31 January 2024

Window Wednesday

 

No one likes to see a good celebration come to an end, and all over France La Fête des Rois - The Feast of The Three Kings - continues until the last day of January, up until the very last galette.
 
Above: a window display of freshly baked galettes des rois in a local bakery
 
Below: don't forget the crown
 👑


 

29 January 2024

25 January 2024

A sharing planche

 

A generous planche mixte loaded with French charcuteries and cheeses, à partager.

***

  Most menus in Paris cafés now include an "à partager" (to share) section with a variety of appetizers and planches.

 


22 January 2024

Museum Monday


 
 
Further to yesterday's post -
 
The Montmartre Museum merits a visit for its location, architecture and Renoir Gardens alone.
 
Above: restored atelier of Suzanne Valadon, painters' model / artist who lived there with Impressionist André Utter and her son, Maurice Utrillo, starting in 1912, part of the permanent exhibition
 
 Below: Valadon's studio seen from the Renoir Gardens
 

 
12 rue Cortot 75018
 
Current:

Théophile Steinlen (1859 - 1923)
The Centenary Exhibition
 
Ends February 11, 2024
 

21 January 2024

Steinlen Sunday

 

Swiss artist Théophile Steinlen who called several addresses in Montmartre home, is mostly recognized for his ubiquitous poster Le Chat Noir (The Black Cat), the club by the same name, thought to have been the first modern cabaret. But as much as he loved cats and to paint cats, he did more. Much more.

 
Théophile Steinlen (1859 - 1923)
The Centenary Exhibition
 
 Renoir Gardens / Café Renoir / Atelier Suzanne Valadon / permanent exhibition 
12 rue Cortot 75018 
 
Ends February 11, 2024
 





 

20 January 2024

Cheese. Please

 

"You can't make everyone happy. You're not cheese" - Anonymous

***

Today is National Cheese Lovers' Day all over the cheese-eating world. Though National Cheese Day in France is celebrated on March 27 (with planches and plates of French cheeses and French wines), who wants to wait? - BPJ


13 January 2024

Ceramics Saturday

 

From:
HEY! Céramique.s
 
bookstore / coffee shop / museum / gallery 
2 rue Ronsard 75018
 
Ends August 14, 2024
 
***
 
La Menteuse - The Liar
 
 

8 January 2024

Merde! Monday

 

A useful expression used in a variety of contexts and one of the first that newcomers to France might encounter. A lot.

***

"Merde" can also mean "break a leg" as an actor is about to go onstage. In France it is believed that (involuntarily) stepping on doggie doo with the left foot brings good luck, and when that happens you will hear, "It's ok it's my left foot!"

 


7 January 2024

Soup's on


 

Une petite envie (craving) for Chinese in Paris?

With three Chinatowns and a Japantown in the Opéra district with every Asian cuisine you can think of, the choices seem endless.

Above: gigantic bowls of Chinese soups take the edge off a cold afternoon

  Below: shared starters

 

 
La Taverne de ZHAO Opera
16 rue Saint-Augustin 75002
 
***
 
Quartiers Asiatiques in Paris:

Belleville Chinatown - 20th arrondissement
 
Golden Triangle -13th arrondissement: Avenue Choisy, Avenue d'Ivry, Rue Tolbiac

Quartier Temple and Arts-et-Métiers - 3rd arrondissement 
 
Japantown - 2nd arrondissement: start at rue Saint-Anne off Avenue de l'Opéra
 
***  
 
Starts Saturday February 10 - Check link for updates


6 January 2024

Sweet Saturday

 Today is La Fête des Rois, Feast of the Epiphany or Three Kings, and all over France pâtissiers and boulangers have been working the night shift. Although all "kings' cakes" are similar, every baker has his/her own version.

 Above: this year's home-made galette takes the cake

 

5 January 2024

Flatiron Friday

 
The architecture of this structure on rue Francoeur attached to the small Théâtre du Funambule always makes me think of the Flatiron Building in New York, but on a much smaller scale.
 

4 January 2024

7th heaven

 
View from 7th floor terrace of Printemps Haussmann department store.
 
***
 
 SOLDES D'HIVER / January Sales

Wednesday January 10 - Tuesday February 6


3 January 2024

Window Wednesday

 

Shoe pileup in a shop window in the Marais district.

 ***

"Is it ok to wear sneakers in Paris?" - One of the most asked questions by US visitors

 

 

1 January 2024

Bonne Année



 
The evening began with an intimate champagne apèro.


- Bonne Année / Happy New Year 2024 -
 
🎉