The Parisianer is a collective of 200 artists who illustrate covers for a fictious magazine, similar in spirit to the New Yorker.  They created a new collection of 45 posters inspired by the upcoming Paris Olympics which are displayed on the gates of Hotel de Ville on rue de Rivoli.  Until April 30, 2024 https://www.theparisianer.eu/ \            Related Stories Abstract Metro Photos- Series 22 Abstract Metro Photos- Series 21 Abstract Metro Photos- Series 20   ..read more

Two chefs from opposite sides of the world, Parisian born chef Baptiste Limouzin, the newly appointed chef at Grand Café Fauchon in Paris, and Japanese chef Keiichiro Hayashi, from the Fauchon L'Hôtel Kyoto, have come together to prepare a special spring menu. The menu is inspired by the Japanese tradition of Hanami, which is the celebration of the cherry blossoms, which bloom from late March to early April.  The chefs have created a four-course, Franco Japanese menu with tea pairings for each course.  Vincent and I were invited last night to have dinner. The special dining room is ..read more

The Italian-born photographer Paolo Roversi moved to Paris in 1973 and over the next 50 years, he became one of the top fashion photographers in Europe. He’s worked for some of the most prestigious magazines and fashion brands including Vogue France, Vogue Italia, Egoïste, Yohji Yamamoto, Romeo Gigli, and Rei Kawakubo for Comme des Garçons. His style is more like romantic, Renaissance portraits, with blurry, sepia-toned images in black and white and color. There’s a mystery and depth to the photos that are usually missing in most fashion photography, which tends to be slick and more commerci ..read more

The Birth of Department Stores The new exhibition The Birth of Department Stores, is presented in two parts in two different museums. The first part begins on April 10, at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, explores the rise of les grand magasins, Le Bon Marché, Les Magasins du Louvre, Le Printemps, La Samaritaine and Les Galeries Lafayette during the late 20th and early 21st century and how they greatly altered the way people shopped. The second part will begin on October 16, 2024 at the Cite de Architecture.  April 10 to October 13, 2024 Musée des Arts Décoratifs 105 rue de Rivoli, 75001 ..read more

Last month I wrote about our trip to Chefchaouen, Morocco (CLICK HERE to read), a small city where all the buildings in the old quarter are painted blue. I captured many of the terrific blue doors in Chefchaouen and I am sharing them today. Do you have some favorites?  Experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks ..read more

Opened in 1987, across from the Pompidou Museum, Café Beaubourg was a startling, modern version of the old-fashioned Paris café. Architect Christian de Portzamparc’s daring, Memphis like design was a match for the audacity of the architecture of the Pompidou, opened in 1977.  Outside, white iron chairs tufted in red, black, and white vinyl, with scalloped edges, replace the typical rattan café chairs at most French cafes. Inside, the same chairs are done in brown leather, with a black metal frame, giving the interior a club like feel and the two story structure has soaring ceilings and ..read more

Romeo and Juliet, the timeless story of star-crossed lovers by Shakespeare, has been performed endless times around the globe over the centuries. It’s been translated, rebooted, and modernized to attract new generations to the universal theme. It’s been a film many times over, an opera, and immortalized in dance and ballet.  Matthew Bourne, the British choreographer and director extraordinaire, has brought a fresh new twist to Romeo and Juliet. Debuting in 2019 in London at Sadler’s Wells in London, the full-length ballet is set in the Verona Institute, a mental hospital with music by c ..read more

The delightful Stravinsky Fountain has reopened after being closed for many years for renovation. Located across the Centre Pompidou, the fountain was a collaboration between artists Jean Tinguely and Niki de Saint Phalle, who were married. The 16 works were inspired by composer and conductor Igor Stravinsky, and the brightly colored sculptures are by Niki de Saint Phalle and the black mechanical ones were created by Jean Tinguely.  The sculptures represent the Stravinsky musical pieces and are listed below. The Firebird, The Musical Key of G, The spiral, The Elephant, The Fox, The Frog ..read more

  People ask me all the time, what’s my favorite restaurant in Paris? It’s always hard to single out one restaurant, so I give a list of my favorites at the moment, as it will change frequently.  As of today, Boubalé Restaurant is on the top of my list.  Award winning chef Assaf Granit, born and raised in Jerusalem, has built a culinary empire with 13 restaurants in Europe and Israel, television appearances, lectures, workshops, and cookbooks. Granit’s grandmother plays an integral part of his cooking, also influenced bythe cuisine of Jerusalem. In 2017, he opened his first r ..read more

  Photographer Ahmet Ertug takes us on a fantastic, visual voyage of historic, architectural sites throughout France and Italy. He transports us to the interiors of the most beautiful chateaus, castles, libraries, theaters, and spiritual buildings in both countries. The photographs are meticulously crafted, and the colors, texture, and light capture the brilliance of each site.  The backdrop of the splendid architecture of La Conciergerie gives the exhibition an added dimension and context.  Ertug was born in Turkey and graduated from the prestigious Architectural Association ..read more