Hi all - my girlfirend and I are going to Europe next week for a little business, then vacation. I'm interested in hearing about any cool shops in London, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.

In particular, shops that carry Japanese vinyl, great records stores (with a focus on garage, blues, lounge, punk and the obscure), hot rod/tiki culture shops, places to get Puma Clydes (in weird, hard to find colors) and mid-century design/cool modern design gadgets (like the kind of modern design household objects found at Conran's or the MOMA design shop)

Also, any must-see flea markets you can recommend?

And if you have any favorite, off-the-beaten path restuarants or sights you could recommend (we're the kind of people who are more interested in seeing Pere-LaChaise and the catacombs of Paris than the Louvre - which is likely going to be packed to the gills).

Thanks so much,

we're much obliged.

Jim.

Catacombs is a MUST! Probably my favorite thing we did in Paris. Also, check out Musee de Moyen Age (aka Middle Ages Museum, Cluny Museum). The stain glass display is awesome, some of the statues are great, and the building itself has some pretty great little rooms - just 1/4 mile south of Notre Dame, if that. I hear that they have free concerts on Friday or Saturday nights...we just missed it, but I think it would be amazing, especially considering the room that they play in.

Colette was a little disappointing, but we had to check it out. Same with Palaise de Tokyo.

One thing we found was that places were closed even though their posted hours said they should be open (this was in May, so I don't think it was because everyone had left town for the summer). We missed out on Magda Gallery because of this.

Thanks so much for the tips - I'd forgotten about Colette - so it isn't worth it, huh?

And did you take a tour of the catacombs or is there a place where you can wander in by yourself (I read a story about a guy who went in by himself and his body wasn't found for 30 years because it's such a dark maze, very easy to get lost).

If your in London you wanna hit Spitelfields market & Brick Lane.
Both would be best on a Sunday if possible... Though if you want to avoid crowds, its best avoided full stop.
Then obviously there's Camden Town.

You can take a wander through Angel down Essex road, loads of neat little shops.

There's a toy shop in Soho, the name escapes me, and they don't have much.
The flagship store of Forbidden Planet occasionally has some stuff.

Drink wise, the world is your oyster (though the magic of pubs has died since the whole no smoking thing )

Oh, I'd still go check out Colette since you're there...but it wasn't what I was expecting.
As for the catacombs - we did the "tour". Basically it involves paying some guy a few euro to let you in and then you're on your own. They've created a single pathway so that you can't get lost. I wouldn't want to venture into another part of them on my own, as I can see how you'd get lost really easily. And if the lights were to go out it'd be pitch black.

oh!
Check out the John Soane Museum http://www.soane.org/

He was a very eccentric collector who had his home turned into a museum when he died and just has the maddest collection of things.

Excellent! Thanks so much - and those other places you mentioned - Spitelfields, Brick Lane and Camden - are they all flea markets?

We're only going to be there Sunday evening through Saturday (no Sundays) - will they still be open.

Thanks much-o!

In Amsterdam:

http://www.eggmercantile.com/

which it's right down the street from

http://www.greyarea.nl/home.html?agree=0

which is across street from

http://www.puccinibomboni.com/singel.html

and if you get thirsty

http://www.arendsnest.nl/english.php

Outstanding! Thank you.

London: Playlounge (not great but worth a look), Busy WOrkshop, Carnaby Street (cool clothing toy sore in the little court yard off there), new Rough Trade`East store, Maharishi/DPHMI(definitely worthn cheking out) - all expensive, but if yer there - why not?

Ok
go here
you wont be dissapointed
http://www.intoxica.co.uk/

hit me up up at Rough Trade too f ya want a drink, nice cocktail bar round the corner although wicked expensive

also the is a toy shop on

Great Pulteney Street w1f

cant remember the name

but some nice bits in it
D

Merci beaucoup, um, dudes! I'd forgotten about Rough Trade - we're definitely going! I'll ask for you Donnierobot - most definitely.

I emailed the owner of New Rose/Last Call in Paris - Vitus Matare (somethin' like that) - 'cause that's another classic record store I've heard about all my life and would love to check out. And Intoxica too - forgotten about that one.

