Articles
Mille-feuille (multi-layers) of History in a Paris Building
Eight mass graves have been discovered under a Monoprix store in Paris (Monoprix is very much like Target in the US). There is more to this story than that covered in most press accounts. But first a little recap: Monoprix was remodeling this branch, specifically the...
Sixty Million Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong
The author couple of this volume (Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong: Why We Love France but Not the French by Nadeau & Barlow) had a grant to live in Paris to research and write the manuscript. If that statement makes you jealous, this is the book for you....
Le Baron Rouge
Le Baron Rouge wine bar is a jumping part of the Marché d’Aligre scene, especially on weekends when it’s wall-to-wall people inside with lines and crowds outside. Sunday you can barely squeeze through the mass of people to reach the zinc bar and order a glass of wine....
Marché d’Aligre
Marché d’Aligre in the 12th arrondissement grew up around the abbey of Saint-Antoine-des-Champs which dates back to the 12th century. Originally it was called the Petite Halle and leased to butchers until other vendors and hay merchants made inroads. A formal marché...
Renoir, My Father
Renoir, My Father is not just a book about the painter. It's a book about Paris, history, other artists, geography and much, much more. You may want to read it more than once; I have. Although Renoir was born in Limoges, he grew up in Paris, actually within the...
Finding Paris in New Orleans
It's fascinating to be in a U.S. city that oozes French at every turn. From the ubiquitous fleur-de-lis: to street signs: and other signage: Paris has its balconies: as does New Orleans: Paris has statues of Jeanne d'Arc: as does New Orleans: Paris has wonderful...
Paris without people
People make a place.
Doggy Bags in Paris
Alors, are doggy bags coming to Paris? Watch below: Did you catch the waitress saying that it's mostly foreigners who ask for doggy bags? And by the way, it's "le Doggy Bag" (masculine) in French.
Paris Sunset at Place de la Concorde and Eiffel Tower
Follow the changes in the sky around Place de la Concorde within a few minutes during sunset:
Paris Boot Camp
Who needs a stair-stepper exercise machine in Paris when you have the steps of Montmartre? Well, perhaps you need a drill sergeant to keep you going..... faster and faster..... higher and higher....to prevent you from defecting to a near-by bistrot. I prefer the...
Bitte de Trottoir – Bollard
Bitte (pronounced 'beet') is a slang word for penis and sidewalk bollards are often referred to as 'bittes de trottoir'. They are often decorated with planters in the summertime. They add a nice pop of color to a grey sidewalk.
Dogs of the Homeless
I saw this piece of stencil street art and it made me think. I know panhandlers often use animals because people are sometimes more likely to be sympathetic to a poor pet than a poor person. Yet homeless people need companionship and protection, too, and the animals...
