I just had a nice little dinner on the Champs-Elysées at l'Atelier Renault (I'll tell you why later). I then got the chance to see that this year is the 50th anniversary of "La Floride", which is not an American State, but... a French cabrio made by Renault in 1959. Brigitte Bardot (in the background) use to have one apparently! The photo is not very good, but, eh, you can't expect one like yesterday everyday, can you?! Besides, let me dedicate it to our favorite Floridian: Michael!
I wouldn't mind having one of those cars. Convertibles are so fun to drive. When it's not snowing!
ReplyDeleteOh my. Michael is going to LOVE this one.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous car, gorgeous woman! I would cut off my right arm to look like Brigitte. Your angle gives the appearance of a giant Brigitte driving this car.
Your picture takes the chill off the weather right now. (Ok, in Texas at the moment it is 75f!)
ReplyDeleteAnd ET Suzy I agree- wish I looked that good even for ONE day! lol
Great car, Eric. So stylish - like our Michael ;)
ReplyDeleteWho wouldn't fall in love with a car like that. 1959 was a good year! ;)
ReplyDeleteHow cool is this!! Thanks Eric! I feel warmer already imagining myself driving along A1A with Brigitte beside me and her hair flying with that 1950's scarf in the wind. It might even give me the courage to go out in the cold again tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteEric, I think the picture is perfectly cute.
ReplyDeleteMichael, you're only my 8th favorite Floridian. If I didn't have 7 pretty close family members in the Jupiter area you'd totally be #1, though!
Made special by BB.
ReplyDeleteFlorida warmth...Brigitte Bardot..Convertible...(picture Homer Simpson with his tongue hanging out and making that bestial noise...)
ReplyDeleteRight now it is +7 F, (that's -14 C) in Minneapolis. Michael: we never get used to it. It just sucks. Why am I here? Because the economy stinks and I have a job. Well, and I need to keep an eye on ma mère.
But I am going to LA for a short escape.
Ta mère? That's great Jeff! Now let me ask another stupid question... "Why didn't she move away from the polar north and all of that snow??" Have a blast in L.A. and take a pic of you in a convertible with all of those hot California DP bloggers will ya?!
ReplyDeleteGood timing, posting this one hour before kick-off of the BCS Championship Game starring Florida!
ReplyDeleteMy husband turns 50 in a couple of months. This photo may help him feel better about it!
ReplyDeleteMichael, I knew you'd be happy with this dedication! You dog, you.
The year we were born, Eric! N'est-ce pas?
ReplyDeleteAhhh David, the "other Florida". We won't discuss UF here for fear of distracting the conversation! Now, FSU is another story!
ReplyDeleteLynn, you and Eric were both born in 1959? Can't be true...that must be when everything was in b&w like I've only seen on TV!
Seriously Eric, this is a great photo which conjures up so many warm thoughts.
My parents had a Renault Dauphine from 1960-63, with a sun roof. As children we used to play in it by pretending it was a tank, as the car seemed more like the size of a toy than a car.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that Renault will not be having any billboards to celebrate the anniversary of the Dauphine, and I am sure that Bridget Bardot never owned or rode in one.
Eric, you never told us why you were having dinner at L'atelier Renault. Was it just to give tribute to Michael and his favorite swampland?
ReplyDeleteI happen to know that Huey P. Long is from the original swampland of Louisiana, so don't go listening to her! She's just jealous that there are too many mosquitoes to have a convertible there.
ReplyDeletebut I am blonde and beautiful and my big head would look just as good as Brigittes in 'La Floride's
ReplyDeleteI just checked in to get a link for the post I was preparing for tonight (its still early here) and my post is a photo of Michael. How weird is that , that he would get two dedications in one day!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's scheduled to post at 12:01 PST. I'm at the library as my internet access at home is out for the present. I surviving with an iPhone link but can't edit photos from my big camera or post well from it. I owe tons of folks emails and will try to get updated soon. Wish me luck in techie horror time. :-)
-Kim
Seattle Daily Photo
Jeff - that's awesome. The cold, dark winter definitely sucks, but you're doing a great thing. I hope we can supply you with some rewarding sunshine when you're here!
ReplyDeleteHuey P. Long - very funny!
From Cali - GF!! Woohoo! :)
I think our fine young Eric was born in 1960, so will only be 49 (see his profile page). I, however, was born in 1959. So like Lynn, I'm looking down the gullet of an even 50, much like this car. I should BE so cute.
ReplyDeleteWhat an adorable car!! Love it!! And I guess Brigitte was okay....but the car is the real star!
ReplyDelete(But, Suzy, if you cut off your arm, you wouldn't look like her anymore!)
My husband was born in 1959, so it's one of my favorite years.
