I Prefer Paris

Villa Cavrois by Robert Mallet-Stevens

I took a quick trip to Lille earlier this week for a travel article I am writing for another publication. 

Lille is only an hour from Paris and I spent two days there in 2010. 

Just a 30-minute tram ride from Lille in the wealthy suburb of Croix is Villa Cavrois, a masterpiece of modernist architecture designed by Frenchman Robert Mallet Stevens. During the 10-minute walk from the tram to the villa, I passed some impressive, large-scale homes with manicured high shrubs and gardens. 

Reaching the entrance of the villa on a quiet side street off the main road, I approached a non-descript service building of ochre colored brick, feeling disappointed. Is this what I schlepped all the way here for? 

After getting my ticket, I was treated to a view of a formidable structure of more ochre colored brick, picture windows, sharp lines and angles against a backdrop of lime green grass. 

Wealthy textile industrialist, Paul Cavrois, who wanted a spacious home built for his wife and seven children, initiated Villa Cavrois. He first enlisted architect Jacques Graber, who wanted to design a traditional style house in the regional style of the local area, Cavrois changed directions, looking for a more modern style and hired Robert Mallet Stevens, whom he met at the Exhibition of Decorative Arts of 1925 in Paris. 

Construction started in 1929 and the only parameters the client gave Mallet- Stevens was the home had to be spacious, comfortable and practical. One last stipulation was it couldn’t go over budget. This gave Mallet- Stevens artistic carte blanche and he ran with it by not only designing the house but also every last piece of furniture. Mallet- Stevens also used his experience as a movie set designer to enhance his vision. 

Villa Cavrois was completed in 1932, in time for the celebration of the marriage of their daughter Genevieve. 

Sadly, the Mallet-Stevens masterpiece suffered some hard blows. During WW II, Villa Cavrois was occupied by German troops who used it for their barracks and after the war the layout of the home was significantly changed by the decision of the family to divide it into two apartments for their sons. Madam Cavrois died in 1985 and the property was sold to a developer who wanted to subdivide it smaller land plots. The project was eventually abandoned and the villa was left vulnerable to vandalism and deterioration, despite being classified in 1990 as an historic monument. Luckily, in 2001 the state purchased the house and the grounds. It took 13 painstaking years for the restoration of the villa, including replacing the furniture that was sold many years before. 

Walking through the home I was awestruck by the luxuriousness of the materials including marble but at the same time, the simplicity of the clean lines and curves. I also admired the rich, jewel color palette of the furniture against the more toned down colors of the raw materials of wood and marble. 

When viewing the reflecting pool and the garden in the rear of the property, the perspective of the villa was even more spectacular, showing off another series of clean lines and also the full sweep of the cylinder shaped structure, barely visible from the front, containing the dramatic stairway I climbed inside. 

Another wonderful design element is the clever integration of the outdoor pool as part of the home instead of being placed in a separate area. 

If you are any kind of design or architecture aficionado, a visit to Villa Cavrois should jump to the top of your design must-see list.

Villa Cavrois

60 Avenue John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 59170 Croix

http://www.villa-cavrois.fr/en/

Open everyday except Monday 10AM-6PM 

Please don't forget to RSVP to Pauline Bernard event@hotel-pont-royal for the opening of my photo exhibit on February 5. 

 

 

 

Parisian of the Month: Liv Monaghan

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted a Parisian of the Month and happy to start off the New Year with an interview with Liv Monaghan, a singer and songwriter with a fresh, unique style. 

Where were you born and where did you grow up?

I was born and grew up in Cork city in Ireland. I went to university in Dublin.

When and why did you move to Paris?

I moved to Paris in 2012 to pursue a post graduate program in Theatre design (my background is in theatre design) at the Ecole Jacques leqoc and planned to stay a year but I’m still here!

When did you first realize you wanted to become a singer and what age did you start singing? 

I always loved to sing but I didn’t consider it a career path - ever - until I found myself jobless and Frenchless about 3 months into moving to Paris, and quite by accident discovered singing in small bars could round up a few centimes. It grew from that. 

