Winning Paris... and everything else

Puttin' On the Ritz - Celebrity Honeymooners in Paris

2011-02-07T11:23:00.000-08:00

Paris is one of the most romantic cities in the world. No wonder it's a top honeymoon destination. Newlyweds Isla Fischer and Sacha Baron Cohen spent their honeymoon in the Coco Chanel Suite at The Ritz in Paris. Sure, their lavish two-bedroom enclave was once inhabited by the fashion designer, but the lovebirds probably had something else on their minds. Controversial couple, Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn, also stayed at The Ritz during their honeymoon. In fact, love addicts can bed down in a suite where Audrey Hepburn and Gary Cooper flirted while shooting Love in the Afternoon.

Feel like cashing in on all the romance? GE is giving away $20,000 in their GE Appliance Cash Sweepstakes. That's enough cash for a trip to Paris. Get ritzy and enter.

Voilà - the link to the GE Appliance Cash Sweepstakes:

http://www.geappliances.com/rebates_promotions/save-green-appliances-energy-star/cash-sweepstakes.htm

Woody Allen's Love Letter to Paris

2011-02-02T13:22:00.000-08:00

It's isn't even Valentine's Day, and Woody Allen has already finished what's being described as his love letter to Paris, Midnight in Paris. Set in the 1920s, this romantic film was shot all over Paris last summer. It centers around a couple who are transformed by their business trip to the French capital. Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Kathy Bates, and Adrien Brody are just a few of the cast members in this romantic comedy, destined to kick off the Cannes Film Festival in May. Mais oui, even first French lady, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, makes an appearance.

Yearn for your own rendez-vous in Paris? Hallmark is giving away a trip for two to Paris in their Love is a Special Occasion Sweepstakes. Airfare, hotel accommodations, transportation to and from airports and hotels, and a daily allowance are all part of the prize. Don't you just love it? Burn the midnight oil and enter.

Voilà - the link to Hallmark's Love is a Special Occasion Sweepstakes:

http://www.hallmarkoffers.com/

The ABCs of Le Pavillon des Lettres Paris

2011-02-01T09:58:00.000-08:00

"A" is for Andersen as in Hans Christian. "B" is for Baudelaire. "C" is for Calderón (That's Pedro Calderón de la Barca to you.), and "D" is for Diderot. There's a literary alphabet of 26 unique rooms and suites at the new Le Pavillon des Lettres hotel in Paris, inspired by the beauty and poetry of renown authors. Naturally, Shakespeare is one of them. Bone up on his sonnets for the big engagement. Then, honeymoon here. After all, Paris is one of the most romantic cities in the world.

Concerned about splashing out for a big wedding and a honeymoon in this economy? Pottery Barn is giving away a honeymoon trip to Paris. Round-trip air fare for two, 7 nights at Le Pavillon des Lettres (including daily breakfast and champagne upon arrival), and two tickets for the modern art museum at the Centre Pompidou, could be yours, if you're lucky. Potter on over and create your bridal registry online or in a Pottery Barn store to enter.

Voilà - the link to create your registry online and be automatically entered in Pottery Barn's Honeymoon in Paris Sweepstakes:

http://www.potterybarn.com/registry/

Chanel Captivates in Paris

2011-01-29T14:04:00.000-08:00

Coco Chanel may have passed away in 1971, but her spirit survives. Fittingly, Audrey Tatou, who played the fashion designer in Coco Before Chanel, was on hand for Chanel's cocktail party in Paris on January 28th. The soiree honored Kirsten Dunst, who once graced the cover of Lula magazine in a Chanel frock. Hey, any excuse for party, right, especially if it includes Sofia Coppola (She directed Dunst in Marie Antoinette and The Virgin Suicides.), Karl Lagerfeld, Rachel Bilson, and Courtney Love, who were all there to toast this pre-Twilight bloodsucker (Remember Interview with a Vampire?).

Earlier in the week, Chanel dazzled the crowd at the Pavillon Cambon with its stunning Spring-Summer 2011 Haute Couture show. See for yourself here. Inspired by Coco's affection for Byzantine-type baubles, the Paris-Byzance show glittered with gems, and I'm not just referring to the bejeweled, but wearable, outfits on the runway. Kristen Dunst, Diane Kruger, Jerry Hall, Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, and Johnny Depp's gal pal Vanessa Paradis all sparkled in the audience.

