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Life in Paris: Tassin Leather Continues an Upholstery Tradition
Paris neighbourhoods have gone through gentrification significantly in the 2000s. Along Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine n the Bastille is no exception. The furniture manufactures and sales offices have given way to clothing and sports stores. There is hope, however, because La Maison Tassin Cuir (leather) continues an upholstery tradition. Their story includes drama. In 2015, a fire destroyed the company’s artisan workshops. Livelihood, unfinished orders from distant lands and their leather went up in flames. Like a phoenix, however, the Tassin company mobilised and moved into adjoining buildings. The former display room became the workshop. The business offices moved to another neighbourhood. Soon, by relative time standards, the salvaged tools…
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Paris Plages 2020 Includes Covid Testing
Paris Plages is carrying on its tradition in 2020 with sun and fun in this "Eté particulier". Circumstances make this a special summer with daily activities under sanitary conditions. Even Covid testing is included in the activities until August 30. Weekends at the Paris Plages (beach) are very busy. However, visit on a Wednesday and the atmosphere is much calmer. You can even find open deckchairs and parasols! The only line is at for Covid testing between 2 and 6 pm. the average wait time is 30 minutes to 2 hours for two different tests: do you have the antibodies and have you had Covid. Paris Plages is open daily…
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New Real Estate for Paris Sidewalk Cafés
It is June 2. Parisians are in front of a café drinking their coffee, chatting with a table mate under a red awning and a bright blue sky. This sounds so normal. But it is another memorable day in history. The restaurants have gone from strictly take away to serving sit-down customers. Location, location. If the restaurant is lucky enough to front a wide space or a wide sidewalk, tables may legally extend way beyond their normal space for now. Outside dining is de rigueur until Prime Minister Eduoard Philippe's next status announcement or until it rains.... (Click on the title to read more.)
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Fashionable Paris Masks
I am no longer desperate to find just any kind of face mask. Finding a mask has transitioned into its fashionable period in Paris. Face masks are no longer hard to find. They come in various shapes, prices and patterns. One day I saw a mask that coordinated with the skirt a girl was wearing. What would you think of fashionable Italian designed masks? The Italian-designed face masks are sold at the Casino grocery store on Rue Chemin du Vert. Piled together in a cardboard box without any fanfare, they sell for 3,50 Euros. They are comfortable, lightweight, washable, perfect for summer. The Italian-designed and imported to France masks include…
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Paris Markets Wrapped in Plastic
Life at the Parisian market has taken on a new form. The market is wrapped in plastic wrap. I could only look on. The scene was very surrealistic. On May 13 the markets reopened with new sanitary guidelines. The last time I visited the Bastille Market at Boulevard Richard Lenoir was March 22. Plastic crates separated the shoppers to provide distance. On March 23, the Mayor's office closed all outdoor and indoor markets. The ban did not include the grocery stores. Who needs a straw shopping basket ("panier") to carry around anymore? Market shopping is now available online for home delivery. The delivery order goes through Mayor's Office website, takes…
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Le Doggy Bag Concept Expands in Paris
Paris has a new dining style in 2020: Take Away or in French "emporter" in le "doggy bag". All closed for health reasons, some cafés and restaurants are creatively staying in business. At the entry door is a table, display case of food, posted menus and sometimes flowers welcome walk-up guests to place their order. Using a paper bag to carry out your lunch or dinner in France, got its start in 2010. Le loi Grenelle 2 required restaurants to reduce their biodegradable garbage whence came le doggy bag or "sac à toutou". Home delivery from chocolate to sushi to pizza is catching on with riders on motor scooters and…
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Stroll at La Place Saint-Germain des Près
Want to travel or go outside but cannot? Visit parts of Paris with Colleen's Paris. Take a bus ride and a stroll (flânerie) with Colleen’s Paris on a 2-minute visit to La Place Saint-Germain des Près, Les Deux Magots and the Gothic Saint-Germain des Près with the oldest bell tower in Paris
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Stopped by the Gendarmes
It is Covid-19 time and I am out for a beautiful, blue-sky morning walk with my camera. The delivery men on bicycles are collecting bags of chocolate for Easter from the chocolate shop on La rue du Pas-de-la-Mule. Walking past Places des Vosges, I passed a cinematographer and a director/producer filming for the gendarmery television network. Two mounted gendarmes were being filmed while questioning and chatting with locals about the document...
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Paris Scenes: Balcony, Street & Snow
These are scenes from a Montmartre balcony over Paris while at a party, walking to the metro near Ledru-Rollin/Bastille to attend a conference, snow scenes along streets in the 11th arrondissement heading to the suburb of Bagnolet for a presentation rehearsal between January 26 and February 7.
Enjoy Paris Through My Eyes
