I would like to take you to a shop I love.

I am not a baby, a child, or a teenager, I know !! But I love stuffed animals. They are soft, funny and friendly, so we can relive our childhood sometimes…I even have a hippopotamus, green with a gold ribbon that I bought a long time ago at Harrod’s and I have, of course, Teddy  Bears. And Teddy Bears have their own shop in the Marais, near the Place des Vosges: l’Ours du Marais.

It’s a little place where you can find stuffed animals, bags, tea pots, ties, paintings, boxes, coin purses, key rings, interior design, watches, cushions… John Galiano bought tea pots and teddy bears here!

And if you like Teddy Bears just for Teddy Bears, there are stuffed bears for children (Gund, Nici…) and collectibles from Steiff, Teddy Herman, Charlie Bears…

The shop celebrates its 10th anniversary this year!  Have a look, discover the new toys and  consult with the manager, who is  very passionate about all things Teddy Bear.

18 rue Pavée, Paris 74004

f rom Tuesday to Saturday 11:30 am to 7:30 pm. Sunday 2pm to 7:30 pm.

01 42 77 60 43

mail:  oursdumarais@wanadoo.fr

I do not want to talk about my life (maybe another time) but when I lived in London, I shared a house with Mrs Simone Prunier, who opened a restaurant in London just before the 2nd World War. She was a character, and I remember the stories of her travel to Russia where she wanted to know the place where caviar was made.

So, a few years later, Prunier has come back to life so  you can taste the French way to cook fish.  

At the café, located at 15 place de la Madeleine, in a contemporary space, you will find table settings for vodka and caviar, and the menu proposals from the chef, Renata Dominik. Throughout November you can try  ”Saint PIERRE aux girolles” (a mix of mushrooms and fish, earth and sea) for the main course. €32.

And at the restaurant, avenue Victor Hugo, in the famous art deco scene, the chef  Eric Loisel, proposes for this autumn (to mid-December)  the menu:

Salade de noix de Saint-Jacques tièdes aux langues d’oursins

Ravioles de petites crevettes de la mer du Nord aux tomates confites et thym citron

Homard et noix de ris de veau de lait de Corrèze à la vanille de Tahiti

Figues de Solliès rôties, sirop de framboise et glace amande

Mignardises

Menu d’automne : 85 €

16 avenue Victor Hugo, 16e 33 (0)1 44 17 35 85

www.prunier.com

I Love My Blender is not your typical Parisian bookstore.  Christophe, the owner, has transformed his love and appreciation for Anglo literature into a cute bookstore specializing in books from the US, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, the UK, India, and Australia.  The books in English appear opposite their French translations.  There are also books for children.

Many of the books are recognizable titles and authors such as Jonathan Safran Foer and Jack Kerouac.  But there are also many surprises because Christophe hand selects every book he puts on display.  So you won’t be bombarded with just bestsellers (no Dan Brown here) and I can appreciate that!  In fact, Christophe has turned into a neighborhood conseiller, advising locals on the best in Anglo literature.  He is very knowledgeable and speaks English.

A selection of kitsch stationary and gifts decorate the walls in the back of the shop.  I bought a small notebook with a picture of a woman from the 1950s saying, “Make your own damn dinner”.  It’s a daily reminder of a motto I live by.  You will also find cute children’s toys if you are looking for a unique gift.

I love I Love my Blender Bookstore

I Love my Blender

36 rue du Temple

75004 Paris

Open Tuesday – Sunday 10 am – 7:30 pm

01 42 77 50 32

www.ilovemyblender.fr

And today, I discovered new creations  for our blog: Eiffel Tower pendants, earings and bracelets at reasonable prices:

Sydney Carron, 37 rue des Archives, 4e 01 48 87 27 70 métro Hotel de Ville or Rambuteau

Creations also sold at Annick B. shop, 12 rue Rambuteau, 4e 01 42 76 00 49  métro Rambuteau

10.30am to 7pm

I have always loved this shop since …. I can not tell you!
Let’s say I have always known. You enter and poof,  the doudous, puppets, ancient games, and especially the world of miniature doll houses with their plans and all possible accessories spark the imagination.

Personally I love the lamps and chandeliers … that actually work and illuminate the furniture, kitchen accessories that mimic the real utensils, those of mom (and dad, come on, let’s say that men participate in the housework) , plants, garden, etc. …
But it’s not just dollhouses, you will also find the Café Germaine, that most Parisian Montmartre, miniature bakeries, grocery stores….

Also on the first floor you will find wooden toys, antique school supplies, and teddy bears that you can make yourself!
Teddy bear workshops are held throughout the year to teach you how to make a friend for your most precious little ones, even yourself …

I also find small inexpensive gifts, original, amusing, or copies of old cards, naive bookmarks, colored pencils, ink pads … for less than € 2 and always wrapped with a small candy stuck in the tape.

29-31  passage Jouffroy 9^e 01 47 70 28 64 www.paindepices.fr