Parties & Celebrations

Paris...The Most Beautiful City

I was recently in Paris to celebrate a close friend’s birthday and was overdue for a dose of French fabulousness! Each time I come to this magnificent city I’m overwhelmed by its fascinating history and the grandeur of its extraordinary architecture. Coupled with the style and sophistication of the French people and their chic approach to everything they do, is what makes me want to return to Paris again and again. It was fashion week in the city, the Fashion Capital of the world, so the city was buzzing with energy and filled with gorgeous people. Paris is one of the greatest cities in the world in which to dine, see incredible art and shop for the best of everything; the list goes on and on.

There are just two things I don’t find desirable about Paris...the weather that can manifest five seasons in a single day...and the word NO, a word the French people use famously and liberally. I can cope with the weather, but NO really gets to me. Being a designer, producer and make-it-happen person, I've always seen NO as an opportunity to make a YES, and although I’m usually successful, the French more than often prove me wrong.

I stayed at a boutique hotel called The Murano at 13 Boulevard du Temple close to Square Republic in the Marais. Dinner one night at the trendy La Société at 4 place Saint-Germain des Prés was quite the treat. Besides an elegant unpretentious menu, we had superb service with gorgeous tall servers noticeably not in uniforms and dressed like patrons of the restaurant; very chic and trendy. Of course, it rained just as we were leaving La Société en route to a small nightclub called BC at 40 Ave Pierre 1er de Serbie. We used the rain as an excuse to have a cocktail at a bar close by and sit it out. Luck was on our side; just as we were leaving the bar, we found that rare taxi to get us to BC, arriving at just about midnight.

There was no one in the downstairs level of BC when we arrived, so we went upstairs to the rocker bar, which was in full swing! After another bottle of bubbly, we decided to leave, went downstairs and found the club was filled with gorgeous people all in search of a good time. We danced and had fun until 3.00 am. At this stage, I felt like a local.

In search of more culture, the next day I visited my friend Pamela Golbin, the über-chic and celebrated curator of the Fashion and Textiles Museum at the Louvre Museum. I was fortunate enough to enjoy a private tour of her latest exhibit Decoratief, which was a showcase of the world’s top designers and their fashion shows. The exhibit demonstrates how fashion shows have evolved in the last 40 years, from quiet and sedate and lasting several hours, to the current highly produced 18-20-minute shows...very fascinating! If you find yourself in Paris, I highly recommend you visit the Decoratief. The exhibit is brilliant, and followed by a walk in the gardens afterwards, you too will feel like local.

That evening, dressed to the nines, I celebrated a friend’s birthday at an amazing restaurant, Frederic Simonin [www.fredericsimonin.com/] at 25 Rue Bayen. If you go to Paris and are in search of a fine dining experience, look no further. I was blown away with his Menu Degustation. Each and every course, as you can see in the attached slide show, was amazing. My favorite was the Lacquered Quail stuffed with Foie Gras. If I was ever on death row and offered my last meal, this would be it!

During the days I enjoyed walks in the gardens of Luxembourg, strolled down St. Germain, Avenue Foch, The Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, and the gardens at the Louvre. I stopped at the Cathedral Saint-Sulpice and spent an hour of quiet time and meditation thinking about how much I have to be grateful for in my life. In that brief moment of reflection, I felt my gratitude and I consider myself very blessed.

Paris is so inspiring. Aside from the amazing visuals and my friends whom I visit, Paris is a city that's a feast for the eyes, and without fail fulfills my various ever-hungry and ever-absorbent taste buds. I didn’t make it on this trip, but I always enjoy dining at places like Café de Flore or L’Avenue or having steak frites at Le Relais de l’Entrecóte with a couple of Lipitor for dessert!!!

Getting there and back, I flew to Paris on Open Skies, a subsidiary of British Airways that’s an all-business class plane with business seats in the back and sleeper beds in the front. Besides the great price, I was very impressed with their service and food. What a treat to enjoy the snack box from Ladurée, complete with a smoked salmon sandwich, orange flavored Madeline, and a trio of macaroons. As an FYI, they fly from Newark to Orly, two airports I prefer over JFK or Charles de Gaulle.

Next year I want to rent an apartment in Paris for a couple of months, armed with my laptop. It won’t take me long to fit in like a local. It's a dream... and who knows, it may just come true!!

As always...there's more to come!