Articles
Doors of Paris
Amongst the free eye candy visible to anyone strolling the streets of Paris are doors of astounding beauty and history. No need to stand in a long museum line or shell out a fistful of euros to view this spectacle. The only requirement: slow down and look around!...
Salon du Chocolat
The Salon du Chocolat is a yearly fête looked forward to by Parisians and visitors to Paris alike. It's held in the Fall over Halloween and the Toussaint holiday and for chocolate lovers, it's the signature event of the season. Go early to avoid the Toussaint weekend...
Villa des Arts
A Paris arts community Tucked away on a tiny crook of a tiny rue near the Montmartre cemetery you’ll find an iron gate announcing “Villa des Arts”. If you peer through the wrought iron gaps, you can see a grassy courtyard but not the amazing arts scene housed here for...
Wallace Fountains
Wallace Fountains meld so beautifully into their surroundings that you aren’t consciously aware of them. But once they are pointed out, you begin noticing them with delight all over Paris. Sir Richard Wallace was an Englishman enamored with his adopted city of Paris....
French Pharmacies
There are small pharmacies every few blocks in Paris, easily visible via these neon-green cross signs. Prescription and over-the-counter medicines aren't sold in supermarkets and other outlets like they are in the US, although there are moves to change that and...
The Most Beautiful Caryatid in Paris
"Look up." Everywhere you look there is something interesting to see. From a bus window, I spied this stone woman holding up a balcony. Is she the most beautiful caryatid in Paris?
Paris Historical Plaques
Do you read historical plaques while in Paris? If so, I have a surprise for you at the end of this post. It seems you can't pass a block without coming across a plaque affixed to a building or a Histoire de Paris marker. These markers are often called Pelles Starck or...
Angélina’s Tearoom and Pâtisseries
Angelina's Tearoom on rue de Rivoli across the street from the Tuileries is a Paris institution dating back to the Belle Époque when Austrian Antoine Rumpelmayer opened it in 1903. Initially it was called Rumpelmayer's and you'll see it mentioned in many biographies...
Religieuse Pastry at Stohrer’s
Ever since I first saw this oddly-shaped, oddly-named pastry in the local pâtisseries, I’ve been curious about it. There are several versions of its history on the internet and I'd be interested if you’ve heard of any others. Version #1. It was created by Stohrer’s, a...
Finding the Statues of Liberty in Paris
La Liberté éclairant le monde or 'Liberty Enlightening the World' is how the Statue of Liberty is known in France, where she originated. The Statue was reopened on the 4th of July 2015 after extensive Superstorm Sandy repairs. Newspapers discussed the beauty and...
Trompe-l’oeil
There are many buildings in Paris painted with Trompe-l'oeil or 'fool the eye' to improve the look of the side of a large building without windows or other architectural details. This sample is found on 15 rue de Turbigo, visible from the corner near the...
Chasse-Roues/Wheel Guards
When you pass by Haussmanian-style buildings with their large front doors that are actually portes cochères (carriage gates into a central courtyard), look at the bottom sides of those entryways. See those metal pieces fixed to the sides? They are chasse-roues,...
A Favorite Building in Paris
Humor me. Try this experiment: Close your eyes and think of a building in Paris. * * C,mon, give it a go. I'll wait. * * * What did your building look like?. * Here's my favorite building: I can hear you thinking: "Sure, it's okay, but..." Wait. You have to...
Les Puces de Saint Ouen – Paris Flea Market
The largest Paris flea market is at Porte de Clignancourt, Les Puces de Saint Ouen, a great place to chiner (go antiqueing). Lots of eye candy. and people-watching opportunities (like these two merchants playing chess between customers)
Paris Street Art vs Graffiti vs Political Speech
Street art can be controversial. Some only see it as vandalism and graffiti even if they might enjoy it presented in a magazine or gallery. Others laud it as a pure art form, given its ephemeral nature, resistant to commercialism. Most new art movements have...
