One of the latest hot items in the Paris food and wine world, Au Passage has been garnering more than a bit of blogger buzz lately. It also just snagged the 2012 Prix Fooding d’amour, confirming its status as Paris’ newest foodie darling.  In the evenings, this low-key wine bar and tapas joint is jam packed with patrons partaking in small plates of munchies, various wines by the bottle and a bit of respectably rowdy foodie fun. Things take a different turn at noon with the (thankfully) limited lunch menu: one entrée, two choices of mains, one cheese, one dessert.  With kitchen talent coming from Spring and Le Verre Volé and carefully selected market-fresh fare, this spot is turning out some seriously savory meals.  I stopped in recently with three other food and drink-minded bloggers  ( Kasia/Love in the City of Lights, Caroline/Sweet Caroline in Paris and Erica/HiP Paris) to see how the lunch stacks up to the hype.

Mid-day ambiance:

Kasia: The decor takes simplicity and minimalism to a new level of chic.

Erica: This is my kind of place. Laid back and casual. Wood, red paint, bistro chairs, parquet floors, hipster servers and chalk board menus. Unpretentious and fun.

Caroline:  I LOVE the old leather chairs, and appreciate the great mix of comfy seating, proper tables, and bar stools.

Forest: At lunchtime, it’s filled to (and sometimes beyond) capacity with local business owners and loyal fans trekking from across town to check out the latest lunch menu in a laid-back, bric-a-brac ambiance.

Lunch Menu:

Kasia: Presentation is creative and refined; flavors are fresh and plentiful. Wines to compliment.

Erica: Short, sweet, and to the point. Fresh, pretty, and tasty. The sheer opposite of standard American menus with endless possibilities.

Caroline: Yum! Light, fresh, market-friendly, sustainable, seasonal choices. All of my favorite words. And, well, the wine…

Forest:  Seafood is always perfectly cooked, and the staff is not afraid to forgo easy wine pairing options to offer interesting and appropriate suggestions.

Quality/Price ratio

Kasia:  Utmost quality for the lunch prix fixe.

Erica: From 9€50 – 19€. From just a main to a four course meal. A deal in my book, and a delicious one at that.

Caroline: Here’s the kicker–the lunch deal is an amazing value. Go for lunch. Just do it. Now.

Forest: Best lunch deal in town, hands down.

Neighborhood:

Kasia: Discreetly hidden down an alleyway in the 10th, a destination in itself.

Erica: Funky, hip and off the beaten track, but not too far off. Just close enough to the Merci store for a quick pop-in after a meal and a stroll on to the Marais from there.

Caroline: Ok, I may be biased, but this is one of my favorite ‘hoods in Paris these days (no, I don’t live there). Convenient from Republique & Bastille, but still on a quiet passage. What more could you ask for?

Forest: With neighbors like Grazie, Candelaria and l’Entree des Artistes, the area is fast becoming a foodie favorite while still retaining its own sketchily quirky feel.

Desert: Chocolate ganache with figs and hazlenuts

Au Passage: 1bis passage Saint Sébastien – 75011 Paris  - +33 (0)1.43.55.07.52

Open: Mon 11am – 1am, Tue – Fri 11am – 2pm, Saturday 6pm-2am

Related links:

• Kim from I Heart Paris also visits Au Passage
• If you like Au Passage, you may also like L’Office
• For more delicious Paris restaurant choice

A peek at the dinner menu

Compiled by Forest Collins for the HiP Paris blog. All photos Erica Berman. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

Soon after arriving in Paris, I was approached by an older man at a cafe. With my blond hair and toothy grin, I was clearly a foreigner and at 29, a still-prime target. He asked if he could join me. “Actually, I am engaged,” I said, a fact I was very excited about just weeks after becoming betrothed.

“But zees is nuh-sing in France,” he replied with a sly grin. Nothing? I was shocked.

Thomas Mueller / Celine Willard

I had, of course, heard how forward French men could be. Tales of infidelity in France are legendary and I naively assumed I had encountered a world-class lothario. But I knew nothing then about the French art of la seduction and how what might seem like a come-on to a young American can actually be a benign and entertaining part of the game of life à la Française.

Kallie Brynn

I soon realized that flirting in France is central to the way men and women relate to each other. Good natured flirtation is expected and welcomed, assuming one follows the rules of discretion and good taste, bien sûr.

