Live from the Rive Droit, Sunday December 5, 2021
Watch this week's walk here and subscribe to my channel and never miss a video
Places we visited and notes today:
Galeries Lafayette for almost 110 years the art nouveau dome of the Galeries Lafayette has been delighting shoppers. Each year since 1945 a large 75 foot tall tree has hung down the center of the 2nd largest department store in the world. Cousins Theophile Nader and Alphonse Kahn opened a small store on the corner in 1894 and two years later they purchased the entire block. On October 8, 1912 the store we see today was inaugurated and to this day it is still managed by the same company.
Be sure to visit the top floor for a wonderful view of Paris including the lovely Palais Garnier just below.
As for the Palais Garnier, one of the most beautiful buildings in Paris that sits at the top of the long boulevard like the topper on a tree. Inaugurated on January 5. 1875 Charles Garnier’s design finally came to life although he wasn’t even invited to see it. Today a bust of Garnier greets you as you enter for a tour and we are all thankful for the stunning building he left behind.
You will want to add a visit to the Palais Garnier when you are next in Paris. Be sure to check online that the theater itself is open so you can see the ceiling by Marc Chagall. Visit the Musée d'Orsay, save your ticket and within 8 days get a discount. Open everyday 10am-5pm (unless there is an afternoon performance.
Cafe de la Paix holds the best seat on the block. Opened in 1862 it had a front row seat to the construction of the Opera house. Since then it saw the heyday of the 1920’s when the expats filled Paris including Josephine Baker and Ernest Hemingway who had a memorable Christmas dinner in 1921. Listen to a special episode of Paris History Avec a Hemingway on December 21 all about it.
If you are a lover of a good cocktail then you will want to visit Harry’s New York Bar. The location where many of the greatest classic cocktails were born including my favorite, the French 75. American jockey Ted Sloan boxed up the interior of a New York bar and moved it to Paris, opening it on Thanksgiving 1911. Ted hired Scottish bartender Harry MacElhone who became the crowd favorite and later purchased it and renamed it Harry’s. Since 1923 they have created many of the tastiest cocktails including the Bloody Mary, Sidecar and White Lady. Located at “Sank Roo Doe Noo”.
Just a few doors down is the Théâtre Daunou that was opened in 1921 by actress Jane Renouardt who asked designer and friend Jeanne Lanvin to create the interior of the theater. Jeanne had such a lover of colors she created her very own and the interior still today is covered in her lovely Lanvin blue. Lanvin was a designer that paved the way for all those after her but gets none of the credit. Listen to the episode all about this wonderful lady and how she created the oldest fashion house in the world.
We finished the walk in the Place Vendome, once the Place Louis le Grand for Louis XIV. Jules Mansart in 1699 designed the facades and at first it was the only part of the buildings in place. The wealthy Parisians moved in taking up the coveted spots on the royal square. During the Revolution the statue was destroyed and in 1810 a column was added in its place. The Vendome column topped with Napoleon was created from the guns and cannons taken at Austerlitz. Each of the rings that wind their way to the top depict battle scenes in 425 bronze plates.
If you love fashion and want to see Paris during fashion week, there is just one person you need to know. Jenni and Belle Époque fashion week experience.
Check out the video today for even more info and join us each week for another glimpse into the streets and stories of Paris.
We are running these tours on a tip-supported basis to make them as accessible as possible. They are free to join, but you have the option to leave a tip during the tour.
All of your tip goes directly to support the channel so we can continue to bring the history filled tour to you each week.
https://paypal.me/claudinehemingway or
www.venmo.com/u/Claudine-Hemingway
Or support Bleu, Blonde, Rouge on Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/bleublonderouge