Culture and history
Books, films, fashion and how the city got this way.
Finding English Bookstores in Paris is Easy
Even though technology is making it so we may never have to pick up an actual book made of paper ever again, that doesn't mean there won't still be people (me included) who like the tactile…
Paris Plage: A Beach in the Heart of the City
It's pretty well-known that August is vacation month in Paris - as well as through much of Europe.
Paris Reading List: Books to Read Before a Trip to Paris
I thought it might be nice to post a suggested reading list for Paris - for travelers who want to immerse themselves in the city before arrival, or for Francophiles who can't be in the City of Lights…
French Flag: History, Colors, & Trivia
Every Francophile with an ounce of pride can easily identify the French flag - that brilliant tricolore of blue, white, and red bands. But how many know the history of the French flag?
Nude art models protest Paris' City Hall
Anyone who knows anything about the French knows they love to strike. At least once a year, Parisians find themselves fighting through crowded subway tunnels when the Metro drivers strike, stranded…
Bootsn'all 10th Anniversary Party, 2008! Letting Your Hair Hang Down
Chers Amis a Paris! Although you may not have made it to this year’s Bootsnall 10th Anniversary Party this past weekend, put the annual December party on your calendar for next year!
January Sales Dates (2009)
Winter sales in Paris, or Soldes d'Hiver begin this year on Wednesday, January 7th. Normally, the five-week winter sales start on the second Wednesday in January.
Musee de l'Orangerie in Paris: The Museum Monet Started
If you heard that a particular museum was chosen by the great impressionist painter Claude Monet as the permanent home for two large rooms lined with some of his largest paintings, and that this same…
You're Invited to BootsnAll's 10th Anniversary Party
What do die-hard travelers do when they can't be traveling to their favorite places in the world?
Paris Street Fashion: Right Bank Street Fashion
You know what you see in the fashion magazines and on the runway, but what are Parisians wearing in the Metro and on the streets?
Andrew Hussey's Paris: The Secret History
The first time I came to Paris was in 1975 with my parents. I didn't speak a word of French and the city intimidated me. A year later, I returned to study French at the Sorbonne.
Ambiguous French Cinema: Don't You Love It?
Ambiguity - if there ever were a definition of truly great French cinema - it would be ambiguity.
Free Paris Opera
It's September - Parisians are back in town - and so is opera! Well, opera never left, but it's just moved back indoors - partly.
Paris Parks & Gardens: Outdoor Art
On a perfectly sunny day in Paris, you may be loathe to spend hours rambling through stuffy museum corridors, but you don't have to stay indoors to enjoy Paris's art treasures.
Fall Fashion: The Keffiyeh Goes Mainstream
August has barely slipped away, but (thanks to a cold snap during the third week in August), Parisians have already pulled their boots out of storage (some of us were still wearing them in June) and…
Chic Shopping Paris
Chic Shopping Paris by Rebecca Perry Magniant Little Bookroom, New York 208 Pages $16.95, L9.99 UK Having simply nothing to wear, I was really happy to receive my review copy of Chic Shopping Paris…
Fashion for Eternity
Today, friends of Yves St. Laurent will say a final goodbye to one of the great couturiers of the 20th century.
Spring Street Fashion 2008
Anne Lise welcomes you at Bouygues (the cell phone company in France who's name you'll find the hardest to pronounce) (Bo-eeg).
Affordable Parisian Fashion
You don’t have to be rich and famous to find great fashion in Paris. You don’t even have to go to the ‘fashionable parts of town’ to find super boutiques.
A Chicken in Every Pot and an Electric Car in Every Garage: Open Letter to President Sarkozy
Monsieur Le President: In your campaign promises, you included the development of alternative energy sources as one of your goals.
Paris Spring Fashion 2008: Fashion Photo Contest
Pack your best pair of jeans and you can go just about anywhere in Paris, but you may want to do some shopping (quoi?) while in Paris.
