I met Mireille Sorg a few years ago on my first visit to Marseilles and she was kind enough to show me her special corner of the city. Mireille recently contacted me to say that she was bringing her 12 year old daughter Isabel to Paris for the weekend and she wanted me to show her and Isabel my Marais. Although Isabel had been here before, this was her first time in Paris as a young lady and seeing the Marais, with the weekend planned just for her.
I met them at the St. Paul metro on a gray Saturday and Isabel was such a cutie, stylishly but appropriately dressed for a twelve year old in a soft wool cap, white jacket, and chic gray suede boots with knee socks folded over the tops.
We started by taking her to the Andre shoe shop on rue St. Antoine where she picked out an adorable pair of glittery ballet flats. I already liked her taste. After we went to the Village St. Paul to warm our cockles with the rich, sinful hot chocolate at Comme a la Maison. We toured some of the beautiful hotel particulier's, the Place des Vosges with its colorful art and sculpture galleries, and made another chocolate stop at the Josephine Vannier shop.
Isabel was too shy to pose for this photo in the Hotel Sully
My favorite moment of our afternoon was when we went to the Merci shop, where Isabel decided to model a white marabou stole for me and her mom. She looked just like a little princess in it as she twirled around and around.
It was a most delightful day and I believe Isabel had marvelously fulfilled her expectations of Paris.
Princess Isabel rules in her white marabou cape
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, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 3 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.
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
Oh, my goodness. Just this weekend I saw a gorgeous maribou bolero at an antique market but I didn't buy it. But seeing how stylish Isabel looks, I may have to go back for it...
Posted by: Style Spy | December 28, 2009 at 03:08 PM
Lovely Story!
Posted by: Mickey | December 28, 2009 at 05:02 PM
I love your e-mails and tweets. This one brought back memories of our September visit to Paris. I have similar images of my wife in the jardin of the Hotel Sully
Posted by: george | December 28, 2009 at 11:46 PM
Richard,
I love that red flocked tree!
Also, the butterfly/heart sculpture. Thanks for sharing these pics.
Posted by: Diogenes | December 29, 2009 at 04:18 PM
What a delightful piece! My 8 yr old granddaughter visited me in Paris in 2008 and you get to see
a whole new side of that lovely city when with a child! in your case, a preteen! Beautiful girl!
Posted by: Jeanne | December 30, 2009 at 06:46 PM
Bonjour, lovely article. The little girl is precious. Reminds me of the first time I brought my daughter to Paris. She's 16 now, and we're coming again in two weeks....can't wait!!
Posted by: Mary Ann | December 30, 2009 at 09:44 PM
Hey nice post... and cool snaps... :)
Posted by: Paris City Breaks | January 04, 2010 at 10:57 AM