Paris is thinking Spring

This morning I ran around looking for framboise/fraise compotée from BONNE MAMAN.

The Metro is full of their springy posters. Evidently everyone else had the same idea. All I could find to paint was abricot/peche or pomme.

On rue Saint-Hororé the windows yesterday were shouting SPRING, pink, Bunnies, flowers.

Tulip Champagne? Straw hats? A little early, still the French like to plan ahead. They buy their nutcracker tickets in August...

A hot pink 'trenchcoat' purse from Moshino would uplift anyone with the winter doldrums .

Even lingerie designer CHANTAL THOMASS has dropped her black wand for multi-colored balloons!

Time to think about bugs again.

Designer PAULE KA has been doing bows for 30 years and is celebrating with more bows for his Spring collection. Last night was almost balmy. 

You could wander the streets with your coat open and scarf tucked away. Hooray. Today Paris grey drizzle is back even if shop windows says otherwise. Thanks for reading and sharing Parisbrekfasts. Subscription letters 💌, maps and watercolors are in my Etsy shop. With love💋 from Paris🐻

Salon de l'Agriculture 2019

Yesterday I visited SALON INTERNATIONAL DE L'AGRICULTURE at Porte de Versailles (ligne 12). Today is the last day so get over there vite.

The horses derrieres were particularly attractive this year. Don't overlook the cows, chickens, pigs

Do not go at noon on a Saturday as I did. Big mistake. Schools are out. Toute Paris is at the annual farm show.

Wonderful things for kiddies. I too wanted to paste sheep's wool on a sketch but French adults looked at me strangely. I pocketed a bit of wool anyway...

Plenty of adult things to do like the regional French food halle#3 They insist you taste.

There is always a cow bag/cabas to acquire. 

Better yet get the free bags (this year's desirable bag - Pink Lady) that entail answering a quiz. I got one.

What I ate/bought: not shown oysters from Noiremontier, the grilled sheep cheese thing from Corsica stand, Pink Lady apples of course, purple 'rosé' garlic from Lautrec, two kilo bags of Corsican almonds. True they would never pass the California quality control board but the taste is le vrai choise/real thing. Even with masses of Parisians and on a Saturday with so many strollers banging your ankles, the SALON DE L'AGRICULTURE is an annual grand affair. Paris is not all couture and truffle tasting thank goodness.Thanks for reading and sharing Parisbreakfast. Subscription letters 💌, maps and watercolors are in my Etsy shop. With love💋 from Paris🐻

Van Gogh à Atelier des Lumieres

Last week I was lucky to see the new Van Gogh digital presentation at ATELIER DES LUMIERES.

Its impossible to get an idea of how immersive this experience is with still photos. Watch the video

The fusion of art and music is magical. Of course I had to try my hand at Van Gogh's lively colors and shapes. The 35 minute program starts off with his drawings and letters. Everything is animated.

Still photos are added of Van Gogh's time painting in Montmartre with the paintings to follow.

Aided by 140 projectors you relive the various phases his work went through from early drawings to potato eaters to full-blown brilliant color.

This animated scene of shimmering lights on a lake

Reflects the painting in the d'Orsay museum.

Reflected even further walking over Pont Sully that night.

His iconic cherry blossoms come near the end. Followed by an exquisite animated short on the Japanese 'Floating World' of woodcuts, deeply influential to Van Gogh's later work. We're having glorious weather in Paris. Pink buds are coming out after the dull grey of winter. Hurry and come back to Paris PBers. And don't miss VAN GOGH À ATELIER DES LUMIERES  Thank you for reading and sharing Parisbreakfast. Subscription letters 💌, maps and watercolors are in my Etsy shop. With love💋from Paris🐻

Paris Chocolate Shop map + a Twofer

Every time a Paris map or letter gets finished and shipped out I want to celebrate 🥂🍾!

Two letters out every month means two celebrations 🥂🥂. One can't complain. Last night I rewarded myself with l'escargot + pistache gelato from Picard - a green dinner. If you come to Paris and don’t taste any Paris chocolates you’re missing out. There is no better place for top chocolate shops than the 6th.

Three on rue de Seine + three on rue Bonaparte. 

The February Paris chocolate map IS your guide.

Here's a well-kept Paris secret - it’s perfectly OK to walk into the best chocolate shops in town and BUY ONLY ONE CHOCOLATE! I kid you not.

 At Pierre Marcolini it will set you back 1€. The French, more than anyone, understand the concept of a 'peche mignon' (a guilty pleasure). Indulging yourself with one perfect chocolate is applauded and respected. Make the tour of the 6eme chocolate shops collecting single samples and no one will look down their noses at you. At all. Considering the heights of snobbery here this is something. on Valentine's day at Galeries Lafayette there were Free chocolates to taste at the Pierre Hermé! Someone's hand grabbed one. Yum

Another secret - the density and richness of a single French ganache bonbon is equal to your average steak IMHO...though some meat-eaters might not agree. You don't need to wolf down the entire box either at one sitting. It may be near impossible. Better to fait attention and appreciate. I knew someone who ate a single chocolate every night. Of course they were French chocolates.

This morning I went to the preview for ATELIER DES LUMIERE VAN GOGH, LA NUIT ÉTOILÉE'. I was inspired to paint some 'Van Goghish' bonus watercolors. Subscribe to Paris maps this month and you'll get a TWOFER - the 1st all-Paris chocolate map, the little Van Gogh teapot aquarelle and your guide to the 6eme shops. Plus a brochure from the show! Yum 
With Love ❤️ From Paris 🐻 Xxxx