David, one of our long-time community members and frequent finder of thought-provoking articles for this blog, sent me this story recently. I think it’s quite interesting, and I’d love to hear some experiences you’ve had with this issue. That is: how do you handle developing and maintaining friendships with people who have a very different … More Friends and Money
Is it worthwhile? Is it my best? Would I be proud of it? Would I be ashamed of it? Would it leave the world a better place? What is my motivation for doing it? Would I be required to explain it? Would I be required to apologize for it? Would it benefit anyone else besides … More Personal Questions
My wife and I had coffee with some American neighbors last weekend. The conversation ricocheted wildly between current events, where to find good Indian food, and the ins and outs of (them) raising two young children in Paris. We shared knowing nods about how different the city is for tourists: it’s a dazzling, romantic, breathtaking, … More The Difference Between Visiting Paris, and Living in Paris
One of our community members, Chris, recently asked about purchasing automobiles. My philosophy has always been to purchase used cars, not new, that have been owned by only one person who has all books and maintenance records, and has never been in an accident. I also take a hard, objective look at the owner of … More Auto Pilot
It hasn’t been all coffee, croissants, cognac, and chocolates here in The City of Light. A little bit of work has transpired. In the coming weeks, the latest installment of the Old Money series will be available online and in bookstores: Old Money Style: Secrets To Dressing Well For Less – The Gentleman’s Edition. The … More Coming Soon: Old Money Style
One of the joys of Paris is running across little treasures that escape the itineraries of most tourists, and even some Parisians. One such ‘hidden gem’ is the Van Cleef and Arpels jewelry school, located just off the Place Vendome in the well-heeled 1st arrondissement. Here, aspiring artisans come to learn their craft from the … More Hidden Gems
I recently found myself out of place, i.e., at an art exhibition. My default strategy: grab a plastic flute of the free champagne, find a neutral corner, decline the hors d’oeuvres, ignore the art, watch the people. I was soon joined by a kindred spirit. The Brit was clad in the standard issue ‘English country … More How To Fill A Hole