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In an age where disconnect from nature is increasingly prevalent, the significance of visiting local family-friendly farms cannot be overstated. By immersing oneself in the farm's sights, sounds, and smells, we gain a deeper understanding of agricultural processes, environmental sustainability, and food systems. Enjoy your family-friendly farm adventures around Paris. Visiting these pedagogical farms provides hands-on learning experiences and can play an important role in reconnecting kids with their food sources. This awareness might even translate into healthier eating habits. We are fortunate to be able to visit local farms serving as invaluable educational opportunities. Check the websites (the name is the direct link) for upcoming events, workshops and other learning opportunities. Ferme de Gally - Location: Saint-Cyr-l'École, about 20 kilometers west of Paris. - Opening Times: Monday to Saturday from 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM, Sundays from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. - Prices: Admission is free, but there may be charges for specific activities or products. - How to Get There: Take the RER C train to Saint-Cyr-l'École station, then a short bus or taxi ride to the farm. Jardin du Piqueur Domaine national de Saint-Cloud -Location Allée de la Porte Verte, 92380 Garches, about 10 km from Paris -Opening Times: Visits and Educational workshops are held from Tuesday to Saturday, except Thursday. -Prices: Prices: Admission is free, but there may be charges for specific activities or products -How to Get There: Gare SNCF : Marnes-la-Coquette, then it's a short walk to the farm. Ferme de Paris - Location: Bois de Vincennes, Route du Pesage, 75012 Paris. - Opening Times: Tuesday to Sunday from 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM. - Prices: Admission is free. - How to Get There: Take Metro Line 8 to Porte Dorée station, then it's a short walk to the farm. Ferme Rainbow - Location: 25 Avenue du Bois Saint-Martin,93160 Noisy-le-Grand - Opening Times: Out of school holidays from 10am to 6pm on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday (until 7pm and closed from 12pm to 2pm) and Sunday School holidays from 10 am to 6 pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday (closed from 12 pm to 2 pm) and Sunday - Prices: Various rates - How to Get There: RER E (Les Yvris Noisy le Grand) Remember to check each farm's website (the name of the farm is the link) or contact them directly for any updated information on opening times, prices, and activities, as they may vary seasonally. Do you know of any other farms in the Paris area? Have you been to any of the ones listed?Please share in the comments below. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message. Message cannot be held responsible for any information contained in or omitted from this article.

By Sophie Wallace-Hadrill We all know that parenthood is a challenging time, but parenting away from your home culture, your connections and networks, and navigating life in a different language…? It’s not easy. And that’s exactly why Message has always had maternal mental health and well-being as one of its key areas of support. You may have heard of the Maternal Wellbeing group meetings which take place twice a week when school is in session. Perhaps you thought, "oh, that’s not for me, I wouldn’t want to take up someone else’s space in the group..." We are here to tell you that the Maternal Wellbeing Group meetings are for everyone. Licensed Therapists Our support team consists of professional, licensed therapists who also happen to be parenting in a foreign country. I’m Dr. Sophie Wallace-Hadrill, a clinical psychologist from the UK and I’ve lived in Paris for just over a year now. Larissa Reidy, a psychotherapist from Ireland, is also on our team and has navigated Parisian life for over a decade. We also have Dr. Jennifer Kane, a clinical psychologist from the United States, who facilitated the group for over 6 years and is still on the team to guide and advise. Although all the facilitators have training in psychotherapy, the groups themselves are peer support and the facilitator’s role is to host the group rather than to provide group therapy. Of course, if you need information about how to get additional psychological support, we are here to signpost you as best we can. What's the meeting like? You may be wondering what it is like to attend the group meetings. An important thing to know is that they are drop-in – this means that you don’t have to sign up to attend every week, or even have to let us know you are coming. We want to make sure that the space is there if you need it. Another thing you might be wondering is whether the group is for you if you don’t have an “official’ diagnosis. And the answer is a resounding YES! When the group was initially set up, there was a focus on post-natal depression as this is a condition that affects many women but has been traditionally overlooked and under-supported.  However, over time and with Dr. Kane's leadership we have expanded to include other extremely common experiences such as anxiety. Dr. Kane really saw the need for a space where women could authentically share what is happening in their lives. She noticed that with motherhood, it didn’t always seem safe for mothers to say they were having a hard time, or, "I don’t think I’m good at this!". When I joined, we spoke as a team about how we might increase the remit of the group still further, to reflect the fact that looking after our mental health proactively is important for all. All of us – with diagnoses or without – have difficulties in our parenting journeys at some point. We see the group as a safe place to come and share your challenges and support others at the same time. It’s a confidential space, which means that whatever is talked about in any given group session isn’t shared outside. Reduce Isolation Another important part of the group’s usefulness, we hope, is to reduce isolation. Feeling isolated is a very common experience, especially in early parenthood, but as we know, living abroad is potentially an extremely isolating time for mothers.  Living away from your usual structures of support, away from the culture(s) you grew up in and/or are familiar with means that accessing the resources to help is much harder. As Larissa Reidy puts it so well, "it doesn’t have to be as difficult if you reach out. " A couple of attendees kindly shared their thoughts about what their experiences of the group have been. One member told us that “it was the single best thing I did for myself during my pregnancy, and because of the conversations I had, I felt prepared as a person to become a mum.” She reflected on how good it was to be able to speak freely in a safe space, with other mums who can offer real-world, empathetic, emotional support but with a trained mental health professional facilitating the conversation. Another member spoke about how the group has been “a great source of comfort for me in my first months of motherhood in Paris.”  For her, having the space to share her thoughts and experiences with other mums in the group has been a great relief, and a sounding board for understanding this new role of motherhood. Our favorite things about facilitating the group include getting to witness how positive and beneficial it can be for mothers who attend and seeing the enormous empathy people show. It’s a real privilege to witness the generosity of spirit that the group shows, the kind words, the wry laughs of recognition, the encouraging words. Although the group attendance changes from week to week, the attitude from all the mums is consistently warm, non-judgmental and good-humored. Is this group right for you? We hope we have convinced you that the groups are for all mums, at any stage of their parenting journey (including pregnancy!), to come and connect with other mums who can share experiences; it’s a positive space to share challenges. Find out when the next Message Maternal Well-being Support Group is being held on the Message Member's Calendar. This article was originally published in Winter 2022 Message Magazine Print Edition. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message. Message cannot be held responsible for any information contained in or omitted from this article.

