César Gift Suite 2011

And the César Award for Best Gift Suite 2011 goes to … OK, so maybe there was only one, but Nathalie Dubois definitely desserves a prize for what was yet another wonderful pre-César Awards gift suite. Several brands gathered at the swank Napoleon Hotel in Paris to shower the stars, the future stars and, well, me, with goodies.
Young talents including nominees Leila Bekhti and Anais Demoustier joined
Frederique Bel, Gilles Lellouche, Jean-Paul Rouve, Josiane Balasko, Julie Ferrier, Gerard Jugnot, Tomer Sisley and Karin Viard among other talents for a romp through the suite.



A few of my faves ? I LOVE Zazazou. Not only because I learned a new French expression (apparently « zazazou » means the butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling in French), but also because the lithe French girl galavanting around Paris graphics really show a love for the city and the designs are original and fun…AND, extra bonus, it’s all made from organic materials! So, in sum – chic, fun and organic (and, may I add, quite affordable), it has “Lafleur” written all over it! (Well it doesn’t, but it should don’t you think? ;) Here’s their website: great stuff!
http://www.zazazou.com/





I’d also like to welcome two new additions to my apartment: the Mona Lisa and Brigitte Bardot. Yes, the Mona Lisa now resides in my tiny Parisian apartment. Before you call the authorities at the Louvre, let me explain that MY Mona Lisa is hot pink and in pillow form. Téo Jasmin offers funky art deco paintings, pillows, bags, t-shirts etc including bulldogs with sunglasses, Marilyn Monroe, the Beatles and other fun designs. Check out their site: http://www.teojasmin.com
And come visit, Mona, Brigitte and moi anytime!




Nonna Bakes ! She does and apparently her baking skills are "top" as they say here. The cake co. was on hand with mini-cupcakes and a golden Cesar award in cake form. Choose your design and Nonna Bakes can turn it into a cake, cupcake or cookies. What about Tomer Sisley in cupcake form? Delicious!
http://nonnabakes.com/




And then I fell in lØv … with LØv organic teas. The environmentally-friendly teas also happen to be delicious (well, I only tried the “détox” variety, but it’s fabulous and can’t wait to try more!) The minimalist design inspired by Scandanavian culture decorates the eco-friendly packaging. Lov organic offers classic flavors like Earl Grey or Jasmine, but also wellness blends like “Løv is pure,” “Løv is zen” (perhaps the best best before the César Awards?) and “Løv is good.” There’s a boutique in Paris on the rue Montorgueil or, if you’re in London, there’s now a pop-up store in Harvey Nichols, or check out their site: http://www.en.lov-organic.com/
I Løv it!



I’m also now officially a Rockstar. I like: Rockstar’s funky jeans, rugged American flag shirt and the fact that the brand was founded by two French guys working it in LA and now coming back to Paris.
http://www.shoprockstarjeans.com/



I also love Tand3m. The brand, started by two young and adorable sisters, features girly-chic headbands and accessories. Flowers, sequins, red, gold or sparkly - the headbands are gorgeous and fun. (see photo)



And check out their website!

http://tand3m.fr/

Not to mention my hot new Lacoste sunglasses… later alligator!

When I returned home from the gift suite, I doused my body in coffee butter exfoliating cream and fig lotion (hey, I had to carry all of those bags up six flights of stairs, what else was I to do?) courtesy of Mehitsa. It’s all Greek to me! Actually, it’s a French brand, but it’s inspired by the natural ingredients of Greece like honey, olive oil, figs, dates and, well, not sure the ancient Greeks consumed coffee butter, but it does wonders for dry skin in winter so who’s complaining?
http://www.mehitsa.com/



It was a rough day, but I survived. Who wants to shower me with gifts today?

LEFFLITA LEMPICKA

Once upon a time in a land far, far away … Actually, it was at le Baron which, though may feel like a different planet to those not accustomed to French late-night hipster hangouts, isn’t actually very far away at all. Lolita Lempicka hosted a party to celebrate the launch of her new perfume “Le premier parfum.” Lempicka joined her daughters to fête the whimsical and sexy scent at a low-key bash Wednesday night. The fruity fragrance features “fleur de réglisse” (or licorice flower, but doesn’t it sound prettier and sexier in French?) plus echoes of lemon zest, apricot nectar, black cherry with almond and vanilla, Iris and Jasmine.
“Mon Eau de Toilette porte en elle toute la Force du Désir.” -Lolita Lempicka
(“My perfume carries with it the force of desire.” – Lolita Lempicka)
Here are some photos from the evening, courtesy of the best photographer this side of the River Seine, Jean Picon !

