It’s a French Thing

12/06/2024

Tomorrow is the big day. I was blessed to get tickets to mass on Tuesday. I can't wait to be inside for what will surely be a moving experience.

It took about 250 companies, 2,000 workers, about $900 million, a tight deadline and a lot of national pride.

12/05/2024

My annual pilgrimage to see the Galeries Lafayette Christmas tree! For its 130th (!!!!) Christmas, the tree blends tradition with a modern twist. Inspired by 1950s window displays and the restored Byzantine façade, it twinkles with 20,000 programmable lights.

This year at the top, a fiber optic firework display, reflecting Kevin Germanier’s sparkling designs, creates a magical light show beneath the iconic dome. ✨

11/29/2024

🍊 The delicate trees of Versailles are in the Orangery for safe keeping this winter. With over 1,000 trees, some of which date back centuries, this process is a testament to the dedication and precision of the garden staff.
The Orangery’s design ensures the trees thrive even in the harshest of winters, preserving a tradition that dates back to Louis XIV’s reign. Come spring, these treasures will return to adorn the formal gardens that define Versailles. ☀️

11/28/2024

Jean-Baptiste Pigalle’s “Love Embracing Friendship” (1758), displayed at the Louvre, beautifully symbolizes the power of love and friendship—virtues that resonate deeply with me at Thanksgiving. 🦃
As Americans gather today, this sculpture reminds us of the importance of reflecting on the relationships that sustain us, offering gratitude for the bonds that bring joy and support. Cupid, disarmed and at peace, embraces Friendship, urging us to set aside disputes and conflicts, embrace humanity, and nurture connections that uplift and inspire.
Just as Cupid lays down his weapon, we too can choose unity over division. From Paris to wherever you are, Happy Thanksgiving! ❤️

10/18/2024

Had the pleasure of guiding a wonderful group from Albion, Michigan (my home state!) around the breathtaking Palace of Versailles yesterday! 🇫🇷 They’re here visiting their sister city, Noisy-le-Roi/Bailly and I was lucky enough to be their guide for the day. From the Hall of Mirrors to the musical gardens it was such a joy to share this experience with such an enthusiastic group!

10/03/2024

The words that spell Paris: desire, light, love, wish, hope, dream 🥰

09/25/2024

Some familiar faces 🎨

https://youtu.be/kWaRCCfbJpE?si=J6UGb2aEJGPXcY8E

Time for a folie à deux.

08/11/2024

08/04/2024

💗 Surprise in the sky on my way to the last day of men’s competition and medal ceremony. 🏅 ⛳️

07/28/2024

07/27/2024

Rue de Rivoli 9.30pm. 24 hours after the ceremony of a century.

07/26/2024

This is the theme song of Paris 2024. It’s called Parade and composed by Victor le Masne. It’s has accompanied the flame along its journey. I heard it on repeat at the golf course (it’s very catchy!) and you’ll be hearing it tonight at the opening ceremony and throughout the next 2 weeks! 🎶🏅🎉

Copyright (c) 2024 Paris Organizing Committee for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic GamesParis finally got to play itself as hosts to the Olympic Games once mo...

07/24/2024

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/24/world/olympics/paris-history-change.html?unlocked_article_code=1.9k0.TDKG.ldsi8310doAu&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

The Games will usher visitors through France’s history, with events at the Grand Palais and Versailles. But, as host, Paris is also becoming a new city.

07/23/2024

https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/23/travel/video/paris-olympics-travel-tourists-ldn-digvid?cid=ios_app

This summer the French capital is expected to welcome 15 million tourists while it hosts the Olympic Games. In a city seven times smaller than New York, it’s easy to stand out. CNN’s Saskya Vandoorne provides some expert tips to avoid the clichés and navigate Paris like a local.

07/21/2024

It was like Christmas in July for me yesterday when I got to see Chardin's Le Panier de Fraises (Basket of Strawberries) at the Fine Arts Museum in Brest. I have a special relationship with this painting as I was one of 10,000 donors who helped the Louvre acquire this masterpiece. Brest is my husband's hometown, and l'm a Bretonne in my heart. 🍓
Why Brest? Since the 19th century, has had strong links with the Louvre. From the summer of 1870, with the threat of a Prussian invasion, 293 works were secretly evacuated from the Louvre to the arsenal of Brest to ensure they were adequately protected. In return, Brest was able to benefit from the support of the Louvre to develop the collection of the municipal museum, which opened in 1877. The history continued with the reconstruction of the museum, which was bombed during WWIl. The new museum opened in 1968, and the relations between Brest and the Louvre proved to be fruitful in the development of the collection.
Le Panier de Fraises by Jean Siméon Chardin was recently added to the collections of the Louvre. A unique work, it was classified as a "national treasure" in 2022. This designation, given by the Advisory Commission of National Treasures, allowed this work to be kept on French soil while the Louvre gathered the funds required for its acquisition. The President-
Director of the , Laurence des Cars, wanted this masterpiece to be exhibited at the heart of the permanent gallery of the Brest Museum of Fine Arts.
The exhibition of Le Panier de Fraises will be in Brest from July 2 to September 22, 2024.
The freshness of the work holds a unique chromatism in its blend of the intense red of the strawberries with the delicate white of the carnations. Exhibited for the first time during the summer of 1761 in the Salon Carré of the Louvre, this composition is one of the last still life works by . Both a portrait and genre painter, he devoted himself to still life from the 1750s, and Le Panier de Fraises is an important milestone of the genre.

07/08/2024

Everyone involved in getting Notre Dame Cathedral ready to open on December 8, 2024 deserves a gold medal!

The refurbishment of the 800-year-old symbol of French history and culture is nearly 90% complete after five painstaking years of restoration following the f...

06/20/2024

The Phrygian cap has long symbolized liberty and freedom, originating from the ancient Phrygians in Anatolia. Over centuries, it evolved into a potent emblem of revolutionary spirit.
This cap is famously depicted in Eugène Delacroix’s masterpiece, “Liberty Leading the People,” where it adorns the head of Liberty herself. Similarly, it appears on the seal of the US Senate, representing the enduring principles of liberty and democracy.
🏅Fast forward to today, the Phrygian cap is making a modern comeback as the mascot of the Paris 2024 Olympics. Named “Les Phryges,” this vibrant figure embodies the spirit of revolution, celebration, and inclusivity bridging history with contemporary culture.