On July 14, France celebrates la Fête Nationale, commemorating the storming of the Bastille in 1789 and the beginning of a revolution that would forever transform the nation. It is a day associated with the ideals of Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité—the motto of the French Republic.
Yet behind these ...
Everyday France
How to Host a French Apéro: The Art of French Entertaining at Home
There's hardly anything nicer than being invited for an apéro.
I'll never forget my very first one in France. At the time, I was living with a French family in Lille while teaching at the university. One evening, the daughter of the family announced that she was hosting an apéro in the garden so ...
French Philosophers Who Helped Shape America
The United States is celebrating its 250th anniversary, making this a fitting moment to reflect on the ideas and thinkers that helped shape the nation. Among them, five French philosophers stand out as both foundational and enduring.
My introduction to political philosophy didn’t happen in ...
What Makes the Marais So Special?
Le Marais is without a doubt one of Paris’s most beloved neighborhoods — a must-see for anyone traveling to the city. Cobblestone streets, centuries-old mansions, chic boutiques, and cafés tucked beneath leafy trees — it’s no wonder travelers fall under its spell. Since it’s such a favorite ...
How to Navigate Paris Like a Local
I began traveling to Paris long before smartphones, when getting lost wasn’t a setback but part of the experience. There were no Google Maps, no blue dots tracking your steps, no instant recalculations—just intuition, memory, and a small, often-worn Plan de Paris par arrondissement tucked into a bag ...
Five Things I Love About Going to the French Open
Tennis is my game! I love playing and watching matches. In fact, growing up, I played competitive junior USTA tennis and even managed to become a ranked player. Shout-out to my mom—who not only loved the sport but also coached college tennis and dedicated a tremendous amount of her time to my ...
