High and dry

A special thank you to everyone who's expressed concern about (overblown) media reports that "Paris is flooded."

Please know that it's only along the quais, with almost zero impact in the rest of the city.  - BPJ, from the highest hill in Paris

Above: poster for a puppet show in a nearby square

In Vogue

More photos from the Irving Penn retrospective, which ended yesterday. 

Bottom photo: Nicole Kidman

True art

Irving Penn exhibition ends today

Grand Palais 

3 avenue du Général Eisenhower 75008

Above: Portraits

- Pablo Picasso 1957 -

- Salvador Dali 1947 -

Irving Penn centennial

Thanks to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, an exhibition to mark the centenary of photographer Irving Penn's birth (1917-2009).

Ends January 29, 2018

Grand Palais 
3 Avenue du Général Eisenhower 75008

Next week: more photos from this exceptional retrospective

Food fair

La Fête de la Coquille

All this weekend: live music, much to eat and drink...

Posting from:
Place des Abbesses 75018

Above: Aussie tourists uncork a bottle to go with their oysters; strolling bagpipers from Edinburgh; farm apple cider; crêpes; onions sausages sandwiches

Evening tipple

 

Lightly grilled tartine of raw milk Saint-Nectaire, honey and Timut pepper. And wine.

 

MILORD wine bar

69 rue Lepic 75018

 

Hôtel de Ville

View of Paris' main town hall on a winter's day.

Hail César #2

Bottom photo:

French cinema's coveted "César Award" is based on the artist's crushed car sculptures

"César La Rétrospective"

Ends March 26, 2018

Centre Georges Pompidou

Place Georges-Pompidou 75004

Hail César

Large oozing forms, body parts and compressed cars enhanced by soaring views over the city.


"César: La Rétrospective"

 Ends March 26, 2018

Centre Georges Pompidou

Place Georges-Pompidou 75004

Paris Design Week

Evenings of galas and receptions as lamp shades light up decorated streets.

Ends tomorrow

Stuff

Sculpture of a man loaded down.

 

Centre Georges Pompidou

Place Georges-Pompidou 75004

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Next week: photos from remarkable "L'Événement César" that ends March 26

12 more days

Many shops and cafés keep holiday decorations up until the end of January.

Noël magique

From inside a sweet children's shop over the holidays.

Cute on the butte

The tiny new "Montmartrobus" is quiet, electricity-powered and its size makes it easier to navigate narrow Montmartre streets.

Digging in

Raspberry heaven: an entremet framboise vanille as it disappears.

Bio c'est bon

Foraging at the Batignolles Saturday morning organic market.

Below: how we like our carrots

January tree

A decorated tree on a square at Gare Saint Lazare train station.

Renamed

Carved into a wall above street sign Rue Séguier is "Rue Pavée," its name before the city was expanded.

Cow art

A life-sized painted cow outside a wine restaurant in the Les Halles district.

Last trees

On the quiet and stately Place Dauphine.

Morning meeting

A round of expressos taken standing before parting for the day.

 

Update 2021: 3 years later standing and drinking coffee has become the norm

Most viewed photo 2017

Head in the clouds

First published November 4, 2017

My Personal Paris:

 

In 2017 FocusOnParis.com received many more visitors than I expected, and from all over the world. Thanks to excellent stats tools we could see that most came from the U.S. and France, followed by Australia, U.K., Israel and Germany. Visitors seemed to love, not necessarily in this order: Paris cafés, streets, anything to do with the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, food, lifestyle (art, shopping, interiors, culture, luxury, fashion, architecture, monuments....). Many returned to the same photographs again and again, while others would linger for long periods. As “3 hours (or less) from Paris” turned out to be very popular, this year I will try to include photographs from some of our travels. Nouveautés was new and also received many visitors, so I may develop that page. I’m told that my phone is due for an upgrade but so far so good and the truth is, I’d like to downgrade. Again, I thank everyone and will continue to provide glimpses into *my* Paris, and look forward to seeing even more of you in 2018! - BPJ

Palace buffet

A holiday brunch table laid out at Palace Hotel George V.

Four Seasons George V Hotel

31 Avenue George V 75008

Merry markets

Christmas markets were set up on church squares all over the city.

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In this month's newsletter
Nouveautés

Rue du Nil

One of the prettiest back streets in Paris over the holidays.

Pastry shop icon

Holiday window dressing on Left Bank tea room and pastry shop.

Ladurée
21 rue Bonaparte 75006

Christmas present

 

Holiday spirit still going strong at Hermès, Saint Germain.

Hermès

17 rue de Sèvres 75006

 

Winter 2018 soldes January 10 to February 20

Slush fun

 

 

Snow on the butte Montmartre takes longer to melt than in the rest of the city.

Wonder year

Stepping into a winter wonderland, and a brand new year.

Hotel Relais Christine

3 rue Christine 75006

 

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- Bonne Année / Happy New Year 2018 -