What to do in Paris when you're a single woman?

I will be going to Paris (from Los Angeles) on April 20th for a few days. I%26#39;m a writer (working on my first novel), and my trip is part %26quot;research%26quot; and part pleasure. I%26#39;m mainly interested in seeing non-touristy things so I can write about the %26quot;real%26quot; Paris or the %26quot;real%26quot; French... and see beautiful things in Paris that aren%26#39;t necessarily in travel guides.

I%26#39;ve been to Paris once before and did the whole Eiffel Tower and Louvre thing... so this time I want to do something different: maybe see some fascinating night life, go to an %26quot;underground%26quot; club (such as a BDSM club) where I can be a spectator.

Can anyone recommend places to see (whether it%26#39;s a cafe or a park or a bench or a building or a bar or a club) that has real character. Something with ambiance. A place that exudes %26quot;soul.%26quot; I%26#39;m also doing my first film this year and would love to find inspirational locations/locales.

So... what does a single, open-minded woman (a writer) do alone? I wouldn%26#39;t mind meeting Parisians. I love the French!!

Merci

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If you can read French, I recommend a visit to a bookstore immediately upon your arrival. There are Paris guide books for just about every aspect of life in this city, including its underbelly.

I have one that recommends all of the publics places to get intimate (TA censors prevent me from being much more explict) within the city.

One of my favorite editors is Parigramme...you may be able to get their books online before your departure.

www.parigramme.fr

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Real Paris %26#39;rich%26#39; Paris or real %26#39;working class%26#39; Paris ?

For the former basically take a seat at a cafe in the inner suburbs and watch what goes by, walk through the Jardins de Luxembourg on a Sunday.

For the latter ditto but head to the outer circle as it were and substitute the %26#39;Buttes Chaumont%26#39; park (great for getting an idea of how mixed Paris is).

Also, take the bus not the metro. It%26#39;s easy to use but you%26#39;d need to get a pass (carte orange or Paris visit) as individual tickets are valid on a journey by journery basis. That way you can get off if you see something tempting and can pass through some of the more downtrodden areas unscathed ;-)

Routes 95, 96 and 80 give a good %26#39;vertical%26#39; cross section, 69 does a cool diagonal sweep, 42 isn%26#39;t bad etc. etc.

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Le guide Le petit fute does have a section called coquine. You will find some interesting adresses. Some of the club are very private so be sure to dress the part if you want in. As far as ambiance it is like all things in the eyes of the beholder. To really understand do a lot of reading before hand, learn as much French as you can. Et bon voyage.