I Prefer Paris

Book Giveaway: Scattershot by Larry Chrysler

I met Larry Chrysler in Paris through my blog in about 2008. Larry lives in Los Angeles and comes to Paris at least once a year, and at one point kept an apartment here but later sold it. Now in his 90s, still going strong, and globetrotting to Europe all the time, I meet Larry every time he comes to Paris. Over lunch or dinner, he regales me with amazing stories about his storied life in the fashion business, hobnobbing with the rich and famous, and traveling the world. His story needed to be told, so Larry has written a book about his miraculous life, Scattershot: My Journey from the Projects to Paris to Rodeo Drive.

Here's a brief synopsis of the book.

Scattershot: My Journey from the Projects to Paris to Rodeo Drive tells the unforgettable story of a Jewish gay boy who leaves the oppressiveness of the Minneapolis projects to pursue a glamorous career in design among elite fashion circles in America and Europe. At times funny, wise, and heartfelt, this is a story of coming out during the repressive 1950s and of eventually finding true love. In this wryly candid and inspirational memoir, Larry proves that no dream is impossible with a little daring and panache—and, of course, a fabulous wardrobe.

Larry Chrysler’s life takes a dramatic turn when a chance encounter with a mysterious stranger disrupts his day. From that moment, the son of a bipolar mom and a homophobic dad decides he must follow his heart and forge his own path to success if he is to achieve his fashion design dreams. Armed with only a high school diploma and “angels on his shoulders,” Larry befriends wayward princesses, dresses A-list actors and rock music royalty, and embarks on jet-setting adventures his younger self hardly could have imagined.

Larry has kindly donated a copy of Scattershot to giveaway to an Eye Prefer Paris reader.

The 8^th person who makes a comment on the link below, will receive a copy of the book. 

https://www.ipreferparis.net/2024/09/book-giveaway-scattershot-by-larry-chrysler.html

Here’s an Amazon link to purchase Scattershot

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D96YTVTF?ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_3CJZET3NQ7EYF51C7QB8&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_3CJZET3NQ7EYF51C7QB8&social_share=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_3CJZET3NQ7EYF51C7QB8&skipTwisterOG=2#

 

Doors of the Month, September 2024: Deal, Kent

One of the highlights of my trip to Deal, Kent to visit our friends earlier this month (CLICK HERE to read if you missed it) was the sensational doors. So many doors, too little time!

Not only were the doors painted pale, pastel, and vibrant colors, but they also often had either contrasting or matching color shutters or door frames. Many had hanging flowerpots or window boxes.

Monet Gardens in Giverny September 2024

Last week I had the pleasure of taking a client to Giverny. The client’s mother, who had worked in a flower shop, had never been to Paris before, and she loved flowers. I did some tours in Paris the few days before we went to Giverny, but by the continual smile on her face for over an hour when she saw the Monet gardens, indicated that this was the highlight of her trip.

It was cloudy on the way to Giverny, but once we arrived, miracle of miracles, the sky cleared and let through the gorgeous sun through. The colors of dahlias, Black eyed Susan’s, crab apples, and impatiens were brilliant, so much so, it prompted me to take dozens pf photos.

Enjoy the beauty of Monet’s Garden today.

I want to thank you for your comments and feedback emails and Facebook posts about my portrait photos. 

 

My New Portrait Photos

Last week Vincent shot portrait photos of me in the Marais. We've narrowed it down to these 4 photos. Which one do you like best? 

Fontaine des Innocents

Last month I went to see a fascinating exhibition at the Carnavalet Museum in the Marais about the Fontaine des Innocents. Located near Les Halles, the legendary fountain which inspired artists for centuries after it was constructed, has recently been cleaned and renovated.

The fountain was first constructed in 1548 and was designed by architect Pierre Lescot with the sculptures created by Jean Goujon.

The fountain was moved three different times over the centuries, and the current fountain was moved in 1860 to Place Joachim-du-Bellay, on the former site of the Les Halles marketplace. In recent years the fountain hasn’t been functioning and became rundown and decrepit. In 2023 the city devoted 5,000,000 euros to renovate the fountain, and it was completed just before the Olympics, with the fountains now working.

Various nymphs adorn each side of the fountain and the bas- reliefs represent nymph and Triton, Nymph and a little genie on a sea dragon, and Nymph and a little genie on a sea horse.