After nearly four years in Paris, here are a few things I’ve learned.

Flirting is fun: Men and women here view “le flirting” as a normal and deeply enjoyable part of daily life. It is a skill to be deployed in all situations – from casual supermarket encounters to exchanges with grumpy fonctionnaires – that can often assist in getting what you want. It can be as simple as holding eye contact for an extra beat or receiving a discreet nod of approval on the street. Much of it centers around light-hearted banter – the ability to engage in witty repartee and deliver a smart remark at just the right moment. Once mastered, the Parisian game of flirtation can be yet one more pleasure added to the day.

Gael Sagueton

The French admire beauty: French women work hard to look attractive and expect that men will notice (although they may or may not return their attention). Men, for their part, feel it’s their job to admire women and to express their appreciation – and not just to women under thirty. As one male French friend put it, “I meet eyes with a woman to acknowledge her beauty, whether it is present or past. If the look is returned, it may be appropriate to speak, but that is never taken for granted.”

Not just for singles: Single American men and women flirt at parties, bars and clubs (and online and via text, so I’ve heard.) Married people do not flirt at all unless they’re scumbags who routinely cheat (or want to cheat) on their spouses, right?

Dave Bloom

Not so in Paris. At a dinner party a few years ago, I watched a French friend flirt openly with my husband. We were seated with a large group and all enjoying multiple verres de vin. I watched (glared?) across the table as she laughed at his jokes, touched his arm, even talked about how “beau” he is. Hmm.

Being a loyal gentleman (often unaware of his own charms), he was flattered by her attention but claimed not to really notice. “Flirting with me?” he said when we got home. “No waaaay….” It was only later, after coming to understand the French, that I realized her gestures were quite harmless – a normal part of male/female rapport.

Dave Bloom

As time goes on, I figure, why not enjoy a little attention and appreciation from a stranger? That little frisson of pleasure that comes from a playful exchange can enhance the joy of daily life and even add a spark to your own relationship.

Provided it doesn’t go too far (unless that’s the point, of course) I say, vive le flirting. As a French friend explained it, “The French are always trying to seduce everyone. It’s just for ‘le fun!’”

• Amy Thomas is plotting a way to live in Paris!
• Our very own Tory gets more than flirted with!
• Love in the City of Lights and 10 golden rules to live by

Fashionable shoes on rainy Paris streets (Christophe Hue)

I spent most of November in Paris, and while it was a delight, I think I can count the number of times I saw the sun on one hand. Soon after my arrival, an out-of-nowhere hail storm reminded me of how fickle Parisian weather can be. (It was kind of awesome, but my Repetto’s were not amused).

Nonetheless, Parisians don’t let a little precipitation put a damper on their preening. On the contrary, a little inclement weather affords them the opportunity to show off their slick rainy-day style. So while we may dream of owning various classic wardrobe staples, it makes sense to start with some good-looking rain gear. If you’re spending the winter in Paris, you’ll need it.

Ladies waiting in the rain, with red umbrellas (John Oxley)

The umbrella. Absolutely non-negotiable—do not leave home without it. Cheap models can be found at any Monoprix, and department stores like Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, BHV and Bon Marché offer a wide range. If you’re feeling super fancy, splurge on a gorgeous artisan umbrella from Michel Heurtault.

The trench coat. From high-end classics (Burberry) to more modern adaptations (A.P.C., Comptoir des Cotonniers), nearly every French brand offers some version of this classic look.

Rain boots. Many Parisians pull on stylish boots by Hunter or Aigle to navigate slippery cobblestones, but cheaper versions are available at sports purveyor Decathlon.

Reflection in the Rain in Paris (Christophe Hue)

The scarf. In France, a scarf-less neck is a very sad neck indeed, especially in the rain.

Dark colors. Black, gray, navy. Not only are they flattering, but they’ll hide the sludge that accumulates on your pants over the course of a rainy Parisian day.

The hat. Parisians really do wear berets—and hats of all shapes, for that matter. Try hitting up stores dedicated to the art of hat-making (chapelleries) for various styles, or hit Kiliwatch for great vintage finds.

Metro tickets. Good luck finding a taxi in the rain!

