I once assumed that the variety of coffee drinks in France came down purely to personal taste: if you like milk or cream, order a café crème; if you don’t, order an espresso. Simple enough—n’est-ce pas?
Not quite. Like many everyday French customs, coffee culture follows an unspoken logic rooted ...
Everyday France
Restoration Work at the Palace of Versailles
Visiting the Chateau de Versailles with Julia, marked my first return to the interior of this magnificent palace in a few years. Since my last visit, considerable restoration has taken place.
To honor architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart and commemorate his work on the 300th anniversary of his death, ...
A weekend with Julia
My good friend Maria-Grace has come to Paris to attend the Christie's Reunion and to deliver her daughter Julia to ballet school.
Julia is an absolutely delightful young lady and, apparently, quite a talented dancer. She comes to Paris for a month each summer for an intensive ballet course. I met ...
From Classmates to Lifelong Friends: A Parisian Reunion to Remember
One of the best things about summer in Paris—aside from rosé on café terraces and evening strolls along the Seine—is when friends come together. This summer? A total jackpot. Not only did a few familiar faces roll into town, but Christie’s Education decided to host a reunion. Cue the champagne and ...
La Favorite
On the rue Passy rests an unassuming little café that could easily go unnoticed by passers by - there's no view, no celebrity clientèle, no historic relevance and no tree-lined terrace. In fact, there's nothing at all remarkable about this little place.
What is does offer, however, is the ideal ...
Luxembourg Garden: Love at First Sight
In yesterday's post, I mentioned that the Jardin du Luxembourg is one of my favorite spots in Paris. I fell in love with this garden when I was a college student. Back then, I rented a room at the Foyer International des Etudiantes on Boulevard Saint-Michel, on the east side of the garden. I studied ...






