Visiting Paris With Kids? Check out Bonton

If you are visiting Paris with children 12 or under, or, are shopping for kids or grandkids for fashion or accessories with that ineffable French 'touch', the new Bonton flagship store in the upper Marais will be a trove of temptations. Bonton is the 'little brother' of Bonpoint, the well known luxury French children's clothing firm. Bonton spreads its wares over three architect designed floors. While adults shop for children's clothing, homewares, accessories and furniture, kids can watch movies, get their hair cut in an old-fashioned barber shop, eat cupcakes or curl up in the library area with a good book. Brilliant concept and beautiful things!

5 Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire. Paris 3.

Love Fabulous Olive Oils From Provence?

Check out my article on the outstanding new mini-chain of exquisite olive oil shops, Premier Pression Provence. This was just published on the Hip Paris blog.

http://hipparis.com/2010/04/09/premiere-pression-provence-the-new-parisian-mecca-for-fine-olive-oil/

Be Ethical and Generous During the Holidays

Paris abounds in 'Concept Shops'. A great way to highlight coming trends and very contemporary fashion, design, homewares and more, concept shops add to that incomparable Parisian 'buzz'. "Ethical Concept Stores" are a welcome new addition to this universe of the hip, cool and contemporary. Essentially these shops are distinguished by attention to solidarity based, artisanal and organic means of production, responding to 'ethical' and sustainable interests of customers.

Merci, located in the Marais, is a great example. Merci was created by the owners of Bonpoint, the upscale children's clothing firm. The store is designed to resemble a house, and it is a house chock full of all manner of beautiful and useful objects chosen for their adherence to principles of solidarity. There is even a florist and bookseller-café included in the mix! And, a portion of profits are donated to aid disadvantaged children. 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais, Marais. www.merci-merci.com

House of Organic is another terrific shop. International designers sell creations that are made solely of natural and nonpolluting materials. There is ready to wear, design and cosmetics included in the offerings. 7 rue Mahler, Marais. www.houseoforganic.com

Boutique Talents-Ateliers d'Art de France is a hybrid of a shop and an art gallery offering 100 plus works from 85 artists and craftsmen. 1 rue Scribe, Paris 9. www.ateliersdart.com

Happy shopping!

Sold at the Paris Soldes!

Shoppers beware!  The bi-annual Paris Sales (Soldes) are off and running.  This annual late June-July period of markdowns is to be found in boutiques both luxe and quotidian.  Sales in France are regulated and are always 'on' in January and in this summer season.  Shopping at prized stores like Hermes can resemble a rugby scrum in the early days as particularly coveted goods are snapped up early before they disappear.  The shops along the rue de Rivoli and rue St. Honore are generally jammed as are the Grands Magasins. But, don't be deterred.  If you love a particular line of fashion or accessories plunge in and score a few treasures.  Or, wait a few days and shop when the initial excitement abates a bit.  Signs in shop windows will give you an idea of the scope of the discounts available.  Bon chance.  Oh, and this season's sales run through July 28.

 

A Prime Route for Fine Teas

The rue de Lévis is the foodie street for the upscale and mostly residential 17th arrondissement. It is a splendid Paris Market Street. Excellent charcuteries, fruit and vegetable shops, boulangeries, patisseries, cafes, a fine cheese shop and..... great teas! La Route de Thé is an attractive small shop presided over by Olivier, an engaging young man with a passion for fine tea. There is an excellent collection of
'grands classiques', the renowed pure loose leaf teas from China, India, Ceylon, Nepal, Japan... all over the tea-growing world. And there are tons of choices for blended teas for any mood or time of day. I found an Oolong flavored with chestnut that I adore and plan to return for more.

Add a good selection of herbal teas, many unusual such as bamboo leaves for brewing, a range of attractive tea pots and tea pharaphernalia and you have a shop worth plotting out your best route to visit. Open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10-7:30, Sundays, 10-6. 77 rue de Lévis. Metro: Villiers.

And, just in case you buy far more than tea along this street and a picnic shapes up, the verdant Parc Monceau or the Parc de Batignolles are within an easy walk.

Paris in the Springtime...

Springtime in Paris. The stuff of song and romance. I revisited a favorite haunt, the lovely Galleries Vivienne, off the Palais Royal and the rue de Petits Champs. This 1890's era passage couvert is one of the prettiest of these historic 'shopping malls' that still remain vital in Paris. Among the shops and galleries in the passage, here are some favorites. Lucien Legrand Filles et Fils is a beautiful small worth-the-journey winebar and shop, selling regional French wines, brandys and Eau de Vies for generations. Great for a winebar lunch and for picking up a special bottle or two. Legrand's adjoining Epicerie is a sweet little store chock full of jams, mustards, candies, oils and more. Great for gifts. There are numerous wonderful one of a kind shops in the Galleries Vivienne including those focused on fashion, kids toys, art, homewares, even antique postcards. If you have the slightest interest in superb scarves and shawls be sure to visit Wolff et Descourthis to be smitten by the intricately designed and coloured silk offerings. Gorgeous is just a starting point!


Lunch can be enjoyed at Lucien Legrand, at the Bistrot Vivienne, or A Priori Thé, a cute little salon du thé that is a great stop for afternoon tea and patisserie as well.

Soaking and Scrubbing While Waiting for Spring!

Paris is home to infinite delights. Among the lesser known delights are the many Hammams, traditional 'baths' where one can steam, soak, and enjoy massage and gommage (literally scrubbing away dry skin). At the grand Mosque de Paris on the edge of the Latin Quarter you can buy a 'Forfait Orientale' which is literally a package deal that includes various treatments, plus a restorative mint tea. This hammam is not a private spa, it is within a religious center, so men and women use the baths on alternating days. You can soak nude or in a bathing suit. In any event, entering the Ali Babaesque hammam is a true tonic on cool days and balm for one's soul. Metro: Censier Daubenton. The restaurant at the Mosque is a wonderful place for couscous and tagines, plus sweet nutty patisserie.

39 rue Geoffroy St. Hilaire, Paris 5. www.la-mosquee.com

If you are looking for more of an upscale spa experience, check out Omnisens in Bercy Village in the 12th. www.omnisens.fr Bercy Village is well worth exploring for shopping and nice small restaurants. The adjacent Parc de Bercy is a verdant oasis with lovely 'garden rooms' and mature trees. Metro: Cour St. Emilion

Three Sweet Paris Spots By Women for Women is Journeywomans 2008 Travel Article of the Year!

Women traveling to Paris will enjoy my recent article "Three Sweet Paris Spots By Women For Women". These three places are all a bit off the 'beaten path' but are definitely 'vaut le voyage' as the French say. This piece was published in December on the popular women's travel website, Journeywoman, and has been chosen their 'best' women's travel story of 2008. Nice.

Here is the link: www.journeywoman.com/gfc/GreatshoppinginParis.htm

I will be taking guests to explore the wonderful Faubourg St. Antoine and also rue Levis areas noted in this article as part of my new four day Paris Off the Beaten Path tour in October. Check out http://www.yourgreatdaysinparis.com for details.