Friday, September 30, 2011

French Clothing


I always wonder how some brands manage to become so desirable that people suddenly all want to buy it! A lot depends on the money invested in advertising of course, but not only. Sometimes a little detail like a logo makes the difference... That's exactly what I thought when I saw this shirt at Old England at Boulevard des Capucines, near the Opera. I immediately thought of an American sportswear brand, but I found out that I was wrong. This logo belongs to Albert Arts, a brand that originates from... Nice, in the South of France. Sorry, I realize this post could have been written for a marketing blog, but the photo is nice too and... was taken in Paris!

Thursday, September 29, 2011

A cute little theater...


I have passed by this place many times thinking each time "this is really a cute little theater!", but never managed to take a proper photo (it's located on a little square with lots of trees that makes it difficult to take photos). Anyway, this time I'm pretty happy with the result. It really looks little a mock up doesn't it? FYI, it's Le Théâtre de l'Atelier located at place Charles Dullin (who was the art director of the theater at the beginning of the 20th century), right by Montmartre.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Enjoying September sun...


I passed by a public garden right by Les Invalides earlier this afternoon and I could not resist taking a photo of this guy ;-) I must confess I envied him... The weather is so nice in Paris at the moment, that if you were here, I'm sure you'd do the same! BTW, have you noticed the size of the tree; it's probably 500 years old, or something.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Michael Jackson lookalike


Michael Jackson is dead, but he was in Paris last Sunday... Miracle? Not really, it was just one of his many lookalike that I photographed near Beaubourg, in front of the Saint Merri church. Nothing extraordinary - there are probably thousands of those throughout the world - but I like the framing of this photo.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Let's have fun!


Yesterday I attended a Flashmob (that is a "sudden mobilization") performed by Les Tistics, a group of young actors and comedians. They gathered near Beaubourg and started dancing in the middle of the crowd as if they just happened to be there all together! The funny part is that they danced to an English language hit ("I've got a feeling", by the Black Eyed Peas) that they litteraly translated into French. A good way for the passers-by to realize how shallow the words are... you can hear/see it for yourself here (thanks to Heather, who found this link and posted it in the comments box. You can even see me half a second at the very beginning of the video - in the pink shirt!).

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Tous au restaurant!


Interesting initiative that a lot of French restaurants have taken once again this year: between the 19th and today (September 25) you can go to a selected number of restaurants with your other half (or just anyone actually!) and pay only one meal instead of two! It's called "Tous au restaurant" (everyone should go to the restaurant) and it works in more than 1000 restaurants throughout France, including some haute cuisine ones, like Le Carré des Feuillants or la Maison de la truffe for instance... Check for yourself on the website!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Sunny weekend ahead!


Yes! it's LE Week-end as we say in French, and it's going to be sunny! Probably one of the last sunny ones of the season, so everyone will try to catch the last rays before fall/autumn starts. To celebrate, here is a photo I took today (Friday) at the Musée du Quai Branly, a splendid museum located near the Eiffel Tower (as you can obviously see it...) dedicated to the arts of Africa, Oceania, Asia, and the Americas. They currently have an exhibit about the Maoris.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Anti capitalism demonstration


Today was another terrible day for the stock market... It seems that the party time is over and that we're going to have to pay off our debt after all. Surprise, surprise! A few people gathered around the Bourse (the old stock market building) in Paris today to demonstrate against capitalism and all this. "Close all stocks markets", it says on the left and on the right, well you can see for yourself, for it's written in "English". I really wonder how all this is going to end to be honest.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

La Baronne de Paname!


Each city has its characters. People that you notice either because they dress differently, act differently or think differently... Mélina, aka La Baronne de Paname (Paname is a cute slang word we use to call Paris), is one of these. She loves the typical "bals musette" (dances where people used to do the Waltz Musette to accordion music in-between the two World Wars and just after). She even organizes them sometimes, like this Saturday at the Pavillon Baltard. Want to go? Check out her Myspace page.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Sotto Sopra


With this photo, I feel like I'm going back in time; this is the typical type of shot I would post when I started PDP! (Remember this one?). I found these chairs at Sotto Sopra, an Italian restaurant located at 74, rue des Archives, in the Marais. Nothing extraordinary, expect that I loved their color and the way they are set on the sidewalk. BTW, if you happen to visit the Salon de la photo in Paris, I'll be talking about PDP -and its secrets! - on Sunday October 9 at 16:00 pm at stand E15, from l'Agora du Net.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Loneliness


Amazing how a big city is full of people and how sometimes, you can get very lonely or isolated. I thought of the study I read last year about loneliness in France, when I saw this lady, alone on this wall by Beaubourg. The study (by Fondation de France) says that one French person in ten lives by him(her)self and that one in ten also, has less than 3 personal conversations per year. I find it hard to believe, but it seems to be true. Not a very joyful note, I agree...