Which singer or singers did you most want to be like when you were growing up? Did that change now that you are an adult? 

I loved musicals when I was a child, Julie Andrews was a favourite, and I also liked Maria Callas and Judy Collins. Now I listen to a lot more jazz singers, known and some lesser-known. I really like Esperanza Spalding.

Do you think that Paris offers more opportunities for performers starting out than other cities? 

It did for me, but I think it’s all about being in the right place with the right people at the right time.. being a young Irish woman in Paris was something a bit different and it probably played to my advantage. However, Paris is a slow burner, I think a lot of performers can get their careers to take off more quickly in cities like London or New York.

What would be your dream concert including venue, city, accompanying musicians, etc. and what you would wear? 

The Appel Room in New York, with Bill Frisell on guitar, Kenny Wolleson on drums, and Lee Alexander on double bass. For my dress - I would commission the designer Thibault Martin to create something goddess-like; He made my accessories for the album art of Slow Exhale, and besides being brilliantly talented, he’s a great friend and understands my style inside out.

Please tell us about your new record Slow Exhale and the process of writing the songs. Does Paris have a place in any of the songs? 

Slow Exhale was released in December. It was recorded in Paris in just over six hours in quartet, with Sava Medan (double-bass) Soheil Tabrizi-Zadeh (guitar and trumpet) and Adrien Cao (drums). It’s an eight track album and I’m really proud of it and grateful to everyone who helped make it happen, from the brilliant musicians to the gang who got behind me for my Crowdfund campaign. The process of writing with me doesn’t really fall into a regular pattern. I create songs as a kind of way to work through my feelings or respond to things, and the songs themselves, while having elements of personal truths, go through a process of collage and camouflage and collaboration until they are something beyond me and hopefully that comes across to the listener where they too can find themselves in the sound.

You perform mostly your own material but what are your favorite songs written by other people? 

I love Joni Mitchell. Her songs are both a joy and a challenge to sing. I also like to sing songs from Elliot Smith and Amy Winehouse. I have a fairly healthy jazz standard repertoire under my belt and  there’s something about Duke Ellington’s songs that pluck strings in me I didn’t know existed. 

Can you please list upcoming concerts in the next six months? 

1st February - Club Babilo, 20h, 9 Rue du Baigneur, 75018 Paris

12 February - Les Disquaires, 20h , 4-6 Rue des Taillandiers, 75011 Paris

30 March - Le Baiser Salé, 22h, 58 Rue des Lombards, 75001 Paris

11 April - Dolans Warehouse, 20h 3-4 Dock Rd, Limerick, Ireland

1 June - Walrus Disquaires Bar - 34 TER Rue de Dunkerque, 75010 Paris

12 June - Peniche Marcounet Paris

Where in Paris do you live and what are the highlights of your neighborhood?

I live in Montmartre near Lamarck Caulaincourt and I love it. I have wonderful neighbours, and everything I need is a stone’s throw away. There’s a great thespian atmosphere and La Femis is beside me. I escape the hustle bustle of Paris because I’m on the more local side of the hill. It’s got a quaint village vibe; There are great restaurants, bars and cafes near me. It’s a real community.

What do you prefer about Paris? 

The pace. The art. The laid-back casual-chic. The je ne sais quoi. 

You can download Liv's album Slow Exhale on I-Tunes or go to her site https://www.livmonaghanmusic.com/ for more info. 

Please don't forget to RSVP to Pauline Bernard event@hotel-pont-royal for the opening of my photo exhibit on February 5. 

 

Abstract Metro Photos- Faces

I am honing in on my abstract metro photos and have come up with a specific new category, fragments of faces. Eyes, noses, lips, cheeks. Do you like this new series? I would appreciate your feedback. 

Please don't forget to RSVP to Pauline Bernard event@hotel-pont-royal for the opening of my photo exhibit on February 5. 

