Paris has a lot going for it, but if there’s one thing lacking, it’s space. The need to squeeze, adjust and think creatively not only […]
Inspiring Urban Farms & Community Gardens to Explore in Paris
History of Paris
All About Paris Gay Pride (Marche des Fiertés LGBT+) in 2026
NOTE: On June 26th, 2026, it was announced that the Paris Pride March (Marché des Fiertés), scheduled for Saturday June 27th, was cancelled due to […]
Montparnasse Cemetery in Paris: Walking Paths & Famous Graves
Montparnasse Cemetery, opened in 1824, sits on a site that was once occupied by three farms– in what was then a rural, sleepy corner of […]
After the Fire: A Short History of Notre-Dame Cathedral’s Disasters & Rebirths
Like most people, I felt a lump rising in my throat when I saw images of Notre-Dame Cathedral lapped with flames and choked by smoke […]
The Palais Royal in Paris: A Haven From the Crowds
It may be just a few hundred feet away from the Louvre, the buzzing epicenter of tourism in the French capital. It may house a […]
Academie de la Grande Chaumière: The Paris Art Studio Favored by Modigliani, Miró and Lempicka
{Editor’s Note: In July 2025, the historic premises of the Académie de la Grande Chaumière closed its doors. There is a new location (at 2, […]
La Coupole, a Montparnasse Brasserie Haunted With Artistic History
Referring to the legendary Parisian brasserie on Boulevard de Montparnasse, French historian Georges Viaud once remarked: “If the tables [here] could talk, they would tell […]
The Weird, Winding History of French Macarons
The history of the French macaron is a strange and winding one, as I first discovered during a trip to the fortified French medieval town […]
Inside Lapérouse, a Romantic Paris Restaurant With History Galore
First opened in 1766 as “La Maison Lapérouse”, this distinguished restaurant and bar situated smack on the banks of the Seine is a favorite spot for […]
Medieval Paris: A Self-Guided Tour of Sites From Middle Ages
During the 19th century, the Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann gutted much of what had been medieval Paris– forging the iconic skyline and enormous, grandiose boulevards we […]
Seeking Edith Piaf in Paris? Visit These Places
Affectionately dubbed “the little sparrow” and “la môme” (the kid) in France, Edith Piaf is a musical legend who has (rather surprisingly?) resonated with successive generations […]
“Alchemist” Nicolas Flamel Built the Oldest House in Paris
The modest medieval house located at 51, Rue de Montmorency in Paris is off-radar for most tourists. Yet for a niche set of visitors with […]
Short Biography of Simone Veil, a Passionate French Advocate for Women’s Rights
In June 2017, France lost Simone Veil, one of the most important figures in the long battle for women’s rights. Little-known outside the French-speaking world, […]
Exploring Paris’ Belleville District: A Haven for Artists, Immigrants & Revolutionaries
I’m a former resident of Belleville, that fascinating, messy, chaotic neighborhood in northeastern Paris that’s too often maligned (at worst) or overlooked (at best). An […]
Paris City Hall’s Square Was Once a Gruesome Public Execution Site
Paris City Hall and the square on which it stands form a cheerful, open, bright space where locals regularly congregate and relax. Known as “Hôtel de […]
These Places in Paris Aren’t Usually Associated With Black American History. They Should Be.
“It’s a great city, Paris, a beautiful city––and––it was very good for me.” — James Baldwin, Another Country (1962) One of the most singular and […]
Simone de Beauvoir on Freedom (For the Occasion of Global Women’s Marches)
The Women’s Marches were initiated in 2017, just a day after the inauguration of a new American President who’s bragged about sexual assault and shown […]
