Paris Nuggets

When I listen to early Iron Maiden, or Bon Scott era AC/DC, I remember one particular “nugget” of Paris, France: a record store on George V called Nuggets.   Somehow I doubt it’s there anymore, but I remember it fondly.   I bought AC/DC’s High Voltage (US/European version) from there, and I recall an Iron Maiden display in the entrance windows.  It wasn’t nearly as large as FNAC, nor as claustrophobic as other record stores in Paris.  The prices were reasonable, and they had lots of other stuff – as you might find in a FYE in the US these days.

While I’m on the topic of Paris, I might as well bring up other issues, though not the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, the Champs Elysees, the Louvre or any other tourist locations.

Roscoe’s.   This was a dingy bar a few blocks off the Champs Elysees.  I have to admit I never went there when we were still going to the American School of Paris, but I certainly went there while back in Paris during college: the drinking age in Paris is something low like 14.  We could usually expect to run into a fair amount of ASP alumni there.   I exclusively drank Heineken there.

The Marine House.   Around the corner from Roscoe’s was the Marine House, on Boetie.  We went to a few parties there, and I worked in the building, the RAMC department, in summer 1989.  It has a small café on the ground floor, but for lunch we’d have to go to the cafeteria at the Embassy – not too far to walk – or simply eat something at McDonalds or Burger King on the Champs Elysees.   I had to laugh about bringing our friend John Ellis here after he graduated from Boston University – and ROTC.  Since the highest ranking Marine was the commanding sergeant, 2LT Ellis (newly minted) outranked the entire Marine detachment. 

Neuilly Compound.  The US Embassy had two apartment complexes on the west side of town.  This one, next to the Bois de Boulogne, on Rue de la Ferme (“Farm Street” – no farm there anymore) had two four story buildings and a playground.  We lived here from February 1979 to March 1984.

Boulogne Compound.   When my parents swung by this place, I was amazed:  I had no idea it existed.  The same types of buildings, except 3 three story buildings.  The Marines would host Fourth of July parties there during the summer, which was our main reason to go there.  We also trick-or-treated there for Halloween (in addition to doing so earlier at our home compound).

Clignancourt.   North central Paris, right inside the Peripherique (Paris’ Beltway) is this huge outdoor flea market.  My initial quest going there was trying to find – with zero success – a WWI German pickelhaube.  Instead we discovered it was a great place to score heavy metal t-shirts and patches.  They also sold back issues of porno mags and US letter jackets for the French teenagers to wear – for some reason, looking like a 50’s US teenager was in style for some time.

La Defense & Les Quatre Temps.   La Defense is a big network of skyscrapers west of Paris.   Nestled underneath, along with a huge RER and SNCF station, is a mall: Les Quatre Temps.  Not exactly identical to a US mall, but it was close enough.  A small record store, a big toy store, a Cafeteria Casino, and much more.

Puteaux.   This was an outdoor swimming pool within walking distance of the Neuilly compound.  It had a high diving board, and you could also rent large inner tubes.  After running off the high dive a few times, we’d relax in the inner tubes.

Courbevoie.  Up northwest of Paris, this had a small mall, a pool, and a bowling alley.  I recall getting firecrackers there once. 

Le Vesinet & Abbe Pierre.  The latter was a huge flea market with a river of broken toilets and pottery.  If you were looking for a used toilet or all kinds of stuff, you might find it here.  I can’t remember what my parents bought here, but it was nothing that interested me.   Out further, at Le Vesinet, was an English bookstore, Tridias.  I believed we went to a Casino supermarket in Le Peq.

Sunday Brunch.   Our Catholic family went to mass at St. Joseph’s, on Ave.  Hoche right off the Etoile.  After church, we’d go somewhere.  First was a McDonald’s near a Rex Theater, which had a video arcade next to it.  This McDonald’s was a first generation greasy spoon, with horrendous green fries, greasy tables, and flies.  The arcade was cleaner.   Second was brunch at the American Legion, a few blocks off the Champs Elysees.  My dad was like Rod Swanson, a big breakfast enthusiast.  But bacon, eggs, and orange juice were not my scene.  Third was breakfast at Burger King, right on the Champs, with a visit to the video arcade next door.  That one had Pacman, Space Invaders, Galaxian, and Rolling Thunder.