I Prefer Paris

Meredith Mullins: Vacation Adventures

Summer travels take us on many different paths. Exploring new cultures, visiting architectural and historical treasures, and just plain hanging out at beaches and pools to be cool. The photos this month are disparate, but they represent how much fun I’ve had this summer doing so many things in far-flung places ... and seeing the world through young eyes and a fearless heart. Happy summer!

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 meredithmullins@earthlink.net.

My Paris Apartment for Rent October 29 to November 16

I am renting my fabulous Paris apartment in the heart of the Marais near St. Paul metro, from October 29 to November 11, a total of 14 nights. It's a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loft style apartment with 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps one or two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S.  The apartment is located on the second floor with an elevator.

The price is $225 a night with a minimum rental 5 nights. Price is negotiable if staying more than 7 nights. Photos upon request. Please email me at rn88@rcn.com if you are interested.

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 Eats: L’Escargot

I go back and forth trying to decide what types of restaurants we should go to for our lunches. One part of me is eager and curious to find the newest restaurants and upcoming chefs, the other wanting to dine at the classic, old time restaurants, more for the history, atmosphere and sometimes legend rather than innovative food.

L’Escargot is one of the classics and I’ve passed it many times in my travels, longing to sample their namesake dish. Alas, the menu prices were not in my reach, so put it on the backburner for when a friend on an expense account visits town.

Last month I passed L’Escargot again and a sign outside listing a two-course formule for 17.50€ with appealing dishes caught my eye. I said, Ah-Ha! Here’s my golden opportunity to finally dine at a place long on my wish list.

Lynn had never been to L’Escargot either, so it was a first for the both of us. It was a hot July day with glaring sunshine and we sat inside, coping with the lack of air conditioning. As lovely and tempting as it was to sit outside, there was a perverseness about sitting inside among the plush, burgundy velvet banquettes, stone floors, dark wood carvings and bentwood chairs in summer. We learned from the waiter the restaurant was first opened in 1832 and the painted panels in the bar area, which adorned the dining room of Sarah Bernhardt, were donated to the restaurant after she died. We squinted our eyes and imagined someone like Proust would have eaten in the opulent salon at the turn of the century, dressed in his finest three-piece suit and a monocle to peer at the menu. We also imagined how cozy it would be in winter with a roaring fire enjoying a hearty cassoulet.

Of course the first order of business was to sample the legendary snails and the formule offered them cooked with Roquefort cheese. I thought it was an odd pairing and hoped the strong blue cheese wouldn’t overpower the taste. Served in a handsome metal pot with copper handles, the more than ample sized snails with their brown striated mollusks were beautiful to behold before eating. They were perfectly cooked, tender and not too rubbery and the flavor of the blue cheese was faint but added just enough to give an extra flavor.

For the plat, Lynn had a half roasted chicken with was flavorful but slightly tough and a large mound of crispy fried potatoes. Not only did my rascasse look divine topped with parsley, foam and summer vegetables, its taste matched its presentation. Crispy on the outside without being greasy and the vegetables cooked just enough to have some crunch.

The friendly waiters were cutely dressed in khaki shorts and white button down shirts.

Lynn and I will venture to L’Escargot again in the winter months to fulfill our Proust fantasy.

38 Rue Montorgueil, 75001
Metro: Etienne Marcel
Open daily
http://www.escargotmontorgueil.com/

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.

Boudoir Photo and Portrait Shoots when Traveling in Paris

Today’s guest post is by Cherie Steinberg, who specializes in boudoir and portrait photography. Checkout her story and her sexy photos and intimate portraits. Cherie has received international acclaim for her photos including write-ups in the Huffington Post and The London Telegraph. I recommend getting a portrait by Cherie but dare you to have a boudoir photo session.

Charles Dickens once said, “what an immense impression Paris made upon me. It is the most extraordinary place in the world!” and we feel the same way. Paris has long been associated with love, romance, sensuality, sexuality, fashion and passion, not to mention the deeps roots of boudoir & fashion portrait photography in France. We love Paris so much that we frequently travel there, with out cameras in tow, to take every opportunity to shoot boudoir and personal portrait imagery in the amazing Paris backdrops & locations. Speaking of Cameras, even Nikon considers us one of the best boudoir and portrait photographers in the country and we take that recognition to heart.

