Author Archives: Parisian Fields

About Parisian Fields

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

Life on the rue du Ranelagh

Posted on January 2, 2017

By the time you read this, we will have returned from Paris, where we spent Christmas. Friends had graciously given us the use of an apartment on the boulevard Suchet in the 16th arrondissement. “Ah, le seizième ! C’est un … Continue reading →

Posted in Paris history, Paris parks, Paris streets | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

My life in France (Part 3)

Posted on December 4, 2016

Paris was exhilarating; Paris was exhausting. By Easter, especially with all the extra services the choir had to attend, I felt in need of a break. One problem: no money. Then someone at St. George’s Church told me that a … Continue reading →

Posted in Angers, French language, Paris churches, Paris music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

My life in France (Part 2)

Posted on November 6, 2016

The day after I wrote my last exam in Angers, I made a quick trip to Paris to find a place to stay. I had been accepted by the Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne, and I made a … Continue reading →

Posted in French language, Paris churches | Tagged , , , , | 17 Comments

My life in France (Part 1)

Posted on October 9, 2016

At the library the other day, I spotted a book about Paris I hadn’t seen before. It was by a young American woman who had spent a year in the city, learning Life Lessons and fashion tips (not necessarily in … Continue reading →

Posted in Angers | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

The lost neighbourhood

Posted on September 11, 2016

Last month, I was inspired by one of Lawren Harris’s paintings to investigate gasometers in Toronto and Paris. A second visit to the Lawren Harris exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario evoked another parallel between the two cities: the destruction … Continue reading →

Posted in Paris history, Paris maps, Paris museums | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

The art of the gasometer

Posted on August 14, 2016

The major summer exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario is devoted to the work of Canadian artist Lawren Harris (1885–1970). I associate his name with bold, abstracted images of Canada’s Far North – mountains and glaciers and frozen seas. … Continue reading →

Posted in Paris civic functions, Paris history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Trespassing at Port-Royal

Posted on July 17, 2016

Tuesday, June 24, 2014. A hot day in Paris and Norman was feeling under the weather. He’d finally drifted off to sleep and I decided to go for a walk – not far, just to get some air. The bedroom … Continue reading →

Posted in Paris history, World War I | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments