With the worst of the pandemic (hopefully!) over, visitors are once again flooding to Paris. After almost two years of a dicey landscape for socializing–whether it’s from the other side of the room or on the other side of the world–the excitement of face-to-face conversation is palpable here, both for locals and for visitors. The … More The Post Pandemic Paris Cafe Visitors’ Guide
In recent weeks, I’ve noticed what seems to be an increase in the vocal and sometimes violent disruption of school board meetings, political speeches, and other organized events. These protests are sometimes well-organized by groups of activists. More often, they seem unplanned and unhinged: personal issues and unrelated frustrations boil over into the public square, … More The Importance of Order
I am back in Paris after a busy week in Los Angeles. I hope everyone has been well and safe during this uneasy time. My apologies for the longer-than-expected absence. My short visit to the City of Angles (my term, not a typo) was an interesting mix of the fatiguingly familiar, the slightly surprising, and … More Back in Paris
It’s been a busy few weeks for me personally. More on that later. Here’s an update from the French capital… Restrictions remain in force here in Paris as COVID rates continue to worry public health officials. The less-severe Omicron variant still strains hospital facilities and staff, but not at crisis levels. Only vaccinated citizens and … More Random Updates from Paris
There are 3 fundamentals that I believe frequently contribute to being successful in life. Of course, how we define and quantify ‘success’ is an individual endeavor, and sometimes difficult to ascertain. Nevertheless, these 3 things consistently contribute to fulfillment. They are: To master your craft. Regardless of the profession we choose or goal we set, … More The 3 Way Street
Here’s an exercise you might try in order to improve the quality of your life. This practice started, evolved, and has been refined by me during my time here in Paris. It’s possible I see some of my fellow citizens doing something of this sort on a regular basis: cafes lend themselves perfectly to the … More 30 Minutes Every 30 Days
I hope the start of 2022 has found all of you in fine health and a (relatively) optimistic frame of mind. Despite breathless headlines about skyrocketing infection rates around the world, daily life here in the French capital seems to carry on in its measured, elegant routine. Cafes are full. Boutiques bustle. Children toddle off … More Update From Paris
Living in Paris, of course I interact daily with French people, many of the Parisians. This important distinction is necessary because Parisians are French, but obviously not all French are Parisians. Parisians are a unique breed: they are separate and apart, not just from their fellow countrymen, but from anyone else on the planet. In … More The Two Sides of The Old Money Coin
We’ve spoken many times on this blog about backing off social media, limiting your daily screen time, generally retreating from the internet, and conversely connecting more often and more fully with people and the world on a face-to-face, realtime basis. I think we all agree that these practices can lead to a richer life as … More The Price of Tech
Well…sort of. Our international correspondent, C.V., provided the two links below. (I believe David also spotted one of these and posted in the comments section of a recent post.) The articles make note of a recent fashion trend that embraces clothing that is subtle, durable, and timeless. Previously referred to as Ivy League style or … More Old Money Style is Back in Style!