A Taste of France in STL: Bissinger's Handcrafted Chocolatier

Enjoying Bissinger's drinking chocolate with Georgianna Lane's Paris in Bloom

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Bissinger's has been a St. Louis name since the 1920s. I first learned of the company's connection to France on a factory tour a few summers back. A quick plug: tours are FREE and an awesome experience if you are here in St. Louis (or if you're ever visiting!). Click here for more information on booking a tour. The day we went, Grain Inc. happened to be shooting a promotional video. You can see me suited up in the official tour outfit, enjoying some delectable chocolates around 1:49.

Now back to that French connection. You can read the full story of Bissinger's on their site. The company can be traced back to 17th century France, and "according to accounts passed down from generation to generation, Bissinger’s confections were a delicacy among notable names such as Napoleon Bonaparte and the Rothschilds, and the family was even granted the title of Confiseur Imperial (Confectioner of the Empire) by King Louis XIV."

In Tuesday's post I mentioned wanting to enjoy a cup of their drinking chocolate, and it may have happened sooner than later. Tuesday afternoon I made my way to Bissinger's Handcrafted and savored every last decadent sip. The sea salt flakes that topped the thick and creamy drink were the perfect compliment to the rich chocolate... an Angelina-esque moment right here in St. Louis. 

Just a quick sweet treat to kick off your weekend. :)

Warm wishes from me to you

and bon weekend,

FdSTL First Day of Christmas: A Croissant in a Christmas Tree

Bonjour readers! 

It's been un moment and I am overjoyed to be back to the Fleur de St. Louis community. Vous m'avez manqué. I just love this French expression that literally translates to "you have been missing from me". In the almost month that has passed since I've posted, not a day has gone by that I haven't thought about this blog. In the midst of studying seven French novels/films as I work toward my bachelor's degree in French, my teaching career, and everything that life has brought in between, I needed to take a moment to be gracious with myself. More progress in some areas meant less progress in others, but I'm coming to the understanding that this is OK. I have arrived at a moment where I can turn my attention back to sharing all things with a little French flair and I am truly in my happy place. And in the time I've been away, I've also been planning a little treat: a Fleur de St. Louis 12 Days of Christmas series to enjoy each day as December 25 draws near. 

Here we are, December 14, the official "first day of Christmas". A partridge in a pear tree... a croissant in a Christmas tree... get it? :) Just a little taste of what you can expect over the next twelve days of this holiday season, and I am so full of excitement for all of the French flair I have to share! 

Now, back to that croissant. At the beginning of November, I spent a weekend in Chicago with my mom, French style bien sûr! It was on this trip that I laid eyes on the most adorable croissant ornament and I just knew it had to hang on my tree. It was also on this trip that I enjoyed one of my favorite croissants in the Midwest: the almond croissant at Chicago's authentic French bakery, La Fournette. Let's be real. With croissants, what's not to love? It's flaky layers of buttery goodness all rolled up in the perfect little viennoiserie present. I'll be the first to admit, I'm a little croissant crazy, and I'm totally good with it. 

Click here to listen to one of my favorite French teachers, Carrie Anne of French is Beautiful, pronounce this lovely French word. (Here she is talking about a specific type of croissant, the pain au chocolate, but she says croissant at about 7 seconds.) Don't you just love the way it rolls of the tongue? Croissant. Oh so French.

Here in St. Louis, Comme à la Maison (authentically French) and La Pâtisserie Chouquette are my croissant go-to's. In Paris, Tony and I enjoyed croissants at Claus, Angelina, Coquelicot, and Télescope. I can't honestly tell you which one I liked best - I was so giddy to be in PARIS that everything tasted quite incredible. That said, I would love to do croissant tasting justice the next time I am in Paris just like Rebecca Plotnick of Every Day Parisian. Here is her list of the best croissants, and I think Du Pain et Des Idées will be my first croissant stop the next time I'm in the city of light. While you are checking out Rebecca's blog, be sure to stop by her shop where she sells beautiful photography including this mouthwatering croissant print. 

A croissant at La Fournette

 A croissant at La Pâtisserie Chouquette

 A croissant (and brioche) at Comme à la Maison

For more croissant inspired gifts, check out this list below:
Phone Case
Art Print
Croissant Necklace (I've had my eye on this ever since I saw it on a store clerk in Copenhagen...) 

(My phone case and an adorable scarf I picked up at Sept Cinq in Paris)

Who knew I had so much to say about croissants?! Do you have a favorite croissant in France and/or in your hometown? I would love to hear from you in the comments below. I'm always interested in adding to my list, wherever my travels may take me. 