Related Links:

• The Latest Look at Do It In Paris
• On the Street: Rain Walking in Paris (The Sartorialist)
• Paris Gray (Little Brown Pen)
• Eight Paris Essentials and Why You Need Them (by Hip Paris)

Written by Tory Hoen for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

Hearts and love around Paris for Valentine’s Day (clockwise from top left, Paris in Pink, Elisa Dudkinova, Paris in Pink, Phil Moore)

The dream of every girl, particularly on Valentine’s Day, is to be swept away by a Prince Charming, into a setting of eternal sunsets and romantic interludes. Does such a fairytale really exist? Not exactly. But for everyone there does exist a unique love story. It’s simply a matter of time. And meeting the right Prince.

Needless to say, I never stopped believing in fairytales.

A traffic light turned heart in the Marais and the silhouette of a kiss in a park (Dimitri Papazimouris, Celine Aussourd)

I met my ‘Prince’ one late March afternoon in New York City, very fittingly on the corner of Prince Street. It was a chance encounter, provoked by the puppets of destiny. Me, a hopeful romantic who had just returned from a year long journey around the world. He, a passionate Italian living in Paris. The ‘city that never sleeps’ our stage. Now this was the setting for a fairytale.

Five months later I moved to Paris. To live my story.

In love in Paris, is there any better place? (One and Only Paris Photography)

It is now eighteen months of a life founded on love, in a city that sets the precedent for romance. Has it always been easy? Not at all. But is has always been a great adventure. Within this time we have experienced many an amorous interlude, in settings including Italy, Corsica and Greece, but it is the place we call home, Paris, that proves the most enchanting. I might add that the summer sunsets do seem to last an eternity. To continue what can certainly be called a fairytale, we are soon getting married. A happy ending that is merely the beginning.

I often reflect upon my life and how thankful I am. To have met him. And to never have stopped to dream.

Written by Kasia Dietz for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

Breakfast in a Saint Germain 2 bedroom apartment  (St. Germain Luxe)

Buying a little piece of the City of Light is a rite of passage in and of itself. Before becoming the owner of a beautiful 19^th century apartment in the heart of Paris with original oak floors and marble fireplaces, or converting a floor of maids’ rooms into a penthouse haven, you must first begin with an apartment hunt and all of its uniquely Parisian idiosyncrasies.

The first thing to understand is that like few other cities in the world, there is always intense competition to buy an apartment in Paris. At the worst of the recent financial crisis, Parisian real estate prices didn’t even make a small dip.  The crisis actually increased the demand for apartments as people took their money out of bank accounts with nose-diving interest rates and invested in the ever-reliable Paris housing market. Another good thing to know is that the average cost of real estate in Paris is still below the average price in London, Rome and numerous other European cities, making Paris an even more attractive place to invest.

Saint Germain 2 bedroom apartment, with balcony and view of Notre Dame (Ecoles)

What this means for your apartment hunt is that good properties are sold within a few days and the best ones within just a few hours.  Apartments advertised at 9:00am may have an offer accepted by lunchtime …

Once the hunt is on, the first obstacle is finding an honest, reliable real estate agent. Although this may hold true internationally, fanciful exaggerations are especially commonplace in Paris. After finding the perfect apartment, for example you might be worried about the fact that it is on the 7^th floor with no elevator. Your agent may reassure you that an elevator is going to be installed next year, guaranteed. This, however, may have been in the works for over 10 years and it may be another 10 until it actually happens.

I once visited a former warehouse in the heart of the Marais being divided up and sold as enormous apartments. The agent claimed it was an incredibly rare opportunity. However, upon visiting the space one major fault became clear: there were no windows. The agent claimed it wasn’t a problem because one could ask the city for permission to create as many windows as desired. However, they failed to mention that the Marais is a protected historic district where ever since 1963 – when the famous Malraux preservation laws went into effect – it is forbidden to change any façade in the neighborhood…

Rooftop Saint Germain 2 bedroom close to La Sorbonne (Champollion)

Despite the competitiveness, exhaustion and potential disappointments of the hunt, somehow there always comes a moment when you find yourself standing in an incredible apartment, on the perfect street, in the heart of the city, in a beautifully maintained building… Whether it is the 200-year-old limestone wall, wooden beams, the postcard-like views on to the city or into the garden of an adjacent palace, or the fact that you are a few meters away from the best restaurants or galleries in Paris, you realize that you have just fallen in love with your little piece of the City of Light. Apartments are actually advertised as “coup de coeur”  (love at first sight) and I can testify that it really does happen.

