looking great, arriving late

Hier soir we started our evening with pasta and dry diva martinis on rue Cler before making our way to louvre rivoli. Outside Wadklub there was a devistatingly long line which we thought we could avoid because we were on the list. Nope. The delightful man at the door was content to hold the list but for some reason he could not be prevailed upon to actually check it. After a few minutes we managed to slip in behind a friend who had skillfully negotiated with the stereotypically inept bouncers. Once inside we enjoyed a lovely evening with the Ed Banger boys and one special Banger girl. We twirled around the dance floor and lounged in the black leather den of iniquity, while hipsters clutching their Nikons clamoring for pictures of Gaspard drinking vodka soda. Sheeesh. Such a good night.

Now I'm off museuming and shopping, on the hunt for fallafel. Happy Sunday.

make you mine

Ce soir we're off to Wadklub to fête Ed Banger's newest baby, Breakbot. The release party for "Baby I'm Yours" is sure to be a hot sweaty hipster mess. I'm searching my closet for lamé spandex as we speak.

See y'all there.

brancher

Now that fashion week is upon us I feel compelled to blog Le Montana. From the name you might be expecting an American style dive bar with moose heads and plaid on the wall. Think again. This painfully cool left bank establishment is a playground for the city's creative elite. Located right around the corner from the famed Café Flore, this is where you go to see and be seen. During fashion week you can't swing a Chanel bag in this place without knocking over multiple Vogue editors, a few models, and maybe Kanye West. Montana is brought to you by Purple magazine editor Olivier Zahm and graffiti artist André. If possible it's even smaller then its sister club, Le Baron. Upstairs the sitting area has black walls decorated with white botanical drawings, perfect for sipping a Kir Royal while scoping out the scene. Downstairs, shattered mirrors line the tunnel walls where hip young things spin around the tiny dancefloor. There are no rules and no mercy at the door. Entry is by association only.

Notable Resident: Nicholas, one of the last gentleman bartenders.

PS. If you want to know what happened last night in Paris just check out Olivier's blog

Home suite home

Hotel bars in Paris are extremely popular, the Hemingway at the Ritz, the courtyard at the Costes, but recently everyone has been heading up North to l'Hotel Particulier in Montmartre. From Thursdays to Sundays they operate a semi-secret bar in the hotel. Even if you can't stay in one of the 5 gorgeous suites you can certainly grab a glass of wine while you gawk at the amazing contemporary art that litters every room.

After chatting up the owner, Morgane Rousseau, I got a peek at one of the guest rooms. SPECTACULAR. The mini loft on the top floor is a fantasy. Housed in an aristocratic mansion this hotel aims to be a step above a B&B, providing personal trainers and meals cooked by a local chief for their guests. The mansion also boasts a private leafy courtyard that was designed by the same man who revamped the Tuileries gardens.

Take a trip back to the time of Dali and van Gogh and wander the twisted streets of Montmartre until you find the secret alleyway entrance. When you see the black iron gates you'll know you've arrived. Literally and figuratively.

l'Hotel Particulier
23, avenue Junot
75018

Queens of the night

Everyone knows that Paris is a city that comes alive at night. There are thousands upon thousands of bars, clubs, and lounges to keep you entertained once the sun goes down. That's not to say they are all good. Most of the clubs in Paris suck. Ya that's right I said it. I might wax poetic about all night dance-a-thons but that's because I've found a few places that I really enjoy.

I have a not so revolutionary theory about Paris nightclubs that the smaller they are the better they are. Last night we went to the cutest coziest club called Le Tigre. It's a little gem box near Opera that's about the size of a postage stamp.

The crowd is fashionable and fun. Everyone was mingling around drink in hand, jamming out on the dance floor or chatting on the banquettes.

We went for the company and stayed for I Was There, who provided set after set of auditory pleasure. You know when you're really tired and you decide you're going to leave but then there's a song that you love playing so you stay and dance? Of course you do. Last night was kind of like that, repeatedly. It took us 30 minutes to get out the door.

When we finally did hit the streets it was at a shockingly reasonable hour. I headed home happy and went to bed dreaming about all the wonderful events to come. Including the much anticipated return of my boys to Paris!

Le Tigre
5 Rue de Molière
75001 Paris

Warhol would approve

I've lately found myself obsessed with the idea of Morocco. One of my friends just got back from Marrakesh today and I cannot wait to hear about her fabulous adventures. In lieu of of being able to jet off to Africa, I joined friends for dinner and drinks at my favorite Moroccan bar, Andy Wahloo. "Wahloo" is Arabic means "I have nothing," which must be some cultured attempt at sarcasm because this place appears to have everything but the kitchen sink. Wahloo has kitsch in spades, but that's what attracts both the jet-setters and the locals.

