I Prefer Paris

Christmas in Paris 2024: Vincent’s Gift

As many of you know, every year Vincent creates a special art piece for me every Christmas, and I am always so moved and inspired by it.

I always say each year he outdoes himself, and this year was no different. The first part of the gift came in a red Plexiglas box and inside was a photo that a friend of ours took last year in New York, of us hugging after we hadn’t seen each other in many weeks. The photo opened like an accordion with images on both sides. The second image is a quote from Walt Whitman and there were 6 other images after that. The second part of the gift was another red Plexiglass box, but smaller, with a painted gold rose sticking out of the top. Inside was a folded-up poster of a gold rose on white rice paper; with the words You are gold no. 16 for Richard Christmas 2024. (the 16 refers to the 16^th artwork of a series called You are Gold).

That day and even as I write this, tears of joy, gratitude and love stream down my face, as I was trying to hand Vincent his gifts without tear staining them.

I bought Vincent a recently re-released book of photos from photographer Peter Hujar and a Russian Orthodox church artifact of biblical scenes, made of bronze metal with inserts of white enamel.

Christmas eve we had 5 friends over for a Christmas feast. Vincent made a fantastic lasagna with broccoli rabe, ricotta and Parmesan, a salad of radicchio, pears, and dried cranberries, and I made a lemon, rice, and lentil soup. Dessert brought by our friend Gerri, who is a dessert expert, brought a yummy flan and a bouche de Noel.  

I hope everyone had a marvelous Christmas and Hanukkah.

 

 

 

Holidays in Paris 2024: Notre Dame

This is the last post for my Holidays in Paris 2024, and I have a very special, holiday treat: Photos of Notre Dame.

Last Thursday afternoon at 4:30pm, I decided to give getting into Notre Dame a shot. I didn’t have a reservation, but surprisingly the line wasn’t that long, and I was inside within 10 minutes.

The view walking in was overwhelming; the dark, staid interior I was so used to seeing for many years was now filled with brightness and light. The side chapels were uncluttered with a mix of contemporary art pieces and tapestries, and the old, musty oil paintings, now cleaned, had vivid images. The Nativity scene was beautifully executed with carved and meticulously painted figures.

The cathedral was preparing for a 6pm mass, and at 5:15, a priest approached the altar in a purple robe with a satin trim, followed by billows of smoke, with the organ playing.

I wish you a joyous Christmas and a happy Hanukah and hope you are spending the day with family and loved ones.

Holidays in Paris 2024 : Louis Vuitton- Maison Vendome

The festive and fun windows at Louis Vuitton Vendome feature whimsical, carousel animals such as tigers, swans, greyhounds, giraffes, zebras, and snails, painted in brilliant, shiny colors.

Extending the holiday spirit, the figures come alive on a carousel on the Place Vendome, sponsored by Louis Vuitton.

2 Place Vendome, 75001

Holidays in Paris 2024: Festive Trees

I’ve been snapping photos of holiday trees all over Paris on the streets, in shops, hotel lobbies, and parks and gardens.

Do you have some favorites?

Luxembourg Gardens

'

Ritz Paris Hotel 

Ritz Paris Hotel 

Our tree

Galeries Lafayette 

Patrick Roger Chocolate shop 

Holidays in Paris 2024: Printemps

Printemps this season pull out all the stops with its holiday windows with the magical Printemps Express Christmas train by artist Valerie Cuter. Printemps is also celebrating 100 years of animated virtrines and 50 years of window displays in motion.

Actress Juliet Binoche officially launched the windows in mid- November.

Holidays in Paris 2024: Dior Ave. Montaigne

I have seen 20 years of holiday windows in Paris, but the best windows in all those years are the ones at Dior on Ave. Montaigne this season.

I nearly gasped as I looked up at the stunning decorations of the corner façade, festooned with the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, models in Dior outfits, and gigantic, classic Dior handbags.

The windows have exquisitely detailed miniatures in glass snowballs and vintage suitcases of Dior in different scenarios including Christian Dior’s office, his garden at his home in Granville, him with his dog in his salon, a replica of the Ave. Montaigne boutiques, and the workroom, amongst others.

It’s as though you are experiencing the hidden world of Dior come alive.

Do not miss it if you are in Paris in December.

30 Ave. de Montaigne, 75008

EYE PREFER PARIS POSTCARDS FOR HOLIDAY GIFTS

I am offering a holiday sale of free shipping on Eye Prefer Paris Door Postcards. In addition, if you want to send them as a holiday gift, I can handwrite a personalized card for you.

For a set of 18 cards, you will save $12, and for a set of 9 cards, you will save $8.

Just in time for the holidays, the Eye Prefer Paris-Paris Door Collection makes a perfect gift for your Francophile friends and family.

IMPORTANT! You must order your cards before December 12, as I mail them from Paris, and it takes 10 days to 2 weeks to arrive in the U.S.

CLICK HERE to order 18 cards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors, 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers. 

Cost: $65 Includes Free Shipping.

CLICK HERE to order 9 postcards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors.

