Photos: Victor Malecot

Mackeene pop up
36 rue Etienne Marcel, 75001
From June 1st till June 30th

This pop-up exhibition will celebrates the 160th anniversary of Franco-Japanese relations with an ethereal scenography and brand new artworks.

In exclusivity for LAPAIX
in collaboration with
Ground Effect Gallery
and Ten Days In Paris

Photos: Alek Katar

The brand new Parisian concept store « nous » lead by Sebastien Chapelle opens its doors during the Men’s Paris Fashion Week. For the official launch, « nous » immersed trendsetters into the street culture universe featuring artworks from Wooden Sneakers, an exclusive workshop with Ceizer Tatoo and unique cocktails experiences. Since its opening, the concept store offers the best of contemporary culture; from streetwear to designers, the latest hi-tech trends, accessories to men’s watches and luxury goods. Thought as an inspirating place, « nous » explores urban influences to find the essentials of tomorrow based on the international trends and the classics of today.

Photos: Eolia Thiery

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ROCH HOTEL & SPA 5*
28 Rue Saint-Roch, 75001 Paris
https://www.leroch-hotel.com/

The Editions-Standard Agency hosted its first official party, starting fashion week in Paris, with the brands Arte Antwerp, Nïuku Paris, Non-conformist, The Faraday Project and Undun Footwear represented by the agency. Good reason to gather friends and fashion professionals for a Friends & Family Chill time. The showroom presents the AW17 collections from 19th to 26th January in Paris.

Photos : Shehan Hanwellage

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EX NIHILO is an alternative young parisian made to measure perfume brand. Settled down on la rue Saint- Honoré, the brand collaborates. Last thursday night the 3 founders invites their friends and clients to celebrate their 3rd birthday in the shop. The perfect time to discover their perfume collection with a champagne glass, listening to Linda Romanazzi’s dj set.

EX NIHILO
352 rue Saint- Honoré
75001 PARIS
http://www.ex-nihilo-paris.com/

Photos: Camille Zerhat

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Last Thursday, Loukoko was hosting her 3rd EP release party at Jangal Club in Paris. La Doperie, Zi and Troniix came for some cool hip hop featuring with Loukoko. She brung back some really cool images, videos and tracks from her last asian tour and more to come early next year…

Photos: Victor Malécot

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Suze in collaboration with the famous creative influencer Elsa Muse relaunches the Xmas limited Edition 2016 saga in Colette shop. An original design, graphic visual bootle to be personnalized by touch of color in a Do It Yourself way.

Photos : Shehan Hanwellage

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Last week was the opening of the Jumonki pop up bar, and It might have been a show about nothing but Paris is getting a JUMANJI theme pop-up bar that promises to be really something.
Located in the 2nd district right by the Montorgueil Street, it will be great spot for the movie and cocktails aficionados as the bar will be run by a recent bartender contest winer and powered by the whisky brand Monkey Shoulders. You got 2 weeks to show up !

JUMONKI POP UP BAR
86 rue Réaumur, 75002
From November 10th to 26th

Photos: Camille Zerhat

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A few days ago,  New Balance celebrated the opening of its first ever shop in France, in the recently renovated Paris Forum des Halles.
For the occasion, the american sport brand created an ultra limited edition (45 pairs of sneakers) of  the 998 inspired by the parisian underground and invited F&F to discover its brand spot.

Photos: Shehan Hanwellage

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The well known Swedish, SneakersNStuff -aka SNS – recently opened, after Stockholm and London, its Paris shop. And last friday night, the Paris street scene was here to celebrate at Palais Vivienne!
Guess what? The night was epic…   First live by super talented french rapper Ichon got the the Palais Vivienne pretty sweaty. Then cherry on the cake of the evening, the rapper from ATL, OG Maco closed the deal with a gnarly performance triggering a massive “rapogo”.
Welcome SNS!

Sneakers and Stuff
95 Rue Réaumur
75002 Paris
Metro: Sentier

Photos: Shehan Hanwellage

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COFRAD Mannequins
12 Rue Vauvilliers, 75001
The exhibition is freely accessed till March 31st

Photos: Victor Malecot

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Two weeks ago, they invited us to come and (re)discover their (mini) retrospective which took place at the concept store/gallery Chez Moi Paris.

