I Prefer Paris

David Burke's Writers in Paris: A Tale of Two Books: Mary's and David's

One day last fall, in 2015, I received a message from Shakespeare and Company saying that they wanted to get more copies of my book Writers in Paris, Literary Lives in the City of Light, but they were unable to come up with any.   So I emailed the head of my publisher in Berkeley to find out what’s what.  Bad news. They love the book, but sales have slipped, and the company has decided not print any more.   But they offered to release the book freely to me as the copyright owner if I found a solid publisher with a contract.   

By a remarkable bit of luck, only two days earlier, on October 18th, I’d been the guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the Paris Writers Group.  Its chief is the delightful and knowledgeable Mary Duncan, a writer and the publisher of the Paris Writers Press.  She likes my Writers in Paris.  So I called her and she said come on over.  Mary led me to her computer and showed all the steps of her favorite publishing app works. I’ve written books, but have no experience in publishing.  Both could see that I was not up to it.  So Mary said that, if I like, she could be my new publisher.  Whew!  

A few days later we met at the new Shakespeare and Company Café and discussed our contract. It was fine for me and for her too. But at this time of the year, it being December, both Mary and I were leaving Paris for three-month jaunts. She was off to California to be with her family and to work on her project of translating to English by Lynn Jeffress the autobiography of the fearless publisher Jean-Jacques Pauvert, who savaged censor laws in the France of the 1950s and ‘60s, and is best known for the Marquis de Sade. Meanwhile my wife Joanne and I went off to China. But before leaving Paris I let my Berkeley publisher know that Mary and I had an agreement for Writers in Paris, but would not be taking it over until we were back to Paris in spring.  They were perfectly at ease with that.

Mary got back to Paris in late March, wrapping up her Jean-Jacques Pauvert book, which now had a title, Sade’s Publisher, A Memoir,  and in early April the transferring of Writers in Paris from Berkeley to Paris began. Mary did it all by herself. There were a few glitches along the way, but it was remarkably smooth overall.   

On April 22, 2016, Mary and I signed our contract in the Shakespeare and Company Café, with owner Sylvia Whitman our witness.  
While Mary was on business in New York in early May, UPS dropped a box from her printing press.  It was early proofs for both books, Sade’s Publisher and Writers in Paris, Second Edition in it. They were almost spotless, Mary told me on email.  Just a few little things to be altered.  And when she handed it to me in Paris, I found it at least as attractive as was the original version– which is saying plenty, because Counterpoint in Berkeley had done a beautiful job.  Mary was very pleased too with her brand new Sade’s Publisher.  And seeing the two books together was a treat.    

My first batch of Writers in Paris arrived in Paris on May 25th.Ten copies went to the shelves of Shakespeare and Company.  And from the photos sent to me from the D. G. Wills bookshop in La Jolla, California, the two books have stayed together come the long way from la Belle France.  

I thank for Mary for everything.

Click here to order Writers in Paris

http://pariswriterspress.com

Mary Duncan, David, & Sylvia Whitman (left to right)

Eye Prefer Paris Postcards

I am thrilled to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Postcards, a 3, 6 or 12-month subscription service where the subscriber receives three physical postcards of my iconic Paris photos every month. Each month will have a specific theme, from architectural street scenes to romantic outdoor cafes to beautiful gardens to unique shots of iconic monuments. Each mailing will include two postcards in color and one in black & white or sepia, beautifully packaged in a special French Blue postcard holder with a custom designed seal.

Each 6” X 4.25” traditional size postcard is printed on thick matte coated card stock, similar to traditional vintage postcard stock that enhances the vibrancy of every image.

Only $30 for a 3-month subscription plus shipping or

Only $60 for a 6 month subscription (plus shipping)or

$110 for a 12-month subscription (plus shipping)

Click here to order a 12-month subscription from my Etsy store

Click here to order a 6-month subscription from my Etsy store

Click here to order a 3-month subscription from my Etsy store

Come experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens and much more.  In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Latin Quarter, in addition to Shopping Tours, Gay Tours, Girlfriend Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, and Chocolate & Pastry tours.

