• Let's Explore,  Specialty shops

    Artisanal Shop Brings New Flavours to the Bastille

    On my way to the oriental pastry shop Diamande along the Rue Sedaine in the Bastille, I noticed a new just-opened épicerie. I was tempted to stop for a glass of wine on its terrace (i.e., the sidewalk). When I walked into the shop, the man behind the counter looked familiar even behind his mask: the eyes, the Tintin-spiked haircut. “You resemble someone”, I said. “Who”? he asked. I proceeded to say the television personality who visits French producers and chefs riding up on his red and white checkered tricycle. Bingo! Voilà! Loïc Ballet and his childhood friend, Elodie Charras have opened an artisanal shop selling products (condiments, wine, cheese, charcuterie, oils,…

  • Couple with photographer wearing masks
    Billet d'Humeur/At a Glance,  Life in Paris & France

    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…

  • Image of the Amelot entrance Repaire de Cartouche
    Billet d'Humeur/At a Glance,  Life in Paris & France

    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…

  • Wallace Fountain in front of Shakespeare and Company
    Let's Explore,  Seeing Paris

    Find Wallace Fountains Find Paris

    Have you walked around Paris and passed right by a water fountain from 1872 without taking a drink? Did you spend two Euros on a bottle of water instead? The non-profit Society of the Wallace Fountains is working hard to preserve the iconic Wallace fountains. The Paris water department (Eau de Paris) is responsible for their continued functioning. The water source differs throughout Paris. Where I live in the Bastille, ours comes from an aquifer. The fascinating story and a guidebook with maps and 21 self-guided walks is a great way for to hunt for the fountains. As Barbara Lambesis the author and President of the foundation says, “Find the Wallace…

  • Metro Poster of 20 years Les Acquisitions du Musée du Quai Branly
    Let's Explore,  Museums

    Musée du Quai Branly – Timely Exhibition Opens

    Musée du Quai Branly is free to visitors until October 11 in memory of Jacques Chirac. A timely exhibition of the acquisitions over the past 20 years opened September 24, two days before former President Chirac passed away. In 1990 while still mayor of Paris, Mr. Chirac wanted to highlight the African Arts. When he became president in 1995, the Louvre was his target for the collections from two other Paris museums: Musée de l’Homme and the national museum Musée national des Arts d’Afrique et d’Océanie. Employees of the Musée de l’Homme went on strike in 1999 against the closure. The Musée des Arts d’Afrique et d’Océanie closed in 2003.…

  • Practical Info,  Transportation

    Travel Paris with Updated RATP App

    Getting around Paris is improving in French and English is getting easier. The RATP application has been updated and the Paris bus network has also updated many routes. The benefits of the application updates? After choosing the route to your destination, the metro lines the application propose include exit tips: which car and which exit number.