Kid's Space at Chanel. Really?

Ok, so there are a few things wrong with this.

First of all, a designated kid's space on the Chanel website? Is that necessary?

Second, it's troubling that I actually played around with it. I made a lovely gem encrusted brooch for myself.

Paris Tableau: Old Master's Paintings

Very excited....

Got myself an invitation to the Inaugural opening of Paris Tableau, an international fair for old master's paintings. It is dedicated to presenting Old Master's works from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. The fun part of all this is that if one is lucky enough to afford it, one can actually go home with a little something as the works are being presented by art dealers from around the world.

Today is the opening day, invite only. The event will be all weekend long at the Palais de la Bourse, the former Paris stock exchange, or as it is described on the website, temple of finance. Hmmm, these days, not so much.

Anyway, must get moving. I'll let you know how it goes. In the meantime, if you can't attend you can get the idea here.

Rue Mouffetard & Saturday's Lunch

A simple composed salad of tiny pears, bleu cheese, walnuts, honey, olive oil and fleur de sel from the Camargue all procurred at Saturday's rue Mouffetard market. People from all over the world make their way to this colorful, food-vending street. Poissonneries, boulangeries, chocolateries, tea and wine merchants abound. Lucky me....I live on this foodie heaven street. I stumble out of my apartment (I live behind the brown door in the photo below) and that friendly wine seller knows exactly which bottle of Côtes du Rhône to have waiting for me. The fish sellers on the other side of the door put on their daily "show" of exotic seafood displayed so beautifully. Today there were street musicians adding to the ambiance.

An absolute must for all you foodies visiting Paris.

Métro Censier-Daubenton (Line 7).

Lingerie as Art

Le Bon Marche's windows celebrating the opening of their new and improved lingerie department. Both Parisians and tourists were totally taken with these fabulously creative scenes. Only in Paris.

Shh....it's a Ladurée Secret

Hermés: Vintage and Today

These are just a few of the beautiful vintage Hermés scarves auctioned off here this past week. All of them, designs past and present, are complete works of art. A close friend has a closet filled with bright orange boxes, each one containing a gift either from someone or to herself and she uses them all. Clearly, I have scarf envy.

To take care of scarf envy, one need only head to the new Hermés store on rue de Sèvres in the 6th. A former indoor pool for Hôtel Lutetia right around the corner, this space has been magically transformed to hold not only beautiful silk scarves but home decor, clothing, a well curated book department, floral shop and tea salon. The children's department, yes, there is one, was the only place I could perhaps afford something....a coloring book for a mere 100 euros. What I did actually walk away with was a beautifully forced hyacinth in a green glass container for about 20 euro. My tiny purchase makes me happy every time I come in contact with its heady fragrance.

Frivolously wonderful and worth a visit.

Additional Information:

Hermés

17, rue de Sèvres, 75006, Paris

Métro: Sevres-Babylon (line 10)

Lunch Hour

I used this photo as my facebook status yesterday to let my people know that lunch in Paris can be pretty darn sweet. I stopped by a boulangerie on rue Saint Dominique that offers a lunch "emporter" or take away lunch. In this case it was a sesame baguette with camembert and walnuts, a tarte abricot and a bottled water all for 6 euro. A short walk across avenue Bosquet and voilà, a mid-day meal at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.

For my money, it was the best table in Paris!