February 2019 agenda

Save the date, our selection of  Paris not to be missed events for February! 

Thursday 7th : Food market, Chinese new year specials

Thursday 14th : Valentine’s

Thursday 21st : Fête de l’Ours

Chinese new year : Perfect occasion to experiment the finest Chinese cuisine in Paris. The Food Market partners with Mr Zhao to offer a special Chinese New Year edition in Belleville on February 7th.  25 selected restaurants will showcase their savoir-faire. The Michelin Star chef Adeline Grattard will be there to present her latest creation from Café Lait’cha

1- 3x plus de piments : 3rd district.

This Chinese gem offers variety of food from the Sichuan province.

The waiter will ask for the level of intensity you wish to have for your dishes. It goes from 0 to 5. I personally usually pick level 1 and it is already enough. My husband tried level 2 and he did sweat! My Thailandese friend dare to try level but she is the only one to handle it!

In average : 25€/pax

Address : 184, Rue Saint-Martin 75003 Paris Subway : Rambuteau, Line

2- Shang Palace : 16th district.

Michelin star Chinese restaurant located inside the Shangri La Palace.

The chef is from Hong Kong, he will guide you through his very own story through 7 Chinese dishes including soup, dim sum, duck etc. A selection of fine tea comes along.

In average : 150€/pax

Address:  10, avenue d’Iéna 75016 Paris Subway Iéna

3- Yikou :

If you like fusion this place is for you. The owners Pierre & Chénxiào are French and Chinese. They invented their very own dim sum including classic French ingredients such as :  Piment d’espelette, Brittany Lobster, Goat cheese etc.

A nice selection of cocktails and mocktails are available.

In average : 35€/pax

Address :  49 Rue de l’Aqueduc, 75010 Paris Subway : Louis Blanc, Stalingrad

Fête de l’Ours (The Bear Party) @ Musée de la nature & de la chasse district 3.

This extraordinary event is not too be missed. Le Musée de la Nature et de la Chasse (Museum of nature & hunt) honors a traditional feast held for centuries in small villages of the Pyrénées mountains. Back in the days, to celebrate the end of Winter solstice & the awaking of bears, people of the village would disguise themselves into bears for one night.

The hip Musée de la nature et de la chasse decided to bring this custom to Paris. This year the 3rd Fête de l’Ours will occur on Thursday, February 21st.

6:30 PM : concert @ La Conciergerie

8:PM : parade from La Conciergerie to the Musée de la Nature & de la Chasse

8:45 PM onward : art performances, dj set, cocktail bar

Ticket : 6€   The first wave tickets on January 31st were sold out in 15mns, another wave will be realeased on February 7th at noon. Be quick they will be gone soon. Make sure to come dressed up!

Valentine’s is for lovers : 

1-Hotel Particulier : 18th district (Montmartre): 

The perfect evening date lies in Hotel Particulier Valentine’s session. This gem will make you feel like you are in the countryside in the very heart of Paris. An outside fire will welcome you before a distinguish yet sassy Maitre d’Hotel will welcome you to your table. Menu is set, Champagne is fresh, love is in the air.

2-Hotel Amour : 9th district

Drink for two, dinner or room service. Everything is possible @ Hotel Amour. The cosy veranda bar with view on the vegetal wall will set the tone. Each hotel rooms has been designed separately with a dedicated atmosphere. Whatever you’re up to for Valentine’s, Hotel Amour will not disapoint.

3- Musée Rodin : Soirée LOVE

The Musée Rodin is bringing sexy back with their Valentine’s special LOVE night.

Wonder in this magnificent Hotel Particulier populated with Rodin’s sculptures with your loved one and a champagne glass.

77 rue de Varenne 75007 Paris

Ticket is 20€/pax. Buy it here.

(Since you’re around, treat yourself at the BonMarché and enjoy a lovely after visit dinner @ L’Affable)

 

 

Week-end in Brussels.

Brussels : we are just back from the Belgium & European capital and we discovered 3 gems to share with you !

Leopold Café Presse : sweet coffee and breakfast place with jazz music, great selection of books and magazines. Very kid friendly with a small cinema space which was showing Peppa the pig whilst I was there.

Vertigo Cocktail Bar : the cosy atmosphere will be welcome after wandering around Brussels city centre. You will get delicious cocktails near a warm fire place and settle in this Harry Potter like atmosphere.

Photo credit @VertigoBar

Chalet Robinson : The Chalet is located in the middle of an island in the beautiful Bois de la Cambre. Ideal for the Sunday Brunch! Take advantage of being there for a nice walk before or after brunch! Then for 40€ you will access a delicious buffet including eggs, sea food, smoked salmon, charcuterie, salads, fruits, crepes, waffles etc

5 days in New York City !

October 2018 :

5 days in New York City !

10 things to enjoy :

• Go see a movie at iPic  
• Party at a Zero event
• Get a make over : Manicure-Pedicure and Eyelashes extensions @Ebenezer
• Eat vegan : by Chloe, The Butcher’s daughter
• Discover cute local shops : Soap Cherie,  @Bedford avenue, Williamsburg
• Walk in Central Park
• Attend a Yoga class : Shaktibar
• Buy grocery food and sushis at Whole foods
• Visit an art museum : MET, MOMA, Guggenheim
• Try truffle birthday cakes @Milkbar

Day 0 : Friday (arrival) 

For non US citizens : you will need a valid ESTA, passport and custom documents to be granted access to the US. If you have a returning ESTA, you will be able to use the machine and skip the queue! A yellow cab to Brooklyn will cost approximately $60 and take around 40mns.