I look forward to seeing you back tomorrow for Fleur de St. Louis' second day of Christmas. If you like what you're reading, be sure to subscribe so that each new post will arrive in your inbox for you to enjoy!

I am so so happy to be back.

Warm wishes from me to you,

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La Critique du Film: Lost in Paris

(Click image for source)

This past Sunday was a wrap on the 26th Annual Whitaker Saint Louis International Film Festival here in St. Louis, Missouri. It has been a goal of mine to take advantage of French films showing in my area, and I am thankful that this festival provided that opportunity. While I wish I could have seen more than one film (I had my eye on Back to Burgundy), Lost in Paris was absolument charmant! 

Before the film as I munched on my Toblerone (Toblerone and a Diet Coke... my movie going traditions...), I struck up a conversation with an elderly gentleman sitting behind me. He was interested in my experience with the French language, a passion I am always ready to discuss. After the film he said, "I'm sorry you didn't get very much French." While Lost in Paris is set in the city of lights, main character Fiona is an English speaking Canadian with limited French. While viewers definitely had the opportunity to hear French, English or a lack of dialogue were equally as present in this film.

Language aside, I will always delight in the opportunity to see Paris in all of its beauty, and the storyline of this Dominique Abel and Fiona Gordon film offered some wonderful insights.  In the film, Fiona travels to Paris after receiving a letter from her Aunt Martha (who had followed her dream to move from Canada to Paris when Fiona was a child). And just as the title suggests, when Fiona arrives in Paris she is lost. Very lost. I laughed out loud when Fiona asked a Parisian café server for directions. After many steps (go straight here, take the metro to this stop, then switch lines, then go left for a while, then go right...) he ended with "and from there you'll have to ask."  While humorous, I couldn't help but compare this scene to life and the constant journey that seems clear at times, only to become confusing again at others.

Lost in Paris showed that on this winding life journey, it's important to find someone to stand by your side, whether that be friends, family, or a romantic companion. It is also, as Aunt Martha demonstrates, incredibly important to live life in a manner that best suits your dreams and the truest version of you, even if others may disagree. It is in this way that we can strive to achieve a full and contented life. 

In the spirit of this message, my new friend (the gentleman I mentioned above) wished me a happy life on my way out of the theatre. A beautiful moment after a delightful film. :) 

If you have the opportunity to see Lost in Paris in a theatre near you, I think you will very much enjoy it. I am also interested in viewing another Dominique Abel and Fiona Gordon film, The Fairy. Audience members were raving about it before Lost in Paris began. 

Do you have a favorite film en français? I am always interested in recommendations, so let me know in the comments below! 

Merci, as always, for stopping by.

Warmest of wishes from me to you,

rêver v. faire

Bonjour readers, and bon dimanche! I am very contente to be here with you this morning. :)

I'm hoping to make up for a slow Fleur de St. Louis week last week with some fun posts in the coming weeks so stay tuned and check in when you can! 

In today's post, I am going to use two French verbs: rêver and faire. 

rêver - to dream - ("rev" like revving up an engine + "ay") - Try saying it with me: rêver

faire - to do - (just like if you were going to a fair) - Try saying it with me: faire

Dreaming v. doing. A concept very much at the heart of Fleur de St. Louis. How easy it is to dream of something wonderful off in the future without actually doing anything to achieve it in the present moment. 

A few weeks ago I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts, Happier. In the episode hosts Gretchen and Elizabeth were describing the concept of a virtual move. A listener wrote in and posed a very interesting question:

"If you could plan a virtual move, where would you move to? Would you choose somewhere with ever nice weather or seasons? Would you switch jobs? What activities or hobbies might you like to pick up in your new home? Would you want an apartment our a house?...In asking all these questions, you might find some things you'd like to change about your current life and if that's the case, why not do it right now in your current life?...We often wait for big catalysts to make life changes, but instead we should recognize that we are in charge of our own lives and happiness so we have the power to make any changes we want to in our lives."

In summary, why just rêver when you can faire? (I know my "franglais" or French + English is a little funny here but I think you get the idea.) 

I spend so much time dreaming of what my life would be like if I lived in Paris... my little clutter free, Parisian chic apartment, my slowed down pace, my leisurely walks in beautiful parks, my long and calm afternoons enjoying a coffee and people watching at a café... It's pure bliss. This is my happy place. 

