Paris Signs

 Paris signs makes me want to dream.Merci Hediard.

When you're departing Paris on the Eurostar to London, you're encouraged to buy French parfums so you can feel more Parisienne - last chance!
Or to find your inner chat? Go try to find the thing in the Gare du Nord or understand the signs for that matter? Has this happened to you? The Paris Metro is another story. I love reading their signs like this one for a family ticket to the Louvre... The Metro is a goldmine of signs...

 Regarde! A French Girl who is peut-etre perdu/lost?

No need to worry about do not enter oneway signs if you're walking...

Do stop and peruse the menus/ardoises dans la rue...

Why do I always come to Patisserie Secco on the day (lundi) they're closed?

Why did they have to go and repaint the adorable dog on the wall at Secco? Dommage...

Here's a sign I can't resist...

Why must I read every porte-etiquette/pastry sign in every vitrine?

A 'sign' in the vitrine that needs no words. Macarons at super classe patisserie Hugo et Victor.

You can wear Paris signs on your arm if you buy a bag at Barbara Rihl (Pierre Herme's wife) 1, rue du Juillet 75001

Or just paint directly on your sleeve like this girl in the Metro.

Moi, je t'aime PARIS SIGNS!

Paris Renovations & Restaurations

Today's post is not about Parisien perfectly messy hair.
Nor is it about the joys of attending a Paris fashion show. But it is about beauty with a capitol B.
I love the way Paris beautifies its buildings when they are in a state of la restauration/repair or under construction. Like this witty wall poster covering Prada's new store-to-be that makes walkers on rue Saint-Honore appear to be on a catwalk!

Shot upside-down yet then turned right-side up.

It makes you think a bit.

Hermés is the master of the street face-lift with this Punch and Judy window

Take a closer look and you see delightfully casual sketches with a dash of watercolor on a corner on rue Saint-Honore.

The Paris Opera has gone for something much grander-almost an abstract artwork in their coverup while under construction.

It's true you'll see plain old construction signs now and then in Paris...

Hasn't this happened to you?
You tell a friend,

"You have GOT to see this gorgeous old bistro/cafe/or whatever."

You get there and the %$#@ thing is completely covered in scaffolding!

Why is that?

Because Paris preserves it's beauty.
It does not (well only rarely- Cojean how could you do that to Cador Patisserie?) throw them away.

It takes care of it's treasures, unlike some cities. And does it with wit and charm to boot. I took Barry Lewis' brilliant course on New York architectural history at Cooper Union this Spring. I've taken it before and will again. Barry is a NYC monument himself of endless, fascinating information on the city. One thing I heard Barry say over and over again,"In America, we throw things away. We get tired of them after 10 years and into the ashcan they go."

I would walk up 5th avenue after Barry's class with my head in the sky like a visiting tourist.

Passing the New York Public Library, I was sad to see no terrific Parisien-style witty scrim or faux wall while the library is under construction.

Back in Paris, along the Seine, this building shows all the workers of Paris while being repaired.

There is a guide to all the figures and their travaille/work placed on the bridge.

Hermés again has a big mural of sketches of shoppers on rue de Sevres.Reflecting the actual shoppers rushing by...

Here's an Older French Girl or OFG wearing a bit of red walzing by a lovely big under-construction sign.

Time for a bite of Paris beauty with your coffee from Hugo and Victor.

I'm trying to post earlier.

BONJOUR PARIS RESTAURATIONS!

Miam-Miam

This morning I got an email from Cindy:

Bonjour Carol - What does "miam-miam" mean?

This complex question is keeping me up nights.Basic translation of miam-miam is your everyday,

Yum Yum or nom nom

It's used more extensively in France. It's true miam-miam is a kid's word like yum yum. But in Paris you'll hear miam miams coming out of the most sophisticated mouths.
Hugo and Victor guimauve  A French cultural nuance that takes getting used to - this woman is having a severe attack of the Miams. She's trying to merge with the window - something the French call "le leche vitrine" meaning to lick the windows.Miams HQ. A customer is desperately calling for help on what to buy.Paris vending machines makes me go miam. These are in every Metro station. I've lost more $$$ than I like to think, trying to grab a bag.Jaime Mascaro Ballerinas = miam miam

At ART-PARIS a drool-worthy white Pentex. I took a picture.Very maimable beau mec at Art-Paris

I send NYC pictures to French Girl to miam-miam over.
Fr Girl has not sent me a single miamable picture of Paris.

I let out a big miam when first I saw Bear. Merci Lola.

Both Bear and I miam-miam over chocolat chaud.

 What makes you go miam-miam?

Which btw is pronouced something like yam-yam.
BONJOUR MIAM MIAM!