I Prefer Paris

Paris Window Boxes-2021

It’s my annual edition of the Paris window boxes. For 2021, I concentrated mostly on the window boxes in my neighborhood, Le Marais. Do you have some favorites? 

Eye Prefer Paris 16^th Anniversary 

I want to thank the following people for generously donating to Eye Prefer Paris so I can continue my subscription service. Your donations exceeded my initial request of $540 and I will apply the extra funds towards a second year. I also want to thank you for your kind notes you included in the donation. 

Nancy S., Judith R., Chris K., Kathy G., Carol P., Judy H., Barbara E., Susan S., Liz S., John K., Monique VD., Angela LV., John H,. Edward N., Jan L., Richard B., Kathy M., Dr. J., Joanie S., Leann R., Mary Lynn C., Diane S., Barbara L., Carmen C., Debbie H., Bonnie F., Judy S., Cheryl M., Virginia G., Jerry F., Russ R., Cheryl T., Pete K., Jeanie T., Carolyn A., Michael H., Allan VF., Diane K., Annie P.,Brunie F., Susie F., Peggy and Jim B, and Linda S. 

My apologies if I have forgotten anyone. 

Boats on the Seine 2

As many of you know if you have followed Eye Prefer Paris for several years, I get inspired by something new, and then fixate on it for a period of time. The fixations have included doors, courtyards, lanterns, window boxes, drainpipes, and a host of other subjects.My latest photo fixation is boats on the Seine. I featured my first photos on a post in May, and since then I have been photographing boats on the Seine all the time when I take my almost daily power walk along the river. 

Here’s my latest collection which includes police and fire patrol boats, barges, tourist cruise boats, and cargo boats. 

Shall I continue with my new fixation of boats on the Seine? 

CLICK HERE to view my first series of boats on the Seine. 

 

Paris Plage 2021

Paris Plage, the Paris beach, has been a major summer event since 2002. Now in its 19^th year, it originally was just in one location in the Right Bank, but in recent years has been extended to the Left Bank near the D’orsay Museum, the Basin de Villette and this year they have also added the Trocadero Gardens. 

I strolled on the Right Bank plage just by my house between Pont de Sully and Pont des Arts early last Saturday evening and it was a hotbed of activity. People were partying, picnicking, bicycling, walking, jogging, hanging out with their friends and family, drinking cocktails and wine, snacking,  and playing petanque. It was such a joy seeing people out and about having pure, unadulterated fun and I captured those exuberant moments in photos. 

Paris Plage - Until August 22, 2021

https://en.parisinfo.com/discovering-paris/major-events/paris-plages

La Vie D’Artistes Photo Exhibit At Tour Saint Jacques

I’m always delighted to see the outdoor photo exhibits in Paris at various locations including the gates of the Luxembourg Gardens, Hotel de Ville, and Tour Saint Jacques. 

The latest exhibit is La Vie D’Artistes, a series of black and white photos by photographer Paul Ullman. During a 40-year period, Ullmann photographed dozens of artists, singers, and musicians in a room underneath the famed Olympia Theater. There’s also gallery show of the photos in the Marais at the Galerie Basia Embiricos in Saint Paul Village- 14 Rue des Jardins Saint-Paul, 75004. 

.Artists included in the exhibit: Barbara, Charles Trenet, Nino Ferrer, Serge Reggiani, Gilbert Bécaud, Coluche, Renaud, Bernard Lavilliers, Georges Moustaki, Georges Brassens, Yves Montand, Matthieu Chedid, Cali, Alain Bashung, Jeanne Cherhal, Françoise Hardy, Anne Sylvestre, Michel Sardou, Johnny Hallyday, Jacques Brel, Arnaud, Guy Bedos, Alain Souchon, Guy Béart, Vincent Delerm, Julien Clerc, Dominique A, Hubert Felix Thiéfaine, Jean Ferrat, Claude Nougaro, Michel Polnareff, Benabar, Jacques Higelin, Raymond Devos, Léo Ferré, Michel Jonasz, Claude François, Dalida, Juliette Gréco, Charles Aznavour, Francis Cabrel, Christophe, Serge Gainsbourg.

Until July 28, 2021 

Tour Saint Jacques 

39 rue de Rivoli, 75004

 

 

SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, July 22- Making Tarte Tatin Live Facebook Event

I am reposting yesterday's blog post because I made an error on the date for the event below. 

