Goodbye Tall Latté, Hello Café Crème
Dear Parler Paris Reader, By the time you read this, I’ll be happily transplanted back in Paris after a whirlwind week in New York with only one purpose in mind: to get my daughter installed in her new apartment in the West Village. Thanks to all of you readers, we learned a lot about New York: How to best get to IKEA (take the free ferry from Pier 11 direct to IKEA in Brooklyn every 20 minutes, which we did successfully), who really has the best croissants in New York (according to “Brad” who wrote:
and that one can love New York and Paris for very different reasons.
As we trekked all over Manhattan in search of sofas, furnishings and housewares, the decision to become a “Greenwich Villager” was confirmed by visiting the other districts of Manhattan that don’t feel quite as ‘human-scale’ or as much like Le Marais, where my offspring spent most of her formative years. The narrow streets and little independent merchants of the Village are reminiscent of our own little neighborhood (around rue de Bretagne) that’s becoming too chic for ‘its own britches.’ One of the things we noticed when looking for furnishings is how different the styles are. While European appliances are notoriously complicated to operate (one must have a PhD to operate a washing machine), the designs are more contemporary. Furnishings have the same differences — even in New York where you would expect tastes to be quite sophisticated, styles are largely traditional and classic. We were looking for black and gray upholstery, almost impossible to find compared to the tans and browns. I suppose that when one is drowning in history that anything contemporary is refreshing, but for those who have little history on which to rely, a classic environment can feel somehow stable and reassuring. Still we managed to find everything for a new apartment one can dream of, with the exception of just the perfect coffee table, and shockingly, IKEA was a disappointment, coming home with only a bit of lighting for the bathroom under our arms. There is as much French spoken on the streets of New York as there is English in Paris, not to mention lots of other languages and dialects in English. The Europeans are clearly taking advantage of their strong euro, however waning at the moment. In case you haven’t been paying attention, the dollar has gained in strength considerably, now boasting of about $1.35 to the euro. It hasn’t been this strong (or the euros so weak against it) since mid 2007. Now’s your chance to take advantage of it in reverse! (To learn more, visit our partner currency specialist, HIFX.) A week may not seem like long to be away from Paris, but in some ways it feels like an eternity. In just a few hours, Starbucks will be a thing of the past as I settle in for a Café Crème at the Cafe du Marché and a delicious croissant from the corner “boulangerie.”
Adrian Leeds
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P.S. Be sure to mark your calendars for next Tuesday, October 14th at La Pierre du Marais to join us for our monthly Après Midi gathering and to help celebrate my birthday! Visit parlerparis.com/apresmidi.html for more information.
“Settling Down in Paris” – Episode HHINT-402 Angela and Ben met in 2003 when they lived in Los Angeles working for the same clothing company. Now, the two are engaged to be married. When Ben started receiving frequent overseas work, the company believed he’d be more valuable in Paris, so they happily relocated. They immediately moved into a cozy rental in the 17th district near the Arc de Triomphe and started to explore the different neighborhoods of Paris. The pair is now ready to take the big leap and purchase an apartment to stay for good. Property consultant Adrian Leeds is enlisted to help. House Hunters International Episode HHINT-402 To book your personal property consultation with Adrian Leeds, please email adrian@adrianleeds.com
![]() “Owning All or a Fraction” Participate FREE OF CHARGE to a special Conference Call on Sunday, October 5th…it’s FREE for subscribers of French Property Insider! Our Search Consultant, Mary Ellen Gallagher, will be on the call with me, helping you decide what’s best for your Paris investment…a pied-à-terre of your own or a fraction of one!…Subscribers Read On…
French Property Insider is a weekly e-zine, sharing insights, recommendations, tips, and discoveries about Paris real estate and French property. Each information-packed issue is devoted to educating its readers on how to effectively, efficiently and profitably purchase property in France. For more information visit frenchpropertyinsider.com or email info@adrianleeds.com
Living and Investing in France Real Estate Conference! SPECIAL OFFER: Bring a spouse, partner or friend FREE! Hosted by Adrian Leeds, long time resident of Paris, Editor of the Parler Paris Nouvellettre® and French Property Insider weekly E-zine and John Howell, lead attorney for the International Law Partnership, London, these two days in Paris will point you in the right direction to make it really happen! For more information or to register, visit frenchpropertyconference or email Schuyler Hoffman, Conference Coordinator, at info@adrianleeds.com
Spend a power-packed weekend in Panama City, Panama with six savvy travelers to learn about the four easy-to-master travel tools you can use to escape the 9-5 drudgery of the work-a-day world … They’ll hand you the key to a life where you can live on permanent vacation… travel like a VIP… receive offers of hospitality at top-notch resorts around the world… get behind-the-curtain passes to everything from art openings to museum exhibits and concerts… meet new people… escape to romantic getaways… experience fascinating cultures… take home as much as six figures a year… and even take your travels as tax-deduction. RSVP today and join AWAI on a FREE winter escape to The San Blas Islands just off the coast of Panama… compliments of AWAI Travel Division! This free trip is limited to 21 people, so please reply right away. Read this letter for all details http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/tpi/panama/09 ![]() “Le Palace des Vosges” Now you can own a share in an AMAZING “maison” — more of a house in the country than an apartment in Paris, right smack dab in the middle of Paris’ most elegant square — the Place des Vosges. Occupancy is May 2, 2009. Includes Two Bedrooms, Two Baths + Powder Room Only 13 shares are available, so don’t miss this unique opportunity! For more information visit frenchpropertyfractional.com or email maryellen@adrianleeds.com
Insider Paris Guides are written for people who love the City of Light. You’ll get a Paris insider perspective on Good Value Restaurants… Making a Life… Black Culture… Expat Writers…plus the newest guide, Practical Paris! Visit Insider Paris Guides
Welcome to your home in Paris. Home is how you will feel in a private apartment in Paris that has the “seal of approval” from Parler Paris Apartments and me, Adrian Leeds.Le Balcon Planté
Reserve now! Visit /parlerparis/apartments/re ntals/balcon_plante.html
The next gathering is October 14, 2008* and every second Tuesday of the month. *A birthday celebration for Adrian Leeds!
Practice speaking French and English. Make friends, discuss interesting topics, learn about other cultures, progress in understanding and speaking, naturally and easily. Meets three times a week — come as often as you like! Parler Parlor meets Tuesdays 6:30 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. For further details, visit parlerparlor.com
Find out more at francetoday.com Buy and sell with Parler Paris classifieds: ParlerParis.com/advertise.html Copyright 2010, Adrian Leeds® |
“Goodbye Tall Latté, Hello Café Crème”
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