Tours start at 225 euros for up to 3 people, and 75 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 

  Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
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: 195 euros per person (about $210)
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 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

Lunch with Lynn/Under 20 Lunches: Gros

Gros, a newly opened bistro off of rue Faubourg Saint Denis kept popping up on my radar in the last few months. My partner Vincent, a finicky eater and not easy to please, visited Gros a few months ago and gave a glowing review. In April, I was given a photo assignment to photograph a series of shop and restaurant owners and on the list were the chef/owners of Gros, Sybille Sellam and Grégory Foucher. They both appeared to be happy campers in their small kitchen and looking through the appealing and creative menu, it tempted me to come back for a meal.

At lunch Gros has a 17€ (entrée/plat or plat/dessert) or 22€ formule (entrée, plat, dessert) and offers three choices in each category. I had the entrée/plat and started with lentils mixed with a delicious and delicate hummus and a big crust of hard sesame bread. Lynn was delighted with her poached egg perched on a bed of sautéed mushrooms with spinach pesto.

Since we are both sticklers for portion size, Lynn was pleased with a more than ample sized piece of codfish accompanied by buckwheat tabouleh and a Greek yogurt sauce. I had Banh Mi, a Vietnamese style sandwich with pork, carrots, and cucumber with a dusting of coriander. Wrapped in brown paper, the sandwich seemed as though it was from a local food truck along with its freshness.

The dessert, rice pudding drizzled with salted butter caramel sauce, was a little too sweet for my palate and it was too finely pureed to taste the texture of the rice.

The faux sandblasted pinky-beige walls and tin inlaid tables gives the dining room a cool, industrial look. Service was laid back and pleasant but the wait between the entrée and plat dragged close to 30 minutes.

Lynn and I both declare Gros a winner and will for sure return.

Gros
4 Cour des Petites Ecuries, 75010
Metro: Strasbourg-St. Denis
Tel. +33(0)9 83 38 83 96
Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner

Happy chefs

Eye Prefer Paris Postcards

I am thrilled to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Postcards, a 3, 6 or 12-month subscription service where the subscriber receives three physical postcards of my iconic Paris photos every month. Each month will have a specific theme, from architectural street scenes to romantic outdoor cafes to beautiful gardens to unique shots of iconic monuments. Each mailing will include two postcards in color and one in black & white or sepia, beautifully packaged in a special French Blue postcard holder with a custom designed seal.

Each 6” X 4.25” traditional size postcard is printed on thick matte coated card stock, similar to traditional vintage postcard stock that enhances the vibrancy of every image.

Only $30 for a 3-month subscription plus shipping or

Only $60 for a 6 month subscription (plus shipping)or

$110 for a 12-month subscription (plus shipping)

Click here to order a 12-month subscription from my Etsy store

Click here to order a 6-month subscription from my Etsy store

Click here to order a 3-month subscription from my Etsy store

Come experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens and much more.  In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Latin Quarter, in addition to Shopping Tours, Gay Tours, Girlfriend Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, and Chocolate & Pastry tours.

Tours start at 225 euros for up to 3 people, and 75 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 

  Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
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: 195 euros per person (about $210)
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 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

Eye Prefer Paris 10th Anniversary Quiz and Prizes

Yesterday, June 26th, was a big milestone: the tenth anniversary of Eye Prefer Paris. Time has flown and I can’t believe it’s already been ten years since I wrote my first blog post.

About This blog
This blog is about how a native New Yorker dreamed of moving to Paris …… and what he discovered once he got there. Come live this Paris dream vicariously through the eyes(and ears) of Richard Nahem. He writes his blog from his 18th century apartment overlooking tree-lined Place St. Paul in the fashionable Marais district of Paris.