Chez Moi Paris
25 rue Herold 75001 Paris
http://www.chezmoiparis.com/

Photos: Shehan Hanwellage

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EX NIHILO is an alternative young parisian made to measure perfume brand. Settled down on la rue Saint- Honoré, the brand collaborates as well with Le bon Marché’s galerie Imaginaire. Last thursday night the 3 founders invites their friends and clients to celebrate their 2ndbirthday in the shop. The perfect time to discover their perfume collection with a champagne glass, listening to Clementine Levy’s dj set.

EX NIHILO
352 rue Saint- Honoré
75001 PARIS
http://www.ex-nihilo-paris.com/

Photos: Camille Zerhat

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Harmont & Blaine Sets First Paris Store and the Napolitana sartorial/casual brand has the ambition to bring the ‪mediterranean life‬ in France in a 400 m2 design space right by the Opera Garnier.
A few days ago was the opening party and for the occasion the Napolitains brought over their local cuties and we brought our! A pretty sweet night to discover with a glass of champagne  the superb store.
Benvenuto Harmont & Blaine!

Harmont & Blaine
35, boulevard des Capucines
75009 Paris

Photos: Camille Zerhat

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Last night was the opening cocktail party of La Maison du Glaçon Moët & Chandon!
A 3 days pop up concept store dedicated to the art of… Ice Cubes and the Moët Ice Impérial.
Since 2010, Moet Ice Imperial is the ideal concept for your summer pre-dinner “piscine drinks”.
And once again, a few champagne glasses and ice cubes sounded like an early holidays kick off…

La Maison du glaçon Moët & Chandon :
From June 25th to 27th 2015
72 rue Saint Honoré, Paris 75001
11am to 9pm

Photos: Victor Malecot

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Le Pompon is back! After a few years of break, Charaf and the PPP crew reopened their Hip Hop club, but  in a different location…
Indeed le Pompon poped out on the ashes of  the mythical Paris Paris, club ran about 10 years by Le Baron crew.
A few days ago was the opening and it was cra’…

Le Pompon Pompon
5 avenue de l’Opéra
75001

Photos: Victor Malecot

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EX NIHILO is an alternative young parisian made to measure perfume brand. Settled down on la rue Saint- Honoré, the brand collaborates as well with Le bon Marché’s galerie Imaginaire. last thursday night the 3 founders invites their friends and clients to celebrate their 1st birthday in the shop. The perfect time to discover their perfume collection with a champagne glass, listening to Loukoko’s dj set.

EX NIHILO
352 rue Saint- Honoré
75001 PARIS
http://www.ex-nihilo-paris.com/

Photos : Jan Melka

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss out !

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Chez Moi, is the new concept store/gallery opened by Jean-Baptiste Charpenay-Limon. When you arrive Chez Moi (my crib) everything is for sale ! You can come and pick up a book in the library, cosmetics in the bathroom, a macaron in the kitchen, a painting on the wall, an art magazine on the table (great selection including Fantastic Man, Self Service…) or even the table.

For the opening Jean-Baptiste invited friends and family to sip champagne & beers.

http://www.chezmoiparis.com
25 rue Hérold, 75001 Paris
Metro: Etienne Marcel

Photos: Victor Malecot: http://ouvreloeil.com/

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Paris is full of places that serve coffee in the morning and cocktails at night. They’re called cafés. But more often than not the coffee is mediocre at best and the cocktails are sugar-coated catastrophes or essentially juice/coke/tonic with a splash of alcohol.

On top of that, when you take your morning coffee at said ‘corner cafés,’ you’re likely to be seated next to Anglophone tourists or others speaking a language you can’t comprehend, and when happy hour rolls around, it’s that crowd plus the broke French teenagers who’ve never drank any cocktail made with more than two ingredients.

All that will change when you discover Lockwood. Consider it your Parisian saloon à la rock ‘n’ roll that plays the Clark Kent/Superman card in the guise of chill, trendy coffee shop by day and swanky yet relaxed cocktail bar by night. It’s an adrenaline rush followed by a smooth comedown.

Owned by the enterprising Lehoux brothers : Olivier (of Le Silencio), Christophe (of Ten Belles and the Brûlerie de Belleville) and Thomas (who’s opened bars in Australia and London), the place reflects a bit of this down south atmosphere — good service, friendly, laid-back and cool.

If you’re a morning person, take advantage of the Belleville coffee brew accompanied by a solid breakfast spread of cakes, tartines and muesli. The stone and wooden enclave with high-top tables and bar seating provides a welcoming, warm ambiance to start your day off with morning reads, web browsing or a pre-work caffeine fix.

When mid-day stomach rumbling occurs, stop in for a crusty sandwich of Mortadella, comté, tapenade and roquette, a steaming onion soup or a satisfying salad of potatoes, bacon, roquette and mustard dressing.

