Capturing the City’s Beauty in “Paris in Color”

Paris in Color

I recently received the book “Paris in Color” by photographer Nichole Robertson, and it’s a wonderful look at the City of Light through about 150 photos of Paris that are grouped by color. But Roberston doesn’t serve up the usual snapshots of iconic Paris landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame. Instead, she chronicles this gorgeous city through the everyday sights that truly give Paris its charm and beauty—a bright-yellow Metro sign, red cafe chairs, bouquets of pink roses for sale by local florists, blue bicycles parked outside a typical neighborhood boutique, the ever-present black chalkboards announcing the day’s specials at local bistros, and so on. Continue Reading →

The Heart of French History

Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

One of my favorite sights to visit in Paris is the gorgeous and historic Basilica of Saint Denis in the suburb of Saint Denis. The church and abbey have been the burial place of French royalty since the 10th century (although kings from as far back as the year 500 have had their remains moved here). Parts of the church itself were constructed more than 1,300 years ago. The history here is mind-boggling. Continue Reading →

Lucky Records: A Quirky Shop for Madonna Maniacs

Lucky Records 1

Madonna is set to release her 13th studio album, titled “Rebel Heart,” early next month. And possibly the very best place in the entire world to purchase the Material Girl’s newest CD is Lucky Records, a quirky, Madonna-centric shop in Paris’s Les Halles district that is Nirvana for fans of her Madgesty: Virtually every Madonna remix and international music release is available for purchase, as well as posters, magazines, calendars, concert videos and even her films on disc. If there’s a Madonna collectible out there, you’ll likely find it at Lucky Records. Continue Reading →