ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

...the LOVE HOTEL that is...

The other night we checked out Hotel Amour, a boutique hotel/resto that was opened in 2006 in Paris (8, rue de Navarin).  There are some great pics of the Hotel with collaborator Andre, the french Graff artist...currently married (i think) to "Pop the Glock" Uffie on the Selby - check out the pics.

WHITEST BOYS ALIVE

When exactly did skinny, geeky, white boys become rock and roll stars?

We checked out the German band, The Whitest Boy Alive, last night at Le Cigalle.  Have a listen.

Bon Soir

xoxo

The Art of the Petit Dejeuner

Foodie Fave

Remember the french movie Amelie with Audrey Tatou? And the scenic Parisian areas near the canal?  Of course you do...well, last night I had the pleasure of dining at an amazing restaurant in that area - Quai de Jemappes.  

Finally, an excuse to pry myself away from my desk - an old friend was visiting and dinner plans were in order.  I got the reco from a trusted foodie-friend:

Hotel du Nord

No joke.  This is now my favorite restaurant in Paris.  Amazing food, amazing vibe, really cool servers, and fair prices.  The servers even put cute little star stickers on our faces...no idea why...just 'cuz...

The tuna dish

Scott still has his star on...

The next time you're in gay Paris, you have to hit this place up!!

salut!

xoxo

A FRENCH FAVOURITE

This one's for you Mom...

With love from Paris!

xoxo

PARTY LIKE A ROCKSTAR

For a few hours, we decided to take a break from the heavy MBA workload and check out a concert at La Cigale (120 bd. Rochechouart) in Paris.  When all you do is sit in class all day and then go home to work on assignments into the wee hours of the night, it's really liberating to go out with the mission to do nothing but have a good time.  

I was absolutely blown away by Florence and the Machine (from London), I've been listening to them religiously for a few weeks now, but hearing them live was NEXT LEVEL.  Everyone should be listening to them on their iPods right now - they're amazing...have a listen:

Florence and the Machine - Rabbit Heart

Bonne Nuit

xoxo

Gypsy

Nostalgia is such a funny thing.

Whenever I hear the song "Gypsy" by Fleetwood Mac, or any other song of theirs for that matter, I get incredibly nostalgic and sentimental...you know, the kind that gives you far away, dreamy, teary eyes.

I was introduced to Fleetwood Mac during my 'faux' hippie days...first year university on the east coast then a summer of tree-planting (and tree-hugging) in Northern Ontario...it plays out like a 'coming-of-age' movie.

So, of course, I jumped at the chance to see Fleetwood Mac live in Paris.  I think we may have been the youngest people in the place and the concert wasn't quite as good as I'd hoped; Stevie's voice is not what it used to be...and sadly, they had backup singers to sing the high notes.  The thing is, in the end, it really didn't matter to me whether they were good or bad, just being there, listening to those songs that I had once played over and over was good enough for me.

Bonne Nuit!

DOUBLE, DOUBLE TOIL AND TROUBLE

I love when magical things happen...well, I'm not sure if this was magic, per say...maybe it was more like "the secret"...i visualized it and it came true!

I had heard from a friend about an herbologist in Paris - where they mix herbs into a tea to help you deal with whatever problem you have.  I'd been thinking about this for a while, but just hadn't made the effort to find this herbologist or at least get the address from my friend.

Yesterday, I was driving through montmartre with a friend and we ran into some traffic heading south on rue d'Amsterdam.  As we slowed down in traffic, I looked out the window and saw it!! The Grande Herboristerie!!  HELLO!!  That is just no ordinary coincidence!

I was already in love with the place before I laid eyes on it, but I LITERALLY fell in love as I walked up to the door.  Walking in, I felt like I was in Harry Potter in that magic alley!

I purchased a tea to help me sleep better and another to help me with stress - I'm totally set!

Grande Herboristerie Medicale de la Place de Clichy

87, rue d'Amsterdam

(this place has been around since 1880!)

Paris je t'aime.

rue du magic

I'd have to say, one of the most exciting things about living in Paris is experiencing Paris Fashion Week and all the beautiful people that fill the city.  As if the people of Paris weren't beautiful enough and the city not alive enough...Paris Fashion Week is pretty much NEXT LEVEL.

All that said, working your way into one of the top couturier's fashion shows is next to impossible if you're not press, a buyer or a celebrity...but, I was lucky enough to snag a ticket to the Rue du Mail spring show courtesy of Diana.

My invite

Rue du Mail, designed by Martine Sitbon with creative director/husband Marc Ascoli, was launched in 2004 and definitely has had a rock'n'roll chick sensibility (lots of black, sequins etc) but it seems Martine has really punched up the line this season with some bold colour and pastels...a much softer look and feel.

