The Paris Traveler

 We’re not in Paris today and that is probably a good thing since the weather is not cooperating and being its crappy Parisian self.  Beautiful things sometimes think they can get away with that….being crappy and still be loved.  Not with me they can’t.  So, I decided we need to get out of town and spread our wings a bit.  We aren’t even in France anymore.  We, people,  are in Bologna, Italy and we’re going to make pigs of ourselves on one of my favorite foods, Nutella!!  And the photo that you see is a Nutelleria, a restaurant in Bologna …read more

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 Le Bon Marché, considered the world’s first department store, offering “the good market” or “the good deal” was founded in 1838 by Aristide Boucicaut.  It is touted as the first “space” dedicated specifically to shopping and was the first to incorporate iron work (thanks to Gustave Eiffel) to create an open space while using less masonry.   Today, it offers few “good deals” as it is filled with beautiful haute couture clothing lines and accessories that will make your credit card statement wince in pain when you get back from your trip.  But it is four floors of pure indulgence …read more

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As crazy as this sounds, the Bibliothèque Nationale, or National Library, is worth a visit while in Paris.  Maybe not on your first visit while you are trying to get through the basics, but certainly your second or third time over you should try and get there. Don’t think just “library” as there are temporary and permanent exhibits that are certainly museum worthy.  I found these images from their archives which are postcards credited to the artist Villemard that were done circa 1910 depicting what life in Paris would be like in the year 2000.  They are too much fun and …read more

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I am fairly up on art, sculpture, design–artsy fartsy kinds of things you might say.  But I cannot tell a lie, I have never heard of Richard Serra.  Or if I have it just isn’t registering with me right now and I will have to ask my resident art expert, my daughter, Taylor.
Richard Serra–he is an American minimalist sculpture and video artist known for his work in large scale assemblies of sheet metal.  His installations span the globe and the reason I bring him to your attention today is because he is celebrating his opening of “Promenade” here in Paris. 
His work …read more

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I’m in the process of weeding things from my surroundings as our family gets ready to pack up the last 12 years of our life and come July, all splitting off in different directions as we go through a monumental shift in how and where we live our lives.  As a result, I have been going through things and of course, get caught up and side-tracked in old photographs, magazines, the dilemmas of, “Do I keep this Mother’s Day card from 1987 and where do I pack it if I do?”  All things that take me totally off track from …read more

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 First off, I just have to say that I could not love this graphic more and would chop it all up and use it a million different ways in crazy collages or decoupaged on a pendent to create a necklace or bracelet charm.  Too much fun.  The guy is Napoleon and Musée des Arts décoratifs is honoring his influence on design with an exhibition: Symbols des pouvoirs sous l’Empire (Symbols of power under the Empire) now through October 5, 2008. 
As you may or may not know, Napoleon aligned himself with military heroes from ancient Rome and Greece, taking many of …read more

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Yesterday I posted the Top 20 To Do List in the City of Lights according to Miriele Gilianio, author of French Women For All Seasons and Why French Women Don’t Get Fat.  I have personally taken advantage of all the sites she has proposed and I think it is only fair to give you some additional information so you can make informed choices as to whether they are something you would like to do on your next visit to Paris.  
Passages or galeries in Paris were conceived by town planners in the 19th century to protect pedestrians from weather, mud and …read more

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 This photo should move you in one of three ways:  you have no idea what is and are moved not at all, you are an avid lover of art and know exactly what it is or you have a daughter that you’re trying to raise to be culturally aware 
and have given her the book Linnea and therefore, have been here millions of times as you read through it. (Little 5th grade shadow box project of that book one of my girls did.  She is about to graduate college as an art history major.Hmm……)  For those of you in the first group, I …read more

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I love this city no matter what time of day it is.  However, if I could teleport myself anywhere, anytime and be totally wowed by something, I think seeing Paris at night for the first time ever would be beyond magnificent.  For me, it feels more “alive” at night.  All that’s hidden allows what has been or could be make itself known.  This statue sits on the outside of the Petit Palais.   During the day it is stark white and looks and feels triumphal.  But come nighttime it seems weary, fragile, exposing its human side.  

 The same for it’s …read more

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 I have had a curious interest in this most misunderstood of women, Marie Antoinette, for a long time.  History hints at a self-indulged young queen, which I am sure has an element of truth to it.  But my guess is that hers was not the easiest of  lives by a long shot.  If one could fast forward her into the present, I’m betting she wouldn’t be much different from the young pop stars we read about struggling with staying at the top of the charts, missing child support hearings, getting one too many DUI’s and spending the night in jail. …read more

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