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San Francisco, Bay Bridge, Treasure Island, and the East Bay
I know, I know, I'm sorry! I promised that I wouldn't post any more photos from planes, trains and automobiles but I couldn't resist this one. Click on it to make it bigger. As we were coming in to land, the pilot tilted the wings and announced "Welcome to San Francisco." The whole plane gasped. It was such a sudden and stunning view - couldn't ask for a better welcome!
Some of my most treasured memories in Paris are of time spent over a chocolate chaud or a vin chaud or an impromptu walk around the 6th with Dorie Greenspan. She knows everyone. Really. Everyone. It's amazing. And very fun. I try to stay in her wake, hoping some of her magical fairy dust will float back onto me. She tells me stories after stories after stories of the richest, most delightful experiences, experiences with some of the industry luminaries. Over a delicious lunch at Le Comptoir this week, Dorie shared more of her fascinating life with me. I can't begin to convey them with the humor and joy that she did but I hope they at least bring a smile to your face and a warmth to your heart as they did to mine. Click here to read the whole story...
Love is nothing short of a national sport here in France and the French claim to celebrate it every day of the year, not just on February 14th. It is more beloved than soccer or philosophical debate, though love plays heavily into both. All store fronts are bedecked with Valentine's decorations but regardless of the time of year, people are always kissing.
Sometimes it's charming, like a couple I spotted smooching after a long lunch at the Palais Royal; other times you want to hurl, like when the couple in line in front of you at the post office are slobbering on each other so much so you feel like you are in the front row of the dolphin show at Marine World. Anyways, back to Valentine's Day... This year I got a tad carried away with the heart-red-love theme. Click here for more on this celebration of love...
I met a friend today for lunch at a small sushi place off Rue St. Honore called Foujita (7 rue de 29 juillet, 75001, 01 49 26 07 70). The sushi was fabulous, the place was packed, and the service was about as rude as it gets. So rude it became funny. And on the way back to the metro I walked past Michel Cluizel's chocolaterie. It took every ounce not to run in and roll around in this a la Alfred Molina in Chocolat. Enjoy....!
Policemen on Rollerblades in front of l'Opera, Paris ~ February 2007
Can't outmaneuver these guys! And given the traffic jams and transportation strikes in Paris, this is probably faster than the metro. Maybe it's time to dust off my big purple pair that I used for all of a week back in 1994 when I was determined to make those Friday Night Rides across San Francisco that were so hugely popular back then. Determined that is, until I fell directly on my tailbone (less padding than now) right in front of the Chestnut Street morning express bus headed downtown filled with handsome men in double-breasted suits and wingtips. The searing pain was outmatched only by the sheer embarassment made doubly so because I fell trying to do a fancy little jump turn onto the sidewalk in front of above mentioned bus. That'll teach me to try to show off!
I flew in last Thursday afternoon - with a few hours of deep REMs thanks to Ambien under my belt to get me through the night - headed home, showered, changed, and was in a cab within an hour careening to a cocktail party at enviedart, a tres chic, hip, hyper (pronounced: ee-per) cool art gallery in the 8th. Featuring all young and upcoming artists, it was a great place to have a reception rather than the staid, and now Michelin-spanked, George V. A local restaurant and favorite of the fashion houses, Lemoni Cafe, catered all natural, organic brightly colored combinations of sweet and savory in cute little plastic cups for an almost Pierre Herme-ish effect. I was waiting for someone to set their cocktail on the small table top canvases or knock over a statue but nary a spill... Here are some pics...
Flying into Frankfurt...
Thank you for all your notes wondering where in the world (literally!) I was the past few weeks. Well planes, trains, and automobiles just about sums it up. I flew to San Francisco a few days after returning from Dayton and I just returned to Paris yesterday. I thought I'd spare you the pictures of the very bad airplane food (even in business class!) but here are a few more pictures of clouds, mountains and lakes. Last ones, I promise! :)