La Graine et le Mulet: The Secret of the Grain
Abdellatif Kechiche's film La Graine et le Mulet recently won Best Film in the prestigious Cesar awards, comparable to an Oscar award in the U.S.
Paris Fashion Guides
In France, fashion is a family affair. Mothers and grandmothers begin giving their daughters (or sons) and granddaughters fashion tips at an early age. In a BCBG family i.e.
Cedric Klapisch's Paris
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2008 If you’re really lucky, once in a blue moon, you might get to see it snow in Paris.
'Paris Chic & Trendy' Book Review
You can learn big things from a little book. So, I’m discovering from the second book I’ve had the pleasure to review in The Little Bookroom publisher’s Paris series: Paris Chic & Trendy by Adrienne…
Best Actress 2008: Marion Cotillard
You may remember back in July, 2007 Paris Blog reviewed 'La Mome'. I urged fans to see this film at that time.
George Clooney and Nespresso
Just how much would you be willing to pay for a good cup of expresso? 1000 Euros? For the past year, French moviegoers have been treated to the humorous George Clooney ad for Nespresso coffee.
Winter Fashion in Paris '08
American groundhogs don't count when it come to predicting weather in Paris . We've had almost a solid week of blue skies and sunshine with a little nip in the air - which doesn't prevent Parisiennes…
Dining à la Jet Lag- Part 1
For the first week in Paris, you find yourself getting inexplicably famished at 3 pm.
Paris Lovers Reunited: Gerda Taro and Robert Capa
At a photo lab in Rochester, New York, negatives of pioneer photojournalist Robert Capa are in the process of being restored and will once again be brought to the public eye after remaining dormant…
Birth Control for Paris Pigeons
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2008 In Parisian 'argot' or slang, a 'pigeon' is a gullible mark.
New Parisian Winter Sport: Shopping
It's January in Paris. Let the sales season in Paris begin. The word for sale in French is 'solde'.
New Year's Resolution: Learning to Speak French
So you've decided to take French lessons. Maybe you just like the sound of the language or maybe you've visited France in the past and been frustrated by not being able to understand what's being…
Heroes: Part II - A Cure for Rabies
Talking about French heroes, Louis Pasteur is one who deserves special recognition for finding a cure for RABIES.
Who is your Hero?
How many of your heros are French? How many of your favorite movie actors, singers, composers, writers are French?
Fall Fashion on Paris Streets - Gray is OK
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 What you see on a fashion runway and what you're likely to see on the streets of Paris may be quite different.
Star-Gazing: Fabrice Luchini
Fabrice Luchini, Rue de la Gaite Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 When it comes to Hollywood stars, I might as well be blind.
Never-ending Film Festival
Perhaps one of the great unsung glories of Paris is its plethora of movie theaters. But it's not the sheer number that overwhelms me as much as the vast choice of film titles.
You're Invited to the BootsnAll Holiday Party
While Portland, Oregon in December might not be quite the same as Paris in December, we're hoping that if you're in the area you'll help make our December here in Portland a little more fun and…
Nicolas Sarkozy - in his own words: Testimony
In Nicolas Sarkozy's book Testimony , he writes in clear and simple terms about the changes France needs to implement in order to secure its place as a world player.
France Can be Arrogant- Who's the First to Say so?
Trivia question of the day: Who is author of this statement? "Unlike in Britain, which remains the model of a parliamentary democracy, France has always found it difficult to balance the different…
Best of the Bland: French Bathing Suits
What is it about French swimwear? I checked out Figaro's Best Bathing Suits today (knowing that no way will I get to Paris Plage or any other beach today with way too much work piling up!) and…
Paris Je T'Aime
Paris Je T'Aime was released in France over a year ago in 2006. It was released in the U.S. this past spring and is still playing in some theaters.
Confessions of a Montparnasse Model: Or How I Spent My Summer Vacation
Cite Fleurie Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 Armand LaCroix in his atelier at Cite Fleurie, 1977 Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 I'd like to say I did it for art.
Karl Lagerfeld and Homer Simpson?