Oh, to savor the easy life in Paris. Tyson is giving away $5,000 in their Life Made Easy Sweepstakes, so you can do just that. Ease up and enter.

Voilà - the link to Tyson's Life Made Easy Sweepstakes:

http://www.fitpicks.com/tyson/

Going Wilde With Olivia in Paris

2011-01-27T12:09:00.000-08:00

Olivia Wilde, who is currently shooting Welcome to the People in Los Angeles, left the House and popped into Paris for a quick trip this week. On her "To Do List": the Giorgio Armani Privé fashion show. Wilde, decked out in a glittering gold and silver Armani dress, sat in the front row, along with Jodie Foster, at the Espace Vendome, where spacey metallic hats and bright, shiny gowns beamed on the runway.

Another night, Wilde glammed it up in Gucci at the Vogue dinner hosted by Carine Roitfeld in honor of Gucci's Creative Director, Frida Giannini, at Hotel de la Rochefoucauld Doudeauville.

Wilde has been on a wild working spree. Besides Welcome to the People, she's also shot Now, The Change-Up, and Cowboys & Aliens.

Want to fall in love with the City of Love yourself? NileGuide is giving away a romantic week in Paris for two. You'll snuggle in the heart of the Paris in your own fully-furnished luxury apartment provided by iStopover. An intimate dinner at Les Deux Magots, tickets to visit the Eiffel Tower, and entry to the Museé Rodin to view the famous sculpture, The Kiss, are all part of the lovely package. Amp up the romance and enter.

Voilà - the link to NileGuide's Fall In Love With The City of Love Sweepstakes:

http://www.facebook.com/NileGuide

Sharing Sharon Stone's Paris

2011-01-24T13:04:00.000-08:00

This month, Sharon Stone was in Paris for the premiere of her new action adventure film, The Burma Conspiracy, which is known as Largo Winch II in France. The film is slated to open in Belgium on February 16th.

Stone explored the best the City of Light had to offer. Dining at Le Gourmet Des Ternes (The bistro has already posted a picture of her hugging the owner that night!), staying at the Ritz Hotel, and lunching at La Société, were just a few of her highlights. She also shopped at Louis Vuitton, Chopard, Prada, Roger Vivier and Hermès.

Sure, Stone causes a sensation wherever she goes in France, but she really made headlines when she graced the cover of Paris Match - topless - when she was over 50. And, no, we aren't having a senior moment. Click here to see the cover.

Is exploring Paris and dining at some fabulous French restaurants at the center of your dreams? Or, would you rather be a senior cover girl? No matter what you long to do, Lindor Truffles is giving away $5,000 to help fulfill it in their Lindor Lovers Dreams Sweepstakes. Forget about counting calories and enter this delicious contest.

Voilà - the link to the Lindor Lovers Dreams Sweepstakes:

http://lindordreams.com/

Reese Witherspoon's Paris Pieces

2011-01-22T13:45:00.000-08:00

Reese Witherspoon was spotted dining in Paris with her How Do You Know co-star, Paul Rudd, at an Italian bistro called Le Cherche Midi on Thursday night. The next day, Reese hit the retail warpath, making the rounds of Louis Vuitton, Lanvin, Chanel, and Giambattista Valli. Since her boyfriend, CAA agent, Jim Toth, proposed over Christmas with a huge 4-carat Ashoka cut diamond and platinum ring, reportedly worth over $250,000, odds are Reese may be shopping for a wedding dress... but, how do you know?

Want to go on your own shopping spree? AOL is giving away a $2,000 gift card in their Just Go With It Sweepstakes. That's enough for a trip to Paris and some souvenirs. Just go with it and enter.

Voilà - the link to AOL's Just Go With It Sweepstakes:

http://www.popeater.com/just-go-with-it-sweeps

Going Gaga at Thierry Mugler's Paris Fashion Show

2011-01-20T15:02:00.000-08:00

Fashion and music are symbiotic. Back in 2009, Lady Gaga premiered her song, Bad Romance, at the Alexander McQueen show (Missed it? Catch it here.) This season, Gaga mixes it up with a remix of Born This Way for Thierry Mugler's menswear show, which kicked off Paris Fashion week on January 19th. Given that Gaga's stylist, Nicol Formichetti, now heads up the label, it makes sense for these two to collaborate. You can watch the dark, pulsating video with repetitive German lyrics here.

