A lot of Paris restaurant and café owners, frustrated by the slowdown since the smoking ban took effect in the city of light and the economic crisis hit, are saying they can't afford to lower any prices. But for anyone who's slugged down an espresso in less than a minute from a Paris café, only to find that the single (albeit hopefully delicious) slurp cost you over €3, or wondered why a Perrier costs more in some bars than an entree, the idea of a little moderation on the menu is a welcome one. For my part, I have noticed a few cafes near the center prominently advertising what looked to be a 10% price drop on some items (mostly coffee). We'll see whether the competition effect pushes others to jump on the bandwagon. With the steady mushrooming of Starbucks outlets around the city and traditional cafes and brasseries closing in waves, one has to wonder at times whether the owners of these essential Parisian establishments can afford not to move with the times.

Notice how all the shops in Paris seem to have insect-like hordes at the moment? Summer sales in Paris are now going full-throttle, and some are coming into town expressly to hit the racks. Feeling brave? Consult our guide to Paris sales to find out how to come out of the madness in one piece.

Read more:

• Best Places to Shop in Paris
• Paris Department Stores

Pictured: Rue Saint-Honoré is the place to head during the sales if you're looking for discounted designer pieces. ©2007 Courtney Traub.

June 27th marks yet another memorable summer event in Paris as the annual and always-festive Paris Gay Pride parade brings the streets of the city alive with music, dancing, and mildly bawdy fun. Come sun or muggy June storms, this is a party Parisians and visitors of all stripes have gotten into the habit of fêting together. Read more to find out about departure times and locations and special events this year.

More Info:

• Paris Gay Pride 2009 guide
• Best Places for Nightlife in Paris (Find a perfect after-party location)
• More on Gay Pride (from About.com Gay Travel Guide Andrew Collins)

On June 21st, the city will celebrate yet another edition of the Fête de la Musique (Paris Music Festival), an annual event that has become firm tradition in Paris and inspired similar festivals in other cities around the world, from Berlin to New York. Music of all genres will fill the cafes, streets and outdoor venues of the city from dusk onward, guaranteed to satiate both devoted connoisseurs and dabblers. It's an ideal way to bring in the summer solstice.

More info:

• Fête de la Musique 2009 in Paris
• June Events in Paris

Image credit: ©2008 Dalbera. Some rights reserved under the Creative Commons License.