front end for visa inquiries, it is what everyone has said. Just for tourism, 90 days or less, no visa required; that's what they say. My French friend is still being cautionary, but since I'm not leaving until mid October, I'll just track this on a weekly basis. But again, thank you all for your input, all of it was very helpful.

Hello All; I've booked an aparment in Paris for a month mid Oct to mid Nov. Today I learned from a French woman living in America that I must obtain a visa before I go to France. I need to go to the French embassy, present my American passport, my plane tickets which show I'm returning to the US and a copy of my most recent bank statements to prove I'm not indigent. She said this law went into effect two weeks ago. Guess I missed that memo. Scary part of this is that even though I'm down for a month in the 6th, not to mention the plane fare. The folks at the embassy could issue me a visa for as much as 90 days or as little as a week or two -- which for me would be a deal killer. Has anyone else heard of this? Apparently the French have imposed equally draconian measures including all French passports must have a new micro chip imbedded in them....downside, so far, it can only be done at the French embassy in DC or police stations in France, takes a week or two and costs about $150 for each passport. Is it me, or is this just oneupsmanship about Iraq?

I will speak to your day in Napa. At the North end of the parking lot of the Sutter Home Winery you will find a driveway with a sign for the Praeger (sp?) Port Works. It is a boutique family owned winery focused on ports, obviously, but they also produce some fine wine. They had huge buttery chard the last time I was there, which was some time ago, but super. I think you will find it well worth the stop. Cannot fault your dim sum choices and will defer to the opinions of others; I enjoy both places. Enjoy your stay in our lovely City.

I have found the denim selection offered by Chefwear -- double breasted---can be buttoned on the right or left side , and I'm especially found of the buttons covered in the fabric of the jackets themselves a nice touch. I've used several of them over the last few years and they stand up well to hard use...and so what, you got stains...that just shows you're working..... :)