Directed by fashion photographer Mariano Vivanco, this moody black and white short film, signals the rebirth of the label under Fromichetti. Stripped down to the basics, the label is now known simply as Mugler.

On the runway, there was the requisite twist on black, but there were also splashes of orange (Yes, you read that right!) suits to break up the monotones. Black make-up, white veils, and an eclectic melange of fabrics added visual texture. Think Thriller meets Berlin.

Although Lady Gaga was credited as "musical director of this menswear project", the Lady herself was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps she didn't want to detract from the runway.

While we're on the subject of music idols, you can win a trip to the American Idol finale and the opportunity to snag $10,000,0000 or $10,000 in the AT&T $10,000,000 Idol Sweepstakes. That's enough to create your own song or short film in Paris. Idle on over and enter.

Voilà - the link to the AT&T $10,000,000 Idol Sweepstakes:

http://attidolsweepstakes.com/

My Chemical Romance: Paris

2011-01-10T13:29:00.000-08:00

Paris is my chemical romance. Just the thought of strolling along the Seine, sipping chocolat chaud at Angelina, and gazing at Monet's garden changes the chemistry in my brain. Music can do the same thing. Mix the band My Chemical Romance with Paris, and heaven help us.

This is the best day ever! Yup, KROQ is sending one listener and a friend to see My Chemical Romance in Paris on March lst at Casino de Paris. No, Kevin and Bean aren't pranking you. We're talking a trip to France, specifically: round trip airfare for two, a minimum of two night’s hotel stay, two tickets to see My Chemical Romance in Paris, and $500 spending cash! Go on, sing! But do it before the contest closes on January 14th.

There are two ways to enter. If you're a KROQ listener, like moi, be caller 20 when the DJ tells you to call in to 800-520-1067. Or, bop along to the link below. Warning: this isn't your typical contest, so it's going to take a bit more than filling out the usual form.

Welcome to the black parade. Crawl on over and enter.

Voilà - the link to KROQ's My Chemical Romance in Paris contest:

http://kroq.radio.com/2011/01/10/kroq-world-tour-destination-1-my-chemical-romance-in-paris-france/

Christina Aguilera Gets Passionate in Paris

2011-01-06T10:55:00.000-08:00

There are all kinds of ways to get to Paris. One minute, you can be working as a production assistant, like Matt Rutler, and a few months later, you can be strolling the streets of the City of Light -- or make that Love -- with Christina Aguilera. Yup, it keeps gettin' better. In December, the lovebirds, who reportedly met on the set of Burlesque, were spotted holding hands as they left Le Royal Monceau Hotel in Paris, where Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Robert De Niro have all bedded down in the past.

The couple slipped off to the aptly chosen Crazy Horse for a photo call to promote the film. Yes, we're talking dirty. The proverb warns, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." Clearly, Augilera and Rutler are anything but dull.

Not sure you'll meet anyone on the work front who will whisk you off to Paris? No worries. Tablet Hotels is giving away 5 nights at the fashionable L'Hôtel De Sers, plus $2,500 from DVF (That's the short version of Diane von Furstenberg.), and round trip air fare for two from Shopstyle.com. Now, that's what a girl wants! Pick your own hottie and enter.

Voilà - the link to the Tablet Hotels Paris Getwaway Sweepstakes:

http://www.tablethotels.com/newsletter/Sweepstakes?sweepscode=DVF

Usher In The New Year In Paris

2011-01-02T10:58:00.000-08:00

Bonne Et Heureuse Année!

About 235,000 people rang in 2011 on the Champs-Élysées, while another 35,000 celebrated around the Eiffel Tower.

Want to kick off this month with a big bang in Paris? Usher in the New Year with Usher. Sure, Usher has been snapped partying at the VIP Room, checking out the Dior show during Fashion Week, and promoting his sixth album, Raymond v. Raymond, at a press conference at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Paris, but now he's putting on a show.

Wish you could go? Rémy Martin & GQ are giving away two business class plane tickets to Paris, along with two tickets to see Usher in concert at Palais Omnisports de Bercy on January 24, 2011 in their Rémy Martin OMG Excursion Sweepstakes. You will also be treated to a private visit and tasting at the Rémy Martin Estate in Cognac, France. Two round trip train tickets from Paris to Cognac on January 25-26, 2011 are included, along with one night at a hotel.

Hurry! The deadline to enter is January 3rd. Unfortunately, California, New York, and Florida residents are excluded. Toast this opportunity and usher on over to the contest link.

