When you’re after a more local, secret Paris rather than the one pushed by top-10 lists in conventional guidebooks, it’s necessary to step off the dusty old tourist circuits and go in search […]
Roaming Paris’ Oberkampf Neighborhood, from Nightlife to Street Art
With its eclectic mix of trendy bars, nightclubs and concert halls, the lively Oberkampf neighborhood in Paris is a haven for foodies and partygoers. This hip section of the 11th arrondissement boasts great […]
Inside the Wine Museum in Paris (Musée du Vin)
Aside from the humble baguette, there is perhaps no other staple more common in French homes than the bottle of wine. Parisians have the luxury of choosing among hundreds of different varieties of […]
Wandering Paris’ Saint-Germain-des-Prés Neighborhood (Past and Present)
Put on your Sunday best and head over to Saint-Germain-des-Prés, an upscale Parisian neighborhood with centuries-old literary, revolutionary and artistic roots. Situated on the left bank of the Seine River– just blocks west of […]
Art on Water: Fluctuart, First Floating Urban Gallery, Opens in Paris
Opened in July 2019, Fluctuart is the world’s first floating “urban art center”. Docked at the foot of The Pont des Invalides on the left bank of the Seine River, this free gallery […]
Leonardo da Vinci at the Louvre: Feting the 500th Anniversary of Artist’s Death
2019 marks the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s death in Amboise, France– where the Italian artist and inventor is buried to this day. To commemorate this landmark date, the Louvre Museum in […]
Japanese Paris: The Best Restaurants & Grocers Around Rue Sainte-Anne
While most tourists with a taste for gourmet experiences come to Paris to try French food, a few know that the city harbors its fair share of excellent Japanese restaurants, grocers and casual […]
Fluctuat Nec Mergitur: Why is it Paris’ Motto, and What Does it Mean?
If you follow Parisian cultural trends with any regularity, you’ve probably seen locals reference the Latin expression “Fluctuat nec mergitur” as the city’s motto. But what does it mean– and where does it […]
How (& Where) to Enjoy Beaujolais Nouveau Wine Tastings in Paris
The French may not celebrate Thanksgiving, but on the third Thursday of November they find something of their own to be thankful for: wine. To be specific, the yearly vintage of Beaujolais Nouveau, an unpretentious, […]
Parisian Legends: Interview with Patrick Roger, France’s Own Willy Wonka
As this goes to press, the Salon du Chocolat is gearing up for another run in Paris–an annual trade show devoted to the art (and enjoyment) of chocolate. To celebrate the irresistible stuff […]
8 Reasons to Love the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris
More than a museum, it’s a cultural touchstone Few places in Paris carry the sort of sentimental weight that the Centre Georges Pompidou does for me. When I was a student, I spent […]
Paris in the Fall: Invigorating, Poetic and Dynamic
I’ll be up-front about something: Paris in the fall is my preferred time of year. There’s something about sparkling autumnal light hitting the Seine as you cross the Pont Neuf. Maybe the wind […]
Exploring the Gambetta-Ménilmontant Neighborhood in Paris, from Shops to Nightlife
For a taste of Paris far from the madding crowd and the done-to-death tourist track, head over to the Gambetta- Ménilmontant neighborhood. Tucked in a little-trampled stretch of the northeast that’s roughly adjacent […]
Nuit Blanche, a Paris Arts Festival for Night Owls
First celebrated in 2002, Nuit Blanche is an arts and culture event in Paris that’s ideal for the nocturnally inclined– and entirely free. Translating as “White Night” and held every October, the fete […]
4 Paris Jazz Festivals to Mark in Your Calendar Now
Paris is legendary for its longstanding jazz scene, rivaling New Orleans’ and New York’s at certains points in history. While the golden era of Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington and Django Reinhardt bringing the […]
Inside L’Officine Universelle Buly, a 19th-Century-Style Paris Apothecary
I’ve always been a bit skeptical of the apothecary trend. It’s generally struck me as a marketing ploy to raise the perceived value or originality of products and crank up their prices– irrespective […]
6 Inspiring Urban Farms & Community Gardens to Explore in Paris Now
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 applies to living space but to agriculture too. […]
How to Enjoy Paris Gay Pride (Marche des Fiertés LGBT+) in 2019?
Summer in the French capital necessarily means festivals and music filling the streets, the long days seeming to stretch out even further amid the joyful din. And what better way to kick off […]
In Review: The Ice Kube Bar in Paris (Gimmick or Intriguing Night Out?)
Featuring Siberian temperatures, surreal bunker-like surroundings that might remind you of Superman’s icy lair, and a jetset-aspiring clientele, the Ice Kube bar at Paris’ Kube Hotel claims to offer a singular nightlife experience. […]
In Review: Breizh Café & Cider Bar, for Creative Cocktails & Bréton Nibbles
Bréton-style savory pancakes and cocktails: if the combination sounds a bit odd, that’s because it is. But as I recently discovered, it can also be an eye-opening and delicious one. At the Breizh […]