I hope all my lovely Mum’s out there had the  most wonderful Mother’s Day yesterday. Mine was most interesting since I shared it with my Hubby, Joe.  You see it was also his birthday. Our son woke us with endless hugs and kisses wishing us both Birthday and Mother’s Day wishes. Yesterday was 81 degrees in New York City, it was so warm and sunny, we headed to Tribeca for brunch to celebrate. I have been so excited to try the latest  Sarabeth’s which recently opened in TriBeCa

The decor at this newest Sarabeth’s was super-stylish and family friendly. We were seated promptly, service was impeccable. I ordered a delicious berry cocktail. For brunch, J Boy had pancakes and apple-wood  smoked bacon from the kids menu. Joe had the Classic Eggs Benedict and I had the Maine Lobster Roll. It was all so yummy. We even managed to have a surprise birthday dessert for Joe, a warm raspberry bread pudding. I had such a lovely Mother’s Day with my two favorite guys. Sarabeth’s is the perfect place for brunch or lunch  for  kids, family and business .

Sarabeth’s

339 Greenwich St
(between Harrison St & Jay St)
New York, NY 10013

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Hôtel Americano is designed by New York-based Mexican architect Enrique Norten, principal of Ten Arqitectos, the first recipient of the Mies van der Rohe Award for Latin American Architecture. Conde Nast Traveler announced their iconic HOT LIST issue and Hotel Americano is among the hottest hotels in the world and the only NY hotel on their list. Chic and sexy, with an international/latin flair , located in the Chelsea neighborhood,  it is a perfect hideaway  and off the beaten path. This past  Saturday I headed over to the Hotel Americano to try out their fabulous cocktail menu. Spring has sprung, the warmer weather means only one thing  … Lazy Brunch Cocktails on the Weekends!!!!

The main bar at Hotel Americano is sleek and full of light, I settled in quite comfortably and was excited to ask resident bar-man Kypo Karamas to suggest the perfect brunch cocktail . He told me immediately I should try  the ” Reinvention”. It is a reinvention of the cosmopolitan. Replacing the cranberry juice with grapefruit and blood orange juice. Kypo also informed me it is one of Martha Stewart’s favorite cocktail and gave it her thumbs up. I was very excited to try this cocktail. It was fantastic, refreshing and the blood orange and grapefruit gave it a lovely tart finish. I cannot wait to head back to Hotel Americano with some friends to have more fabulous brunch cocktails.

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“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.” – Ernest Hemingway To A Friend, 1950.

Sitting on the Eurostar next to my six year old son Jaden , we  just left  Belgium a few hours ago and I was looking through the window of the train at the beautiful landscape dotted with these breath-taking  fields of bright yellow flowers. Fields with  quaint cottages, churches and farms. I thought to myself excitedly, this must be France. Not even in  Paris yet  and here I was falling instantly in love. As the train pulls into the Gare du Nord I  literally was jumping out of my seat. My adorable husband Joe proceeded to tell me ” Naims please calm down.” Actually , I could not calm down. For almost two years I had been steadily planning this trip to Paris . Last year due to  last minute family obligations we were not able to see Paris, I was determined to have my Parisian adventure this April.

In February I purchased a book called A Moveable Feast, written by  Ernest Hemingway, one of the greatest American writers. The book is his classic memoir of Paris in the 1920′s. I was captivated from the  very first word, and was drawn into Hemingway’s recollections of his times in Paris. He captured the mood of Paris after World War 1. The beauty and magic of the City then, in a nostalgic and haunting way.  “This is how Paris was in the early days when we were very poor and very happy,” he concluded. Of course I was romanticizing Paris through Hemingway’s eyes  and quickly started plotting away ,  as many places he mentioned in the book , this would be on our list to see  once we were in Paris. I even booked us on the ” Hemingway’s Paris” walk with the wonderful company Paris Walks.

It had been quite rainy in Belgium, a bit cold in London. The minute  we walked out the train station in Paris, the sun was shinning and I looked up at the buildings, it was exactly how I imagined they would look , with their perfect wrought iron terraces. In a taxi driving towards our hotel, all I could think was ” Wow we are actually in Paris.” Four days, three nights in The City of Lights, we had to be strategic , not overwhelmed by visiting all the major attractions. After all it was Spring in Paris. I had a plan and it would also mean living in the moments and going with the flow like  the locals. My Aunty Leilia  in London also told me  to be free ,go with our hearts and walk along the Seine, eat a baguette , visit the older neighborhoods. Our Parisian Adventure went exactly like this :

Wednesday the day of our Arrival.

