The Louvre is at once spectacular and intimidating and for art novices, its sheer size and collection may even prove anxiety-inducing. To avoid shuffling through each corridor aimelessly, it's wise to visit armed with an intinerary or even a guide to create a tour according to what you'd most like to see. Thanks to one New York expat, there's now a third option. Daisy de Plume (yes, a pseudonym!), art fanatic and entrepreneur, launched ThatLou (Treasure Hunt at the Louvre) as a way to give purpose to touring the museum (and make it fun!). She runs a hunt open to the general public on the first Sunday of each month and several thematic hunts throughout the month. Beyond its value as a unique way to explore pieces of history, ThatLou is a great way to meet new people. Note: some tours are bilingual, others are all in French. Consult the "Menu of Hunts" for more information!

It would be easy to exhaust yourself in Paris with day time activities but save yourself at least one night for a night stroll around the most beautfiul of cities - the City of Light. Of course the Eiffel Tower is a must but don't miss the Louvre with the incredible jewel of Pei's pyramid lit from below. It is magical- but so are the nightime lights along the river near La Monnaie whose dome dominates the left bank at that point. Stroll a bit further and you get to see Notre Dame - go all the way past the cathedral to the back. At night the flying buttresses that support the cathedral are a dramatic photo opportunity. You can sleep when you get home. Make a memory for life with a nightime walk on an evening in Paris.

So, you think you know Paris? There are hundreds of memorable streets and boulevards in the City of Light. But, for my money, Rue Montorgueil is the best. It is compact, only 3 blocks long, with a Metro stop on each end. In between you have dozens of the kinds of places that symbolize Parisian culture: cafes, high end restaurants, cheese shops, chocolate shops, wine stores, patisseries, a couple of neighborhood type groceries, all topped with classic Parisian apartment buildings. And, what makes it even more unique, it is a pedestrian-only street. For my wife and I, who have always stayed in smaller hotels in years past, it was a throwback to the Paris we first saw 40 years ago. In fact, this street is just off Les Halles, where the heartbeat of Paris was once found in the colorful and vibrant market district. The old Les Halles is now gone, moved to the suburbs. But, there are a few places where the old self-contained neighborhoods still exist, and Rue Montorgueil is the finest example. You won't see many tourists with cameras here. Most are a few blocks away at the Pompidou Center or a short metro ride away at the Louvre or Notre Dame. What you will find is Stohers, the oldest Patisserie in France, where baba au rhum was first made, and eclairs are world famous. And, this is just one of many gourmet surprises. We just spent a week in an Apartment on this street, and fell in love with Paris all over again.

One day or 15 are not enough to see all the art inside the Louvre but go anyway. Admire the beauty of the sculptures and paintings inside. Always wanted to see the Mona Lisa and Venus di Milo? Louvre will give you that chance.

If you've ever walked along the banks of the river Seine, you've probably seen long green boxes and their vendors plying souvenirs, postcards and a variety of other knick-knacks. But did you know that these Bouquinistes - all 240+ of them - are considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site? Take the time to peruse what they're offering. More than just frivolous trinkets, many of them house collector's items from vintage magazines and stamps to used books, trading cards and old photos (which make for a far more interesting postcard). Stroll the Seine and talk to the vendors - you might just find yourself walking away with a Parisian treasure you'll actually want to hang onto. (Bouquinistes are set up on the right bank from Pont Marie to Quai du Louvre and on the left bank from Quai de la Tournelle to Quai Voltaire)

Paris is rife with some of the most magnificent spots to watch the sun dip behind the horizon and recently, I discovered that one of the most awe-inspiring among them was at the world's most visited museum. Watch as the Louvre, inside and out, is suffused with golden light and illuminates I.M Pei's glass pyramid.

Lovers from around the world symbolise their everlasting love on Paris's Pont des Arts, located just beside Notre Dame. Padlocks with the names of the lovebirds written on them are affixed to the bridge, and is a cute sight to see while in Ile de Cite, or as I did, from a cruise on the Seine

Hold forth with the French about coffee and you'll quickly understand its purpose. It's not meant to be consumed leisurely but rather serves to clean the palate after a hearty meal. They think of it as a digestif which they tend to down in one slurp. It's wincingly acrid and unpleasant, only worth ordering for the accompanying speculoos cookie or chocolate covered almond. For someone as fanatic about quality coffee as me, the java scene was dismal when I arrived 6 years ago. Things improved drastically a few years ago with a couple of roasters diving in to shake things up but it's Télescope, which opened in the spring by Nicolas Clerc and American barista David Flynn a few blocks from the Palais Royal gardens, that peddles what I think are the most expertly prepared artisanal coffee drinks in town. Their claim to fame: filtered coffee. It may look innocuous, even weak, but the strong, rich notes in each cup put the average French brew to shame. It quickly became my weekly hangout. Though the space is small, its affable owners give it heart. They know my drink - a noisette with an occasional iced coffee (filtered!) - and my vacation plans. It's the neighborhood place I always dreamed of frequenting and whether or not it's actually around the corner from you, it merits your time.

