Nissim de Camondo Museum: The Glory and the Tragedy
The Nissim de Camondo Museum overlooking Parc Monceau in Paris presents an extraordinary collection of 18th-century decorative arts, reveals the technology and services of an ultra-modern early-20th-century home, and tells of the life and times of the de Camondo family as bankers, philanthropists, collectors and Jews.
The Rothschilds in France, a 19th-century Riches to Riches Story
Rothschild: whether pronounced in English, German, Italian or English, the name has for 200 years signified wealth, in particular Jewish wealth. We still speak, as do the French, of someone as being rich as Rothschild—or more likely not rich as Rothschild.
Remembering James A. Emanuel, Poet, Teacher, Humanitarian
In honor of the American poet James A. Emanuel, a longtime resident of Paris, who passed away at the age of 92 on Sept. 28, 2013, Janet Hulstrand shares her memories of her first encounter with the man and his work and of his guest appearances from 2000 to 2013 in her summer class “Paris: A Literary Adventure.” This article is accompanied by 3 videos of James Emanuel reading his work during his classroom appearance in July 2011.
Profiles in Provence: Passionate Purveyors of Fine Food and Drink in Avignon and Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Whether they're offering coffee, chocolate, wine, friendly service or a well-cooked meal, encountering passionate purveyors of fine food and drinks is one of great delights of travel in France—a good reason to seek them wherever we go, in this case Avignon and Chateauneuf-du-Pape, in Provence.
Vice & Versailles: A Master Gardener Delves Into the Dark Shadows of the Louis...
As head gardener of Versailles Alain Baraton is responsible for restoring and maintaining the majesty of the backyard of kings, but he appears to relish in declaring that “Versailles was a great shop of horrors.” In the book "Vice et Versailles" Baraton leads readers into the dark side of the great palace.
The Cranky Parent: Maman, Bébé and Unsolicited Advice
Children in Paris: Bringing up bébé has its dark side in the City of Light when maman can’t go wheeling through the supermarket without a stranger telling her that she hasn’t dressed her precious one properly for the yogurt aisle, as Melinda Mayor, aka Meshugeneh Mama, recounts with vitriol and humor.
The Cranky Foreign Resident: I Love the French, But Sometimes…
Three years ago Polish contributor Justyna Gawąd, her French husband and their European son moved to the Anjou region of France from Warsaw. Justyna...
Jacques Brel Opens for Edith Piaf
Jacques Brel opening for Edith Piaf? It sounds like the concert that dreams are made of. And it’s actually taking place as two talented performers, Patricia Kaas and Olivier Laurent, bring the past to life on a Franco-Belgian tour from Feb. 12 to April 19, 2013.
Paris Award Ceremonies Honor French Excellence, Heritage and Savoir-Faire (Part 1 of 2)
Part 1 of this two-part series about Excellence Française, an awards enterprise created by Maurice Tasler, including information about this years recipients.