Turkey Day in Paris? Head to Thanksgiving

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Parisians don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. Nope, there’s no turkey. No stuffing. No candied yams. No cranberry sauce. No pumpkin pie. No, Thanksgiving is very much an American holiday, and with the exception of a few restaurants catering to U.S. tourists that offer a Thanksgiving Day meal, the holiday is virtually ignored in the City of Light. So, what do expats do when they want to cook up a big Turkey Day feast with all the trimmings? Or those visitors to Paris who are lucky enough to be in a rental apartment and who wish to prepare a scaled-down version of the grand holiday dinner? Those in the know head to Thanksgiving, a delightfully quirky Marais shop specializing in American foodstuffs. Continue Reading →

Sunday on the Rue des Rosiers

Rue des Rosiers 1

Paris’s Marais district is home to the city’s LGBT community. But it’s also home to the city’s Jewish community, and the Rue des Rosiers lies at the heart of it. The four-block-long street has a number of fantastic Jewish bakeries, restaurants and curio shops, but, sadly, like much of Paris has fallen prey to the influx of clothing boutiques and even some chain fashion shops. Still, the area is well worth a visit, especially on Sundays, when most of the rest of Paris is closed, but the shops on the Rue des Rosiers are open (and jam packed!) And be sure to try the falafel at L’As du Fallafel, arguable the best in Europe! Continue Reading →

Two Paris Restaurants You Might Want to Skip

Le Georges

An article published in the U.K. newspaper The Telegraph suggests that two well-known Paris restaurants discriminate against patrons based on their ages and looks.

The staffs at Le Georges atop the Pompidou Center and Cafe Marly, which overlooks the Louvre, are instructed to seat only young, good-looking people on the venues’ terraces and prominent tables. Older and less attractive guests are forced inside, and preferable into back corners, the article states.

But, honestly, why would you want to go to either? Continue Reading →

The Moment I Fell in Love with Paris

Paris Je t'Aime's Margot Martindale

When did you fall in love with Paris?

I’m not sure I know the precise moment that I did, only that it happened early … and has endured to this day. I never knew it was possible to fall in love with a city. But I have. I’ve fallen head over heels.

And that reminds me of my favorite scene from one of my favorite movies … Continue Reading →

We, the Lovers of Paris …

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You love Paris. OK, let’s be honest: You’re obsessed with Paris. No matter how many times you’ve visited, you keep planning to return again and again. Your home is plastered with Paris souvenirs and French-themed decor. You’ve got a “I’d rather be in Paris” bumper sticker on your car. You’ve named your dog or cat Paris, and it’s not an homage to that reality TV parasite. Everything you do is Paris, Paris, Paris.

Me too. (That’s me, on the right, at the Trocadero Christmas market.) Continue Reading →

About “Oui Always Have Paris”

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Eiffel Tower from the Musee Rodin

Here, in this blog, I share my love of Paris and my Parisian experiences with you, my fellow Francophiles. This is “my” Paris, but I want to learn more about “your” Paris, too! Please share your treasured memories and the fantastic experiences you’ve had in the City of Light by posting comments. Nous serons toujours amour Paris! Continue Reading →