Book excerpt: 2012 Edition. This sleek guide to the City of Light and beyond will help you locate landmarks, arts and entertainment venues, restaurants, cafés, hotels, chic shops, and after-dark stops, with extra coverage of Top Picks attractions. Author Vesna Neskow lived in Europe for 13 years. She speaks six languages. Her TV work has been produced by CBS and broadcast on NPR, and she has written for the New York Times Book Review.* Organized by district* Quick-reference subsections describe landmarks, arts and culture, dining, nightlife, shopping, and hotels* Easy-to-understand explanations of transportation, customs, currency, telephone procedures, business hours, and etiquette* Lists Paris's biggest seasonal events* Numbered entries in the text are keyed to area maps in each chapter* ''Top Picks'' direct you to not-to-be-missed attractions* Spot illustrations throughout liven the text* Ten maps, including overview map, area-detail maps, and transport map