Heidi Ellison
Murder in Montmartre
Sexy Detective and the City
Mystery writers these days seem to be required to stake out a geographical territory – Donna Leon has Venice, Steven Saylor has ancient Rome, Sara Paretsky has Chicago, etc. – and give it the status of a character in their … Read More
Les Fernandises
Heading South A neighorhood bistro serving southwestern dishes with a strong Spanish influence. Everything’s been turned upside-down in this neighborhood bistro, which used to serve excellent specialties from Normandy in a gloomy ambiance that made you wish antidepressants were served … Read More
Du Jour au Lendemain
Best French Comedy?
Du Jour au Lendemain (From One Day to the Next), directed by Philippe Le Guay, poses the following question: What happens when a man’s sad, gray life suddenly – and for no apparent reason – takes on brilliant colors and … Read More
Aux Crus de Bourgogne
Resisting Time The restaurant hasn’t changed much since 1932. Lovers of Paris don’t like the city to change, and while that may be a retrograde attitude, it is still extremely comforting to return many years later to a restaurant you … Read More
Toi et Moi
Photo Romance
The conceit of Toi et Moi (You and Me) is that one of the main characters, the pretty, ditzy Ariane (Julie Depardieu), is the author of Toi et Moi, a roman-photo, a sort of comic-book version of a Harlequin romance, … Read More
Tokyo Eat
Artful Dining Note: This restaurant is closed. Designer decor in a cavernous setting. A visit to the newly reopened Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris or its neighbor, the trendy contemporary art museum, the Palais de Tokyo, provides … Read More
Agnès Jaoui Canta
The Joys of Jaoui Jaoui’s first album is a fine showcase for her talent as a singer. Actress, screenwriter and filmmaker Agnès Jaoui has taken on a new role, that of singer. Her first album, Canta (Tôt ou Tard; to … Read More
Anis
Sweet Sounds of the Suburban Melting Pot Something new for la chanson française. The young singer/songwriter Anis Kachohi may have been born and bred in a Paris suburb, but he is no car-burning delinquent, as the media would have us … Read More
Les Halles update
To Market, To Market Seura’s overview of what the new Halles quarter will look like, from the Bourse du Commerce (bottom) to the Cdntre Pompidou (top). Back in the 12th century, a marketplace was built on a former swamp in … Read More
Robert et Louise
Dining in a Time Warp The lively scene at Robert et Louise. After hearing the distressing news that yet another Starbucks has opened in Paris – this one on the Rue Mouffetard – it was a relief to pay a … Read More