Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Place des Vosges - Ma Bourgogne




Ma Bourgogne
 
 
 
No matter the season or the weather, this bistrot in the heart of Place des Vosges attracts both the locals and the tourists.  I remember years ago having to choose whether to eat or to drink as we were short of cash and they did not take credit cards.
 
 
 
We chose the "house red."
 
 
 
 
Ma Bourgogne
19, place des Vosges
75004, Paris
 


Monday, December 30, 2013

Gérard Mulot - citron, citron vert, pistache!



Gérard Mulot
 
Some of the best macarons in Paris are found here. 
 
 
Although I make some very fine macarons,
I have never been able to make a tree. 
Perhaps it is because they are all too quickly consumed!
 
 
miam-miam
 
 
Gérard Mulot76, rue de Seine
Métro Odéon, Métro Mabillon


Sunday, December 29, 2013

Église Saint Germain des Prés

 
 
 
 
Église Saint Germain des Prés
 
 
This 1,000 year old tower stands tall in the St Germain area.  The renovations inside and out are heartening with many visitors taking notice.
 
 
The first time I saw this church I thought it dark and depressing.  My recent visits reflect the interest of the congregation and the neighborhood.
 
 
 
bon dimanche


Église Saint Germain des Prés
3, place Saint Germain des Prés
75006, Paris

 
 


Saturday, December 28, 2013

Hugo et Victor



Hugo et Victor


This round of mouth-watering tart slices will have you pressing your nose to the glass.  Well, you will unless they give you the "look" and you remember that you are not in a dream of your own...

Hugo et Victor is the creation of Hugues Pouget who was formerly the pastry chef at Guy Savoy.  Pastries are categorized as either "Hugo," reinterpretations of the classics, or "Victor," traditional desserts created with an edge.  


The shops look more like the displays of fine jewelry than pastries and chocolates with glass cases and downcast spotlights.  For my taste, the chocolates are more outstanding than the pastries. 


bon weekend


Hugo et Victor
40, boulevard Raspail
75007, Paris


Friday, December 27, 2013

vive le goûter! - La Pâtisserie des Rêves



vive le goûter!


Ah, yes, this is definitely the season!

There will be many "reformers" at my gym next week 
who have made New Year resolutions to get back in shape.  
Most of them will be gone by February.


Interestingly, this is the sign on the window of  
La Pâtisserie des Rêves on Rue du Bac.



La Pâtisserie des Rêves
93, rue du Bac
75007, Paris
 

Thursday, December 26, 2013

des chaussettes!


Colorful tights


This vibrantly colored window on Rue du Bac
reminds me of some wild socks I received as a gift.

Actually, I do not think that I saw any 
French women wearing styles such as these.



Rue du Bac
75007, Paris

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Bûche de Noël - chez moi



Bûche de Noël
"yule log"


Adopting another French tradition, 
we welcome Christmas with a bûche de Noël.


Using a recipe inspired by the celebrated Paris pastry shop Ladurée, the bûche consists of a buttercream icing, a roulade of fine bittersweet chocolate, and a filling of rich semisweet chocolate.  The humidity and rainstorms steered us to marzipan rather than our preferred meringue mushrooms.  Here is a recipe in English and another here in French.  We used the English recipe.


This confection was a collaboration of daughter Holly, 
visiting French girl, and moi.  
...sending you Christmas wishes 


(still have to make Jesus' birthday cake)



Beyond



Monday, December 23, 2013

Un sapin violet - Rue de Sèvres


un sapin violet


With an emphasis on color, 
the new shades of Pantone coffee mugs caught my eye.  
The crocheted tea cozy is an updated version 
of an old-fashioned favorite.


The windows just dazzle!



8, rue de Sèvres
75006, Paris
 

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Église Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois - la crèche




Église Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois


In the large space of the "crossing" 
where the nave, choir, and transept intersect 
is placed this manger scene. 


The rug, candles and 15-foot trees
 give an Old World appearance. 


bon dimanche




Église Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois
2, place du Louvre
75001, Paris

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Printemps - des chaussures et des bonbons



Printemps
Christmas windows


Two of my favorite things:
shoes and macarons



Printemps
64, boulevard Haussmann
75009 Paris

Friday, December 20, 2013

Réflexion - Avenue des Champs-Élysées



Avenue des Champs-Élysées

...a delicious panoply of lights


Christmas in shades of blue, white, and silver



Ave des Champs-Élysées
75008, Paris
Métro Franklin D. Roosevelt

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Cartier - la panthère



Cartier


This jeweler has an over-the-top display for the holidays.  
The building is washed in red light 
and one expects that the panthers will leap at any moment.


