i *heart* BHV

BHV [Bazar de l'Hotel de Ville] is definitely not on the tourist circuit, although sometimes I think it should be! One of the grands magasins, right near Hotel de Ville in central Paris, this place is part decorator's dream- part traditional department store. The entire basement is dedicated to bricolage-- i.e., do-it-yourself and hardware supplies-- ranging from modern bath fixtures to reproduction louis XV door knobs. another floor is decked out in home accessories-- pillows, tassles, candles, you name it, they have it. and if you're not redecorating? they stock a decent selection of french clothing, handbags, jewelry, books, kitchen supplies, etc. needless to say, i'm there on a monthly basis, with a list in hand, and almost always come home with more!

get some new tunes & plant some trees

now here is a chic souvenir with a cause-- a compilation album by french designer vanessa bruno. the plant a tree album, which features tracks by chet baker and kate bush, supports a program that plants five trees for each album purchased. pas mal, non? available at colette, vanessa bruno boutiques, and at fnac.

cheers to flute

speakeasy/champagne bar flute has seen its share of success with two manhattan locations. now, flute paris has just opened, not far from l'etoile/champs-elysees area. stop in for a bit of bubbly and a nibble after a long stroll on the champs.

new Marais boutique

Anikalena Skarstrom, a Paris-based Swedish designer, has opened her first shop in the Marais. Look for structured jackets & coats, alongside flowy dresses, simple sweaters, inspired by heroines of litterature and cinema [think: Colette, Annie Hall, etc.] Her other claim to fame? That fashion should not be so age-ist-- her clothing looks as stylish on a 20 year old as it does on a 60 year old. Check out the new boutique at:

Anika
16 rue du Pont aux Choux, 3rd

this weekend in paris

if you are in town this weekend, festivals and fetes are happening all over town, so check out my previous post about paris plage, outdoor cinema, and more, or check out one of these events:

• les grands eaux musicales at versailles--fountains and geisers all over the gardens of versailles, set to lovely classical tunes
• outdoor at the bois de boulogne-- 4 different plays set in the idyllic Jardin Shakespeare in the Bois de Boulogne
  

a new boudoir on the champs

chic & cheap chain etam has just opened a huge new outlet on the champs-- entirely dedicated to lingerie, along with other lifestyle products such as creams, accessories, books & music, to completely outfit your very own boudoir a la francaise. check it out at 84 avenue des champs-elysees, 8th.

fifi does london

french lingerie creatrice fifi chachnil has just designed a new collection for brit chain topshop, available starting july 20th, online at topshop.com. the frilly & froofroo collection can even be shipped to the US [along side kate moss' collection for topshop, and other funky & inexpensive duds]. stock up now before its too late!

a hot terrace for cool nights

paris doesn't have nobu, but now we have nabu [short for nabulione], a hip new resto with a gorgeous terrace, which makes it very hot property in summer. the menu features frenchy summer classics like fresh green bean salad and king crab with celery remoulade along with steak tartare and satay chicken, followed with some fromage blanc, an apricot tarte, or the hot dessert of the moment- the cupcake.

nabulione, 40 av duqesne, 7th
tel: 01.53.86.09.09
open every day from 8am to midnight.

blanc d'ivoire in the marais

one of my fave home decor stores in paris, blanc d'ivoire, has recently set up shop in the upper marais, now giving us access to stunning style on both sides of the river. the warm collection of french traditional/shabby chic/gustavian/antique-inspired furniture and accessories is spralled over 3 floors, set up like a parisian apartment. so channel your inner voyeur, and stop by the new boutique to get a sense of real parisian living.

blanc d'ivoire
25 rue de saintonge, 3rd

i scream, you scream....

..we all scream for baobabana? Martine Lambert, one of France's most well known ice cream makers, has come out with new flavors for summertime, including Baobabana [made with honey from baobab flowers] and morcels of flambeed banana. try it out at her boutique, 192, rue de Grenelle, 7th.

you are invited...