Voilà - the link to the Rémy Martin OMG Excursion Sweepstakes:

http://www.gqconnects.com/win_martin.asp

Cheeky Gaga Leaves Onlookers Gaga

2010-12-23T11:53:00.000-08:00

"I see London, I see France." Hmmm... Lady Gaga barely wears underpants.

Tricked out in not much more than ratty fishnets, a nude bodysuit that looked like a thong in the back, cripplingly high platform boots, and a black leather jacket, Gaga ignored the sub-zero Paris weather and showed off her ass-ets as she left the Park Hyatt to shop at Bruce Field. Burr. Or, should I say, bare?!?!

Butt... Even Lady Gaga's cheeky attire couldn't prevent her concert from being postponed when she got stuck on a bus, thanks to the snow, and 28 of her trucks for the Monster Ball were detained due to dangerous road conditions. To make up for it, "I promise to give u the nights of ure life. X" Gaga tweeted.

Oh, shoo. No, make that, shoe. Last night, Gaga was back on stage at Palais Omnisports de Bercy, where she surprized her little monsters by tossing her custom made Armani shoes (okay, platform boots!) into the crowd. Wonder whose going to walk a mile in those!

And speaking of shoes, Easy Spirit is giving away $1,000 and a new pair of Easy Spirit Anti-Gravity shoes in their Treat Your Feet Sweepstakes. Get started on the right foot, and use the money to stroll through Paris! Stride on over and enter.

Voilà - the link to Easy Spirit's Treat Your Feet Sweepstakes:

http://www.easyspirit.com/SWEEPSTAKES/SWEEPSTAKES,default,pg.html

Paris With Julie Benz

2010-12-22T17:12:00.000-08:00

No Ordinary Family's Julie Benz, aka Dexter's murdered bride, is having no ordinary Christmas. On December 19th, Benz tweeted she was flying to Paris and begged, "Please stop snowing in Paris... Please stop snowing in Paris." She probably wasn't the only one hailing the weather man. Heavy snow closed down the Charles de Gaulle airport earlier this month.

Benz spent the flight reading Jenny McCarthy's book, Love, Lust & Faking It: The Naked Truth About Sex, Lies, and True Romance. McCarthy's amusing guide to dating and relationships touches on everything from first loves to STDs and boob jobs to bootie calls. By the time she was done, Benz tweeted Jenny, "It was like you were sitting next to me on the plane!!!! Great fun read and I learned a lot, too."

Once she landed, Benz was spotted sightseeing in front of the Eiffel Tower with her boyfriend, Rich Orosco (Hmmm... wonder if she followed Jenny's advice.), strolling by Café de Flore, and shopping in the cold weather. Last evening, she had a nightcap at Buddha Bar. Today, she admits, "My high school French did not deliver an appetizing entree at the Brasserie Lipp."

Want to accelerate in the fast lane and see Paris in style? Wyndham Vacation Resorts is giving away a $50,000 vehicle of your choice, or a $25,000 in their Accelerate Into The Fast Lane Sweepstakes. Put the pedal to the metal and enter.

Voilà - the link to Wyndham Vacation Resorts' Accelerate Into the Fast Lane Sweepstakes:

http://www.wyndhamsweeps.com/

The Biggest Christmas Tree in Paris

2010-12-19T15:49:00.000-08:00

"O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree..." Whoever wrote this traditional German Christmas carol had yet to see the massive decked out tree at Galeries Lafayette in Paris. This year's theme is "Christmas Musical." Scout out the odes to Hairspray, le Soldat Rose, Les Rockettes, and Mamma Mia.

You'll also brighten up when you see Galeries Lafayette's exterior light display designed by Italian artist Valerio Festi. Stroll down Boulevard Haussmann and savor the adorable animated window displays. Ah, the magic of Christmas!

To celebrate ABC Family's 25 days of Christmas (Hey, there are still 6 left!), ABC is giving away $25,000 in cash this season. Skate on over and enter.

Voilà - the link to ABC Family's 25 days of Christmas sweepstakes:

http://www.25daysofchristmassweeps.com/

Brad and Angelina Party in Paris With Their Kids

2010-12-18T09:41:00.000-08:00

When Brangelina, better known as Bradd Pitt and Angelina Jolie, were in Paris at the end of November, they were photographed leaving the exclusive 5-star Hôtel Le Bristol. Brad has been here in the past. While filming Ocean's 12, George Clooney treated the cast to a lavish spread of champagne and foie gras in the hotel's restaurant.

