Sleeping with the Stars

Lights, Camera, Action! Welcome, Hotel Paradiso, the first cinema hotel to open its doors, inviting cinephiles from around the world to make themselves at home. Having spent the night at this star-studded hotel created by Nathanaël and Elisha Karmitz of mk2, allow me to share the cinematic experience. Photos by Romain Ricard.

Each of the 34 rooms at Hotel Paradiso in Paris’s right bank is minimally outfitted in colorful decor and original artwork, some with balconies, while two spacious suites feature new releases. Artists JR and Christian Boltanski discreetly fill the space both inside and out. Can you spot Charlie Chaplin?

We happily settled into our well-appointed room, which included a bathtub in direct view of the 3-meter wide projection screen. A film while taking a bath, anyone? And yes, sweet and savory snacks including popcorn are part of the treats on offer.

With a careful curation of both classic films and newer releases, what to watch? We scanned the hundreds of films and found more than a few that piqued our interest, settling on two indie films. While Bob’s Juice Bar offers healthy eats well into the night (and a heavenly breakfast), we opted for sushi delivery from a local spot.

For the dedicated cinephiles, Hotel Paradiso includes private screening rooms from which you can watch films of your choice, including new releases from the VIP room directly above the movie theater. There’s also a karaoke room for after hours.

Another unique feature at Hotel Paradiso is their open-air cinema on the rooftop, with spectacular views of Paris far into the distance. For that, and of course, to catch the latest films in their mk2 movie theater, we’ll be back!

The Dream Life of Yelena Yegoryan

Two years ago, the mysterious universe brought me and Yelena together after my good friend living in Yelena’s hometown of Los Angeles overheard her mention that she was moving to Paris. Somehow, she (and the universe) knew that we should meet. Soon after she settled into her new home, we planned a date at the famous left bank haunt Café de Flore, and have been sharing Parisian adventures ever since. Yelena even joined us in the Italian Riveria last summer. This beautiful and soulful woman, a trained violinist who has performed with some of the world’s greatest artists including Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, Adele, and U2 (just to name a few) is now living her dream life in Paris. As any foreigner who has moved to the City of Light knows well, it’s far from easy, but she is determined! Yelena is creating her own melodic path and sharing her passion for Paris and the gift of music through violin lessons and classical music experiences. I am grateful to join her on this journey.

Throughout my life, I’ve had deep connections with certain things. At the age of 5, I knew I wanted to be a violinist and it became a lifelong adventure in the world of music. Music took me all over the world, I traveled extensively with concerts. I got to perform on the world’s biggest stages including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and Disney Hall.

I visited Paris first time at the age of 14, I was there with concerts. When I stood under the sparkling Eiffel Tour I knew that this city is special and I felt that magic connection. So indeed years after I came back to Paris and was drawn to it so much that I started coming here more and more often. Each time I arrived here I felt in my element. I loved taking my time and getting intimately acquainted with the city. I learned the language, the culture, its people. And the more I learned the more I fell in love with it.

I loved sharing Paris with friends and all of them would tell me that they never experienced it this way, that seeing Paris through my eyes was so much more personal and special. So some of those friends convinced me to create a website dedicated to Paris one pleasant afternoon while sipping hot chocolate at a beautiful Parisian hotel. They literally made me buy the domain parisinstyle.com. I had no idea back then what I was going to do with it.

But being a disciplined musician I got back to Los Angeles, where I lived at the time and I started creating the website. It was all about Paris and sharing through it my love for this city. And two years after I felt that life was too short not to pursue our dreams, so I decided to move to Paris and make it my home. Everything magically worked out and I arrived in Paris with 2 suitcases and my violin. A new adventure had begun. It wasn’t always easy to start all over from zero in a foreign city, but I knew why I was doing it and it was so worth it! Each time when I look at the shining Eiffel Tower in my window or when I stroll down the historical streets I feel like I’m living a dream. I am so grateful to have found this place that fulfills me in so many ways and that I’m fortunate to call home.

This year I transformed Paris In Style towards music and the power it has because after all, it is through the eyes of a musician that Paris becomes magical for me.

Paris Picks : Romantic Gift Ideas

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner and love in bloom all year long, and I’ve put together a list of gift ideas directly from Paris. Perfect even to treat yourself (#selflove). I’m hoping these romantic gift ideas will bring you a little closer to the city of light and love until you can visit again in person. If you’re lucky enough to be in Paris, head over to flower shop L’Arrosoir to pick up a bouquet, bag, and book!

Chocolate is always a good idea, especially if it’s produced by a local chocolatier, in Paris. Having discovered Edwart Chocolatier when they first open their Marais boutique in 2014, I’ve been a fan of their unique concoctions ever since. Edwart also offers chocolate making classes which I had the sweet pleasure of joining.