Geraldine Valluet & Rebecca Perry Magniant
are pleased to invite you to a
cocktail & book signing
to celebrate the release of
Chic Shopping Paris

Thursday, 10 July 2008, 18h-21h

Boutique Geraldine Valluet
5, rue Houdon, 18th
www.geraldinevalluet.com

paris' daily candy

paris now has its own dailycandy-- a cute little site called my little paris, which gives tips on decor, beauty, restaurants, etc. in an oh-so-charmant way. so sign up for their newsletter and practice your french!

paris fetes summertime

technically, it is "summer" here in paris [although most days, it doesn't feel like it outside!] paris loves to celebrate with a variety of festivals. here are a few of my faves:

• paris plage- this year in its 7th edition, a faux beach on the banks of the seine, with everything from mini golf to Segway rides and plain old beach chairs for lounging. 21 july to 21 august
• cinema au clair de lune- free outdoor movies, in parks & other settings across the city; this years theme is european capitals--featuring films such as Blow Up and The Third Man. 6- 24 august, at 9.30pm.
  
• cinema at la vilette- a giant outdoor movie theater, in the middle of an immense park- and its only 2 euros a film. 15 july to 17 august, every night except monday.
• paris quartier d'ete- symphony concerts in the luxembourg gardens, a circus at Bercy Village, and recital in the bamboo trees at the Quai Branley-- all this and more. 14 july to 15 august.
  

From the Little Bookroom

Chic Shopping Paris

Dear Readers, To announce the publication of Chic Shopping Paris, I turn the newsletter over to the author, American-in-Paris Rebecca Magniant, founder of the city's premier bilingual shopping service (www.chicshoppingparis.com). When Rebecca married a Frenchman and moved to Paris, she took as her role model her new belle-mère (mother-in-law), who taught her the secret of every stylish French woman: "les bonnes addresses," a personal list of favorite shops meticulously compiled and jealously guarded by every serious shopper. Here's Rebecca's letter from Paris: Even the most seasoned traveler cannot resist the allure of saying "I got this in Paris." But these days, thanks to the Internet, one can purchase almost anything from anywhere—which is why, in Chic Shopping Paris, I tried to focus on boutiques and shops that are truly offering something unique—whether it is a special service offered only in Paris (such as Christian Louboutin's sur mesure service, or the funky, one-of-a-kind accessories at Matières à réflection) or an out-of-the way boutique that is oh-so French (like Belle du Jour, which carries vintage perfume bottles, or Astier de Vilatte, with its sophisticated twist on shabby chic home décor). Bringing back something special, perhaps one-of-a-kind, is the essence of Paris, and it's what most people are searching for. While sussing out the best places to take my clients, I see dozens of boutiques and thousands of items every week…yet I can still experience coup de foudre ("love at first sight"), the sensation of having found something that I cannot live without. Some of the items that I have bought for myself from the shops in the book include a gorgeous hand-crafted polka-dot travel umbrella from Alexandra Sojfer, my signature scent (Iris Poudre) from Frédéric Malle, and a pair of simple leather sandals from St. Tropez's K. Jacques that have the perfect patina after a few summers' wear. These have all become personal favorites, and while none of these items have a flashy logo, they are all symbols of Paris to me, well-made items that I will enjoy for years, truly worth the investment. So check out the more than 100 shops listed in Chic Shopping Paris, some off the beaten path, others a bit more well-known, but all with a certain "je ne sais quoi"… Amitiés, Rebecca We're happy to offer Chic Shopping Paris at $12.71 (25% off the retail price of $16.95). To see Rebecca's book in more detail, to read excerpts, and to see interior pages, please visit our website. Angela Hederman Editor, The Little Bookroom

indagare interview

Indagare, the uber-chic travel site [and named the best travel site by Vanity Fair], has just published an interview with yours truly. Check out the interview here, and find out some of my shopping tips for the best that Paris has to offer-- enjoy!

pint sized parisian

most of you know that i don't usually blog about american websites-- but this is just too irresistible. do you know of a pint sized parisian fille? check out the petit mademoiselle collection, currently online at US kids boutique gymboree-- sweet and charmant, without that tacky tourist-shop feeling.

drinking in French bien-etre

those clever french-- they've done it again. just when you thought you were being healthy drinking green tea, here is an even better boisson-- beaute tea from fauchon comes in 3 formulas for keeping svelte, looking younger, or having nice skin. now that's an original souvenir for your best gal pal! available at fauchon boutiques and big grocery chains for 16 euros.