Monday, September 19, 2011

Before and after at La Conciergerie




La Conciergerie is a very famous place in Paris. Not only is it one of the most beautiful monuments in the city, but on top of that it is known for having "sheltered" Marie-Antoinette for several months, before she was beheaded on the Place de la Concorde (Place de la Révolution at that time). La Conciergerie is also constantly covered in scaffolding (I suppose that's the price to pay for a monument that was built around the 12th century! Anyway, right now, Samsung commissioned French designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac to make a huge fresco on it. I took these photos a few days apart from each others. See more here and in this video.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Inanimate objects...


I took this photo through the window of a mannequin store in the rue Réaumur and it made me think right away of a famous quote by French Poet Alphonse de Lamartine: "Inanimate objects do you have a soul?" For none of the "people" in this scene - even the guy in the black suit! - are real.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Sunset on Notre Dame


Another of this September evening light that is so beautiful in Paris. I passed by Notre Dame last evening around 7:30 on my way to my brother's and I could not help but admiring this stunning Paris landmark. Besides, for once that it's not covered in scaffolding... Have a great week-end everyone. I hope the weather is going to remain as clear as this!

Friday, September 16, 2011

Gallery opening


I'm just back from the september opening of one of my favorite art galeries in Paris: Galerie W. The place was packed and I really wondered - and wandered - a long time before I found the photo I wanted to take. And suddenly, at the end of this narrow corridor that leads to one of the rooms, I saw this fragile silhouette. There was my photo du jour ;-)

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Porte Saint Denis


The big arch in the middle of l'Etoile, on top of the Champs Elysées is not the only one in Paris. There are many other arches, like this one I photographed in the 10th arrondissement at the crossing of rue Saint-Denis and Boulevard Bonne-nouvelle. It was built in 1672 in replacement for a medieval gate in the city walls built by Charles V in the 14th century (read the whole story here if you're interested). It's a stunning monument, and the blue/cloudy sky makes it even more beautiful.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Sunset over Tour Saint Jacques


On my way to dinner last evening, I passed by the Châtelet area while the sun was going down on Paris. The light was absolutely stunning... This tower - that was recently renovated as you may remember - is the only remain of a former church dedicated to Saint Jacques precisely! (See the whole story here). The other landmark you can see here is La colonne du Châtelet (The Chatelet column).

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

The Mask!


Another discovery of one of these embedded masks that you can find everywhere in Paris. Let me remind you that they are made by Gregos, an street artist who started posting white/blank faces about 3 years ago. He started introducing color at the beginning of 2009. I love them. I photographed this one at rue de Picardie in the 3rd arrondissement.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Wine harvest in the 11th arrondissement


Last Saturday I got invited to join a bunch of people at "Les Vendanges du Château Charonne", (the Charonne castle wine harvest), Charonne being a street (and an area) in Paris. Needless to say this is all a big joke, as, of course, there aren't any castles over there and just a few grapes. Actually enough to pick up and to put in a few buckets where kids - and adults - can crush them with their feet like in the old days ;-) It was a fun, sunny afternoon, very festive, where I had a wonderful time surrounded by lovely people. Have a look at the owner of the place.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Peace!


Here is a "graffito" I found near Republique, and I thought it was most appropriate for today. Have a peaceful Sunday everyone, we all deserve it. Update. Have a look at one of the Tributes the French made today at Trocadero.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Opening of the 2011 Rugby World Cup!


Not many reasons to rejoice these days... so here is one (for those who love Rugby!). The 2011 world Cup opened yesterday in New Zealand and since you may know I have a soft spot for New Zealand and New Zealanders (remember this street Haka and the opening of Koko?), well I took advantage of the presence in Paris of Roniece, a true PDP follower Kiwi (wearing orange in this photo), to go to the Freedom Pub, off Les Champs Elysées, to attend the opening and the first match. I will still support the French team though ;-)

Friday, September 09, 2011

The woman in the window...