If you show up famished (as I did last night) indulge yourself with something from the tapas menu. My friend and I both fiend the lamburger, which goes perfectly with a tall minty mojito. You can also sample a bottle of North African wine. Ask your server for a suggestion, they're all adorable and uncharacteristically friendly.

The music is a mix of middle eastern beats and classic rock, a surprising charming combination. Around midnight the DJ cranks the volume and everyone packs the dancefloor. ENJOY.

Andy Wahloo
69 Rue des Gravilliers
75003 Paris

party people

For those nights when you really need to cut loose and dance until your feet feel like they're going to fall off, run do not walk to Le Social. Electro kids rejoice at their temple of musical worship. You can party at this club any night of the week but I prefer Thursdays and Saturdays. Website stalk and find out when your favorites are playing. Bart B More, Rusko, DJ Mehdi, SebastiAn, and Kid Kaio, are all staples, but you may show up to find any of the following behind the tables:

2MANYDJ’S, 3 NON & A BLONDE, A TRAK, A.KRAFT, ABSURD, AGORIA, AICHA, ALEX FLITSCH, ALEX GOPHER, ALEX KID, ANDREA ESU, ANDREW WEATHERALL, ANDY C & MR GQ, ANTIPOP, ARCHIGRAM, BABY G from LSB, BALIL, BEN, BIRDY NAM NAM, BOBMO, BOOTY CALL DJ CREW, BOY 8 BIT, BRENDAN LONG, BRODINSKI, BUSY P, CARL CRAIG, CASPER, CASPER CLARK, CHEF, CHLOÉ, CLARA MOTO, CLARK DJ CREW, CLEMENT MEYER, COMPUPHONIC, CONGOROCK, COSMOVITELLI, CRAME, CRAZE, CRAZY B, CRYSTAL CASTLES, CUIZINIER, D.I.R.T.Y SOUNDSYSTEM, DACTYLO, DANIEL BELL, DANTON EEPROM, DAS GLOW, DAS POP, DATA, DAVID CARRETTA, DAVID K, DENYSE JUNCUTT, DETECT, DIPLO, DIPLOMATIC, DISCODEINE, DJ ASSAULT, DJ CLASS, DJ CREW, DJ FOOD, DJ FUNK, DJ HELL, DJ LA NOIRAUDE, DJ MANAIA, DJ MEDHI, DJ NEASSO & MAD KILLAH, DJ NEED, DJ OOF, DJ ORGASMIC, DJ PONE, DJ STEPHEN, DJ TRANTERCO, DJEDJOTRONIC, DK, DON RIMINI, DONOVAN, DR VINCE, DROP THE LIME, DSL, ELECTROSEXUAL, ELISA DO BRASIL, EROL ALKAN, ETIENNE DE CRECY, EXTRAWELT, FEADZ, FELIX DA HOUSE CAT, FLYING LOTUS, FOXYLANE LIVE, FUCKED FROM ABOVE 1985, FYAR TRUCK, GAMEBOY/GAMEGIRL, GEE DP, GEORGES SELECTOR, GESAFFELSTEIN, GET THE CURSE, GILB’R, GILDAS & MASAYA, GLASS CANDY, GOLDEN BUG, GOOSE, GUILLAUME