Postcards from Paris: {La Journée du Patrimoine}

The country of France gave us a little gift this weekend, free entry to all of it's many national treasures.

One building which was constructed purely for governmental purposes yet still exudes beauty is that of L'Hotel de Ville. Initially receiving my attention due to this famous photograph, I've since established a human-like personality to Paris' City Hall, one that takes on multiple activities throughout the year. For example, participating in La Nuit Blanche with light motifs sprawled across it's facade, and during the Winter season an iceskating rink is set-up in front, sparkeling white lights covering the rooftop, and numerous metal barrels on the outskirts of the courtyard give off the smokey scent of roasting chestnuts. In Spring and Summer, the double-decker carousel right in front of L'Hotel de Ville runs steadily and the scent of the season is barbe à papa. It feels natural to take on an air of royalty just by walking in front of building, and noticing the extravagant carved stone details. My intrigue for it's interior only increased when one of my favorite designers, Dries Van Noten chose the city hall as a backdrop to introduce his Fall 2010 collection.

Since it was the annual weekend of La Journee du Patrimoine, I joined three fellow American girls to take advantage of the city's offerings. Waiting in line, we were amused by a musical trio, who performed purely for the sake of entertainment. With their exuberant and energetic contenance, one would assume their happiness came from a guitar case filled with coins and varied colored Euro bills, but in fact such a treasure chest was no where to be found. It was the crowd they fed off. We all had shared enthusiam, giving and taking. Our applauds were their source of energy. 

The interior is just what one would expect based on the exterior; carved scrolled ceilings of gold, warm-toned murals, crystal chandeliers, parquet wood floor, stained glass windows, and a grand library covered with books, wall to wall and floor to ceiling.
It is a City Hall to match it's city.

Bisous,
Reba

Disclaimer: One of these days I will be able to capture motion with better aesthetics, until then I can't help but still share.

Saying Goodbye to the Summer Ocean

Almost on cue, the weather is starting to cool down, and its even getting a little windy here. The Autumnal Equinox isn’t till Friday but the ethers are getting ready. Summer is fading away.

This summer, I would occasionally drive out to Tybee after work for a refreshing dip. Just the thought of driving to the ocean after work gave me a feeling of extra freedom. And to be able to actually go swimming at 7pm because it’s still warm enough and because you can! Wunderbar! And the drive is just one straight road right out there. No traffic, no knotted highways to navigate...ah...

It was an interesting time to go, because there were only a few people left on the beach, and time was being compressed at a time you felt you were expanding – The sun was sinking rapidly, while you were lolling about in the great briny broth at a low boil; swirling and rolling along with the tide. The foamy froth was ruffling up, spilling over and forever giggling its way to shore in a loose, powerful shuffle. And you could enjoy it peacefully, at the end of your day, pretty much by yourself. There is no better way to end the day!

Maybe the autumn ocean will be a little different, I’m sure it will be warm enough to keep taking a dip into October, but past that, who knows, perhaps I will just stop by for a visit; crash on the sand, lay back and listen to the ocean for awhile. Past that, I guess there's The Beach Boys.