Aside from walking the blue carpet at the Megamind premiere, Brangelina celebrated Pax's 7th birthday. His special treat? A bird's eye view of Paris in a 20-minute, tethered hot air balloon ride, which soars 500 feet above the city, in Parc André Citroen. Later, the gang cruised down the Seine on a splashy, rented riverboat, where balloons and birthday cake ruled.

"Girl's Day Out" was also on the Paris agenda. Shiloh and Zahara were treated to a shopping spree at the children's wear couture house, Bonpoint, where there's a huge, decked out farmhouse to play in for kids.

Some of the brood also checked out the fish at the Aquarium de Paris. It must have been a big hit because they returned for a second visit!

Want to upsize your next trip to Paris the Brangelina way? WeTV is giving away $5,000 in their Upsize Your Holiday Sweepstakes. Up your game and enter.

Voilà - the link to WeTv's Upsize Your Holiday Sweepstakes:

http://www.wetv.com/sweeps/index.php?sweeps=downsized

Finding "The Way Back" To Paris

2010-12-14T13:10:00.000-08:00

The Way Back can be a bittersweet journey. Slavomir Rawicz's controversial memoir, The Long Walk, chronicles his escape from a Siberian gulag and a subsequent 4000-mile walk to freedom in India. Peter Weir, who was just honored with France's Chevalier Des Arts Et Des Lettres award, directed a film based on Rawicz's memoir, called The Way Back, which will be released in the States in January. Yesterday, Jim Sturgess, Colin Farrell, Ed Harris, Saoirse Ronan, Gaspard Ulliel, and Sebastian Urzeudowsky made their way back to Paris for the premiere.

Want to make your way back to Paris? Chico's is giving away $25,000 in The Big Win Sweepstakes, which ought to cover a fabulous trip. Fly on over and enter.

Voilà - the link to The Big Win Sweepstakes:

http://chicos.promo.eprize.com/bigwin/

Ryan Seacrest Proposes in Paris?

2010-12-08T11:34:00.000-08:00

According to the December 13, 2010 issue of the National Enquirer, Ryan Seacrest proposed to his girlfriend, Julianne Hough, in Paris over Thanksgiving, but now Julianne's brother, Derek Hough, is telling the press that the Burlesque star doesn't have a wedding planned for the near future. Perhaps that's why the lovebirds weren't alone in the City of Light. Ryan's father Gary, his mom, Connie, as well as his sister, Meredith, accompanied them.

People magazine says Seacrest and Hough popped into Lumas on Rue de Seine where the American Idol host, purchased a limited edition Larry Yust photograph of a Paris Metro station. Later, Seacrest's group lunched at Frederic Simonin.

The day after Thanksgiving, Seacrest and Hough braved the cold to catch the sold out Monet exhibit at the Grand Palais. Then, they hit up Christian Louboutin and left the boutique with three pairs of new shoes.

In between, the happy couple were seen shopping at Dior and kissing and cuddling on their hotel terrace. But the real question is: when and if Ryan proposes, how will he do it?

Tis the season to celebrate, whether you're getting engaged in Paris, or toasting the holidays in Tampa. My Lifetime is giving away $5,000 to do just that. Plan to party, and enter!

Voilà - the link to My Lifetime's Tis the Season to Celebrate Sweepstakes:

http://www.mylifetime.com/sweepstakes/tis-the-season-to-celebrate-sweepstakes/entry

French Christmas Treats

2010-12-06T12:34:00.000-08:00

Licking candy canes, building gingerbread houses, and decorating sugar cookies are typical American Christmas traditions. In France, vin chaud, or hot wine, keeps you warm inside and out. During the holidays, chestnuts roasting on an open fire are sold throughout the city. When it's time for Christmas dinner, oysters with petite sausages are often served in France. The traditional dessert is called Bûche de Noël, but you probably know it as a "yule log." Thin pound cake covered with buttercream frosting is rolled up, then frosted to look like a piece of wood. But, this is one tree you won't mind chopping with your teeth.

To celebrate the holidays, The Taunton Press is running a 25 days of Holiday Savings Sweepstakes. The Grand Prize? A 13-day Barcelona to Paris vacation package for 2 including airfare, on-tour accommodations, meals, sightseeing & more.

