Parc Floral de Paris

“Suddenly I realize
That if I stepped out of my body I would break
Into blossom.”

-from “A Blessing” by James Wright

Lake and ambitious flowers at the Parc Floral, Paris

This past weekend I stumbled into the Parc Floral. It was something of a spontaneous trip; it was not the original destination, but then it just appeared.

It seemed a bit of serendipity, too, as it had been suggested by the winner of the Quiet Paris giveaway. (Thank you everyone for entering and for your great ideas!) I’ve been to the Bois de Vincennes before, but for some reason never wandered to that part.

It was indeed quiet – an oasis! I think it may have helped that it was chilly again (witness the winter clothes in the photos) so not many people were out. Add that to the tips for finding tranquility: brave the gray and cold!

Presenting the Parc Floral de Paris

Despite the weather, I do feel as if I’m blooming again. So many new things are happening; I’m holding tight to see how things evolve.

Last week I started a new job; it’s only a short-term contract for a couple months, but I’m full time in an office again. It’s been a few years! I’m excited about the content project, but I see long days ahead. Because of course as soon as I’m back to the 9-5 I have a million creative projects clamoring for my love.

May is a great time to start work, though – there are four holidays in the month! First one is tomorrow. Vive la France!

And so, already the weekend, and what a wonderful surprise it turned out to be. I went wandering with my new beau (yes! more newness!) and think the Parc Floral may now be a favorite.

It was lovely and lush, even with full spring still lagging behind. My favorite part: the trees. At certain moments I felt as if I were in a magical forest.

There were waterfalls and waterfowl, totems and bonsai trees. Even peacocks which I never knew sound like strange distressed cats (meow!)

Quiet Paris (Giveaway!)

As if in answer to my pleas, the sun finally appeared in Paris this week. Starting Sunday, spring burst forth fully formed. The city sighed collective relief.

The long walks I alluded to last post obviously bring even more joy now.

In a bout of perfect timing, I also received a new guidebook that champions the wandering approach. The introduction to Siobhan Wall’s Quiet Paris has her musing: “walking around, I wondered whether we are now less familiar with losing our way and coming across places by benign accident rather than preordained design.”

Wall seeks the calmer side to cities, you see, places off the beaten track. Previously she has produced Quiet London and Quiet Amsterdam. But is it really possible to escape the hustle and bustle in Paris, the world’s most popular tourist destination?

I always approach anything promising a “secret” City of Light with a slice of skepticism. Luckily, this sweet little pocket guide soon swiped away any hesitation. It delivers.

While some old standbys certainly appear (the elevated leafy walkway known as the Promenade Plantee was packed this weekend, for instance; ditto, I imagine, Parc Buttes Chaumont), plenty of entries were new to me (the Musee Bourdelle in the fifteenth? The Bibliotheque Marguerite Durand devoted to French women and feminism?)

Author Siobhan Wall

After the elegant intro, the guide is divided into 12 sections: museums, libraries, parks & gardens, places to relax, places to worship, shops, restaurants, cafes, bookshops, galleries, cultural centers, and places to stay. At the end is a handy index of places by arrondissement. There are more than 120 listings in all.

L’Amour (or less…)

One of my favorite things in the world is to play matchmaker.

I’m not responsible for any romantic connections, mind you. But I have fixed up a fair number of friends. A flair for platonic pairings, if you will.

Ah, you’re interested in X? So is my friend Y. Let me introduce you two!

I love putting people together who I think might click.

Not long ago, I introduced my screenwriter/actress friend Jennifer to Alexis, a director/writer, recently moved to Paris from LA. Though I had only met Alexis once before, I knew the alchemy was right for a rendezvous. I arranged that we all go to a vernissage together. (And then eat cheeseburgers afterward. Le classe!)

Long story short, I knew Jennifer and Alexis might hit it off, but I had no idea how much. The past month they (and now a whole cast and crew!) have been hard at work on a new project.

L’Amour (or less…) is a web series that explores what happens when people from two different cultures try to make a romantic connection. Each episode features re-enactments of actual dates between expatriates and the French. Some of the true stories are charming, some are distinctly not, and some are just bizarre.

Let their video here tell you more:

Fittingly, they launched L’Amour (or less…) live in Paris on Valentine’s Day. If you want to see this web series get made, head over to their kickstarter page. They’ve written 12 episodes already, but need some funds to bring the stories to the screen. Why not show them some love?

L’Amour (or less…) kickstarter page.
And the website.

Seeing people go for it; yes this is another one of my favorite things. The idea to collaborate on L’Amour (or less…) sprouted just at the start of January; Jennifer and Alexis have been running full steam ahead ever since. In only a little over a month they’ve assembled a host of talented folks, shot all over the City of Light, and written episodes which I can’t wait to actually see. Kind of dizzying all the activity!

These two remind me: you can decide to just do it. Oh, and I’m reminded, too, of the delight of serendipity. (My favorite word). Of bringing people together. The beauty of momentum. The power of putting your all into a dream.

Now if that’s not a love story, I don’t know what is.

The Pillow Project

David Barnes of Spoken Word Paris reading while a member of the Pillow Project riffs

Hello friends,

Here’s your helping of a random (art) happening around town.

This past Tuesday The Pillow Project paid a visit to Shakespeare & Co. The Pittsburgh-based troupe plays “freejazz,” an improvisational form they describe as “using the body as the instrument playing visual notes.”

