Archive for September, 2014

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September 28, 2014

Some news from France XCII

And here we go again, its the Fall season ,the leaves are changing and the days are mix, cold early mornings late night and warm daytime. lows of 7C and highs of 22C, but sunny. The company convention over and now work begins with travel to far distant lands next month but first its Paris again and Montparnasse as well as Tour Eiffel areas. October seems like a good month ::)

Now what is to do  to do to do, well good bargains and great brands can be found in Paris friperies ( used clothing), those wonderful stores selling good bargains if you know what are looking for.  The favorites over the years well,

Free’p’Star, mondays to Fridays from 11h to 21h and Saturdays and Sundays from 12h to 21h at  8 Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie,  75004, tel +33 01 42 76 03 72;
By Flowers, Mondays 14h30 to 20h30, Tuesdays to Saturdays 11h to 20h30 ,and Sundays  14h30 to 20h30.
86 rue des martyrs,  75018

The Kilo Shop , Mondays to Saturdays from 11h to 21h at two locations, Marais :  69-71 rue de la Verrerie
75004, and Saint Germain : 125 boulevard Saint Germain,75006

The two locations of Guerrisol at 19 avenue de Clichy  75018,from 10h to 19h30. tel +33 01 40 08 03 00, and at  96 Boulevard de Barbes, 75018,Marcadet from 10h to20h.Tel +33 01 53 28 10 70

Rag et Vertiges , open Mondays to Saturdays from  10h to 20h , and Sundays  12h to 20h at 83 (Rag) and 85 (Vertiges) rue Saint Martin 75004 tel +33 01 48 84 34 64, and Rag, 81 rue Saint Honoré Louvre Rivoli
75001, tel +33 01 40 28 48 44

Fripes Ketchup at 8 rue Dancourt – 75018, tel +33  01 42 51 96 33;  contact@fripesketchup.com
La jolie garde-robe at  15 rue des Commines – 75003; Tuesdays to Saturdays from   13h-19h30 or by appointments. Tel +33 0142721390
Mam’zelle Swing at  35 rue du Roi de Sicile
 75004 open Mondays to Saturdays 14h to 19h, Tél. +33 01 48 87 04 06, email  contact@mamzelle-swing.com
Iglaïne at 12 Rue de la Grande Truanderie 75001  Métro : Etienne Marcel, open Mondays to Saturdays  11h to 19h,  Tél +33 01 42 36 19 91, webpage www.iglaine.parisluxx.biz
And been Parisien, if you want to make love, these are the best spots ::) so romantic lol!!! in Order, Parc Monceau, Jardin des Tuileries, le square de la place Dauphine,le jardin du musée Rodin,and jardin Tino Rossi along the quais of the Seine. Voilà and don’t say I told you so…
And something wonderful along the same lines … The Institut des Lettres et Manuscrits is showcasing for the first time in France, one of the works the most explain in the French literature : le rouleau autographe des 120 journées de Sodome ou l’École du libertinage. Something like the autography roll of 120 days of Sodome or the school of gaité, freedom of acts. It was written in  1785!!!,  on a thin paper roll by the Marquis de Sade (1740-1814) while he was held prisioner in the Bastille. The document survived the taking of the fortress and on this year of its bicentanial of the death of the writer Sade ,it is shown to the public. From now to January 18 2015. Open every day except Mondays from 10h-19h, Thursdays open to 21h30; admission is 5€.  21 rue de l’Université, 75007. Metro Solferino or Rue du Bac.  Tel +33 01.42.22.48.48; official webpage here http://institutdeslettresetmanuscrits.fr/
And the Venerable institution of the Jardin des Plantes of Paris is celebrating the 220 years of the petting zoo, or ménagerie with exhibits and events thru January 5, 2015. From its beginning in 1794, the historic zoo has welcome many animals that some became famous. The Muséum d’Histoire naturelle or the museum of National History puts out the lights today with the program expo of Animaux célèbres de la Ménagerie, or famous animals of the zoo.  They will be exposed with a series of drawings, newspaper clips, post cards, photos and models. Open every day except Tuesdays and May 1 from 10h-17h. In summer it is open until  18h the Saturdays and Sundays, admission is 3€.  Metro Censier, and Dauberton line 7, webpage http://www.mnhn.fr/fr
The Centre Georges Pompidou de Paris will have an exposition from October 8 to January 26 2015 for the first time in Europe of the work dedicated to  Frank Gehry, one of the greatest figures of contemporary architecture and the most renown of the 20C. webpage http://www.centrepompidou.fr/cpv/ressource.action?param.id=FR_R-ac43f8319473f92ee2a5d5835a87277&param.idSource=FR_E-ac43f8319473f92ee2a5d5835a87277
Musée de l’Armée de Paris, will have an exposition from October 15 to January 25 2015 on the look from the front in WWI so that the contemporary see the reaction from those already in the front, how they saw the war, what have they have shown and why? Interesting retrospective.  programming still in French at Invalides, http://www.musee-armee.fr/programmation/expositions/detail/vu-du-frontu-du-front-u-du-frontu-du-front-u-du-frontu-du-frontu-du-frontu-du-front-representer-la.html
And during the whole month of October, at the Galleria Sylvan Gilles de Maria, at  51-53 rue Saint-Louis-en-l’Île ,which is the famous Hôtel Chenizot, outside the business name is L’île aux images, there will be an exhibition on the île Saint Louis! http://www.lileauximages.com/index.php?page=propos_about
And last but not least, having worked in one and know them all, what are the best bars in the palace hôtels of Paris? Well as you might know the Crillon and the Ritz are still Under renovation opening in 2015. For the rest in competition this is the list of Le Figaro,in order:
The bar 228 of Meurice hotel, bar of Park Hyatt Paris Vendôme, bar of Four Seasons George V, bar long of Royal Manceau, bar of the Bristol, bar of Plaza Athénée, bar of Shangri-là, bar 8 of Mandarin Oriental, and bar Kléber of Peninsula hotel. I would add the Bar Hemingway of the Lutétia,,bar bulles of the Grand Intercontinental,and Bar Tuileries Westin (old Intercontinental);my old job. Salut; and enjoy your Sunday.
 

