This weekend: Orchids make their spring debut in Coral Gables

You shouldn't visit Paris and rely on guidebooks alone. You also need to consult a local arts and entertainment guide, such as Time Out Paris, to find out about affordable activities that give you a true slice of local life. Take, for instance, a stunt recently pulled by the Grand Palais, the national art gallery. During the last four days of its hit exhibition "Picasso and the Masters," it opened its doors around the clock. Art lovers, scenesters, and insomniacs could stare at gloriously painted canvas no matter the hour. There was a run on tickets, and the only open slot I could nab was pre-dawn on a Monday morning. The subway being closed, I took a taxi across the silent city to arrive at 3:45 a.m. Snow was falling lightly as I joined the line with hundreds of well-groomed Parisians. Despite the hour, the majority had silver hair and whispered as if they were in church. I, on the other hand, was grinning like a child, just barely containing my excitement over this crack-of-dawn spectacle. The works themselves were impressive—Picasso surrounded by influences like Goya, Valasquez, and Delacroix—but it was the possibility of traipsing through the Grand Palais at 4 a.m. that really sold me on the show. This beautiful Beaux-Arts building was constructed for the Paris Exhibition of 1900, and boasts a stunning ceiling made of glass and steel. Since reopening in 2005 after a twelve-year restoration, the Grand Palais has hosted one punchy event after another, including fashion shows and expos that mix art and street theater. I can't wait to see what kind of spectacle is organized for their next big exhibition on Andy Warhol (March 18–July 13). I'm hoping for kitschy cocktails, pop-art snacks, and another very, very late night. Galeries nationales du Grand Palais, avenue Winston Churchill, 8th arrondissement, 011-33/1-44-13-17-17 Series: Affordable Paris

Follow-up! HK "Airport Auntie" gets apology, ticket upgrade from Cathay. That lady who freaked out after missing her flight? She got an upgrade due to the "untold embarrassment" of having her tantrum appear on YouTube. [shanghaiist] Weirdest stuff stopped at customs. You'll never guess what one guy had in his pants. [nydailynews.com] Riding the Rails Taking Amtrak across the U.S. [New York Times] A wunderbar welcome in Austria and Germany Lots of renovations make it a good time to visit. [CNN] Penguin Places Where to see some of the world's most humorous birds. [Intelligent Travel] Two words for a frugal flier: Patience. Wednesday. [Yahoo] Chicago Has Your 'Heart Attack French Toast' The mascarpone-filled artery-clogger is at brunch spot Toast. [jaunted.com] Obamasnacks—banned in Indonesia We're thinking these would make great souvenirs… [BoingBoing] Where did Hillary Clinton stay in Israel? She and her staff took up 154 rooms in one of the country's most famous hotels. [Hotel Hotsheet]

Get a taste of Hungarian culture by attending The Extremely Hungary festival, with events taking place all year long in New York City and Washington, D.C. Highlights include—improbably—a mustache competition at a Brooklyn beer garden. New York This weekend, break into a grin by watching often satirical and startling short art films by Hungarian and Hungarian-Americans at Manhattan's Janos Gat Gallery (March 6–7, 6–8 p.m., free). You can also enter to win a trip for two to the Hungarian capital of Budapest by participating in a culturally appropriate competition: a mustache-growing contest. Submit a photo of a freshly shaven face. Then on April 16, show up with an expertly coiffed 'stache at Radegast Hall & Biergarten in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, for judging. Notably, the contest is open to men and women. D.C. Between March 17 and April 19, American University Museum will exhibit paintings, drawings, and collages by Lajos Vajda, one of the most famous Hungarian artists of the twentieth century, alongside contemporary photos and videos inspired by his work (free). Visit extremelyhungary.org for the full schedule. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL Why Budapest is one of the top ten budget travel destinations for '09

This week brought the release of the new Michelin Red Guide, prompting foodies to run and see which chefs had been awarded stars—the top honor in restaurant criticism. The guide, whose English edition arrives mid-May, sells 1.3 million copies a year in its various editions. Its star system rewards expensive restaurants, of course. But the guide also has a lesser-known rating for affordable restaurants. Toward the back of the guide, there's the "Bib Gourmand" section in which Michelin recognizes places that offer excellent three-course meals for less than €35 ($44) each. This year, 47 Paris restos are on the Bib Gourmand list—a record. Many of these spots are new additions to the list. My favorites include: • Le Baratin,, 3 rue Jouye Rouve, 20th arrondissement, 011-33/1-43-49-39-70 • Le Bistrot Paul Bert, 18 rue Paul Bert, 11th arrondissement, 011-33/1-43-72-24-01 • La Cantine du Troquet, 101 rue de l'Ouest, 14th arrondissement, 011-33/1-45-40-04-98. • L'Entêtée, 4 rue Danville, 14th arrondissement, 011-33/1-40-47-56-81 The above restaurants are not open every day of the week, so call ahead to confirm and to see if reservations are needed. EARLIER London: A sneak peek at Michelin's '09 picks for affordable restaurants Read more from our Affordable Paris series