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Meredith Mullins: On the Road Again
Blog: I Prefer Paris - 19 October 2009
A two-week road trip. Pourquoi pas? Only one major decision—where to point the car. The good news is ... you can’t go wrong. North, south, east, or west from Paris—all roads lead to adventure and indelible beauty. I chose West....
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Parisian Life Part Trois
Blog: Big City Blog - 18 October 2009
Back after the aforementioned 3-day retreat to the Auvergne region and La Platriere, I found myself delaying my trip to Holland by a few days. This was mostly forced, as the Internet connection was severed by French workers digging up cable, thus making the much-needed Amsterdam train booking impossible for a few days. And I was informed by my hosts that this type of "work" - break it and then repair it slowly - is a pretty common ploy among the French blue-collar crowd.
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Parisian Life Part Deux
Blog: Big City Blog - 18 October 2009
A few Tuesday nights ago it was off for a taste of Parisian nightlife. Now, many of the guidebooks for Paris talk about the odd contrast between the bustling cafe "joie de vivre" and its relatively stale late-night bar scene. And I can confirm that this is pretty much spot on. Ask any of your cafe neighbors what there is to do or what places are worth checking out post-dinner, and they are hard-pressed to come up with an answer.
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The Paris Sewer Museum
Blog: Brilliant Tips Travel Blog - 17 October 2009
When visiting Paris, there are countless touristy sights for visitors to take in such as the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. For those interested in exploring the less traditional side of Paris, there is the Paris Sewer Museum (Le Musée des Égouts de Paris). Long regarded by the rest of the world as a nation under the impression that its waste doesn’t stink, France has elevated its sewer system to tourist attraction status. Located in the shadows of the Eiffel Tower, the Paris Sewer Museum is the most ...
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The Paris Apartment: Bringing Paris Style Home
Blog: ParisienSalon.com - 16 October 2009
Claudia Strasser is a style doyenne, a successful entrepreneur, a Jersey Girl and the author of the ever-popular book, The Paris Apartment. And on top of managing a thriving business, writing another book (or two) and planning her frequent trips to Paris, Claudia still finds time to keep her blog—also called The Paris Apartment—constantly updated. Claudia’s followers—and there are many—have learned how to bring Paris style to their homes in the U.S. So we’re thrilled that Claudia took the time to sit down with Parisien Salon.
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Sunday Dinner with Jim Haynes in Paris
Blog: ParisienSalon.com - 15 October 2009
A few Sundays ago, I attended my first ever Jim Haynes dinner over in the 14th Arrondissement. Many who live in Paris or frequent the city may have already heard of Jim, but for the rest of you let me provide a brief introduction. Jim Haynes, a world traveler and expat living here in Paris, has opened his home to complete strangers every Sunday for the past 30 years or so.
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My Private Eye: The Wonders of Bry-sur-Marne
Blog: I Prefer Paris - 15 October 2009
The Wonders of Bry-sur-Marne by Laurel Zuckerman If America still had small towns, they might resemble Bry-sur-Marne. A shop-lined main street. Neighbors who stop to chat on their way to the biweekly farmer’s market. A mayor who is also a...
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Guy Chanel: The One-Man Luxury Brand
Blog: Paris By Appointmenty Only - 14 October 2009
When Oprah got snubbed by Hermès a few years ago she should have immediately rung Chanel. Not Chanel, as in Coco Chanel, but Guy Chanel (yes, you heard me right). Guy Chanel is a lone ranger on the high plains of fashion and home accessories. Working alone out of his atelier on the outskirts of Paris, he handcrafts a variety of one-of-a-kind leather, crocodile, ostrich and other fine-skinned accessories.
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Poor Little Rich Girl
Blog: ParisienSalon.com - 14 October 2009
La Mom discovers a surprising upside to the economic downturn in the Paris expat community.
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Francois the Paella Man
Blog: I Prefer Paris - 14 October 2009
Twice a week at Place Baudoyer where my local outdoor market is, Francois makes the freshest, most scrumptious, and authentic paella. He sets up his truck on Saturday mornings and Wednesday afternoons and makes the paella from scratch with spicy...
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Plugged in - Museum Photos
Blog: Big City Blog - 13 October 2009
Sitting now in Rotterdam, Netherlands with (finally) a solid Internet connection, after close to 5 days of non-existent or spotty coverage.There's no getting away from the dependence on the Internet these days - from train tickets to topping up mobile phone minutes to basic blogging, it is sadly pretty vital.
