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Flea Markets and Brocantes in France
Take a train and go outside Paris and "chiner" for antiques and second-hand treasures. One suggestion to find something different is to go to a "vide-grenier". People empty out their closets, display and try to sell their no-longer-in-use belongings on the streets of their cute little towns! The second weekend in August was the vide-grenier in Mézilles, France.
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Finding Treasure Around the Corner in the Bastille
Have you ever wanted a specific, stylish item? And you searched until you found it? My search was for finding the hanging lamp treasure that would fit in with my 1890s library ceiling. No flea market was needed. The treasure was literally, around the corner from my apartment in the Bastille. I looked through the window of a vintage lamp store. After 27 years, I finally pushed open the door of Arts et Lumières, looked around, looked up and fell in love. Once I made the decision about buying the lamp, I took my time. Uuntil one day, the signs Tout doit Disparaitre (Everything Must Go) and Déstockage Massif (Clearance…
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Looking For Old Lace In Paris
A reader asking where to find old lace in Paris is timely. The annual needlework fair, l’Aiguille en fête, has stands with old lace, old patterns, old old everything related to needlework. The needlework fair takes place between the second and third week of February. One stand at l’Aiguille en fête to look for is Quand nos grands-mères coussaient. Ultramod comes the closest to selling vintage ribbons, buttons and decorations. Another suggestion is to visit the “Brocantes” or “Marchés aux puces” – flea markets and second hand shows. Vintage needlework Visit l’Officel des spectacles for a complete list of current Paris second-hand markets. For a listing of brocantes held the…
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May 1 and the Muguet – Lily of the Valley
May 1 is lily of the valley day around France. You may have already seen stalks and potted plants of lily of the valley (muguet, lys des vallées) being sold in Paris. Originally from Japan, the tradition to offer the muguet (moogay) dates....
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Pariscope Translated
Pariscope – no longer publishes the weekly magazine as of October 2016. You can use the application available in Apple Store and Google Play. More on the Pariscope Facebook page. – a Paris tourist and entertainment guide – The essentials of Pariscope: Lost credit cards (01 42 77 11 90) The front cover: Front cover – du mercredi au mardi – date is from Wednesday to Tuesday Inside the Pariscope Certain vocabulary words are used throughout Pariscope. For example the days of the week, opening and performance times, prices, etc. Basic vocabulary list: Days of the week – Times: lundi (lun) – Monday mardi (mar) – Tuesday mercredi (mer) –…
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Get Your Visit Started
Need to Know – Need to Have The essential travel items to obtain when you first arrive are good maps. I recommend two in particular: 1. The Map Book: The best book for street map of the arrondissements that I use is the “Paris Pratique par Arrondissement“. It is published by L’Indispensable. In this book they provide one-way streets, pedestrian streets, metros, RER, buses, tramways, post offices and mayor offices (each arrondissement has its own mayor). 2. Metro/Bus map: The best of the maps available is the No. 2 Grand Plan de Paris. Pick it up for free at any metro station. On one side are the metros and street names; on the…
Enjoy Paris Through My Eyes