But then I got to thinking. Why do these beautiful visions have to be dreams off in the future and just out of reach? Just as the listener suggested on the podcast, what can I do now to be in charge of my own happiness, to make the changes I want in my life right here where I am (even though I admit that I will still have dreams of Paris... it's unavoidable... for me Paris is pure magic). 

That said, I can absolutely make these things a part of my every day right here and right now. I spent yesterday trying this out. That dream of a leisurely stroll in a beautiful Parisian park? I can see one of the most beautiful parks in St. Louis from my bedroom window, yet I spend more time dreaming of Paris parks than I do taking advantage of those lovely walks right here. Yesterday I decided to faire. Tree lined paths with fall colors emerging? Views of beautiful historic architecture? Even a lone scattered chair (I'll explain why this caught my eye in a moment...)? It was all right here in my backyard. 

(Walking the trail at Forest Park in St. Louis)

 (Stunning view of the St. Louis Art Museum built for the 1904 World's Fair)

(When I saw this chair on the golf course I couldn't help but think of the scattered green chairs I saw in Paris' Jardin du Luxembourg and Jardin du Palais Royal.)

After my time in the park, I walked down to our neighborhood coffee shop (Kaldi's) where I sat outside enjoying the beautiful fall weather with a wonderful friend. There, I gave myself permission to slow down and savor the quality time she and I had together. Our conversation was rich and I spent my walk home to our little apartment (that is just as adorable as one we might have in Paris...) feeling connected and refreshed. 

It is so easy to rêver without the faire, to believe that you could have the life you dream of if only _____ (you fill in the blank). But maybe, just maybe, the life you dream of has been right in front of you all along if only you paused and reframed your thinking in order to see it.

What can you do today to turn your rêver into faire? Revel in the opportunity to discover what it is you seek right where you are in this moment.

Merci de mon coeur, thank you from my heart, for stopping by today on your Sunday. As I mentioned at the top of the post, stay tuned for more content with a little French flair. I've got a book review and more on the absolutely beautiful French language coming your way.

Warm wishes from me to you,

Inspiration de la semaine (inspiration of the week):

⚜A podcast with a little French flair, The Earful Tower with Oliver Gee is one any francophile should definitely check out!

⚜This week I have been reading this lovely Paris inspired book. Click the cover to learn more.

⚜Sling offers a French TV package that I am very excited about! I haven't yet subscribed but it is absolutely something I am looking into as a resource to continue to strengthen my French. 

A Taste of France in STL: Nathaniel Reid Bakery

I was already out and about on this sunny Monday morning, so it made sense to make my way to Nathaniel Reid for fresh pastries and coffee. Not that I really needed an excuse other than the fact that right here in St. Louis, MO we have the great pleasure of enjoying delectable pastries from internationally recognized pastry chef Nathaniel Reid. 

(Nathaniel Reid Bakery, 11243 Manchester Rd, St. Louis, MO 63122)

Reid is a graduate of Paris' Le Cordon Bleu. Talk about a Paris connection! In an interview with St. Louis' own Feast Magazine, he describes the design of the bakery, highlighting the windows that allow customers to watch the pastry chefs in action. He mentions the reward of seeing customer reactions as they enter the space, and I can attest to Reid's genuine joy in this as he personally came to the counter to wish me a good morning and thank me for coming in. 

Now to share what I picked up this morning. I was standing before the glorious case of delectables incredibly conflicted. Chocolate croissant or almond croissant? Then what should appear before my eyes but a chocolate almond croissant! The best of both worlds! I chose one of these beauties for today's breakfast and grabbed a traditional croissant for later (I think I'll use it to make a ham and cheese sandwich for lunch). And to share with my fiancé? A Ruby (raspberry tea, chocolate mousse, raspberries) which reminded me of the artfully made delicacies we saw behind the cases in Paris' very own pâtisseries just a few weeks ago. 

I rounded out my Parisian morning by pairing Nathaniel Reid's chocolate almond croissant with Lauren Collins' When in French, allowing myself to travel to France right in my own living room. This buttery, flaky, melt in your mouth croissant that was bursting with flavor transported me if only for a moment. :) 

You already know what I am going to say. If you are a fellow St. Louisan allez! Go to Nathaniel Reid bakery, right now if you can! But in all seriousness, we are very fortunate to have this wonderful treat, and I highly recommend a visit the next time you are out and about town and find yourself craving a little taste of France right here in STL. 

Warm wishes and bon appétit from me to you,

Passez une bonne semaine! Have a wonderful week!