Postcards from Paris: {A Fortunate Friday}

Yesterday I received on a little strip of neon paper, my declared fortune. Typed in bold Helvetica it read, "You can always find happiness at work on Friday." The week had passed along nicely. It was calm, yet eventful with people to catch up with and friends coming into town. Monday-Thursday had already been quite nice. What had I to look forward to Friday for. In fact, my weekend was going to be quite exciting. Plus the morning had seemed rather dreary. An off and on gray sky, and temperatures lower that the previous days, I was tempted to stay in, skip french class, and linger around until work arrived, where "happiness" would be found. Then I came across another bit of curious information. Something from Horace, 65-8 BC, "Cease to ask what the morrow will bring forth, and set down as gain each day that Fortune grants." With that, I got up and looked optimistically at the possibilities of what the afternoon may bring. Meeting with a friend from out of town, at moments we chatted like school-girls, discussed like philosophers, and laughed like mad over notions so silly I could hardly bring myself to type them in detail.
I realize that just going out and opening oneself to unexpectant circumstances can bring little fortunes as we wait for something we think is 'bigger.'
Like quick downpours embellished by a shout of thunder, followed by a cry from school-children in their courtyard.
Lunches unplanned, but quickly satisfied by a familiar street vendor. One of my favorite contrasts, lunch wrapped in paper with messy bites while trying to keep one's pose as a lady.
Somewhat familiar streets that have been walked on, but not nessecarily explored. Then coming across a little gallery. A collection of drawings and juvenile sculptures, quirky and controlled, yet curiously undefined.
I'm convinced, each day one can be granted Fortune.

Bisous,
Reba

A Few of Our Favorite Things

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A Few of Our Favorite Things

Lauren DeRosa

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I started out as the writer in the window and now I am the writer in the basement; contributing to the blog everyday, writing some copy here and there, snapping many of the photos you see on the blog and slowly mastering how to make fancy drinks at the coffee bar. I'm having a lot of fun here at The Paris Market! And here are a few of my favorite things:

1.Detail of indigo Indian Coverlet, 2. Covered box (great for stashing your writings), 3. The Coloring Book, 4. Knitted Monkey, 5. Iced Eiffel Tower Sugar Cookie, 6. Sapphire Blue Suede Boho Bag, 7. Decoupage John Derian Tray, 8. Oversized leather bound scrapbook, 9. Eau de Parfum Sake 10. "New Horizons" original painting by Bert John

 What are a few of your favorite things?

Colorful and comfy coverlets from India

I just had to do a post showing off the gorgeous new coverlets, table runners and pillow covers we just got in. There is a lovely array to choose from- those with warm, ultra saturated colors and others with more muted tones and patterns. All of them are hand-pieced and stitched. And all of them are quite lovely. Great for a guest room too when the cooler weather starts moving in. Here are some detail shots.

 

 

Postcards from Paris: {Merce and the Muse}

It was a day where sitting indoors felt almost felt like I was cheating myself. The cafes on the way to Le Marais, and all through it, were filled with people. Good looking, stylish people who were out to see and be seen. The sky was blue. The sun was out. The breeze was nice. Thursday has never felt so liberating. My mind kept being fooled into thinking it was the weekend. That's one thing that will always impress me about this city. Restaurants, especially those in Le Marais, are always full. One would think, who even has a regular day job in Paris? Do people have obligations other than sitting and eating, or sitting and sipping, or sitting and smoking? I would assume not. Perhaps everyone is a part-time au pair like me, afternoons off to explore the cafe scene, then once the gouter hour approches we all head back to our designated neighborhoods to grab the compotes and spread Nutella about in some shape or form.

The leisure afternoons filled with people is something I will continue to allow my mind to decipher, all while exploring new places to eat.

My newest place of indulgence is a friendly place on rue Dupuis, called Merce and the Muse. A simple display for food, made with fresh ingredients. Each bite released an intriguing detail to my palette. Hints of mint and cilantro are probably my favorite surprise ingredients. Beet pizza topped of with leafy arugula, and green beans prepared with the perfect amount of crisp. Merce and the Muse has little New York details. The friendliness of the staff and the fresh mint water sitting on the counter free to, 'serve yourself' All affordable and delicious. Thursdays are great.
Merce and the Muse
1 bis Rue Dupuis
75003, Paris

Bisous,

Reba

Horticulture with Holley Jaakkola

 

                                                                                                                           photo on right by Richard Leo Johnson (Savannah Magazine)

In the current issue of Savannah Magazine, Holley Jaakkola celebrates the 275th anniversary of the Isle of Hope with the stories and memories of her neighbors and introduces us to a way of life that makes this place so magical and desirable. 