When I moved to Paris from the U.S., I was overwhelmed by all the elaborate, decadent patisserie treats beckoning to me from every other store window. There are a million different pastries you can find here, and each one has a different story, and possibly a goofy name. In my quest to try them all, I awakened my desire for simpler sweets, like donuts. Not beignets, donuts. Great donuts are hard to come by in Paris (cinnamon rolls too, but that’s another quest). Every once in a while, I want a donut. A simple glazed donut is my favorite. These are the donut shops I’ve discovered in Paris. I’ve updated the list to include some changes to the donut scene. Besties Bakery This is quite possibly the cutest donut shop I’ve ever seen, with flowers on the façade outside, a pale pink interior, a replica British phone booth (to call your bestie), and a neon sign informing you that all you need are donuts and your best friend. Words to live by. I found Besties serendipitously, while I was actually heading to another donut spot in the same area, but they happened to be exceptionally closed that day. The flowers and the cute signage drew me in, and the appetizing array of baked goods had me mesmerized. Their salted caramel donut (Caramel au beurre salé) was my first selection, because I’m a fiend for caramel. The donut was nicely glazed with caramel and topped with two cute pieces of popcorn. It was delightful. The other flavors I got were Pistachio, Citron meringué, vanilla glaze, and Oreo. They were all amazing, with the Pistachio being my second fave, followed by the Citron meringué. My daughter was a big fan of the Oreo. Great day in donut history! (11 rue Auber, 75009; 10 rue des Bernardins, 75005) Boneshaker Donuts & Coffee Boneshaker is clearly going for top billing in the decadent dessert game. They have a big store with a hipster vibe and a spin-off brownie bar down the street. Good variety of flavors, with hilarious names, huge donuts and cinnamon rolls (bonus!). My daughter and I got a couple cinnamon rolls, vanilla glaze, OG (original glazed), Baby Got Back (chocolate and peanut butter), and something called No Sleep Till Brooklyn. The cinnamon rolls were soft and lovely, but the glaze was almost too sweet for me. I found myself knocking off some of the icing to enjoy the roll itself. This was also true of the vanilla- the thickness of the sugary glaze got in the way of the donut. Brooklyn was a lemon curd with coconut concoction that was my favorite. The tartness of the lemon curd played well with the pastry, and there was less icing on top. The OG was exactly what I was looking for- a big soft, airy donut with a thin, crackling glaze.. Boneshaker clearly has a good recipe for the dough, but if my candy-crazed daughter thinks something is too sweet, it might be. I’d go back for the Brooklyn, the OG and I’d give the cinnamon roll another try because…cinnamon. (86 rue d’Aboukir, 75002) The French Donuts This tiny spot has only enough space to come in, place your order and get out. But what they lack in space, they make up for in mouth-watering variety. The menu changes monthly, but the classic glazed is always there. The donuts are bigger than most, and denser, with a buttermilk taste. They’re not quite cake donuts, but they’re not quite airy either. If you cut one in half, you won’t smash it to do so. I’ve tried the glazed, the powdered sugar, a carrot cake, and a caramel beurre salé. The French Donuts has my favorite glazed donut thus far. It’s lightly sweet, still giving you the crackled sugar on your fingertips, but the pastry was the star. Every mouthful was a delight. The carrot cake donut had a buttercream frosting in little peaks, with crumbles of carrot cake on top, but it wasn’t overwhelming. Perfectly balanced. I look forward to having a reason to go all the way to Pigalle again to treat myself. Update: The French Donut has expanded to several more locations in Paris and the suburbs, but I think they’ve traded down in quality. The glazed donut is still good, but it’s smaller than I remember. They’ve also got a fairly good cinnamon roll. Their products kinda taste like they came from a mall kiosk instead of a bakery. (Multiple locations: I visited 56 rue la Bruyère, 75009; 80 Ave. du Maine) C’est Mon Donuts This place is even smaller than The French Donut. It is merely a walk-up counter right across from Jardin du Luxembourg. I think they make the donuts on site, but it’s so tiny it’s likely they are baked elsewhere. Strolling past one evening, I noticed they had a donut called the Beyonce. How could I resist? I think Beyonce had raspberries, and I devoured it on the way to the train. Late afternoon is not the best time to visit this place, because the donuts were scarce. I cannot render a full verdict, because there was nothing else I wanted to try. But Bey did not disappoint. Update: My daughter and I have visited this spot many more times and I’m pleased to report that the selection of flavors has expanded and they usually have a Cinnamon Glazed donut that I am quite fond of. (Multiple Locations; I visited 1 rue Gay-Lussac, 75005) Krispy Kreme You’re Welcome. I consider myself partially responsible for Krispy Kreme’s appearance in Paris. I publicly wished for a simple glazed donut, and a year later, BAM! There’s a KK in the mall at Les Halles. There’s usually a ridiculously long line for the newest, hottest donuts, but it is possible to buy a boxed dozen at the entrance and skip the line. I did this with the kid one night in January. We ate a couple on the way home, and then ate the rest properly, after 15 seconds in the microwave. I see now why people wait in that horrendous queue- they taste exponentially better when hot. A cold Krispy Kreme donut leaves a weird coating (guilt) in your mouth, whereas warm ones just kind of melt on your tongue and make you happy. Would I stand in an hour-long line of Parisians for a hot-off-the-conveyor-belt glazed one? No. But I will fight to the death for your right to do so. Donuts, to me, are comfort food. When I crave one, I don’t need it to be overly fussy, or shockingly sweet. I’ve seen a few places that deck out their donuts with candy bars and such. That just means they're hiding a bland ring of pastry underneath. I’m not trick or treating, just treating myself. Is there any better city to treat yourself? Blog Readers: Where do you go when you have a donut craving? Now that autumn is here, are there any apple cider donut fans in the house? Is there a spot I missed? Please share in the comments. About the Author: Rachelle Chapman is the mom of Camille (11) and Message Paris Blog Manager. Originally a Chicago native, she has been living in Paris since 2014. All photos in this article taken by Rachelle Chapman. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message.

Growing up, and probably even throughout my 20’s, museums felt like something I was “supposed” to like and I was embarrassed to admit that they were in fact horribly boring for me. As an engineer with an analytical mind, I was always trying to analyze and understand what I was seeing. But in the last few years, my perspective has changed. I now see museums as a time to turn my thinking brain off, to relax and become curious about what art can make me feel. Sometimes a piece can surprise me because I notice it causes a strong emotional reaction in me, one that I can’t explain and only recently, the feeling of not being able to explain it is something I can leave alone. And now I’m living in a city where you can’t throw a stone without striking a museum. Where beautiful things without explanation are everywhere. But how does one take advantage of that with a 2 year old and 4 year old in tow? A 2 and a 4 year old that are loud, lack patience and are generally more interested in climbing sculptures than looking at them? It seems like Paris has thought of us. Below are three museums that my husband and I have been able to genuinely enjoy with our kids thanks to well-designed, kid-focused spaces. First Musee Rodin. There is a great children's workshop. We’ve taken our kids there to get their energy out and let them indulge in touching EVERYTHING. That bought us enough patience for the indoor museum part. Then we brought them to the gardens and had some (rather expensive) ice cream before exploring the gardens, full of sculptures and benches for one parent to sit and relax while the other runs frantically after the kids. Next Center Pompidou. We have an annual pass for this one and they have a lot for kids (You can check out an Overview of what’s on right now). My older son loves elevators, so even before seeing a single piece of art, this museum is his favorite! Take the elevators or escalators to the top floor for an amazing view of Paris. Mostly what we do is visit the children’s play area, which changes themes periodically. Check the website here to make sure it isn’t closed to set up for the next theme. Sometimes we split up and one parent stays with the kids while the other goes solo though the museum. The kids can stay for quite a while in the play area or the terraces are also open to hang out and relax with a snack while one parent explores. Finally, the Louvre. They have a studio in the basement. I find it’s not well labeled or advertised, but the info booth will direct you, or check out this link where the following note is provided for the studio: Located on the ground level of the Richelieu wing, the Studio is a space for discovery and creation at the heart of the Louvre. Come enjoy freely accessible activities open to all holders of a museum admission ticket. Please note that these activities are available in French only. Do you have a recommendation for a kid-friendly art-focused afternoon? Share in the comments! About the Author: Michelle is an American mom of 2 little people, trying to balance work, family and her curiosities. Her family is in Paris for a few years for her job and she’s almost continuously background-planning excursions small and large in an effort to make the most of her family's time abroad. “Parents have needs too” chronicles her quest for the coveted parenting win-win: family time that’s captivating for kids and adults in (somewhat) equal measure. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message.

