The Musée en herbe is a quirky Parisian art museum designed for children from ages 2 to 12. The exhibits are interactive, fun (pop art, street art, etc.), and designed to provide children with a positive museum experience. You can also sign your kids up for a related workshop (1hr) after the tour.
Le Cracheur d’Or
Oenophiles unite! Last weekend was the biannual Salon des Vins des Vignerons Indépendants in Paris (aka The Independent Wine Producers Expo) and Francesco and I marked the occasion by shouldering our Sunday morning paternal duties to hit the bottles. We made some decent discoveries, which included the bizarrely named “3rd Annual Golden Spitter Contest” (as in: How classy can you make spitting out wine look?). Francesco was tempted to show off his finely honed cracheur skills, but ultimately we decided that it would not be a good idea to show up the French at their own game.
Continue reading “Le Cracheur d’Or”Of Pigeons and Poodles: Hiking through Paris
Even though I’ve lived in Paris for about eight years now, I continue to get lost on a regular basis. On a map, there is a certain logic to the planning: central hubs are scattered throughout the city, their streets extending outward like the spokes of a wheel. On foot, however, it’s often impossible to navigate. The spokes intersect haphazardly, oblivious to cardinal directions and without any sense of symmetry, making it similar to trying to find your way around a plate of spaghetti. This, of course, is what makes walking through Paris such a delight: even if you know the city reasonably well, nothing can be anticipated — there is always enough disorientation to give you a sense of discovery. Continue reading “Of Pigeons and Poodles: Hiking through Paris”
Soundscapes: Les Guinguettes
Les guinguettes – traditional Sunday afternoon dances held along the riverbanks outside Paris – are still swinging, despite the withering August heat this year. I can’t dance to save my life, but Perrine and I were nonetheless curious when we saw an advertisement for a floating dance floor that has slowly been making its way down the Canal de l’Ourcq.
[audio:flute1.mp3]
Soundscapes: A French Market
Not even the staunchest supporter of Freedom Fries can resist the sensory delight of an outdoor food market in France. This recording is from the Sunday market in Fontainebleau.
[audio:Fontainebleau Market.mp3]
Finding Fontainebleau
March comes in like a lion and goes out like a clam, or so my son says. Yesterday, which marked the halfway point between the big cat and the shellfish, was positively springlike (clamlike?) and we celebrated by escaping the city for the trees and giant boulders of Fontainebleau.
[nggallery id=5]