Marche au Puces shopping with V.

Yesterday Bear wanted to tag along when I gave V. an interior designer a private tour of the Marché au Puces. The last tour I gave there was eons ago to cookbook author Dorie Greenspan.

In 1920 Romaine Vernaison, a landowner, put up wooden sheds to rent to junkmen. Now the Puce covers 125 acres with 5 separate market and is the largest in Europe. You can get there with bus 85 or Metro line 4 to Clignancourt or of course Uber. We started with Vernaison, the biggest and most mixed Marché price and object-wise.

At the entrance, shop No.6 on the right is full of beads and ribbons. V. bought a meter of beautiful tapestry ribbon to match her bedroom while I flirted with a horseshoe buckle. Ines de la Fressange puts a stunning bead necklace together in the same shop on YOUTUBE.  

A terrific shop of just bakelite jewelry in Vernaison allée 7.

Pace yourself with a coffee midway at Italian Cafe A. Picolo at Dauphine on rue des Rosiers.

We booked lunch ahead at the famous old bistro, Chez Louisette. Great fun with singing and music and a hearty traditional boeuf bourgonion.

Very long ago I did an illustrated guide to STREET MARKETS still available on Amazon. Not so much has changed since then at the Puce. You want to plan ahead. Go early on Saturday mornings.

Afternoon the Parisian crowds arrive in droves. Dress warmly in layers you can remove if the sun comes out. V. a Canadian used to below zero temps didn't mind the chill but I did. More layers next time.

V. was looking for a specific type sculpture to match a piece back in Canada. It certainly helps if you're on a hunt rather than looking at everything in sight - exhausting. By the way most dealers spoke English and were consistently helpful.

In Marché Biron the shops are more upscale and set up as furnished rooms. Dauphine is 2 floors and a mixup.

I hope you don't mind I'm posting more often of late - so many things going on in Paris this Fall. Its hard to keep up. Next week is the MADE IN FRANCEexpo, the annual MAP FAIR, IMPERIAL CHOCOLAT AU FONTAINEBLEAU to name a few. Do you enjoy reading PB with your morning coffee☕️? Keep Bear in Paris with a letter or map subscription or a watercolor from my Etsy shop. Bear 🐻says Big Merci ❤️from Paris🇫🇷.