Three months before I started Eye Prefer Paris, I hardly even knew what a blog was, as blogging was still in its infancy.  The idea came to me by an off the cuff suggestion someone gave me when trying to solve a problem. In early 2006 after I recently moved to Paris, I started to write a journal about what the experience was like and someone said I should turn it into a book. I started to put the journal into chapter form but after that I wasn’t sure where I would go with it. Explaining my dilemma to someone, they suggested I start a blog to build readership so I could attract a publisher for the book and post each chapter as a blog post. I liked the idea of putting my book into a blog format but realized after I posted the fifteen or so chapters there would be no more blog. So I went back to the drawing board and decided to start the blog with original content about my daily experiences of living in Paris.

I had no idea what I would write about, where it would go or who would read it. All it would take would be time and a little faith that I would find an audience. Fast-forward ten years and 1946 blog posts later, Eye Prefer Paris has changed my life immeasurably and has been one of my most rewarding experiences of my life.

So many amazing and unexpected things have come from Eye Prefer Paris including Eye Prefer Paris Tours, my photography career, professional travel writing for other magazines and websites, travel opportunities, my postcard subscription series and best of all, the gift of exploring Paris on a daily basis and sharing it with you.  

The most rewarding part has been the connection with my readers. I’ve made countless online and live friendships and I’ve also been thrilled to meet many of you on my tours after years of faithful readership.

I want to thank you from my heart for your loyalty and generous support during mostly good times and a few of the bad times. Your kind and touching notes when my mother passed away in 2012 helped immensely and your recent donations for Vincent’s film After Louie helped Vincent reach his Kickstarter goal and fulfill his dream.

Enough with the mushy stuff, let’s celebrate and have fun with a quiz and some prizes.

Below is a 10 question quiz, a question for each year. Subscribers, an easy way to access my postings is to go directly to the blog http://www.ipreferparis.net. From there, look on the right sidebar under archives and you will find archives from every month since July 2006. Another shortcut is to go to the categories list and access postings from there. For example, for a question about a Parisian of the Month, click on Parisian of the Month and all of them will come up. You can email the answers to [email protected] and the deadline is Wednesday, July 4, 3PM Eastern Standard Time . Contest winners will be announced next Tuesday, July 5, 2014 along with correct answers.  Please note contest is only available to residents in the U.S. and Canada.

1. 2006- What rock concert did I attend in July 2006?
A-Rolling Stones
B-Guns and Roses
C-Elton John
D-Elvis Presley

2. 2007- What fashion exhibit featured a top French fashion designer with a prominent choreographer?
A- Jessica Simpson
B- Karl Lagerfeld
C-Jean Paul Gaultier
E-Alber Elbaz

3. 2008- Who was my first Parisian of the Month? 
A-Brigitte Bardot
B-Susan Shup
C-Pascal Fonquernie
D-Marcel Proust

4.2009- Which concept store that included a bookshop, restaurant, and vintage clothing department opened near the Marais?
A-Colette
B-Merci
C-Sears
D-Top Shop

5. 2010- Which restaurant on the Ile de Cite did Lynn and I have our Lunch with Lynn/Under 20 Eats?
A-Chez Janou
B-Le Select
C- Dennys
D- Au Bougnat

6. 2011- Which store featured holiday windows with Karl Lagerfeld and Chanel?
A-Printemps
B- Galeries Lafayette
C- Le Bon Marche
E-    Target

7. 2012- What famous Parisian did I come close to meeting in his private garden?
A-Jean Moreau
B- President Hollande
C- Marion Cotillard
D-Napoleon

8. 2013-Which restaurant serves the delicious Bresse chickens?
A- Le Coq Rico
B- Chicken Delite
C- L’ami Louis
D- Bofinger

9. 2014- What musical based on a classic American musical film had it’s premiere in Paris?
A- The Color Purple
B- Singin in the Rain
C- Footlose
D- An American in Paris
                         
10- 2015- What country and region did Vincent and I take a beach holiday at?
A- France, the Riviera
B- Italy, Puglia
C- U.S. , Coney Island
D- Portugal, the Algarve 

Now for the prizes! The first 10 people who submit the correct answers will receive the following prizes.

