Red Tueday, Au Pied de Cochon

Yesterday became red Tuesday. On Saturday I fell in love instantly (again) with a huge Tintin shopping bag (like I really need another shopping bag(cabas) but it was a mere 3,75 euros and such a cheery red) seen in the window of Album Librairie (a comic book shop) 67, bd St Germain. Heading out the door a poster announced a Tintin exhibit. Ah ha! I must investigate.

On Tuesday I went to Musee en Herbe, a small children's museum (rue Herold 75001) you've probably never heard of. I hadn't.

It's Tintin's 40th anniversary. Bet you didn't know that either...ahem.

The museum is celebrating with a special gallery of foreign art objects (borrowed from the Louvre and the Branly) that duplicate items from Tintin's adventures around the world. Put on your caps and grab a magnifying glass folks.

I was about to shoot artist Herge's Tintin sketches when a kid got there before me and shoved her magnifying glass on the drawings...hmmm.

It's French school winter vacation time in case you didn't know. Who knew?

The place was packed with Tintin detectives puzzling out this and that. 

You can buy this Tintin jigsaw puzzle if you want to drive yourself crazy. Or you can figure out the joke without reading the French.

How's your French SVP? Translation anyone?

Post-exhibit I needed some refreshment. Au Pied de Cochon is nearby at Les Halles 6, rue Coquilliere

If you want cheery red on a grey Paris day this is the place.

The staff don't mind a bit of you only order a bowl of their famous soup a l'oignon (8,50) and then run. They couldn't be nicer is my experience.

Maybe next time I'll order it sans(without) cheese and bread and just slurp up the lovely beefy, onion broth. Who needs to fly to NYC to Brodo?

By the way if you read David Lebovitz on Monday, he's got the scoop on French sardines. I ate them regularly in New York, but stopped here. There are so many to choose from and they look fishier. Yesterday I went into Franprix and picked up this pretty red tin of Connetable Sardines a l'Ancienne (what ever that is? Who knew there were vintage sardines available?). I'll report my investigations later.

Not far from the kids museum you can doll yourself up to look like a tres chic Tintin at Yohji Yamamoto 25, rue de Louvre. Note the Tintin style cap.

I spied a redhead with Heidi pigtails carrying her Yamamoto booty exiting the doorway...
Can you find the French little red riding hood lurking in this picture PBers? Get out your magnifying glasses!

Red Tuesday

On grey, drizzly days like today there must be a general consensus amongst Parisians to throw on a touch of red.

Sit down in your reddest chair and prepare to have your spirits lifted. Isn't that what red does?

School kids are big proponents of the color red. I shot all these on the way home from the pool this morning. Fortunately my pool bag is red so I blend in...

The pool is near several grade schools. I pass lots of red riding hoods.
 

Red ridding hoodism starts around the same time as immersion into pastry shops = early indoctrination.
 

Red jeans work for boys.

And girls.

Vichy red checks are an everyday occurrence in Paris. They do not just appear when it clouds over nor do they have any political significance for those concerned.
 

Which Pantone red is preferred in Paris I can't tell you. Just bring something RED when you visit.

Red tartes are pretty common and also not weather-related. But it doesn't hurt having a quick browse of a red desserts in patisserie vitrines when it's overcast. You won't be disappointed.
 

I would not suggest putting your red tarte inside your red satchel even if they do match.
 

Remember I told you to pick up the daily free news at the Metro? Today's 20 Minutes announced that since Monday Café de la Paix is having a special petit dejeuner prix choc promotion for charity. Just 5 euros for a hot drink, croissant + OJ until 7 June. The Café de la Paix will match it in a donation. Look for those red news stands.
Have a cheery RED day PBers!
 

Le Petit Chaperon Rouge - Red Riding Hood

vendredi 8 fevrier Le Petit Chaperon Rouge
 

  le petit chaperon ❤️ French little girls 👧🏼 get into their red riding hoods beginning in the poussette.
 

They never lose their attachment even when grown up and gorgeous.

 RRH training continues in grade school at the creche.
 

I saw so many red riding hoods all over town of all ages.
 

At the annual sales/soldes, there were plenty.

Come rain or shine (mostly rain) out come the red coats.
 

Ines de la Fressange has her own version of the RRH look.

What do French red riding hoods eat? 

Gateaux rouge framboise 

You might think the Red Riding Hood thing is a figment of my imagination. You might be right. Or it could be a cultural phenomenon. 

N2 jewelry has RRHs plus wolves. With 50% sales going on I fell victim. (see above) God only knows if I will ever wear the brooch I bought but it is adorable 🥰 
 

Fr. RRH DOG OF THE DAY.

I got thinking what would a fairy tale expert like Bruno Bettelheim have to say about this. I found an eyeful on the net. Here's a taste 

Bruno Bettelheim, in The Uses of Enchantment, examines the story of Red Riding Hood's trip as culminating with her loss of virginity...

A Charming, "innocent" young girl swallowed by a wolf is an image which impresses itself. The threat of being devoured is the central theme of "Little Red Riding Hood," as it is of "Hansel and Gretel." The same basic psychological constellations which recur in every person's development can lead to the most diverse human fates and personalities, depending on what the individual's other experiences are and how he interprets them to himself. Similarly, a limited number of basic themes depict in fairy stories quite different aspects of the human experience; all depends on how such a motif is elaborated and in what context events happen. "Hansel and Gretel" deals with the difficulties and anxieties of the child who is forced to give up his dependent attachment to the mother and free himself of his oral fixation. 

"Little Red Cap" takes up some crucial problems the school-age girl has to solve if oedipal attachments linger on in the unconscious, which may drive her to expose herself dangerously to the possibility of seduction. 

Who knew? 🐺 

Bonne Week-end!

A Red Shoe

 Red Repettos,  9" x 11"

 Yesterday's picture of the red shoes + red bag got me thinking. You can't go wrong wearing red shoes in Paris with an accompanying red accessory.

 Wearing red in Paris is 'a shoe in' or 'a shoo in'

 "a shoe in" means you have one foot in the door...he's a shoe in for the job...meaning he has a good chance of the getting the job.

"shoo in" is a racetrack term applied to a horse that is expected to win a race'.

 

 So if you want to win the fashion race in Paris get out your red shoes + something else red.

 Brigitte did it.

 This French women may be a bit OTT...de trop don't you think? Btw thanks for letting me know you want Parisbreakfast 5X a week and even more yesterday.

 On the other hand red nails + red ballerinas = perfection.

 It's my belief little French girls get plenty of 'red' indoctrination with multiple rereadings of Little Red Riding Hood/Le Petit Chaperon Rouge.

 They start right off dolling up in total red outfits. This is not a Halloween trick or treat walk.

 Grown up French girls get in touch with their inner Red Riding Hood easily.

 N2 makes loads of goofy red riding hood jewelry for just this purpose. I got a red riding hood ring. I'm never without mine.

Here's little French girl in her all-red summer outfit.

Practice practice practice!