The French portion of the itinerary begins on the 4th day in Carcassone, where medieval fortifications and fairytale turrets, dating back to the 5th century, provide a storied setting for a guided tour and tales of the crusaders and conquerors who occupied this city. In the evening, cruise along the romantic Canal du Midi aboard a traditional Gabare flat-bottom boat. Dinner with wine and music at a private Languedoc vineyard follows.

Visits to Toulouse, the snow-capped Pyrenees, and the Atlantic coast are included. You'll also get a taste of French Basque country, where Cyrano de Bergerac resided.

Wine tasting in St. Emilion and a cruise along the Dordogne river are just a few of the things you'll experience before taking the TGV to Paris. In the City of Light, a local guide will lead you through the 17th-century Tuileries Gardens to the Musée de L’Orangerie, to see an extensive Impressionist collection. Celebrate your journey with a River Seine cruise and toast the art of French living.

In a holidaze? Escape and enter.

Voilà - the link to the 25 days of Holiday Savings Sweepstakes:

http://www.taunton.com/promotions/25Days/th_register.htm

X-Rated in Paris

2010-12-05T18:55:00.000-08:00

Controversial photographer, Larry Clark, doesn't picture a pretty world. Clark's retrospective, Kiss the Past Hello, at Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, caused such a stir before it opened that the exhibition is prohibited for those under 18. If you saw his startling first film, Kids, you know Clark doesn't shy away from underage sex, drugs and drinking. Neither do his explicit photographs. Reportedly, the exhibit threatened to break a 2007 law against pornographic photographs being shown to minors, brought in under Mayor Bertrand Delanoë, which caused an international uproar about censorship.

This headline grabbing show contains 200 prints, spanning five decades, which unspool in chronological order. Since Clark's mother was a baby photographer, who roped him into the family business as her assistant by the time he was 13, the show starts with some of her standard newborn pictures and animal portraits. Mythic images from Clark's Tulsa series and photographs from his Teenage Lust (1983) period follow. Clark continues to focus on marginal teenagers having sex, shooting up drugs, and playing with firearms in the 90s and the 2000s. Departing from his usual black and white images, Clark uses color to capture rising stakeboarder, Jonathan Velasquez, who starred in Clark's film, Wassup Rockers.

The naked truth? While Clark's images aren't for everyone, they expose the fringe many of us may not see. Sometimes, an alternative perspective is the wake-up call one needs to appreciate what they have. Get over to Paris before January 2nd if you want to see what you've been missing.

Is Paris, or another international hub, on your Christmas List? Enter the Cheesecake Factory's Joy to the World Giveaway, and you could win round trip air fare for two to any international hub, four nights in a hotel, and $500 to spend. Sound like a piece of cake? Enter!

Voilà - the link to the Cheesecake Factory's Joy to the World Giveaway:

https://promos.thecheesecakefactory.com/joy/home/

Chili In Paris

2010-12-01T17:45:00.000-08:00

Chili isn't something I associate with Paris. Time to spice things up!

Here's the wake-up call: 2-Alarm Chili has a Great Getaway Giveaway. Talk about a hot trip! One winner will be awarded a $10,000 travel budget with a professional travel agent, who will assist them in booking a trip for the winner and up to four guests.

You know I'm going to Paris. Maybe I'll even see the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

'Tis the season to enter.

Voilà - the link to the 2-Alarm Chili Great Getaway Giveaway:

http://www.2alarmgetaway.com/enter.php

Replay Reopens in Paris

2010-11-26T19:57:00.000-08:00

While Americans have been gobbling down turkey, blue jean babies hit up the cocktail party celebrating the reopening of Replay in Paris. Macy Gray, Tara Reid, and local luminaries checked out the refashioned, early 19th century ceramics shop at 36 Rue Etienne Marcel, which features Italian denim and caz wear. Roomy halls, ornate crown moldings, frescoed ceilings, a gigantic video screen, and lots of mirrors replay the Art Deco era with a twist.

It doesn't matter if your style revolves around jeans or little black dresses. Brighten up the season by winning $10,000 in the Inspire Your Style Sweepstakes. That's enough to shop practically anywhere you want in Paris. Confess your favorite mall and enter.