1. A 10” X 12” photo print of my Paris rooftop photo 
   
2. A copy of the new edition of Writers in Paris by David Burke published Paris Writers Press
   
3. A copy of The Angels of Paris by Rosemary Flannery
   
   
4. A 7.5" X 10" photo print of Nuit de l'Opera by Meredith Mullins
   
5. A copy of Mad about Macarons by Jill Colonna
   
   
6. A 11” X 14” photo print of Woman in Yellow by Ellen Feldman
   
   
7. A copy of Sade’s Publisher by Jean-Jacques Pauvert translated into English by Lynn Jeffress published by Paris Writers Press
   
   
   
8. A copy of French War Brides in America: An Oral History by Hilary Kaiser

9. A packet of Eye Prefer Paris Postcards- Eiffel Tower series

10. A packet of Eye Prefer Paris Postcards- Window box series 

I look forward to your quiz answers and sending off your prizes.

 

Meredith Mullins: Becoming a "Visitor" Again

When you have out-of-town guests and take your turn at showing them the whirlwind view of Paris, you become a visitor again yourself. You see the city in a new way. Even the old favorites take on a new look. And, with newfound wisdom, you look more carefully at the things you pass by every day. From the Tour Eiffel to the lively Jardin d'Acclimatation, there are worlds to discover. People, places, and things present themselves in unconventional ways. And that, in truth, is why I will never grow tired of this great city.

Meredith Mullins is a fine art photographer, photography instructor, and writer for OIC Moments and Bonjour Paris. Her work can be seen at www.meredithmullins.artspan.com or in her award-winning book, In A Paris Moment. She is available for private photography instruction/exploration in Paris. For more information, contact her at [email protected].

Eye Prefer Paris Postcards

I am thrilled to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Postcards, a 3, 6 or 12-month subscription service where the subscriber receives three physical postcards of my iconic Paris photos every month. Each month will have a specific theme, from architectural street scenes to romantic outdoor cafes to beautiful gardens to unique shots of iconic monuments. Each mailing will include two postcards in color and one in black & white or sepia, beautifully packaged in a special French Blue postcard holder with a custom designed seal.

Each 6” X 4.25” traditional size postcard is printed on thick matte coated card stock, similar to traditional vintage postcard stock that enhances the vibrancy of every image.

Only $30 for a 3-month subscription plus shipping or

Only $60 for a 6 month subscription (plus shipping)or

$110 for a 12-month subscription (plus shipping)

Click here to order a 12-month subscription from my Etsy store

Click here to order a 6-month subscription from my Etsy store

Click here to order a 3-month subscription from my Etsy store

Come experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens and much more.  In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Latin Quarter, in addition to Shopping Tours, Gay Tours, Girlfriend Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, and Chocolate & Pastry tours.

Tours start at 225 euros for up to 3 people, and 75 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 

  Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
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: 195 euros per person (about $210)
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 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

On the Set of After Louie

I left for New York last Thursday for a very brief visit to film my scene in Vincent’s film After Louie. My call time was 1:45PM on Friday at The Black Rose Bar on Ave A and East 7th St.

The scene takes place in a dive bar in the East Village, hence the The Black Rose, and has the legendary drag artist Joey Arias singing a saucy, souped up version of a gospel song originally sung by Mahalia Jackson opening the scene.
 

It was going to be a while until thy started filming as the sound crew had to record Joey’s number first and film the scene after.

I was introduced to many of the crew whose names I’ve known for many months but have never met. Each person greeted me warmly, saying they heard so much about me and I said the same. Most of all it was so great to see Vincent, who I had not seen since early April and was thrilled that the film was finally being made after so many years of planning.

I also met the talented actors in the scene Wilson Cruz and Patrick Breen. At about 3PM Alan Cumming arrived, casually dressed, sporting a cropped gray beard, grown especially for his character Sam, a gay artist in his mid-50s living in New York City. I introduced myself to Alan and we had a nice chat. I later asked if I could get a photo with him and just as I was about to ask someone to take the photo, he grabbed my phone and held up his dog LaLa and took a selfie.