Part of that magic for Holley is her garden. We have some of her beautiful arrangements in the store right now and they all have a delightful presence - light, airy, graceful and always in an interesting container; giant sponges or seashells, antique cloches, rustic copper and wooden planters, and even a silver sugar bowl or teacup when just right. Just thought I'd share with you all a bit of what she has shared with us.

 

 Thanks Holley!

Postcards from Paris: {In Fluffy form, alluding to the Classics}

Admitting unorignality, this is not my first statue post. In fact, this may very well be my third, and my second highlighting Le Louvre. It's not that there isn't anything thing left in this city that interests me. That couldn't be farther from the truth. Really, the reasoning for repeats has to do with my return and easing into routine. The changing season always makes me crave the classics. Unpretentiously blasting opera, Les Pêcheurs de perles,  to be exact, but only on the cloudy days, and lately whenever the sun comes out I've been switching to Gerard Lenormand's La Ballade des Gens Heureux. Eating falafel from my regular joint. Walking through Les Jardin des Tuileries. Free visits to the Louvre, and pretend-shopping along the rue Saint Honore. I've gotten really good with my 'pretend-shopping face' scrunching my brow in deep contemplation deciding whether or not the Astier de Villatte ceramic mugs would look good filled with my hot cocoa mix, and checking out the Rodarte dress at Colette from all angles, convincingly considering whether or not it's in my week's budget. I don't let the fact that the dress would probably not look right on my body type show in my expression, nor do I let any guilt surface from eating that entire falafel. Only because either right before or right after I remember the lovely statues from Le Jardin des Tuileries and Le Louvre. The ladies are always in fluffy form, yet keep on a look of elegant confidence. All of them lining the entry to a palace or within the Louvre surrounded by classically carved men.

Bisous,
Reba

Anthony Goicolea at the Jepson Center

You can see Atlanta born artist Anthony Goicolea's work now through January 8th 2012, right here in Savannah at the Jepson Center. Representing a decade of his work, and showcasing his photography, paintings and drawings, the work is emotionally evocative and visually stunning. He first broke out on the art scene with a series of photographs exploring primitive aspects of burgeoning adolescence (and all that lie therein!). After graduating from Pratt Institute (my alma mater!) he was awarded a Joan Mitchell scholarship of 10,000 to continue his work.

I jumped over to the Jepson this morning to take a look and I'm so glad I did. To me, his work is an amalgamation of everyday estrangement, ritualisic unity versus dislocation, sympathetic polarities, and the age old "tension of opposites". Some of his work brings the vulgar, normally hidden, into daylight, while other of his compositions are fantastical and surprising juxtapositions; like the wolves walking through the graveyard, or the cornucopia of fruit falling out of the junker. It calls to mind the duality of life and that many different kinds of existence are happening simultaneously. The most interesting outcome in viewing his work is that suddenly the eery doesn't seem quite so eery anymore, it just seems like its more okay to acknowledge it--if you look closely at the bottom photograph, those are hands hanging onto those cement blocks. Go to his website for even better closeups of his work.

 

Under I, Siamese Twins, Black House, Jettisoned

For me, Anthony Goicolea's work combines some of the most arresting elements of Andrew Wyeth, Gerhard Richter, and Cindy Sherman. Of course, storytelling will never be out of style, and viewing pieces of the story and experiencing a narrative is always so compelling. We often re-read sentences or chapters and so it is with paintings. We re-read/re-view it over the course of our lives and it keeps changing. Our eye hovers in one place longer than others, and we notice new things that we're always there. We're able to appreciate the whole in pieces and digest it in a series of bites. Sometimes I think that's why life is broken down into days, and why sometimes brilliant people and stories always have a touch of madness. It's all just too much.

Search Party, 2007; The Flood, 2008, Night Sitting

If you are local to Savannah, definitely go see this exhibition!

New for Fall!

Our New Fall Favorites: 

Soft suede hobo bags in jewel tones and warm neutrals. Yum.