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A Taste of France in STL: Brasserie by Niche

French bistro chairs and un café on the sidewalk, on a Sunday morning in summer. What could be more Parisian? St. Louis's Brasserie by Niche is, as I described to Tony over brunch, a little slice of Paris in STL. Our Sunday plans included brunch at Brasserie followed by the Central West End Home & Garden tour, where we explored St. Louis homes dating as far back as 1892. But first, rejoignez-nous pour le brunch! 

Tony and I often choose Brasserie for special occasions including birthdays and anniversaries, but we will make any excuse. ;-) Brasserie's dinner menu includes many classically French dishes including gougères, soupe à l'oignon, and croque madame. They recently began serving le déjeuner, too (lundi à vendredi)! The brunch menu (served samedi et dimanche) is full of deliciously sweet treats. I'm a total sweet tooth, but there are of course savory options if that is your thing! We ordered deux cafés, the brioche french toast, and sweet beignets (with housemade fresh cheese and dried plum compote - I know, right?! It's as good as you're imagining...). I also got a grapefruit brûlée on the side. Absolument délicieux! 

As I sipped my coffee and made a beautiful mess of powdered sugar with my beignets, I was giddy with the excitement of spending a summer morning this very same way IN PARIS!!! (Countdown: just over two weeks.) I am also so happy to know that when Paris is not the reality, I can enjoy a little taste right here at home grâce à Brasserie. 

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And now for a bonus peek at the Central West End's neighborhood charms. As you are likely aware, I am always on the lookout for the fleur de lis, a symbol that represents France and my hometown which has some French history and is named after Louis IX of France. The fleur de lis was out in abundance on Sunday. Here are some of the images I captured:

I love that you can see the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis off in the distance, another one of the city's gems. I also spotted the Tricolore flying proudly alongside the U.S. flag at this beautiful Central West End home.

If you are are a St. Louisan longing for a taste of France but France must wait, add Brasserie by Niche to your list. It is possibly my favorite restaurant in the city. For other tastes of France in STL, be sure to check out my previous posts:

⚜City Coffee House and Crêperie in Clayton

⚜La Pâtisserie Chouquette in Tower Grove

⚜Comme à la Maison {Like Home} in Grand Center

Stay up to date on French spots and happenings in STL by clicking on my France in STL tab at the top of the home page! As always, merci beaucoup for stopping by. 

Warm wishes from me to you and bon appétit! 

La Critique du Film: Paris Can Wait

Anne (Diane Lane) and Jacques (Arnaud Viard) pull off a French countryside road in their broken down Peugeot convertible. Anne is worrying about this problem and how they are going to fix it. Jacques interjects - "But look where we are in the beautiful countryside. Let's have a picnic!" I love the way he sees beauty and opportunity in a moment of misfortune. This is one piece of inspiration I took from Eleanor Coppola's film Paris Can Wait (now playing in local theatres). 

I know, we can't all expect to have a pre-packed picnic abundant with bread, wine and French cheeses at the ready when our car breaks down in the picturesque French countryside. We can, however, choose to see the beauty in every moment. We can choose to make the best of a situation rather than wallow in worry and frustration. 

Paris Can Wait is all about moments and small details. Anne's camera accompanies her from Cannes to Paris, and she takes time to stop and capture beauty in unexpected places, from unexpected perspectives. Jacques is a spokesman for beautiful things. He fills the backseat of the convertible with fragrant roses, orders stunning meals and wines, and never cuts corners when it comes to anything chocolate. 

Anne's journey teaches her that she deserves to be happy, to be playful, to follow her intuition, to go off the beaten path, and to savor a rose faite de chocolat. We all deserve happiness, and taking the time to notice beauty in all of life's circumstances can lead us there. That beauty need not be as extravagant as a five star meal or a tour of the French countryside. There is beauty in time spent with a loved one, the sun on your face, a warm cup of coffee, a wonderful book, or the scent of something delicious as it bakes in the oven. 

Find a matinée showing in a theatre near you, and discover joy in a $5 visit to the French countryside with Anne and Jacques. This is a lovely, light hearted film that will have you thinking of all of the beautiful things in life that bring you happiness. :)

Warm wishes from me to you,

Celebrating Two Months and Summer at Fleur de St. Louis!

