An English friend wanted to visit the castles of the Loire Valley. And I had not been for so long that I decided to drive her to three major places, very near each other, and an easy journey from Paris. You can even do it in one day if you like. So we started with Chambord, in grey weather and … Read More
Fabrice Hyber is a delight at Fondation Cartier
If you’re looking for a pretty walk in an enchanted forest, go to Fondation Cartier and immerse yourself in the Fabrice Hyber exhibition “The Valley” which is set in different classrooms with sixty works of which twenty are painted for the show. In the 1990’s, the artist started planting a forest with 300 000 tree seeds in Vendée, next to … Read More
A precious twinning of Mortefontaine and Bordentown, brings Joseph Napoleon back to life
When Napoléon was exiled in 1815, his brother Joseph Bonaparte (1768-1844), who had been King of Naples and of Spain but mostly loved “reigning” on the small village of Mortefontaine, thirty miles north of Paris, moved to America and settled in Bordentown, New Jersey, on the Delaware river 32 miles from Philadelphia. He collected 15 000 books and created the … Read More
A flower magician and an Italian artist make wonders together
The annual Gala dinner of the Friends of Chantilly celebrated the Duc d’Aumale’s two hundredth anniversary at the Palais Royal, in Paris, where he was born on January 16, 1822. Built by Richelieu in 1628, it was Anne d’Autriche’s and the young Louis XIV th residence in the 17 th century. It then became the palace of the Orléans family. Today … Read More
“Vegetal” and Chaumet at the Beaux Arts, Exceptional!
This week, at every dinner party, only one word was been mentioned “Vegetal” (botanical): the title of the new fantastic exhibition based on plants’ designs in Chaumet’s jewelry, where one almost regrets that there is not more jewelry. Contemporary artists and classical painters have been united by curator and botanist Marc Jeanson to fill two floors of celebration of nature at Ecole … Read More
A garden festival at the Tuileries and roses are celebrated in Chaalis
Salon Jardins, Jardin, at the Tuileries started under the rain but everyone was so happy that it took place at all after two years of interruption, that the atmosphere was very cheerful. There I ran into garden lovers from Fontaine Chaalis where the Journées de la Rose were taking place this week end and enjoyed the news that Jardins & … Read More
The Queen is celebrated in Paris and so is Gene Kelly
Attending the Queen’s platinum jubilee’s party at the British Embassy was a true joy, especially since the weather was perfect, the lawn was mowed just high enough so that we would not feel we were killing it and the staff was totally charming including the young boy and girl scouts from Bougival who were serving hors d’oeuvre. Dame Menna Rawlings, … Read More
Couture photography, a Franco Greek wedding, golf and art in Provence
I was lured to Provence by a series of beautiful events, Jean Luce Huré‘s exhibition of fashion photography in Bargemon and a glorious Greek orthodox wedding in Grimaud. Both were very successful and charming and there was much more to be expected. A great golf game at Beauvallon with the young pro Benjamin Reinarz and the visit of Château La … Read More