What a difference a decade makes.

The last time I visited Paris, I was an impressionable (read: sensitive) 17 year old and I left the city with a bitter taste in my mouth thinking the food sucked and the people sucked even more.

Fast forward 12 years, and after a short trip to Amsterdam, it was off to Paris. After having spent a week in Paris, I can confidently say that it is my second favorite European — after Barcelona, naturally. From the palatte-pleasing cuisine (highlighted by dinners at Le Derrière, Hotel du Nord, Hotel Costes) to the awe-inspiring exhibits (Federico Fellini at Jeu De Paume, ‘Art Nouveau Revivial’ and James Ensor at Musée d’Orsay) to the hands-down best shopping on the planet (see: everywhere), Paris was simply magical. Admittedly my daily averages of 13.3 café américains and 3.7 pain du chocolats a day didn’t hurt much. [Where else can you go and see half-naked joggers running thru the courtyards of 400+ year old palaces and museums at all hours of the day?] The only drawback to our trip was the fact that Paris’ main tourist attractions (Versailles, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre, etc.) were shut down due to a worker strike — but all that did was force us to travel the less ‘touristy’ road. The results? Très magnifique.

Art Nouveau at Musée d’Orsay…

…and Art Nouveau in the streets

Inside this armoire? The ‘secret’ smoking room of Le Derriere (Open armoire door, push in the back of armoire, and voila!)

Workers strike outside Louvre. Translation: “F*ck you Gilberto, you uncultured American bastard go home!” Yikes.

View from atop the Eiffel Tower

Shok represented hard in Paris!

Last night was insane to my membrane. I got in to  Miami at 11 p.m. after an hour delay on American Airlines. The captain announced “thats about standard” and you can only imagine what I said to him on my way out. Before the night got started we headed to the Mondrian hotel to grab some friends and then headed to The W for some lame party and a bottle of Tequila — useless because I only drink Jack. Afterwords we hit up Rok Bar for a few minutes and then eventually made out way to Club Le Baron which was set up at The Florida Room this weekend. I didn’t get home till 6 a.m. and I still think I might have left a little early.

Photos By: SHOK

Two launch parties combined into one:

STANDARD Magazine celebrates the launch of its 25th issue, “Architecture & Utopies urbaines”.

Institut Français de la Mode (IFM) celebrates the launch of the “2009 x 20 Catalogue”, a collection of creations by 20 international designers.

Performance: Anne-Laure Keib & Max Krefeld of Appaloosa

DJ Set: Jean Marc Rabemila of Tricolore Paris

The IFM is located on the Quai d’Austerliz, along the river Seine

Photos By: Le Baron

]]> http://www.helloooooo.com/2009/10/standard-magazine-institut-francais-de-la-mode/feed/ 2 http://www.helloooooo.com/2009/10/expo-burned-la-galerie-chappe/ http://www.helloooooo.com/2009/10/expo-burned-la-galerie-chappe/#comments Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:24:53 +0000 Le Baron http://www.helloooooo.com/?p=8637 Continue reading →]]>

In America, the saying goes, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

In Paris, the saying is, “When life gives you lemons, MAKE ART!”

And so comes in musician Nicolas Ullmann, who after the March 2009 fire of his apartment, decided to exhibit his burnt belongings at my favorite art gallery, La Galerie Chappe in Montmartre, Paris. Alongside his damaged possessions, the exhibition also includes photos that 20 famous photographers shot against the backdrop of his burnt apartment.

The grand opening of the expo wasn’t all tears and sorrow – hundreds of montmartoises drank their beers on the rue Chappe while Ullmann himself put on an awesome concert.

She puts her back to me, pushes her hair to the side, and turns to give a look out of her left eye which demands only one thing and one thing only-

After a few steps, my hand arrives upon the middle of her back and her shoulder blades begin to display a show of their shape and form. My fingers slide down to perform the demanded task, and so the little black dress is unzipped.

This pleasurable moment, a moment most precious for many men, is à grâce de Monsieur Didier Ludot and his les petites robes noires.

This past Wednesday, fashion historian Ludot celebrated the 10th anniversary of boutique in the Palais Royale by displaying his vintage haute couture collection of black dresses for the eye pleasure of the Paris Fashion Week society.

Two nights later, the celebration continued as the also dress designer decided to turn DJ for the night at Buvez Madison’s Curio Parlor.

Creation: Naco Paris

Photos By: Le Baron

Massive store, massive party.

Photos By: Le Baron

Apparently, the people of New York didn’t party enough during their fashion week and decided to throw a dashing soirée during Paris Fashion Week at Chez Regine this past Sunday.

Paul Sevigny, Derek Blasberg, Tommy Saleh, and Steven Rojas hosted the bash in honor of their city and invited Leigh Lezark and the Misshapes to perform.

Fashion glitterati included Missoni heiress Margherita Missoni, Elle Magazine’s Kate Lanphear, Katy Perry, and British Model Lily Donaldson. I thought I had seen it all when I turned around and saw Alexander Wang making out with some dude, but then I went outside for a smoke and saw Lindsay Lohan cussing out some pap.

Greg Foat

Bow-tie Mad-Scientist Timo Weiland.

Photos By: Le Baron

The Grand and Petit Palais to your back, the Tour Eiffel to your right, the River Seine swimming beneath your feet, the Musée d’Orsay in front of you. Walk a little deeper into the 7th district, make a turn on the rue de Lille, and admire the art galleries until you reach number 33.

Le Bistrot de Paris brings back traditional french cuisine with cosy elegance and a hefty dose of bonheur.