The experimental group is starting to forge deeper ties to Paris. On hand for this week’s event were members of the city’s active spoken word scene.

For non-French speakers, there’s a lot of blood and torture in the text!

Bike from London to Paris! (And Other Wild, Realizable Goals)

I haven’t heard much fanfare about it, but I recently learned that a cycling route between London and Paris opened over the summer. L’Avenue Verte is a 406 kilometer (252 mile) low- to no-traffic itinerary linking the two capitals (via the Dieppe-Newhaven ferry; they haven’t figured out biking on water yet!)

The route winds through a changing landscape of pretty villages and past picturesque chateaus. On the French side, the shortest line runs from Paris to Dieppe, with part of the trip following the old Paris-Dieppe railway line. An alternate option passes through the Oise Valley toward Chantilly and Beauvais before heading to the Normandy coast.

The British side uses small paths already in place from the National Cycle Network allowing riders easy access through the English countryside. The former railway lines on this end include the Forest Way and the Cuckoo Trail. The ferry from Dieppe to Newhaven takes about 4 hours and allows bikes (with a “bicyclette” fee).

While I’m not much of a cyclist, I like the idea of this “Green Avenue.” It also got me to thinking about how great it can be to have a goal – especially when it’s achievable! Maybe this will motivate people to say, hey, why don’t I bike from London to Paris – and then do it!

Weird News of the Week: Mimes and Paris Nightlife

At the behest of the Paris mayor’s office, squads of mimes will now be deployed in an effort to reduce the city’s nighttime noise pollution.

Um, come again?

Yes, “Pierrots de la Nuit” use street performance to encourage partiers to keep it down. Paris launched the project this past weekend.

Hmm. Here my love of quirkiness is in conflict with my discomfort/fear of clowns and mimes. I also wonder if having a mime trying to shh people might actually risk more rowdiness. I mean, it might be difficult to ignore the mime even though he or she is silent (ah, that’s power!), but might it not tap into some sort of rebellion, too?

It’s all done in good humor, of course. I’ll be interested to see how it plays out.

The following video is in French, but provides a few key visuals.

On that note, I’m off to the City that Never Sleeps for most of April. I might encounter mimes there (because you can encounter any and every thing in New York – one of the reasons I love it!), but I somehow feel safer in the knowledge that mimes aren’t yet an organized noise-reducing tactic in NYC.

Have a joyous month. If you don’t hear from me for awhile, know that it’s because I’m out exploring and enjoying my trip. (Or maybe a mime has stolen my voice!)

To read more about the “Pierrots de la Nuit” initiative, here’s the article from ARTINFO. There’s also a dedicated blog and Facebook page.

What do you think? Night mimes: good idea or childhood nightmare come true?

Swedish Gym Flashmob; Eiffel Tower as Backdrop

Why yes. That is a large group of people doing Swedish Gym exercises to the Eurythmics in front of the Eiffel Tower.

And yes. I was a part.

Saturday March 17 was not only St. Patrick’s Day. It also saw a flashmob at Trocadero sponsored by the enthusiastic gym suedoise association.

I am fond of flashmobs. A gathering organized simply to do something silly? Pourquoi poi? Random, fun, free – it fits my criteria.

Fete des Jardins + Monday Music

Fete des Jardins, Chanzy Park

This past weekend was the 15th annual Fete des Jardins in Paris, a celebration of the gardens and green spaces of the city.

I had forgotten about the festival, so was pleasantly surprised to stumble into some festivities in my small neighborhood park.

The sun has been shining gloriously the past few days. Though the pile of projects is ever beckoning, I do what must be done when the oft-hidden sun appears: go outside and bask in it. Never know when it will be sunny in Paris again!

My friend Ericka and I went to have a quick catch-up in Chanzy park. There were a few booths set up for Fete des Jardins, but nothing spectacular. After about half an hour, though, musicians started streaming in from all sides.

Then a man who looked like he had just been lolling around enjoying the weather like the rest of us jumped up – the conductor! All of a sudden we were surrounded by an orchestra.

Playing Dress Up

A few weeks ago, I noticed a Tweet from Melissa at Prete Moi Paris asking if anyone was up for a clothing swap party.

I had recently cleared out my closet in attempts to make space for my new roommate so I didn’t have much to offer. (Also, as my style favors comfy above all else I was sure no one would exactly be clamoring to get at my stuff).

I had a hunch that this was still something to go to, though. Melissa often covers fashion and I was just imagining what delightful threads she probably had. I emailed and said, I have no clothes, but I can bring food and beverages, that ok? It was. I was in.

Boy, did I luck out! It turned out to be just me, Melissa and Milla, another fashion blogger. And looky here – everything I tried on fit!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: Street Scene

Paris feels so relaxed. I still claim August as my favorite month.

Everyone (who’s still in the city) is out and about, finally enjoying the rare run of sun…including this guy:

I can’t tell you his story, only that he was good-natured in letting me take his photo.

In the brief moment of exchange I couldn’t tell whether he was homeless or just a character. Two little kids took him to be a character with that long gray beard and interesting attire and started talking to him. He jovially played the part for them.

In any case, it was almost too much to take in before he rode off again. (Is that an IV drip bag?)

And the sign in back reading poesie (poetry)? Definitely intriguing.