Postcards from Paris: {Le Nouvel An chinois}

I went out this morning to fulfill some past-due errands. On the corner near my flat was this bicycle stacked with cardboard boxes. On these boxes were chinese characters written across, in the boxes were red paper lanterns with golden-yellow tassels, and unloading them was a small, joyful Chinese man; happy to be fulfilling his errands for the day.
What a visual lift these bright red paper lanterns add to this grey Parisian day. I am so excited by the whole event, I may have to get Chinese take-out for dinner tonight.
Bisous,
Reba

Postcards from Paris: {Les Choses Simples}

It took just a simple image to figure out what I was craving most.
This petite voiture filled with fresh baguettes, offered the best suggestion of the day and led me to my favorite boulangerie on the rue Vielle du Temple.

Bisous,
Reba

Postcards from Paris: {Oh, and the books!}

Charmed over and over again am I by these little tucked away bookstores. And charmed was I by Merci's "Used Book" cafe, where one could order a warm little drink, and sip away while browsing through the worned, yellowing pages of a used book. When my family moved from southern California to Atlanta, Georgia during my freshman year of highschool, it took me a bit to adjust to the change. My highschool's library was extensive, and during lunch I would find comfort with the scent of an old book. I remember the library having a beautiful worn copy of The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. I checked it out on several occasions, and was nearly tempted to have "lost" it and pay the necessary fines for it. Instead, I wrote a little note telling the next reader how much joy I felt for this book, and included a small list of other enjoyable books residing on nearby shelves, like The Sun Also Rises, and This Side of Paradise.
My favorite bookseller, which happens to be English, is of course Shakespeare&Company. On the ground level are new books and little cubbies where if one is lucky, a vacant seat on a velvet chair is a treasure in itself, and up the narrow-passage, red-painted, creeking staircase are stacks and stacks of worned, yellowing, old-scented pages of books: nostalgia for my highscool years.
None of the old books are for sale, which is basically an invitation for one to grab their favorite book, find a corner, and stay for an hour or two.
Bisous,
Reba

Postcards from Paris: {Learning French through Amelie}

Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain: It's one of those movies that never gets tiresome.It was my go-to movie when times were low. Though times in the present are not what I would consider low in any means, Amelie has been a different type of go-to movie, rather a French language institute. One which has been helping me climb through, under, and around this language barrier. After being told that my favorite french tutor would be retuning back to L.A., I have been on the lookout for a new means of knowledge. Being conscientious of money, this free form of a French tutorial has me cuddled up in bed, laptop and headphones, with a cup of peppermint tea and practicing aloud the sound differences of "Je" and "J'ai". I have been watching a couple of chapters a night, with my fingers crossed, and my French dictionary opened and resting on my head in hopes for some form of linguistic osmosis. And what a delight learning French is becoming. Some days the langauge barrier seems but a mere step, like the small gap between the concrete and the metro train, and of course I have those days when the barrier is like a climb up to the Sacre Coeur. Being the optimist I am trying to be, at the top of those steps is, after all, the best view of Paris.

Bisous,
Reba

Postcards from Paris: {ReVisiting Merci}

After Taras and Paula's summer trip to Paris, I remember Paula being filled with contagious excitement from their visit. She shared with us inspiring images from this wonderful little concept store, Merci: flowershop, perfumerie, interior design, clothing, along with a "used book" cafe.
I was certain to write down the address.
I have this little list of things to do while I am here. On that list of mine, resides that address I wrote down of this concept store. It just so happened as I was getting lost one day on all of these diagonal rues, I found myself right in front of Merci. And there I was, revisiting the images Paula had shared some months back, but only I was able to see it all in person.
Considered part of The Marais, Merci's space is large and open. One enters from boulevard Beaumarchais, through the court yard with the red car, then through the double doors to a minimal, yet rustic design aesthetic. There are many clean, sharpe lines, but with elements of vintage and the rustic with unfinished natural wood as tabletops and bench seats, which offer a sense of the organic.

