top:2px;padding-right:5px;font-family:times;”>Shortly after moving from Amsterdam to Berlin this Spring, I received the nicest email from one of my favorite bloggers, Claudia Strasser – author of The Paris Apartment book, blog, Paris shopping tour operator and NYC boutique of the same name. Claudia invited me to join her in Paris in April, collaborating behind-the-scenes for a few brocante visits with clients from the West Coast of the United States and it just so happened that Travel + Leisure would be along for the ride, documenting the French antique shopping fun!
“When I am in the City of Light, I rarely set foot in a gallery unless it has a gift shop. My favorite place to dine is the department-store café, with the frites stand at the flea market a close second. But recently it dawned on me that even a world-class compulsive shopper like myself has a tendency to visit the same markets, the same charming boutiques, the same venerable department stores. So on my latest trip I decided to consult three shopping gurus—two natives and one honorary citizen—about their favorite local haunts….”
the article goes on to say:
“When Claudia Strasser sweeps into the café across from the Vanves Métro stop on Sunday morning she has quite an entourage with her—three members of the B. family, whose 15-room mansion in Seattle she is helping to furnish, along with Toma Haines, an Oklahoma native who calls herself The Antiques Diva™. Before we hit even the first booth, Strasser and The Diva are unloading trade secrets: Did I know that the traveling fairs that set up in different neighborhoods on summer weekends are listed at the Vide-Greniers website, and that there are three keywords to look for: antiquités (for items at least 100 years old), brocante (for classic flea market merchandise), and vide-greniers (what in other cultures is commonly referred to as junk)? Was I aware that the best time to go to markets is the last weekend in July, before the whole of France goes on vacation, when dealers are desperate to empty their booths and want quick cash?”
Continue reading Lynn Yaeger’s Travel + Leisure article here and while on the Travel + Leisure site make sure to check out some of her other great articles on topics as wide ranging as Touring Coco Chanel’s Old Haunts to Dutch by Design.
Do make sure to visit Claudia’s blog The Paris Apartment – she has some of the best Parisian photography in one locale featured on her site as well as an incredible inventory of French antiques for sale in her online shop and if you’ve not bought her book The Paris Apartment be sure to order a copy! Rumor has it she’s working on her next book… and I can’t wait to read it!
Click here to read what Claudia had to say about the adventure in Paris with Travel + Leisure!
Bonne Shopping!
The Antiques Diva™
(seen right with Claudia Strasser of The Paris Apartment)
Paris is a very great place and an ultimate travel destination for all the travel wanderers. This place is enriched with all the wonderful beauty and serenity of nature. This is a great place for general and family travel as well.
Hi,
Your blog is awesome and some excellent information is shared. Your blog is useful for our visitors.
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Paris usually gets all the credit for romantic European spots, but I recommend honeymooners check out the beautiful cities of Italy, where the piazzas of Rome and Florence are full of lovers eating at al fresco cafes with strolling musicians nearby. Spend a few days a short trip away in Venice where you can be serenaded by a Gondolier, and set a goal to kiss on every bridge in the city. Or visit Tuscany where wine tours can be combined with seeing Renaissance churches and lush countryside.
Moreover, you must visit Virginia, The Shenandoah Valley where you must see the very marvelous destination to visit Wood Ruff Inns Resorts. It is the best place to spend your vacations, honey moons and special holidays.
Thanks to everyone on this blog. I love Paris. The shopping, the food and the fantastic site seeing and culture but the best part is the money I save on my ticket when I book through lastminutetravel.com. See you all in Paris!
Congratulations to you! You deserved a great fun and excitement! Thanks for sharing this too. By the way, I found a fantastic Paris adventure that might interest you too. Thanks and have a wonderful day!
So great about the article!! Congrats.
What a fun, fabulous trip – and with such wonderful company. I'm SO on the next one. I can't wait to read more about your adventure in travel and leisure!
xo Isa
I love to read about your fabulous life. What a lovely weekend. Congratulations on your mention.
I am so happy to know about the Paris Apartment. What lovely blog and her book is officially on my list at amazon.
Toma, this is such a "fun" post and great experience to be selected as a Travel and Leisure "expert". Have a super trip.
Congratulations Toma!
How much fun would that be to meet up with friends in Paris and have a great time.
Claudia has a wonderful blog too, have often enjoyed visiting ~ the Paris Apartment.
Happy weekend
Hugs
Carolyn
Hi Doll! Thank you so much for this post, it's definitely a trip down memory lane and a weekend whirlwind I will never forget. Just thinking about it makes me smile 🙂
I hope that someday we're in Paris with all of our mutual blogger friends for the weekend of a lifetime! Maybe we should organize something just for fun and more good times?
Loads of congratulations, dear Toma!
What a gathering of great fun … . so many links to follow , I'll be reading all day.
Congratulations Diva!!!!
Karin