After much waiting for technical things to be worked out, the scene was shot at about 6PM. I had a non speaking roll, a patron at the bar sipping white wine. After Joey Arias finishes his song he saunters over and silently flirts with me while Alan, Wilson, and Patrick speak their lines sitting on bar stools behind us. The action is interrupted when a loud and obnoxious bridal party having their bachelorette party enters the bar. After the initial shooting, the crew had to reset the cameras and the scene was shot from another angle. We wrapped at 7PM.

Luckily Vincent had Sunday off from filming and we spent the day together having Sunday brunch with friends.

It was great fun being in the film and I am back to real life in Paris now. A star is born? Will I see an Oscar nomination in the near future?

Top photo is Vincent

http://afterlouie.com/

also checkout Alan's Instagram page @alancummingsnaps for more photos from After Louie

Alan, LaLa, and I

Joey Arias and I

Alan and the obnoxious bachelorette party

Wilson Cruz, left, Patrick Breen, right, running lines

Bridal party 

Vincent, left, and actor David Drake, right

Eye Prefer Paris Postcards

I am thrilled to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Postcards, a 3, 6 or 12-month subscription service where the subscriber receives three physical postcards of my iconic Paris photos every month. Each month will have a specific theme, from architectural street scenes to romantic outdoor cafes to beautiful gardens to unique shots of iconic monuments. Each mailing will include two postcards in color and one in black & white or sepia, beautifully packaged in a special French Blue postcard holder with a custom designed seal.

Each 6” X 4.25” traditional size postcard is printed on thick matte coated card stock, similar to traditional vintage postcard stock that enhances the vibrancy of every image.

Only $30 for a 3-month subscription plus shipping or

Only $60 for a 6 month subscription (plus shipping)or

$110 for a 12-month subscription (plus shipping)

Click here to order a 12-month subscription from my Etsy store

Click here to order a 6-month subscription from my Etsy store

Click here to order a 3-month subscription from my Etsy store

Come experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens and much more.  In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Latin Quarter, in addition to Shopping Tours, Gay Tours, Girlfriend Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, and Chocolate & Pastry tours.

Tours start at 225 euros for up to 3 people, and 75 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 

  Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
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: 195 euros per person (about $210)
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 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

Door of the Month: 51 Rue Saint Louis en L’ille

I’ve passed this door hundreds of times on my Eye Prefer Paris Tours when I take clients to the Ile Saint Louis.

The majestic door is the entry to a magnificent example of the hotel particuliers, which were built on the Ile Saint Louis and the Marais during the early 1600s. I researched the history of the building but the facts are muddled and the few bits of information I found, so there was no clear date of when it was built, but the land was sold Peter Verton in 1620.

Notice the elaborately carved gargoyle and gorgeous grillwork on top.

51 Rue Saint Louis en L’ille, 75004
Metro: Pont Marie

Eye Prefer Paris Postcards

I am thrilled to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Postcards, a 3, 6 or 12-month subscription service where the subscriber receives three physical postcards of my iconic Paris photos every month. Each month will have a specific theme, from architectural street scenes to romantic outdoor cafes to beautiful gardens to unique shots of iconic monuments. Each mailing will include two postcards in color and one in black & white or sepia, beautifully packaged in a special French Blue postcard holder with a custom designed seal.

Each 6” X 4.25” traditional size postcard is printed on thick matte coated card stock, similar to traditional vintage postcard stock that enhances the vibrancy of every image.

Only $30 for a 3-month subscription plus shipping or

Only $60 for a 6 month subscription (plus shipping)or

$110 for a 12-month subscription (plus shipping)

Click here to order a 12-month subscription from my Etsy store

Click here to order a 6-month subscription from my Etsy store

Click here to order a 3-month subscription from my Etsy store

Come experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens and much more.  In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Latin Quarter, in addition to Shopping Tours, Gay Tours, Girlfriend Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, and Chocolate & Pastry tours.

