Posts by author Theadora Brack
Bargain shopping at La Vaissellerie. Photos by Theadora Brack.
Like snowflakes, the truly sensational Soldes by Paris (annual winter sale) has recently returned to Paris, so why not outfit your kitchen with a few French classics? Here are my favorite hot spots for picking up kitchenware, guaranteed to make you the toast of the town! So shop to it, Cheapos! 1. Let’s dish at » Read more
Holiday decorations in the City of Lights. Photos by Thedora Brack.
I love Paris in the winter when it glitters. I love this city when it glows with countless strands of tiny white lights. It goes straight to my head! Getting in the mood for the holidays here is never difficult, but to help it happen, here are seven ways to light your Paris match. Come, Cheapos, follow » Read more
Be sure to tour the newly remodeled Printemps. Photos by Theadora Brack.
Les Musées de Paris aren’t the only ones in the city getting a “little work” done these days. Following suit, why, even the Printemps Haussmann, the grand department store, has begun to enter the final phases of an extreme makeover! Now sporting a chic modern look that nevertheless manages to pay homage to her expansive Belle Époque » Read more
Repainting the Eiffel Tower. Photo by Theodora Brack.
Reflecting recently on the grace and beauty of the Eiffel Tower on her 120th birthday, I stopped to consider how she still looks so smart. After all, sight-seeing during the rainy winter months in Paris can wreak havoc on the complexion! So how has she managed to look so good after standing around for 120 years? But » Read more
Gather around, my fellow multitasking “Puces de Paris” junkies. Here’s a twofer for you: a hot “flea market sandwich” with a virtually free bus tour filling in between. Tous à bord! Two flea markets and a Paris city tour My name is Theadora and I am addicted to flea markets in Paris. One is never » Read more
Tartes hold court at Le Petits Mitrons; photos by Theadora Brack
Looking for the best tarte in Paris? For a delectable inside scoop, I asked a baker’s dozen friends to name their favorite boulangerie or pâtisserie. Nearly everyone in Paris is both food critic and advocate. So, while visiting the City of (De)lights, take advantage of the gastronomical convictions of the knowledgeable locals. Hint: Look for » Read more
Line-up at La Parisienne race; photos by Millard Hunt
I love a good Parisian race. And I can’t think of a better way to get to know the terrain and flavor of Paris than by rubbing elbows with the Lycra-clad locals while whizzing past city sights. So start lacing up Cheapos. Among the city’s runners, you’ll feel like a fiery insider while gaining a » Read more
Dancers from around the world leave their shoes at Taglioni's grave.
Text and photos One of my favorite places to visit early on a Sunday morning (besides the flea market!) is Paris’ Cimetière de Montmartre. Spanning 110 acres (in 33 divisions), it’s nearly impossible to pay homage to everyone buried there, but with a little planning, you can narrow the field to suit your own passions. » Read more
A typical Parisian afternoon, drinks in the park.
Paris is made up of more than just good wine. And locals here know not to ignore the other French cylindrical dandies of the drink world. Give us your liqueurs, your full-bodied bitters, your anisés and wild gentians! The mind reels with all the other possibilities. Drink specials Here’s a short list of apéritifs—along with » Read more
You must visit the "other Lady" in Paris. Photos by Theadora Brack.
Yes, Cheapos, the Statue of Liberty is back and looking ever so fierce in her spiky nimbus (or halo—after all, it’s not a crown!) and her matching floor length chiton robe in all its coppery green tonalities. It’s an exquisite nod to the style of classical Greece, I must say. Pinching from Christian Dior, “Darling, » Read more
The bustling Boulevard Haussmann. Photos by Theadora Brack.
It’s that most wonderful time of the year for shoppers in Paris, Cheapos! “Les Soldes d’Eté” (the summer sales) kick off Wednesday, June 24! Mark your calendar, get set, but first create a plan of transaction. Here are some tips for scoring big during this glorious five-week event. 1. Get smart. I spy. Visit your » Read more
“When the well is dry, we know the worth of water, my friend,” quipped famed Francophile and frugality fan Ben Franklin. Fortunately, in Paris there are 108 “fontaines Wallace” and three functional “puits artésien” (artesian wells). Situated around the city’s busiest squares and at intersections in each arrondissement, the water is free for sipping; all » Read more
Studio 28 in Paris. Photo by Theadora Brack.
When the sun sets in Paris, what’s an insomniac Cheapo to do? Why not take in a film? After all, cinema is as French as camembert cheese. With almost 400 theaters in Paris showing 600 films on any given day, choosing just one film can be daunting. First things first: Get your hands on a Pariscope, the » Read more
The Marché Barbès in Paris. Photographs by Theadora Brack.
Let’s face it. Open-air market shopping in Paris can look pretty intimidating, even to a shopping enthusiast like myself. Cheapos, I’ve been there. In fact, during my first few months in Paris, I avoided the food market scene altogether, sticking instead to the safe predictability of the supermarché aisles. But I’ve changed. I have seen » Read more
Prepared with a parapluie at the Château de Versailles. Photos by Theadora Brack.
Sometimes in Paris, a little rain must fall. No matter when you’re visiting the City of Light—and light sprinkles, don’t forget to pack a parapluie. The weather here can change at the drop of a Schiaparelli hat. While showers don’t typically last long, I recommend toting a compact “parapluie” (umbrella). Make it rain “Never carry » Read more
Oops, I did it again. I attended an exposition’s “vernissage” (literally, the “varnishing”—how the French refer to a preview or opening of an art show), and became smitten with the show and its fine-looking catalog. Obsession activated. Hit hard, and a post card just wouldn’t do. But, how can I get an art catalogue on » Read more
Find high-end undergarments for cheapo prices at Sympa in Paris.
I see London, I see France… I see Cheapo underpants! I’m still giddy with excitement. You see, I’ve just discovered Paris’ route de la soie (“Silk Road”). It’s a road through the less-traveled bargain clothing stores of Montmartre. Follow my lead and you, too, can find high-end clothing at bargain-bin prices. The Panty Raid low-down Our search takes place at » Read more
Fellow Cheapos, I’ve got a confession to make: I’m hooked on flea markets. I’ve hardly missed a weekend at the flea market in years. I rarely spend more than €20 a visit, but rest assured, I’ve slowly amassed a world-class collection of treasures (which some might call “kitsch”). Porte de Vanves Flea Market If you only » Read more