Time flies when you're working on something you love. Today marks two months here at Fleur de St. Louis. I could not be more proud of what's been built and what is to come. Just like I did after one month, I am going to take some time to tell you what I've learned. And if you continue reading to the end, I've got a special surprise in store! First off, ce que j'ai appris pendant le deuxième mois:

Sometimes you have to be OK with not following the plan. When I started Fleur de St. Louis I set a goal to post a minimum of two times a week. I thought I would always have a Wellness Wednesday and a Francophile Friday. While this plan gave me guidance in the beginning, I've been finding that it doesn't always fit with what I'm inspired to write about in the moment. I'm glad the plan got me going, but I'm equally as glad that I've allowed myself to change as I learn and grow. 

You can learn about opportunities you never knew existed if you just put yourself out there. Each time I go to a new French spot in STL, I let them know that I am a blogger and ask permission to take photographs for my posts. A few weeks ago at Comme à la Maison I was approached by Susanne who had overheard me asking. She was interested in the blog and shared with me that she was a member of an organization, Les Amis, that promotes "education, preservation, and awareness of French Creole heritage and culture in the Mid-Mississippi River Valley." I have always known that I wanted to explore French history here in St. Louis and in Missouri. My boyfriend and I are now joining Les Amis and I am excited for new opportunities to learn and become involved in my community. 

When you are trying something new, you probably won't get it right the first time, and that's OK! Posting my creative work has given me some new and exciting opportunities, one of which I began to work on with enthusiasm only to find that it wasn't turning out how I wanted it to. I will be honest, I panicked. I felt embarrassed. Then a very wise woman asked: "So you aren't happy with it. Then what happened?" The answer is nothing. I simply needed to step away, get myself into a better mindset, and return. Part of changing my mindset involved me asking myself, "What am I not happy with, and what tools do I need to grow so that I can move closer to the outcome I desire?" Let me tell you, this approach did a whole lot more for me than the panicked/embarrassed approach. I still have plenty of growing to do, but I am happy to be on the journey. 

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And now for a fun summer treat! To say merci for being a part of this community, for believing in my passions, and most of all for pursuing your own, I'm planning a summer of Fleur de St. Louis giveaways! Each giveaway will match my mission here at Fleur de St. Louis: to allow wellness, learning & creativity to flourish. June will be centered around creativity. 

One lovely reader will receive a box with a few of my favorite bullet journal extras delivered right to their door! This is my way of saying merci for reading, for continuing to stop by, for e-mailing and commenting and sharing so much love... and to spread the mission of Fleur de St. Louis which is to pursue your passions and live a life you love. 

To enter, follow me on Instagram @fleurdestlouis. Watch out for a giveaway post in the next few days, and comment with your name and what brought you to the Fleur de St. Louis community. I cannot wait to continue to connect with you!

Merci beaucoup beaucoup and warm wishes from me to you,

A Taste of France in STL: Comme à la Maison {Like Home}

As I continue my exploration of the various tastes of France in St. Louis, I could not wait to check out one of our newest pâtisseries, Comme à la Maison {Like Home}. Clemence Pereur, chef pâtissier and chocolatier, made her way to St. Louis from France to become the assistant pastry chef at the St. Louis Club. She then decided to follow her passions and open her very own pâtisserie in Grand Center (read more of her story here). Comme à la Maison truly lives up to its name. I felt so at home as I sat munching pastries (a croissant and a brioche au sucre) and sipping coffee. Several hours passed in the blink of an eye. I can see this being a regular spot for me to read, work on the blog, and have coffee dates with friends. 

It was a cloudy Saturday morning when I approached the the brightly painted corner shop (Vandeventer and McPherson for my fellow St. Louisans). Already it had brought a little sunshine to my day. As I entered I was greeted warmly and helped promptly. As I waited for my coffees and pastries, I peered through the glass window behind the counter and watched Christine and Patrice (Clemence's parents) baking fresh pastries for the day. All pastries at Like Home are made daily with love. As I paid at the register, I was delighted to grab an Eiffel Tower key chain, complémentaire! Each detail at Like Home is so well thought out. Check out some of the beautiful images I captured below: 

As I sat at my shiny white mid century modern table on a brightly colored molded plastic chair, I took in the truly sweet atmosphere. Comme à la Maison is painted in a sunny yellow that is complemented by a calming blue. It is complete with a homey sofa and chairs, and a bookshelf full of French pastry magazines. I can't wait to go back and spend some time with these as another way to practice my French. Speaking of practicing my French, Christine and Patrice took the time to speak with me en français. I told them my story and my mission at Fleur de St. Louis. I told them about my summer trip to Paris and asked them for any advice (they are from just outside of Paris). I am eager to check out their suggestions, one of which was L'Éclair de Génie. One just so happens to be located near our hotel! 