This well-known street was unusually quiet 
which suits me just fine.  
It could be that the intermittent rain 
and frigid wind kept the shoppers at home.  


No, I did not do any shopping here.





Cartier
154, avenue des Champs-Élysées
75008, Paris

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Maître Fromager Affineur - Androuet



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Androuet


Since 1909, this fromagerie has been offering cheese, 
selecting and maturing handcrafted/farm cheeses and raw milk cheeses; 
cheese from the best localities and best cheesemakers in France.


The sidewalk stand with samples of cheese 
along with the name and reputation of Androuet 
brought the Sunday crowd into the shop on Rue Mouffetard.



Androuet, Maître Fromager
134, rue Mouffetard
75005, Paris

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Lèche-vitrines - Paris à Noël



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Window shopping
on Rue du Bac


On a Saturday morning, 
Rue du Bac turns into a promenade of the families who live nearby.  
We saw many greetings across all generations 
as people paused in the street to chat.  


This young child was warmly dressed 
and had the requisite trottinette to make the Saturday rounds.  
As for the mother, you know I will say that...


...she must be a French girl



Rue du Bac
75007, Paris

Monday, December 16, 2013

Galeries Lafayette - le dôme en violet



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Galeries Lafayette


The iconic art nouveau glass dome is illuminated in purple this year as it celebrates the beginning of its 101st anniversary.  The theme is thankfully child-centered at Galeries Lafayette for Christmas 2013, and there are many animated windows to delight children and adults alike.  


As you walk into the rotunda area filled with counters of perfumes, the sheer size of the dome will take your breath away.  In certain department stores they frown on photos but this shot is replicated by every visitor to Galeries Lafayette apparently with the blessing of management.





Galeries Lafayette
Boulevard Haussmann
75009, Paris
Métro Chaussée d'Antin La Fayette

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Église Saint-Paul Saint-Louis - la porte rouge



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The red door


The renovations at this nearly 400-year-old church 
have made a remarkable difference in its presence on Rue Saint Antoine.  
The former door was a deep gray-maroon 
and lost in the dark pollution-stained surrounding structure. 


The interior has likewise been restored and repaired.


bon dimanche



Église Saint-Paul Saint-Louis 
7, passage Saint-Paul
(seen here at 99, rue Saint Antoine)
75004, Paris

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Sapins de Noël - Passage du Grand Cerf



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Christmas trees in Paris


Giggling on the first occasion of seeing 
Christmas trees dressed like sausages, 
I now find them totally charming.  


The stands made of split tree trunks are quite solid 
and they are ready to be carried off, 
through the Métro or by bus to a waiting Paris apartment.  


The scents of fresh evergreen are as omnipresent 
as those of the baguettes from the nearby boulangerie.



Messages du Grand Cerf
4, passage du Grand Cerf (Rue Saint Denis entrance)
75002, Paris

Friday, December 13, 2013

Canal Saint Martin - en automne



Canal Saint Martin


The patches of blue sky were trumped by 
the electric shades of orange and yellow alongside the canal.



bon weekend






Canal Saint Martin
75010, Paris

Thursday, December 12, 2013

des coeurs sous une cloche



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Hearts under a cloche


Just as this bell-shaped glass was designed 
to protect English garden plants from frost, 
this cloche may be protecting fragile hearts.


There was an immediate appeal to this window scene 
which was likely just a whim of the designer.  


I do wonder though....


Blanc d'Ivoire
104, rue du Bac
75007, Paris
Métro Sèvres-Babylone

Joyeux anniversaire, DKB

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Printemps - Christmas windows 2013



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Printemps


The windows are dazzling 
and the mirror reflections in this fashion window add to the look.  


I chose to cut off the name of the sponsor 
as the displays were much better before the grand magasins 
sold their window designs.  
Now the sponsor's name is splashed liberally 
throughout the windows and the store.




Printemps
64, boulevard Haussmann
75009, Paris

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel - le zèbre en colère



The angry zebra!


This carousel which sits in the evening's golden glow 
of la Tour Eiffel is one of my favorites.


Many of the horses have pedals and a bicycle wheel.  
Even the parents can pedal from the sidelines 
in this renewable energy carousel.  


The zebra looks none too happy about it.



Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel
Quai Branley
75005, Paris

Monday, December 9, 2013

Rue de la Paix - une fille française?