How about a funny window setting to finish the week? I'm not talking about a shop window display, but a real window, a one that I found at Quai de la Gironde, by the Canal de l'Ourq. I just thought it was funny. Facts and figures: the big stones around the window are called Meulières, they were used until 1880 to build houses in Paris and its area.

Thursday, September 08, 2011

Toyota takes over the Louvre!


Funny scene I came across this morning at rue de l'Amiral de Coligny (the one that leads to the PDP picnic location!) right by the Louvre; no less than 157 little Yaris Toyota exposed to the public. I don't know exactly what they planned to do with them though. Give them away after a giant sweepstakes?! Maybe I should have stayed! PS: this is NOT a sponsored post! There are NO sponsored posts on PDP!

Wednesday, September 07, 2011

The naked truth!


I actually did not know how to photograph this sculpture initially (a beautiful piece by Daniel Hourdé called "La vérité mise à nue par ses thuriféraires" (don't ask me to translate!), then I found this angle which I find interesting even if you cannot really see the sculpture! Anyway, in the background you probably recognized the Saint-Germain Church. As you can see the rain has returned in Paris...

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Hotel Crillon


Due to its location (facing the Place de La Concorde), the hotel Crillon is probably one of the most luxurious hotels in Paris. The actual building was constructed in 1758 by architect Jacques-Ange Gabriel, then it was later bought to be used as a private home (yes a private home!) in 1788 by the Count of Crillon. It was confiscated during the revolution period (in 1791) then becamee a hotel in 1907 (read the whole story here is you're interested). What you see on the left is not the actual building, it's a fake facade which purpose is to hide the real one while it's being redone. Cool isn't?

Monday, September 05, 2011

The most expensive avenue in Europe


The news came last Thursday after commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield released their annual study regarding the price of the rental value of the major shopping streets in the world : The Champs Elysées is the most expensive shopping street in Europe - and the 5th in the world - before New Bond street in London. It will cost you 7,364 euros per square meter per year if you plan to open a little shop around the corner down there! No wonder only big chain stores can afford it... After Abercrombie and Fitch, Tommy Hilfiger, H & M it will soon be the turn of Banana Republic and... Marks and Spencers (from the UK). BTW, I took this photo from the Arc de Triomphe, as you probably guessed already!

Sunday, September 04, 2011

Yes, it's a Dodge!


What's a 1952 (so I think) Dodge with a Washington State licence plate doing all the way in Paris? I don't know, but I swear I did take this photo at rue de la Grange Batelière, in the heart of the 9th arrondissement ! Just for the record, this car gets 22 miles to the gallon and a gallon in Paris costs about 5.70 € (roughly $8.20!) so, do the math! But I suppose this is not really the concern of the owner of this car ;-)

Saturday, September 03, 2011

Paris Coat of Arms


After all this time (6 years!) I realized I never really showed you the Paris coat of arms. So here it is... photographed yesterday on the aerial metro at Cambronne. Like you can see, it shows a vessel, which was, when it was created (around 1190 apparently) one of the major means of trade . The city motto, Fluctuat nec mergitur ("it is tossed by the waves, but does not sink") means that despite the hard time Paris can experience from time to time, it is still standing! Have a nice Labor Day weekend if you are in the States and Canada...

Friday, September 02, 2011

Even at Mc Donald's!


That's it, I finally tested them! What? The Macaroons at Mc Donald's... For yes, ladies and Gentlemen, in France, you can find Macaroons in selected Mc Dos' (as we call them here), the ones that have a Mc Café inside (a little "sweet island", made to compete with Starbucks). Now the big question; are they good? Well they're OK, but not outstanding... they are cheaper though: 4,90 € for 6 pieces.

Thursday, September 01, 2011

Perspective (theme day)


Here we are, the 1st of the month and since I've been away these past 5 days I had not anticipated the theme day... Shame on me. It's only yesterday that I found out it was "Perspective". So here you go, a quick and dirty "Tenin perspective" from the Metro, more precisely Line 14, that I took on the way back from the Gare de Lyon where I arrived from Nîmes. Go visit the "Dailyphotoblogosphere" and find out what they chose for the theme day... Back to work now!