The term “boudoir” originally comes from the French word for a woman’s private dressing room, because of that; the glamour of boudoir is often attributed to its French origins. This is why shooting glamour boudoir is ideal in Paris. We take great pride in being one of the most sought after boudoir photography studios in Beverly Hills and we love to take our skills and cameras overseas to shoot in Paris. Cameras capture more than just images, they capture the emotions that are being felt at that time and few places in the world create more magical emotions than the feelings one gets while in Paris.

Unless you’ve been to Paris before, you can’t fully understand the emotions and feelings that empower your being upon your arrival. Walking through the cobbled streets, past the old structures and among statues and history of love and life long ago, might lead you to start to embody a Parisian. You will feel the difference of shooting in Paris the minute the first photo is taken and your images will reveal the true inner sexy Parisian that you have locked inside you!

Every woman needs to visit Paris once in her life to experience a city known for love, fashion and lust. You’ll treasure every second and moment you spend in Paris from the food, fashion, architecture and people; Paris will forever hold a key to your heart. I promise and it is truly the most empowering experience to have a portrait or sexy shoot in that city of all cities in the world.

We feel what makes us one of the top boudoir & portrait photography studios is our ability to capture the emotion in our photos and Paris is just the place to feel passion and love to capture in photographs. The Huffington Post credits us as being one of the top boudoir & portrait photographers in the country, as does the London Telegraph. If you’re going to Paris and interested in a boudoir or personal portrait shoot, please contact us and we will add your email to our travel list and notify you of our next trip. Let us capture your love for Paris when you visit by booking a  photo shoot in Paris.

We’ll see you soon…in Paris!   Xoxo
Cherie

Below are links to both of my websites.

cheriefoto.com
theboudoircafe.com

 

My Paris Apartment for Rent October 29 to November 16

I am renting my fabulous Paris apartment in the heart of the Marais near St. Paul metro, from October 29 to November 11, a total of 14 nights. It's a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loft style apartment with 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps one or two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S.  The apartment is located on the second floor with an elevator.

The price is $225 a night with a minimum rental 5 nights. Price is negotiable if staying more than 7 nights. Photos upon request. Please email me at rn88@rcn.com if you are interested.

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.

Ten Things Less Expensive Than a Diet Coke in Paris

I was with a tour client yesterday who complained about the high price of Diet Coke in Paris. Ordering a Diet Coke at a café the day before, she went into sticker shock when she received the check: 5€ for a measly 8 ounces served with a glass of ice.

I couldn’t explain or justify the rationale of the steep price of her favorite beverage, since back in the U.S. she could get the same Diet Coke for half the price with unlimited refills. I jokingly rattled off a few things you can buy in Paris for the same price or less. As a fun exercise, I started racking my brain to  come up with ten things the same or less expensive less than a Diet Coke in Paris and here’s what I compiled. 

1.    Two Pierre Herme macarons
2.    Ham and cheese baguette
3.    Three salted butter caramels at Henri LaRoux
4.    A pot of Mariage Freres tea at a café
5.    A glass of wine
6.    A fresh made crepe
7.    Three Parisian Postcards
8.    A small wheel of Camembert cheese
9.    Three Metro tickets (if you buy a carnet)
10.    A cup of Angelina’s hot chocolate to go

Do you have anything you would like to add to the list?

Checkout an interview with me on Expat.com http://www.expat.com/en/expat-mag/561-richard-in-paris.html

My Paris Apartment for Rent October 29 to November 16

I am renting my fabulous Paris apartment in the heart of the Marais near St. Paul metro, from October 29 to November 11, a total of 14 nights. It's a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loft style apartment with 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps one or two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S.  The apartment is located on the second floor with an elevator.

The price is $225 a night with a minimum rental 5 nights. Price is negotiable if staying more than 7 nights. Photos upon request. Please email me at rn88@rcn.com if you are interested.

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.

Dinner at Le Table du Connetable, Hotel Auberge du Jeu de Paume

Last February, I wrote about how much I enjoyed my visit to Chantilly and my experience at the Auberge du Jeu de Paume.

I was invited again to Auberge du Jeu de Paume in the end of July to have dinner at Le Table du Connetable, the two star Michelin restaurant, and to stay overnight at the hotel.

Vincent was just back from a three-month stint in New York working on his film After Louie and I thought it would be a nice romantic overnight getaway for the two of us.

