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November 18, 2009
The 27th International Festival for Environmental Film runs from November 18 – 24 at La Pagode, the left bank’s famed artsy cinema house. Thirty-six countries are represented with 104 films, so there should be something to suit every eco-leaning movie lover’s taste. The HiP Paris crew has selected a few highlights that will be screened in English.
Continue Reading »
Posted in Arts, Events, Green | No Comments »
October 16, 2009
Uninspired by the usual Monoprix, Franprix, ED, and Carrefour supermarkets in Montmartre, none of which thrill me or encourage me to buy much of anything (I prefer the small market shops on rue des Abbesses and Lepic), I was intrigued to see a new supermarket, Le Marché des Gastronomes, open its doors right across from my very own metro, Pigalle.
As soon as possible I headed on over. Continue Reading »
Posted in Food, Green, Parisian Living | 5 Comments »
October 5, 2009
Fall is here, and with that the harvest. There is no good reason that Paris dwellers need forego the delights of eating the bountiful produce found within easy reach of the city of lights. Wanting to remain local and support the neighboring economy and help reduce the negative impact on our planet of carting in food from faraway lands, I set off to find fresh produce locally grown and home delivered. A friend of mine introduced me to Le Haut du Panier and I decided to find out what it was all about. Continue Reading »
Posted in Green, Parisian Living | 2 Comments »
September 16, 2009
Super Nature’s cheeseburger. Just as the weather varies by season in Paris, so do our appetites. In spring when the city starts to heat up, we forgo bottles of deep red Cahors for glasses of rosé, we swap gateau au chocolat for seasonal fruit tarts and refreshing sorbet, and we scour local markets for the fresh fruits and vegetables that we’ve been dreaming of all winter. The city’s best restaurants shift with us, adjusting their menus seasonally (if not daily). Super Nature, one of Paris’ hottest new organic restaurants, is among those that abide by a “what’s fresh is best” policy. Continue Reading »
Posted in Food, Green, Restaurant Reviews | 2 Comments »
August 31, 2009
Photo courtesy of TimeOut.comBy Rebecca Leffler, La Fleur de Paris
As Edith Piaf once said, “Je vois la vie en Rose.” I certainly see la vie en … Rose Bakery. The bakery / eatery, co-owned by a British woman (Rose) and her husband, is a Franco-Anglo-Saxon twist on all things breakfast, lunch and brunch. Continue Reading »
Posted in Food, Green, Restaurant Reviews | 4 Comments »
August 30, 2009
Photo www. jaunted.com.Today, the last Sunday in August, people all over France will pack their bags, shutter their vacation homes, and make the voyage back home – many to Paris. In the U.S., you might picture cars stuffed to the gills with bags and family members, hours spent stuck in long traffic jams. And it’s true that there will be some of this. However, in places like Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Montpellier, Rennes, and many other cities large and small, there will also be crowded train platforms full of people waiting to board their TGV home.
The TGV, which stands for train à grande vitesse (high speed train), is hands down the best way to travel through France. People visiting from other countries with less-developed rail networks may not even think of traveling by train, but the TGV is fast, easy, comfortable, and above all, reliable. In addition, there are often discounts provided for people under the age of 26 and over the age of 60 (or for those who plan far in advance) – and it is already quite affordable to begin with. Continue Reading »
Posted in Green, Parisian Living, Travel | 1 Comment »
August 28, 2009
Although Paris isn’t quite as bike-centric as Amsterdam just yet, bicycles have definitely become the hip and green way to get around. As Sarah pointed out earlier, the now-ubiquitous Vélibs’ have converted Parisians over to the scenic joys of gliding along tree-lined boulevards as an alternative to the soul-crushing rush hour metro.
www.flickr.com/photos/16nine/2489449704But this picturesque approach to Paris isn’t just reserved for natives and those who are able to get their foreign cards to work in the Vélib’ machines. Fat Tire Tours, a bike-and-segway specific tour company, was among the first Paris-based tour groups to offer bicycle tours of the city. They are a friendly and entertaining way to see the city.
Posted in Green, Tours and Classes | 1 Comment »
August 25, 2009
Did I mention I love August in Paris? I do! It’s the best. Everything winds down and the city breathes. Here are a few images of the city of lights relaxing and enjoying. I’m taking it while it lasts; the rentrée is right around the corner and I will soon be off to enjoy fall in New England!
Sunday on the Canal St.Martin – pedestrian and so prettyPosted in Green, Parisian Living | No Comments »
August 24, 2009
Photo Erica BermanThe nice thing about Paris is that it’s small for such a major city; a lot of things you might want to see and do are within walking distance of each other. The Louvre is not far from the Marais, from which you can stroll over to the Ile St-Louis & Ile de la Cité, which in turn are just next to St-Germain, and then perhaps you might want to keep going just a bit further – possibly to the Musée d’Orsay, followed by the Eiffel Tower? All of a sudden, though the distance between one destination and the next is relatively short, you’ve walked many kilometers. Of course, it’s always nice to stop for a break at a café… but when it’s time to move on, your feet may start to object. There is always the métro – but sometimes the route is not so convenient, or it’s such a nice day you simply would prefer to remain above ground.
This is where Vélib’ comes to the rescue. Continue Reading »
Posted in Green, Parisian Living | No Comments »
February 16, 2009
Text Jen Holup
Open the infamous little red “Plan de Paris” to a map of any arrondissement, and you will be presented with pleasant green shapes on every page. Full of green spaces to discover, Paris is a veritable urban jungle.
Many of Paris’ parks are well-tred territory, beloved by both locals and tourists alike. Luxembourg Gardens is a welcome rest-stop on a journey through the bustling Latin Quarter to Montparnasse. the Champs de Mars and Jardin des Tuileries offer grandiose promenades among the city’s most impressive monuments. Yet, more than once, after packing a picnic and a book for an afternoon in the park, I have found one of the endearing “pelouse au repos” signs gracing the lawn, informing me (albeit in the charming French way) that the grass was “resting,” and thus unfit for human contact. So, where does one retreat for a picnic in the City of Lights while our flora friends recuperate? Continue Reading »
Posted in Arts, Green | No Comments »
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