Tours start at 225 euros for up to 3 people, and 75 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 

  Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
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: 195 euros per person (about $210)
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 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

June 2016 Instagram Photos

Many of you follow me on Instagram but for those who don’t you are missing some of my fun photos. Here is a series of photos from the last few weeks when I was meandering the streets of Paris in springtime.

I have two Instagram accounts you can follow me on:
https://www.instagram.com/eyepreferparis/
https://www.instagram.com/parisian_doors/

Montmartre

Rue des Francs Bourgeois, Marais

JR installation at the Louvre

Fresh apricots

Le Precope- oldest cafe in Paris, St. Germain

Eye Prefer Paris Postcards

I am thrilled to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Postcards, a 3, 6 or 12-month subscription service where the subscriber receives three physical postcards of my iconic Paris photos every month. Each month will have a specific theme, from architectural street scenes to romantic outdoor cafes to beautiful gardens to unique shots of iconic monuments. Each mailing will include two postcards in color and one in black & white or sepia, beautifully packaged in a special French Blue postcard holder with a custom designed seal.

Each 6” X 4.25” traditional size postcard is printed on thick matte coated card stock, similar to traditional vintage postcard stock that enhances the vibrancy of every image.

Only $30 for a 3-month subscription plus shipping or

Only $60 for a 6 month subscription (plus shipping)or

$110 for a 12-month subscription (plus shipping)

Click here to order a 12-month subscription from my Etsy store

Click here to order a 6-month subscription from my Etsy store

Click here to order a 3-month subscription from my Etsy store

Come experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens and much more.  In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Latin Quarter, in addition to Shopping Tours, Gay Tours, Girlfriend Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, and Chocolate & Pastry tours.

Tours start at 225 euros for up to 3 people, and 75 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 

  Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
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: 195 euros per person (about $210)
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 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

 

La Nuit aux Invalides 2016

La Nuit aux Invalides is a spectacular and exhilarating light show illuminated in the courtyard of Invalides, celebrating the history of France. I had the good fortune of seeing the show in 2013 and wrote about it on Eye Prefer Paris.

La Nuit aux Invalides returns for the 2016 summer season with a renewed show with 15 projectors which project over 16,000 feet of vivid images on the walls of Invalides.

The updated show is now presented in English on Monday and Thursday nights.

If you are in Paris this summer don’t miss this very special experience.

Below are some photos I took in 2013.

La Nuit aux Invalides
Till August 27
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday @10:30PM in French
Monday & Thursday @10:30PM in English
Metro: Invalides
http://lanuitauxinvalides.fr/en/

Eye Prefer Paris Postcards

I am thrilled to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Postcards, a 3, 6 or 12-month subscription service where the subscriber receives three physical postcards of my iconic Paris photos every month. Each month will have a specific theme, from architectural street scenes to romantic outdoor cafes to beautiful gardens to unique shots of iconic monuments. Each mailing will include two postcards in color and one in black & white or sepia, beautifully packaged in a special French Blue postcard holder with a custom designed seal.

Each 6” X 4.25” traditional size postcard is printed on thick matte coated card stock, similar to traditional vintage postcard stock that enhances the vibrancy of every image.

Only $30 for a 3-month subscription plus shipping or

Only $60 for a 6 month subscription (plus shipping)or

$110 for a 12-month subscription (plus shipping)

Click here to order a 12-month subscription from my Etsy store

Click here to order a 6-month subscription from my Etsy store

Click here to order a 3-month subscription from my Etsy store

Come experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens and much more.  In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Latin Quarter, in addition to Shopping Tours, Gay Tours, Girlfriend Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, and Chocolate & Pastry tours.

Tours start at 225 euros for up to 3 people, and 75 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 

  Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
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: 195 euros per person (about $210)
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 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

Follow up to Un Village Francais/A French Village

Certain blog posts have sparked readers to share their experiences of living in Paris. In 2008, I wrote about the 40th anniversary of the historical student riots in Paris and Nanterre on May 3, 1968. A blog reader Helene Sotsky from Massachusetts shared her experience about studying during her junior year in Paris and how she witnessed the riots in Saint Germain des Pres. (Click here to read).