We arrived on Friday at about 5PM so we could relax a few hours before dinner and given a lovely Junior suite with a small, quaint salon, where a tasty spread of fruit kebobs and a delectable tea cake along with a bottle of Champagne was laid out on the coffee table. Our roomy bedroom had a high bed with a scenic print backdrop and the sparkling white marble bathroom was the same size as our bedroom in Paris. We opened the glass doors in the bedroom to find a terrace overlooking the grounds of Chantilly castle and a calming fountain. We parked ourselves on some deck chairs and took in the soothing view.

The reason I was invited back to Auberge de Jeu du Paume was to experience the menu at Le Table du Connetable from the new executive chef Clement Leroy, formerly the head chef at Guy Savoy in Paris.

Our reservation was at 7 (tres Americain!), so we were shown to an almost empty restaurant. The spaciously appointed dining room with tables very well spaced apart was especially luxurious with plush dining chairs and sofas, plump orchids on every table, black wrought iron lanterns, chargers with silver rims and Venetian like crystal glasses.

Vincent

Vincent’s extravagant starter of Heirloom tomato collection 2016 was a piece of sculpture with layers of tomatoes swirling into a circle along with another plate of artfully presented multi-colored stewed tomatoes with a savory sorbet in the middle. Lobster salad Bellini style was a plump oversized piece of lobster with charred lettuce, a refreshing and appropriate summer dish.

Fish in many forms seemed the specialty of the chef and Vincent, a finicky eater, raved about the freshness and piquant flavors of the sauce of the Crunchy red mullet. My poulard came from a celebrated chicken farm, La Cour d’Armoise and was served with a crispy outer skin in a pool of Hyssop juice, a rare fruit along with braised lettuce.  

Pastry chef Joachim Bendacha punched up the wow factor with his decadent but also delicate desserts. Chocolate heaven was experienced with ice cream, praline, thick chocolate syrup and hazelnuts. Wedges of apricots soaked in local beer floating along side white mousse cubes topped with sculptural pieces of meringue looked more like an art installation at the Pompidou rather than dessert.

Service was impeccable but sometimes bordered on overstaffing (which is a rarity in restaurants in France) with two or three wait persons tending to us at a time.

After dinner we were invited to have coffee and petit fours on the outdoor terrace in the midst of the crisp country air, a perfect finishing touch to our memorable meal.

We slept soundly on the cushy mattress in our suite and got up early the next morning to explore the chateau.

Vincent had never been to Chantilly and I was eager to show him the chateau. Because I was there in winter, I didn’t partake in visiting the gardens. It was a warm day with mixed sun and clouds and we ambled through the manicured Le Notre garden, the bucolic English Garden and the Anglo-Chinese garden with a hamlet of five small rustic cottages, the model and inspiration for the Petit Trianon at Versailles. We cooled off walking along side the alleyway of trees lining the winding stream.

Even though it was less than 24 hours, our mini getaway was restful and relaxing.

Click here to read my other post about Auberge du Jeu de Paume.

Le Table du Connetable at Hotel Auberge du Jeu de Paume
4 Rue du Connétable,
60500 Chantilly
Lunch Friday and Saturday, dinner Tuesday to Sunday
http://www.aubergedujeudepaumechantilly.fr/en/restaurants/la-table-du-connetable

My Paris Apartment for Rent October 29 to November 16

I am renting my fabulous Paris apartment in the heart of the Marais near St. Paul metro, from October 29 to November 11, a total of 14 nights. It's a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loft style apartment with 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps one or two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S.  The apartment is located on the second floor with an elevator.

The price is $225 a night with a minimum rental 5 nights. Price is negotiable if staying more than 7 nights. Photos upon request. Please email me at rn88@rcn.com if you are interested.

Heirloom tomatoes with sorbet

Lobster salad

Apricot dessert installation

A wedding at the chateau

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 de Miromesnil

After visiting the Jacquemart Andre Museum last month for the Artists in Normandy show, I decided to stroll around the area nearby. Along rue Miromesnil I discovered a stunning door I am sharing with you today. Typical of the style of Second Empire/Napoleon III architecture, there are ornate carvings on the dark wood doors, Greek-like female statues and gargoyles. The building appears to be an office building because of the many brass plaques with business names imprinted on them.

Other addresses on rue Miromesnil have had their share of notable residents: At #6, author Colette opened a beauty salon in 1932, painter Edouard Vuillard lived at #10, Jean Luc Godard resided at #66, former president and possible future president Nicolas Sarkozy has his office at #77 and Elisa Bonaparte, sister of Napoleon the first, lived at #125 in 1799.

