The Blue Notes – African

Portrait: Bonhomie in Strasbourg-St. Denis

That is a rare feat in Paris, a city where pretension is commonplace, and high quality is well, not rare, but sometimes harder to find than you’d think.

Portrait: The 46 Bar in the 10th Arrondissement of Paris

The 46 Bar is a neighbourhood feel-good, casual cocktail bar between Strasbourg St. Denis and Republique. But unless you see it street-side at the exact right time of day, you might miss it. They label themselves a true ‘New York’ cocktail bar. Now the 46 doesn’t resemble any bar in New York that I know,Continue reading “Portrait: The 46 Bar in the 10th Arrondissement of Paris”

Portrait: The Little Red Door in the Haut Marais of Paris

The Little Red Door is less of a speakeasy, and more of an idea. Whereas other speakeasies are hidden by facades–telephone booths, taquerias and dark alleys–this speakeasy rests behind a Ferrari Testarossa of a door. It calls the attention to all who pass. Le Carreau De Temple – 3e On a bright Saturday afternoon, IContinue reading “Portrait: The Little Red Door in the Haut Marais of Paris”

Caché! The Secret and Wonderful Oddities of Paris: Passage du Pont aux Biches

On a black night, in the misery of a rainy Paris winter, I scamper past Place de La Republique into the upper east corner of Le Marais. Suddenly, I see a burst of color emanating from a narrow set of stairs. This mysterious passage looks run-down, filthy even. On closer inspection one I see thatContinue reading “Caché! The Secret and Wonderful Oddities of Paris: Passage du Pont aux Biches”

2.2 The Blue Notes – Le HasBeen

On top, curved like a capsized canoe, drifts an orange peel.

2.1 The Blue Notes – La Patache

The Parisian landscape is immersive yet alienating. Within reach, I could tap 15 people on the shoulder, but that wouldn’t be polite,
would it?

1.5 The Blue Notes–Panic Room

December 16th Panic Room—02h00 You still open? Of course. Doors down lies a packed bar. It’s where I wanted to go. Before we were sidetracked by L’Etincelle. A caricatured overweight, black doorman hassles us. He reels us in after a drawn out moment. Loud music. Loud people. Dirty, dark bar. Leftovers from all the otherContinue reading “1.5 The Blue Notes–Panic Room”

1.4 The Blue Notes – L’Etincelle

‘My umbrella, it’s my prized possession,’ he starts. ‘It gives me a look of sophistication and it protects me from rain.’

1.3 The Blue Notes – Moonshiner

December 15th Moonshiner—h2130 A rainy night. Near Place Des Vosges, on the outskirts of the Marais, the backstreets are slick and empty. The three of us scamper across the wide Boulevard Beaumarchais. Rain picks up. It’s near freezing. Street lights reflect in a violent orange hue. My feet are damp, but my mouth tastes ofContinue reading “1.3 The Blue Notes – Moonshiner”

1.2 The Blue Notes – Le Cinquante

December 15th Le Cinquante—h0030 Down Rue de Lancry we walk. A car passes. People hover outside of a bar. People always hover outside of this bar. We enter. Foggy. Cramped. Everyone’s dressed in black. Bunch of late to the party beatniks, Hip boys and girls, probably design majors, who now work at bars and coffeeContinue reading “1.2 The Blue Notes – Le Cinquante”