I arrived in Paris at 6:00 a.m. after a restless, overnight flight from Washington DC with the knowledge that it was still too early to check-in to my hotel room. Weary and fatigued, I left my baggage with the concierge and headed to the l'Orangerie to peacefully ease my way into the day among Monet's giant water lilies. The small museum is an urban oasis located in the Tuileries Gardens across from the Louvre. Its two oval-shaped rooms offer panoramic views of Monet's serene Nymphéas series.The paintings are a part of the structure since the artist had the panels built into the walls. The best time to visit is at opening on weekday mornings. Not only will you avoid noisy school groups, but it's a great time of day to admire the nuances of the abstract paintings changing under natural light.

Paris is without question one of the best picnic cities. The only challenge is finding a park or garden that allows you to sit on the grass. To keep the land looking lush and pristine, guards mill about to police picnickers sprawled on off-limits sections (though spaces aren't always well marked). Surprisingly, most of the green space in back of the Louvre/the Musée d'Arts Décoratifs - called the Jardin du Carrousel - is open to all and is one of the most sun-dappled spots in the city during the warmer months.

Now you can sample the cuisine of celebrated local chefs by visiting their walk-in wine bars. Braden Perkins eases his elegant culinary style at Verjus’s downstairs bar (47 Rue de Montpensier), where groups share small plates of succulent pork belly and veggie dumplings. This fall, chef Pierre Jancou, shown, reopens Vivant (43 Rue des Petites Écuries). Next door, Vivant Cave will serve charcuterie, daily specials such as rabbit and andouillette, and natural wines. Photo by Marie Hennechart. This appeared in the October 2012 issue.

The new Islamic wing at the Louvre is not to be missed. Much of this collection has been in storage since the 1930s and is on view for the first time. Of special note, the fully-restored late Roman era mosaic pavements, displayed on the floor as they were meant to be seen. This is a detail showing Personification of the Wind, lifted by archaeologists in 1882 from the Church of St. Christopher, Qabr Hiram, Lebanon, dated 575 AD. We arrived late in the day and there was a long line to enter, yet it moved smoothy and we were able to enjoy the new wing for the last two hours before closing. Totally worth the 11 euro entry. The Islamic Dept. is found in the Denon Wing. The Louvre is closed Tuesday, so plan accordingly.

My friend, who lives in Paris, told me about this Boulangerie, Du Pain et des Idees, so in my latest visit to Paris on June, I had to go there and try out by myself. We bought cheese in a local outdoor market and then got some bread and cakes and headed for a picnic linch on one of the benches near Canal St. Martin. As I love boulangeries, don't skip this one. Highly recommended!

I took an awesome night time photography class with a Discover Paris. It was a small class(only 3 people) and our local, professional photographer spent 2.5 hours with us shooting night time lights at the Louvre. Our goal was to capture it in a unique way.

My wife and two friends were tired of "museums" so they mistakenly decided to go shopping while I went to the Rodin Museum alone. It was breathtaking, the flowers were all in full bloom, the art on displayed inside was rare and beautiful but the sculptures outside were displayed the way art should be seen. Here in three planes is the original design by Eiffel for the Tower, Rodin's Thinker and mid ground with the Eiffel Tower in the back round. The gardens were just perfect and I was sorry for my friends show decided to go into a department store to shop instead.

As much as the Louvre looks great in the day time, shine or rain, it looks amazing at night as well - when all the lights are up, the fountain reflects the lights, and the pyramid looks crystal clear.

As the sun began its decent behind the Eiffel Tower, the Paris sky turned shades of pastels: blue, pink, peach. I was walking around somewhere on the Right Bank not far from the Lourve, camera in hand. This is the best way to truly see Paris; just take a walk and wander. I noticed the lights beginning to come on. This Metro sign, all lit up with the pastel colors of the evening sky is one of my favorite images of Paris.

Frenchie is nearly impossible to get into, but the wine bar across the street provides a taste of chef Gregory Marchand’s housemade charcuterie and pasta, and small plates such as blackened mackerel and burrata cheese with peaches. 6 Rue du Nil, 33/(0) 1-4039-9619. Photo courtesy of Parisbymouth.com

The historic Androuet fromagerie has been sourcing and maturing exceptional cheeses since 1909. Their shop on rue Mouffetard is staffed by friendly English-speakers who will be happy to explain and vacuum-seal your selections, including the utterly charming manager Patrick who grew up on a goat farm. He wrote a book called "Allo les Chèvres!" (Good Morning Goats!) and makes his own fromage fort (strong cheese paste) on site. 134 rue Mouffetard, 33/(0)1-4587-8505. Photo courtesy of Parisbymouth.com