Only in Paris

Endless picnics in le Jardin du Luxembourg

Cool street art

Dessert humor

Coq au vin in a can

Only in New York

Ghetto street lamp

Electrical wire shoe art

Water tower

What are the girls up to in Paris?

Rachel’s cooking up a storm and mes amies, Sarah and Mel, are giving her great shout-outs.

Kate is launching a cool new GoGo app for iPhones (and I’m sure Kim helped, too).

Lindsey launched Lola... Lola's Cookies that I can't wait to get in my belly.

Kasia’s designing gorgeous handbags—spring’s must-have accessory.

Kimberley continues jet-setting around the world for her beautiful and inspiring travel site.

Ann and Sion are writing novels. Novels!

Ann and Shannon are writing for Girls' Guide to Paris.

Erica continues to make tourists’ dreams come true by giving them a chic and cozy places to stay.

And Zeva’s hosting cocktail hour all week—Forest should be into that!

What a talented group. I’m so proud to know them all.

Cognac, champagne, and cosmos... what are you waiting for?

Yelp! If you haven't heard of this community site yet, it's a good week to become familiar. Introduced last year to Paris, grace à the lovely Zeva Bellel (who had the kickass site, Paris by Appointment Only), they're hosting half-off cocktails at these seven bars around town through Sunday.

Le Napoléon
• Le Mojito Royal (Prix Normal: 9€, Prix Yelp Drinks: 4,50€)
• Napoleon’s Victory (Prix Normal: 7€, Prix Yelp Drinks: 3,50€)
• Mary Martini (Prix Normal: 7€, Prix Yelp Drinks: 3,50€)

Le Petit Chateau d’Eau
• Caïpirinha (Prix Normal: 7€, Prix Yelp Drinks: 3,50€)
• Coupe de Champagne (Prix Normal: 7,80€, Prix Yelp Drinks: 3,90€)
• Cocktail cognac Le Petit Chateau d’Eau (Prix Normal: 10€, Prix Yelp: 5€)

Quinze Bar
• Vin blanc (Prix Normal: 3,20€, Prix Yelp Drinks: 1,60€)
• Ti Punch (Prix Normal: 5€, Prix Yelp Drinks: 2,50€)
• Shot (Prix Normal: 3€, Prix Yelp Drinks: 1,50€)

Les Enfants Perdus
• Bourbon Vanilla Sour (Prix Normal: 12€, Prix Yelp Drinks: 6€)
• Martini Bianco Shine (Prix Normal: 8,50€, Prix Yelp Drinks: 4,25€)
• Cosmopolitan (Prix Normal: 10€, Prix Yelp Drinks: 5€)

Le Pixel
• Cocktail Yelp (Prix Normal: 12€, Prix Yelp Drinks: 6€)
• Cointreau Champagne (Prix Normal: 10€, Prix Yelp Drinks: 5€)
• Pinte de Bière (Prix Normal: 8,50€, Prix Yelp Drinks: 4€)

Ô Chateau
• Vin du Jour (Prix Normal: 7€, Prix Yelp Drinks: 3,50€)
• Cocktails (Prix Normal: 12€, Prix Yelp Drinks: 6€)
• Bas Armagnac 1974 (Prix Normal: 18€, Prix Yelp Drinks: 9€)

Rolling Pom’s
• Leffe Ruby (Prix Normal: 4€, Prix Yelp Drinks: 2€)
• Ti Punch (Prix Normal: 6€, Prix Yelp Drinks: 3€)
• VDP (Verre de vin de Pays) (Prix Normal: 2€, Prix Yelp Drinks: 1€)

If I were you, I'd get after it.

My Vegan Mondays

You are what you eat. And what you think, so think good thoughts, mes amis!

Morning
Coffee & soy milk
Oatmeal with apple compote and granola

Afternoon
Wheatberry salad with asparagus and dried cherries
Banana
Oatcake with dates (These things are genius. I found them at Life Thyme in the West Village. I love the texture and flavor and they keep your belly full forever.)

Evening
Carrot and sweet potato soup
An early bedtime

Purity, charm and mystery… and one late night out

As much as I love Paris, my heart has always belonged to New York. And while I’ve been having little moments of quiet glee and deep connection, walking through the crooked streets and long avenues, it was the Bill Cunningham documentary that made me so happy to be in New York right now.

You probably know his On the Street column (and party pictures) in the Sunday Styles section. But the man himself is mesmerizing. He is goofy and sweet, sharp and singularly focused, and he restores your faith in people. He’s kind, a creative genius and an icon. There is absolutely no one like him in this world. (I’m so glad I stalked him in Galignani last fall! Strangely enough, I saw Grace Coddington when I went to see Jane Eyre a couple weeks ago. But that's another style obsession...)

Beyond making you fall for Bill, the movie is a love letter to New York: the creative energy, the crazy people, the history, the chutzpa, the fame and fabulousness. It made me so proud and excited to be here.

And yet it just so happens that I saw the movie a couple nights after hitting the town with Amee. We had a drink at Orient Express, popped into Pastis for kir royales, then found ourselves at Abe & Arthur surrounded by men—such a rarity in this city that teems with women—and ultimately wound up dancing at SL, where bottles of Cristal were delivered with sparklers and eight-foot tall women were gyrating on the booths. It was fun because, well, how often do you swig Cristal straight from the bottle and dance with a bunch of amped-up traders? But it was also soulless, uninspiring and empty. It just seems like there are no more unique characters, no only-in-New-York clubs, no creative spirit. The Bill Cunningham doc showed the yesteryears of New York as thrilling and unique. You never knew what you were going to get. The New York of today is Duane Reade, Citibank and bottle service.

What can we do to keep New York as charming and mysterious as Bill Cunningham himself?

Weather check: je suis jalouse

It's in the 70s in Paris. It's barely 50 in New York. Where was all that lovely warmth last November and December? All I can do is hope for a speedy spring here, and the perfect weather in Paris when I'm there in three weeks.

Enjoy the sunshine, mes amis!

More blog favorites

Quick and delicious and Anglo-Franco inspiring!