Harper's Bazaar August issue take the Simpson family to Paris with Linda Evangelista. What a hoot! Can you picture the Simpson clan in haute couture?
A Plea from Ben Franklin
Is it possible that the French government has greater esteem for the venerable ole Ben Franklin than our very own US of A?
100 Photos Cinema moments
Photo provided by Reporters Without Borders Reporters Without Borders, in collaboration with the Cannes Film Festival has published a photo book 100 Photos du Festival de Cannes -pour la Liberte de…
Isis in Paris, The Black Madonna
Image from www.pantheon.org Most guidebooks will tell you that the early settlers along the Seine River were called Parisii.
Seeing Paris in the Blink of an Eye
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby “That city with a hundred mouths and a thousand cars, which knows nothing, but says everything,” is how Jean-Dominique Bauby describes Paris,…
First Hundred Days continues
Yesterday, Aujoudhui newspaper or Le Parisien in Paris (www.leparisien.com) published the 'official picture' of Nicolas Sarkozy which will appear in all of France's mairies i.e.
Education for One and for All
Normally you might think of free universal higher education as being uniquely Socialist, so it might come as a surprise to you that a king - Francois I - created the College de France (1515-1545)in…
Alesia neighborhood, Discount Heaven, Cells Phones, and more
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 You remember in a previous post (Black and White) , I mentioned that if you ignore the shop windows, the clothing colors you're most likely to see worn by women in…
Hat Attack
Hat display at Divine, 39 rue Daguerre Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 'Simply Divine' at Divine Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 It's really hard for me to walk past Divine my favorite hat shop on…
Black and White: Paris Spring Fashion
An elegant Parisian dressed in deep navy blue (i.e. the 'new' black and white) Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 Alesia shoppers dressed in black and white.
Quote for the Day
"God put good wine on the earth for us to drink . . . and pretty women for us to look at." Who said this?
Chinese Astrology - with a French Twist
Hate to be a harpie, but it's entirely possible that you missed my May1st, 2005 post about Chinese Astrology , Plain and Simple by Suzanne White.
Car Goddess: The Citroen DS
“I think that cars today are almost the exact equivalent of the great Gothic Cathedrals,” wrote Roland Barthes in 1957 in his rhapsody regarding the Citroën DS which was unveiled in Paris in 1955.
Paris Reading - Books to Put on Your List
There can never be too many books about Paris. I have just acquired a huge stack of books - and have only begun to delve into this treasure trove. Here is a sampling of the titles I've uncovered.
Exploring the Depths of the Opera House
If you have seen the original Phantom of the Opera with Lon Chaney (Senior), the silent version, you can never forget the lower depths of the Paris Opera house.
Jonathan Littell is officially French
According to Marie-Laure Combes March 9th AP story ,became an official French citizen last Wednesday, but retains his American citizenship.
Fashion: Skirt Length and Feeling Right
Penelope Cruz may not have walked away for an Oscar for her role in Volver, but she should get an award for what she has done for promoting knee-length skirts. What skirt length is in style?
Ben Franklin on French Fashion
Here's some of Ben Franklin's observations on French women and their make-up in 1776: "I speak generally , for there are some fair women in Paris, who I think are not whitened by Art.
My Secret Garden in Paris: Journals from the Seventies
Photo by Chris Card Fuller, "Monet's Garden - a garden for all seasons" Here is another excerpt from Paris Journals in the Seventies.
Too early to think about Polo?
Photo by Peter David Gordon Is it really too early to be thinking about polo? Probably.
Happy Birthday, George!
When most men think about retirement, Benjamin Franklin went to Paris in 1776. Seventy-years-old was a ripe old age in the 1700s.
Unearthed from Christina's Crypt
This post is in answer to Research Girl's request for another Paris -in -the -70s Journal Entry. Today is the anniversary of the unearthing of Tutankhamen at Luxor in 1923.
Consignment Shopping in Paris
This outfit was labeled as Christian LaCroix. Hmmm. I 'm still not 100% convinced. Beware of Chanel handbags in consignment.