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Rue de la Paix


It was raining on the evening of Beaujolais Nouveau Day,
but this chic French girl with her long black velvet coat 
and red plaid parapluie was content to stroll down Rue de la Paix 
to window shop in Place Vendome.  


The streets were almost empty and the three of us 
enjoyed the lights, the misty rain, and the unbelievable windows.


Yes, she is a French girl


Jaquet Droz
(275 year old watchmaking business)
8, rue de la Paix
75002, Paris

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Crèche - Église Saint Louis en l'Île



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Église Saint Louis en l'Île
Nativity Scene


As churches in Paris prepare for Christmas, 
the congregations express creativity and individuality 
as seen in this Nativity scene at Église Saint Louis en l'Île.


bon dimanche


Joyeux anniversaire, Holly!



Église Saint Louis en l'Île
Rue Saint-Louis en l'Île
Saint-Louis en l'Île
75004, Paris 
 

Saturday, December 7, 2013

un vélo bleu - 'forever'



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a bike


I have wanted one "forever" 
and hope that I will get a red one for Christmas...
with a bell, bien sûr.


Are you listening, Santa?
(Why should I have to go to Paris to ride a bike?)



In front of Shakespeare and Company
37, rue de la Bucherie
75005, Paris

Joyeux anniversaire, Cherie!


Friday, December 6, 2013

Village Saint Paul - le Marais



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Quiet courtyard


The last golden leaves of autumn cling tenuously to the branch 
and they echo my feelings of departing Paris.  


I know when it is time to leave for home, 
clinging to the memories, 
and knowing that there will be another autumn in Paris, 
just as there will be another winter and spring and summer.


The photos are a daily reminder...
le sigh


bon weekend



Village Saint Paul
75004, Paris

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Art urbain - Jérôme Mesnager et Julien Malland

Urban art
Jérôme Mesnager, born in 1961, is one of the first painters of the streets of Paris, and is known as the father of the l'Homme en blanc, the man in white.  This recognizable figure is known around the world and has appeared from the walls of Paris to the Great Wall of China.
Now, with regard to the figure in blue, I am stumped and at a loss to know the artist.  Please send me an email or leave a comment if you recognize this intriguing style.  With the two figures "floating" together, I wonder if the urban art was created simultaneously or one followed the other.


Update:  The figure in blue is by Julien "Seth" Malland 
'Julien “Seth” Malland is a world traveling, street painting, socially conscious individual roaming the far places of this planet. Sometimes based in Paris, the street artist took a three year journey around the world to bring his art to remote areas. At different locations he would spend time with the local people, then create cheery pieces displaying children and colors to “liven up” the communities.' (from visual news.com) - Thank you, Vreni
Jérôme Mesnager, art urbain
Rue Blainville
75005, Paris


Wednesday, December 4, 2013

vin, baguettes, fromages, saucisson sec....



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A light dinner

 

If I had easy access to this simple fare at home, 
it would be a regular evening meal.
When it was cold and drizzling and we had already walked many miles, 
this scene around our apartment table was a favorite of mine...


-food, wine, and great friends-
the laughter was abundant

(Thank you Alexa and Virginia)

Rue du Cherche Midi
75006, Paris

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Scouts Unitaires de France



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Scouts Unitaires de France


These three girls agreed to a photo 
and I told them that it is my pleasure 
to buy the "Scout calendar" for 2014.  


They are available every November 
and include the saint's name for each day 
as well as information about the Scouts' activities across France.



Rue de Sèvres
75006, Paris


Monday, December 2, 2013

Rue du Cardinal Lemoine - a courtyard for all seasons



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Courtyard
Rue du Cardinal Lemoine


Palms, wisteria, fatsia, evergreens, honeysuckle, 
and the climbing vines that turn electric shades of yellow, orange and red in autumn.


I will have to check out this courtyard in the other seasons.  
I think that it was designed for appeal no matter the time of year.



69, rue du Cardinal Lemoine
75005, Paris

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Cathédral Saint Alexandre Nevsky - 'looking out'



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Cathédral Saint Alexandre Nevsky


Photos are not allowed in this beautiful gilt cathedral 
so this view looking out at autumn leaves and nineteenth century buildings 
will have to suffice.

bon dimanche


Theme Day
"looking out"

Please click here to see how other 
City Daily Photos interpret the theme



Saint-Alexandre-Nevsky Cathedral
12, rue Daru
75008 Paris
Métro Ternes ou Métro Courcelles