DUVAL, GUNS N BOMBS, HANNA HANRA, HEADMAN, HEATKID, HEIDI, HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR, HILTMEYERINC, HOTCHIP Dj Set, HOUSEMEISTER, I WAS THERE, IDAHO, INSTITUBES ALL STARS, ITALOBOYZ, IVAN SMAGGHE, JACQUES, JEAN NIPON, JECK HYDE, JEDSA, JENNY.K, JERRY BOUTHIER, JESS, JOE LE BON, JOHN ACQUAVIVA, JOJO DE FREQ, JONNIE WILKES, JUST A BAND, KAZEY & BULLDOG, KAZEY & GEE DP, KENNY LARKIN, KID CHOCOLAT, KID KOALA, KIKI, LAURENT GARNIER, LE CHIC, LEE JONES, LENNY DEE, LEO, LEONARD DE LEONARD, LES DARONS, LES PETITS PILOUS, LES PUTAFRANGES, LIL’MIKE, LOVEMOTEL, LUKE SOLOMON, LUZ, MADAME MONSIEUR, MANU LE MALIN, MARCO DOS SANTOS, MARK, MARK AUGUST, MARK PRITCHARD, MARTELO, MARVY DA PIMP, MARY HELL, MASOMENOS, MATIAS AGUAYO, MATT TOLFREY, MAX PASK, MC YOUTHSTAR, METRONOMY, MIAMI HORROR, MIDFIELD GENERAL, MIDNIGHT MIKE, MIKHAIL, MISSIL, MIX MASTER MIKE, MMM, MOCK N TOOF, MON COLONEL, MR FLASH, MR MAQS, MSTRKRFT, N’ZENG, NANCY WHANG, NIZAR, OCTAVE ONE, OKAIN, OLIBUSTA, OLIVIER GIACOMOTTO, OUT ONE, PARAONE, PATRICK CHARDRONNET, PATRICK VIDAL, PAUL MOGG, PFEL, PHARRELL, PIER BUCCI, PILOOSKI, PLASMIK, PLAY PAUL, PONI HOAX, PREPPY BOYS SAILING CLUB, PRIMARY 1, PROXY, PULLING THEETS, Q BERT, QUARION, RADIO SLAVE, RADIOCLIT, REMOTE, RING DI ALARM, RIOTOUS ROCKERS, RITON, ROB MELLO, ROCCO, ROM1, ROMAIN BNO, RORY PHILLIPS, ROVE DOGS, RUEDE HAGELSTEIN, S.P.A, SASCHA FUNKE, SCAN X, SCOTTIE B, SCRATCH MASSIVE, SCRATCH PERVERTS, SEB, SEBASTIAN, SETY, SHER, SHIT, SHONKY, SINDEN, SISTER PHUNK BROTHERS, SKULL JUICE, SNAX, SO ME, SOAP & TAIWAN MC, SOLANGE LA FRANGE, SOLO, SONIC CREW, SOUNDSTREAM LIVE, SOUTH RAKKAS, ST LAURENT, STEVE AOKI, STRIP STEVE, SURKIN, SWEAT X, SWITCH, SYMBOLONE, TAI NI PO NI, TEENAGE BAD GIRL, TERENCE FIXMER, THE BLOODY BEETROOTS, THE BULGARIAN, THE CARPS, THE COOLKIDS, THE DRIVER, THE GLASS, THE GLIMMERS, THE HACKER, THE JUAN MCLEAN, THE LOVELYJONJO, THE MICRONAUTS, THE PENELOPES, THE SHOES, THE SUBS, THE TOXIC AVENGER, THIB, THOMAS VON PARTY, TIEFSCHWARZ, TIGA, TIM SWEENEY, TOM DELUXX, TOMBOY, TONIO, TONY VEGAS & PLUS ONE, TOP BILLIN, TOXIC AVENGER, TROUBLE MAKERS, TYLER POPE, UNCLE O, VIKTOR, WET, X PRESS 2, YO MAJESTY, YUKSEK, ZDAR, ZOMBIE DISCO SQUAD, ZOMBIE NATION, ZONGAMIN... AND MORE