Catherine Deneuve/Yves Saint Laurent Auction at Christies

She, one of the most beautiful actresses in the world, was his BFF, inspiration and ultimate muse, dressing her in his most iconic designs for close to forty-years. 

Catherine Deneuve and Yves Saint Laurent were THE fashion power couple, sharing the limelight in the international press. 

On the 10^th year anniversary of Saint Laurent’s death, Deneuve has put up over 340 pieces of her collection for auction. 

I went to see the preview yesterday at Christies on Ave. Matignon. On the second floor was a series of rooms with mannequins and racks featuring the clothes. 

The first room had the tres chic smoking jackets with pants and skirts, which in their day revolutionized the tuxedo look to include women. A black and white photo captured the couple looking their most glamorous. 

The other rooms overflowed with feathers, prints, bows, plunging backs and necklines, silk, velvet, bold splashes of red, orange, cobalt blue, and hot pink along with more subtle shades of chocolate and cream. The cherry on the cake was the fabulous accessories including 

If you are in Paris today, the preview is open for viewing until 6PM and tomorrow from 10AM-12PM. Don’t miss it! 

 

Christies Paris 

9 Ave. Matignon, 75008 

Metro: Franklin Roosevelt 

https://www.christies.com/salelanding/index.aspx?intsaleid=28219&lid=1&saletitle=

Please don't forget to RSVP to Pauline Bernard event@hotel-pont-royal for the opening of my photo exhibit on February 5. 

 

 

Door of the Month January 2019: 4, 6 & 8bis rue de Braque and Door Selfies

I am returning to Paris this month with a new set of doors. Rue de Braque in the northern/haut Marais is a one block street running east to west between rue des Archives and rue du Temple. The quiet, mostly residential street has a bevy of beautiful hotel de particulier’s. 

At 4-6 rue de Braque is a handsome and stately hotel particulier formerly called Hôtel du marquis de Lagrange, with a pair of massive wood doors painted cherry red. There also have roughly chiseled male and female heads. 

Next door at 8bis is a wood royal blue door embellished with lion head knockers. 

4, 6 & 8bis rue de Braque, 75003 

Metro: Hotel de Ville 

Aside from these great doors, I started a new experiment the other day. I positioned myself in front of a number door highly lacquered and doors with glass inserts, taking a photo with my reflection. I thought they were interesting but I would like to get your feedback. Do you like them and should I take more? 

I'm thrilled to have an article about my Eye Prefer Paris exhibition on February 5 in World Travel blog 

https://theworldtravelblog.com/richard-nahem-captures-the-essence-of-paris-in-upcoming-exhibition-eye-prefer-paris/

Please don't forget to RSVP to Pauline Bernard event@hotel-pont-royal for the opening of my photo exhibit on February 5. 

 

Trip to Turkey- Capadoccia Part Two

Since you loved my article and blog about Capadoccia, Turkey last week, I thought I would treat you to another series of photos. Do you have some favorites?

I'm thrilled to have an article about my Eye Prefer Paris exhibition on February 5 in World Travel blog 

https://theworldtravelblog.com/richard-nahem-captures-the-essence-of-paris-in-upcoming-exhibition-eye-prefer-paris/

Please don't forget to RSVP to Pauline Bernard event@hotel-pont-royal for the opening of my photo exhibit on February 5. 

 

 

Dita Von Teese in Jean Paul Gaultier’s Freak Show

The modern day Queen of Burlesque, Dita Von Teese is joining the cast of the Paul Gaultier smash hit show Freak Show for only seven performances, January 22 to 27, 2019. 

Von Teese and Gaultier are big fans of each other and are ecstatic to be collaborating together. 

Freak Show, is an autobiographical musical and dance show about world famous fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier. Running since October 2018, it’s been loved by critics and audience alike, selling out most of its run. 

Von Teese is a global star, bringing old fashioned burlesque to a new generation of admirers for over two decades, elevating the art form to a new level. She gets her cue and inspiration from burlesque queens and pin-up girls from the past including Gypsy Rose Lee, Betty Grable, and Betti Page. Her last show “The Art of the Teese” played internationally to standing room only audiences. 