On New Year’s Eve 2021, my husband, 9 month old, 2.5 year old and I landed in Paris to start a (then) 2 year assignment in the city of lights. We were completely overwhelmed and enchanted. We were tired all the time, but found the city offered plenty of ways to reward ourselves for getting through the day - ridiculously affordable wine, decadent chocolate tarts and fantastic cheese. We needed these simple pleasures at a period when we were perpetually depleted by the day-to-day demands of little children in a completely new environment. Time passed and things started to calm down. I renewed my contract, presenting us with the opportunity to stay for 5 years. We found amazing babysitters that let us go out to dinner every now and then. But this summer I was still feeling we were somehow missing the opportunity of our time in Paris. We were living in a dynamic, diverse and immense city, but we spent most weekends at our local playground or otherwise keeping our kids entertained. I love my children and after working all week, I wanted to spend my weekends enjoying their world. But if I was honest, I could admit that watching them run around the same playground for the 20th time left me bored and feeling a little trapped. I had to find a way to balance my interests with theirs; to feed my own yearning to explore the city, with their tiny attention spans and limited self control. I prepared itineraries, inspired by Lindsey Tramuta’s The New Paris and The New Parisienne (highly recommend both!). I organized ideas for exploration around things that brought me joy: coffee, art, champagne and nature. I’d love to share these itineraries with you, in case you too are looking for an excuse to visit a new area of Paris, feed your own curiosity and stimulation… and need to bring a tiny person with you. I’ll start with coffee. First, let me preview that my recommendations aren’t for beautiful, bespoke Parisian cafes. This is for two reasons. First, I don’t like espresso. I find it bitter, acidic and more like medicine than rejuvenation. Second, my kids are (currently) too feral for a cafe. My recommendations are for amazing coffee places that offer great coffee drinks to-go, which I then bring to a nearby park where I can watch my kids play while I slooooowly savor my coffee, american style. These four recommendations will bring you to four corners of the city. I feel I need to warn a reader with tiny kids - take note of the opening times. My kids are up at 7 and by 8 I’m ready to get them out of our apartment because they are already jumping from the couch, screaming with joy or anger and begging for TV. But Paris isn’t ready for us at this hour. It’s crazy to me that even coffee places - places which should be the first step in one's day - sometimes don’t open until 11 am! How people launch their day without coffee until 11 is a mystery to me. But anyway, some of the recommendations below open a little earlier, which can allow you to start your kids-with adventure more aligned with their schedules. Champ de Mars. Visit Terres de Cafe (open every day, 10-7 WE & 9:30-7 M-F) on the way to the Champ de Mars. The Champ de Mars may live in your mind as a tourist trap, but I have found it to be one of the most kid friendly places in the city. There are four separate play grounds in a short walk, two carousels, including a fully manual carousel from 1913, plus a (surprisingly violent) Puppet show where there are sure to be some dead puppets at the end. Tuileries Garden. Visit Noir - Coffee Shop & Torréfacteur (open everyday, 9 WE and 8 M-F) a short walk to Tuileries Garden. Tuileries Garden has a great playground made for adventurous climb-happy kids, a carousel and a trampoline park (next to Monument à Charles Perrault but I can’t find it on the map). Canal Saint Martin. Visit Ten Belles - Paris 10 (open every day, 9-6 WE & 8:30-5:30 M-F) on the way to the playground in Jardin Villemin. Sometimes you can see the canal system in action; which is fascinating for both kids and adults. Message meetups. Of course a list of coffee + kids wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Petite Forêt where Message holds regular meet ups. Do you have a favorite playground-adjacent coffee shop that accommodates “to-go” orders? Share in the comments! Michelle is an American mom of 2 little people, trying to balance work, family and her curiosities. Her family is in Paris for a few years for her job and she’s almost continuously background-planning excursions small and large in an effort to make the most of her family's time abroad.

Are you there too? Trying to put together that giant puzzle called "extracurricular activities " for your child, or even worse, children? How on earth can he do music class in the 5th and swim class in the 15th, on THE SAME DAY? How many activities can one fit into one Wednesday afternoon or Saturday morning. Do we really want to screw up our weekend, screw up EVERY Saturday for the near future? Thinking about rushing them across town, right after school, when they should be doing their homework. Or heck - play!! But no, we need them to excel in a sport, play an instrument and of course, master their "other" language. But how to fit it all in? There are only seven days of the week! And school is in session until the late afternoon. We should just give up and make the week consist of ten days instead. Nobody REALLY believes that God created earth in seven days anyway. Then you have an epiphany. You think you figured it all out. If you move soccer to Mondays and tennis to Wednesday lunch you might just be able to pull of two music classes, solphege and choir, in one Friday night. Hurray your sanity is safe. However you meet your next door neighbour, who tells you about this EXCELLENT art class, with a teacher who studied under Monet and there is only one spot left. But you have to bump swim class. Your husband will never let you bump swim class. Knowing how to swim is ESSENTIAL. What if your school goes to the public pool to teach the kids to swim and your kid DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO SWIM. And gets poked with that wooden stick swim instructors use. And yelled at. What are we going to do with ourselves? How are you surviving? And I'm not even talking about the COMPETITION there sometimes it to get a spot; at the conservatoire, the multisport class or musical acting course. Watch out for e-mail alerts, register online RIGHT when registrations open up, register to a LOTTERY to POSSIBLY earn a spot later. To then stand in line with others, hoping the time slot will fit into your already complex puzzle of madness. I wish you all the best, fellow mamas, papas, grandmas and granddads (yes those sometimes have a say in this jungle too). Viva Vacances! The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message.