Please join me for a very special event in the Loire Valley, on Thursday July 22, where I will be live, filming  how Tarte Tartin is made, at the original house of the Tatin sisters, who invented the recipe. We are going to discover this new hotel on the site and give you a demonstration of how to make the authentic (and delicious!)Tarte Tatin at home!

Warning: Do not watch the video with an empty stomach! 

I will also be exploring the surrounding area of the hotel and the Loire.  

Date: Thursday, July 22 

Time:  10am EST (east coast time), 9am Midwest time, 7am, West coast time, and 4pm Paris time

CLICK HERE to join the tour 

Les Extatiques-Outdoor Art Installation at La Defense

I am a big fan of outdoor art and sculpture installations and always like the contrast between the art and the surrounding elements of nature and architecture. 

La Defense is currently exhibiting the 2021 version of Les Extatiques, where contemporary artists and sculptors are invited to install their works on the esplanade. This year there are nine artists showing their artworks and below are photos and commentary. Note that there are actually two installations, one in the  La Defense, which I am writing about today, and another one covering the area near La Seine Musicale concert hall. 

 a 

Senders by Tony Cragg- 2018 

This creamy, white fluid column os made of fiberglass, weighs 3100 pounds and was inspired by Constantin Brâncuși.

Awakening by Luka Fineisen-2021

Every few moments, an electric fan blows the white feathers all over the plexiglass box.

Why does Strange Fruit always look so Sweet? by Johan Creten 1998-2015- Made of gilded bronze

Creten references the Billie Holiday song Strange Fruit in this sculpture, which was inspired by a hallucinatory experience he had when visiting Mexico in 1999. 

Rezilienta by Ghyslain Bertholon- 2019- Cast in bronze 

La Maison Couchée by Jean-François Fourtou 

Fourtou has taken a typical house from the Paris region and has turned it on its side. The fun part is peering in the windows and seeing the furniture and interior of the house also on an angle. 

Cube Sphere Gold by Cyril Lancelin- 2021 

Bronze Eroded Bust of Zeus by Daniel Arsham

The sculpture is inspired by an ancient Roman marble depicting the mythological god, which is part of the collection of the Louvre. 

L’Extase

This is an exhibit within an exhibit with a series of photos. The highlight is the sensuous photos of dancers by photographer Sylvie Lancrenon, shot in a hotel right before it was being renovated. 

The best way to to La Defense it to take the #1 Metro line to the end. 

https://parisladefense.com/fr/actualites/dossiers/extatiques-2021/paris-la-defense#oeuvre5

Eye Prefer Paris 16th Anniversary 

On June 26, I celebrated 16 years of bringing you Eye Prefer Paris, posting three to four times a week. I want to thank and acknowledge everyone who has read Eye Prefer Paris, and especially want to thank my loyal subscribers who have received my posts by email over the years. 

I would like to continue distribution of my blog via email instead of you needing to remember to visit my website, but in order to keep up your "Parisian content fix," I need your help. The service that sends my email posts--previously free of charge--is ceasing operations in the coming weeks, and I now need to opt for a paid service, which charges $45 a month/$540 annually.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could help support me via donation (as small or large as you feel you may be able!) so I may bring you Eye Prefer Paris without interruption. 

CLICK HERE if you would like to make a PayPal donation (You don’t need a PayPal account to donate; you can just enter your credit card info **and be sure to opt for paying friends or family so a fee is not deducted.)

Or if you  you prefer to send a check, please email me at r.nahem@gmail.com and I will advise on mailing instructions.

SPECIAL INCENTIVE:

Anyone who donates $25 or more will receive a packet of my Eye Prefer Paris Postcards as a gift for your support. You will receive three different postcards with my images of Paris on them. 

 

 

 

 

Etretat Houses And Gardens

While I was preparing for the Lupin tour for Facebook, I snapped photos of the charming houses and gardens in Etretat. The climbing rosebushes were doing a great job of decorating the facades of the houses and the lush shrubs and bushes blanketed the front and side yards. I also loved the various materials and details of the houses such as thatched roofs, brick, and half-timber. 

CLICK HERE to watch the Lupin 2 video from Etretat, in case you missed it. 

Return to the Luberon: Ansouis

Another lovely village we visited in the Luberon was Ansouis. Officially named one of the most beautiful villages in France, Ansouis is the Luberon at its best.