After my post last Thursday about the French television series Un Village Francais/A French Village, which takes place during the German Occupation during WWII in a small French village, I received an email from a long time blog reader who shared her experience of the Occupation in her village near Nancy when she was a small child.

Before I get to Annie’s story, I want to update you on how to watch Un Village Francais in the U. S. I was told it’s not on Netflix U.S. but it is available on the cable station MHZ Choice.

Now please enjoy Annie’s moving story, as I did.

I was a young child when the Germans suddenly took up "residence" in the French Army Post located directly across the road from my house.......we lived in a small town in the Northeast of France, not far from Nancy.  I don't know how large that army was (I'm guessing five or six hundred men) and we were very scared of them......but not my mom.  When asked by an officer if she would do laundry for him, she flatly refused and almost insulted him......"ah non monsieur!  Je ne rends pas service aux ennemis."  And then she explained that her husband was gone, but where?  She didn't know........He said his wife was in the same position as my mom, not knowing where her husband was and was solely in charge of three daughters, like my mom.  My mom wept and the German Captain got tears in his eyes as well.  He said he didn't want to be on our soil, but had no choice.  When the Gestapo came around, they all shook........

And then came 1944, but it took the US Army until 1945 before they reached my region, and one beautiful June morning, here they came, to occupy the same Army Post that had been vacated by the Germans.  What a glorious day it was!  I loved those guys.....so polite, so friendly, so kind......When a sergeant came over to ask my mom if she would consider doing laundry for him and some of his friends (I guess that Army Post had a lousy laundry service), she immediately said yes, and would not accept payment.  That was the least she could do, she said, to repay our liberators........

I fell in love with those military men and vowed to learn English when I got older so I could communicate with American people.  I had an opportunity to come to the United States when I was twenty one and never looked back.........I also had the opportunity to say thank you face to face to three men who were there and fought to free my country.  What a treat to be able to say thank you in person!

Food was scarce for us and for the German soldiers as well (I was told the German Army didn't have much money) So, one day, a small train was passing in front of the Army Post, it had only a couple of cars and was carrying a load of potatoes at a very low speed.  A German soldier was standing at the back of the last car.  A small group of children spotted the train and ran behind it to pick up the potatoes that were falling out.  The German soldier shouted at them and cracked a whip to discourage them from picking up the potatoes that were on the ground.  I told my mom what I had witnessed out of the window.  She said "No matter how hungry we are, we do not steal and we do not beg.  I will feed you if I have to travel tens of kilometers to find food."  And she did.  One day, she was gone all afternoon, traveling to a far away village on her bicycle, and came home with a little bag of potatoes that a small farmer was selling on the black market.  She was a brave woman, my mother.  When I asked her later, if she was scared and ever cried, she said "Of course I was scared and I cried.  But I could not do it in front of you."

When I came to the States in the late fifties, there were war movies in theaters and on television.  The television series was "Combat" at that time, with Vic Moreau being a famous character.  I could not watch any of those movies.....the sound of sirens and the whistling of bombs as they were falling was still too fresh in my mind.  But you know, even in war time, there are quiet moments, happy episodes, especially for children.  We played, went to school, did house chores and went to church.  We prayed and my mother told us not to hate.  When my dad came back (he was fortunate not to have been killed nor made prisoner), it seemed all worth it. Dad was home at last!

Eye Prefer Paris Postcards

I am thrilled to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Postcards, a 3, 6 or 12-month subscription service where the subscriber receives three physical postcards of my iconic Paris photos every month. Each month will have a specific theme, from architectural street scenes to romantic outdoor cafes to beautiful gardens to unique shots of iconic monuments. Each mailing will include two postcards in color and one in black & white or sepia, beautifully packaged in a special French Blue postcard holder with a custom designed seal.

Each 6” X 4.25” traditional size postcard is printed on thick matte coated card stock, similar to traditional vintage postcard stock that enhances the vibrancy of every image.

