The exhibition “Worth, Inventer la haute couture” at the Petit Palais revisits how Englishman Charles Frederick Worth (1825-1895) became a key figure in the history of fashion and the founder of a fashion house that became the epitome of Parisian luxury (to Sept 7, 2025). Worth founded his eponymous fashion house —whose history spans four generations—in Paris (1858) at 7, rue de la Paix. He is credited with revolutionising the business of fashion… Many consider him “le père de la haute couture.” Continue reading “Inventing Haute Couture”
Danish House “Double Mirror”
Glaciers are melting fast… According to recent studies the planet’s glaciers have lost 5% of their ice in little over 20 years. The melting has contributed to raising sea levels by about 2.7 centimeters since 1961. Researchers believe that most central and eastern Himalayan glaciers could virtually disappear in ten years. Climate headlines are shocking, but even more shocking is the world’s failure to meet the challenge. Continue reading “Danish House “Double Mirror””
Posters as Urban Art
The Musée d”Orsay exhibition, “L’art est dans la rue,” revisits French street posters with an exceptional collection of nearly 230 works, exploring the spectacular rise of the illustrated poster in Paris during the second half of the 19th century (until July 06, 2025). Organized in partnership with the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the exhibition brings together outstanding works by such “Maîtres de l’Affiche” as Bonnard, Chéret, Grasset, Mucha, Steinlen, and Toulouse-Lautrec. Continue reading “Posters as Urban Art”
American West “Revisité” in Paris
The Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson revisits Richard Avedon’s “In The American West” with an exhibition celebrating the 40th anniversary of this iconic photo book (until October 12, 2025). Although several of the images from this series such as “Texas Rattlesnake Skinner” are extremely well known, what makes this a not-to-miss exhibition is that it includes the entire series of images featured in the original publication. Continue reading “American West “Revisité” in Paris”
Matisse et Marguerite
The Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris features an exhibition of work created by the renowned French painter Henri Matisse (1869-1954) starring his daughter Marguerite as his favourite model (until August 24, 2025). Of all the faces Matisse painted those of his daughter Marguerite stand out for their special emotion. The artist created over one hundred portraits of her from childhood to adulthood. She was his most faithful model posing for him over several decades until the end of WWII. Continue reading “Matisse et Marguerite”
Suzanne Valadon at Pompidou
The Centre Pompidou— closing soon for a five year renovation— exhibits famed Montmartre artist Suzanne Valadon (1865-1938) with a retrospective. First a model calling herself Maria, then changing her name to Suzanne Valadon, she learned to draw by observing the work of artists for whom she posed (until May 26, 2025). Continue reading “Suzanne Valadon at Pompidou”
Robert Doisneau’s “Instants Donnés”
Musée Maillol hosts a large retrospective revisiting the work of French humanist photographer Robert Doisneau (1912-1999). The exhibition includes Doisneau’s iconic images—such as “Le Baiser de l’Hotel de Ville” —and hundreds of rarely exhibited photos (selected from his personal archive of over 450,000 pictures) curated by a team including his two daughters, Francine Deroudille and Annette Doisneau (to October 12, 2025). Continue reading “Robert Doisneau’s “Instants Donnés””
Best Paris Baguette 2025
Fresh bread from the local boulangerie is one of the things we love about Paris… especially the baguette. French baguettes received UNESCO’s world heritage status in 2022. According to the National Federation of French Bakers more than 6 billion baguettes are baked each year in France. Continue reading “Best Paris Baguette 2025”
Canal Saint-Martin
With its swinging footbridges and tree-lined quais teeming with people on long hot summer afternoons, the Canal Saint-Martin is yet another example of how appealing Paris is when it lives up to its clichés. Rooted in the city’s industrial past, today the canal offers plenty of opportunities for biking, sightseeing, and enjoying Parisian life at its most relaxed.
Tasty Tips…French Aperitifs
Terrace weather is here and having a drink at a strategically placed people-watching café is one of the pleasures of Paris. Here are some tips on some of France’s favorite after-six drinks. Continue reading “Tasty Tips…French Aperitifs”
Half An Hour From Paris
Many guides claim to be for and by insiders, but this one truly is. Annabel Simms—living in Paris since 1991—delights in exploring the Paris countryside by train and sharing ideas with her friends for discovering little-known travel gems. This summer she updated the book with two new chapters including Brunoy and the Parc Saint-Cloud, while adding color photos and maps. Her previous book “An Hour From Paris” is a long-time favorite for both visitors and ex-pats. Continue reading “Half An Hour From Paris”