PFW, The Battle for Versailles, yesterday in Paris

 

It’s PFW/Paris Fashion Week. Yesterday I went out looking some style in the streets

Librairie Galignani on rue de Rivoli was having a book 📕 party/

Palmiers, Bon Marché Paris-Paris! Little Red Paintbox

 

After all the PALMIER comments on Friday, I was ready to switch horses & draw ✍️ a Paris Palmier 🗺️ map

So yesterday l left the house early (11:30) to get a research 🔬 palmier at Boulanger de la Tour (3,30€). Their palmier is #5 best in Paris and a mere 4 minute walk from my house. 

Astier de Villatte

 Last Thursday I showed you Melodies Graphics. 

This Thursday a visit to another Parisian fantasy shop, Astier de Villatte on rue 173 Saint-Honoré

Tuesday in Paris, Cafe Verlet, Maison Plisson

 

How did they know? I was seated next to the lush pastries in the window at Cafe Verlet.

I only admired from a distance. Too early in the morning for sweets I thought…though someone else was intrepid and had an eclair for breakfast! All delights from Carl Marletti. 

Easter at Laduree, Paris

 

NYC Louise asked me, “Do the French have an Easter Parade?” No way.

Solli and others asked me, “what was I doing for Easter?” 

Astier de Villatte

 

Last night I needed a mood-elevator. Time to visit Astier de Villatte

For the annual viewing of their Christmas ornaments.

Astier de Villatte

 

Friday night, after my run to la Poste 📮 in the dark and cold drizzle 

I went uptown to Astier de Villatte for my annual look at the best tree decorations on the planet. 

Usually by this time in December, one has missed the boat. 

Smart Parisians get their tree decor as soon as it arrives at Astier in November. 

But with the recent month-long Lockdown I was in luck 🤸🏾‍♀️👏👏

I’m pleased to report plenty of goodies filled the little room upstairs. 

Just because you don’t have a tree, doesn’t mean you can’t browse tree ornaments. 

It’s the perfect escape into childhood. Today I visited the ‘downtown’ Astier de Villatte for the 1st time, but that’s a tale for another day. 

While we’re in our current mad state of escape and denial of realité, consider a gift for yourself or a friend of a 6-pack of Marie-Antoinette whimsical letters (sent out flat with a bit of pink ribbon and a perfume card or two). What a great source of escape dear M-A provides with a helping hand from Sophia. Ladurée is certainly one big Marie-Antoinette time-machine. Look, even the Paris Metro is decked out in tree ornaments. Please be good PBers. I have more Paris shops for you ❤️! 

🐻 sends a hug 💋

A Rococo Christmas letter

For the rest of December you can BUY A SINGLE CHRISTMAS LETTER (Rococo style with your name hand-written on it), the NOV Advent letter or 'Have fun in Paris Noël map. Random Paris goodies will be included in the envelope of course. Bear dragged me over to the very rococo patisserie, MEERT on 3 rue de Jacques Callot 75006 just off rue Mazarine.

Some bears can not get enough Paris pastry. Some bears should be sleeping instead of drooling.

Well let's face it. Just about everyone is leché-vitrine (drooling) at Meert. And Saturdays their special pastries arrive fresh from Lille.

Put one foot inside magical MEERT and its like a time machine. Candies of yore beckon. And jams, biscuits and teas.

Lovely chocolate bears with marshmallow inside.

The packaging is so whimsical you find yourself buying boxes just for their beauty.

Well some people do...

Such eye candy with edible candy inside.

Big enticing jars of jam/confiture call out your name.

And don't forget their famous gaufres. De Gaulle's favorite cookie (delivered to him fresh every Friday). I wanted the yellow box even if I am a bit tired of the color yellow. No way José. You can only get lemon/citron waffle cookies in summer time if you please. Meert has rules and sticks to them assiduously. Perfection does not come wothout a few bumps in the road.

Bear insisted on a Selfie in Meert. Such a teenager...

Bear has been invited to the Nut Cracker suite the day before Christmas. He is thrilled to bits.

With our mutual obsession drawing loops and arabesques, the December letter had to be Rococo. Though first we tried three or four other themes. Adding in the fun tree ornaments from ASTIER DE VILATTE helped. Their boiled egg in a cup is on the letter art if not on my table...see top left.

Well thanks for reading Parisbreakfast. You can get the single December Parisbreakfast letter, map or watercolors in my Etsy shop.

WITH LOVE FROM PARIS! XXX BEAR 🐻❤️

Paris is still Paris

Thank you dear PBers for your many kind wishes and thoughts. I am keeping very safe on my little island in the Seine. Yesterday I took a break from tusseling with the December letter art to run up to rue Saint Honoré and pay an annual visit to ASTIER DE VILLETTE to see their fabulous tree ornaments.

If you are in Paris now this is a MUST do SVP!

I took a quick look around. People are still shopping like crazy bien sur.

Parisians are still wishing there was snow and dressed up like Inuits...ahem

So much delightful color in the shops

In Fragonard's window...a fabulous animal crown for the tree? For a mere 45€ I'd wear it around my neck instead.

Paris still loves bears. Me too.

Last Wednesday night I took a look at the windows on boulevard Haussmann

PRINTEMPS has outdone themselves this year IMHO

Full of much needed fantasie..

Parisians still adore the ever present macaron. Me too

More bears...eatible in this case.

Angelina's window

A BIG MERCI to PBers Kathleen and Mariah who took me out for a work break lunch to divine BOUILLON RACINE on 3 rue Racine. The perfect atmosphere after viewing the MUCHA show at musee Luxembourg. The duck (magret de canard)was excellent by the way.

For dessert we went to ALSACE FETES DE NOEL Christmas marché at Gare de l'Est for Alsacian cinnamon-ginger cookies.

Notre Dame is still as glorious as ever. There are still lines.

Intrepit cats roam the quiet streets of my Ile Saint Louis...

The Guarde Republicain exercise their horses here, leaving souvenirs that no one fines them for...ahem

Skies are intermittenly grey and drizzly and sometimes gloriously sunny in Paris. Layer up please.

As for my opinion of the weekly Saturday chaos...my French simply isn't good enough to make a statement. I'm certainly not happy about it.

My head is very much in the 18th century these days as I make my Rococo doodles.

I thought it would be a good idea to make the December Paris map show all the fun things you can do here during Noël. As my guy at the copyshop said, "Where are the gilets jeunes(the yellow jackets)?" There are plenty of wonderful things to do in Paris safely right now. Unfortunately Saturdays are on lock down. I hope the situation is resolved soon🙏🏻🤞🏼. In the meantime during the week day and night PARIS IS STILL PARIS IMHO 🥐☕️🥂. 

Thanks for reading Parisbreakfast. If you'd like to receive Parisbreakfast letters, watercolors and maps in your mailbox, look in my Etsy shop blah blah blah

BONNE SHOPPING, WRAPPING, EATING PBers! XXX BEAR 🐻❤️