The Official Start of Summer

My friend Elaine arrived last week from Paris for a two-month stay in Los Angeles. She always comes with gifts (this year, a scarf from an open-air Parisian market) and French magazines.
If I'm really lucky, I'll find a way to fly back to Paris with her in August.

In the meantime, I'm spending a lot of time in Beverly Hills and
at the beach enjoying the arrival of Summer with my favorite friend.

Bliss.

Paris, East and West

I just read the most extraordinary story about Paris by writer Amy M. Thomas in the New York Times. Her prose is so beautiful, it made me want to pack my bags and go! Thomas spent two years living in Paris and currently is at work (in New York) on a book about her time there. She did the NYT story as a little prelude.

A snippet:

"I made my home in the center of the Right Bank, off the Rue Montorgueil. On an amazing market street filled with patisseries, fromageries and boucheries, nothing made me happier, or feel more Parisienne, than meandering up and down the pedestrian blocks, inhaling the irresistible smells of roasting chickens, stinky cheeses and warm, yeasty baguettes.

"On more occasions than warranted, I’d treat myself to a crème-filled pain aux raisins from Stohrer, one of the oldest bakeries in Paris. Not too far away in the Marais, at a bread stand inside the Marché des Enfants Rouges, the Cornet Vegetarien — a sandwich of fresh greens, grated carrots and fennel, marinated onions and thinly sliced avocado, dressed with olive oil and honey and dusted with chives and lime zest — was like nothing I’d ever eaten. And the man who prepared it, Alain, a barrel-chested maestro who was given to bursts of song and dance, always made my day."

This story made my day.
(How much is the NYT Internet subscription? Sign me up!)

UPDATE: I just discovered that Amy Thomas, the writer of the NYT story, has a blog, called God I Love Paris!

Photo, above, by Imke Klee

Paris yes or no?

My friend Elaine wants me to housesit for her for 2 1/2 weeks next month in Paris. Normally, I would jump at the chance...but this year I have several job opportunities here in LA and I'm thinking that I should stay put...(Jobs are hard to come by in this economy!)...

Also, I'm not sure I'm up to doing Paris alone at the moment, especially now in the winter when it's dark there forever...

What do you think? Stay in (mostly) sunny LA and work?


UPDATE: I just looked at the fares. I could fly round-trip for $700 and stay at Elaine's for free...
what to do?

Happy Weekend + Last Paris Post

One last batch of Polaroids....






Happy Friday my dears! Today concludes my series of posts on my Paris trip. Thank you so much for coming along with me! Don't forget to enter for the macaron giveaway. Will draw a name from a hat tomorrow!! Have a wonderful weekend! What do you have planned? As usual I have a mountain of laundry!

My Paris Apartment: The Details

Hello! As promised, here are the details on my Paris apartment. I found this beautiful place in the 16th Arrondissement last year on the vacation rental site VRBO.com. (I've also rented apartments in Rome and in Washington D.C. through them). I friend of mine recommended the site to me several years ago and I've been very happy with the results.

Each apartment is individually owned and listed on VRBO.com, and while I can't vouch for all the owners, my landlords in Paris couldn't be more gracious or obliging.

If you're interested in renting the apartment, here's the link. The building is aging and has a few quirks, but the apartment is beyond charming. Here's the link to more pictures on my flickr page.

As you'd expect, the rates are lower in winter, when the airfares are also on special. I flew to Europe on Air France with a last minute deal spotted on their website.

The next place I'd like to go is Barcelona.

Paris Polaroids

From my walk along the Seine.
(Photos were taken with my Polaroid OneStep Flash, bought on eBay.)

Parisian Love: This Ad Made Me Teary...

oh, this google commercial is so good!

(Via the beautiful Binary Bonsai...)

Ladurée Macaron Giveaway!!

As a thank you for all your wonderful comments during my trip to Paris, I wanted to give away this special box of macarons -- purchased this week at the Ladurée Champs-Elysees store!! To enter, just leave a comment here. The winner will be chosen randomly on Friday! Merci!

Meanwhile, a few more Paris posts to follow...xoxo

UPDATE: The winner of the macarons is Megan Maloy!

A View of the Arctic

Daylight is brief at the top of the world this time of year, but my flight home from Paris took me over the Polar Ice Cap and I managed to catch a view of moonrise and sunlight glinting off the pressure ridges in the ice. From 35,000 feet, they look like mountain ranges.

Lovely as it was, it was hard not to be shaken by the view of the broken sea ice that followed. It's a reminder that global warming challenges us all.

Home now in LA, with lots of memories of Paris and things to think about....

PS: I'm not sure if I told you this, but four years ago I wrote about this little documentary concerning this subject. I begged the producers to let me do the story while the film was still being edited. No one was really talking about global warming much back then -- except for one man who I had the honor of interviewing. The film turned into a very big deal. I'm very proud that LA Times was the first news organization to have the story. Here are the links to the old clips if you want to see them...

Macarons

On this, my last night in Paris, I went to dinner at Ladurée on the Champ Elysees. I had the best Club Sandwich of my life in the bar (along with a glass of champagne). Of course, I couldn't leave without getting a little box of macarons to take home. It's past midnight here, and the cab is arriving at 7:30 a.m. I'm excited because my friend Elaine, who lives here in Paris, is flying back with me to Los Angeles. And if I can manage to rustle the money together, I would love to come back with her when she returns to Paris in March.

