Paris Holiday Facades

Chocolate browsing

At La Mere de Famille on rue Rambuteau

People browsing their smart phones and missing the Christmas decorations..

On rue de Rennes a traditional boulangerie

Place Saint Sulpice, G. Thuillier always has a lovely facade for Noël.

Peering into the new Christophe Michelak patisserie on 16, rue de la Verrierie 75003

Inside spectacular religieouse at spectacular prices (9€)...Ouch.

A sneak shot into fleurist Patrick Allain 51 rue St.-Louis en l'Ile.

A favorite papeterie on Ile Saint Louis, Marie Tournelle rue des deux Ponts

Berthillon toujour en lavandre

If you are headed to the excellent weekend Alsacien Christmas market at Gare de l'Este

Grab an almost-like-Nathan's hot dog first at Schmid (5,50€) on a pretzel bun.

Top producteurs from Alsace here every year and the most authentic Christmas marché in Paris IMHO.

Last night passing Notre Dame at 6:30 pm

The doors were flung open so you could hear/see the benediction!

Across the street the Prefacteur looked much more elegant than when I go to renew my visa annually.

NYTimes author Elaine Sciolino of THE ONLY STREET IN PARIS: RUE DES MARTRYS was signing books at Pain Quotidienne. Elaine will be signing books and talking about 'terror' at the American Library Wednesday night (7:30 but better get there at 7 if you want a seat). I did not know Elaine was head of terror at the NYTimes since 1996. She will be talking about her book as well and if you show up you'll get a Parisbreakfast map.

Speaking of maps...the DECEMBER PARIS MAP is still a WIP (work in progress). I hope to send it out this week! It is still December at least...Bear will be in it FYI.

Christmas music on the Metro. Some are not best pleased.

Holiday shenanigans/hooligans on Boulevarde Henri IV.

And around the corner from me, the first lighted tree sighted in a window.