1 bedroom steps from Notre Dame and the Seine (Lagrange)

However, the most incredible part about the moment you find the perfect apartment is that skipping breakfast, running across town in your most elegant overcoat thrown over your pajamas, pushing through a busload of tourists on the sidewalk finally paid off because you are the first person to visit this apartment and you are about to make sure you are the last…

Stay tuned for Michael’s next installment, The Find: from an informal offer to signing the “promesse de vente”, securing a hold on that ideal apartment is the next step in the adventure…

Related Links:

• Check out Haven in Paris’ specials for a place to stay while you are searching for your piece of the City of Light
• Architect Michael Herrman’s website
• Jordan from O Happy Day blog shares her insights into finding an apartment in Paris
• The Escape Artist on buying an apartment in Paris
  

Written by Michael Herrman for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris. If you want to get in touch with Michael, you can reach him here: michael@michaelherrmanstudio.com

Once you’re familiar with the sweet life in Paris, it’s no easy thing to leave. After all, when every day is filled with arresting beauty, when all five senses get worked over like nowhere else in the world, when you’ve mastered the art of lingering for hours at the dinner table, the lunch table, on the river bank, beside the canal… well, where do you go from here?

Lucky for me, the answer is New York. And as loath as I am to leave some things behind (I’m talking to you, pain au chocolat), I’m equally excited to get back to certain creature comforts.

A stroll along the Seine and a vintage Tabac sign (pkabz, slimjim)

What I’ll Miss

Boulangeries

More specifically, the smell of boulangeries; of butter getting baked into millions of flaky croissant layers in the morning and of baguettes being pulled fresh from the oven each night. Getting smacked in the face with those delicious aromas is almost better than eating the warm, yeasty treats. Almost.

Velibs

It’s like being part of a symphony, riding around Paris on a Velib. You weave around delivery trucks, buzz past monuments, zip across bridges, and coast beneath dancing trees; your heart and legs pumping, spirits soaring, and then, the finale: you park outside Ladurée on the Champs-Elysées and reward yourself with un petit gateau.

L’Heure Bleue

What is it about this “hour” in Paris? Walking in the quiet side streets or staring out the window in the evening is nothing short of magic. It just doesn’t exist as beautifully, or linger as teasingly, anywhere else in the world.

Good luck resisting a pain au chocolat long enough to eat it off a plate (stijn)

Kind, intelligent, polite shopkeepers

I love walking into a boutique and being cheerfully greeted, courteously inquired after, and professionally served. It’s not that I’m high-maintenance—I just love the pride and respect that shopkeepers put into their work.

Tabacs

Rarely have I stopped for un café, but I’ve always loved walking by the Tabacs and peering in at the old men sitting quietly with beers, whether it’s at the end of the afternoon or the beginning of the day. It’s so classic, it could be 1952, 1993 or present day.

Food Shopping

Every neighborhood is its own little village of fromageries (oh, that delicious stinkiness!), boucheries (the crackling of chicken fat falling from the rotisserie spits), boulangeries (see above), and marchés (the towers of clementines and artichokes, changing like kinetic sculptures throughout the day). It’s a full sensory experience; the way food shopping should be.

Bikes are one of the best ways to get around Paris — except when it’s raining (Erlucho)

And the Things I Can’t Wait For

Fun

I’m dying to dork out. I’m looking forward to people laughing at my jokes again. I cannot wait for my stomach to cramp and my cheeks to ache from laughing so hard. The French have their comedy shticks and outrageous advertising; they’re goofy alright. But it’s rare for Parisians to cut loose and have some fun.

Communication 101

Being able to go to the post office, dry cleaner or dentist; the bank, hairdresser or cobbler; the doctor, travel agency or prefecture; being able to go anywhere with 100% confidence in what I’m saying and hearing… sigh, I cannot wait.

$5 manicures

You heard me. There’s a nail salon in Gramercy that still charges only five bucks for a manicure. After two years of being too cheap to pay for the 19-euro manicures in Paris, and my hands looking like a carpenter’s, I can’t wait to indulge in this little grooming pleasure again.

Blackberry tarte and some bread in the window of a boulangerie (Tiago A. Pereira, David Sifry)

Dating

I knew I’d come to Paris and fall in love. I just thought there might be a guy, and not just the city, in the picture. New York’s dating world may be brutal, but it’s better than being celibate.

