Feb 20th, 2010 by haveninparis
littlebrownpen.com/chicline.com
Text by Tory Hoen
I used to think I was pretty good at French… until the day I actually moved here and realized just how nuanced the language is when it’s coming at you from all angles. Old people, young people, drunk people, foreign people—they all have their own distinct accents, cadences, and vocabularies. I quickly learned that my “A” in high school French Literature meant very little in the real world, and that making sense of real French would be a lifelong challenge. So far, it has been endlessly amusing…
While I like to think I’ve come a long way, even the most basic phrases were slightly confounding at first. I can understand how new visitors to Paris might feel a little shell-shocked, especially when they’re being barked at by a burly vendor at the Belleville market who is insisting that they “MANGEZ!” the tangerine slice he is brandishing (a regular occurrence in my life). Continue Reading »
Tags: french vocab, French-isms, market paris, shopping in paris, tory hoen
Posted in Parisian Living | 3 Comments »
Feb 19th, 2010 by haveninparis
Text and Photos by Tory Hoen
When I lived in the 5th arrondissement, I spent hours pounding the pavement (or the cobblestones, as it were) just exploring and trying to make sense of the diverse elements that make up the neighborhood: the historic Place de la Contrescarpe with its charming cafés, the lively market street Rue Mouffetard, the wild Jardin des Plantes, the magnificent blue-and-white-tiled mosque (La Mosquée de Paris), and the unexpected Arènes de Lutèce (a first century Roman amphitheatre). But more often than not, my walks ended with me staring up at the breathtaking Institut du Monde Arabe (Arab World Institute), my face tilted skyward as I struggled to take in the awesomeness that is this structure. Continue Reading »
Tags: arab world institute, arene de lutece, institut du monde arabe, jardin des plantes, jean nouvel, michael herrman, mosquee de paris, place de la contrescarpe, tory hoen
Posted in Design & Décor, Parisian Living | 2 Comments »
Feb 10th, 2010 by haveninparis
Erica Berman & Alain Ollier
Text by Tory Hoen
I’ve always loved Europe in the winter—and Paris in particular. And by winter, I mean real winter: January and February, when the holiday crowds have cleared out and it’s gray, gray, gray all day. I can sense you raising your eyebrows as you read this, but bear with me. Not only is it a particularly tranquil time to be in Paris, but you can also find great deals, with airfare rates down and many accommodations offering discounted rates for visitors to the city.
Most peoples’ visions of Paris probably involve leisurely summer picnics, springtime flowers, and long strolls along the Seine on warm evenings. I would be lying if I said thoughts of these things don’t make my heart race, but winter has its own distinct charms, and on cold February days, I love feeling like I have the entire city to myself.
Plus: in the deepest, darkest depths of winter, we have an excuse to indulge in activities that might otherwise seem just a bit too decadent. Hot chocolate for breakfast? Bring it on… we have to stay warm somehow! Some favorite things (and guilty pleasures) to explore this winter… Continue Reading »
Tags: angelina, chocolat chaud, cocktails, films in paris, fumoir, harry's bar, hot chocolate, kiliwatch, La Pagode, le baron rouge, saveurs de savoie, tory hoen, winter fashion, winter walks
Posted in Parisian Living | No Comments »
Feb 6th, 2010 by haveninparis
Text & Photos by Tory Hoen
Not only do I live in Paris’ coolest up-and-coming neighborhood (Belleville), but I also live just off of the coolest street in this neighborhood (Rue Dénoyez), which locates me in the epicenter of Parisian coolness. It’s an exhaustingly cool life! But in all seriousness, this street, which is only about 2 blocks long, is a riot of color that changes multiple times a day, thanks to the tireless graffiti artists who return again and again to make (and re-make) their marks. I took these photos yesterday morning, and by early evening, the entire color scheme of the street had been transformed. Continue Reading »
Tags: belleville, graffiti, paris street art, Rue Dénoyez, tory hoen
Posted in Parisian Living | No Comments »
Jan 29th, 2010 by haveninparis
Gerard Laurent, Pariscool.com
Text by Tory Hoen
I have that electric feeling that can only mean one of two things: either I’ve put my finger in a socket, or I am headed back to Paris. Luckily for me, it’s the latter. After seven months in North America, I am returning to my other home—a painfully beautiful, limestone-y, cigarette-loving, scarf-wearing, butter-flavored home. Needless to say, I’m giddy with anticipation.