My vacation -- including airfare and my beautiful apartment -- cost less than $1,800 for the entire week. Economical, I think, for expensive Paris. I'll give you all the details on how to rent apartment, if you're interested, when I get settled back in LA. I also have lots of Polaroids of the city I want to scan to show you. So, will see you soon. Thank you for keeping me wonderful company on my trip. I've loved and savored all your comments!

Xoxox

Paris Papers & Ribbons

Most of the paper treasures -- excluding the my spent Metro tickets - were found at the Porte de Vanves Flea Market. (Thank you for suggesting it!) It made for a lovely Sunday morning. Afterwards, I had a croque-monsieur and a hot chocolate at a nearby cafe...

I only have one day left in Paris before I head back to LA. Sigh...


PS: Thank you Kevin for the mention today on LA Observed. Even after a terrible trauma, a girl must go on living her life, you know? Off to have macarons at Laduree on the Champ Elysees.

Carrousel

I've counted three: One at the Eiffel Tower, one at the Louvre and one at the Hotel de Ville. Any others? I don't think the French invented them, but they certainly have perfected them -- like the amusement park equivalent of the macaron!

Louvre & the Musée D'Orsay

My dears, here are a couple more photos I took today while wandering around Paris. These were taken with my iPhone. I took even more with my Polaroid camera (6 packets!) -- which seemed to cause a lot of attention. I looked like such a tourist, apparently, that three people tried to scam me by claiming they found my "lost ring." I knew it was a scam because most of my jewelry involves rhinestones.

Anyway, the top photo is of the Louvre. The bottom photo is a picture of one of the glass canopies at the Musée D'Orsay, such a magical place...



More tomorrow!

Paris Open-Air Market

Hello everyone!! I wanted to show you a few pictures of the open air market across the street this morning from my apartment! I bought a bunch of artichokes, which will be so delicious with butter... I'm heading out now to explore the Marais! There's a little button & ribbon store there that I especially want to see. Will post details later!
PS: I promise to give you all the details at the end of the week about how to rent the gorgeous place where I'm staying. It's very economical! xo...

My Little Paris Apartment

Hello, I'm finally settled in my Parisian apartment. Except for taking off into a massive thunderstorm in Los Angeles, the flight was smooth as glass. Over the Arctic Circle I raised the window shade and there were the stars glowing three times as brightly as they do over the California desert. After a taxi ride to the apartment, I went out into the neighborhood to buy groceries (and other things with gorgeous French labels). The previous occupants had thoughtfully left a bottle of white wine in the fridge, and so I've settled in for a snug evening. Outside my window, there is wonderful street life. Here, even the police car sirens have a special music.

Tomorrow I will have even more to tell you -- and iPhone photos of this beautiful city.

Au revoir from the 16th Arrondissement!

Catching that Polar Express

Ok, my dears I'm off! I'm taking a plane that will fly up over the top of the world and down to Europe, landing in Paris. (Winter coat, silk thermals and boots are in tow)! I'll probably be out of touch for a couple days while I'm getting settled. I'll see you back here hopefully on Thursday. Meanwhile, my dear friend Liss from Daydream Lily will be housesitting here at the English Muse! xoxox

Photo from {Here}

Carry-on Bag

Hello loves! Thank you for all your wonderful advice on my ongoing packing efforts for Paris. I'm definitely taking silk thermals and lots of scarves!! I've put together a few items for my carry-on bag: The essential map book of Paris (even though I need a magnifying glass to read it); a well-loved pashmina; a Penguin books journal; Chantecaille rose water spray; ear plugs from the Bryant Park Hotel in NYC; a little box of candy; a Mac Euro plug and an extra 4GBs; a copy of Fight Club for the plane and a Moveable Feast for cafe reading; and all the money leftover from my last trip!

Help!! What should I pack for Paris?

I'm trying to pack and everything seems so wrong....I've been studying all of Joanna Goddard's How to Dress Like a French Woman posts to prepare. But still I'm worried. I live in Los Angeles where people wear flip-flops all year long...My darling fashionista friends, what should I pack?


(photo via we heart it)

When the going gets tough, the tough go to.... Paris

I've been thinking that maybe I need a little break from all this layoff angst. I've decided to take a trip to Paris (leaving on Jan. 20) to sip hot chocolate and stroll through the 7th arrondissement with my friend Elaine, who lives there with her husband, Jean-Loup. I'm doing this on the cheep because I'm watching every dime. I've got a great rate on the plane fare, and now I'm looking to rent a studio apartment. It won't be like the one below. But this lovely pied-a-terre -- in the newest issue of Paumes Appartements de filles a Paris -- has me so inspired.

Have a look:

Can't wait, can't wait!

Parisian Salon

The beautiful Parisien Salon offers all things for the Francophile: Places to stay when visiting, the best fashion and accessory shops, eateries, wine tasting, chocolates, movies, all!

xo, Flux Capacitor
Making blog posts short and sweet
since 2008