Whole Foods

As much as I will miss strolling rue Montorgueil and ogling all the markets in Paris, knowing that the “Drunken Goat Cheese” and “Two-Bite Brownies” at Whole Foods are waiting on the other side of the ocean, makes this bittersweet parting a little easier to swallow.

Related Links:

• Continue reading Amy’s blog, God I love Paris, from New York!
• Keep up with Paris happenings on Parisien Salon
• Paris’ beauty chronicled on Little Brown Pen

Written by Amy Thomas for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris — and remember, we’re still offering up to 30% off our luxury properties in Paris this February.

I was decorating the windows for Christmas last week in legendary Paris bookshop Shakespeare and Company and I had (perhaps too much of a) good chance to see what Parisienne’s wore during the recent cold snap. With snowflakes the size of postage timbres falling onto the Christmas tree outside Notre Dame, it was picture postcard pretty but definitely necessary to wrap up warmly. This is what I, with a Posca pen tucked behind my ear, saw from the top of a ladder…

(Click on image for full size)

You might also like:

• Badaude’s Blog
• Shakespeare and Company Bookstore in Paris
• Winter fashion in Paris
• Snow photos in Paris by Caram

Text and illustrations by Badaude for the HiP Paris Blog. For our amazing rentals in Paris, Provence & Tuscany check out our website Haven in Paris.

New York or Paris? (Kat . . .)

Quick: do you prefer hopping in a taxi or on a Velib? Would you rather wear Manolos or Repettos? Oversized sunglasses, or an oversized scarf?

These are difficult questions. Ones that I’ve personally been trying to answer for a year and a half as I’ve also tried cracking the bigger dilemma: Which is the better city in which to live? I know, cue the teeny-tiny pity violins. Whenever I lament feeling torn between New York and Paris, I get the “poor you” rolling of the eyes. But truly, it’s not easy choosing between the two best cities in the world. Let’s see you do it.

Beauty or Energy?

Notre Dame in Paris or Snow in Manhattan? (Karigee)

Paris is dazzling. All you need to do is watch a Godard film or see a Doisneau poster to know that. But to actually walk the streets—with the Plane trees and cobblestones; the rose-tinted street lamps, green bookstalls and golden limestone facades—well, the French know a little something about seduction, don’t they.

But in New York, you’re swept away by everything and everyone around you: pedestrians, taxis, buses, street vendors, blinking neon signs, little dogs, big dogs, and, oh the freaks everywhere! To walk the streets of New York is to know what it means to feel alive.

Montmartre or Manhattan? (Karigee)

Pleasure or Success?

Long, leisurely dinners. Romantic strolls along the Seine. Sitting with friends and watching the world go by. In Paris, you dream, you pontificate, you light another cigarette. You’re supposed to just be.

In New York, you can’t just be. But you can be anything or anyone you want.

Plat du Jour or Trend of the Moment?

With some of the most deluxe ingredients and most celebrated recipes in the world, what’s better than dining in Paris? You can linger for hours, indulging in course after course of classic cuisine, while keeping pace with lovely wine and being charmed by the waitstaff (if they’re not bristling at having to work).

But in New York, you get a scene served alongside dinner. You get madcap creations and unique techniques; ever-surprising menus and colorful creations. The only problem is, you’re also expected to order alcohol to jack up the bill, eat quickly so they can cram in more business, and tip your actor-slash-artist-slash-model-slash-hipster-slash-carpenter-slash-waiter 20%. Or else.

Chinon or Sidecar?

Thank goodness for French wine. I drink a glass—Chinon, Bordeaux, Cotes du Rhone, peu import—nearly every night. And, on my most recent trip to New York, I was reminded how lucky I am to do so. Back in Manhattan, a glass of wine starts at about $12 and often makes my mouth pucker.

Thank goodness for good cocktails. With boites like Experimental and Le Club du Cercle, the French are finally mastering the mix. But if I had a centime for every lousy sidecar I’ve had, I’d be a very rich girl indeed.

Macaron or Cupcake?

Cupcake or Macaron? (Amy Thomas;Yuichi Sakuraba)

Sigh. Where to begin. I thought there was nothing better than a quarter-pound, cornflake-marshmallow-chocolate-chip cookie. Until I bit into an exquisite choux-filled, raspberry and pistachio Religieuse petit gateau.