Now you really want to go, don't deny it.

Never show up before 1 and be sure to buy your tickets in advance.

Notable residents: Ed Banger is almost always out in full force

All you need is love

Pigalle is traditionally the red light district of Paris so it's appropriate that I saw more then one "working girl" on my way to dinner last night. What was I doing in such an area you may wonder? While many of the locals may be women of questionable morals, Hôtel Amour in the 9th is one of my favorite places to grab late night drinks, meet friends for brunch, have an intimate dinner, you get the idea.

Owned by hotelier Thierry Costes and nightlife king André, this hotel is breeding ground for Parisians in the know and artistic jet setters. The stylish clientele appreciate the hotel's quirky charm and Keihl's coriander moisturizer in the bathroom. Having been designed by a slew of talented artists, the decor is cheerful and unpretentious. The place has a homey feel that I just love.

Everything on the menu is delicious. Choose anything that comes with the amazing french fries, or a plate of perfectly prepared salad. Order a bottle from the carefully selected wine list and spend your evening locking eyes with the gorgeous regulars who drift in and out.

As with most places worth eating in Paris, reservations are recommended. Especially if you want to eat on the heated terrace.

Hôtel Amour
8 Rue de Navarin
75009 Paris
01 48 78 31 80

Public transportation is clearly overrated

It's 4:30 in the morning and as is so often the case in France, there are no cabs to be found. What to do? Well if you're like most Parisians you either get on a velib and bike home, or if you're not a fan of the drunken Tour de France, then you wait until 5:30 when the metro opens. The Parisian metro simply encourages bad behavior by stopping from 2:00 to 5:30am. That's a guaranteed extra 3 1/2 hours of unintentional lechery. Of course then you figure, I'm out until 5:30 anyway, what's the harm in few extra hours? And so I often find myself heading home around sunrise, heels in hand, just in time to greet the morning shopkeepers on St. Honore. I'm convinced that the sales accociate at Lanvin thinks I'm a women of loose morals.
Bad bad bad behavior.

another night another dance floor

(Cobrasnake photo cred)

Sometime it seems like no matter where you start all roads lead to one place. For me that place is my nighttime location of choice,
Le Baron. Check your inhibitions and dignity at the door, this place is not for the faint of heart. Run by nightlife aficionados La Clique, Baron is the perfect place to let loose and hit the floor until 6am. Artists employed as DJs spin tracks that keep the bodies moving until the crack of dawn. The music is so fantastic that people actually dance instead of perching pretentiously behind bottle service - what a novel concept. If your stiletto clad feet need a break you can always squeeze your way into one of the many banquettes that line the dance floor. That is, if you can squeeze past the bouncer first; the door is tight.

Drink of choice: le baron, alright so the name won't win any awards for originality but this champagne filled concoction is delishhh!

Notable resident: Boris the bartender always gives service with a smile.

So says Earnest and so says I

(Colin P. holds down the fort at the Hemingway)

Paris is home to many things, great music, fantastic art, superior fashion; it is not, however home to the classic cocktail. Trying to find a decent martini in this city is like searching for meaning in a Will Ferrell movie - a confusing, impossible, and ultimately fruitless endeavor. One of the sole exceptions is my local joint at Place Vendôme: the Hemingway Bar, located in the Ritz hotel, which represents all that is great about old school Paris. Dark wood paneling, leather club chairs, cucumber water and warm nuts....life could be worse.

Pretentious? Yes. Amazing? You bet!

Earnest Hemingway certainly thought so. He was a loyal patron to the bar that was eventually renamed in his honor. Rumour has it that Hemingway was so eager to announce the end of the German occupation that he fired a shotgun into the ceiling of the Ritz bar to celebrate - but not before ordering a cocktail first. Such a character.

Grab some close friends, and spend an evening talking politics in a place without thumping techno music. Reservations are not allowed but neither are jeans or T-shirts. Keep it clean and classy, this place has a semi-formal dress code.

Drink of choice: Classic dry martini. I prefer mine with vodka, chilled to exactly -18.3 degrees celcius, 3 olives please. (One of the few places in Paris they'll have the common decency not to drown you in Vermouth).

Notable resident: Colin P, is largely reported to be the best bartender in the world. I'll back that.

weekend warrior

*asleep at 4
*fashion exam at 8
*leisurely stroll
*vintage rummaging in the marais
*books held hostage at pompedou, damn strikers
*lunch with bunny
*champagne and punk rock by beaubourg, thanks irish.
*yoga can wait
*italian dins with my two favorite girls
*buffalo mozza on everything
*limoncello parting gift
*drinks with two frenchies
*rue cler sleepover, as per usual
*ladurée monthly fix.
*catch up drinks at amour, it's been too long
*baron baron baron
*early saturday night/sunday morning
*flea market finds
*brrr it's cold
*studyage?
*let's not and say we did

nights like these

*playing at our personal piano bar

*lots of gin too little tonic
*homemade risotto and my mom says hi
*metmetmetro
*drinks at Palais de Toyko, confused in the bathroom, so confused
*the sofa, we broke it
*dance party at Baron, ripped tights and lost the keys
*champagne with a straw
*spin with our favorite dj
*follow me upstairs
*cab to the 1st, cab to the 7th
*5:00am knock
*"honey i'm home"
*breakfast of champions at Tribeca
*i can, so i will

From the mess to the masses

Two very lovely McGill ladies came to play this weekend. My mtl girls Jess and Laurel popped into Paris for a special concert and a very special birthday.

Glad they came, sad they left. Come back soon my loves.

Chairlift
Phoenix
Love you both
Looking good birthday girl

Le Baron

+1
Beauty
Busy P

courtyard at Hotel AmourYears abroad were made for nights like these.

(Note: All photo cred must be given to my + 1 for the evening, Mark (aka the Cobra Snake). If you don't know his blog already, start following. He's a wonderful photographer and a really great concert date as well!)