“John Singer Sargent. Eblouir Paris” explores the early career of American painter John Singer Sargent (1856–1925). Over the course of one extraordinary decade, Sargent achieved recognition by creating boldly ambitious portraits and figure paintings pushing the boundaries of conventionality (to January 11, 2026). Sargent (Florence, 1856 – London, 1925)—along with James McNeill Whistler— was one of the most famous American artists of his generation. Continue reading “Singer Sargent… Dazzling Paris”
Gerard Richter Paris Retrospective
The Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris hosts a major retrospective of the German artist Gerhard Richter (until March 2, 2026). The exhibition brings together many of Richterś iconic figurative images —based on photographs— along with his complex abstractions. The exhibition documents approximately six decades of the artist’s career. Richter’s eclectic work is rich in varied media ranging from his famous reproductions of banal and historic photography to glass panes to huge abstract paintings to stained glass church windows. Continue reading “Gerard Richter Paris Retrospective”
American Art, French Thinking
“Echo Delay Reverb, Art Américain, Pensées Francophones,” at Paris’ Palais de Tokyo” contemporary art museum, revisits various ways in which successive generations of artists in the United States have been influenced by social, political and theoretic concepts shaped in France (to February 15, 2026). Continue reading “American Art, French Thinking”
Jazzy Dance Rendez Vous
Chanson, tap dance, joie de vivre with a Frenchy jazzy cabaret in Paris’ timeless Montmartre? Sounds good to us! Check out the “Parisian Time Step” show–December 6, 2025– from tap dancer Ruby Boukabou and singer/ dancer Wendy Lee Taylor (Lido de Paris) with piano by Philippe Petit . The show is a fun celebration of Paris, music and tap dance where the audience time travels back to the Belle Epoque with its cheeky polkas; 1930s music halls and smokey 1940s-50s Saint Germain jazz bars. Continue reading “Jazzy Dance Rendez Vous”
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”
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”
Bohème Cooking: French Vegetarian Recipes
France back in the day wasn’t a very vegetarian friendly place. When Carrie Solomon first moved to France 20 years ago, it was far from “la belle vie” for a vegetarian immersing herself in local cuisine. Restaurants promoted nose-to-tail cooking and chefs had yet to start normalizing farm-to-table cuisine. Continue reading “Bohème Cooking: French Vegetarian Recipes”
Plat du Jour
Susan Herrmann Loomis’ cookbook “ Plat du Jour: French Dinners Made Easy” is a virtual journey to culinary France via recipes, photos, anecdotes and tips. From French “plat du jour” means dish of the day. Loomis is talking about “those dishes you find on handwritten menus outside French bistros or cafés, the ones that beckon everyone inside to sample a restaurant’s mouthwatering menu.” She says “Most plats du jour are classics lifted from the heart of French regional cuisine, dishes that evoke the essence of France, the spirit of terroir and grandmere… from Boeuf Bourguignon and Blanquette de Veau to Bouillabaisse and Croque Monsieur.” Continue reading “Plat du Jour”
The River That Made Paris
“The Seine is the most romantic river in the world. She encourages us to dream, to linger, to flirt, to fall in love…” says Elaine Sciolino author of “The Seine, The River That Made Paris.” A melange of historical vignettes, personal antidotes and poetic quotes spiced with photos and illustrations, this charming book is both informative and entertaining. Continue reading “The River That Made Paris”
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”