24 December 2017

Joyeux


One of my favorite Paris hangouts, spruced up for the holidays.

Café de Flore
172 Boulevard Saint-Germain 75006




To my devoted visitors, blog stalkers and drop-ins:
I will be returning after the holidays.
 
***
 
Here's wishing every one of you a very Merry and Happy everything, and an effervescent New Year.

See you in January - BPJ

23 December 2017

Back in time


Early morning and Place du Tertre is eerily transformed into the village square it once was before tourists and souvenir shops took over.

Above: twinkling Christmas lights left on all night;
main street just off the square minus crowds and postcard stands

22 December 2017

The singer


Man plays guitar to backdrop of a Christmas market on Place des Abbesses.

21 December 2017

Nativity ball


Nativity scene inside a giant inflated ball in front of l'Église Saint-Pierre in Montmartre.

20 December 2017

19 December 2017

Not just men


At a busy café on rue de Rennes a waitress sports the white tablier and black vest traditionally worn by Parisian waiters.

18 December 2017

Behind doors


Double doors of what appears to be an ordinary apartment building conceal a long passageway.

16 December 2017

15 December 2017

Blur of lights


Frenzy of traffic and shoppers on the grands boulevards as stores stay open later for the holidays.

Boulevard Haussmann

- Printemps -
- Galeries Lafayette -

14 December 2017

Froth art


A café crème gets la touche finale by a talented barista.

***
Café Craft
Holybelly
Le Peloton Café
Fragments
Café Cuillier
Matamata....

 In January newsletter: My pick of Paris' best coffee shops.
Plus: tucked away on Plaza de los Mártires in Malaga, Spain, Mia Coffee Shop packs a punch
[3 hours (or less) from Paris: Pueblos Blancos, Andalucia]


11 December 2017

All thumb


An enormous bronze thumb by French artist César Baldaccini in front of the Centre Pompidou.

"The mandrill indicates with thumb
Auroraborealic bum!"
Michael Alexander, British author, explorer, poet
(of the infamous "Prominente" at Colditz Castle WWII)
R.I.P.

***

"César: La Rétrospective"
 
 Ends March 26, 2018

Centre Georges Pompidou
Place Georges-Pompidou 75004

9 December 2017

In flight



Pigeons and seagulls take flight at the Porte Saint-Denis in the 10th arrondissement.

8 December 2017

Bear windows


This year's Ralph Lauren holiday window display.

Ralph Lauren
173 Boulevard Saint-Germain 75006

6 December 2017

Lamb dressed as sheep


Printed on window, "Also available for humans."

Diesel
1 rue du Four 75006

5 December 2017

Girl time


Time to sip into something comfortable.

Bistrot Vivienne
4 rue des Petits Champs 75002

4 December 2017

Her too


Bronze bust of French pop icon singer entertainer Dalida on the Montmartre square named after her.

2 December 2017

Henri on horseback


Statue of Henri IV on the Pont Neuf as seen from the Square du Vert-Galant.

***

In this month's newsletter
Nouveautés

1 December 2017

Deck the halls


Christmas trees sparkle as an almost-full moon peeks over clouds at the town hall of the 18th arrondissement.

30 November 2017

Warming up


With the holidays closing in, chocolat chaud, hot spiced wine and tea stalls are popping up on squares such as this one at l'Église Saint-Pierre. 

29 November 2017

Metropolitan man


"Jules" was missed when this ad at a métro station entrance was finally removed.

28 November 2017

Gyoza gyoza


Gyoza addicts head here to inhale a dozen at a time.

Gyoza Bar
56 Passage des Panoramas
11 Boulevard Montmartre 75002

27 November 2017

Inside art


Boutique shopping in Paris as an art experience.

Isabel Marant
1 rue Jacob 75006

Also at:
469 Broome Street Soho 
New York 10013

25 November 2017

Coffee and caramel


Craft coffee houses like this Left Bank brûlerie often excel in unique pastries.

Above: raspberries and cream, caramel-filled pastry cups topped with toasted hazelnuts, dark chocolate tartelettes

Malongo Atelier Barista
50 rue Saint-André des Arts 75006

24 November 2017

23 November 2017

22 November 2017

21 November 2017

Elephant and dancer


Sculpture of an elephant and behind it, an image from upcoming Tribute to Edgar Degas at the Musée d'Orsay.

November 28, 2017 - February 25, 2018

Orsay Museum

***

- Danseuse Assise by Edgar Degas -
 
 
***
 
Dorothy : Supposing you met an elephant?
Lion : I'd wrap him up in cellophant! - The Wizard of Oz

18 November 2017

Fall silence


Autumn colors behind Notre Dame Cathedral.

Below: a gazebo, alive with music and laughter in summer, sits silent except for the sound of falling leaves.


17 November 2017

Matzele'h



These large crackly Israeli flatbreads (red onion, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, kosher salt toppings) perfect for hummus and dips are quite different from their Eastern European cousins.

Florence Kahn
24 rue des Écouffes 75004

16 November 2017

15 November 2017

Lobster tales


Long conversations over a long lunch at a fashionista hub where lobster is on the lunch menu every day.

L'Avenue
41 avenue Montaigne 75008

***

Our shared starters:
- grilled eggplant with burrata and fresh herbs
- ginger citrus tuna tartare
- fresh green beans with raspberries and mint dressing

14 November 2017

Muchos chicos


A poster on a metro station wall advertises a wonderfully picante dance revue.
More photos December newsletter


Tutu: Chicos Mambo
Ends January 14, 2018

Théâtre Bobino
20 rue de la Gaîté 75014