51 rue de Miromesnil, 75008
Metro: Miromesnil

My Paris Apartment for Rent October 29 to November 16

I am renting my fabulous Paris apartment in the heart of the Marais near St. Paul metro, from October 29 to November 11, a total of 14 nights. It's a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loft style apartment with 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps one or two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S.  The apartment is located on the second floor with an elevator.

The price is $225 a night with a minimum rental 5 nights. Price is negotiable if staying more than 7 nights. Photos upon request. Please email me at rn88@rcn.com if you are interested.

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.

 

May 1968 Riots by Karen Donner

Every once in a while I receive emails from blog readers, usually from the U.S., who share their experience of living in Paris for a period of time.

Karen Donner is a high school French teacher from the U.S. and recently sent a colorful story about being a university student during the May 1968 riots. Karen is proud to have her story told in a French history text book and now jokingly tell her students she’s old enough to be in a history book.

I posted another story in 2008 by an American student who also witnessed the May 1968 riots. Click here to read her story.

May 1968 Riots by Karen Donner

For my third year of university studies, majoring in French (and later having earned my MA) I studied in Paris. About 40 students from all over the U.S., under the auspices of The University of Alma, Michigan, flew by prop jet from JFK to Reykjavik, Iceland - for fueling - to Luxembourg from whence we were transported into Paris - and this was end of August 1967!  Hence the impact of this story.  Fast forward to the fact that we were there during the May, 1968 riots, which were wisely staged during the annual "grêves" (strikes) of most of the government businesses/agencies, such as the railroad, the Metro, and the trucking industry.  The graduating university students nationwide were protesting the system by which their final exams were graded as passed or not passed. Tests were sent to professors in different regions of the country so they would not know the students. The government considered how many jobs of what kind would be available for that graduating class. The number of students considered to have "passed" was entirely according to that statistic.  Thus, even a grade of what we would call 85%, for example, might be called "not passing".  The students unfortunate enough to be below the "acceptable" % that year had to attend university another year and try again.

We American students heard that the American Media was hearing that the rioting students were tearing up the cobblestones on the St. Michel and turning over "many" cars and setting them on fire.  Of course the Guard, who was called in, had to use tear gas to disperse the agitated students.  We heard the klaxon of the emergency and police vehicles.  A few of the students of our group decided to approach the St. Michel from back streets (many of us were housed in two Pensions next to the Jardins de Luxembourg). They saw only one car overturned, no fires and only a few cobblestones picked up (which had been thrown into one store window). I called my parents to let them know that we were safe and the disorder was mostly noise.  Someone through a tear gas canister up onto the balcony of a larger bedroom where a bunch of us were gathered to wait out the sirens and excitement. I ran to the open window and kicked off the smoking canister and closed the porte-fenêtres. However, just enough gas had escaped to enter the room.  We couldn't  believe how much that small amount made our eyes burn.  The part of this moment in history which adversely affected us was that the transportation strikes made it complicated for us to return to the U.S. "on time".  My sadness was much more intense as my "French Family" was unable to obtain enough gasoline to pick me up to have a "last" visit with them and I was unable to get any mass transit to get to them. (They still live in Meudon and we still see each other).

My Paris Apartment for Rent October 29 to November 11

I am renting my fabulous Paris apartment in the heart of the Marais near St. Paul metro, from October 29 to November 11, a total of 14 nights. It's a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loft style apartment with 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps one or two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S.  The apartment is located on the second floor with an elevator.

The price is $225 a night with a minimum rental 5 nights. Price is negotiable if staying more than 7 nights. Photos upon request. Please email me at rn88@rcn.com if you are interested.

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.

August 2016 Instagram Photos

It’s been a lovely month so far weather wise with very little rain or humidity, just gorgeous, clear sunny days with temperatures hovering in the mid-high 70s Fahrenheit. I’ve been out and about all over Paris and also Versailles and Chantilly snapping photos in the glorious weather.

Here are my most popular Instagram photos from the last month. Enjoy!

If you are still not following me on here are Instagram my tags again:
https://www.instagram.com/eyepreferparis/ 
https://www.instagram.com/parisian_doors/

My Paris Apartment for Rent October 29 to November 11

I am renting my fabulous Paris apartment in the heart of the Marais near St. Paul metro, from October 29 to November 11, a total of 14 nights. It's a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loft style apartment with 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps one or two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S.  The apartment is located on the second floor with an elevator.