A cancer diagnosis can be an unimaginably difficult time, but if it happens while living abroad from one’s home country and family, life can become even more complicated. Language barriers, lack of understanding of treatment options and facilities, feelings of isolation and more are all common experiences for people living abroad who are diagnosed with cancer. So was the case for Cancer Support France founder Linda Shepherd, who was diagnosed with cancer while living in France. Knowing she was not the only English-speaker to be diagnosed with cancer while living abroad, she founded Cancer Support France (CSF) in 2002, which aims to provide free, confidential support to English-speakers in France affected by cancer. CSF has volunteers throughout 16 local associations in France. Here we interview Message member and CSF volunteer Robynne Pendariès about the charity, what it is like to be a volunteer and the many ways it supports cancer patients and loved ones of cancer patients alike. Can you describe how you found the charity, why you joined, what is your role? My close friend Deb Lillian started the Paris chapter of Cancer Support France. In the beginning, I did it to show solidarity and support my friend. I quickly realized how important the work we were doing was for anglophones touched by cancer here in France. I also realized that several friends and clients of mine (in my work as a professional organizer) were facing cancer, and I didn't know how to best support them. I have since learned through my volunteering with CSF how to best be present for them, what to say and what NOT to say, etc. My role is "National Rep" which means I represent the Paris chapter within this France-wide charity organization. What is an impactful memory you have from volunteering with the charity? One of my favorite memories is when our previous president and I travelled to Montpellier for a national meeting. It was so heartwarming to be in the same room with other volunteers who are all so selfless and giving of their time for such a worthy cause. Does the Cancer Support France have any events to know about? Our volunteers create events as fundraisers, which span all sorts of events and skills. These fundraisers are usually organized within their local association. For instance I am part of the Paris & Ile de France Association, and I led a Zoom fundraiser by walking people through my "Checklist to Complete LONG Before You Need It" and raised over 800 euros for CSF. Another member of CSF made a beautiful quilt to sell to benefit the charity. In the fall, we will be selling raffle tickets also to raise funds. In addition, we plan on participating in the "Course des Lumières" as a fundraiser (run/walk through Paris at nighttime), in November, to raise funds. How can members of Message help, if they are interested? Message members can help by donating and/or by becoming members of CSF Paris, and also by volunteering (feel free to contact me with any questions by email at robynnependaries@noos.fr). Many CSF volunteers hold the roles of "Active Listeners" to support the people who reach out to us. There are additional ways to support CSF (doing publicity, training, design work, planning fundraisers, helping with local meetups, etc). We like to match our volunteers’ roles with their skills and interests. Please note anyone who is an adult and speaks English can be a volunteer, you do not have to be touched by cancer yourself to volunteer. Learn more about volunteering for CSF. You can also help us spread the word about Cancer Support France If you know of someone or their entourage touched by cancer, English-speaking in France, any nationality, send them the CSF website and contact information. After calling or emailing, you will get a response as soon as possible, most likely within 24 hours. Phone calls are taken on an answerphone and are free from a land-line National Helpline Telephone: 0800 240 200 National Email Helpline: helpline@cancersupportfrance.org Communication with our clients is also provided through Zoom, Skype, Whatsapp, text, in order to reach people in the means they prefer. Is there additional information you want Message members to know? Cancer Support France supports both cancer patients, and anyone in their entourage: caregivers, friends, family etc. so please reach out. Also, your loved one with cancer does not need to be in France. For example, we have several people we support who live in France and have parents with cancer in the U.S. Our services, besides emotional support, includes language support at consultations, home visits or hospital visits, sharing resources in English about cancer treatment in France, information about accessing health and social services, and social meetings. Thank you Robynne for the work you do and telling us about this special association! Interview has been lightly edited for clarity. Message cannot be held responsible for any information contained in or omitted from this article. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message.

Let’s talk about brunch, baby! The British invented it, but Americans perfected it. The French scoff at it. Paris needs a brunch scene and it doesn’t have one. How is it possible that the epicenter of eating has neglected an entire meal? Maybe it’s because in France, Sunday Lunch with the family is kind of sacred. A lot of restaurants aren’t even open on Sundays. Perhaps it’s also because it’s so acceptable here to have wine with lunch, no one needed to invent an excuse to day drink. Maybe it’s because when you’re not big on breakfast, brunch seems superfluous. Why expand on a meal that most people ignore? These are all possible answers, but the bottom line is I’ve been waiting patiently for Paris to get on the brunch bandwagon, and it’s not happening fast enough. What we have now is what I like to call ‘bistro brunch’. This is what happens when your neighborhood brasserie that’s open on Sundays tries to have a brunch menu. They quite cynically pile all the elements of a typical French breakfast (fruit, croissant, pastries, an egg a la coque, coffee and juice) into a formule with a smoked salmon dish AND dessert and call it le brunch. Le Brunch can be good, but it’s often too many plates of food to have at once, and it doesn’t capture the essence of Brunch. Brunch, to me, is better as an a la carte situation. I want to be able to choose a decadent sweet breakfast dish paired with a savory side item. Or an indulgent savory dish with something sweet off to the side. Stuffed french toast with hash browns. Pancakes that qualify as dessert. Thick-cut bacon. Chicken and waffles. Some hipster variation of Eggs Benedict with a cinnamon roll. At least one buzzy Mimosa-adjacent cocktail. Finally, I want to be able to linger a bit in my postprandial bliss, before being turned out onto these Paris streets. The ideal brunch spot should be comfortable, convivial, and creative. In my quest for brunch, Post-Covid Paris actually surprised me. I found enough options to sort into categories. First, there are Sunday Only Brunch spots. These are mostly buffets, and frequently in hotels. Then, there are weekend brunch spots, and finally, we have a couple of ‘all brunch all day’ restaurants. Sunday Brunch Buffets Nomad’s, the first brunch buffet I’d discovered, is a family favorite. It’s a spacious restaurant with outdoor seating, and an impressive spread. Crepes, waffles, scrambled eggs that don’t taste like they’re on a buffet, yummy sausages, bacon, quiche, salads, potatoes, and my daughter loves their croissants (why she fixated on the croissants with all the other choices is a mystery). Coffee, chocolat chaud and juice are free-flowing (a rarity in restaurants). Nomad’s gets crowded, but I’ve never felt like they were rushing us to turn over the table. Because of its location in the first arrondissement, Nomad’s is a great choice if you’re going to do something touristy afterward, like strolling in Les Tuileries, or Place Vendome. You might need to walk off all those croissants. 