The bright, oversized decorations of Le Musset can be seen from a block away. No reason to be chased inside with inclimate weather... just duck into the heated area protected from the wind and order the Berthillon ice cream for dessert... brrrrrr!
For more reflections go to James' Newtown Area Photo.
To date, this is my favorite year of les vitrines animées de noël, but I will be reporting shortly on the 2010 impressions in Paris. The winter theme for these Printemps windows was totally in white with the same little funky tune for all windows. Here is a good quality video of several of the windows (not mine). It was difficult to pick a favorite among the series but the antlered deer trembling in fear with the wolves marching around with knives and forks was comical. Notice the bears raiding an open freezer, riding bikes and eating fish. How do they make this all work?
This church is known simply as La Trinité or Sainte-Trinité, built between 1861 and 1867 as part of the beautification and reorganization of Paris by Haussmann. It was designed by the Théodore Ballu taking inspiration from French and Italian Renaissance architecture. Prior to the construction, many significant historical buildings were demolished to make way for the church and surrounding roads.
On a side street in the 5ième, these riding toys made a tantalizing reflection on the rain-slick sidewalk. During the holiday season, children's toys fill the windows and sometimes spill out onto the street.
La Maison du Miel, founded in 1898 by Charles Galland, has been in this shop on Rue Vignon since 1905. Even the floor tiles pay homage to the incredible bee. If you have never been here, the shopkeepers are very friendly (yes, indeed they are) and you can sample the honey before you buy. There are delicious little hard candies filled with honey also right at the check-out. Miam-miam!
The animated windows of Printemps (2006) featured "color concentration" for its vitrines de noël with interesting music for each: jaune, rouge, orange, rose foncé. If you would like to see the animation enjoyed by adults and children go here for the video clip. In front of each window is a wooden platform to put the little ones at eye level with the scenes.
