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 […]
Tag Archives: expat life
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 […]
Fixing a Leak in Paris Takes Only 18 Months
Well, it’s done. (I think.) The leak that leaked all over my Paris apartment has finally been repaired. I’m pretty sure, anyway. You can’t blame me for feeling dubious. This has been carrying […]
The Re-Entry
For Americans, Labor Day marks the end of summer. In France, it’s similar, with September seeing the return of a flood of vacationers, many of whom have been away much […]
A Nomad in Paris, Part V: What I’ve Learned
Five months in the City of Light have come to an end. These last months were just the latest along this road I’ve taken, one where being uncomfortable and unsure […]
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 […]
A Nomad in Paris, Part III: A Tiny, Happy Place to Belong
Not caught up? Read Part 1, and Part 2. The last few days are winding down in apartment #2 on this nomadic journey of three Paris apartments in three months. The first […]
Nurturing
The first of my three rental apartments in Paris came with a terrace fitted with three window boxes of geraniums. At least they resembled geraniums. Something like geraniums poked out from dirt so hard […]
On a Beach in Nice—Against My Will
I’m sitting under a flawless sky on a rocky beach in Nice on the French Riviera looking out at a clear aqua sea. The waves are slapping hard against the […]
A Nomad in Paris, Part II: My Patch of Heaven
If you’ve read Part I of my nomadic journey, you know I’ve been kicked out of my apartment by a leak in a neighbor’s flat that has rendered my home unfit. […]
A Nomad in Paris, Part I
Back in August of last year, I wrote about a leak in my building that rendered my little Paris home uninhabitable—mostly because of high levels of dangerous mold. I had […]
The Paris Souvenirs You Should Be Buying
If you want to take home a real piece of Paris, you won’t find it in a souvenir shop that sells tchotchkes from China. And honestly, do you really need […]
How Paris Does Groceries, Part II: Foods that Moo
Here, the second offering in a series about grocery shopping in Paris. This post: Dairy. Grocery stores, you ask? Mais oui, mon ami. What can be found in Paris grocery chains, would only be found […]
Watch My Story on House Hunters International (Again!)
If you missed the debut of my episode of House Hunters International, it’s airing again, October 3rd at 11pm e/p on HGTV. Leopard Films documented the story of my search […]
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 […]
Fear and Loathing…in Paris?
Here I am, living the dream. I left my job in New York and came to Paris to stay in my little apartment for two months at least. I’m lucky, […]
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 […]
The Dead of August
August: when everyone flees for the seaside. I’ve never been in Paris during this time of year; I usually come just before la Rentrée, or “re-entry,” when everyone is coming home to […]
Evicted from Chez Moi (Temporarily)
I came to Paris for two months to finally live like a local, spend a long stretch of time in my neighborhood, in my little Paris nest. Up to now, […]
Door Closed, Window Open
I packed up the last of my belongings from my office, among them, many a Paris-themed tchotchke—mainly gifts from my colleagues over the years: the clock made from a 19th […]
Is Paris Becoming Brooklyn?
Starvin’ Joe’s Burgers, Blackburn Coffee, Bones, Ten Belles. Is this Williamsburg? Park Slope? Bushwick? From the industrial rustic design of Septime to the Brooklyn Lager proudly served at a meatball […]
How Paris Does Groceries, Part I: Snack Food
Welcome to the first in a series. In this post, I’m focusing on French junk food. Yes, you read right, and judge me not. I hear you: But the bread, the cheese, the open markets […]
Counting in French (Or, Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered)
I’m in a long queue at Monoprix Nation, which is the biggest in Paris, and overwhelming on a slow day. But this is a Saturday, last call to buy food […]
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 […]
Opportunity Missed?
Aaaaaaarrrrrrrgggh! cried the Charlie Brown in my head. There it was, big and bold, a realtor’s sign posted on the widows of the apartment next door. VENDU, it boasted: SOLD. What? Whaaaat?! […]
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 […]
My (Parttime) Paris Life 