4.5 stars, 5 if you ask my daughter. (12-14 Rue du Marché Saint-Honoré, 75001) Inka, at Hotel 1K. Inka is a Peruvian themed restaurant with a Latin American brunch buffet. I visited Inka twice and had two different experiences. When we first tried Inka’s brunch it was three-fold: you begin with the buffet, then you can order a plat from their taqueria AND THEN you get dessert. It was an astounding amount of tasty food, for about 35 euros per person. They have a ceviche bar, arepas, very good scrambled eggs, rice, potatoes, fresh fruit, good juices and the best churros I’ve had in Paris. We were hooked (and stuffed). I think they realized it was too much, because we recently went back and they did not offer the menu+dessert. Or maybe it was because it was Easter and they changed up the program. Either way, with just the buffet, it’s still a lot of amazing food for the price. The Paques buffet featured duck confit paella, chicken salad bao tacos, and plentiful savory dishes that I can’t remember the names of. You won’t get pancakes or any typical breakfast sweets, but you won’t mind. It was so much good food, and because of that, they don’t rush you. The restaurant and the lobby of the hotel are beautifully decorated, you want to just sit there and look fashionable. Inka is good for the family brunch, or the boozy brunch with friends (shout out to their Mezcal Mule cocktail). Just bring your appetite. 5 stars. (13 Boulevard du Temple, 75003) Weekend Brunch Cafe Cassette: Cute. Too cute. Late one Saturday morning (Cassette is the rare spot that offers brunch on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays), my family visited this very bright, very flowery, kitschy,very busy corner brasserie. The music was nice, the chairs were comfy, and the staff was eager. This place was very pleasant to be in. They had a lot of intriguing drinks on the menu. I didn’t even order a mimosa because I was drawn to the ‘King Mix’, a fancy Arnold Palmer (iced tea and lemonade). Getting a good iced tea in France is another issue, but I digress. Cassette has a ‘le brunch’ formule and an a la carte brunch menu. I chose the banana pancakes, which were good but tiny and not really decadent at all. Restaurant pancakes, in my opinion, should dominate the plate they’re on. Cassette’s pancakes were on a smaller than average plate and there was still plenty of vacant space, crying out for bacon, or a garnish, or something. Also, the a la carte menu had no sides, so I had to request (canadian) bacon after my husband pointed out they had it on the formule. Husband and daughter both chose salé egg dishes: the Norwegian benedict and the egg cheesy muffin. They were satisfied, but none of us were blown away by what we ate. When the check arrived, I felt like we’d not eaten our money’s worth. You are clearly paying for the cute atmosphere at Cafe Cassette. I’d love to come back here for an overpriced drink with someone from out of town, and sit in the swing chairs, but it’s not going to be my brunch spot. 3 stars. (73 rue de Rennes, 75006) Break! Honorable Mention for this spot. Break was brought to my attention during the fabulous Message Volunteer Brunch. It’s kind of hidden in a tennis club in the 17th arrondissement. It’s bright, overlooks the tennis courts, and is going for a California vibe. They’ve got brunch on the weekends (I think). There’s Benedicts, two different varieties of avocado toast you can customize, Sunny Side Up Pancakes (which I was dubious about, but it was good), and french toast. Lots to explore on the menu, even cinnamon rolls! If you’re in the 17th this could be your place. (119 Blvd Pereire, 75017) Patrol Paris was a surprise entry to the brunch lineup. I went there on a lark, on a late Sunday afternoon. A shaded terrace facing Jardin du Luxembourg, not crowded, perfect for day drinking and people watching. Patrol has a pretty deep brunch menu, where you can choose ‘le brunch’ formule or a la carte. I was drawn to order something called the Avocado Donut (of course), and I was pleased. It consisted of a savory donut, not a bagel, but a brioche-y circle, with guacamole and avocado chunks, spinach leaves, spicy goji berries, and smoked salmon. Very yummy take on avocado toast. On the sweet side, they’ve got house made donuts, pancakes, and two kinds of brioche french toast. I chose the strawberry and white chocolate version and loved every decadent bite. The brioche had a swirl of cinnamon in it, the white chocolate sauce wasn’t lame, and the strawberries were the perfect french berries I live for. They had a good cocktail list, for your day drinking desires, and some good looking pancakes I didn't get to try, so Patrol is definitely worth checking out. (2 Place Edmund Rostand, 75006) All Brunch All The Time Kozy is on the brunch bandwagon for sure. They have 3 locations, and they all serve brunch all day, bless their hearts! The first time we visited Kozy, it was the Av. Bosquet location in August. We waited in line for about 20 minutes, so I’m thinking this place must be awesome. It was okay. No one hated what they got, but no one raved either. The fresh pressed juice drinks they had were very good. My caramel banana pancakes with peanut butter and chocolate chips were a good size, took up the whole plate, and definitely could pass for dessert. I love peanut butter, however, on these pancakes it weighed the dish down, making them taste dry. The juice smoothie I had was very good, and my husband liked his Benedict dish, but I left Kozy’s feeling underwhelmed. The second visit however, changed my perspective. This time, I went to the Notre Dame location, on a weekday, so no waiting. The ND location has a slightly different menu, with the notable addition of chicken and waffles. I was very doubtful of French chicken & waffles, but it was actually pretty good. The chicken was a well-seasoned, crisp, fried, boneless breast with a spicy honey on the side. The waffle was pretty perfect (not too hard), sprinkled with powdered sugar. It was a surprisingly good take on a dish that is easy to screw up. My daughter had a cinnamon roll, which she wasn’t too impressed with, and the avocado toast was decent. Overall, I like Kozy’s, and their concept, but I don’t think it’s worth standing in line for, especially on the weekends. 4 stars on a weekday. (Kozy Bosquet 79 Av. Bosquet, 75007; Kozy Notre Dame 6 rue du Petit Pont, 75005; Kozy Kanope 46 rue Lafayette, 75009) 46 & 3rd. A definite star on the brunch scene, 46 & 3rd does all brunch all day, and I like the way they do it. Their menu has a good assortment of savory and sweet brunch classics like avocado toast, some benedicts and four(!) different pancake dishes. Their pancakes are a bit different: thick and fluffy as if they use baking powder in the batter. I can’t think of a better size reference than a bun or hockey puck. Light, fluffy, golden hockey pucks. My friends had the pancakes nature and found them a bit dry. However, I had the apple jack pancakes and they were divine. Studded with orange segments, drizzled with salted caramel, topped with thin ribbons of granny smith apple and toasted coconut. It sounds like a lot of different elements, but it all blended perfectly. Ordering those pancakes with a side of bacon to dip in the caramel sauce was the best decision ever. My companions had scrambled eggs with mushrooms and bacon on toast, chili cheese croquettes, and a fruit/granola/yogurt bowl. The egg dish was good, according to my spouse, but it needed thicker bread to stand up to the eggs. Also, they had legit hot sauce! Hibiscus iced tea was a highlight. The staff were smiley and attentive, the restaurant was spacious enough, and we liked being there. Would definitely go back, any day of the week. 5 stars! (46 rue de Turbigo, 75003) I’m newly optimistic about the brunch situation in Paris. We may not have a brunch “scene” yet, but there are more places to discover than I realized. We’re not confined to just Sundays, or just the restaurants that cater to tourists, or just one type of cuisine (Asian brunch just popped up on my radar). That’s progress. Let’s raise a (mimosa) glass to progress! If you’ve got a favorite brunch place you don’t mind sharing, tell us all about it in the comments. About the Author: Rachelle Chapman is the mom of Camille (12), and Message Paris Blog Contributor. Originally a Chicago native, she has been living in Paris since 2014. All photos in this article taken by Rachelle Chapman. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message.

