Read My Lips

Rue Bonaparte eyeglass shop

Michel Cluizel, j'adore!

One of our favorite flats has been just steps from Michel Cluizel's Saint-Honoré shop. Can you believe I never bought even one bite? I'm taking care of that this trip!

Lêche-vitrine au Palais Royal I

Today we begin another mini series, Window Shopping at the Palais Royal. Lêche-vitrine is the French for window shopping and literally translates to "lick the window"! The chi chi shops at the Palais Royal certainly have that effect on me!

Today, my favorite, Didier Ludot. Here you will find the most divine vintage couture items. The window always catches my eye. 

Beaucoup de boutons

Ultramod mercerie is one of my favorite shops in Paris. It's old school, like everything in Paris. The buttons are in old cardboard boxes, ribbons on rolls, trim and thread on old wooden rolls. I love this place more than I can say. I have photographed this shop many times. I will always go back.

La Chaise

As we strolled up and down the many charming passageways around the Bastille area, it seemed that there were many shops that built or rebuilt furniture. I wish I had this old sign!

La couturière

As we explored many quiet passageways around the Bastille area, we happened upon this workshop.

Mousse chocolat, je t'aime!!!

Well I was in Paris for two solid weeks and walked by this store, took photos through the window and I regret to tell you that Peter and I did not go in. Now I see when researching the store that what I photographed was not ice cream but their Bar à mousses aux chocolat!! I walked past a chocolate mousse BAR. I don't think I'll ever get over this and be able to move on with my life. On the other hand, had I indulged, I would have been there every single day and.....

Chocolat Chapon

69 rue de Bac

75006 Paris

Paris Rouge - P.A.R.O.S.H.

 P.A.R.O.S.H at the Palais Royal, always an eclectic mix. I love Paris!

Tombées du camion

Paris is chock full of charming and unusual shops that might take a bit of looking but are well worth the effort. Several years ago, I bought *Paris Made By Hand, a treasure of a handbook featuring Paris' most unusual shops by arrondissement. It took some searching but Peter and Mary helped me find it. Tombées du camion, which means "fell off the truck" is a tiny shop full of an electic mix of unusual finds. This is a place that although hard to explain, is a photographer's paradise.

Tombées du camion

17 rue Joseph de Maistre

75018 Paris

* Of note: I recommend doing a search online for any shops you might want to visit as I've found that since the book was written, several have closed. 

Paris Rouge - Soixante

The Used Book Café at Merci, where while shopping, you may shop the wall of used books and enjoy a café or thé. The café is closed now for renovations, but will reopen on 8 août, 2016.

Merci

111 Boulevard Beaumarchais

75003 Paris

Les fleurs à Paris

Artisan Fleuriste, a lovely flower shop in the Marais.

 95 rue Vieille du Temple

75003 Paris

Madame

Posed against the always creative windows of Louis Vuitton at St. Germain des Pres, she was the picture of a chic Parisian woman.

Mors Doré

All too often I find myself in Paris on what I call the Paris fast track. We are always so anxious to see it all, eat and drink it all, but more than that, shoot it all, that we don't have time to sit and soak up Paris. This last trip while spending a day alone,  to wander and and explore, late in the afternoon I sought the small, quiet place Dauphine. This afternoon I was totally alone there. I'd walked a lot, so I found a bench, took a deep breath, and just soaked up the moment. Mors Doré caught my eye, are you surprised?  When I returned home and found this image I Googled it and alas, it was in French ( the very idea!) so I sought Peter's help. He tells me it's a book binding shop. The lagniappe is the man in the upper window that I just discovered.

Mors Doré

16 lace Dauphine

75001 Paris

Mon Ami

Back in July, 2009, I met the charming gentleman on the right. He had heard of Birmingham, Alabama from some friends who had shopped there before and he asked, "Madame, if I come to Birmingham, what should I see first?" I didn't bat an eye and said, "Moi, Monsieur!" He laughed and we have been friends ever since. This trip in 2012, I took a photo I'd taken that day and he proudly showed it to his coworkers. E. Dehillerin is the premier place for cookware in Paris. I like to say if they don't stock it, you don't need it. Ina Garten shops here and that's good enough for me. I've never bought a thing but I always stop in and say, "Bonjour" to my friends there. 

Parfait

I can't remember walking into a shop in Paris where everything wasn't in perfect order.  There is great attention to detail and pride in the displays.  Here at Michel Cluizel, Madame is keeping the chocolats just so. Parfait!

Michel Cluizel

201 rue Saint Honoré

75001 Paris

City Daily Photo Theme Day - Details

This month's City Daily Photo Theme Day is DETAILS.  This is Ultramod Mercerie's window. Vente au Detail translates to Retail Shop, but I thought their sign was too good to pass up today.


Today my City Daily Photoblog friends around the world are sharing their take on this month's theme......details. Click here to see them all!

S'il Vous Plait et Merci

I saw a photo on Facebook this week.  It was a Parisian chalkboard outside a café.  It said, " Un Café 2 euro. Un café s'il vous plait 1.80 euro!!!  When anyone asks me about  Paris,  I always start with, "Bonjour, merci et s'il vous plait."  It works every time.

These letters brought to you by one of my favorite shops in Paris, MERCI, bien sûr.

Merci

111 boulevard Beaumarchais

75003 Paris

Merci de Merci

I try to visit Merci every time I get to Paris. They have a treasure trove of letters of all shapes and sizes. Sometimes they are on the wall, other times dumped in bins. This day, they spelled out the magic word in Paris!

Merci 

111  Boulevard Beaumarchais

75003 Paris

Signes du Samedi - Vert Absinthe

Those of you that know me well, or just know my chat noir Meeps, will know why I stopped here and took a lot of shots. As a matter of fact, I have this very poster!

Vert Absinthe

11 rue Ormesson

75004 Paris

Signes du Samedi - Ladurée

Don't you wish you could pop in Ladurée for your last minute gifts and stocking stuffers!