Watching the tourney in Paris?
I currently live in Germany, but will be travelling to Paris on Saturday afternoon. I was wondering if anyone has had any experience there trying to watch sports, and if anyone would have any suggestions of where I might best be able to partake in some tourney watching/beer drinking there. Also, if there will be anyone else in Paris this weekend, I would not be opposed to an Mgoblog gathering should our beloved Wolverines make it to Saturday's matchups. Thanks in advance for any help.
March 19th, 2014 at 12:36 PM ^
Alumni club in Paris:
http://alumni.umich.edu/connect/international-contacts
The alumni group is centered in Paris, where it meets for social activities, football watch parties, lectures and participates with other alumni organizations in arranging events at the American Embassy. There are more than 150 U-M alumni in Paris and all are welcome. Contact information from other alumni is welcome especially those interested in planning or with ideas for events.
Matthew Benz ’98
Telephone: +33 6 84 86 03 30
E-mail: [email protected]
U-M France Facebook Page
Ross Alumni Contact: Ralph Mutschler, MBA’09 – [email protected]
FB page mentions The Great Canadian Pub for football watching. They will likely have march madness playing.
Sadly, the MGoBlog bar guide has nothing listed for Paris, France:
http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/um-friendly-bar-locations-across-us-and-els…
March 19th, 2014 at 12:35 PM ^
I'm currently sleeping with a Sports Illustrated model, but will be getting some side action with a Victoria's Secret angel. Any recommendations as to places we could watch the game without all the paparazzi? I was thinking about my yacht, but I haven't installed the new 4K TV yet. And what's the point in watching basketball on some pedestrian 1080p piece of claptrap?
March 19th, 2014 at 12:58 PM ^
what the...
1484's accusing the OP of a first-degree humblebrag. I read the OP's post differently - it seemed to me that he was looking for a place in Paris to watch the game.
Accusing is such a strong word. I was more insinuating than anything. Nothing wrong with a well executed humblebrag. Posting an exotic location you intend to watch a game from is a time honored MGoTradition. I used to br a college athlete, and had an amazing time as a bartender before earning my current high paying job, so I have to find ways to work in the humblebrags as well.
I just reread this, and I'm coming off way snarkier than I intended to...
I found it funny.
There are name droppers, some folks are place droppers.
"Okay, who's up for the Vatican? Lets get some people and some relics and we'll do it!"
I just dashed off my reply to Snow Sucks from the International Space Station. I probably could have sounded less accusatory than I did, and I apologize. I'm a bit exhausted because I had to reengineer one of the pressurization systems last night - not like I haven't done it before, but still. On top of that, it's really clumsy posting from my handheld with zero gravity, and with the full brightness of the sun going on, not to mention I was multi-tasking when I replied. I'm amazed I didn't double post!
Anyway, I was feeling empathetic to the OP because the TV reception is terrible up here. And since we happened to be orbiting right over Paris when I responded, I was just trying to send the message to the OP that I feel his frustration.
Dammit, Brian! Do you not screen your user base or something?!?! We've got Spartan recruiters stealing all our secrets now...
Pshaw. The space yacht of Zoltan, Space Emperor of Space, gets all the channels in satellite HD.
I just hope the artificial gravity doesn't fail like last time. Nachos, wings, snacks, & potent potables floating all over the place, LOL.
March 19th, 2014 at 12:36 PM ^
March 19th, 2014 at 12:43 PM ^
The great canadian. Usually where the alum group goes.
*Do yourself a favor and go early.
that's an appropriately named location to watch Stauskas drop bombs.
It's also an appropriate place to eat putine.
TWS . . .
No. No, I just can't.
that's just simply awesome. +1000 if I could.
March 19th, 2014 at 12:46 PM ^
We watched the 2005 UM v. PSU game at the Great Canadian Pub. If the games are on anywhere, they should be on there. Great location, right on the Seine in central Paris.