Whether you are starting your first child who is a native French speaker in pre-school in France, or have just moved here with several school-aged children who have never learned French, everyone goes through the process of finding the right schools for their family. And luckily, there are many schools in the Paris region which cater to all kinds of kids. The choice of school is a personal one, and the following article will suggest criteria to consider and resources to help make your choice. Questions to Ask Yourself and Others When Choosing a School in France Start with Language What language do you want your child(ren) to be taught in? Do you want your child to learn (and learn in) French? Would you like your child to be truly bilingual? Depending on your family situation and your child’s personality, these are vital considerations.Some non-French-speaking children adapt very quickly to French school and have no problem picking up the language, while others have difficulty understanding French and may be best supported with English as their learning language. If you are staying a short time in France: Families who are in France for only a short period of time should seriously consider whether to expose their children to the French language and culture, or opt for education in their native language. Are you worried about putting your English-speaking child in a French public school? Ask about the Classe d’initiation pour non-francophones or “CLIN”. This initiative helps integrate non French-speaking 7 to 12 year-olds into French public schools. Generally speaking, very young children (under 5 years old) adapt very easily to French as the primary language at school, although a mature and motivated older child can also benefit from even just one year in a French school. If you are here permanently: For English-speaking families planning on staying in France for the long-term, bilingual schools, or public schools with an international section can provide an ideal solution for learning French while at the same time becoming literate in another language. Questions to Narrow Down Your Choices As mentioned above, what language requirements does your child/children have? This will help steer you in finding a school that offers what they need. (It is also possible to supplement French public school with English/other language clubs, if they are available in your area.) Does your child need to complete specific courses or have special needs or interests? Would you prefer a school affiliated with a particular faith? What sports, language or technical facilities would you hope to find? Does your child need a lot of structure, or small classes? Do you want your family to be part of your neighbourhood community by participating in the local public school? Logistics How far are preferred schools from your home and/or work? Some specialized schools such as private schools have maximum commuting times, so consider choosing housing nearer to the school. If you have young children who need to be taken to school, imagine your life being a triangle between home-work-school, and picture your daily routine to see if it is doable. What transportation would be necessary to reach them, is it feasible for your family? (Kids in France who attend public schools walk/bike or take public buses or are driven. Some private schools offer private buses.) How much? Another important consideration is cost. The French education system provides compulsory schooling, free of charge, for children 3 to 16 years old. Private tuition fees range greatly from school to school, and can depend on school level as well. Once you understand your goals for your child(ren)'s schooling plan, you can more easily decide if and when the investment is warranted. There are great schools at every price point (including public schools which are free!), and there is not a correlation between quality and price. Whatever you decide, it is possible to find multilingual activities and playmates for your child in and around Paris through Message and other groups for internationals. Even if the school environment is in one particular language, you can create a social environment that fosters a rich and inclusive language experience for your child(ren) and family. Next Steps Wondering which is best for your family, or if there are specific schools that come recommended? There are two invaluable books available on the subject in English, published by the Association of American Women in Europe (AAWE) “Guide to Education in France” for primary and secondary schooling, and for information about university, “Beyond the Bac—Higher Education in France & Abroad”. Word of mouth is always an excellent way to begin your research into choosing a school. Ask your colleagues, friends, neighbours, for details of where they send (or sent) their children. Take a walk around your neighborhood, and visit your local town hall (mairie) to find out which public school is in your catchment area. Consider consulting members of Message on our forum for recommendations. Once you have drawn up a shortlist of schools, if they are private, contact them directly and request general information about the school. Things to consider include teaching staff and management, tuition fees, services provided (particularly for expat kids), the curriculum, extracurricular activities and sports, as well as academic expectations. Try to visit your preferred school on an open day before making a final decision. This is your chance to interview the schools and find the best fit for you and your child. In doing your research you might come across the different categories of schools in France. They are : public (state-run), private sous contrat (i.e. complies with the French national curriculum), and private hors contrat (outside the French curriculum). Paris Public Schools Residents of Paris can consult an interactive map of Paris public school catchment zones. You can also find school enrollment (l’inscription scolaire) forms and information on the website: Paris public school enrollment. Feel Confident with a Back Up Plan Unless you have ruled out your local public school as being completely unacceptable, it is a good idea to register your child there as a fall-back solution so he or she will have a place to go in September at the start of the school term (la rentrée). Planning for the Future If your family's future plans include an eventual international move, you will want to ensure that your child can re-enter school at the next location without losing credit or having to repeat a year. Discuss your child’s situation with school officials both at home and in France. Most international schools in Paris strive to keep their students abreast of requirements at home. No Matter What You Choose There are many excellent schools in and around Paris, so even if you start at one school and need to change, that can absolutely be an option. The most important thing is focusing your decision on what is right for your child(ren) and your family. You are not alone in making this decision and many of our members have been through it and are happy to answer your questions. Are you learning French? Check out our list of French school vocabulary to see what words you might come across. This article was originally published in 'The ABC's of Parenting in Paris' -curated by our members, and filled with insiders' tips and practical information. As part of our drive towards greater sustainable practices, the book is no longer available in print form. This article was updated for 2023 by Annie Kamp and Stephanie Rink. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message. Message cannot be held responsible for any information contained in or omitted from this article.