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September 10, 2014

Some news from France XCI

Or the empire of Alain Ducasse, one of my favorite chefs and Le Figaro did an entire article on him, I am translating here what they wrote.

Alain Ducasse in figures:

By becoming a name, this gascon has also built an empire. Swarming its know-how both in books as in the schools of training or mobile apps, Mr Ducasse knows how to move ahead.

More than 6,000 hours of courses on cooking and oenology for amateurs, dispensed each year on average by the stamped school AD. Two addresses in Paris: 64, rue de Ranelagh (16th, yes great!), with cellar tasting, and BHV Marsh, 52 rue Rivoli (4th at the store). Average price of a course: from €140 for adults and €90 for children. Possible privatization.

100 books, published by Alain Ducasse Edition since its inception in 1999. Fully digitized, the catalogue lists some 20 authors (Julie Andrieu, Pierre Hermé, Guy Savoy, Anne-Sophie Pic…), translated in 10 languages and distributed in 30 countries.

3,500 students enroll each year in one of the two schools of Alain Ducasse formation, one in culinary arts (Argenteuil), the other in pastry (Yssingeaux, Haute-Loire). They offer a multitude of formulas from 1 day to 8 months, diplomas and vocational. Among the latest: a training specially dedicated to heads of yachts and their crews (cost: 940–1 €940).

26 restaurants in the world (London, New York, Las Vegas, Monte Carlo, Tokyo, Osaka, Doha…), including 10 in Paris: Alain Ducasse at the Plaza Athénée, the Relais Plaza, the Court Garden (in the eighth), Le Meurice and the Dali (in the 1st), Le Jules Verne (2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower, in the seventh), Aux Lyonnais (in the second), Benoit (in the fourth), Allard (in life) and searching in the  17th ). Global annual turnover of Alain Ducasse Entreprise: EUR 80 million.

320 m 2 for the Manufacture of chocolate at Bastille. Alain Ducasse, bean fan, wanted to be able to master the manufacture of its cocoa vintages from the beginning to the end. This is done since February 2013, date of commencement of this factory in the heart of Paris. Controllers, one of his followers: Nicolas Berger, chocolatier-roaster. 40, rue de Roquette (11th).

And also…

18 stars in the Michelin Guide;  1 booth Choux (cabbage d’Enfer) opened early 2014 with the pastry chef Christophe Michalak in the 15th; 1 academie of taste, culinary encyclopedia online with, among other things, the recipe ideas;  7 applications iPad and iPhone, including that of castles & Hotels Collection.  1 online shop selling gift boxes, table objects, books, etc.

An amazing French story of international proportions. I highlighted above my favorites haunts in Paris. and here is the article in French

http://www.lefigaro.fr/sortir-paris/2014/09/10/30004-20140910ARTFIG00039-alain-ducasse-de-a-a-z.php

Cheers

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September 3, 2014

Some news from France LXXXX

Well all back to normal here the rentrée or come back to norm is on, just routine by now, its my 11st. The idea is really a mental process as all here act like machines on it. In reality ,its just another day, another day at school for the Young and work continues for the middle, the retirees don’t feel anything ::) well maybe the grandchildren.

The weather has stay hot even as 24C sunny ,just like beach weather. It makes you go back hehehe. I am taking this month to catch up on house chores and no outside travel, next month already planned trips out to Europe and South America.

The latest from our Paris megapolis is Bob ‘s Bake Shop, after Bob’s juice and Bob’s kitchen now we get Bob’s bake shop with pastries. Some are quaint, unique trying to find a niche. Bagel with avocado, Batka brioché au chocolat, and Blueberry pie. Halle Pajol, 12, esplanade Nathalie-Sarraute every day from 8h to 16h, closest metro jules joffran line 12.http://www.bobsjuicebar.com/

Another nice new spot is at Boulogne-Billancourt, my old hangout for business work.  La Passarelle, 52, quai du Point-du-Jour, everyday from 16h to 02h. You need to look for it as it a boat peniche  Les Calanques, and go over a narrow bridge to it. The ambiance is terrific.and new to try out , at http://www.lapasserelle-boulogne.fr/

Another great point with nice views of Paris is again the store BHV rooftop bar as the others …::) Perchoir éphémére is the bar at http://www.bhv.fr/magasins/bhv-paris/

And again thanks to Le Figaro as above, I am giving you two maps of the metro done with the best bars and burger joints in Paris.

Then, we have 150 years of the Musée Décoratifs celebrating with 16 interior designers who chose their best there; http://www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr/english-439/exhibitions/forthcoming-events

The newest shopping center in Paris, Beaugrenelle will have an English showcase of goods from September 6 to 20th, http://www.beaugrenelle-paris.com/

At Honfleur, the story of Eugéne Boudin continues with an expo to the local painter until September 29th. “Dans l’intimité d’Eugéne Boudin; http://www.musees-honfleur.fr/musee-eugene-boudin/expositions.html

This is it for now, will need to get cranking on the rentrée ::) Enjoy your week.

 

 

 

 

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