If you haven’t seen Freak Show yet, now is a great opportunity to see this terrific show. Click here to read my review from last October. 

Dita Von Teese in Jean Paul Gaultier’s Freak Show 

January 22-27, 2019 

Follies Berger  32 rue Richer, 75009 

https://www.foliesbergere.com/uk 

Please don't forget to RSVP to Pauline Bernard event@hotel-pont-royal for the opening of my photo exhibit on February 5. 

Trip to Turkey- Capadoccia

After I left Istanbul in November, I headed to Capadoccia for three days. I took a 7AM flight (Mind you, at the Istanbul airport you have to go through security with your bags twice before you board), so I had to wake way before the crack of dawn. 

It was only a 90-minute flight, so arriving at 8:30AM, I had the entire day to explore Cappadocia on my own, before I joined a tour group the next two days. 

It was about a 20-minute ride to my hotel from the airport and I could already spot the dramatic mountain ranges. 

The hotel was in Uchisar, the highest point of the Cappadocia province. Pulling up to the Karlik Evi Hotel, with quaint knick- knacks and terracotta pots covering the stone façade, I thought I was visiting a Turkish grandmother’s home. Inside it was a cross between an arts and crafts haven and a flea market, with dozens of folkloric and contemporary paintings, heavily carved wood furniture, oriental rugs, bric-a-brac, and backgammon sets resting on tables. 

I walked to the back of the hotel and not only discovered exceptional views of the mountains and valleys but a working farm with a chicken coop, rabbit pen, and horses. There were also two swimming pools and a sculpture garden.  

My room was quite grand with a floating bed with a shimmery, red wine colored bedspread and matching pillows, stone walls, and best accessory of all, a tall, antique dial telephone, which actually worked. My desk was decorated with red votive candles, and hearts on a string made of twisted paper.  A daybed on the floor was made of pillows covered in tapestries and red and striped twill throw pillows. The terrace overlooked the valley and I inhaled the mountain air, which had a trace of chimney smoke from local fires. 

After I checked in the hotel, I took a late morning stroll through the mostly unpaved streets and footpaths in the village. In between taking in the views, I browsed the souvenir and craft shops; one shop with hand stitched and hand painted table and bedroom linens caught my eye. I ended up buying a beautiful red silk and linen tapestry, which now hangs over my couch. 

Hungry for lunch, I spotted an intriguing looking hotel. Blocked by a tractor, the owner told me the hotel was closed for renovation. I asked if he knew a good place for lunch and he mentioned he had just opened a new restaurant. He was kind enough to have his driver take me the restaurant. Looking more like a chic boite in Paris, than in the middle of a modest rural village, Reserved Restaurant was the place to be. The fab interior had turquoise velvet tufted chairs, cream color marble floors, exposed rock walls, and petrified wood tabletops. I learned the chef used to work at the Four Seasons in Istanbul. I ordered an appetizer of five different spreads; hummus, baba ghanoush, sun-dried tomato, red pepper and ground pistachio served with a bowl of olives and home-baked bread. It was so delicious and filling, I didn’t have room for a main course. The waiter offered a complimentary glass of Turkish red wine, which was excellent with my spreads. I was so impressed with Reserved Restaurant, I returned the next night for dinner. 

The next morning the hotel kindly arranged a complimentary, small group tour, covering the northern part of the area and Goreme, the main site seeing town. An open-air museum was the first destination, a spectacular site of ancient monasteries and churches carved from natural stone. Mostly intact wall paintings with vividly colored illustrations from the Bible from the 10^th to 12^th century were located in a few of the caves. A towering seven-story rock mass contains the Nunnery, a centuries-old chapel. Our next stop was the Monks Valley, famous for natural rock formations resembling chimneys and mushroom tops. 