I shall recommend to you all the 220 gram (yes, 8 ounces) steak sandwiched between a soaked piece of bread on the bottom and a beautifully glazed piece of foie gras on top…but not before you feast on your prunes soaked in red wine, of course.

Photos By: Le Baron

Hey Jane, I’ve got my own sea of shoes… and it’s all thanks to a little store in the Marais lovingly named La Friponne

Character and quality sans the unsupportable clutter and horrid stench of your typical friperie.

Photos By: Le Baron

Nelly, la Mademoiselle des Contradictions, la Baronesse d’Oxymore. My Humble Muse, une Bénédiction Pécheresse, the Merciful Sirene.

Clothing: Chinemachine
Model: Nelly Chevaillier
Make-Up: Nadia Morizet
Analog Camera: Anatole Maggiar
Stylist: Laurine Leblond
Digital Camera: Me

It happened to Moses at the Burning Bush, to Jesus at the Jordan River, and to Buddha under the Bodhi Tree.

This past week, God spoke to me at Le Mathis. Antique paintings, foie gras, mirrored walls, haricots-verts, crystal chandeliers, and bottles upon bottles of velvety red wine that played so joyfully against every bite of my peppered steak.

My spiritual experience continued once we left the restaurant and entered the Bar le Mathis, surrounded by furniture and bottles of alcohol that are just as gorgeous as the Parisians that were entour de moi. The music waves swam around me as I laughed and giggled, sipped on my whiskey-rocks, and continued my trip of enlightenment.

Ah yes, I forgot… le Mathis is actually a magnificently decorated 23-room hotel where I look forward to spending a few scandalous nights at in my near future.

Photos By: Le Baron

A couple pages left to read in Lolita.

This calls for a quick stroll in the gardens of the Château de Versailles before making my way back into Paris centre…

After a quick 5 minute drive from school, I landed upon a cool surprise – Veilhan Versailles. Set against the typical lines and mazes of French landscaped gardens, combined with the epiphany of palatial baroque architecture, Veilhan’s installations add a certain peculiar twist to the royal grounds which is most unsuspecting.

For those of you not familiar with the French modern artist, Xavier Veilhan‘s trait artistique is his generic conversion of complex figures, reducing his subjects into basic geometric forms and leaving interpretation up to the observer.

What is most striking about his style is that even in their essentials forms, his works of art don’t fall short of curious details, which leaves us wondering, “Do we really need realism and actuality to understand a piece of work?”

See for yourselves…

The highlight of my day? Jarrod and Valentina entering the gardens on mini-cooper (totally illegal), and taking me for a ride around Le Domaine de Marie Antoinette

Photos By: Le Baron

Looooook who I found: Gaspard Augé of Justice in the hills of Montmartre, Paris. And why?

Chinemachine Vintage threw open its doors for their monthly nocturne party this past Friday night. Vintage rags imported from all corners of the world and ridic amounts of alcohol were passed around while Thieves Like Us and Bertrand Delanowave spun disks in the basement and Lydie coiffed up the les montmartoises.

To top it all off, music label DeBonton debuted their newly-signed artist Sydney Valette, who graced us the privileged with an awesome live performance.

Photos By: Le Baron

The clouds come together, big clouds, like the pillows you use to play with as a child…

The thunder rolls, and trillions upon trillions of rain drops are released into the air.

Paris is showered, cleaned, no… cleansed of the sins it was witness to the night before.

An hour later, the sun king returns to his throne and breaks apart the white blanket that darkens the city on many an afternoons. It is at this prime moment where we close our parapluies, and Paris gets back to its hussle and bussle of taxis, pedestrians, wine, and cigarettes.

But no one ever takes a moment to stare at the reflections which are born in puddles of rainwater…

Photos By: Le Baron

Just got back from a four-day seminar on ‘Ethics and Performances,’ an elective I signed up for this semester. The course was led by Father Hugues Minguet, Jean-François de Lavison (VP of Executive International Affairs – bioMérieux), and Philippe Desmarescaux (President – Rhône-Poulenc).

The course took place at the L’Institut Sens et Croissance Monastery located in Chomelix, France. Sixteen students, eleven nationalities, and the French country-side.

Here are some pics from an experience I’ll never forget…

Photos By: Le Baron

I don’t exercise. I don’t take vitamins. Café créme three times a day. Big smoker. Even bigger drinker.

So you may ask, “But Baron, why don’t you take more care of yourself?!”

Oh my dear readers, it’s because everyday before I hop onto the train for school, I have the breakfast of champions.
No sillies, not Wheaties!

Behold, Aux Délices de Manon – the crown jewel of refined boulangeries in Paris. Each pastry on its own exhibits the finnesse of the French hand, resulting in edible pieces of art which are the source of so much joy in my life.

I am now a morning person.

Éclair au chocolat. My favorite because it’s the most fattening, duh.

Photos By: Le Baron

On the first night of The Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week, 13 capitals around the world open the doors of their luxury stores to their city’s jeunesse dorée.

Naturally, Fashion’s Night Out – Paris took place on the Avenue Montaigne, home to the regular top names in the bizz.

I’ve always wanted to drink champagne in a Chanel store at night, and then just see Karl Lagerfeld walk by… Haven’t you?

Photos By: Helloooooo Contributor-Arielle Himoff

I’ll keep this short and simple.

I frequently find myself in the wee hours of the night on the rue Saint-Benoît in the Saint-Germain neighborhood of Paris, dancing at Bar Le Montana until the Louis Vuitton store across the street opens the next morning.

And if you ever find the need to surround yourself with ridiculously gorgeous Parisans, and then catch breakfast in the morning next door at the infamous Café de Flore, then recall this post and let it lead you the way…

Photos By: Le Baron