Buon ARTatitto!: Rose Bakery Culture gets an Italian Makeover

As you all may have noticed around 750 blogs ago, “Je vois la vie en Rose…” Bakery. I just can’t get enough. I was thrilled to learn that Rose Bakery recently opened a new location at la Maison Rouge, a modern art museum in the Bastille neighborhood of Paris. The new spot sees not only its organic menu, but also its décor change with the seasons thanks to Emilie Bonaventure’s hot interior designs inspired by the always innovative expos in the museum. This season’s menu and design of “Rose Bakery Culture” are a mélange of – are you sitting down for this? – Rose Bakery cuisine, Italy and art. “These are a few of my favorite thiiiiiiiings.” (To be sung to the tune of “The Sound of Music” of course) While I love Rose Bakery 1 (rue des Martyrs) and Deux (rue Debelleyme), the wait for a table and cramped quarters can be a turn-off for some. Enter Rose Bakery culture which offers a vast, open space complete with tables that can fit up to 15 people at a time. Check out this season’s hot décor: it feels like you’re sitting in your really hip Italian grandmother’s kitchen. The new Rose is open Tues-Sunday and, this just in: it’s open for DINNER (well, early American dinner circa 7pm-ish) on Thursday nights! The new expo also has some funky pieces (see: Mr Cheese Head and...well... I'm not quite sure what that is but they say it's art!)




Bon Appétit! Buon appetito! And not sure what British people say but I’ll throw in a “Have a bloody fah-bulous meal dah-ling”!

STERLING COOPER DRAPER PRYCE LEFFLER

1960s Madison Avenue mode met Parisian chic this week when “Mad Men” creator Matthew Weiner and stars John Slattery and Christina Hendricks headed to France to fête the launch of the hit show on that country’s recently-launched Sundance Channel. After receiving a medal of honor from the Mayor of Paris (see my Hollywood Reporter story here: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mad-men-creator-matthew-weiner-97626), the Mad Men crew headed to the swank Royal Monceau hotel for the screening of the show’s first episode and cocktail. Voilà a video of my day with the Mad Men.

César Salad for Lunch !

Et tu, César? It is indeed. It’s that time again – the César Awards, France’s version of the Oscars, will be held on Friday, Feb. 25th. While it’s all about who wins in the US, the French film biz really makes a point of honoring the nominees. After January’s young talents “Révélations” night, this Saturday, the Academy hosted a lunch at swank restaurant Le Fouquet’s. Here’s my video lunching with the stars. Bon appétit!

Love is in the air... and so are your legs: beyoga brings l'amour and Elena Brower to Paris

I’ll be able to have an ohm away from home in March when fellow New Yorker Elena Brower heads to Paris to lead a series of yoga classes. This is extremely exciting news. Elena is one of the world’s top Anusara yoga instructors and, as one of the world’s top yoga students (no, just kidding of course, but I did do an eagle handstand today, do I get points for that?) I can tell you that the opportunity to take a class with her is not to be missed. A certified Anusara teacher, Elena runs Virayoga in New York City and has been teaching for more than 13 years. She even contributes to notable publications like the Huffington Post, Crazysexylife and Mindful Mama. Plus, Elena is THE yoga teacher of the stars (think: Gwyneth Paltrow, Eva Mendes and Christy Turlington among her all-star client roster). Seriously, sign up for the classes and you’ll look like Gwyneth. Read more about Elena here:
http://www.artofattention.com/
Above are the flyers with all of the information for her visit to Paris. She’ll be doing a Friday night workshop at my new favorite yoga studio in Paris, beyoga on March 4th at 8pm, then classes at Studio Calentito on March 5th. The workshops are in English. Allons-y!



And for all of you sun-saluting lovers out there, beyoga is making a gesture from the heart and offering special yoga classes for downward dogging à deux on Valentine’s Day. You can invite someone you love to share your practice with you for free. Love is in the air … and your arms and legs might be too. However, singles are invited too, bien sûr. Definitely a better option than watching “When Harry Met Sally” alone while devouring a pint of Ben & Jerry’s (or so I hear… ;)

For more on beyoga:
http://beyoga.fr/

Pink Carpet-chic at the 18th Annual Film Français Trophies !