One of the best things Cappadocia is known for is their hot air balloons rides. You may have seen photos of colorful balloons hovering over the valley. I was scheduled to take one the next morning at sunrise (another crack of dawn wakeup call) but unfortunately it was cancelled due to inclement weather. I was bummed because it was my last morning in Cappadocia but I realized it would be a perfect reason to return on another trip. 

Since I wasn’t able to take my balloon ride, I booked another tour small group tour. Organized by Ala Turka Tours, it was a full-day Green Tour of the southern part of Cappadocia. The landscape colors were quite different than the day before, with stunning hues of orange, pink, and green painting the mountains and rock formations. The best part of the tour was a 2.5-hour mostly, flat hike through the Meskendir Valley. At every turn and twist was another take-my-breath-away landscape, the likes of which I have never seen before. I felt as though I were on another planet. I’ve been to the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, many of the western National Parks in the U.S. and Petra, Jordan, but they seemed one-dimensional compared to the incredible variety of colors and landscapes in Cappadocia. I was told it was even more spectacular in spring and summer when the trees and wild flowers are in bloom. 

The weather had been mostly overcast the three-days I was in Cappadocia, but as we approached a bare-bones café carved into the mountains, the clouds parted and blue skies and sunshine prevailed. The group sipped on fresh pressed orange and pomegranate seed juice, taking in the magnificent terrain, now cast with a different light.

Cappadocia is probably one of the most naturally beautiful places I have ever travelled to and I can’t wait to return. 

 

Karlik Evi Hotel 

http://karlikevi.com/en

Reserved Restaurant

Tel. +903842192523

Andromeda Tours- private and group tours 

http://www.andromedatour.com/category/cappadocia/

Ala Turka- private and group tours 

https://www.alaturkaturkey.com/cappadocia-tours

 

Istanbul Hotels

I was fortunate to stay in some great hotels in Istanbul, all with excellent service, convenient locations, and cool interiors.  

The Fairmont Quasar Istanbul is a design hotel knockout with two soaring, modern towers make is presence known on the skyline. Pulling up to the lobby in my taxi, the outside pillars were graphically painted by local graffiti artists. I later learned the hotel sponsors a special program committed to showing the work of Istanbul artists. 

As I waited for my room to be ready, I toured the lobby, bar, tea salon, and restaurant. All of them were so chicly designed and inviting, I wanted to sit in every last chaise, chair, ottoman, and sofa. Soft palatable colors of cream, taupe, chocolate brown, were accented with bold orange accents. 

My room was sleek and sexy with cool electronic features, including a digital control panel to manage the lights, temperature, window blinds, and television. A tufted, dark leather headboard gave the room a masculine feel but was softened with white cotton bed linens. The room is on the 16^th floor with unobstructed, outstanding views of Istanbul; I spent a long time gaping at the thriving metropolis below. The shower room has ability to turn into a steam bath but I didn’t make time to try it.  An appetizing selection of nuts, dried fruits, and olives was a perfect late afternoon snack. 

Breakfast was quite an extravagant buffet with three stations, way too much to choose easily from. American and Chinese cuisine plus Turkish specialties such as yogurt, white cheese and pastries and homemade breads were served

One afternoon I made an appointment for a gommage treatment and massage. I had requested a male masseuse but at the last minute he wasn’t available, so as an apology, the hotel extended my initial 30-minute massage to 60 minutes. 

I sat in a huge tub while the masseuse gently washed my body repeatedly and then briskly rubbed with me with a cloth to exfoliate my dead skin. I went into a coma-like sleep during my massage, as my tired and overworked muscles from miles of walking the past few days were worked on. When I woke up I was totally relaxed and spent about 30 minutes cozied up in my thick, terry robe in a chaise lounge in front of the soothing swimming pool. 

That evening I had dinner at Ukiyo, an Asian fusion restaurant in the hotel. Located on a high floor with aerial views of the Bosporus, the dramatic interior was dark and trellis paneled walls were decorated with leaves and flowers. The highly flavored but light Asian cuisine was a nice alternative to the Turkish food, I had eaten all week. 

I was sad to leave this design heaven, but alas I had other territory to cover. 