And thanks for the tip on Carnaby street - a friend of mine here told me about Merc - would love to get one of their suits but don't think I'll have the dough. And DPHMI, oui monsieur!

Intoxica is cool as! and if your going to be on portobello road, you might as well check out: http://www.trailerhappiness.com/
There's also South London Pacific... but thats south of the river

And on Wednesday evening I would strongly suggest going to the Pillars of Heracles on Greek St in Soho between 6-10 there is possibly the best DJ in the world spinning mega rare & obscure 50s-60s garage, ska, pre punk, rockabilly & rock n roll from all over the world.
And then afterwards, straight over the road is a "private" club where the fun continues, just stand outside and wait to follow someone in, but you shouldn't have any trouble.

Brick lane, Spitlefields & Portobello road are the closest to flea markets, i guess...

And if it's sunny, the London Eye is a tourist trap worth going to.

Generally London is great! just get lost! But get an Oyster or travel costs will kill you even if your only here a day.

donnie you work in rough trade??

Thanks so much, Backtrack - excellent info. Excuse my ignorance but what's an "oyster" - a tube pass or something?

I just checked out Trailer Happiness - Ya' know what's cool?!? The creator of this tiki mug http://www.trailerhappiness.com/press/image1.html

is a member on this board - polyester cowboy a.k.a stuckie a.k.a munktiki.

It's a small world, n'est ce pas?!? (yeah, but i still wouldn't want to paint it).

http://www.southlondonpacific.com/
This place might actually be slightly less poncey now that I think about it (that probably came out rude, sorry, not meant to be ) And I have been to this one, all bamboo & the cocktails are good.

Oyster card is a travel card, save you loads on the Tubes & Busses upwards of 50%

There's a cartoon museum near the British Museum, I wandered in there a couple weeks ago, looked cool, giving a proper look this week with my female accomplice.

I'll shut up now... Sorry....

Yep
gonna be running the new 5000 sq ft shop in brick lane !!

wooo hooo !

shit! where's that gonna be?

dray Walk, next to big chill bar......
gonna be the shit
will post some pics tonight

oh sweet!
See you when it opens.

We'll be in London next week - will the new Rough Trade shop be open by then? If not, is there an old address we can visit? This is a must see on our trip.

new store open next friday !
other store is at Talbot Road , Notting Hill
hit me up a PM if you wanna meet up.

my 2cents for suggestions...

Paris - flea market style = Marche aux Puces de Montreuil (take the metro to Porte de Montreuil - line 9) - saturdays & sundays..very recommended!!

Amsterdam - flea market style = Waterloopleinmarkt - just off the Waterlooplein in the west of the centrum (most days of the week)

London - for knickknack/kitschy/tiki shops = Greenwich ,,,,go on a saturday & hit Deptford market nearby (closest you will get to flea market style in london) - otherwise,,,if you have a car,,,there are millions of "car boot" sales all over the suburbs & countryside every weekend...

basically forget about Spitalfields!!! it is overblown & extremely overpriced (even for london)...although if you are in the area (spitalfields/brick lane/shoreditch/columbia road/petticoat lane market) on a sunday,,definitely check it out...

brick lane is best on a sunday,,there are people selling lots of junk on the northern end of the road (along with all the regular trendy shops)....

camden town is entertaining on the weekend (filled to the gills with people though)...but do not expect much shopping/market-wise...unless you want a marilyn manson shirt and rasta hat

portabello road is good as well on a saturday,,yet very upmarket/pricey...check honest john records & rough trade if you go there...

also,,the music & vinyl exchange in notting hill (about 5 shops= lots of selection)...

I was just in Orbital near Leicester Sq tube station, St Martins st? whatever, doesn't matter.
The person in there said that they are actually opening new store on Moor? St in Soho on Wednesday dedicated to "Urban Vinyl" and said that they wanna be able to get stuff no one else in London has (which isn't hard) and the owner was off on a buying trip in HK & Jpn this week & next...
She said she'd mention SB & BxH to him...
Could prove interesting... worth a peek regardless.