My experience at Comme à la Maison was complètement parfaite! I will be returning this week as Patrice offered to give me his card should we have any questions while visiting Paris this summer. Christine and Patrice's passion and friendly nature radiated. I cannot wait to meet Clemence as I am sure she will be the same. :) If you are looking to bring a little sunshine into your day and find a home away from home, visit Comme à la Maison. I think you will adore your experience! 

Warm wishes and happy Monday from me to you,

For more tastes of France in STL, check out my other posts in the series:

*Demun Oyster Bar Farmer's Market

*Au Café, Au Musée

*La Pâtisserie Chouquette

*Spectacle and Leisure in Paris (Degas to Mucha)

A Taste of France in STL: Spectacle and Leisure in Paris (Degas to Mucha)

(Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec - Click here for the image source.)

It's Tuesday afternoon, and in the midst of this busy week I am stealing a moment to write because I've been missing it. Sometimes it can be wonderful to miss something. It just goes to show how much joy this blog brings me (and I hope to you too). 

Last week I was having coffee with a friend who asked if I'd heard about the current exhibit at Washington University's Kemper Art Museum. While I am usually in the know when it comes to all things French in STL, this one had slid under my radar. Saturday I was out and about meeting a friend for coffee (it's a favorite activity) and running errands. I realized Kemper was on my route, and decided to make a stop for yet another artistic taste of France in STL. St. Louis is so incredibly lucky to have many wonderful museums. If you live here, taking advantage is a must (and most are free!). 

Spectacle and Leisure in Paris: Degas to Mucha was a camera free exhibit, so I will do my best to paint a picture of what I saw and learned for you here. Featuring works by Edgar Degas, Alphonse Mucha, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, this exhibit highlighted a moment in Parisian history when work weeks shortened, leisure was of high value, and the arts & entertainment scene boomed (1870-1940). While Degas and Mucha created works inspired by the ballet, opera, and theatre, the Lumière brothers experimented with film. All of these images played a pivotal role in Parisian culture during this period. 

(A scene from An American in Paris (1951)- Click here for the image source.)

As I explored the gallery, I conjured up images of Gene Kelly in An American in Paris (1951) selling his paintings in bustling Montmartre. While the setting of this film dates a little later than the period featured in this exhibit, I couldn't help but think about how what started during Degas and Mucha's time inspired much of the Parisian culture we know and love today. Street culture mattered then as it does now. People walking past Morris columns would be entranced by the colorful and eye catching posters of Toulouse-Lautrec and Mucha. They would be drawn not only to forms of entertainment, but also to products promising an enhanced life. The exhibit explained that the women portrayed in these works were meant to express "carefree states of beauty and abundance", both of which aligned well with the desire for a more leisurely pace and enjoyable life. 

(Alphonse Mucha - Click here for the image source.)

  

While Paris is beautiful in it's architecture, monuments, history, baked goods, and spring blooms, it is the people, the creativity, and the passion for quality both in products and in life that further enhance the city's beauty. In her book The Only Street in Paris, Elaine Sciolino beautifully describes her life on the Rue des Martyrs. It is the people (the green grocer, the fromageur, the café and shop owners) that give the street and neighborhood it's color and life. I love the way that every day life, leisure, art, and entertainment come together in Paris to form une très belle vie indeed. 

Can you imagine if this Paris did not exist? In a shocking twist, I also viewed a documentary with my boyfriend last week called Citizen Jane: Battle for the City. This film highlights the life and work of Jane Jacobs, an author an activist who believed strongly that it is the people who truly make cities what they are. In the film, they discussed a plan in the 1920s to demolish a part of Paris and modernize it, making it clean and "pure". See a model of that plan below.

(Click here for the image source.)

I can't imagine this Paris, and I am grateful that the vitality that existed in Paris' people and streets during Degas and Mucha's time remains today. To me, this is Paris at its purest. 

Learning about Paris through the lenses of art and history are some of my favorite ways to get to know the city more. If you are in St. Louis and you have the time, definitely check out Spectacle and Leisure in Paris: Degas to Mucha. It only runs through this Sunday (5/21/17), but why not make a Friday afternoon, Saturday morning, or Sunday afternoon of it? If you go on Saturday, it wouldn't be too far out of your way to stop in for a pastry at La Pâtisserie Chouquette and truly experience France for a day right here in our home town. :) 

Warm wishes for the rest of your week and beyond,