Oh and the books!
more on books later.......
Bisous,
Reba

Postcards from Paris: {Wearing White in Winter}

Yes, white is normaly worn in the summer, but I found it to be some form of liberation to wear it layered. It gave me a sense of refreshment. My room-mate with a baffled look as I departed out the door explained to me in french, but white is worn in the summer.
Oui, Je sais.
And with that and a smile, she handed me a white fur collar of her's. I wrapped it around my neck and departed. During my walk through Les Halles and the Tuileries, not many people were wearing white. In fact, I can't recall a single person.
With the Tuileries leading to the Champs Elysees, one of the most classically stylish areas of Paris, I found myself in front of these folks...
Pale on pale, with their draped white cloaks.
Oh, to match the statues in Paris!
No shame in wearing white in winter.



*Disclaimer*
For the sake of my parents who read this blog, I was also wearing a heavy coat.

Postcards from Paris: {Rose's Bakery}

My love for Rose's Bakery stemmed from her published cookbook, Breakfast Lunch Tea. I find the images within to be honest and delicious. Like a view of an artist's studio; in a slight disarray, but creativity bursting from every crevasse. Being that their first location is just a block away from the hostel, where myself, along with all my visiting company has stayed at in Montmartre, and the second location just a few blocks away from my flat in the Marais; I have stopped by and indulged on a couple of occasions. My friend who has just departed from her visit to Paris shares a similar admiration for the cookbook, and fancied herself an occasion to go three days out of the seven she was here.
The overall atmosphere is minimal, with fresh produce embellishing the scene. The wait staff is very friendly, and all seem to have a creative edge to themselves. Coming from four years at an art school in Savannah, the kids don't always seem put-together, but there is an understanding that it's because they are creatively driven and it was nice to get a similar vibe at Rose's little bakery in Paris.
And the food, so delightfully arranged. My eyes...happy, and my tastebuds even happier.

Postcards from Paris: {Music in the Metro}

I have been charmed over and over again with the performers in Paris. Especially so in the Metro. Their echo flows throughout the station and one never knows which corner they'll turn to meet the source of sound.

Postcards from Paris: {Lovin' Lanvin}

Coming up here is Paris fashion week. All the fashionistas are out and about, and during this time everyone looks spectacular. Perhaps if they happen to run into the Sartorialist, Garance, or any other Fashion photographer they are ready. I must admit, I myself, have been giving my daily look a second glance before I head out the door. It's nice having a little, "what if..." to start one's day.
Other than addressing what everyone is wearing, I wanted to point out these great windows from Lanvin. The past several seaons from Lanvin have been on-point exactly, and having a degree in Fashion design, it is something that I very much appreciate. I also appreciate a good window set-up. Working at the Paris Market, it was nice having a few occasions to dress the window. A well dressed window with a well dress mannequin, that's something to write home about.

Postcards from Paris: {Mieux en noir et blanc.}

Every post I start to write, I always want to begin by typing, "best day ever." Daily experiences in Paris are simple, yet poignant. Living in Paris is similar to when one discovers he/she enjoys reading. I remember the realization that reading books felt like, having a good time. Every new book I read became my new favorite. As it is here with each new day. This evening after another wonderful serving of chocolat chaud at Le Cafe de Flore, my friend and I took a stroll through the small cobblestone walkways of the Latin quarter. One of the bookstores had such a warm, welcoming feeling to it, that we had to go in. I try avoiding books that are about Paris, France because I already count with my fingers the American way, I can hardly pronounce any French word correctly if it has an "r" in it, and I take way too many photographs to seem the least bit natural. So I just imagine that looking through a book about Paris might as well be me in white tennis shoes wearing a fanny pack. When in all actuality, I am just too conscientious because the book I happened to pick up was a book of Robert Doisneau's photography, and I have no shame in that. Doisneau features in his work Parisians being Parisian, and living their lives in their city of delight. His series of work is simple, with an element of honesty. And looking through the clever shots in black and white I felt joy and excitement for the new favorite days to come.

My offering from a past favorite day...