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Printemps Haussmann Reopens Le Grand Escalier
Opening the daily newspaper, Le Parisien, the photo of a magnificent staircase in Printemps Haussmann met my eyes. After forty years, Printemps Haussmann reopened Le Grand Escalier (the Great Staircase). Get lost in the mirrors that reflect and the balustrades that twist to infinity. A major renovation project is complete. Forty years after Printemps closed off the staircase in the rotunda, the beautifully refurbished 1924 staircase once again reaches to the 7ème ciel (the seventh heaven) the rooftop. The staircase reopened Thursday, June 1, 2023. The only way to reach Le Grand Escalier is through the Caumartin women’s building. Excited to see the renovation, I entered the Caumartin rotunda, crossed the mosaic floor to…
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Inventions and Fun at Foire de Paris 2023
Where can you see 400 inventions for 2023 under one roof? My first stop at the Foire de Paris, the Lépine Competition (Concours Lépine, Pavillon 1 Porte de Versailles). My favorite inventions this year involved reading with an LED light and page holder held with your thumb, silicon fabric storage bags, phone holder for taking notes, the petanque ball retriever, device to attach a bracelet with one hand, and the sweatshirt backpack. The Lépine competition has been active for 122 years. On the Lépine website, step back in time for all the inventions since 1901, including the braille typewriter, the washing machine, ballpoint pen, lawn mower, air humidifier, artificial heart,…
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The Salon du Chocolat 2022 Offered Fashion and a Chocolate Bugatti
What do you do with 400 kilos (881 pounds) of chocolate? You build a Bugatti Grand Prix type 35, of course! The Bugatti was one of the numerous creative chocolate sculptures at the Salon du Chocolat’s 27th edition in Paris at Porte de Versailles. The event is always scheduled for the last weekend in October. When I arrived, I headed past the chocolate sculptures, the chocolate tastings, the bean-to-bar stands and straight to the fashion parade of fifteen chocolate-covered dresses and costumes. The announcer was loud and clear, so the event had begun. With two afternoon start times, I would still see everything. At the world’s largest event dedicated to cocoa, I…
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How did le Croque-Monsieur get its name?
Le croque-monsieur (croak-missyou) is THE real French sandwich. It is not just a ham and cheese sandwich made with two pieces of bread. It is toasted and it is famous. Le croque-monsieur is one particular sandwich that has made it's way from the brasserie and bistro to the microwave in France. Diners take photos of meals exquisitely arranged on the plate. Not many take a photo of a sandwich. These foods, however, do share something in common. They are available in the refrigerated section of the grocery store.
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Father Christmas at the Bastille in Paris
One day walking through the Bastille plaza, I saw the Christmas trees being set up around the green July column. By the next evening, purple was once again the sparkling color lighting up the Bastille July column. For the Christmas holiday, Pere Noël was riding the merry-go-round and another day he was dancing with a marching band. Every day is different in the Bastille!
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Paris: Shopping for Essentials – Who decides?
Thinking about the holiday shopping ahead? France is working through a vocabulary issue: what is considered essential shopping and what is non-essential? On the morning breakfast show, Télématin, Gabriel Atal, a government spokesperson, said it was unfortunate the government chose the legal form of the word, essential. In other words, deciding what is or is not essential is very controversial. Small businesses are hurting in November Monoprix, a mini-department store (grocery, household, parapharmacy, clothing, toiletries, etc.) was fully open during the first 55-day lockdown. This time, to be in solidarity with the small business, certain departments are cordoned off: books for example. However, magazines are sold because the magazine kiosks and…
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Bring France Home and Support Small Businesses
“We’re still here,” said Nathalie as she dusted the Paris dust off the shelves and products. Bring France Home is your Made in France shop on rue de Birague and online. Click on the categories at the bottom of their webpage to fill your shopping basket! The Eiffel Tower jewelry (category “jewels”) is unique to Bring France Home from their neighbor jeweler: Galerie UBU. Nathalie is optimistic for this year, but her shop and others need the international tourists back to survive. Chamber of Commerce (CCI) research in October 2019 showed that 80% of a shop’s revenue came from international tourists...... Click on the title to read more and watch…
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Foire de Paris-shopping for home fashion
Making the annual pilgrimage to the Paris Home Show (Foire de Paris) is now mission accomplished. However, we are going back for more. Last year we made contact with the interior architects and chose the style for the new, smaller sofa bed (canapé lit) and chair. After numerous vacations and conferences we are about to squeeze in and firm up our renovation plans to upgrade the nearly hundred year old electricity to accommodate the......
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Quirky Paris Souvenir Ideas – Made in France
While wandering around BHV/Marais I noticed bits and pieces of hardware, wall paper and cleaning products made in France. Across the street at City Hall's Paris Rendez-Vous boutique concept shop I found unusual souvenirs made in France. A while ago, I found Bring France Home near Place des Vosges that only sells souvenirs made in France. Are you looking for quirky Paris souvenir ideas and inexpensive?
Enjoy Paris Through My Eyes