A lot of people think that getting a green card or even US citizenship is practically automatic for spouses of US citizens. Let me tell you, my friends, it is not! The process to obtain a green card to legally live and work in the US is prioritized for spouses of US citizens, but it still takes about 18 months, a lot of paperwork, and several fees to complete. It’s a lengthy process, so I would encourage you to start as soon as you can, even if you are not 100% sure you want to move quite yet. Planning is tricky since there is little transparency and no way of knowing when you will move on to the next step. To complicate things further, once your spouse has the immigrant visa allowing him/her to get a green card, you only have a 5-6-month window to enter the US. Otherwise your spouse’s visa will expire, and you will have to start all over to get a new one. Here is a breakdown of all the administrative steps to take in order for your spouse to get a green card. Step 1: Fill out and send form I-130 to USCIS, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (Petition for Alien Relative). This is by far both the easiest and longest step in the process (in terms of response time). You will also have to pay a fee of $550. Step 2: Wait 6-10 months for a response by email (ours came after 10 months) This email will confirm that your case has been sent to the National Visa Center (NVC) and invite you to create an account to upload more documents such as affidavit of support, tax records, birth certificates, judicial records etc. Step 3: Submit documents to the National Visa Center and pay another fee The part was the most difficult to prepare since documents had to be gathered from different sources (i.e. my husband’s birth certificate from his hometown mairie, his criminal record from the Justice Ministry, etc.). You will also have to prove that you earn enough to sponsor your spouse (or else find a co-sponsor and submit tax documents of behalf of that person). I recommend requesting an “acte de naissance plurilingue” (multilingual birth certificate) so you don’t have to pay to have it translated to English. Step 4: Wait 3 months for a response The NVC will get back to you by email regarding all of the documents you uploaded to your account. Step 5: Possibly submit new documents if asked We were asked to submit documents proving my domiciliation in the US as I am my husband’s sponsor, and the sponsor must be US-based. Well I live in France, so this was a bit complicated. I wrote a letter explaining that I would be moving with my husband once his visa was approved and then provided all kinds of documents showing that I still had ties with the US (my driver’s license, voter ID card, magazine subscriptions that I still receive at my parents’ address, US bank statements…basically anything I could think of that would show I was always planning on moving back at some point). I had no idea if this would work, but it did! Step 6: Wait another 3 months for a response I had hoped that uploading new documents wouldn’t send our case back to the beginning of the line waiting for responses from the NVC, but apparently it did. It took another three months to hear from them. Step 7: Get approved for an interview at the Embassy The NVC accepted our documents and told us my husband was approved for an interview at the embassy…but we would have to wait an unspecified amount of time to hear from the embassy to find out when that appointment would be. Step 8: Wait up to 3 months for that interview to be scheduled We got lucky. My husband’s interview was scheduled within 2 months. Step 9: Make an appointment with one of only TWO approved doctors in France for a physical examination, blood work, and chest x-rays….and pay 400€ You can only make this appointment once your interview has been scheduled, but you have to see the doctor BEFORE the interview. I recommend making sure your spouse is up-to-date on required vaccines before this appointment. The doctor may give you a sealed envelope to bring to the interview at the embassy (don’t open it). Step 10: Go to your interview appointment at the Embassy and hopefully get approved for an immigrant visa Bring ALL the original documents that you uploaded in steps 3 and 5 plus any documents the doctor may have given you plus updated tax forms. You’ll also need to bring US passport size photos that are less than six months old (they made my husband retake his photo because the photo we had uploaded initially to the NVC was over six months old, so yes, they actually check this!) Step 11: Wait a week or two for the Embassy to contact you saying your visa is ready for pick up and pay yet another fee…$220 this time YES! You finally have that immigrant visa and are ready to pack your bags and buy that plane ticket! Step 12: MOVE TO THE US You must move within 6 months of the date of the medical exam (when your visa to enter the US as an immigrant expires). Step 13: Receive your green card at the US permanent address you provided The total time from sending in the initial form to receiving the immigrant visa for us was 20 months! We started the process in October 2020 and received the visa in June 2022. Apparently, the process used to be much faster, but the system got heavily bogged down because of COVID and may take a couple years to get back on track. Also note that we did not need to apply for visas for our children because they have dual citizenship. If your children do not have US citizenship, you would need to apply for visas for them as well. Have you moved with your spouse of a different nationality? Any tips you are willing to share with the Message Community? The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message. Message cannot be held responsible for any information contained in or omitted from this article.

Bienvenue à l'école en France! If you are new to France or putting kids in a French-speaking school for the first time, here are the words you will hear and see the most. French School Organization: The names of all the French grades and schools can be a web of illogical numbers and letters, so here is a general categorization with each grade explained. Don't worry, you will memorize it eventually! L'école maternelle L'école maternelle comprises the three grades of petite section (or PS, ages 3-4), moyenne section (referred to as MS, ages 4-5) and grande section (you guessed it... GS, ages 5-6), which is roughly preschool, pre-K and kindergarten in US/Canada L'école élémentaire L'école élémentaire is elementary schoole, it is made of the five grades after maternelle, comprising grades CP (ages 6-7), CE1 (ages 7-8), CE2 (ages 8-9), CM1 (ages 9-10) and CM2 (ages 10-11). L’école primaire L’école primaire includes all the grades in maternelle and l'ecole elementaire and some towns have both the maternelle and ecole elementaire on the same campus. Le collège Le college is secondary/junior high/middle school and is made of four grades: 6ème (ages 11-12), 5ème (ages12-13), 4ème (ages 13-14), and 3ème (ages14-15). Collèges are generally in their own location in a town, separate from the lycèe. Le lycée Le lycèe is high-school/secondary school and made of three grades: seconde (ages 15-16), première (ages 16-17), and terminale (ages 17-18). Centre de loisirs / Accueil de loisirs France supports working parents by offering subsidized child care at public schools on Wednesdays (when elementary schools close), after school, and during school holidays (sometimes only the first week, check your mairie's website for more information). The Paris mairie offers all children from ages 3-14 whether they attend private or public school a place at the centres de loisirs, read more on its centre de loisirs website. The staff are hired by the city and are obliged to structure activities around a pedagogical project rather than simply offer a drop-off centre. Centre de loisirs will also offer day trips or outings, depending on the day or center. Assorted School Vocabulary: arithmetic l’arithmétique art class les arts plastiques, le cours de dessin bell la sonnerie, la cloche biology la biologie boarder un(e) interne boarding school un internat chemistry la chimie civics l’éducation civique classroom la salle de classe cloakroom le vestiaire college l'université, la fac (coll.) competitive (entrance) exam un concours computer science l’informatique corridor/hallway le couloir course un cours, un stage desk un bureau, un casier detention la retenue, la colle (coll.) dining hall, canteen/cafeteria la cantine diploma un diplôme distinction une mention economics les sciences économiques English l’anglais exam un examen, une copie d’examen field trip (residential) une classe verte first class honours (Grade A) une mention très bien French le français geography la géographie German l’allemand grade, mark une note grammar la grammaire Greek le grec gym la gymnastique, le sport gym room (maternelle) salle de mototricité hall le préau handwriting le graphisme headmaster/principal (primaire) le directeur/la directrice headmaster/headmistress le principal, le proviseur (college/lycee) high school students les lycéens, un(e) lycéen(ne) history l’histoire homework les devoirs International Baccalaureate (IB) le baccalauréat international laboratory le laboratoire Latin le latin lesson le cours librarian le/la documentaliste library la bibliothèque centre documentaire literature la littérature map une carte marks/grades une note mathematics les mathématiques middle/secondary school student les collégiens, un(e) collégien(nne) mock exam un examen blanc music la musique notebook le cahier nursery school l’école maternelle parent teachers association (PTA) une association de parents d’élèves (APE) philosophy la philosophie physical education (PE) l’éducation physique et sportive (EPS) physical science les sciences physiques physics la physique playground la cour de récréation primary school teacher un instituteur, une institutrice private school une école privée professor un professeur pronunciation prononciation public/state school une école publique schedule, timetable un emploi du temps school une école scooter (step scooter) une trottinette smart board le tableau blanc interactif (TBI) afternoon snack le goûter Spanish l’espagnol speech therapist l'orthophoniste spelling l’orthographe sports ground le terrain de sport staff room la salle des professeurs students (primary school) les élèves, un(e) élève study-time l’étude subjects les matières teacher la maitresse, l'enseignant(e), un professeur teacher's assistant (maternelle) L'ATSEM (l'agent territorial spécialisé des écoles maternelles) teenagers les ados (adolescents) term un trimestre test un contrôle to fail échouer, recaler to go to school aller à l’école to know (a subject) savoir, (a person) connaître to learn apprendre to memorize mémoriser to pass a test réussir un examen (do not use "passer"!) to practice répéter to repeat a year redoubler une classe to study étudier to take a test passer un examen-careful, this confuses Anglophones! to teach enseigner university une université, la fac, une grande école whiteboard le tableau workshop un atelier written paper un écrit We will be adding a vocabulary list for school supplies soon! Why is this a thing in France? Older students are given a long list of ultra-specific school supplies before school starts, so prepare yourself for an annual scavenger hunt. If you have any questions about schools in France, you can ask other English-speaking parents in our Members Forum. Do you have any words you found to be unique to school in France? Comment below! This article was originally published in 'The ABC's of Parenting in Paris' -curated by our members, and filled with insiders' tips and practical information. As part of our drive towards greater sustainable practices, the book is no longer available in print form. This article was updated for 2023 by Annie Kamp. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message. Message cannot be held responsible for any information contained in or omitted from this article.

