Le Vieux Chêne
A typical Parisian bistro with just the right amount of atmosphere. In Paris, if you want good value for money, lunch is the right time to try a restaurant. The other day I was planning to meet one of … Read More
Archive
Dreamlands
Kader Attia’s “Untitled (Skyline),” 2007. © Colin Davison The Centre Pompidou is currently holding one of those “multidisciplinary” (read “popular”?) shows that it says are part of its mission. “Dreamlands” certainly has something for everyone, from … Favorite
La Régalade Saint Honoré
Good news! The famous Régalade restaurant, located far out in the 14th arrondissement and previously owned by megastar chef Yves Camdeborde before being taken over in style by Bruno Doucet, has now opened an annex in central Paris. More good … Read More
Little Gem
Elaine Murphy’s prizewinning play Little Gem talks of birth, life, sex, death and rebirth. Sounds deadly, does it not? Actually, the poignant stories of three generations of women – daughter Amber, her mother Lorraine and grandmother Kay – not only … Read More
Americophilia in Paris restaurants
The salade pastilla de poulet at the Café du Marché on the Rue de Bretagne in the Upper Marais. A wave of Americophilia seems to have hit Paris lately. Every restaurant popular with thirtyish trendies now has a hamburger (pronounced … Read More
Café de la Nouvelle Mairie
A great place for an enjoyable, torture-free evening with friends. Pros: Good organic wines, great vibe. Cons: Food could be improved on, too many wines to taste at one sitting. It would be difficult to get any closer to the … Read More
Centre Pompidou-Metz
The new Centre Pompidou-Metz. © Shigeru Ban Architects Europe and Jean de Gastines Architectes / Metz Métropole / Centre Pompidou-Metz / Photo: Roland Halbe When you step out of the back of the Metz train station today, you are treated … Read More
Simonin
Fancy dishes but little atmosphere and ill-fitting, Trekkie-like waiters’ uniforms. Do you look at your waiter at a restaurant? Do you check out how he or she is dressed? Does it matter? My answers to the first two questions would … Read More
Smallone
Sarah Greene, Anita Reeves and Amelia Crowley in Elaine Murphy’s “Little Gem,” one of the plays being featured in the Irish Cultural Center’s Theater Showcase. Anyone who sees the way the character Mingey stands right at the opening of the … Read More
Trésors de la Couronne d’Espagne
Detail of “The Haywain” (“The Temptation of Saint Anthony), after Hieronymus Bosch. © Patrimonio National, Madrid What a shame that the Galerie des Gobelins doesn’t allow visitors to borrow some of the tapestries on show in its latest exhibition: “Treasures … Read More