December 20, 2010 by Tory Hoen
I’m beginning to understand that I’m a bit of a masochist. I’m bored by things / people / places that make life too easy, which is probably why I like ornery cats, most fictional villains, winter and (if I’m being honest) the French.
To clarify, I have nothing against Golden Retrievers, damsels in distress, summer or … who’s fun and non-controversial?… the Swedish. It’s just that I also like a challenge. I like to be initially offended but ultimately won over. I like things that don’t care if I like them or not.
And thus, I love winter in Paris. It provides a dark, dismal, unapologetic, multi-month challenge that pushes you to your breaking point, but offers various olive branches along the way—pretty hanging lights, vin chaud, chocolat a l’ancienne, and a great excuse to drink serious red wines and then crawl into bed.
Philosophically speaking, Epicurus saw pleasure as the absence of pain, and Descartes considered the two to be linked on a continuous spectrum. I have to agree. Getting caught in a freak hail storm a few weeks ago (while wearing ballet flats) made arriving home to our cozy apartment on the Ile St. Louis that much more of a triumph. And going days (weeks?) without seeing the sun makes me feel totally justified in my decision to devote entire afternoons to the following “indulgent” activities: Continue Reading »
Posted in Parisian Living | 13 Comments »
January 29, 2010 by Tory Hoen
Gerard Laurent, Pariscool.com
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 »
Posted in Parisian Living | 9 Comments »
December 18, 2009 by Haven in Paris
Ornaments at Christmas market. Photo: hotels-paris-rive-gauche.com
Text by Emma Haberman
With just a few more chocolates left in the advent calendar, it’s time to finalize those Christmas Day plans. If you’re not at home, there’s no better or more magical place to be on December 25th than the City of Light. Though national museums and many stores are closed, there are plenty of ways to take in the city and still celebrate the holiday season in style. A few suggestions for a very HiP Christmas: Continue Reading »
Posted in Events, Parisian Living | 3 Comments »
December 18, 2009 by Nichole Robertson
Nichole Robertson (of Little Brown Pen) waxes nostalgic for afternoons spent in the Marais drinking vin chaud. On days when it’s too cold to go out, try her recipe and indulge at home!
Text by Nichole Roberton
Last night’s crisp air sparked a memory of sipping vin chaud on cold Paris afternoons.
Whenever Liam (just 18 months at the time) would fight his afternoon nap, we’d strap him into the stroller and head in the direction of our favorite cafe a few blocks away. He typically fell asleep on the way there, giving Evan, Alexander and me the rare opportunity to sit down like civilized human beings and enjoy a hot drink while he snoozed in the stroller. Alexander sipped hot chocolate and colored, and Evan and I engaged in our usual debate: The responsible choice of 3pm coffee? Or the not-so-responsible choice of 3pm mulled wine?
There were two benefits to choosing wine over coffee (cmon, you knew we chose wine, right?). Continue Reading »
Posted in Food | 4 Comments »
Winter Paris (Pauldc); Chocolat Chaud (yuichi.sakuraba)
Paris under the snow (Christophe Verdier)