ReplyDeleteChristie beat me to the arm joke. BB's a babe, but Suzy, you're beautiful as you are!
Off to Seattle to see Michael!
Eric -- are you seriously thinking that this photo is "not very good"? It's true that yesterday's was rather amazing, but this one has its own merits for sure. Is there a French equivalent of Route 66, I wonder?
ReplyDeletefrom cali -- way to go, GF!
Michael -- I spend my days trying to figure out how to be in the spot you're in today. Congrats to you, former Floridian.
Suzy, Suzy, Suzy -- to be Bardot, you would need both of your arms—to embrace your many husbands and lovers, and to deal with that mane of blonde hair.
i can see you
ReplyDeleteyour brown skin shining in the sun
you got your top pulled down,
radio on baby
and i can tell you
my love for you will still be strong
after the boys of summer have gone
i can see you
ReplyDeleteyour brown skin shining in the sun
you got your top pulled down,
radio on baby
and i can tell you
my love for you will still be strong
after the boys of summer have gone
Alexa, I completely understand your dreaming and please don't get me wrong, I love it here. But, there is a point after 10 years when the "vacation" wears off and there is still the day to day stuff to deal with. All things considered, there are worse things in life than a little cold in a beautiful city. I am grateful to have a roof over my head, a job I love, and friends (both real and virtual) all around.
ReplyDeleteThe "Atelier Renault" has changed a great deal since I knew it as the Pub Renault. They had fantastic ice cream desserts, and that it where I first experienced the BLT sandwich. The food in the back was as interesting as the car. And the both was shaped like part of a car, if memory serves.
ReplyDeleteThey've done a good job with their website, and you can take a virtual tour of the cars... I really need a car right now, so I got a good look ;)
As to the car in front of Brigitte Bardot, I believe she appeared in one just like that in one of her early 60's movies (possibly "Contempt" Le Mepris). Not 100% sure though.
OK, I meant to say "the food in the back was as interesting as the cars and the booths was in the shape of a car"
ReplyDeleteTomate, that's interesting about it being "Pub Renaut" before. I had the impression that this space was relatively new, but people like you help me put all the pieces together every day. Thanks! And Alexa, THAT's what makes living here exciting. Always a new discovery!
ReplyDeleteCool car and I bet you Parisians wish that perhaps you were in Florida right now ehhh??? On second thought...Nahhhh I'm sure you don't mind the cold that much!! LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteAller manger une glace au Pub Renault, sur les Champs !!!
ReplyDeleteQuel souvenir !
Pour la petite provinciale que j'étais, arrivant à la "capitale" pour y trouver mon premier job, c'était le summum de la "réussite".
Comme aller acheter quelques disques ou gadgets au Publicis, continuer par petit cocktail à la Rhumerie, et finir la soirée au Palace !
Souvenir, souvenir.... Merci, Eric.
I like that one. I thought it was interesting how, on Christmas Day, only a few of the shops were open, but Pugeot and Mercedes were both open and full of people.
ReplyDeleteDo people really buy cars on Christmas Day?
Michael:
ReplyDeleteYes, it's been around a long time.
According to the website
http://tinyurl.com/8a5um5
it's been around since 1910. In 1930, Renault expanded by purchasing the adjacent building. Then, in 1936, they created the site that I (and apparently Marylene :) knew, where you could go hang out and eat ice cream!
By the way, Michael, congratulations on getting a photo dedicated to you, but if I were you, I'd ask Eric to rewrite the post and dedicate you yesterday's gorgeous picture!! Now that one would make a fine print-out! ;)
I have a very precise memory of my first lunch at le PubRenault! That was on Aug. 29th, 1971... ;-) which was a warm and sunny day...
ReplyDeleteMy youngest brother was born that day, and my Dad took me and my 2 other brothers to a Paris tour (ET, Arc de Triomphe, ...) while Mum and the baby were at hospital.
We had lunch at the Pub R, and I still remember the icecream with the little paper umbrella...
Now, it's really different, but I still like having dinner or just a drink there everynow and then
he he Michael yes I believe so. Well at least I know I was born in 1959. I think we'll have to ask Eric to confirm or deny but I'm pretty sure we're the same age. We were born in black & white. The colour was added to us around the late sixties, early seventies I think. It was a grey time...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info Tomate. I'll go to the site when my fingers thaw out.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story Thib and a good memory. Thanks for sharing that.
As for colourisation Lynn, I think Ted Turner started that trend in the '80's with Gone with the Wind. Hopefully you're making up for lost time since then! hee hee
"...which is not an American State, but"... Don't listen to that Michael, that's a lie!
ReplyDeleteAnd you are my 1st favorite Floridian (;) Sasha), well, the only one I know...
First, I missed yesterday's picture, which was probably one of your best, Eric! I'm sad all the snow disappeared.