After my stay at the incredible Four Seasons in Florence in 2016, I was psyched to stay at the Four Seasons Sultanahamet. The location was ideal, just steps away from the tourist sites of Sultanahamet, which I wrote about last week. The scale of Four Seasons Hotels is usually vast, and the setting for the Istanbul branch was a former prison. I was impressed with the courtyard formal garden surprisingly still lush with flowers, herbs, and plants in the end of November. My room was more than oversized, with two king beds and over comfortable mattresses that made me want to spend the day and night sleeping. I spent more time than usual pampering myself in the cavernous bathroom suite, treating myself to the L’Occitaine bath products. 

The public rooms and the salons on the lobby floor represented stylish but classic Turkish décor with turquoise walls (did you know the word turquoise is originally Turkish?)

As usual with Four Season Hotels, the floral arrangements were works of art with sunflowers overflowing in stainless steel vases. 

Breakfast was in a pleasant domed room surrounded with glass panels overlooking the lovely garden. Besides the extensive breakfast buffet, there was an omelet maker who made the fluffiest cheese omelets, the type I could never master at home, every morning. One evening I was so tired from my daytime activities, I decide to have dinner at the hotel. Funnily enough, I avoided kebabs all week for more exotic Turkish dishes, but I decided I couldn’t go home without having one. It’s a good thing I did, because this was one of the better kebobs I’ve had in a long time; the meat was succulent and spicy served with a flavorful, scented rice. 

When I left my Four Seasons nest, I headed to the Amira, a small family owned boutique hotel. The staff of the hotel could not have been warmer, always helpful and honest. I saw an attractive restaurant across from the hotel and I asked the doorman if he knew about it. He tactfully replied that it wasn’t the best restaurant in the area plus it was known the Mafia owned it. A genial server at the restaurant kindly wrote down a half-dozen phrases in Turkish to get by with, including good morning, hello, please, and thank you. Karin, the owner’s daughter went out of her way to make sure I was happy with my time at the hotel.  My room was small and ornate, like a little jewel box. I took the elevator to the top floor to discover the rooftop lounge and bar, which unfortunately was closed for the season. I imagined what it would be like in summertime, sipping a chilled aperitif while scanning the panoramic view. A special part of my stay at the Amira, was on my to breakfast every morning, there was a woman seated on cushions making flatbreads from filled with various spices and herbs from scratch on a table on her lap. The flatbreads were warm and delicious, a far cry from croissants in Paris. 

My last night in Istanbul, I had to stay near the airport. As we all know, most airport hotels are not very stylish, pretty much standard and bland. I was surprised when I checked into the Pullman Airport Hotel, with a slick modern décor. My room was spacious and thankfully the bed was ultra-comfortable, giving me a good night’s sleep before I returned to Paris the next day. A complimentary shuttle bus from the hotel whisked me to the hotel in five-minutes. 

Later in the week I will share about my other fantastic Turkey adventure. 

Fairmont Quasar Hotel 

Büyükdere Caddesi, 76 B Mecidiyeköy Mecidiyeköy, 34394

https://www.fairmont.com/istanbul/

Four Seasons Sultanahmet 

Sultanahmet, Tevkifhane Sk. No:1, 34122 Sultanahmet/Fatih

https://bit.ly/2H99SGA

Amira Hotel 

Küçük Ayasofya Mah, Mustafa Paşa Sk. No:43, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul

https://www.hotelamira.com/

Pullman Istanbul Hotel 

http://www.pullmanistanbul.com/tr/ 

 

 

Rhum Bar 1802 and MASHA Restaurant

In my younger days, I was a full out disco king, going out to clubs like Studio 54 or Area in New York almost every night of the week. Strutting my best moves on the dance floor, I was stiff competition for John Travolta aka Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever. 

Nowadays, I don’t go out much anymore at night except to have dinner at restaurants. I’ve put my platform disco shoes, shiny shirts unbuttoned practically to the waist, and bell bottom pants into storage and now wear furry slippers, a Snoopy T-shirt and sweat pants at home. I’m in bed by 10PM and addicted to binge watching on Netflix and the new golden age of television. 

