Usually after I do a PARIS LETTER run 🏃♂️ to la poste 📬 I’m allowed to wonder aimlessly🤸🏾♀️ Yesterday I wondered into the Dutch concept store HEMA looking for Halloween stuff. They’re already thinking Xmas🎄/Christmas/Noel & ginger cookies! Somehow I resisted 🫣
Are you already thinking ahead for Xmas holidays? Should I put up Christmas 🎄 letters for ‘Future thinkers’? Do tell PBers 🙏
I kept on walking & passed a crowd waiting to get into La MEP. I joined, flashed my press card & waltzed in ☺️
It was a first retrospective, PHOSPHOR: Art & Fashion 1990-2023 bringing together more than 200 works
Of Dutch artist Viviane Sassen.
Interesting. Maybe not my cup of Ko-Fi ☕️
Meanwhile I’d like to see the Antony Gormley show. It opened yesterday at Rodin museum.
And lounge chairs for no particular reason 🙄 Or is it future thinking?
Across the street, department store BHV is thinking in the present of Halloween with 🎃 pumpkin/potiron scented candles from Diptyque.
I noticed they are future thinking with an Advent Calendar from Diptyque. It’s not even November. Then I reconsidered when I saw the price tag - 25€ 🤸🏾♀️
Mariage Frères has 64 teas to taste in their Advent Calendar for a more palatable 62€ if you’re a tea fan (at BHV tea counter).
Me, I’m drinking the same tisane (David Lebovitz says,’although another tip is that herb tea isn’t called tea in France, it’s called tisane or infusion, which is why you might get a confused look* if you order camomile or lemon verbena tea’, Cotterley Infusion Réglisse Menthe for 13 years, since I discovered it in the town of Montmorillon. It’s a House brand of supermarché InterMarché (24 bags 0,90€) 🤣
Lately I add in Cotterley (ah..the cachet of a British name) Bio Thé Vert for extra morning oomph 🤸🏾♀️
No matter how many fancy teas I buy, with the best of intentions, I still end up drinking licorice mint 🙄 Does that happen to you?
Not to suggest for one minute you should miss out visiting Paris’ fabulous tea shops,
Whatever your tea preference, leaf or teabag. Dammann Freres at Place des Vosges is a beautiful shop.
Visiting Paris tea salons is an absolute must-do 👍
Walking home, I passed a barge restaurant next to Pont Marie (all lit up), Les Macquereau Tonight they’re celebrating the second La Grande Fête de la Moules Rain ☔️ is predicted all day. I did briefly think about doing a moules letter…
Meanwhile I’m still working away at my Paris cup ☕️ letter
Certainly, as the festive season 🎄approaches, many of us will start contemplating perfect gifts 🎁 T.
ReplyDeleteThose koekjes cookies look delish…and they perch on the edge of your tea cup! Could you work them into your tea cup watercolors?? ❤️ Dorrance
ReplyDeleteGlad you mentioned the show at MEP. My husband and I were going to go this weekend. After seeing your photos and noting your opinion, we have crossed it off our itinerary. There are better ways to spend our time in Paris.
ReplyDeleteIt’s kind of for esoteric tastes imho
DeleteNot my cup of tea ☕️
Guilty as charged!!! I purchased some clear lights to string on my balcony! My cup of tea is boring...Lipton tea bag & lemon. Is that a bottle of red nail polish I spy on your painting table?
ReplyDeleteNot nail polish..I wish. It’s Pentex Correcteur Blanc - good for covering up mistakes
DeleteIt's wander, not wonder, when you amble through a street or shop.
DeleteTHANK YOU ❤️ I didn’t know that ☺️
DeleteI brought home teas from both Mariage Freres and Dammann Freres as gifts.
ReplyDeleteExcellent choices Suki 👍
DeleteA press card!! How lovely... Enjoy your autumn; in my area it is brief, but so appreciated!
ReplyDeleteAutomne in Paris is better represented in the shops (mushrooms, pumpkins, chocolate etc.) than on colorful trees 🍁
DeleteChristmas stuff -- TOO SOON! (Except for ginger cookies -- never too soon.) At Lowes and Home Depot they look like a Christmas wonderland and Halloween was stuck on a single wall. No one seems to respect the turkey anymore. Ah well... I walk right on by.
ReplyDeleteNo Thanksgiving in France so they get on it as quickly as possible!
DeleteUsually November 5 when the Christmas windows are unveiled.
The Swedish are always good for ginger cookies…though I miss the MOLASSES GINGER COOKIES I grew up with…Very big at Halloween those big boxes were…can still imagine them.
I love the verveine thé which I buy every time I go to France. In Casino supermarché or Carrefour it is very cheap and delicious and reminds me of France
ReplyDeleteThe supermarchés in France seem to have very nice house brand tea ☕️
DeleteIt’s so nice you found your own ‘signature’ tea! Personally, I prefer Mariage Frères Paris Breakfast 😉. But not for everyday, just for Sundays…it makes the day feel special.
ReplyDeleteI really envy all of the exhibits you’ve been going to. And, with a Press Pass no less! Paris always has something going on. ❤️
Ooh, I’m coveting that Diptyque pumpkin candle. Do you think they will still have them in November?? 🎃
When next you come you can have my PB tea leaves. I save it only for the tin.
DeleteWhich by the way I think they names after PB 🤔
I used to write about them a lot early days.
Suddenly there’s a Paris Breakfast Tea!
Gimmeabreak
PS I found the Potiron candle completely lacking in pumpkinish aroma 😟 Triste
DeleteI saw this illustration, and immediately thought of you.
DeleteThank you so much for the wonderful way you always bring Paris to us.
https://www.amazon.com/Caspari-Snowy-Owl-Wreath-Christmas/dp/B07GKW4YQJ/ref=sr_1_10?crid=2LM64TNAQXNUP&keywords=Amazon+Christmas+Wreath+Advent+Calendar&qid=1697728523&sprefix=amazon+christmas+wreath+advent+calendar%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-10 Mary
I’m not in Christmas mode yet at all, even the start of November is too early. We get 25 days of December to build up to it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your favorite tea. I have Yorkshire Tea for regular tea bag tea. For weekends I like a pot of loose leaf tea, I have two Marriage Freres teas that were a present (Paris Breakfast and French Breakfast) but for a nice strong loose leaf black tea I have this great tea from Melbourne called Tram Tracker!
Mint tea I buy loose at the markets - it’s good combining with green tea.
Kirra, Noel starts officially when the Xmas windows are unveiled in Paris
DeleteNOV 5!
It’s a shock for me too but I have adjusted ☺️
SALON DU CHOCOLAT starts October 28 = and Christmas shopping begins !