The price is $225 a night with a minimum rental 5 nights. Price is negotiable if staying more than 7 nights. Photos upon request. Please email me at rn88@rcn.com if you are interested.

Swimming Pool at Ritz Paris Hotel

Institut de Paris

Hotel de Sens- Marais

Bacarrat Museum/showroom

Laduree Tea Room -Rue Royale

Rodin Museum Garden

   Rodin Museum Garden

My garden courtyard

 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.

Daniel Buren Observatory of Light at Fondation Louis Vuitton

Fondation Louis Vuitton is encouraging artists to have innovative encounters with the architecture of the building and has installed  a new temporary work by Daniel Buren, Observatory of Light. Working closely with architect Frank Gehry, Buren has created an array of 12 various colored filters on the twelve “sails” that make up the 3,600 glass panels, which are the center point of the building. Focusing on the interchange of color, projections, reflections, transparencies and contrasts, both inside and outside, Buren strives to show the building in a new light.

I was at the museum on Saturday at 6:30 (a good skip the line tip: the museum is open till 8 on Saturday and 11 on Friday). It was a perfect August sun-drenched day with crisp blue skies and the way the light was streaming through the colored glass panels was striking. It was a kaleidoscope of bold Mondrian like colors and architectural shapes complimenting the already stunning architecture.

Inside the museum in the out door areas on the third and fourth floors, I twisted and turned my camera in every possible angle to capture the explosion of color.

The current exhibit in the museum focuses on contemporary Chinese art with works by Ai Weiwei, Zhang Huan and  Xu Zhen among others.

I had family in town that accompanied me to the museum and after it closed we had dinner at the Le Frank restaurant on the premises. We dined alfresco overlooking the picturesque Parc d’Acclimatation and La Defense.

8 Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi
Bois de Boulogne – 75116
Metro: Les Sablons _ take foundation Louis Vuitton exit (10-15 minute walk from metro)
http://www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr/en.html

My Paris Apartment for Rent October 29 to November 11

I am renting my fabulous Paris apartment in the heart of the Marais near St. Paul metro, from October 29 to November 11, a total of 14 nights. It's a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loft style apartment with 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps one or two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S.  The apartment is located on the second floor with an elevator.

The price is $225 a night with a minimum rental 5 nights. Price is negotiable if staying more than 7 nights. Photos upon request. Please email me at rn88@rcn.com if you are interested. Dates are flexible by two to three days on each end but please do not email me with other dates.

 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.

 

 

 

Philharmonie de Paris

I went to see the Velvet Underground exhibition last Sunday at the Philharmonie de Paris. The exhibition was a throwback and 50 year anniversary  tribute to the rock band in the mid 60s led by Lou Reed and John Cale. The Velvet Underground became a cultural phenomenon and gave birth to a new generation of rock bands. In 1965 the band was introduced to Andy Warhol, who later produced their debut album with singer Nico. Warhol designed the now iconic album cover of a yellow banana sticker with "Peel slowly and see" printed near the tip.

When the Philharmonie de Paris opened in January 2015, I took photos and posted them with a story about the new concert hall. It was a dreary, gray day and the hall was not fully completed with cranes still blocking the front of it. I never took the time to go back and shoot it properly.

It was a gorgeous, clear sunny day on Sunday and a perfect opportunity to reshoot some photos of the boldly designed building by French architect Jean Nouvel. I also took shots of the neighboring Grande de la Villette.

Click here to read my original blog post about Philharmonie de Paris.

The Velvet Underground
Till August 21
Philharmonie de Paris
221 Avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019
Metro: Porte de Pantin
http://philharmoniedeparis.fr/en/velvet-underground/home

My Paris Apartment for Rent October 29 to November 11

I am renting my fabulous Paris apartment in the heart of the Marais near St. Paul metro, from October 29 to November 11, a total of 14 nights. It's a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loft style apartment with 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps one or two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S.  The apartment is located on the second floor with an elevator.

The price is $225 a night with a minimum rental 7 nights. Price is negotiable if staying more than 7 nights. Photos upon request. Please email me at rn88@rcn.com if you are interested. Dates are flexible by two to three days on each end but please do not email me with other dates.

 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.