Good morning all –

Happy to report a small victory for tradition, common sense, and quality. Granted, against the backdrop of the daily news, this is not earth-shaking, but it is a small step. Did you know the European Union had planned to allow “pink” wines made by mixing white and red to be considered roses? French winemakers rose up in outrage to preserve the quality of their art. The change was supposed to make European wine competitive with the down-market wines coming out of Australia and South Africa. For once, globalization and homogeneity have been defeated. I truly believe that the French commitment to artisan-quality pure food is a force for good in a dark world. We need to know what’s in our food. I love knowing how things are made and how they have always been made. If there’s volcanic ash in my cheese, I want to know where it’s from. I want my rose this summer to be the lovely, refreshing, romantic pink of a wine that I could drink while watching the blue, blue Mediterranean and grilling a little something with rosemary and lavender. I mean, really: mixing white and red and calling it French rose?

So, I suggest we all go out and have a little good French rose to celebrate this coming lovely June weekend.

Arty Dandy is a wonderful, thoughtful, bright, fun, and friendly gallery. Each object is part of a coherent design philosophy, which blends humor, high style, modern edge, and solid aesthetics. Arty Dandy wants to help you make it up to Mum for whatever you did or did not do – like, buying her an iron for Mother’s Day last year!
Their on-line Mother’s Day catalogue has a great range. For example, you can buy Mummy a brooch made from a black bakelite-style volume knob for 19 euro or a beuatiful leather tote (Best Friend Sac) (395 euro), a wonderful beauty session this Saturday offered by Alchimie Forever at Arty Dandy itself, and a week of chocolate for every mother who comes to the gallery this Saturday.

Each week Arty Dandy posts new drawings and designs – so keep coming.

The gallery is located at:
1, rue de Furstemberg – Paris 6
Metro: Mabillon or St. Germain des Pres
Telephone: 01 43 54 00 36
Open Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 7 pm

Check it out at: http://www.artydandy.com

Pictures to follow when I figure out (again) how to get them in the articles without losing the draft.

Treat Mum to Mother’s Day in Paris!

Paris in Spring – the possibilities are endless. How about 1,000 different kinds of roses in a garden that pre-dates and survived the Revolution? Welcome to the Parc de Bagatelle, once owned by the Comte d’Artois and now part of the City of Paris. Visitors can stroll the gardens, view the art and decorations of the chateau, enjoy the 26th Festival of Chopin in Paris (June 16-July 14th – let’s hear it for Bastille Day). The special exhibit, “In the Footsteps of Charles Darwin” (Dans les pas de Charls Darwin) opened May 29th and will continue until November 1st, in the Organeria. The gardens cost 1 euro. Bagatelle also features guided tours, a book shop, gift shop, restaurant, parking. Photography is permitted.

Access:

Metro: Porte Maillot
Bus: Route de Sevres a Neuilly, Bus 244 from Porte de Maillot.
The Park is open from 9 am to 7 pm daily.

For more info on the Festival de Chopin, go to:

http://www.frederic-chopin.com/

Enjoy!

I guess the economy still has everyone spooked. All of those last-chance offers keep coming back. Viking has a central France cruise:

Normandy to Paris – D-Day beaches (and remember, this is a very important year), Rouen (Joan of Arc burned here), Giverny (Monet’s gardens), and Paris!! It’s 8 days with shore excursions, guided tours, meals, and above all else: France – food, wine, flowers, history, and that amazing blue sky over the Ile de France.

The 2 for 1 offer is slated to expire May 28th. Call 1-866-200-5395 or go on line at:

http://www.viking.com.

The offer code is 61E.

Also: Wandering France is not affiliated with Viking nor do we receive any considerations from Viking. We’re just passing on the good news!

When traveling, it’s always fun to have a quest. Today’s quest, courtesy of IVY, is music, specifically independently-selected records, CDs, and even a little merchandise. Groundzero offers a wildly eclectic selection, based on the tastes of the staff and the customers. They focus on current independent music, plus reggae, African, jazz blues, reissued 1960’s music, electro releases, compilations of music from many nations and many eras. You can listen to music on turntables (remember the slight scratching sound of authenticity?) and headphones or on the computer. There are even picture disks.

According to my source (IVY again), the shop has wooden floors and bookshelves, lava lamps, and a fairy-light lit basement. It sounds to me like a refuge from urban overload.

Also, they ship – so take a break, listen to King Sonny Ade (old) or something so new that by the time I write the title, it’s so over, and then send your selections home while you skip out, unencumbered, to your next destination.

Location:

23 rue Saint Marthe
75020 Paris

Or, in the cloud: “http://en.groundzero.fr/

I checked the website – it’s loaded with album covers, graphics, easy-to-navigate, features music of the day, and welcomes your business.

Aurally,