Jacques Chirac celebrated at Quai Branly

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Animal guarding a tomb, North China, Tang Dynasty, Musée Cernuschi

Animal guarding a tomb, North China, Tang Dynasty, Musée Cernuschi

The atmosphere was not as festive as it should have been for a tenth anniversary and the reason was that the principal hero was absent. Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac is hosting an exhibition in honor of its founder, the former President of the Republic. His childhood passion for Musée Guimet, his admiration for Chinese statues and Japanese masks or sumo wrestlers, his warm welcome while he was mayor of Paris to the Canadian Indians, made of Jacques Chirac a friend of lost civilizations.Read More

Serpette celebrates 70 years of flea market

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A nice portrait, lamps, furniture, the epitome of the flea market

A nice portrait, lamps, furniture, a clock, the epitome of the flea market

It was fun to visit marché Serpette in Saint Ouen, at night and with food and wine served on every stand, and music around the corner. The occasion for this festive evening was the celebration of the 70 years of activity of the most elaborate and largest flea market in Paris. The interior market called Paul Bert is surrounded by many streets of antique dealers who concentrate more and more on 20 th century style. On the 50’s to be more precise.Read More

Pierre Antoine Bernheim remembered

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Cynthia Bernheim, his daughter, Francine Bernheim his mother and Michel Zinc around the laureate

Cynthia Bernheim, his daughter, Francine Bernheim his mother and Michel Zinc with the laureate Christiane Klapisch-Zuber

Pierre-Antoine Bernheim wrote many books including « Paradis Paradis » paradise as described in different religions with Guy Stavridès and  “James, Brother of Christ ». He was interested in the history of religions and after he died prematurely in 2011, his mother Francine created the literary Prize for History of religions, he had planned to give to Académie des Inscriptions et Belles lettres, a department of the French Academy.Read More

Amadeo de Souza Cardoso at Grand Palais

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Castle, 1911-12 by Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso

It’s always puzzling to find out that famous painters abroad, in this case, in Portugal, can remain totally unknown in Paris and around the world. Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso died at 30 in 1918 after having lived in Paris for 8 years at the height of the Montparnasse artistic movement. A friend of Modigliani and Brancusi, he exhibited in Germany and at the Armory show in New York in 1913 but also at the French Salon in 1912.Read More

Fables de la Fontaine, a real delight

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Les Fables de la Fontaine, a cosy and modern restaurant

I was so surprised to get a table one day ahead at Les Fables de la Fontaine, which is constantly full, that I did not immediately realize the reason for it:   it is located right in the Football fan zone of the Champ de Mars, which is totally closed to traffic for the period of the “Euro”. So it took us a little time to actually walk there from Pont de l’Alma, but it made the charming welcome and the delicious food, even more precious.

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Naïla de Monbrison, a world of “sculpted” jewels

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Giampaolo Babetto, necklace, yellow gold

Giampaolo Babetto, necklace, yellow gold, one can see his work on the gold

Next year, Naïla de Monbrison will celebrate thirty years of her jewellery gallery located place du Palais Bourbon. She was one of the first in Paris to celebrate contemporary jewellery and to treat the pieces she sells like art objects. At the moment she is showing Italian goldsmith Giampaolo Babetto, who sculpts gold with genius.Read More

Champeaux, the new soufflé place in Les Halles

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The cheese soufflé is great for lunch

The cheese soufflé is great for lunch

Paris is so drepressing at the moment with the high waters and the constant transport strikes that it was a blessing to find a delicious soufflé for lunch at the Halles where I went to see the new canopy. Champeaux, a « Ducasse » restaurant opened by Olivier Maurey who founded Ludéric and the Mini Palais, looks like an office cafeteria from the outside but it is actually comfortable and waiters are lovely.Read More