If you’re plotting a trip to the French capital sometime in 2020, it’s no doubt handy to have an overview of what’s worth seeing and doing this year. It’s set to be an […]
The Rebirth of La Samaritaine, an Iconic Parisian Department Store
When news hit in 2005 that one of Paris’ historic department stores was being shuttered, locals reacted with understandable sadness and dismay. After all, since 1869, La Samaritaine– with its boldly-lettered Art Nouveau […]
The Jean-Jacques Henner Museum: A Quietly Stunning Paris Collection
Most tourists never set foot into one of the French capital’s finest single-artist collections, the Jean-Jacques Henner Museum. This is a shame. Not only does it house an arresting permanent exhibit of the […]
Exploring the Fondation Louis Vuitton Museum in Paris, Inside & Out
We don’t wish to disappoint you: this newcomer to the Parisian arts scene doesn’t resemble a giant, patterned couture bag from the popular designer after which it’s named. Maybe you’d say it evokes an […]
In Video: Secret & Offbeat Paris Neighborhoods to Explore Now
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 […]