The third act of the day is l’Apéritivo — the lights flicker down to a dimness that makes the already attractive crowd more appealing, the wine bottles pop like balloons, and the bottles dangling from bungee cords give the place an added original touch. Pick your verre of rosé, rouge or blanc, a handcrafted martini, Aperol Spritz or mulled wine (among many others),  and help yourself to the self-serve buffet of munchies to complement your soif.

By 7:30, you’ll be more than ready to shuffle downstairs for more cocktails and small talk with friends or beautiful strangers in surroundings that echo the wood-stone feel of the floor above but with high ceilings and a more tavern-like setting. Rock music dating from the 50s, 60s and 70s provides just the right backdrop for a chill soirée, and the comprehensive cocktail list goes heavy on high-quality whiskeys but with a swig of everything to appease all tastes.

A dinner menu is currently in the works that will feature homestyle bar food, including fried chicken sandwiches, chickpea sandwiches and pork-marinated quesadillas. Weekenders also have biscuits and gravy and Bloody Mary’s to test out.

Whatever your motivation might be for setting foot onto the Lockwood premises, go there to loosen your boot straps and escape from the Parisian wilderness. Because after all, it’s a wild world out there, and sometimes a good whiskey is just what you need to make it go round.

Lockwood
73 rue d’Aboukir
75002 Paris
Métro : Sentier
Open from 8 am to 2 am Monday through Saturday
Phone : 01 77 32 97 21
Website : www.lockwoodparis.com

Article : Stéphanie Holmes

We’ve always known that for some mysterious reason hipsters love to drink coffee. They’re not just sipping the average Nespresso coffee in front of their computer screen like the average middle manager at the office, but are making coffee drinking a real hipster art form (so much so that, along with iPod DJ or art gallery intern, barrista has become one of the top hipster careers).

There are some musts for the wannabe hipster café: use beans from an indie brand (the top brand in Paris is Coutume), have an caricatural minimalist hipster logo (with a cross or a banner), call waiters not waiters but baristas, find a concept for the food (breakfast food, vegan food…), and display some international press.

The guys of Paris/Tokyo music/fashion label Kitsune are opening what could be the #1 hipster hangout in Paris. Their coffee is from indie producers in London, their logo is hipster-proof, they are calling their waiters baristas, they sell gluten free pastries by Noglu, and they sell Kitsune compilations and goodies (much cooler than Australian Vogue).

The place opens this fashion week beginning January 17th, so if you’re a coffee drinking hipster, or even someone who loves to hate hipsters, you know where to have a double latte made by the best baristas in town!

Café Kitsuné
51 rue Montpensier 75001
Entrance Gallerie Montpensier in les Jardins du Palais Royal
http://kitsune.fr/

Paris might not be not lacking in Asian restos, but finding authentic ones outside of Belleville and the 13th arrondissement can be as daunting as trying to find an open tabac épicerie after midnight. Then consider the fact that a good number of Japanese spots are actually run by Chinese families and vice versa, and it’s no wonder they all end up falling into a category of ChinJap ambiguity.

So why do we eat it? It’s cheap, fast and easy, and there are enough traiteurs in this city to go head to head with its boulangeries. The downside? It’s mostly generic and unmemorable.

Luckily for you, there’s a relative newcomer in Paris’s exotic food scene, and it has quickly stirred up a spicy following. (Olivier Zahm, Editor-in-chief of Parisian fashion and culture mag Purple, is already a regular.)

Situated in the 2nd arrondissement, away from the Ramen-laden rue Saint Anne and 5 minutes walking from la Bourse, Kapunka is your new Thai cantine away from Thailand.

Boasting a modern, cozy décor with a branché feel resembling what you’d also find in Bangkok, NYC, London or Hong Kong, the two-story restaurant is the pride and joy of native French Emmanuel Raichvarg who has a serious amour for Asia and all that it entails. Following multiple trips to Thailand, Raichvarg has gotten Thai street food and dishes down to an art.

On the menu, you’ll find a narrow but carefully selected list of colorful and enticing entrées, plats and desserts, all prepared from fresh ingredients sur place. Far from the oversauced, underspiced dishes you’re used to getting from glass-case, neon-lit buffets, the food at Kapunka is the kind that makes you want to eat it right then and there.

Start off with a refreshing coconut milk soup bulked up with chicken and oriental veggies, or introduce your taste buds to the traditional green papaya salad that has just the right kick. The veggie and meat-stuffed nems are crispy enough without being overly greasy and served with a light dipping sauce that’s perfectly pimenté.

