During the Christmas season (that is since December 1st) all department stores have shop windows specially designed to attract kids. I still remember that my father would take me there every year when I was a little boy... Well, things haven't changed with time, except that now I can go by myself! Here is an example of one of the fanciest I could find (in Le Printemps); of course when you see it for real it's much better because it's all animated, but still, even on a photo these pots and pans are quite cute.
I'm first! There is something very interesting about this photo...even though I wasn't sure what it was at first. I like that it is bathed in orange light...and the cute little legs. It cries more "Thanksgiving" to me than Christmas but I like it.
ReplyDeleteAh... such a sweet image, you with your boyhood memories, skipping down to Le Printemps, delighted that you can now go ALL ON YOUR OWN! LOL. aHH...
ReplyDeleteI have exactly the same memories. Our department stores do the same, especially in London and my parents would take me (perhaps at the same time as you Eric!) to Selfridges in Oxford Street and to Harrods in Knightsbridge where we would gaze at the animations and finish by a visit to Father Christmas inside (and Mr. Holly) and a small gift. Ahh... thank you Eric for reminding me. Superb colourful shot full of fun and childhood nostalgia. I'm all excited now!
One of the larger department stores where I live also has a long-standing tradition of Christmas window displays.
ReplyDeleteWhen I passed them the other day, there were cues around the block, as families and school groups had come into town (or taken a detour from their shopping) in order to see this year's animated treats.
I'm going back to take a peek when there isn't quite so much traffic and can mutter "Bah, humbug!" under my breath without being heard - or molested.
Wow dancing pots and pans! Is tomorrow going to be another 'dance' photo? Love the red!
ReplyDeleteIn Philadephia, there was Wannamakers! Magic!
ReplyDeleteI have just discovered that 2006 is the fiftieth anniversary of the Christmas window displays I mentioned in my previous comment.
ReplyDeletePast examples can be found at:
http://www.myer.com.au/
about/christmas.asp
Ah... memories... I do, too, remember the Xmas window displays of the Grands Magasins as a kid. It was simply mesmerizing. For a little kid, it was "Reality meets Fantasy land!"
ReplyDeleteThe only time I ever felt the same way as an adult was in Manhattan, while strolling down 5th Avenue, a few days before xmas. They do too, know how to put together a window display, and people line up exactly the same way.
I had the usual problem trying to place a comment here. Beta, ugh!
ReplyDeleteJust "ain't" the same without Michael's comments....
Meanwhile...photo today is kinda cute. I got my "Line Renaud" cd today. She was fabulous. I love her movies, too. Netflix is sending me a movie starring Josephine Baker and Jean Gabin. I can't wait to see it.
so nice and beautiful pans!!
ReplyDeletehow could refuse them??
mmm...
:(
Christmas season, my poor pocket money goes away.
:))
jing
shanghai daily photo
As we all know, that should have been "there was a queue" and not "there were cues".
ReplyDeletenice! i want to buy all of that!
ReplyDeleteJohnnyParsons: Netflix is sending me a movie starring Josephine Baker and Jean Gabin.
ReplyDeleteReally?!! Which one is that? Just curious. The French movie exports to California are kind of limited, so I wouldn't want to miss the opportunity to see a good French classic :)
Such a charming scene! Kudos to the designer. What fun to animate that!
ReplyDelete-Kim
You're saying that the pots are animated? It makes me remember the enchanted castle in "Beauty and the Beast"!
ReplyDeleteVery warm colors, and the Printemps store really looks fancy!
>>In Philadephia, there was Wannamakers! Magic!>>
ReplyDeleteMacy's owns that building and business now, Martha. But they still have wonderful windows and have kept the Eagle, Light Show and have brought over the Dickens' Christmas Village from Strawbridge's which the bought and closed.
This display has very nice moroccan flavor. Thank you for this good choice Eric !
ReplyDelete;o)
ah yes, Beauty and the Beast. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to think of something happy when looking at this photo. In the UK, news is dominated by serial murders. Details at my Things UK blog.
ReplyDeleteSo, what does this little pan do then Eric? Does he dance like you? lol.
Is Eric going to pot;-)))) (I bet only anglophones get that)
ReplyDeleteThat is a very original Christmas display (I don't remember - does Printemps even sell pots?).
I spent my formative years in NYC - many magical moments there during the holiday season, including skating at the Rockefeller Center rink...
Your PhotoBlog is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see more Christmas window displays -- Paris around the holidays is so beautiful...
Nice picture ! I hope my mum doesn't see this mess ;-)
ReplyDeleteDarling picture Eric! Just curious about the scale...is that a normal chair? What a fun display to work with...maybe that's something I'll think about doing...window displays...think I could stand still enough? LOL! ;-)
ReplyDeleteOoooops...s/b "could stand still LONG enough?" It's still morning here...just humor me! Still getting revved up! ;-)
ReplyDeleteoooh, thank you so much eric, that's just what i love to see, the unique and creative french spirit at christmas time....as seen through an artist's eye...
ReplyDeletemerci buckets :)
Tomate...Baker-Gabin "ZouZou". Netflix also has "Siren of the Tropics" 1920. As well as "TamTam"
ReplyDeleteI love Netflix. They have many French movies (in French)!!!
I love the premise of Netflix but hate the way they operate. I've left them twice and now use Blockbuster's online rental.
ReplyDeleteNetflix is not honest when it claims, "unlimited" rentals when in fact they penalize heavy users by withholding the the mailings in order to reduce the amount you can get each month. Also, if a movie is in high demand, preference is given to new users in order for their new experiences to be positive. I've waited three and half months to receive a movie while a friend, new to Netflix, living in the same area as I, received the movie immediately.
