Off the Topic: Dangerous Muse

Way too hot to handle! The sexy New York based duo, vocalist Mike Furey and programmer/keyboardist Tom Napack rock the electro scene in New York and pretty much other hottest spots in the U.S.

These 80s retro darlings started in 2005 when Mike Furey, a regular at the hottest downtown dance parties and Tom Napack got together. Dangerous Muse's sound is a combination of sexy, dark and lusty then again it's very comfortable on the dance floor.

"Dance music has almost always been totally about the music and the record. Superstars like Madonna and Donna Summer have been few and far between. Mike Furey and Tom Napack of Dangerous Muse could easily be another exception to the rule. Dangerous Muse have the songs, but they also have the style, looks and unswerving dedication and most of all, the smarts to break through in a big, big way and stay there for a long, long time. I'm betting they can and will do it." -Seymour Stein, Sire Records

Keep yourself update and listen to their sexy tunes here.



grrrr...

A Few Useful Paris Guide Books

Well, well, well, for someone with a memory of a goldfish, plus a small sense of direction like me, I need some tools to save my own self and time. To get around the city, find an address or wherever you'd like to go, this Plan de Paris is an ideal - very detailed (already compared to a few others) and it also comes in a pocket size, convenient to carry around. Seriously though, I might not have survived without it. Another one is Guide Paris by Ofr. It provides you the names and addresses of hotels, shops, cafes, restaurants,etc. with short comments to give you some ideas. All are divided by arrondissement. One downside of this book, though, is that they provide no images. But so far, I'm quite satisfied with it as all the recommended places I had tried out were good.... Last but not least, Paris Chic & Trendy, this is definitely for women. The book lists all the designers and hip boutiques; both French and whatnot. But if you've already been here for quite some months, you can live without it 'cause I'm pretty sure you've already walked pass all of the listed boutiques. Anyway, it's worth a look or two.

Centre Pompidou

Centre Pompidou is one of the coolest modern museums around with the strangely beautiful inside-out architecture and the unconventional attitude. It sure is one of the most favorite places in Paris of mine.

If you relocate here for a long period I suggest you do a member card which costs less than 30€/year. Not quite sure if this rate is applied to everyone since it could be for people under 25 years old or the rate for a student...Ask the information desk for further details. Anyway, there are new exhibitions going on all year round and being updated every few months. So it sort of forces you (me) to visit every now and then. The souvenir area on the second floor (French 1st floor) is one of the hippest places to find modern designed objects that could be one of a kind.

Besides that, it also is a good place to hangout, bringing your laptop in and connect to the free wifi there, sipping a coffee or having some snacks on the second floor.

Museum of Eroticism

Well, how could I not talk about this topic when my apartment is right around the corner of the infamous Parisian red light district, Pigalle. When visiting the museum of Eroticism (Musee de l'Erotisme), I expected something nauseous, but I found it to be rather amusing. Walking along the hallway from room to room, there are a whole lot of artifacts, toys, pictures, sculptures...some probably drove some away while I bet some found new interesting ideas from the visit... It's amazing to see how every culture has this type of thing in common hmmm... I think to put up some certain pictures here could offend some people as they are quite obscene, so I chose a few that are acceptable.

The space on the top floor had this exhibition going on with the activities in a toilet, not the usual ones you've come across in the movies or as such. These were quite interesting and at the same time controversial...like the picture here where a "nun" seating herself on a toilet bowl with one hand reaching her beaver pulling out the....(see picture)


In the same room, the walls were being written by visitors...with some very funny comments like right here, caught him red handed!

Street of Pigalle

As I'm living not far from the happening spot of Pigalle, I sometimes walk pass sex shops that are lined up along the two sides of the main street, not talking about those sub-streets in the area. A woman walking alone at the late hours like midnight onwards could be dangerous but if not so late, then there are people and tourists around. During the day is fine but sometimes you may have to put up with some uninvited hello. And if some of them look at you, and you smile only a little bit, you might just get some conversation right back at you. I did once because that morning I was particularly in a good mood. One guy looked at me and I smiled back only a very small one. He then walked towards me and started saying some hello how are you etc. I just walked straight pass him...It was obvious that it wasn't a friendly Bonjour. Typical for certain people...living here for awhile you will know what certain ones I'm talking about... of course not only in Pigalle.

Anyway, this area is vibrant with many things going on all the time. By just walking in the area with a little more attention paid, some stuff might get you grinning.




9th arrondissement
Métro: Pigalle