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Eyes Prefer Paris
Blog: I Prefer Paris - 13 October 2009
I was walking across the Pont Marie bridge last week on my way to the Ile St. Louis when I saw these large, penetrating eyes staring at me on the banks of the Seine. The eyes and the other photos...
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Would You Like Some Frites with Your Delacroix?
Blog: ParisienSalon.com - 12 October 2009
A Whopper at the Louvre? Sacre bleu! Will Mona Lisa’s smile turn upside down?
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Veggies Chez Vous: Seasonal Delights Home-delivered in Paris
Blog: ParisienSalon.com - 12 October 2009
Fall is here, and with that the harvest. There is no good reason that Paris dwellers need forego the delights of eating the bountiful produce found within easy reach of the city of lights. Wanting to remain local and support the neighboring economy and help reduce the negative impact on our planet of carting in food from faraway lands, I set off to find fresh produce locally grown and home delivered. A friend of mine introduced me to Le Haut du Panier and I decided to find out what it was all about.
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Eye Prefer Paris Wine Tours
Blog: I Prefer Paris - 12 October 2009
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Wine tours. I have partnered with wine enthusiast and lover Donna Morris, a nice southern girl from North Carolina who lives in Paris. Donna has done extensive research in...
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Why I Love Paris (Reason #173)
Blog: ParisienSalon.com - 9 October 2009
Sure, road rage is universal. But Linda Donahue finds her “road” Zen only in Paris.
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Public Perceptions: Art in Paris’ Urban Spaces
Blog: ParisienSalon.com - 9 October 2009
Contemporary art works have long been a part of the urban landscape of Paris. Some blend in discretely with the environment while others immediately catch the eye. Some are there for the long term, others are simply temporary. Some occupy a major public square, others may be found around the corner of a little street.
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Museum Day, Take Two
Blog: Big City Blog - 8 October 2009
Well, Monday's day of culture was a total write-off - as mentioned earlier, the Musee D'Orsay was closed (this Interweb thing really could have been a time-saver, had I checked first). Then, my arrival at 6:00pm at the Centre Pompidou was met by police tape. And not the artistic kind - very unfortunately, someone decided to take their own life from the roof of the building late that afternoon and it was of course closed for the day.
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Got the runs
Blog: Big City Blog - 8 October 2009
...in that I needed to.Saturday was another really good one - this time directly to the Eiffel Tower. Running west on the pedestrian path alongside the Seine, first past Notre Dame cathedral again, the tower itself only appears in glimpses between buildings occasionally - until it appears consistently as a great motivator to keep running.
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I’m Cheating…
Blog: ParisienSalon.com - 8 October 2009
La Mom has been having an affair, but don't tell her hairdresser.
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Confessions of a Post-luggage-loss Shopaholic
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 8 October 2009
Sometimes, the best part of travel is getting your luggage lost. Wait, wait! Hear me out. I’m serious. Here’s the story. A couple years ago I flew from Toronto to France via London. I was traveling with my friend Gillian. We went in September and planned on spending time in Paris, Marseille and then Poland. We were prepared for an assortment of weather possibilities.
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Paris Fashion Week Spring 2010: Vogue Covers on the Champs Elysees
Blog: I Prefer Paris - 8 October 2009
Vogue magazine gloriously celebrates 90 years with 80 of its greatest covers. The magazine has featured some of the most renowned photographers and artists of our time and the blown up covers on the Champs Elysees feature Richard Avedon, Bakst,...
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Fine Art Azulejos by Maria De Morais
Blog: Paris By Appointmenty Only - 7 October 2009
Despite distance traveled or time lived abroad, an expatriate’s cultural roots are remarkably resilient. With the accumulated weight of new experiences and customs pushing them deeper underground, they become more organized, focusing their strength on their most distinctive features. As any expat will tell you, these gnarly little buggers can sprout up out of nowhere. For Maria de Morais (aka Milu Cachat), a Portuguese artist who has lived in Paris for thirty years, her cultural heritage caught her by surprise, not in her subjects, but in the shapes of her paintings.
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The Best of Contemporary Art in Paris
Blog: ParisienSalon.com - 7 October 2009
Art fans, art history students, experienced collectors, well-known artists or the simply curious gather at the FIAC (the international contemporary art fair), for different reasons. For some, it's simply to enjoy the diversity of works on show, while others are in the market to make a few purchases.
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Paris Fashion Week Spring 2010: Aganovich
Blog: I Prefer Paris - 7 October 2009
I met the charming and lovely Nana Aganovich and her partner Brooke Taylor two weeks ago at A Shaded View on Fashion Film Festival. I was immediately taken by their distinct style and they told me they had a clothing...