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
Paris is considered by many to be the capital city of perfume - so it's ironic that Perfume: The Story of a Murderer directed by Tom Tykwer (based on Patrick Suskind' novel)should begin in the…
Get Ready for the Academy Awards in Paris
If you haven't seen Scorsese's The Departed yet, you should! This is Christina's pick for Best Picture Academy Award Winner this year.
Paris in the 70's - Student Diary
While cleaning out the storage space, I fell upon this Student Diary, Paris 1976, so from time to time I'll post entries for those who are interested in what it was like being a student in Paris in…
Stuck in a traffic jam?
Things could be worse. Consider the fact that after more than twenty assassination attempts, Henry IV was finally stabbed to death while he was stuck in a Paris traffic jam on May 14th, 1610.
More on the Man of the Year - Jonathan Littell
According to the Forbes.com story about Jonathan Littell's novel Les Bienveillantes may not be until 2008 that we'll see a copy of Les Bienveillantes in English.
Gorgeous at any age - in Paris
One of the films to finish up 2006, Desaccord Parfait, with Jean Rochefort and British actress Charlotte Rampling proves once again that there's a healthy market for romantic comedies that seem to…
Looking Back on 2006 in Paris
The end of the year is the time to remember the good movies that one has seen. In Le Figaro's listing of its top ten - would you be surprised to know that Little Miss Sunshine is included in that…
Stop Everything. Wherever you are in Paris at 7 pm. Cabinet of Dr. Caligari!
Okay this is it. Saturday night 7 pm. Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Go see this film. Salle Henri Langlois .
A Little History - Pont Saint Michel
Like London, Paris is a city defined by its bridges. Building began on Pont Saint Michel in 1378. In those days the bridge was covered with townhouses for craftsmen including tanners and shoemakers.
Fashion Challenged in Paris
Fashion – Why French Women don’t need Fashion Gurus Leafing through Vogue’s round-up of America’s ‘Best Dressed for 2006’, I came across this quote on P.
The Heart of Darkness - our Paris Basement
Steven King and Conrad should spend some time in our basement - or cave - as they're called in French. Paris basements are very creepy places.
More on Titian and Fashionable Armor
If you remember in my entry about the Titian exhibit at Luxembourg gardens, I wondered if Italian Renaissance armor would be the fashion statement for next Fall, 2007.
Les Bienveillantes - Jonathan Littell
Flabbergasting. Incroyable. That an American might win the Tour de France - this doesn't seem so extraordinary.
Paris Fashion Statement: Sequins
It used to be that you'd never see a sequin in sight. Now you see them at the strangest times - on ballerina slippers and handbags that benefit in no way from the sequin afterthought.
Friendly and Unfriendly Shopkeepers and Clerks
Friendly and Unfriendly Shopkeepers in Paris Many visitors to Paris, especially non-French speaking visitors wonder about how they'll be received in French shops.
Paris Je T'Aime - More Reviews
In today's International Herald Tribune (www.iht.com), Kristin Hohenadel reports on Paris Je T'Aime.
Paris Photos
The dragon that guards the treasure of cinema. Garden of the Pagoda Cinema, rue de Babylone.
Mini History of Paris
Micro-Mini History of Paris (Part I) Chris Card Fuller When you think of Parisian history, think Water, Walls, Stones and Bones. If there is a city today called Paris, it’s thanks to the Seine River.
Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky Chatto & Windus, London Translated from the French by Sandra Smith 2006 Suite Francaise is an interwoven collection of vignettes about life in Paris and rural…
English bookstores in Paris
Shakespeare &Co. may be a 'must' for writers coming to Paris, but there are other English language bookstores in town with just as much charm if not moreso and probably less expensive.
Marie Antoinette - Viewed in Paris
Maybe the best thing about viewing Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette is the chance to see this film (original version with French subtitles) at the Pagoda movie theater at 57 Rue de Babylone in the…