This is another artistic centre that opened recently, this time housed in a former 19th century music hall that later became an indoor roller coaster attraction (yeah, really). The temporary exhibitions can be hit or miss, but I like hanging out in the free, open-to-all library on the first floor where you can sit in the futurist media pods and flip through the latest arts, culture, music, design and architecture magazines. Their shelves are also filled with a growing endowment of books which seem to be acquired according to the theme of the aforementioned exhibitions. Internet access is available on a dozen or so PCs (or via WiFi on your own machine) and for gamers, there are a few consoles connected to largish plasma screens. The café upstairs, with its classic baroque meets retro-futurist interior, is a sight to behold.
The majority of creative agencies in Paris are located along Canal Saint Martin so everyday the banks of the canal are full of artists and creative people enjoying their lunch break. If one is lucky enough to be around the canal on a sunny day its the best place to enjoy a drink.
There's a few secondhand clothes stores in Paris, but always immaculately selected, expensive and fashionable. Guerrisol however is a huge, dirt cheap jumble sale. Stock seems to rotate daily in each of their four stores, and prices fluctuate on the hour. Sifting through endless rails of synthetic jackets at €3 can suddenly reveal a hidden gem.