A few looks from the show and shot or two from the after party:

I also had the pleasure of stopping by the office headquarters at 5 rue du Mail (of course!) - the office is very very cool!! It's a beautiful old building with a quaint courtyard.  As you walk in there is a huge disco ball hanging from the ceiling and along one side of the courtyard is the "choo choo train" where most of the admin/sales people work - their desks are lined up in a row...a bit like a train...i guess!!

anyway...check the pics

Marc, signing a magazine he art directed

very cool staircase that leads to the showroom

they play kookie movies all day on mute

okay - that's all for now!!

xoxo

St. Trop' with Adrienne and Lo

Okay. Yes. I know. It's been quite some time since I last wrote.  It's just that things have been quite hectic over the past two weeks; school work is piling up and, well, I'm in France...aka. weekend mini-breaks are an absolute necessity!

I spent last weekend in St. Tropez - it was absolute heaven.  The moment I walked out of the St. Raphael train station I practically melted...although, not entirely of heat.

They have palm trees in St. Tropez!  I love that!! I really felt like I was on holiday, especially considering that I was staying in 5-star digs thanks to the kindness of Adrienne and Logan.  We lounged, drank rose made from Logan's family vineyard, walked around town, checked out the beautiful boats and ate good food.  

I heart St. Tropez.

One of the beautiful boats docked in the harbour

Me.  Trying to work. as if...

hammock

The pool house - my quarters

more from the wine cellar

"I drink it when I'm happy and when I'm sad.
Sometimes I drink it when I'm alone.
When I have company I consider it obligatory.
I trifle with it if I'm not hungry and I drink it when I am.
Otherwise I never touch it, unless I'm thirsty."

- Lili Boulanger on Champagne

Wine tasting last week was fabulous...mainly because we not only got to taste wines from Bordeaux, but champagnes as well!  

Here is a list for reference:

All Champagne and one delicious port:

1. Louis Roederer, Brut Premier

2. Cuvee William Deutz 1995

3. Larmandier-Bermier, Vertus, Cote des Blancs

4. Louis Roederer Vintage Rose 1997

5. Taylor's Vintage Port, 2000

Bordeaux wines:

1. Chateau Carbonnieux, White Pessac Leognan 2006 Grand Cru Classe

2. Chateau Rieussee Santerres 1979, Premier Grand Cru Classe

3. Alter Ego de Palmer Margaux 2000

4. Chateau Canon-la-Gaffeliere, Saint Emilion, Grand Cru 1996

3. Chateau d'Issan Margaux 3rd Growth Grand Cru Classe 1999

eating, drinking, eating and more eating

I cannot BELIEVE how much i've eaten since I arrived in Paris!! There are just so many amazing restaurants and cafes and mouth watering patisserie's on every corner - you're always being tempted to eat something. And of course the mystery still remains...how are french women so damn thin?!! The French eat baguettes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  They pour cream sauces and loads of butter on everything and there is one whole aisle in every supermarket dedicated to different varieties of pudding!!  I have to resist the temptation to indulge at every glimpse of a strawberry mille feuilles or macaron in the quaint little patisseries located on every block...just after I finish this crepe...

Last week I had the pleasure of dining at Kong (1 rue Pont Neuf) for a friends' birthday party.  It's a restaurant designed by Philippe Starck and located in the Kenzo headquarters.  The restaurant is on the last two floors of the building and has an amazing view of the city!  The design concept for the restaurant is "the fight between the moderns and the classics"...so, classic geisha meets modern kawai...huh?

Just cafe chillin' with classmates 

Having a productive team meeting aka. eating homemade pasta, drinking wine, gorging on apple tart with rum and raison ice cream and being entertained with 'live' music! 

Lunch at Laduree(16, rue Royale), one of the finest patisseries in France, known for their beautiful macarons - how adorable is my desert?  It's puff pastry filled with raspberries and rose cream. yumm!

Last night we decided to have a big night out and went to Society(4, place saint-Germain) for dinner, and Le Montana(28, rue Saint-Benoit) and Le Baron(6, avenue Marceau) for drinks and dancing.  If you're part of the fashionista crowd, this is where you go to hang out and be 'seen' - lots of pretty people and pretty outfits too!

Today I walked along rue saint honore and checked out a bunch of stores, most notably, Colette(213 rue Saint-Honore), which is a true shopping destination.  I salivated over a marc jacobs leather bag and bracelet made of ratty material with a skull hanging off it...although i think i can make it myself!  I eventually made it to the Marais and had a bite with two friends at the Marche des Enfants Rouge(39, rue de Bretagne).  It's an adorable little market with all kinds of yummy food, flowers and beautiful rustic wood picnic benches to sit on and enjoy your meal. 

Ok, I'm starting to feel sick talking about all this food - I think it's time for another detox...

Amanda

xoxo