Voilà - the link to the Inspire Your Style Sweepstakes:

http://www.inspireyourstyle.com/enter.aspx

Adam Lambert Kisses Some Guy In Paris

2010-11-20T10:30:00.000-08:00

Where do American Idols go after the show is over? To Paris, bien sûr! Adam Lambert, the second place, season 8, flamboyant singer with a fabulous voice, recently took his Glam Tour to the City of Light, where he played a sold out show at Le Trabendo on November 18th. Leave it to Lambert to change the lyrics of the Jimi Hendrix classic, Purple Haze, to, "Excuse me while I kiss some guy."

And what did Lambert do his first day ever in Paris? "Visited Notre Dame, the Louvre, and ended the evening at the Crazy Horse!" he tweeted.

Want to spend your first day ever in Paris? Or your 100th? It's real simple. No matter how many times you've been to Paris, one thing you always need to bring is cash. And guess whose giving away $15,000? It's Real Simple, really! Simply enter.

Voilà - the link to Real Simple's $15,000 Holiday Giveaway:

http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holiday-giveaway-sweepstakes/index.html?xid=rs-spa-finder-15K-sweeps&

Lunch In Paris

2010-11-16T12:40:00.000-08:00

When you can't hop on a plane to Paris, reading can be the next best thing. Lunch in Paris, a Love Story, with Recipes by Elizabeth Bard, is a delightful escape sprinkled with entertaining observations. For example, be careful how you use the word plaisir, unless you intend to imply something sexual. Twilight (No, not the blockbuster film!), when shops turn on their lights and steam starts to fog café windows, implies a hint of danger. The French call it entre chien et loup, between the dog and the wolf. Being romantic, I prefer to think of it as le cinq à sept, that difficult-to-account-for time after work when lovers tryst.

Ready for a taste of Paris beyond your imagination? Bard offers mouth-watering recipes at the end of every chapter. (For devotees, check out the newer ones on her website!) "Student" Charlotte, oven-roasted pork ribs with honey, individual molten chocolate cakes, and whole fish baked in sea salt, seem manageable. Other yummy entries, such as scallops with champagne custard, and salmon with fennel compote in a puff pastry crust sound more elaborate. In any case, you'll be tempted to sample some of these French dishes.

Is a trip to Paris on your Christmas list? Better Homes and Gardens is giving away $8,000 in their All I Want for Christmas Sweepstakes, which ought to cover a dazzling getaway. You're going to want to enter.

Voilà - the link to Better Homes and Gardens' All I Want for Christmas Sweepstakes:

http://www.bhg.com/bhg/file.jsp?item=/contests/BHG_AllIWantforChristmas/bhg_splashsweeps_win8000_alliwantforchristmas

Million Miles From Home

2010-11-15T17:24:00.000-08:00

"I can see for miles" - 1.2 million, to be exact. That's how many miles United is giving away in The Mileage Plus Sweepstakes. Want to be 1000 miles From Nowhere? 40 Miles From the Sun? 18 Miles to Memphis? 500 Miles Away From Home? A Million Miles Away (plus another 200,000) ought to do the trick.

As Malcolm McLaren wrote:

I traveled miles and miles in bed
Miles and miles playing in my head
I wear black you wear black
Makes me cry to think like that
Jazz is Paris and Paris is jazz

You know where I'm going!

Fly on over and enter.

Voilà - the link to The Mileage Plus Sweepstakes:

http://mileageplus.promo.eprize.com/spintowin/

Bedding Down at Hôtel Fouquet's Barrière

2010-11-12T11:15:00.000-08:00

Location, location, location is a key consideration when traveling. If you want to call it a night in the Triangle d'Or, consider Hôtel Fouquet's Barrière at the intersection of Avenue Champs Elysées and Avenue George V, where fashion, luxury, and culture meet. Open since 2006 with interiors by Jacques Garcia, this newcomer, comprised of five Haussman-style buildings surrounding a central interior garden and boasting 107 lavish rooms, exudes modern luxury. Relax in the spacious full-service spa, which includes an indoor swimming pool, sauna, and hamman. Or, work off your jetlag in the fitness room. Dine at the celeb fest Le Fouquet's or Le Diane within the hotel, then nestle in for a nightcap at Bar Le Lucien.

Have all these details whetted your appetite? JustLuxe is giving away Trips of a Lifetime. Choose Paris, and you could win 4 luxurious nights at Hôtel Fouquet's Barrière. Fluff your pillow and enter.

Voilà - the link to JustLuxe's Trips of a Lifetime Sweepstakes:

http://www.justluxe.com/promotions/16/register.php