How better to profess your love than with a sustainably made bracelet that gives back. Each colorful Let’s Commit bracelets by jewelry brand Courbet comes in 18K recycled gold featuring a laboratory-grown diamond, with 15% of the sale price supporting a foundation of your choice. Now that’s devotion! Read more about the House of Courbet, here.

The ambiance is key to a romantic setting. That’s why I’m sharing fragrant candles from family perfumery Le Jardin Retrouvé, available in three scents, Cuir de Russie, Tubéreuse Trianon, and Rose Trocadéro, these candles come in fine porcelain from Limoges, making them even more decorative, and reusable. Discover Le Jardin Retrouvé’s perfumes, too!

Want to learn how to whip up your own French macarons from the comfort of home? Cooking school La Cuisine Paris now offers online classes including the sweet option of learning to make French macarons. Having tried this class myself, I guarantee you’ll be well guided and have plenty of treats to offer everyone you love.

Ready for a French glow? Beauty brand Aime works both inside and out to leave your skin healthy and glowing. As the founders say, It’s not about being the most beautiful, it’s about being the most healthy you. All of Aime’s skin supplements and beauty products are French-made and their latest perfume oil is heavenly!

From Paris, With Love

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner and everyone in need of a little extra amour, especially these days, I thought I’d create a special gift set, from Paris, with love. What better than a gorgeous bouquet of fresh blooms from 100-year old florist L’Arrosoir along with one of my hand-painted Paris-themed bags and a (signed) book by one of the City of Light’s talented authors. Et voilà! The perfect Valentine’s Day gift!

For those living in Paris, order your bag, bouquet, and book online, choosing between the latest books by local authors (and Rive Droite residents) David Lebovitz, Lindsey Tramuta, Jessie Kanelos Weiner, Krystal Kenney, Lily Heise, and Rebekah Peppler.

You can choose between the Rive Droite and Rive Gauche bags, depending on your favorite side of the city. There’s also the I heart Paris bag or a bag featuring one of Paris’s 20 arrondissements. All bags from this collection are hand-painted and reversible and each one costs €65 instead of €90 with the bouquet and book.

If you’re not in Paris to pick up your gift set, I welcome you to order a bag for your Valentine using 20% off code FromParisWithLove for all Kasia Dietz handbags from now until February 14th. All of the above books, which are a must-read for any Francophile, can be ordered via Amazon. As for the bouquets at L’Arrosoir, for those, you’ll need to come to Paris.

Adventures in Portugal : From the Alentejo to the Algarve

In need of a change of scenery from our Haut Marais neighborhood, we decided to end the year and begin a new one, in southern Portugal. Given the many travel restrictions, this remained one of the safest destinations. And our last trip to Portugal, from cruising down the Duoro to road tripping in the Algarve, left us eager for more.

After a dose of sun and sea at Praia do Meco en route from Lisbon, we settled into our home in Zamujeira do Mar in the Alentejo region. With barely any tourists and very few locals, we explored the rugged coastline.

For an authentic lunch with the locals, we stopped at the neighboring village of Porto Covo followed by a visit to Vila Nova de Milfontes. The latter, filled with charm, quickly became a favorite in the Alentejo region.

Always eager for a road trip, we drove over two hours to the medieval town of Mértola close to the Spanish border. Deserted, this once Islamic open-air museum made for a perfect lunch stop in between rain showers.

Having spent a few scenic nights watching the sunset from our home in Zamujeira do Mar, it was time to continue south to the Algarve. But first, a quick stop at Praia de Odeceixe followed by an eclectic seafood lunch at O Sargo in Praia de Monte Clérigo. Will travel for food!

Our next home, and where we would celebrate the New Year, was the coastal town of Lagos with its rugged cliffs.

Each beach in Lagos looked more wild and dramatic than the last. We hiked our way along the coast, in awe.

The sun-filled week spent in Portugal, from the less touristic Alentejo region to the popular Algarve, filled us both with renewed strength and a positive outlook on the new year, as tough as the months ahead may be.

Christmas in Paris

Every year the historic Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann department store puts on a spectacular Christmas display featuring a decorated tree beneath its majestic dome. This year’s theme “A Christmas Journey” takes us around the world through the enchanting window displays depicting far away lands. The Christmas tree tells the story of this expedition, with glittering lanterns and Jules Védrines’ plane flying overhead. It was 1919 when his actual plane landed on the Galeries Lafayette rooftop! Ready to embark on a virtual journey?

Every 30 minutes the dome lights turn off to reveal a spectacular sound and light show. A sight to behold!

The window displays at the Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann store take us to distant imaginative lands, from a fairytale village full of polar bears to a mystical land of Arabian nights. This is the magic of Christmas!

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