The Paris Walk

Drawing by Rick Tulka

I mentioned Rick Tulka's Walking Man previouslyI've been seeing "walking Parisiens".

About Bear and the November Paris Cafe Letter

First of all THANK YOU for all your caring, concerned messages PBers! It means a lot.

But Louise wrote she was outraged I showed a stuffed bear when Paris was up in flames! I had to stop and think a bit...and look up 'Alter Ego'. 

A person's secondary or alternative personality

An intimate and trusted friend.

Bear is all of those. You may not know Bear. He was gifted to me in March, 2010 by Lola of Sonia Rykiel. We haven't been apart since.

Six years of traveling to and fro to France, and always the best companion.

We have a lot in common. We both would rather browse menus than eat inside.

Browsing cookie aisles is another shared pastime.

Bear doesn't eat pie/tarte crust either.

And we both love the Paddington movie

Bear is a working partner by the way. He earns his keep on Etsy.

In charge of product fulfillment and he makes sure every envelope has a stamp.

Last week Bear and I researched the November Sketch letter.

I wanted to draw classic Parisian café waiters. That entailed eating a lot of classic petit dejeuners last week. I can tell you the best deal is at Cafe Le Select. 9,80 for 'Sur le pouce'. Excellent hot chocolate + freshly pressed OJ + the crispiest croissant.

If you love Paris cafes you'll be very happy reading Le Select Crowd.

Filled with Rick Tulka's daily drawings and text by Noel Riley Fitch,  Perfection.

Le Select is at 99 Boulevard Montparnasse 75006

For the best apricot jam on the planet, Le Deux Magots is tops.

Their signature goodies downstairs are wonderful by the way.

If you want to sketch classic Parisian waiters

Go to Cafe Flore.  The waiters are top drawer.

The November Paris letters were mailed out early last week. Otherwise I don't know how I would have managed to do a thing.

Living on Isle Saint Louis, you are removed from the rest of Paris. And my TV doesn't work. I've been dependent on the NYTimes and other news sources. But there is no getting away from the constant sounds of sirens. In New York during 9/11 there was no escaping the disaster. The air was full of smoke and I saw the WTT go down from my rooftop. Sometimes being in the midst of a tragedy it's harder to fathom than those watching it from afar.
I do know I don't want to leave Paris. And I'm lucky to have Bear around.
A very cheering influence.

Elaine Sciolino is in New York right now. 

Thanks Andy and Diane for sending her talk on fresh Air on What it means to be French.

Another diversion - the BBC's excellent daily 1 hour dramatization of Proust's In Search Of Lost Time. 

Bear is listening even though its in English.

Paris Cafe: Le Select Crowd

 Yesterday I met up with illustrator, Rick Tulka formerly of Brooklyn, now expat in Paris at the cafe Le Select. We've been meeting for at least 6 years.

 Rick has been coming to Le Select a good 15-16 years and drawing the inhabitants like some people jog or swim daily. The results of his efforts - Paris Cafe: Le Select Crowd is now on Kindle.

 Rick's drawings are inimitable.

 I'd know them anywhere.

 You'll find Le Select at 99, bd du Montparnasse 75006

 And possibly Rick drawing, but don't pester him unless you buy his book, ahem.

 It's full of historic figures who frequented Select like Hemingway, Kiki, Foujita, Hart Crane, Henry Miller and Simone and Jean-Paul with accompaning witty stories by Paris specialist Noël Riley Fitch.

 The atmosphere is captured to a T and makes for the perfect gift book for your fanatic Francophile friends

 As Rick takes off for real work at home, he asks me,

"What are you doing your last night in Paris?"

I hadn't given it a thought...

 The best solution?

A last visit to musee Monoprix to gaze at endless yogurts...

 Veloute has become my yogurt of choice this trip. Do you have a favorite yogurt or a fav last bite?

 The chance for a last box of carottes rapees is pretty thrilling before I face up to packing pre-departure. Miam!

 Rick says I finish most Parisbreakfast posts with a dog and voila! A patient Paris Lab awaits his owner like magic in front of Monop.

 I wonder why I haven't painted any of your pets in front of Monoprix? Phoebe of the UK wanted a patisserie

Bye-bye Monoprix

Bye-bye Paris dogs

Bye-bye Paris

Rick's Place

Trois Poires, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

Two Autumn pears.



Rick lives in a part of Paris that's surprisingly romantic.



 The 13th arrondissement is the perfect artist's enclave too. Did Jean Gabin walk these streets? It feels like it.

Rick's stairwell reminds me of Chez Mondrian's when he lived in Paris.

The apartment looks so French. Artist Rick created the wonderful book, Paris Cafe: The Select Crowd. If you love Paris, you'll love Rick's book. His lace curtains are to die for. I went looking all over for them. I found some in BHV but I had no measurements nor clue how to figure sizes etc. I love the stripped French dish towels/curtains in the cuisine. An everyday still life on the table. *Note the pear tile. This kitchen painting spoke to me, "Go home and paint PEARS!" Did you know there is a fresh water well in the Butte aux Cailles park?

And the Molitor swimming pool nearby has fresh water - no chlorine.

La Butte is full of charming restaurants like Les Temps Des Cerises and tea salons like L’Oisive Thé, every bit as nice in a more homie way. Will you remember to visit?

Who is Rick?

The artist who sketches in Paris' best cafe.
BONJOUR PARIS!