This article was originally posted on July 6, 2022 on Bonjour Paris, the definitive insider’s guide to la vie Parisienne since 1995. The popular online event series, Bonjour Paris Live, complements the website’s rich variety of articles. Friends of Message Paris get a 20% discount on Bonjour Paris membership ($48 instead of $60 for the year), which includes free access to online events and shopping discounts with BP partners. More information at https://bonjourparis.com/messageparis/. For years, near a favorite hotel bar on Paris’s Rue Dauphine, I noticed a tile mosaic of Star Wars characters Chewbacca and C-3PO high on the side of a building. Chewbacca’s arms are raised upward as if celebrating a success while C-3PO looks on arms akimbo. I learned to enjoy the duo even more when I discovered that not only was the street art by a French artist known as Invader, but proved it by using the artist’s app Flash Invaders. I took a picture (called a “flash”) of the mosaic, the app determined it was authentic and I earned my first 100 points. I recently spent a couple of weeks in Paris finding Invader’s artwork, in which time I also found a new way to look at and explore the city. By searching for Invaders, I better appreciated the beauty of Paris’s buildings, their varied architecture, angles, corners and zig-zag construction between sites that left sides of buildings open to hosting the work of many street/urban artists and graffitists. In the search, I became more observant of the city and discovered hidden corners along my usual paths, walked a few new streets and expanded my Paris experience. By really looking at a neighborhood, I became more aware of its personality and spirit while finding Invader’s art. I respect and like graffiti, even the tags on trains and autoroute barriers, because graffiti artists are just saying, “I’m here.” Modern street art seems to have overtaken the amount of tags in cities and given all street artwork more respect. Today, Paris is more tolerant and the tourism office includes tours of street art as ways to explore the city plus there are many independent street art tour guides. But using the Invader app makes finding his tile mosaics in Paris an individual act that brings the city closer to each player and takes them beyond tourist spots. Launched in 2014, the Flash Invaders app, free in the Apple App Store, is easy to use and was very popular during the pandemic lockdown in Paris. Here’s how it works: find what looks to be an Invader, flash as if taking a picture and the app reads the details from the art and its location to confirm the art is a real Invader. If so, it adds it to your gallery and assigns points. If it’s not an Invader, it says so with a nice sense of humor. My misses have resulted in messages like “Missed. ZZZZZ!” or “Missed. Did you think it would be that easy?” If I forgot I had flashed the street art before, the witty app message is: “Already flashed, Tired today?” “It’s fun to walk around and look for (Invader art), it’s a treasure hunt,” said Hélène, a 9- year-old Parisian and Invader fan. “I like the tiles he uses. I also like looking with them with my friends. I have more invaders than my friend Sasha.” Invader has been invading Paris for 24 years. He started in 1998 and chose the appearance of pixelization with ceramic tiles for his Space Invaders alien art, an inspiration from the video games he played while growing up in the 1970s and 80s. Why was Space Invaders his muse? “It is . . . about liberating Art from its usual alienators that museums and institutions can be,” says Invader on his website. “But it is also about freeing the Space Invaders from their video games, TV screens and to bring them in our physical world. . .They are the perfect icons of our time, a time where digital technologies are the heartbeat of our world.” Graffiti has been a part of Paris since the Celtic Parisii were conquered by the Romans who renamed it Lutetia. Romans etched names and drawings on street walls and stonework and many examples can be found in museums. Modern street tagging, thanks to the invention of spray paint cans, began in the 1960s in Philadelphia and New York. It made its way to Paris and other European cities in the 1970s. Art styles and techniques changed and many street artists have become popular and their artwork sought after, such as American Jean-Michel Basquiat and British artist Banksy. There are many popular French street artists including JR, Blek le Rat, Jef Aérosol, Miss Van and the late Miss Tic (a favorite of Hélène’s). Invader’s mosaics have expanded to include characters from Pac-Man, Super Mario Brothers, Star Wars, QR codes, Rubik’s Cubes and even pixilation of fine art, including the Mona Lisa. Out of 4,056 worldwide installations in 81 cities in 21 countries, he currently has 1,200 installations in Paris. There were many more in Paris but some were taken down because they were illegal or were stolen to collect or sell. He even invaded the Louvre years ago, but his unauthorized art has been removed. Invader’s hits can be found throughout Paris and even Versailles. (He has invaded 24 other cities in France.) Check out the Tour Eiffel, Centre Pompidou, Palais de Tokyo, in bookstores, restaurants, bars, jazz clubs, on many of the walls and corners of every arrondissement and even on the roads to Charles de Gaulle airport. Look up into Space too. An Invader was installed on the International Space Station in 2015. Okay, that one may be hard to flash. I was amazed at how many Invaders can be found in the Marais. I’ve walked the area often and rarely noticed them but now I’m always on the lookout. The Invaders website is helpful for finding some but being an observant Invader flâneur is just fun. Everyone has a favorite Invader and Hélène has several. “I like so many of them, but there is one made as a bird carrying a branch in its beak, next to the Seine, that I particularly like,” she said. “There’s also a space invader wearing a face mask that Invader made during the pandemic. Another cool one is a self-portrait. It shows Invader the artist wearing a mask, standing on a ladder, completing a mosaic space invader on a wall. Another self-portrait shows Invader running away with a ladder from a space invader he’s finished. Also, there are figures from Star Wars, like Princess Leia. You can find her on Rue Princesse in Saint Germain.” My favorite is the Chewbacca and C-3PO I first flashed. In two weeks, I found 26 Invaders for a score of 1170 points. I’m just starting. Hélène has 512 Invaders and 15,580 points. Her first found Invader was on the Saint Michel fountain. How many times have I walked by that fountain and never seen the Invader? But when I do flash that one, I’ll raise up my arms in victory like Chewbacca, which is what I do when the app approves my Invader flashes. Like in the original game, flash those aliens. Lead photo credit : Martha's Flash Invaders Gallery © Martha Sessums About the Author: Intrigued by France since her first stroll along the Seine, Martha and her husband often travel to Paris to explore the city and beyond. She lives part-time on the Île de la Cité and part-time in the San Francisco Bay Area, delighting in its strong Francophone and French culture community. She was a high-tech public relations executive and currently runs a non-profit continuing education organization. She also works as the San Francisco ambassador for France Today magazine. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message.