The Holidays Are Here

Yesterday was the first snow of Paris. I could see the giant flakes falling from my window as I finished up my last paper, but I had no idea how much snow had actually fallen until I went outside. I probably wouldn't have left the apartment at all had it not been for my final exam period. But I took a little detour via my backyard (pictured above) to take it all in. Gorgeous, and even better was hearing the school kids having an awesome snowball fight off in the distance. The best part, however, is now it feels like the holidays are actually here. I turn in and present my last paper of the semester in a couple hours. It's time to celebrate.
On Monday I was able to celebrate the completion of another big project - the creperie. My friend Lindsey (check out her fun expat blog, Lost in Cheeseland) and I spotted this article about H.A.N.D. in the New York Times and knew we had to check it out. H.A.N.D. stands for "Have a Nice Day" and for me it was like a little bit of Americana - straight out of Brooklyn - that meets Paris. A good burger, awesome interior and great company was the perfect way was to unwind before moving onto the next project.
Even cooler (and trust me, it was *brisk* that day) was the walk to the Metro Palais Royal. Along Rue de Richelieu (the resto is at #39 about a block past Place Andre Malraux) was lined with some of the most creative holiday decorations I've ever seen. Everything was made out of recycled bottles, from the "Christmas trees" to dangling "chandeliers" and suspended garlands. It turns out that the installation was fabricated by DesignPack Gallery - a fantastic design store/gallery space at 24 rue de Richelieu (where you can pick up your own replicas of the decorations, in addition to lots of creative gifts) - with designer Fabrice Peltier. Now just to head back and see it all lit up at night...

Happy Holidays!!