Someone else noticed this, proved the practice was taking place and filed a class action suit. They had to give everyone a free month and I think they had to disclose the practice in their terms and conditions (which most don't read). So, if you're a light user or you're new to them, you get a great experience. The longer you are with them or the more you rent, the worse your experience gets.
Ame, yes the chair is normal chair. these pots are... big!
ReplyDeleteIsabella, I did not get it ;) what does going to pot mean?
Eric..going to pot means, in American slang, becoming a slob, mess, loosing usefulness...plus ou moins.
ReplyDeleteWow, interesting, Johnny Parsons, thanks. I don't think I saw movies that old when I was in France or since.
ReplyDeleteI love Netflix too, but I think Susan has a point. I think because of the postal turnover you can only get so many movies a month with them, and not an "unlimitted" amount as they claim.
Class actions might have been a great concept at some point, but they do nothing more than make the lawyers richer. I got $1 from Iomega a few years ago, another buck from Apple, and another couple of dollars from Microsoft over the years, but the attorneys who orchestrated these deals made millions (billions?).
Netflix gave me notice of their recent settlement but I did not get a free month. Rather, I got an extra movie or something equally stupid that I coudn't really do anything with (shrug). I still like the concept and overall I'm happy. They don't have "savage nights" though, I checked. Probably a distribution problem more than anything else because they have a lot of interesting Sundance and other kind of cool Indies movies dealing with all kinds of subject matters.
I meant "French" movies that old.
ReplyDeleteEric, 'going to pot' means to deteriorate through lack of effort. e.g. 'I started my studies really well, but since i was invited to so many parties, it's all gone to pot.'
ReplyDeleteThe derivation of the phrase escapes me at the moment... anyway hope that helps!
Well, actually in American slang, going to pot means either falling apart or (if you are from the West Coast;-) getting stoned. Which you are neither, Eric (as far as I know;-)
ReplyDeleteIn here however I tried to make a play on words, as you in fact have gone to photograph a pot. See?
Never heard the getting stoned version Isabella, interesting! See, i'm not THAT good!
ReplyDeleteall the red reminds me of chinese new year~~
ReplyDeleteTomate, it's not due to postal turnover. They purposely HOLD the movies and do not mail them in order that you cannot receive more than 13 (I think that's the number if my memory is correct) rentals per month. It has nothing to do with the postal service.
ReplyDeleteIsabella, I've also not heard that "going to pot" means getting stoned. I think you made that up! lol. Getting stoned is just "getting stoned" or "getting fried" or "getting high." How would I know that? LOL...I think most of us have gotten stoned at some point in our lives!
I haven't :) No, honestly i never have. Nothing like that. No desire to. I'm an innocent. (Ame's not around is she? Good.)
ReplyDeleteLynn: :O really? Not even in college (university)?
ReplyDeleteYour are officially the second person in my age range or younger (I'm guessing your age range here) that has never smoked pot! The other one, ironically, is a Dutch friend that lives in the Netherlands...lol. But she was kind enough to go with me to a "coffee shop" when I visited her in Amsterdam. I had to experience smoking legally! It was fun, very laid back as one would imagine. I guess it's not as common in Europe??? Everyone I know has at some point, and most men that I know (were talking professional men, still smoke occassionally. You would be surprised at who does.
So funny that alcohol, which causes so many deaths every year is legal and the poor little marijuana plant that is so much less toxic to the body is outlawed. I guess their lobby doesn't give enough money to the government like the alcohol industry....lol.
Yes, really i swear, never. Never smoked either. Just doesn't appeal and the whole thing seems too dangerous to me. Sounds a bit pious perhaps but when i was young i knew a lovely young woman who i looked up to for dress sense, make up etc. She was a neighbour and such fun, all trendy and fashionable. It shocked me to discover she had been into drugs and died one night in London. At the age of 9, as i was at the time, it just stayed with me i suppose. I hasten to add i don't judge anyone who does; it's not my place, i perhaps wish they wouldn't, that's all.
ReplyDeleteThat's terrible. But you aren't lumping pot in with drugs that can kill you are you? You can smoke all night long with no threat of dying. But alcohol...if you drink all night long without stopping, you will die.
ReplyDeletelol isabella! I used to go to pot when going to pot all the time. Perhaps that's why my memory sucks? At least I think it sucks. Can't quite remember...Where am I? And what are all these crappy pictures for? ;)
ReplyDeleteI had the great fortune to stand on the pavement in front of this window on the Blvd Haussman last friday with my wife and see it for myself. The shop front canopy kept the persistent drizzle off our heads and for a couple of 'childlike' minutes I was transfixed by one of the best and innovative displays I have ever seen. Yeah, you really have to see the extraordinary choreography coupled with a delightfully bright and lively tune - I am sure if was french but I didn't recognize it. The damp parisian morning melted into Christmas for those few short moments.
ReplyDeleteI see what you're saying, but statistics show that many people who try weed first, then go on to try other, harder drugs. Then, they are in trouble.
ReplyDeleteYeah, yeah....I know that's what the fear is. Propaganda's not true though. It's got an unfair rap.
ReplyDeleteChaque un a son gout, je suppose, et avis aussi.
ReplyDeleteI suppose each to his own opinion!
adult free media
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a nice day! Very good article, well written and very thought out. I am looking forward to reading more of your posts in the future.
ReplyDelete