The crème-de-la-crème of France’s film biz came out in full force for the pink carpet of Le Film Francais’ 18th annual Trophees awards ceremony Thursday night in Paris.
God of Carnage director Roman Polanski joined Of Gods and Men helmer Xavier Beauvois and Gallic industry deities like ex-EuropaCorp superproducer Pierre Ange Le Pogam, Why Not Productions’ Pascal Caucheteux and MK2 topper Nathanael Karmitz for a swank ceremony and dinner at vast Parisian modern art museum le Palais de Tokyo.
While Roman P wasn't very loquacious (Me: "How's the God of Carnage shoot going?" Roman: "It's going very, very well." Me: "Can I come?" Roman: "No."), he and I had a nice chat before I mingled with the many A and B-list French celebs and media giants present. French actresses Elsa Zylberstein, Melanie Doutey, Jeanne Balibar and sister of Heartbreaker star Vanessa Paradis, Alysson Paradis lit up the already bright pink carpet as star of Bertrand Tavernier’s The Princess of Montpensier Raphael Personnaz joined fellow actors Zinedine Soualem, Guillaume Canet and Philippe Lefebvre for a media-heavy photo call and hour-long schmoozefest before taking their seats for the ceremony and dinner. The Trophies award for best director-producer duo went to Beauvois and Why Not Productions’ producers Caucheteux and Sorlat for Of Gods and Men.
“Of course I didn’t expect it,” Beauvois told me of the success of the film. He added: “I was hoping for 1 million tickets sold once in my career because it’s the symbolic box office number here, but three million is just unbelieveable.”
So does Beauvois expect victory at the upcoming Cesar ceremony? “I want to win at least one,” he said.
TF1’s Audience Award went to romantic comedy Heartbreaker, directed by Pascal Chaumeil who also took home the best first film award. If you haven't seen this movie, it's a fabulous Frenchified romantic comedy. It's even showing on Air France so next time you're crossing the Atlantic, make sure to watch it. The Romain Duris-Vanessa Paradis (aka Mrs Johnny Depp) "Dirty Dancing-inspired scene is amazing.

Here's a video of my pink carpet coverage (in French!) with Roman and friends :

SCOOP: Woody in Cannes!!!

Looks like I won't be the only New Yorker at the Festival de Cannes this year -- Woody Allen will be in town presenting his latest Franco-American romantic comedy "Midnight in Paris" on Opening Night, not to mention Robert De Niro who is Jury President this year. For all the scoop:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/woody-allens-midnight-paris-open-95633

BE all that you can BEYOGA

It’s too good to BE true. I don’t BElieve it. Another fabulous yoga center in Paris? Oui, mes amis, I’ve found an ohm away from home: le BE Yoga. Situated in a tiny alleyway in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, beyoga offers classes in French and English (and sometimes a little bit of both). Walk downstairs into the open, très zen space that’s neither overwhelming nor too cramped like many petite yoga studios in Paris tend to be. beyoga offers classes for all levels and spans several disciplines including Anusara, Vinyasa, Iyengar, Ashtanga, Jivamukti (I personally have no idea what that is, but it sounds yogariffic) and even power yoga, yin yoga, acro yoga and, for the little ones, “Yogamini” (awww gives a whole new meaning to "child's pose" doesn't it?). It’s a warm and welcoming environment and, since they’re relatively new, beyoga is recruiting with several “unlimited class” options, i.e. pay one sum per month and go to as many classes as your hearts desire. I took an Anusara class with the lovely Anne Vandewalle, one of the best yoga classes I’ve been to on either continent (namely, America and Europe – I’ve never tried a class in India or Tibet, but imagine they are quite wonderful too). Anne was attentive to every student and I felt like I was at a private yoga session despite the 20-something other students surrounding me. Marc Holzman, my favorite New Jersey-bred yoga instructor, also teaches at beyoga and if you haven’t taken one of his (English-language) classes yet, you’re missing out. Marc was a master of the yoga world in L.A. and now we’re lucky to have him in Paris with us. So come on down(ward dog) and get your yoga on! NAMASTE.
Info on the schedules and the teachers is at:
www.beyoga.fr