Art café

Morning coffee and art co-mingle in a spacious community café-gallery at the foot of The Basilica of Sacré Coeur.

[Exhibited artists have included enfant terrible and Warhol protégé Jean-Michel Basquiat]

 

Halle Saint-Pierre

2 rue Ronsard 75018

End of an era?

Schnabel-esque, used ashtrays vie for space on a blanket at a neighborhood vide-grenier sidewalk sale.

Window dressing

A giant cat's head balanced atop a dress adds a fun touch to this window display.

Klimt

The chairs in the upper photo perfectly match a poster advertising an exhibition of works by Viennese artist Gustav Klimt.

Bronzed defiance

 

In the heart of Paris, a striking sculpture of a young girl stands resolute, her gaze fixed defiantly on the imposing façade of L'Académie Française. Founded in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, this venerable institution has long served as an all-male stronghold, zealously guarding the purity of the French language. The girl's unyielding stance embodies a quiet but fierce rebellion against centuries of exclusion. It was not until 1980, a staggering 345 years after its establishment, that L'Académie welcomed its first female member, Marguerite Yourcenar, shattering the patriarchal barrier. The sculpture, with its bold lines and unapologetic presence, captures this historic triumph, symbolizing the enduring struggle for equality and the power of perseverance in challenging entrenched traditions. - BPJ

Caramel, chocolate, pistachio

A lineup of just three éclair flavors at mega traiteur Fauchon on Place de la Madeleine.

Above: salted butter caramel, black chocolate, pistachio

Blue suede shoes

A pair of blue suede heels takes center stage in a shop window.

Let all who enter

A stone mascaron, a decorative touch that's long disappeared from modern architecture, keeps watch over an open doorway.

To market to market

Sunday morning finds locals heading for bustling street markets like this one, leaving it to the season's offerings to do the meal planning.

Jazz apéro

A Montmartre café readies to serve up cocktails, nibbles, and jazz on the side.

Un coin des arts

A graffiti-covered wall on a narrow street in the heart of a funky gallery district on the Left Bank.

 

Wine down

Bottles of table wines and champagnes, most from small regional producers, many not exported, displayed on a bed of corks.

Gluten rules

No shortage of gluten in Paris, where there seems to be a boulangerie on almost every block.

Above: freshly baked plump brioches are the day's special offer

Walk, don't fly

A lone pigeon carefully makes its way to the top of this steep staircase, step by step, then flies away.

Wallace fountain

Green fountains named for English philanthropist Sir Richard Wallace are now a symbol of Paris.

 

 

Petit déj' en terrasse

Flaky croissants, jus d'orange freshly pressé and a grand crème get the day off to a great start.

Sign of spring

Tables lined up along a sidewalk in the sun is a sure sign that spring has finally arrived.

Fornasetti fix

The Face equated with Piero Fornasetti that launched 16,000 designs is in excellent company with many more of his mind-boggling pieces. Musée des Arts Décoratifs til June 14.

 

 

Tea-totaler's lamp

A lamp inside a vintage clothing shop reminds me of something out of the "Mad Hatter Tea Party."

The Love Wall

 

The shadow of a tree makes a dramatic splash on The Love Wall, a romantic meeting spot on a leafy Montmartre square where "I love you" is written in over 300 languages.

Easter Sunday

An early morning walk on Easter Sunday revealed this beautiful bed of flowers in full bloom behind the Basilica of Sacré Coeur.

Holiday kougelhopfs

It's Pâques weekend and boulanger-pâtissier Gontran Cherrier displays a lineup of show-stopping kougelhopfs, each cradling its own pot of chocolate-caramel cream.

Eggs, bells, and fish

For Easter, Meilleur Ouvrier de France and chocolate sculptor Patrick Roger weighs in with his unique oeuvres.

Extra large eggs

Every Easter Paris chocolatiers unveil their chocolate egg creations.

Smart

A tiny "smart car" sits alone in front of the Pompidou Center on an early morning.

 

Within hours this area will spring to life with street performers, sidewalk artists and vendors, and no cars will be permitted.