Every once in a while, I’m invited to a new club or bar and although I don’t put my disco apparel on, I make an effort to dress myself up. In November, in a rare occasion, I was invited to two events back to back, the opening party of a new bar and the opening of a glamorous supper club and lounge.

Rhum Bar 1802 is the first exclusive rum bar in Paris, opened in November 2018 at the new Hotel Monte Cristo. The name of the hotel is based on the book, The Count of Monte Cristo by legendary French author Alexandre Dumas. Born of mixed race parents, his ancestors produced fine rums in Santo Domingo, where Dumas frequently visited. He returned from his worldwide voyages to Paris with the best rums he could find. The bar is specifically dedicated to Dumas’ passion for the great elixir. 

At the opening, shots of various rums were offered along with explanations and histories of their origins. I don’t really drink straight-up rum but I did have a refreshing cocktail of rum and Champagne. The interior of the bar and lounge has the feel of a the salon of a grand t tropical plantation, decorated with wicker chairs, ceramic plates posted on black walls, tropical plants, and center bar with dark wood and blue and white ceramic tiles. 

The extensive menu offers dozens of rums from around the globe including Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Fiji, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Guatemala. White rum, amber rum, old rum, and spiced rum are the different categories. 1802 invites clients to store their special rum bottles in their cellar. They are also inviting 100 people to join the exclusive Monte Cristo Club where members receive the following perks: four hand selected bottles of rum, free participation at events at the bar including tastings and master classes, 15% discount on hotel rates, and a mixology class for four people. 

Rhum Bar 1802 at Hotel Monte Cristo 

20-22 rue Pascal, 75005 

Metro: Censier Daubenton

https://www.hotelmontecristoparis.com/en/

Open every day 6PM to 1AM 

The next night I was invited to a private dinner by a friend of a friend of mine at a new restaurant and lounge, Masha, in the 16^th arr. near Place Trocadero. 

As I entered the chic lobby café, dressed up in bold black and white zigzag patterned floor, black and white striped wicker banquettes, and teal blue mid-century dining chairs, I knew I was in for a special treat. I was escorted downstairs to the restaurant area, a series of three rooms. 

An extended mural on the wall behind the dining banquettes by Japanese street artist Fan Sack, dominates the space (in a good way) with its sumptuous colors of red and pink. Japanese inspired throw pillows in rich patterns on the cream leather banquette softened the décor of the dining room. 

Our genial host and owner of Masha, Antonin Cornet, invited some of his good friends and colleagues to experience his new venture. He proudly spoke of his new baby and highly praised his Asian chef Takahiro Matsumoto, who formerly worked with Paris chef’s Eric Frechon and Pierre Gagnaire. Matsumoto has conjured up an appealing menu of French classics with a Japanese spin and sushi chef Makoto from Tokyo slices the freshest sushi and sashimi. 

Antonin highly recommended the tuna tartare with caviar as a starter, which I had no objections to and thoroughly enjoyed. Next up was a slow cooked salmon, another recommendation, which was spot on too. Still clinging to a formal French menu, there was a selection of cheeses from la maison Quatrehomme before the dessert course. Desserts were tame compared to the excitement of the other courses but the crème brulee with Hojicha (green tea) was a tad exotic.

After dinner Antonin invited us into the speakeasy for a performance by the camp singing trio of Romain Morian, Lolly Wish, and Charly Voodoo. The wild acting trio sung and joked their way though the room enticing the guests to play along with them. In between their sets, a DJ played some of my  favorite disco hits from the 1970s. I was having so much fun that I didn’t leave till past the Cinderella hour, about 12:45AM. 

Masha

85 avenue Kleber, 75016 

Metro: Trocadero 

www.masha-paris.com

Open for lunch Tuesday to Friday

Dinner Tuesday to Saturday, Sunday for brunch

Moi in my disco days-Dare to dance the Hustle with me? 

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