there is something magical in the way that paris lights up-- no matter how many times you take a late night stroll down the seine (or even a taxi ride for that matter) the luminous facades of the buildings are enough to make you pause. this gorgeous tome by assouline shows off the city of light at its best. 
what could be chic-er than this bottle of dom perignon, designed by artist marc newton? available in paris at la grande epicerie for the small price of 550 euros.
this double-your-pleasure item is a sparkly necklace with hidden lipstick& gloss inside. from YSL, and available online from neiman marcus, it's like that lipgloss pendant you had as a kid, but all grown up.
dominique picquier designs the fresh nature-inspired textiles used on her line of fabrics, bags, pillows, and more. her gift to her clients this holiday season is a 25% discount on all online orders, such as the gorgeous clutch pictured above.
today, i walked into a cute new cooking/tableware shop, 13 a table, just down the street from bhv. the welcoming shop, which has a crate & barrel like mix of table top decor items, cooking gadgets, linens, and more, makes you want to go home and plan a dinner party. the boutique also offers cooking classes with quite reasonable rates. a fun new stop for foodies and hostesses alike.
who wouldn't be excited to find this under the tree? A cute little hat box filled with ready-to-eat mini fondue pots, including caramel chocolate, dark chocolate with orange, and others. available online from chocolate maker mazet.
what could be more fashionably french than sonia rykiel's signature stripes? this year, she is offering her scarves sur mesure-- you make your own scarf, depending on how long you want it. so chic!
if you are planning on coming to paris soon, why not indulge yourself or a loved one in learning about wine? for french speakers, check out the programs at l'ecole du vin; english speakers will be thrilled with one of the courses given by my friend Olivier at O Chateau. from bordeaux to burgandy, you'll have it sorted out after a few pleasant sips....sante!
a street in my branche [trendy] neighborhood, rue de la forge royale, is hosting a late night shopping fete this thursday, december 6th from 6pm to 10.30pm. come by to check out kiddie couture at lillibulle, unique menswear at brutals, and wall stickers at walldesign, among other happenings. the tiny, one-way street is a 10-minute walk from the bastille, and the bourgeois-bohemian neighborhood is a slice of real paris. check out the blog for more info.
authentic retro cheese labels grace these colorful plates from genvieve lethu-- no pottery barn reproduction here, these fun fromage plates are the genuine article. 45 euros for a set of 6. Spoil your giftee with dreams of mouth-watering French cheese. (45 euros for a set of 6.)
cadeau numero trois is this gorgeous pearl ornament, entirely made of chocolate from the maison du chocolate, which sells for $138. made of dark chocolate and filled with pearlized balls of white chocolate, this one is definitely a carry on. the US website sells many of the companies other goodies, but the precious pearl ornament, for obvious reasons, cannot be shipped. come to paris and enjoy one or pack light to save space to take this home!
last night we celebrated a birthday at the bar le passage at senderens [formerly the famous lucas carton restaurant, at the place de la madeleine.] as we were going to a play at 9pm, i was thrilled to find a place to get a bite early [which in paris is anywhere before 8.30pm] -- we reserved and dined on delicious small plates and lovely wine. the entrance to the bar is in the charming covered passage next to the resto-- go up the stairs and you will be greeted by a small, warm, modern space with amazing embroidered walls and gold leafed banquettes. worth a stop if you are looking for a taste of senderens cuisine, without the time commitment for a longer meal.
to celebrate the holiday season, i'm going to post a fabulous frenchy gift item each day. pass on the links as a helpful HINT to those in need....
if you are out and about this weekend, be sure to swing by the 11th arrondisement for les fourmis rouge ("red ants") sale. combining over 40 designers of hip children's clothing and accessories, ateliers for the children [stories, makeup, etc.], and a bar for the papas, this is a weekend event for the whole famille. december 1st and 2nd only.
it happened again today-- i walked into a neighborhood boutique to be welcomed by sweltering heat [it is 50F here, so hardly sweltering!], with the doors of the boutique wide open. --so very unpleasant!
paris gets ready for the holidays by draping lights over trees, between buildings, and in store windows. the city of light really lives up to its name at this time of year, and if you are visiting during the holiday season, here are some places to visit:
to celebrate the 20th birthday of his fashion house, christian lacroix is playing conservator at the musee des arts decoratifs. the histories de mode exhibition plays his couture items against others from the museuem's archives, put together by theme and by color. over 400 items on display, gloriously gathered by monsieur lacroix himself.
just a little comment on the strikes, which have lasted WAY too long now.....without getting too politicial, a few observations:
trying to find a few bouteilles de vin to take back is always a challenge- with so many choices, it is hard to know where to start! check out the new card system at lavinia. prepay for a wine card, then taste some of the 24 wines on display at your leisure. the choices change monthly, and you can load your card with 10 to 50 euros worth of tastings. 3, bd de la madeleine, 1st.
making the rounds in all the mags in paris right now-- the everland hotel. this art installation/hotel is only in paris until the end of 2008. the pod-like structure, pearched ontop of the palais de tokyo contemporary art musuem, is a one-room-only hotel, rented by the night. it sleeps two, and provides a stunning view of paris. the everland was created by a pair of swiss artists, and has already made a few other stops in europe. the rates for this once in a lifetime experience are 333 euros for a sunday, tuesday or wednesday, and 444 euros for thursday, friday, and saturday.
i've seen these mini-taxis around town for a while, but in very limited numbers. just found out that the company is called cyclobulle, and these electric bike/taxis are becoming very much the rage in several cities in europe. in paris, the offering is still a bit limited, as the 'taxis' only go in certain areas [between concorde and gare st. lazare and from chateau d'eau and hotel de ville]. they hold 2 people, plus packages [phew!] call to book one up for a quick and eco-friendly ride though town, or check out their site-seeing tour on ile st. louis [1/2 tour for 19 euros].
