I spent Saturday afternoon with my friend Linda Donahue from Miami, who edits the wonderful site Parisien Salon (my blog stories are sometimes syndicated on her site). Linda is a writer and professional photographer, so she had her big-ass Canon camera with all its bells and whistles and fancy-schmancy lenses while I had my measly I-Phone. After seeing the whimsical Kitano exhibit at the Fondation Cartier, we walked on the Boulevard Raspail. I saw a door open to a courtyard and checked with Linda to see if she she was as game as I was to sneak in, and she giggled slightly and voila! we were inside. It was the courtyard of the Ecole Speciale d'Architecture with Roman columns and artifacts mixed with arts & craftsy stools, tables, and planters. It seemed more like an alternative art school by the looks of the courtyard and that the students were graffiti artists rather than architects. It turns out the private school was started in 1865 by engineer Emile Trélat who founded the school as a reaction against the monopoly of the Beaux Arts architecture and was backed by le-Duc, who redesigned Notre Dame. Today it includes a visual arts program.
Again, I think my I-Phone photos came out well. Let me know what you think.
254 Blvd. Raspail, 14th arr.
Metro: Rapspail
Coming soon: Eye Prefer New York Tours
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte’s professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.
Tours cost 195 euros for up to 3 people, and 65 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
I think the photos are dashing! Wish I'd been there to go "courtyard snooping!"
Posted by: Lynn | April 27, 2010 at 01:07 PM
Me, too!
Posted by: Cheryl | April 27, 2010 at 04:56 PM
Kudos to you an I-phone; these are beautiful and interesting.
Posted by: Jean P in MN | April 27, 2010 at 05:23 PM
Cool story...iphone performs admirably!
Posted by: Sherry | April 27, 2010 at 07:33 PM
Loved the photos today - cool, edgy stuff!
Posted by: Mary | April 27, 2010 at 07:35 PM
Your photos look great.
Posted by: Laurence | April 27, 2010 at 07:39 PM
HI Richard, love your photos.
Posted by: Mary Ann | April 27, 2010 at 07:40 PM
big-ass Canon camera with
Bravo you and your skinny butt i-phone!
Posted by: a simon | April 27, 2010 at 07:42 PM
Just keep your iphone in tip-top shape! The pictures of my beloved Paris keep me continually droolin' and wishin' I were there!
Posted by: Neldal H. Martin | April 27, 2010 at 10:31 PM
Great results for an I-phone camera! And even greater courtyard sneaking skills :)
Posted by: Yuriy | April 27, 2010 at 11:40 PM
I think these Photo's are splendid, I want a phone like yours !!
Posted by: stojic | April 28, 2010 at 01:21 AM
Gosh, so I really *do* need an iPhone. Great photos! I'll check this place out!
Posted by: paris (im)perfect | April 28, 2010 at 09:09 PM
Ya know what....these photos are VERY good!!!!
Posted by: Barbara | April 30, 2010 at 09:55 AM
Who needs a big-ass Canon camera with all its bells and whistles and fancy-schmancy lenses?!!! As I mentioned yesterday, I think your I-Phone pics turn out great!!!
Posted by: Karen | April 30, 2010 at 09:57 AM
I'm from ecole speciale! Your photos brought back great memories of my time there :) we did bbqs beers sang songs and dreamt of buildings, poetry and architecture..
Posted by: Apps 55753818692 663561529 Ef423131d2c8e677ecc6624de51a2514 | May 02, 2010 at 08:50 AM