Once your palate is prepped, dig into an Instagram-worthy plate of pad thai, available in vegetarian or meat versions and all equally satisfying. Or go for any of the vibrant curry dishes spiced to your liking. Raichvarg has friends who eat Capsicum peppers like M&Ms, so if you want your meal authentically hot, make sure you know what you’re asking for. If needed, order a bottle of Singha to tame the steam.

To finish with something sweet, choose from an original dessert selection, including black coconut rice, Thai flan, banana tapioca soup with coconut milk and homemade lemongrass yogurt.

Whether for lunch or dinner, Kapunka’s menus are more than reasonably priced with lunch formules around 16,50 euros or less, dinner for 24,50 and plats à la carte topping off at 15. You can also take away if you feel like feasting chez vous.

Bref, everything about Kapunka is clean, fresh and simple. Service is friendly, the ambiance is zen, and whether you’ve been to Thailand or not, you’ll get the taste of it on your plate. Probably the only things missing are the Bangkok skyline and a Tuk-Tuk ride home.

Kapunka
59 rue de Richelieu
75002 Paris
Métro : Bourse, Quatre-Septembre, Palais-Royal, Pyramides
Open Monday to Friday from 12 to 3 pm and 7:30 to 11 pm, Saturday from 7:30 pm to 11 pm, Sunday brunch from 11:30 to 4:30 pm
Phone : 01 84 19 44 35
Website : www.kapunka.fr

Article : Stéphanie Holmes

Budding French designer Ora-ïto, responsible for the ultra-innovative, futuristic design of his recently opened Hôtel O in Paris, has brought his forward-thinking touch to the world of refined rapid restauration, in collaboration with David Lévy, specialist in modern art, and David Chemla, who completes the creative pyramid with his expertise in textiles.

Together, they’ve created a new formula for fast food that includes a menu uniquely composed of verrines from entrée to plat to dessert. At Nano, the idea is to turn these mini portions into a meal, with 23 hot and cold recipes and two plats du jour to choose from that will please those with local and global tastes alike. Seasoned chef Olivier Chaput, of Gulli’s “Un chef à ma porte,” is the team’s recruited kitchen wizard behind the colorful and elegant array of nourishment.

In a hyper-modern setting that looks as clean as the food feels, you’ll feel like you’re in the cantine of the future, with deep purple and blue accents, a trippy wall design and abstract touches throughout, signed Ora, of course.

Start with a fresh salad of tomatoes, feta and strawberries or a shrimp salad with fennel and pineapple — get both if you can’t decide. For the main dish, you can go vegetarian or carnivore with choices such as risotto Saint-Jacques, a blanquette de veau or a chorizo and peas dish. You can get one of each, depending how famished you are, but save room for dessert. The tarte au citron is the perfect way to end your meal on a sweet note, and there’s plenty more options for the sugar-inclined. With microscopic prices of 2,50 to 3,50 euros apiece, you can stock your tray as you like and get out of there with a full stomach and a full wallet — a rare experience by Parisian standards.

Currently open only from lunchtime to the early apéro hours, the resto will later evolve into a bar at night and a brunch spot on the weekends. The official opening is slated for early July, but we’re letting the word out now, so get there before the buzz breeds the crowds.

Nano by Ora-ïto
14 rue Bachaumont Paris 75002
Open weekdays from 11 am to 8 pm
01 40 26 35 10
Facebook Page

Article : Stéphanie Holmes

[googleMap name=”Nano by Ora Ito” description=”14 rue Bachaumont, Paris 75002″ width=”600″ height=”200″ mousewheel=”false” directions_to=”false”]14 rue Bachaumont, Paris 75002[/googleMap]

Then make your way to Fish Club, the Peruvian menu-inspired refuge and the ECC group’s latest boozy food venture swimming quickly in the wake of Beef Club’s success and conveniently located two doors down.

Seafood seems to be trending in the city right now (think Lobster Bar and Le Mary Celeste), and the lighter fare mixed with a breezy cool atmosphere is exactly what this place has to offer, just in time for late sunsets and summer flings.

Dine and drink al fresco on the sidewalk terrace while sipping on Pisco-based cocktails (Peru and Chile’s national liquor made from fermented grapes). There’s also a selection of artisanal beers, or get in a bit of light reading with the massive wine list (we loved the Côtes du Jura 2008 En Griffez Blanc — a seriously good dry white).