Cost: $35 Includes Free shipping

CLICK HERE to order 9 postcards: 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers

Cost: $35 Includes Free shipping 

Postcards are hand-wrapped with love from Paris and mailed in an elegant, French-blue envelope. 

Just in time for the holidays, the Eye Prefer Paris-Paris Door Collection makes a perfect gift for your Francophile friends and family.

Blue Doors

Green Doors

Blue Doors

Metal Doors

Wood Doors

Door Knockers

 

Holidays in Paris 2024: Galeries Lafayette

Here’s my first entry for my annual series of blog posts celebrating the winter holidays in Paris.

Today, it’s Galeries Lafayette, which has cool and flamboyant window displays with Santa dressed in tinsel, big beaked birds with eyes of colored beads, extravagant Baccarat chandeliers, and princesses in shimmering silver.

Celebrating their 130^th anniversary, Galeries Lafayette is doing to the hilt = Kevin Germanier (designer of the special Golden Voyager costume for the closing night of the Paris Olympics) creating delightful and sustainable windows, using upcycled materials. 

Inside, the iconic and immense holiday tree, has 20,000 magical,flashing lights.  

 

Eye Need to Do’s December 2024: The Nutcracker, Christofle, Les Miserables, and Jardin des Plantes

The Nutcracker

Choreographer Blanca Li updates The Nutcracker using hip-hop with the eight street dancers moving to the beat of Tchaikovsky.

Until January 4, 2025

https://www.sortiraparis.com/en/what-to-see-in-paris/shows/articles/316592-the-nutcracker-blanca-li-s-hip-hop-version-of-the-show-in-paris

Christofle-A Brilliant Story

A new exhibition shares the rise of Christofle, as a major house for gold and silver craftsmanship. It starts with the Charles Christofle and Henri Bouilhet, who started the company in the 1830s, and later transforms into an international brand.

Until April 20, 2025

Musee des Arts Decoratifs

107 rue de Rivoli, 75001

https://madparis.fr/Christofle-a-brilliant-story

Les Miserables

After a 30-year absence, one of the greatest musicals, Les Miserables returns to Paris. The new production has a revamped script and is performed in French with English subtitles.

Until January 3, 2025

Chatelet Theater  

https://www.chatelet.com/en/programmation/24-25/les-miserables/

Jurassic Illuminations at Jardin de Plantes

The Museum of Paleontology is going Jurassic for the holiday season with giant illuminated dinosaurs and reptiles throughout the Jardin de Plantes

Until January 19, 2025

https://www.sortiraparis.com/en/what-to-visit-in-paris/walks/articles/177574-jurassic-illumination-the-2024-2025-festival-of-lights-at-the-jardin-des-plantes-photos

EYE PREFER PARIS POSTCARDS FOR HOLIDAY GIFTS

I am offering a holiday sale of free shipping on Eye Prefer Paris Door Postcards. In addition, if you want to send them as a holiday gift, I can handwrite a personalized card for you.

For a set of 18 cards, you will save $12, and for a set of 9 cards, you will save $8.

Just in time for the holidays, the Eye Prefer Paris-Paris Door Collection makes a perfect gift for your Francophile friends and family.

IMPORTANT! You must order your cards before December 10, as I mail them from Paris, and it takes 10 days to 2 weeks to arrive in the U.S.

CLICK HERE to order 18 cards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors, 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers. 

Cost: $65 Includes Free Shipping.

CLICK HERE to order 9 postcards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors.

Cost: $35 Includes Free shipping

CLICK HERE to order 9 postcards: 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers

Cost: $35 Includes Free shipping 

Postcards are hand-wrapped with love from Paris and mailed in an elegant, French-blue envelope. 

Just in time for the holidays, the Eye Prefer Paris-Paris Door Collection makes a perfect gift for your Francophile friends and family.

Blue Doors

Green Doors

Blue Doors

Metal Doors

Wood Doors

Door Knockers

 

Eye Prefer Paris Postcards Holiday Sale

I am offering a holiday sale of free shipping on Eye Prefer Paris Door Postcards. In addition, if you want to send them as a holiday gift, I can handwrite a personalized card for you.

For a set of 18 cards, you will save $12, and for a set of 9 cards, you will save $8.

Just in time for the holidays, the Eye Prefer Paris-Paris Door Collection makes a perfect gift for your Francophile friends and family.

IMPORTANT! You must order your cards before December 10, as I mail them from Paris, and it takes 10 days to 2 weeks to arrive in the U.S.

CLICK HERE to order 18 cards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors, 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers. 

Cost: $65 Includes Free Shipping.

CLICK HERE to order 9 postcards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors.

Cost: $35 Includes Free shipping

CLICK HERE to order 9 postcards: 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers

Cost: $35 Includes Free shipping 

Postcards are hand-wrapped with love from Paris and mailed in an elegant, French-blue envelope. 

Just in time for the holidays, the Eye Prefer Paris-Paris Door Collection makes a perfect gift for your Francophile friends and family.

Blue Doors

Green Doors

Metal Doors

Wood Doors

Door Knockers