I thought I’d miss those big, sloppy cream-filled devil’s food cupcakes. But then I became addicted to dainty rose-flavored macarons.

Croissant or muffin?

Baguette or bagel?

Café or diner?

Left Bank or downtown?

Charlotte Gainsbourg or Carrie Bradshaw?

Charlotte Gainsbourg or Carrie Bradshaw? (r9M;Sion Fullana)

The debate rages on, and from every angle it’s a draw. And while straddling these two cities has made me see life in stark dualities—everything, an either/or option—well, what can I say? It’s also given me the chance to indulge in the best of both worlds.

Related links:

• The very popular Paris vs New York Blog
• Tory can’t decide either… will it be Paris or New York?
• How to find Paris in New York?

Written by Amy Thomas for the Hip Paris blog. For our amazing rentals in Paris, Provence & Tuscany check out our website Haven in Paris.

Life is incredibly busy for the ladies of the HiP Paris blog. Not only do we run this little corner of the world where we ramble on all things French, but we also spend our days helping our clients experience Paris like a local via our boutique vacation rental business, Haven in Paris. Business is booming and we need help with all the fun stuff. That’s where you come in, hopefully!

Haven in Paris is searching for one or two interns to support our corporate objectives through social media. In other words, to share the Paris love! We’re looking for a lot, but we’re sure you can send us some strong candidates through your network of friends, family and fellow bloggers. Do you mind passing this on to possible candidates (preferably, in the Boston area)?

Photos of Paris, France, courtesy of Karigee.com

Haven in Paris / HiP Paris is looking for social media interns to share the Paris love via all sorts of social media. The ideal candidates may be asked to perform some or all of the following duties:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Participate in social media, as yourself and as a Haven in Paris representative. Interact with our customers via social media to share the love for Paris and promote Haven in Paris, taking cues from your colleagues.
• Write tweets, Facebook posts, email newsletters, promotional content, marketing programs, and maintaining a social media content calendar, working closely with the team.
• Be the eyes and ears of our brand online, providing weekly round-ups of all mentions of Haven in Paris for the team.
• Collaborate on and implement a strategy for our Link Exchange Program; collaborate on and implement a blogger badge exchange program page to be hosted on our HiP Paris Blog.
• Create content for feeds and snippets in various social media sites, working with us to determine which sites to post on actively (beyond Facebook and Twitter).
• Scout photos for our blog posts and manage our online photo database, while also motivating our Flicker community to contribute their best Paris photos for use on our blog/site.
• Participate in daily blog operations including uploading posts, choosing key words, sizing photos, and maintaining/creating our HiP Paris style guide.
• Conduct keyword research including cataloging and indexing target keyword phrases in order to inform our search engine optimization efforts.
• Optimize key word descriptions and tags on our sites and in search engines through copywriting and keyword optimization. Tag and title content, with an understanding of how the words chosen impact natural search traffic and rankings.
• Manage and track all of your efforts, especially the Link Exchange Program.
• Analyze campaigns and translate anecdotal or qualitative data into recommendations and plans for revising our social media campaigns or any other facets of our business.

Paris, France, courtesy of Karigee.com

Qualifications and Experience:

• Is eager to learn and gain valuable real-world experience
• Has a passion for travel and all things French (and, if possible, Italian) and is very familiar with Paris
• Has experience or training in advertising, PR, online marketing, social media, photography or similar field
• Has excellent verbal and written business communication skills; excels at research
• Some level of proficiency in photo editing tools, like Photoshop, and principles of general photo layout (a big plus!)
• Possesses the discipline and equipment to work in person (Boston) and remotely
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and Word Press
• Dedicated to blogging and use of Facebook and Twitter (with demonstrated immersion in social media – in other words, send us links!)
• Understands the social media tool set, including YouTube, Stumble Upon, Delicious, Digg, Flickr, Forums, Twitter, Wikis, blogs, etc.
• Understands the power of inbound marketing
• Ability to jump from creative side of marketing to analytical side, and able to demonstrate why their ideas are analytically sound

These positions are part-time positions requiring at least 20 hours per week (with flexibility during peak times). While they are currently unpaid positions, they will provide fantastic experience for anyone interested in marketing, social media and/or travel, and may become a paid position at some point. (We also promise many yummy croissants!) Upon completion, the interns will receive letters of reference. To apply, please send a cover letter, resume and list of your social media efforts (including links!) to maggie@haveninparis.com.