Once you’ve picked your poison, order a small-plate assortment of fresh Peruvian tapas, including spiced ceviches and citrus-infused tiraditos or New England-style dishes, such as crab cakes with Old Bay seasoning and the hot lobster sandwich with guacamole and veal juice. We also tested the juicy marinated beef skewers and the “véritable” tarama, a bowl of creamy goodness specked with spices and served with a generous plate of pain grillé.

Inside, the owners’ go-to designer Dorothée Meilichzon (also did Café Pinson, Loustic, Merce & The Muse, among others) has created a space that feels like a living kaleidoscope with colorful and funky geometric patterns everywhere, marble and wood finishings, furniture covered in aztec prints and blue velvet, and an industrial-like ceiling with exposed steel beams — if we had to describe it in few words, we’d say neomodern retro chic, and that still wouldn’t completely cover it.

instagram: left @madame_martin & right @astridbgz

Spread over two floors, it’s the perfect place for an apéro with your babe or a drink-and-dish dirty details sesh among friends. If you’re solo, you can pull up a stool at the X-and-O-covered bar and chat with the friendly barmen or rub shoulders with other faithful ECC followers, seafood enthusiasts, fresh-off-the-boat expats and typically good-looking Parisian locals.

As the familiar saying goes,”Un de perdu, dix de retrouvés” (roughly translated to “There are plenty of fish in the sea”). In the sea of Paris bars and restaurants, that might be true, but there are plenty of so-so establishments that fall under the category of “catch-and-release.” As far as Fish Club is concerned, we think it’s safe to take the bait.

Fish Club
58 rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Métro : Etienne Marcel, Les Halles
Open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 6 pm
01 40 26 68 75
Reservations strongly advised : reservation@eccfishclub.com

Article : Stéphanie Holmes

photo: http://littleblackbookparis.com/

[googleMap name=”Fish Club Paris” description=”58 rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau” width=”600″ height=”200″ mousewheel=”false” directions_to=”false”]58 rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Paris[/googleMap]

So joy of joys when I heard that Frenchie’s equally suave, and much more available, younger sibling had opened up next door. Frenchie to Go, the no reservations, no queue (ish), take-away gourmet sandwich bar which opened 4 days ago, is the latest addition to the Frenchie empire that rules Rue du Nil.

Chef Grégory Marchand and his talented team make everything on the premises, from the pastrami and beef sausages (which you can order by the kilo), to the ginger beer (coming soon) fermenting away in glass jars in the corner.

The lunch menu, a small US-centric selection of take-away foods, consists of classics such the reubens sandwich, pastrami on rye, the all beef sausage hot dog and the lobster roll.  There is also an impressive array of craft beer from around the world, and a very knowledgeable beer connoisseur to help choose your brew.

My pulled pork sandwich, served with a side of crispy skinned French fries and home made sauce and washed down with a Mikkeller Cream Ale from Denmark, was ridiculously good.

 

The team also do breakfast starting at 8am – think granola and fromage blanc, English muffins with smoked bacon, donuts, muffins and scones – which you can munch on from high wooden tables overlooking the open kitchen.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, it turns out the coffee is also sensational (with the barista having been taught the art of the latte by the boys from Ten Belles we would expect nothing less).

Frenchie is amazing, and if you are willing to commit to hours of desperate calls and endless rejection, it is well worth it – but for a more laissez-faire affair Frenchie to Go is, well the place to go.

 

Frenchie to Go
Open Tuesday to Saturday 8h til 16h
9 rue du Nil
75002 Paris
Métro: Sentier, Réaumur Sébastopole

Emerald Bond (author of www.agoodforking.com)

[googleMap name=”Frenchie to Go” description=”9 rue du Nil” width=”600″ height=”200″ mousewheel=”false” directions_to=”false”]9 rue du Nil, Paris[/googleMap]

There are no more excuses for bringing a 4e bottle of wine to your friend’s birthday or offering Smirnoff to your gang when they come have drink at your place–conceived by a team of mad men and creatives from ad agencies with the contribution of members of the From Paris collective, the shop offers all the edgiest booze on the market from limited editions of Hennessy by Futura to Cyroc, Crystal Head etc… We’ve heard about some events coming soon, but hush hush, it’s a secret.

The Paris Liquor
29 rue du 4 septembre
75002 Paris
metro: Opera
http://www.theparisliquorstore.com/

[googleMap name=”The Paris Liquor Store” description=”29 rue du 4 septembre” width=”600″ height=”200″ mousewheel=”false” directions_to=”false”]29 rue du 4 septembre, Paris[/googleMap]