Only $30 for a 3-month subscription plus shipping or

Only $60 for a 6 month subscription (plus shipping)or

$110 for a 12-month subscription (plus shipping)

Click here to order a 12-month subscription from my Etsy store

Click here to order a 6-month subscription from my Etsy store

Click here to order a 3-month subscription from my Etsy store

Come experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens and much more.  In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Latin Quarter, in addition to Shopping Tours, Gay Tours, Girlfriend Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, and Chocolate & Pastry tours.

Tours start at 225 euros for up to 3 people, and 75 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 

  Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
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: 195 euros per person (about $210)
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 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

 

Un Village Francais/A French Village

I was in bed for over a week last month with the flu. I could barely move and the only thing I could do is sleep or watch television.

Searching for a multi season series I could binge on for days, I remember hearing about Un Village Francais, a recent popular French television series, now it it’s sixth season. I didn’t know that much about the series and skimmed through some reviews to see if I wanted to commit.

Un Village Francais is about a small fictional village Villeneuve, in the Jura region of France, occupied by the Germans in WWII. The first episode takes place in 1940 as German planes open fire on an open field with a group of school children picnicking and the subsequent deaths of some of them. Each season takes place in a different year, except for seasons one and two, which take place in 1940.

The story lines revolve around the inhabitants of Villenueve and how they deal with the harsh rule of the German Occupation and later on the Gestapo. The crux of the series is how the townspeople cope with their dire circumstances which become unpredictable on a daily basis and the sometimes impossible choices they have to make. Some collaborate with the Nazis to appease them and to survive, some try and escape to nearby Switzerland, some join the Resistance, the wife of the stoic town doctor who becomes mayor, has an affair with a Nazi officer, the doctor’s brother forms a communist group to fight the Germans and abandons his young son after his wife dies, and a French school teacher falls for a German officer.  

A number of episodes tell the story of how Jews are rounded up and sent to the concentration camps and how the townspeople either betray them or try to save them.

One of the great things about series is the multi- faceted depictions of the Occupation, not just one side of the story or a single group. It shows the various movements including Communism, the Gestapo, the Resistance, and towards the end of the Occupation in 1944 when the Militia takes over.

Un Village Francais is a gripping, fascinating and well written drama with some great acting. It’s also a terrific history lesson and there are so many things I learned that I didn’t know before. The extra added bonus is it helped sharpen my comprehension of French. Warning: the series is highly addictive and the end of each episode is a cliffhanger. I stayed up many a night till the wee hours, totally hooked but trying to stay awake.

If you live in the U.S. check Netflix to see if it’s on there. It’s on Netflix France in French with French subtitles. You can also purchase the DVDs on Amazon, but make sure they have the English subtitles if you can’t understand French subtitles.

Eye Prefer Paris Postcards

I am thrilled to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Postcards, a 3, 6 or 12-month subscription service where the subscriber receives three physical postcards of my iconic Paris photos every month. Each month will have a specific theme, from architectural street scenes to romantic outdoor cafes to beautiful gardens to unique shots of iconic monuments. Each mailing will include two postcards in color and one in black & white or sepia, beautifully packaged in a special French Blue postcard holder with a custom designed seal.

Each 6” X 4.25” traditional size postcard is printed on thick matte coated card stock, similar to traditional vintage postcard stock that enhances the vibrancy of every image.

Only $30 for a 3-month subscription plus shipping or

Only $60 for a 6 month subscription (plus shipping)or

$110 for a 12-month subscription (plus shipping)

Click here to order a 12-month subscription from my Etsy store

Click here to order a 6-month subscription from my Etsy store

Click here to order a 3-month subscription from my Etsy store

Come experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens and much more.  In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Latin Quarter, in addition to Shopping Tours, Gay Tours, Girlfriend Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, and Chocolate & Pastry tours.

Tours start at 225 euros for up to 3 people, and 75 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 

  Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
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: 195 euros per person (about $210)
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 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.