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
Where stories for screenplays, ideas for books, or lyrics for songs come from is a mystery. Like asking a butterfly to land on your shoulder, creativity is not something that can be ordered like room service. What the world calls genius–the original, unfiltered, simple yet awesome light that shines so undeniably in rare works–comes when … More A Source of Inspiration: Oscar Wilde
Of all the words that come to mind when you say ‘Paris’, ‘simpler’ and ‘less expensive’ are probably not frontrunners. The news media consistently lists Paris, London, Tokyo, and New York City among the Top Ten most expensive places to live. What’s more, Paris is often promoted–and often promotes itself–as one of the more glamorous … More The Simpler, Less Expensive Life in Paris
Today marks the French government’s official ‘open for tourist business’ day, as the country welcomes vaccinated Americans to its shores beginning June 9th. My understanding of the process is that US travelers can present proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID test within 72 hours of their flight at the boarding gate and, … More Old Money Travel: Why Paris May Be Your Best Travel Destination Post-COVID
I’ve recently received a couple of emails from American men who planning a move to Paris as soon as conditions permit. Both asked about how to purchase/pack/plan for the weather and the culture with regards to wardrobe, so I thought a post about my experiences in this regard might prove timely, and helpful. Hindsight is … More The Paris Wardrobe: Pack the Black
A few friends from the states–and our friend David here in Paris–have mentioned the Netflix series Emily in Paris. Initially, I could stomach only the first episode, so predictable was the writing. But with the encouragement of an American friend here in the neighborhood, I buckled down for more, eventually watching the entire series with … More Emily in Paris…Hit and Miss
As many of you may already know, a curfew has been imposed here in France. Starting tonight, residents are required to be at home from 9pm to 6am. Exceptions for municipal and hospitality workers will be made (paperwork required), but for the average Parisian, it means finishing off the last glass of wine at 8:45pm … More The Second Wave in Paris
As the US deals with increasing infection rates, I thought it might be helpful and perhaps a little comforting to offer a little perspective from Paris. To recap quickly, the pandemic spread to France from northern Italy and Switzerland in January and February of this year. On March 17, 2019, the country was locked down, … More A Brief Update from Paris
My apologies for the delay in replying to comments recently, and if I by chance missed a comment, please forgive me. Ironically, after an initial lull in the action, the workload here has intensified. I have been squeezed for time and responding to everyone’s contributions in a timely manner has been difficult. I hope to … More An Update from Paris
David, one of our longtime contributors and a fellow expat resident with me here in Paris, forwarded the link below, suspecting that I might find it fascinating. He was right. France, home to both legendary male chauvinists and trailblazing feminists, is having what you might call an identity crisis at the moment: is it going … More Moi Aussi…#MeToo in France