Author Archives: Parisian Fields

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About Parisian Fields

Parisian Fields is the blog of two Toronto writers who love Paris. When we can't be there, we can write about it. We're interested in everything from its history and architecture to its graffiti and street furniture. We welcome comments, suggestions, corrections, and musings from all readers.

It never hurts to ask

Posted on December 1, 2019 by Parisian Fields

The Institut de France on the Left Bank of the Seine, near the Pont des Arts, is a familiar sight. We’ve walked past many times, and never thought we’d have occasion to enter it ourselves. But one never knows where … Continue reading →

Posted in Paris history | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments

Art Nouveau and Aerodynamics in Auteuil

Posted on November 3, 2019 by Parisian Fields

The southern reaches of the 16th arrondissement might be considered the Wild West of Paris. Auteuil was largely countryside when Haussmann was at work on central Paris, and his ideas about tidy facades that lined up neatly never stood much … Continue reading →

Posted in Paris architecture, Paris history, Paris quartiers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Postcards: Little windows into a vanished Paris

Posted on October 6, 2019 by Parisian Fields

Many of our blogs begin with a postcard. That is not a coincidence. When we are rummaging through the bins of 1- and 2-euro cards at flea markets, we are drawn to images that make us stop and wonder, “What … Continue reading →

Posted in Paris bridges, Paris maps, Paris postcards, Paris travel, Seine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

The ugliest building in Paris

Posted on September 8, 2019 by Parisian Fields

In the last blog, I mentioned Gabriel Davioud, who is credited with designing some of the classic street furniture of Paris. I wanted to know more about him. That proved to be a challenge. The ordinarily helpful Gallica offered 25 … Continue reading →

Posted in Paris architecture, Paris expositions, Paris history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Are you sitting down?

Posted on August 11, 2019 by Parisian Fields

A few years ago, I bought a folding shopping bag from Monoprix, which I have used regularly ever since. The pattern on it is intended to represent Paris: the Eiffel Tower, the French flag, a person with shopping parcels, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Paris parks, Paris streets | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Avoiding the crowds in Versailles

Posted on July 14, 2019 by Parisian Fields

It may seem impertinent to write about Versailles on Bastille Day, the ultimate Republican holiday, but I am not talking about that Versailles – the royal chateau, now overrun with tourists. I want to talk about the other Versailles – … Continue reading →

Posted in Charles Barbier, Paris history, Paris markets | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Stepping back into the river

Posted on June 17, 2019 by Parisian Fields

Hello again. Rebonjour. Our sabbatical from blogging lasted a year. We are uncertain about how and how often we will continue, but we did want to say hello to our readers (if you are still there) and post an update. … Continue reading →

Posted in History of the blind, Paris civic functions, Paris streets, Paris travel | Tagged , , , , | 18 Comments

A web of friends and a ceremony in a former corset factory

Posted on June 17, 2018 by Parisian Fields

For many, Paris is the City of Light, grand museums, or extravagant shopping forays. For us, it is the City of Surprises, and now, a city of friends. Several years ago, when we started research on the history of communications … Continue reading →

Posted in History of the blind, Paris architecture | Tagged , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Les petits bleus

Posted on May 20, 2018 by Parisian Fields

Elderly guidebooks let you visit Paris in the past. We have three. Two date from 1927 – Muirhead’s Paris and its Environs (Blue Guides), and the Express Guide to Paris and Environs (Publications Anglo-Américaines) – and one from 1950: Nagel’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Paris civic functions, Paris history, Paris maps | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

The postcard collector

Posted on April 22, 2018 by Parisian Fields

To her employers and patients, she was known as Nurse Pirie. But to Norman, she was simply Grandma Stevens. She lived with Grandpa Stevens in a house that his Grandpa had built, near enough to Norman’s family home in Hamilton, … Continue reading →

Posted in Family history, Paris postcards | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments