“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”
Singer Sargent… Dazzling Paris
“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”
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”
The Glow of Paris
“The Glow of Paris, the bridges of Paris at night, ” by Gary Zuercher featuring stunning black and white photos in the Ansel Adams tradition, is a real gem. Shooting in the large-format film tradition, the photographer brings to life the city’s storied bridges. “I thought this would be a one-year project” says Zuercher. “In fact, it took more than five years to complete. And in reality it may never end because there is always another inspiring view to be found and photographed.”
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”
The Latin Quarter Revisited
Discovering the 5 & 6th district
Romantic myths of Left Bank intelligentsia which date back seven centuries are brutally shattered on today’s busy bd St-Michel, the main artery of the Latin Quarter, where the 5th and 6th arrondissements meet.
The venerable Sorbonne, the quarter’s historic seat of intellectual life, is still there, but these days the forlorn chime of its chapel bell, which has punctuated the studies of generations of scholars, is drowned out by the din of passing traffic. Indeed most people who stream past the place de la Sorbonne seldom notice its beautiful 17th century chapel with its graceful dome. Continue reading “The Latin Quarter Revisited”
Paris Valentine with the Midas Touch
Okay, fellas, it’s time to think about making an impression on Valentine’s Day. You can do like every other guy in town and take the love of your life flowers. Or, you can score lots of points by offering her a gift of the gods that’s 18 karat gold. In Paris, prices range from a couple of hundred Euros for a modest bauble from Tati’s “fine jewelry” boutique, to two or three times that at Galeries Lafayette, or maybe 50 times that for the Cartier dream. Continue reading “Paris Valentine with the Midas Touch”
French Holiday Wines with Sparkle…
Twelve Bubbly Days of Christmas
Holidays are times to uncork a bottle of bubbly and make a toast. Although France’s champagne is the world’s most famous celebratory drink there are others that merit tasting. Since there are twelve days of Christmas here are a dozen bubblies to get you in the spirit this season. Continue reading “French Holiday Wines with Sparkle…”
Christmas Markets, Paris 2025
Paris’ Christmas markets are among the things that make the holidays special in France. The markets are found all over the city from the Tuilleries Garden to Saint Germain des Pres to the Parvis de la Mairie du 15e. But the biggest (10,000 meters) and most diversified market (200 stalls) is found at Paris’ La Défense. The earliest Christmas markets date back to the late middle ages and have their origin in Germany. The Dresden “Striezelmarkt” is said to be the oldest Christmas market and was first held in the 15th century. The Bautzen Christmas market and the Vienna “December Market” are supposed to be even older dating back to the 13th century. It was in 1570 when the Christmas market tradition found its way into Alsace, France’s easternmost region bordering Germany.
Paris Cemeteries, the Saints Go Marching
November in Paris begins with yet another long weekend away from work – le pont de la Toussaint (All Saints Day) – one of many strewn along the French calendar year. As Paris florists bring out their stock of chrysanthemum for the annual commemoration of Parisians now gone, and as other Parisians pack their cars and pile up at the exits of the city for yet another frantic weekend on France’s chock-a-block highways, why not use this most appropriate time of year for a less stressful outing to one of the capital’s cemeteries. This should be completed with the purchase of Georges Brassens’ “La Ballade des Cimetières,” a perfect way to record your outing and do your French homework. Continue reading “Paris Cemeteries, the Saints Go Marching”
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””