For me (and I don’t think I’m the only one), Paris is a city where my imagination takes flight and I can spend entire days simply wandering, observing, tasting, inhaling, perusing, writing and dreaming. To those who see me as I go about my activities, I probably look like some kind of blissed-out idiot… but so be it. Paris is my happy place, and no matter how many times my shoe falls onto the metro tracks or I am surrounded by a pack of traveling minstrels, nothing can taint my love affair with this city. Continue Reading »
Tags: Canal St Martin, le verre vole, les soldes, papeteries, paris classique, paris fashion, Pigalle, St. Germain, tory hoen, vin chaud
Posted in Parisian Living | 9 Comments »
Jan 16th, 2010 by haveninparis
Photo: tumblr
Text by Tory Hoen
One of the most gratifying things about being a Francophile is that, no matter where you are, you can always read your way back to France. When I’m not in Paris and my wanderlust kicks in, I reach for a book that will take me back, and I’m never disappointed. And while French literature can send me into a stay of pure bliss, I’m equally enamored with English-language expat literature. Whether it’s Hemingway’s “Lost Generation” or whatever today’s equivalent would be, there is something perpetually intriguing about cultural castaways—those outsiders who become insiders only to realize they’ll always be outsiders, etc. Continue Reading »
Tags: amanda vaill, books about paris, books and paris, everybody was so young, expat literature, expat paris, french literature, hemingway, kim sunee, literary paris, lost generation, the razor's edge, tory hoen, trail of crumbs, w. somerset maugham
Posted in Art, Film, Music, Literature | 2 Comments »
Jan 13th, 2010 by haveninparis
Gerard Lavalette – Pariscool.com; Cartier-Bresson
Text by Tory Hoen
I like a trendy hotspot as much as the next blogger, but it’s always more rewarding to discover a place that is un-cool, un-trafficked, and uniquely yours. La Maison, tucked away on the Place St. Ferdinand in the 17th, is one of my closely guarded Parisian secrets, but as I’m feeling particularly generous today, I’m willing to share. Continue Reading »
Tags: bernard-henri levy, bhl, cafe creme, coffee paris, cotes du rhone, la maison, lunch paris, place st. ferdinand, restaurant la maison, tory hoen, zinc bar
Posted in HiP Eats, Parisian Living | 1 Comment »
Jan 12th, 2010 by haveninparis
All Photos: One & Only Photography
Text by Tory Hoen
Paris might just be the most photogenic city in the world, so it’s no wonder that Anthony and Audrey—a Franco-American couple and photography team—chose this city as their personal and professional base. Through their company, One & Only Paris Photography, they shoot sumptuous Parisian interiors (like those they did for Haven in Paris), but their bread and butter are the romance-inspired photos they shoot of couples in the City of Love—from engagement photos and weddings, to romantic strolls and sultry boudoir-inspired portraits. Audrey and Anthony know just how to capture real, intimate moments and frame them against spectacular Parisian backdrops. As a married couple, they have a true talent for understanding how to translate real love into photographic love… and the rosy Parisian light doesn’t hurt. Continue Reading »
Tags: audrey and anthony, boudoir photography, interior photography, one & only paris photography, one & only photography, one and only photography, paris photo shoots, photography, photos, tory hoen, wedding photographer paris, wedding photography
Posted in Art, Film, Music, Literature | 3 Comments »
Jan 11th, 2010 by haveninparis
Having lived in Paris, our friend Nichole and her husband Evan have serious skills when it comes to capturing the aesthetic details that make this city so gorgeous. For Christmas this year, Evan gave Nichole an illustration he had done of the main Rose Window at Notre Dame. One illustration led to others (in other colors), and Evan put together this awesome color-themed collage by integrating the illustrations with photos that he and Nichole have taken in Paris. We’re in love!
Photos by Evan Robertson
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.
Tags: evan robertson, little brown pen, nichole robertson, Notre Dame, paris images, paris photos, rose window, tory hoen
Posted in Design & Décor | 5 Comments »
Jan 6th, 2010 by haveninparis
Text by Tory Hoen
I spent Christmas of 2008 in Paris, strolling along the glittering boulevards, ducking in and out of specialty shops, sampling seasonal foods, and fueling myself with vin chaud. It was utterly magical, and while there’s no substitute for a real Christmas in France, Rosa Jackson and Paule Caillat managed to re-create the culinary splendor for a lucky few this December when they crossed the Atlantic to host a 2-day workshop at the Culinary Loft in New York.
Photos: Foodnetwork.com and Deliciousdays.com
The two sessions (“Christmas in Provence” and “Christmas in Paris”) entailed the preparation—and enthusiastic consumption—of a variety of traditional holiday foods from these two parts of France. I was lucky enough to be invited to the Provence workshop, where I learned how to knead, whisk and poach like a pro, all while enjoying the company of the group—replete with Francophiles and gourmands—that turned out for the workshop.
Continue Reading »
Tags: aioli, chocolate mousse, culinary loft, culinary loft soho, edible adventures, lemon tart, olive oil, paule caillat, pissaladiere, Promenades Gourmandes, promenades gourmandes paris, Rosa Jackson, rosa jackson market tours, tory hoen
Posted in HiP Eats, HiP Recipes | 3 Comments »