If too tired to go out, you can easily order foods with the seamless app we had a delicious salad and veggie burger from by Chloe.

Day 1 : Saturday

Make over ! Get your nails done, eyelashes extensions on, find yourself an outfit and unload your NYC self. Book your tickets for one of the main event happening in the city. My favorites are the one held by Zero. List here. I had the chance to attend their Halloween one : City of God which is the biggest night of the year for them and it was beautiful. 

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Day 2 : Sunday

Enjoy a vegetarian brunch in Williamsburg @ The butcher’s daughters. Walk around and discover the crafts shops and buy local stuff :  cosmetics, cards and candles. Treat yourself with a movie @ Ipic theatre where you will be able to enjoy beds and comfortable sits and the service of a butler who will bring you food and drinks on demand.

 

Day 3 : Monday

Time for a bit of culture. Check the exhibit at MOMA, Guggenheim and the Met and pick the one you like best. Book a Yoga class to stretch and relax in the evening @Shaktibaryoga

 

Day 4 : Tuesday

Head to Central Park for a walk. Go around lunchtime to be able to enjoy lunch @theboathouse. Explore the park and find the best lights to realize splendid pictures. Bring a book or a good podcast and settle on a bench with great views!

Day 5 : Wednesday

Wake up and enjoy a cream cheese bagel and cappucino @Bagelsmith Keep this final day to do all things you wanted but did not have time to. If you need to bring back gifts, head to Spring Street in the city or to Bedford avenue in Brooklyn. Treat yourself with pedicure or massage, take some time to walk around and impregnate yourself with the energy, creativity and optimistic spirit of New York City.  

Preparation :

To make your life easier download the uber or lyft app for car transportation and the seamless app to order food.

To stay : Manhattan the Standard Hotel.

Brooklyn : Pod Brooklyn Hotel ; Hotel Le Jolie

I have the chance to be hosted by my BFF in New York who lives in Brooklyn (Ainslee Street). Otherwise I would recommend the Standard which is very central and convenient. When in town my colleagues always go there and I heard David Beckham goes there when in town!

Best time to go:

• Halloween : Pumpkins and ghosts decorations can be seen everywhere in the city. Orange is the colour with beautiful trees in Central Parcs. Halloween parties are held the week-end before the 31st of October and can last for a full week. This year, If you are around and looking for a Halloween party, I recommend you book your tickets for the “City of God” Halloween party!
• Thanksgiving : Time for a well deserved long week-end break in the US. People gather with family to eat the traditional turkey. Book an AirBnB to be able to cook your own meal.
• Spring : Blooming trees, fresh air and enjoyable temperatures, spring is a good time to enjoy NYC!

Avoid summer and winter as the weather gets epic and temperature extremes.

 

Gallery Night : Thursday 10th of October.

Ahead of la FIAC Gallery Night is happening!

This Thursday (18th October) several art galleries will be open until 10 PM to honor the opening of La FIAC. Some of them will also have a vernissage on that night. I plan to hang around Le Marais where most of them are. To plan your night and spot the best ones, check out this map :

Paris Basics Fall 2018

I would recommend to stay in the 9th which is great to enjoy SoPi (South Pigalle) and discover the 18th. Then you should also go to Le Marais (St Paul) for shopping, Oberkampf for bars and food and the 19th to La Villette and Canal de l’Ourcq!

Hotels (9e):

Hotel Amour : perfect for lovers, you can pick up your room they are all decorated in a different way.

Grand Hotel is also great, I stayed there once for Valentine’s.

The Hoxton : I heard good stuff about it but never tried it !

Restaurants (evening) :

9e : Kinn Khao : Thai Food

Buvette : traditional French in small dishes so you can have a bit of everything!

Bouillon Pigalle : no bookings just a very long queue but if you manage to get in you will have a go at simple and delicious unexpensive French cuisine

Sizin (Turkish) : one of my favorite but I have a soft spot for Turkish food!

12e Dersou : subtle food served with matching cocktails.

11e : Pierre Sang Oberkampf delicious food mix of French and Korean, book (in advance) here.

Interesting places to go for Lunch and coffee :

18e : La Recyclerie : cool place with lunch, coffee, plants

Bars à Vins (Wine Bars) :

Typical afterwork for Paris workers, you go to a bar à vins, meet your friend and spend the evening talking (refaire le monde), enjoying wines and planches (cheese and charcuterie).

9e Le Béguin : my personal headquarter. 

11e : La Chambre Noire : organic wine and delicious “planches” (cheese & charcuterie)

Cocktail Bars :

9e Dirty Dick : literally :p

9e : Lulu White

9e : Le Glass : tiny dance floor, great atmosphere and nice cocktails!

4e Sherry Butt : maybe my favorite place at night in Paris, my boyfriend now hubby used to live 10m away so we went there a lot!

10e Le Syndicat : created by one of the Sherry Butt’s bartender : Sullivan. The bar name means the union as it only serves cocktails based out of French alcohol. My guess is now Syndicat is better than Sherry Butt.

Exhibits : 

Musée d’Orsay : Picasso blue and pink period.

Fondation Louis Vuitton : the exhibit of the season : Basquiat and Schiele + the building designed by Frank Gehry is enjoyable.

Events : 

Festival d’automne (fall festival) : performances, dance, music. Agenda here.

18 to 21st of October : FIAC : International faire of modern art @Grand Palais. Ticket is expensive but it’s always very interesting, inspiring and fun to see the galeries stuff and the arty people. If you can go on opening night, avoid the week-end which will be crawded by amateurs.

Picture credit : @GallerieMennour : ALICJA KWADE