Place Joachim-du-Bellay, 75001

L/Uniform Canvas Bags and Accessories

I was walking home from a Saint Germain tour on the Quai Voltaire last week and discovered a wonderful shop. Peering through the window at L/Uniform boutique, I saw a selection of handsome canvas bags and totes trimmed with colored leather. Once inside L/Uniform, I methodically took in all the merchandise lining the shelves and on the display counters. Wallets and change purses in canvas were uniformly stacked in a draw, with appealing multi-color trim, one wall had tote fanny packs with fun-colored straps, and another display had roomy, square bottom totes with thick straps, and long ones with thinner and longer shoulder straps. L/Uniform also had a new collection of back-to-school bags for kids.

The merchandise is produced in Portugal with the quadrille canvas coming from Italy. There are two grades of canvas, cotton and cotton mixed with linen. L/Uniform can apply initials or symbols on any piece to customize it, and it takes about 15 minutes. They make great gifts, especially with the initials.

1 Quai Voltaire, 75007

https://luniform.com/en?_gl=1*1aya9qm*_up*MQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9rS-6_2tiAMVKmdBAh2MfAyjEAAYASAAEgKXXfD_BwE

 

Book Giveaway: Paris Blue by Julie Skolnick

American Flutist and author, Julie Scolnik, has kindly offered a second give away of her book through my blog.  We did one for her when the book first came out in 2021, and it resonated deeply with Eye Prefer Paris readers. Since there are so many new subscribers now, since then we decided to promote a second giveaway. 

 

From acclaimed concert flutist and the artistic director of Mistral Music comes an inspirational and heartfelt memoir about young love, heartache, and the role of memory in our lives. Set against a magical backdrop of classical music and Paris in the late 70’s, Paris Blue: A Memoir of First Love is a true fairy-tale memoir (with a dark underbelly) about the tenacious grip of first love.

PARIS, 1976: Twenty-year-old American student Julie Scolnik arrives in the City of Light to study the flute when, from across a sea of faces in the chorus of the Orchestre de Paris, she is drawn to Luc, a striking (married) French lawyer in the bass section. This deeply moving tale of an ebullient young American and a reserved Frenchman will transport readers to the cafés, streets, and concert halls of Paris in the late seventies, and, spanning three decades, evolves from deep romance to sudden heartbreak, and finally to a lifelong quest for answers to release hidden immutable grief. A deeply felt, bittersweet reflection on how youthful passion changes you and clings to you forever.

The 10^th person who makes a comment on the link below, will receive a copy of the book. 

https://www.ipreferparis.net/2024/09/book-giveaway-paris-blue-by-julie-skolnick-.html

Here is the USA Amazon Link.

Here is French amazon link. 

Scolnik has garnered over 20 awards since its publication, and a quote on for its cover by John Irving.

September 2024 Eye Need To Do’s: Lesage, Pierre et Gilles, Madame Butterfly, and Tina Barney

Lesage, 100 years of Fashion and Decoration

Lesage, the embroidery house for the top couturiers, is celebrating it’s centenary. Founded in 1924 by Albert and Marie-Louise Lesage, it went on the supply Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, and Chanel with its stunning embroidery and jeweling.

September 26, 2024 to January 5, 2025

2M Gallery

Place Skanderbeg, 75019 

https://www.le19m.com/en/la-galerie-du-19m

Pierre et Gilles

The two bad boys of celeb and avant-garde photography, Pierre et Gilles, have returned with a new photo show.

September 3 to October 19, 2024

Galerie Templon

28 rue du Grenier-Saint-Lazare, 75003

https://www.templon.com/artists/pierre-et-gilles-2/

Madame Butterfly

The beloved, classic opera Madame Butterfly by Puccini, has been updated for the 21^st century by the director Robert Wilson.

Opera Bastille

September 15 to October 24, 2024

https://www.operadeparis.fr/en/season-24-25/opera/madama-butterfly

Tina Barney- Family Ties

In her first European retrospective, American photographer Tina Barney will bring 40 years of her great eye to Paris. The exhibition focuses on portraits and photos of the American family.

September 28, 2024 to January 19, 2025

Jeu de Paume

https://jeudepaume.org/en/evenement/exhibition-tina-barney/

Lost in Frenchlation is a terrific organization that screens current French and foreign films with English subtitles. Checkout this link https://www.facebook.com/lostinfrenchlation/ to view films being screened this month.