Barefoot in the Parc de Sceaux
A bike and foot path called La Coulée Verte du Sud Parisien flows south from the edge of Paris by way of the lovely Parc de Sceaux.
Versailles, an alternate approach
To get a sense of tourist hell in France in summer, go inside the Palace of Versailles sometime between 11am and 4pm. While your...
Saint-Germain-en-Laye By Day, Pavillon Henri IV By Night
Versailles naturally grabs the lion’s share of daytrip attention due to its chateau. But Saint-Germain-en-Laye, one of its predecessors as an official residence of the Court of France, is also a likeable town for an afternoon stroll-about. One feels less an intruder—and tourist—here than in Versailles.
Waterfront hoofin’ in Paris
Those visiting Paris in late July and August are well aware of the existence of Paris Plage, the 5-week beach along the Seine. Much less well known and less visited by foreign visitors is the Paris Plage extension along Bassin de la Villette in 19th arrondissment.
Departure of signs and numbers from the heart of Paris
My favorite little shop in Paris, one of the last living vestiges of the historical belly of Paris that was the Les Halles Quarter, closed at the end of July 2009. It had been a long time coming--rather, going. It isn’t easy making a living selling...
African-American sacred songs in Paris
Gospel’s got a special place in the soul of Europeans, who, generally speaking, hear it not as a call to praise the Lord but...
Picnicking on the Pont des Arts
risians and visitors alike have gotten into picnicking as a way of enjoying the company of friends and the beauty of Paris on warm evenings. Here's where to picnic in Paris,
Lafayette and the American Flag: The Fourth of July Ceremony
In permanent recognition of his role in aiding the American cause, an American flag has flown over Lafayette’s grave ever since the end of WWI. The flag is changed every year on July 4 in a highly orchestrated ceremony attended by French and American dignitaries.
Swinging Life Brings Broadway to Paris at the Alhambra
What follows is a review of Swinging Life, a musical review that was onstage at the Alhambra in July 2009. The show returns to...