What is an Éclair? Enter any patisserie or boulangerie in Paris, and you will find éclairs. An éclair is a sweet French pastry – an elongated choux (puff) pastry topped with glacé icing, such as chocolate, coffee, or caramel, sliced in the middle and filled with whipped vanilla cream. Before 1850, the éclair used to be called pain à laContinue reading “What is an Éclair?”
Author Archives: MaNi
Napoléon Bonaparte’s love story
Napoléon Bonaparte’s love story. To commemorate 200 years since the death of Napoléon Bonaparte (1769-1821), Emperor Napoléon I of France, this year, I read his love story again. In 1795, at 26 years of age, before he become Emperor, Napoléon Bonaparte wrote a short story, a novella, called Clisson and Eugenie: A Love Story. The 2007 edition includes anContinue reading “Napoléon Bonaparte’s love story”
2021 Napoléon Season: bicentenary of his death
2021 Napoléon Season: bicentenary of his death. To commemorate the bicentenary–200 years–since the death of Napoléon Bonaparte (1769-1821), Emperor Napoléon I of France, there are a number of exhibitions and events under the banner of the “2021 Napoléon Season.” These include a large exhibition at La Villette in Paris on Napoleon from 14 April to 19 SeptemberContinue reading “2021 Napoléon Season: bicentenary of his death”
France’s Covid-19 ‘health pass’ mandatory on 9 August 2021
France’s Covid-19 ‘health pass’ mandatory on 9 August 2021. France has made it obligatory to show a “passe sanitaire” (health pass) – proving that you are vaccinated or have tested negative for Covid-19 – for access to public venues for more than 50 people since 21 July 2021. On 9 August, the health pass requirementContinue reading “France’s Covid-19 ‘health pass’ mandatory on 9 August 2021”
Cherry Blossoms – First-ever Damien Hirst Exhibition in France
Cherry Blossoms – First-ever Damien Hirst Exhibition in France. The Cartier Foundation in Paris has opened the first-ever exhibition in France of British artist Damien Hirst’s artworks. From 6 July 2021 to 2 January 2022, his Cherry Blossoms series will be a display – and described as ‘a celebration of colour within chaos.’ The exhibitionContinue reading “Cherry Blossoms – First-ever Damien Hirst Exhibition in France”
Animal art installations in the Luxembourg Garden, Paris
Animal art installations in the Luxembourg Garden, Paris. On 11 April 2021, the Luxembourg Garden in Paris added a new feature in its large grounds – three wooden deer statues. A week later, another art installation appeared – a group of foxes and rabbits. A few days later, yet another one appeared – wild boar.Continue reading “Animal art installations in the Luxembourg Garden, Paris”
French Women Painters 1780-1830: The Birth of a Battle
French Women Painters 1780-1830: The Birth of a Battle. The Luxembourg Museum in Paris, France, is holding an exhibition called “Women Painters 1780-1830: The Birth of a Battle” until 4 July 2021. The women are all French painters. The exhibition covers half a century, from the pre-Revolutionary years to the Restoration, and features about 70Continue reading “French Women Painters 1780-1830: The Birth of a Battle”
Imaginary magazine The Parisianer captures the Chronicles of the Natural History Museum in Paris
Imaginary magazine The Parisianer captures the Chronicles of the Natural History Museum in Paris. People the world over have seen the cover of The New Yorker magazine in America, even if they have never opened a copy to read. The magazine, launched in 1925, focuses on the cultural life of New York, and each week anContinue reading “Imaginary magazine The Parisianer captures the Chronicles of the Natural History Museum in Paris”
The Little Prince Love Letters – Consuelo and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The Little Prince Love letters – Consuelo and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Today, on Thursday 6 May 2021 the love letters of The Little Prince author, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, and his wife Consuelo, will be published in France. More than 160 love letters and telegrams will be published in addition to their sketches and photographs. French aviator AntoineContinue reading “The Little Prince Love Letters – Consuelo and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry”
French architects Lacaton & Vassal – thoughtful and respectful approach to apartment living
French architects Lacaton & Vassal – thoughtful and respectful approach to apartment living. In April 2021, French architects Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal were announced the winners of the prestigious 2021 Pritzker Prize, called the Nobel of Architecture. Together, Lacaton and Vassal design low-impact homes and public buildings based upon natural ecological responses to current livingContinue reading “French architects Lacaton & Vassal – thoughtful and respectful approach to apartment living”