March 19th, 2014 at 12:47 PM ^
someone post this for football
March 19th, 2014 at 12:53 PM ^
Not sure this video is deserving enough to be thread-worthy, but I got a kick out of seeing how much ol' Fred really enjoys what he's doing. In my time playing football and as a fan, I don't think I recall seeing a coach laugh that much.
Go Bleu!
Demain, allez vite, Bleu!
¿Vamos azul?
...but I will anyway. First reply has all of your necessary information, but FYI The Great Candadian is on the left (south) bank of the Seine, just a couple hundred yards west/downriver of Notre Dame (NTND). If you're taking the metro your stop is St. Michel - Notre Dame. No official plans to meet up for a game yet but Matt will likely get something organized, if not for Saturday then definitely in later weeks should the Gods allow.
There's most often a Michigan contingent there even if the Alumni group doesn't formally organize anything. Great atmosphere, with sports-starved expats congregating, but as I said before - get there early if you want a seat.
Maybe the one in South Bend really should be NTND given the several-century head start of the original.
Especially when saying, "To hell with Notre Dame (Not That Notre Dame)!"
Allez Les Blue
Puis-je avoir du ketchup?
There is a Chinese restaurant named "Dave." If you have time, go there for dinner. We go there every time we're in Paris.
It's this run-of-the-mill Chinese restaurant but every celebrity or model you can think of has been there. The walls are festooned with pictures of Dave, who is a flamboyantly gay Chinese man, with all of the celebs.
The food is good and it's quite a scene and very unique for Paris.
Any other recommends for a nice, somewhat romantic meal in Paris? I'll be there for six days in June and the in-laws have agreed to watch our teenagers and let us have a night out.
The neat thing about Paris is that, almost no matter where you eat, it's going to be pretty romantic. The scenery is, well, it's frickin' Paris, and you can pick any landmark you want and eat with a view of it, or just in the streetside section of the restaurant in any random part of town and it's a better view than your typical outdoor patio at B-Dubs in the strip mall. Because it's Paris. And the waiters generally let you be, you have to specifically ask for the check, stuff like that, so you can have as much quiet time and hang out as much as you like. What we in the US would consider romantic can be found in Paris more or less by swinging a dead cat.
I have only about five days' experience in Paris, but that's enough to say this: a "nice, somewhat romantic meal" isn't a specific enough request to narrow down the choices much.
Yeah, if you're in Paris in the summer, just go to an outdoor café and you're pretty much set as far as a romantic environment goes.
Honestly, it seems a little odd to me to go to Paris - one of the world's gastronomic capitals - and seek out a Chinese restaurant.
...but my wife doesn't like red meat and neither of us eat seafood, so it actually limits the options in Paris.
We've eaten at Italian and Chinese restaurants all over Europe.
That being said, Dave in Paris really is quite a scene. My close friend, who is gay, got the recommendation from some of his fashion industry friends. It draws celebs, fashion industry folks, etc.
Do a search on The Google and you'll see what I mean.
Bon appetit.
I ran the March Madness pool in 2001 for americans living in Paris. We would watch at the Moose (M: Odeon), the Canadian bar near Frog & Princess. The Great Canadian has opened since but too touristy (apologies alumni association).
A former Michigan player is there with his family right now and may join you.
The Moose or The Great Canadian?
The Moose.
When I was in Switzerland a couple of months ago, I went on wifi at the hotel and connected my laptop to my corporate portal here in the US via VPN. I was then seen by the network as being 'US-based' and could hit all of the normal online sites via my cable provider (Comcast).
T
Our corporate network restricts most streaming video and doesn't even allow us to access most "entertainment" sites. When logged into our VPN, can't access Comcast or network/cable programming. Tried again when I was in London a couple of times earlier this year and no go. Frustrating b/c I couldn't watch anything. Somehow, though, BTN2Go did work from my London hotel, so there is that. Is the March Madness app limited to US?
Our corporate VPN blocks everything, too. I got away with soccer on ESPN3 for almost a year and then suddenly it was blocked. I now work from home so it's no longer an issue
Just out of curiousity, where do you live in Germany? I lived in Germany for two years and now have been living in Belgium since 2010.