 

The population is just over 1,000 people, and the residents take much pride in the upkeep of limestone facades of their ancient homes by maintaining beautiful vines, plants and flowerpots.  

Two other highlights of Ansouis is the impressive 12^th century chateau and the Saint Martin Church. 

Boats On The Seine

Two weeks ago, I posted a photo series of reflections on the Seine, and I received many compliments from you. (CLICK HERE to view them). 

I am still taking my brisk, power walks along the Seine and I recently shot a series of mostly barges and utility boats. As I was watching them, I pondered where are they going, where are the captain and the crew from, what are they transporting and why, and a host of other curiosities. 

Do you like the black and white photos? 

 I want to thank everyone for watching my live Rue de Martyrs Food tour last week and also for your generous tips to my PayPal account. I'm sorry I couldn't thank all of you individually, but know I really appreciate it. CLICK HERE to watch the video and CLICK HERE if you would like to leave a tip in my PayPal account (you don’t have to have a PayPal account), which I would greatly appreciate, as I do these tours free of charge for France.fr  Enjoy! 

 

Children’s Drawings of Notre Dame

 I want to thank everyone for watching my live Rue de Martyrs Food tour last week and also for your generous tips to my PayPal account. I'm sorry I couldn't thank all of you individually, but know I really appreciate it. CLICK HERE to watch the video and CLICK HERE if you would like to leave a tip in my PayPal account (you don’t have to have a PayPal account), which I would greatly appreciate, as I do these tours free of charge for France.fr  Enjoy! 

I was in front of Notre Dame last week doing research for a future tour. There’s been a temporary wall installed in front and on the sides of the cathedral while during the reconstruction from the 2019 fire. 

On the parvis in front, is an exhibition of drawings of Notre Dame. Six months after the fire, the archbishop of Paris, Monsignor Michel Aupetit, started a campaign requesting grade school children from France and around the world, aged from four to sixteen years old to “Draw me Notre-Dame: The cathedral you know or the cathedral you imagine. 

There were close to 6000 drawings submitted from all over France and countries such as Poland, the U.S., Germany, and Germany. 

Seine River Reflection Photos

A few times a week I do a 40-minute power walk along the Seine River. About five years ago when the city permanently closed portion of the highway below the Seine and turned into a mixed use bicycle, jogging, and walking path. 

My usual route is I enter the pathway at an off ramp by quai de Celestins by Pont Marie, and walk west, up to the Pont Neuf and then make my return. 

Last week, Tuesday was an exceptionally beautiful spring day, and I started my walk at about 8:15am. It was lightly brisk with a temperature of about 52 degrees F. The river was quite still, and the way the sun hit the water, made for some stunning, colorful reflections. I stopped to take photos and here are the results. Do you have some favorites here? 

SAVE THE DATE! Please join me for my live, Facebook Fabulous Food Tour on the Rue des Martyrs on Wednesday, May 19 10am EST (east coast time), 9am Midwest time, 7am, West coast time, and 4pm Paris time.

CLICK HERE to reserve your spot. 

 

 

April in Paris 2021- The Tuileries

Mother Nature continues to spread her magic this April in Paris and her recipients have been all the better for it. 

Last Thursday was a friend of mine’s birthday, so we met in the Tuileries by fountain near the Arc du Carrousel to celebrate. We pulled up some of the classic green enamel chairs and surprised our friend with two small cakes from our Les Trois Chocolats in the Marais. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to indulge in the cake feast, as I am on a strict diet. It was a blustery day with temperatures in the low 50s Fahrenheit with the sun gliding in and out, so one minute is was sunny and warm, the next, cold and windy. Nonetheless, we enjoyed the beauty of the garden; the tall tulips and the cherry blossoms sprouting out behind the marble pots and statues. The dramatic light of the dark puffy clouds against the blue sky and sun made for some great photos. 

Lovely Luxembourg Gardens Tour

Please join me for a Luxembourg Gardens Tour for www.france.fr on Wednesday, April 28, 10am EST (east coast time), 9am Midwest time, 7am, West coast time, and 4pm Paris time.

CLICK HERE to reserve your place 

Important Notice: I received an email last week from a female reader who asked me if I knew of an apartment for rent in Paris in 2022 for a friend of hers. Somehow the email disappeared before I could reply. Can you please email me again? Thanks.