Croissants, Paris, France, courtesy of Karigee.com

All photos appear courtesy of Haven in Paris previous client and New York City-based blogger, Karigee. You can see her Flickr stream here.

Written by Maggie Battista for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

Nipples are often flashed on bus sides and at the beach but, still, the Frenchies have their limits. As evidenced by Mayor Bertrand Delanoe’s decree that no one under the age of 18 be allowed entry to Larry Clark’s retrospective, “Kiss the Past Hello” at the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (until January 2, 2011).

Clark is no stranger to controversy in the more puritanical U.S. His 1995 movie, Kids, and his earlier collections of photography, Tulsa and Teenage Lust, caused quite a ruckus. But while the Parisian press lampooned the decision to ban minors from the exhibition—“hypocrisy, “censorship”, “repression” and “excess of prudence” were all bandied about— the raw, sometimes disturbing photographs of teens having sex or shooting drugs is certainly not for everyone.

Larry Clark courtesy of urban-gear.com

The exhibition starts harmlessly enough. The first series of the 200+ photographs, which span 50 years, are campy baby portraits and pet collages, shot by Clark’s mother, who was also a photographer. But once he moves to the Tulsa and Teenage Lust era, the 1970s and ’80s, featuring young addicts and hormonal teens, Clark’s dark side starts emerging: needles searing the skin of underage junkies, boys wielding guns or preening their privates for the camera, teenagers entangled on couches, in tubs and across beds—well, it’s not for the fainthearted.

But there’s something really touching and sad about the photos and subjects as well. Whether a white shirtless boy in Tulsa, circa 1963 (Billy Mann) or a Latino from the mid-90s LA, trying to seduce the camera like a porn star though he barely has peach fuzz on his upper lip (Jonathan Velasquez), these kids seem at once lost, desperate, bored and—hopeful.

Larry Clark himself is still obsessed with adolescence and the jumble of emotions that goes with it. And the clever thing about the exhibition, which he helped curate, is how—just like teenagers who always push the limit—the 67-year-old artist shows that maybe we shouldn’t lose the impulse to “grow up”.

Basquiat courtesy of VernissageTV Didier Didier

Jean-Michel Basquiat is another American artist who was no stranger to drama. He was born 50 years ago in Brooklyn, New York, but died, tragically, of a heroin overdose in 1988 at the age of 27. The Musée d’Art Moderne features this second retrospective until January 30, 2011.

Just like Clark’s, the Basquiat retrospective is vast, showing an artist with a raw, distinct style and consumed by specific themes. But that is where the similarities end. Whereas the majority of Larry Clark’s prints are black and white, with the charged energy somehow staying within the frames, Basquiat’s paintings are bold, oversized and crackling with energy, beckoning viewers from across the room.

The young graffiti artist came of age during the 1970s New York club scene and went on to become an international art world darling, collaborating with Andy Warhol and appearing in Blondie videos. He became the star of the “Neo-Expressionist” movement, defined by strong subjectivity of feeling and aggressive handling of materials. Maybe it’s a definition you have to see to understand; you will with Basquiat’s work.

Basquiat courtesy of VernissageTV Didier Didier

His paintings incorporate text with imagery, which enabled the young artist to tell stories and convey emotions. In the hundred pieces on display, his early signature, “SAMO” (Same Old Shit), and recurring icons such as the triple-pointed crown, cars and boxers are inescapable and the combination of his lines, letters, colors and materials create a combustible energy that, for me, is even more worth waiting in the long lines to get into the museum than Clark’s controversial images.

Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris www.mam.paris.fr

11, avenue du Président Wilson, 16eme, 01 53 67 40 00

Open Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (Thursday until 10 p.m.). Closed on public holidays. Admission: €5 (Larry Clark), €11 (Basquiat), €13 (both).

Related Links:

• Monet at the Grand Palais
• Up to date art happenings in Paris
• GoGoParis for hip happenings in the city of lights
• December events in Paris from Secrets of Paris

Written by Amy Thomas for the Hip Paris blog. For our amazing rentals in Paris, Provence & Tuscany check out our website Haven in Paris.