Finding the Christmas Spirit in an Uneasy Paris
This holiday season in Paris was marred by weekly citywide violence that unfortunately became a regular part of the gilets jaunes (yellow vests) protests. To guard against further vandalism and […]
Category Archives: My Paris
Dinner in the Park with 17,000 of My Closest Friends
I just had dinner in the park. With 17,000 of my closest friends. Okay, so the park was the Esplanade des Invalides near the Eiffel Tower. And the dinner was […]
Paris is Closed for Vacation
“Is anyone left in Paris?” I wrote on Facebook. “I’m so bored I could cry.” Bored in Paris you say? Well, yeah. It’s possible. Particularly, when it’s August, and all […]
In Paris, Christmas with a Little Cheese
“Don’t go to the Christmas village near Champs-Elysées!” my friend Fabien chided me in a message. “It’s so contre-facons, so fake!” Well, yeah. Sure. It’s totally cheesy. That’s the whole […]
The Book I Was Destined to Write (In Spite of Myself)
In 2014, my life would change forever. I had decided to leave my beloved job, then a day later, received an email from a woman named Kat Brzozowski from St. Martin’s Press/Thomas Dunne Books wanting to discuss turning […]
10 Things I Miss About Paris When I’m in New York
I feel very fortunate to be able to live in two of the greatest cities in the world. But there are some downsides. Here, in no particular order (unless it’s […]
How Paris Does Christmas
A few weeks ago, a friend posted this on Twitter: “Parisians: even though you’ve seen it in the movies, unless you ONLY hang out in midtown, NY doesn’t really do Christmas […]
Peace in Provence
A fire blazed in a large fireplace at the far end of a grand salon with 10-foot beamed ceilings. Two overstuffed sofas flanked the hearth, begged to be lounged in. […]
Shaken, not Stirred
It’s been one week since terrorists shook up our world in Paris, hitting the heart of the popular district I call home. I’ve tried several times to write, but cohesive […]
Paris in the Greige Zone
A friend was complaining to me about her building’s hallways, specifically, the color they’d chosen to paint the apartment doors and accent trim. “It used to be a beautiful burgundy red. […]
Losing My Bold Soul Sister: Grief & Gratitude in Paris
“I’m so glad we’re friends.” These words were spoken to me by my Paris “sister,” Lisa Taylor Huff. They were followed by one of her long, hard hugs. I’d spent part of the day with […]
The Longest Day (of Music) of the Year—Fete de la Musique
It’s past 2:00 a.m. and a 10-piece brass band is still kicking out the jams on Rue Crussol. The hoots and whistles of the crowd they’ve gathered bounce off the buildings in […]
The Path of the American
If you’ve been following along, you know I’ve been having a tough time with an unresolved leak in my building that is damaging my dream home. Toxic mold has grown, forcing me […]
La Rentree (Re-entry)
August in Paris is coming to a close, which means Parisians are returning from their vacations. You can tell because the Métro is busier, the streets are more bustling and […]
Liberation
August 25th marks the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Paris from Nazi occupation. There are official ceremonies and public celebrations here in the city to mark the occasion. It’s […]
When Can You Call Yourself a Parisian?
At what point can you claim to be a Parisian? Do you have to be a French citizen? Live there fulltime? Pay taxes? When is it acceptable to call the city […]
The Loudest, Tiniest Street in Paris
In New York, my apartment faces 7th Avenue in the bustling Chelsea neighborhood, so I expect a certain amount of street noise. And it is New York, after all. I’m […]
This Valentine’s Day, Give Paris Your Love
When my post about the love locks went viral (3000 views!) I knew I wasn’t the only one who thought they were a bad idea. So I joined forces with […]
Dear Tourists, Please Unlock Your Love
Dear Tourists: I know it seems romantic, a lock signifying your everlasting love fastened forever to a bridge in the City of Light—and sure, a few years ago it was […]
O (Tiny Parisian) Christmas Tree
My apartment in Paris is a third of the size of my New York apartment. At only 258 square feet, or 24 square meters, there is not a sliver of […]
Paris Pick-Me-Up
Sometimes I think my mom’s on vacation. Or it’s just been a while since I’ve connected. I itch to ring her and say, “Hey, let’s catch up. Got so much […]
My (Parttime) Paris Life 