Category:

Life in Paris

Life in Paris, blog entries for local Paris culture, living in Paris, Paris photo walks, Neighborhood walks, Cafés in Paris, flea markets, Christmas windows, Paris local shops, gardens, zoos

Vienoisseries (pastries) under glass, Le Figaro, water and two expressos Rue du Pas-de-la-Mule

A Beautiful Paris “Muguet” Morning in the Neighborhood

May 1 is Labor and Lily of the Valley Day
by Colleen's Paris
Life in ParisNeighborhoods & WalksParis Images written by Colleen's Paris

It is May 1, the sky is blue and it is supposed to rain at 3 p.m. You would never know it; not a cloud in the sky. This is a holiday and all is quiet. A food store in our neighborhood is open, the local cafés are closed. A …

Continue Reading
0 comments
2 FacebookPinterestLinkedinEmail
Metro posters for exhibitions Révéler le féminin Cognacq-Jay and La Mode 18e siècle Palais Galliera with images of Marie-Antoinette's corset and Boucher's portrait of Marie-Émilie Baudouin

Echoes of the Enlightenment: A Trail Through 18th Century Style at Palais Galliera and Cognacq-Jay

Three hundred centuries of retro fashion
by Colleen's Paris
Exhibitions & ArtVideos written by Colleen's Paris

Have you ever looked at contemporary fashion and felt a strange sense of déjà vu? You might find yourself wondering: is that dress truly “modern,” or is it a ghost from the late 1700s? Were the designers of the Enlightenment actually remixing looks from the 1600s? And why, even in …

Continue Reading
0 comments
0 FacebookPinterestLinkedinEmail
An artist is in a Pont Neuf alcove (corbeilles) as a walker passes by

Observing People in Springtime Paris

On a Photo Walk with WICE From the Louvre to the Tour Saint-Jacques
by Colleen's Paris
Life in ParisPhoto Walks and Seasonal Photos written by Colleen's Paris

One of my favorite activities in Paris is taking a photo tour. In this post I am taking you along for a visit in late March from the Louvre along the Seine to Pont Neuf, Île-de-la-Cité and near Notre-Dame de Paris. The theme was black and white; I could not …

Continue Reading
1 comment
0 FacebookPinterestLinkedinEmail
Sacre-Coeur stone plaque showing the bomb map from 1944 Colleen's Paris www.colleensparis.com

A Paris History Walk Inside the Sacré-Coeur Basilica

Vivid stories before your very eyes
by Colleen's Paris
Life in ParisNeighborhoods & Walks written by Colleen's Paris

Did you know that the Sacré-Cœur Basilica  was a bombing target during the Second World War? Or that a “National Vow” from 1870 was the primary reason it was built in the first place? You might also be surprised to discover that the imprisoned Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and their family are featured …

Continue Reading
0 comments
0 FacebookPinterestLinkedinEmail
Image of Sankta Lucia procession

The Longest Night Celebration and Lights in Paris

When the Julian and Gregorian calendars changed the longest night date
by Colleen's Paris
Activities, Theater, Cinema, MusicLife in Paris written by Colleen's Paris

December 21 is the longest night of the year. Why then, is the Swedish feast day of Sankta Lucia celebrated on December 13? The Julian calendar. When Sweden reformed her calendar in 1753 switching to the Gregorian, they kept the original December 13 date for the celebration.

Continue Reading
0 comments
0 FacebookPinterestLinkedinEmail
Christmas Windows 2025 Children peering into the windows from a special stand

Paris Christmas Windows 2025 – And the Winner Is…!

by Colleen's Paris
Life in ParisShopping & Markets & Events written by Colleen's Paris

Each year in Paris, department stores decorate their windows with lively Christmas holiday displays. Each stands out for with their own theme to delight. Le Bon Marché on rue de Sèvres (7th arrondissement) was the first store to decorate its windows, in 1909. The displays are as varied as the …

Continue Reading
0 comments
0 FacebookPinterestLinkedinEmail
Panorama view from top level of Notre Dame Cathedral on the South Tower Tour

Visit the South Tower of Notre-Dame de Paris

The historical visit is like a stairway to the heavens
by Colleen's Paris
Exhibitions & ArtMonumentsNotre-Dame de Paris written by Colleen's Paris

Don’t let the 424 steps to the top of Notre‑Dame’s towers intimidate you — from the original stone staircase to the new double-revolution solid oak this is a journey through history. Think of the visit as a stairway to the heavens.

Continue Reading
0 comments
0 FacebookPinterestLinkedinEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts

Search

Social

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Colleen's Paris © 2026 by Colleen Shaughnessy-Larsson is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0