Then, I really like the picture. It's not an "amazing" one but I like the simplicity and I'm a huge fan of the 50' 60's design.
Jeff, enjoy your time in LA! Say hi to the PDPers for us please!
Guille,
ReplyDeleteStill snowy in Sologne !
Right now (1.00 pm), we still have 6cm of "fresh" snow, -6°C, and bright sun in Cheverny!
The small roads are still not cleaned and driving from my home lost in the middle of nowhere to the village is pretty "funny"!
Oh yes ... Gone With the Wind...sigh. Oh yes it's that recent, Michael. When we are tired or hungry, Eric and I fade back to black & white LOL
ReplyDeleteEric,
ReplyDeleteUn petit bonjour de Miami ou je lis votre blog tous les jours.
Sandrine
;) Sorry, I kinda like my family. I suppose I could bump Michael up a spot since one of the Floridians is recently married in to the family...
ReplyDeleteEric, I noticed you wisely called the Floride a 'cabrio' rather than a sports car which it certainly wasn't. I should know, I had one in the sixties.
ReplyDeleteOK - it was a little toy one.
Anyhow, I'm sure it was just perfect for BB to cruise around the Riviera with just enough room in the back for her bikini and a pair of.... perfectly groomed French poodles.
Thanks Kim. I'm definitely warming up now (blushing)...
ReplyDeleteMichael, you can be my #1 Floridian, now that my Grandma has passed. Sad way to move up the ladder though!!
ReplyDeleteThis talk of being born in b&w cracks me up, because I have my daughter believing that the world was, indeed, b&w back then! I like to have my fun with her. Hey, she can always get therapy later, right?
I can't wait to see what you've got in store for us next, Eric! Thanks for braving the cold for us. (With that in mind, I guess we can be grateful that Michael isn't in charge of PDP, eh Michael?)
LOL Suzy! If you're willing to replace your Grandma for me, I'm certain she was a rockin' Floridian.
ReplyDeleteDamn right you can be grateful it's Eric managing this blog in the cold. You'd be seeing this blog shut down while I was sitting on my hands to keep warm. Be glad that Eric gets out on his scooter through wind, hail, rain, snow, etc etc or else I'd have this PDP thing closed in a second.
'I just had a nice little dinner at ...'
ReplyDeleteEric, do you ever dine at home?
I suspect, Drummond, that Eric uses his oven to keep his sweaters in. It's a handy space, if you never need to cook...
ReplyDeleteThere is proof of Eric's cooking skills somewhere on this blog. He hosted a dinner for Tomate, Michael and friends a year or so ago...I watched it live!!! LOL!!! Perhaps one of the more skillful PDP researchers can find it...the sun has finally come out in SF and I need to benefit from it while it is here! ;-) A bientot!!!
ReplyDeleteWell, Tonton! That is most interesting. However, I tried searching for cooking - couldn't find it. Searched for dinner. Pfft! So MANY posts! Too many to go through. Eric has eaten out more times than I've had..hot...dinners. Er. So, anyway. I'll take your word for it but I'm not really convinced. LOL. I think Eric is a food critic.
ReplyDeleteOkay Lynn...maybe it wasn't an actual post, think it started on the forum. tomate..aidez moi..svp! Off to the sun and work now..LOL!
ReplyDeleteTonton, I think you're thinking about a live video transmission Eric organised during dinner, so I don't think we'll find a photo.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of photos, I hope Kim from Seattle Daily Photo doesn't mind, but I swiped hers of me to use as a new profile pic. She snapped it in like 2 seconds and it's one of the best I have.
I like a lot this photo. BB was so cute. Glad to know you are still alive Eric, this cold is so cold, isn't it ?
ReplyDeleteHave a quiet and warm WE.
Boo hoo hoo, Je suis grandi a Miami.Just because my name is Phoenix-paris, I have a big link there too!!!!
ReplyDeleteWish I knew enough about cars to comment, but 20 yrs, ago when my friend said she got a BMW and got no reaction from me, she asked if I knew what it was, and I said yes, a Volkswagon!!!BMW, VW sounded the same to me. Hey if you don't care about cars and live in NYC, you only care about taxis!!!
I don't blame you Michael it's a great shot. However I like the red one too. It's kind of cheeky and ... I think you're looking at ME. LOL !!! snigger.
ReplyDeleteI adore the photo of you Michael and I agree, it's the best I've seen and I have a few of my own! And Lynn is absolutely shameless you know. lol
ReplyDeleteEric, this little car looks so sweet against the background billboard. Brigitte certainly looks beautiful.
Not a bad deal Miguel to be right up there with Brigitte. lol Love the history of this car and have enjoyed reading all of your comments too.
ReplyDelete