Joe, Jaden and I settled into the gorgeous boutique  Hotel Tremoille, the first of the two hotels we stayed at in Paris, the second hotel was the five star luxury Hotel Le Meurice. We  checked emails and then headed down to the concierge to get a map of Paris. It was a late start 4pm . We decided to head to the Eiffel Tower and then take Jaden to a carousel , then walk along the Seine river as the sun sets and  end the day with a yummy dinner at one of the fabulous French brasserie. Map in hand we walked from the hotel towards the Eiffel Tower. I just remembered thinking how everything, the streets, buildings, people looked exactly how I imagined it would all look… so very French, well Parisian. As we crossed one of the many lovely bridges that day, we turned a corner and there it was…. the Eiffel Tower. My mouth dropped !!!  It was simply magnificent. Not very crowded , we walked around the grounds taking photographs. Suddenly I heard someone shout out my name ” Naima.” Only in our crazy world would we run into our neighbors back in Brooklyn NY, my good friend Helen , her hubby and son Zoe. A quick hello, I took a photo of them, what a wonderful surprise. After the Eiffel Tower we headed to the carousel  a few yards away for Jaden to have a little fun.

The sun was setting and everything turned even more magical. Joe, Jaden and I walked down the stairs towards the Seine river and I  took more photographs. Everything looked and felt so romantic, magical ( I will be using this word over and over) and we were so happy. We were told Chez Andre was the perfect brasserie, located  in the right bank,  for our first meal in Paris. After all the walking , we were happy to see how lively, chic, and yummy the food looked. Steak and frites, loads of red wine. This ended our perfect first day in Paris.

Thursday – day 2 of our Parisian Adventure

We awoke to another beautiful sunny day in Paris. I ordered  us a simple breakfast, croissants, pastries, coffee and orange juice, it was brought up to our hotel room. Happy and full, we were ready for day two in Paris. Our adventure would entail us walking  down the most famous avenue in the world- The Champs Elysees, where you can walk from the L’Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde through the Jardin de Tuileries and then to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa. I must note, what a perfect little traveling companion my six year old son Jaden was. Joe and I were so proud of our son, he rarely complained, walked miles and miles, and was equally intrigued and excited as Joe and I were in exploring Paris.

The L’Arc de Triomphe was spectacular. I almost got killed by fast moving cars getting that ” money shot’ of the Arc, hope you like the photograph. Walking past all the high end stores mixed in with stands selling vintage postcards was a sight indeed. Joe was not too impressed with Jaden and my  decision to stop into Mc Donalds, after all we had see the difference between the French and American  Big Mac. They also had evian water and potato wedges . Yum !!! The Place de la Concorde, with beautiful grand fountains at the entrance to the Jardin de Tuileries is a place of great contrasts as it was here that Marie Antoinette and thousands of others met a grueling fate, yet it is the most splendid area in all of Paris. It took us straight through the Tuileries ( I took some lovely photos of Jaden there) to the Louvre- one of the world’s largest museums, and a historic monument. Jaden was the most excited to see the Mona Lisa. He was very impressed with all the magnificent  art, especially the Medieval and Renaissance period ( thanks to his past school teacher Sister Pat.)

After many hours exploring the Louvre, on  a whim, I decided we should head over  to the Left bank, the St Germain area to have lunch. Clearly it would have to be at one of the cafes that Ernest Hemingway frequented in the 1920′s of course.  Les Deux Magots cafe  in the Saint -Germain-des-Pres  area of  Paris. Its historical reputation is derived from the patronage of Surrealist   artists, intellectuals such as Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sarte, and young writers, such as Ernest Hemingway . Other patrons included Pablo Picasso . If it was good for them , it would be perfect for Joe, Jaden and I. We ate the yummiest croque madam and loads of  red wine  at Les Deux  Magots.

After an adventurous and cultural adventure, we headed back to the hotel to get some much needed rest. I also had to plan dinner for that night. Again I chose  one of  Hemingway’s favorite brasserie to go have cocktails and  dinner, as  he mentioned  in his book.  ” The only decent cafe in our neighborhood was la Closerie des Lilas, and it was one of the best cafes in Paris. It was warm in the winter and the terrace was lovely in the spring and fall….” ( Hemingway) . Located on the corner of Boulevard du Montparnasse and Boulevard St. Michel, La Closerie  des Lilas appears to keep more of a Parisian crowd while most of the tourists seem to flock around the cafés located down the street at the carrefour.  Walking into La Closerie, one word to describe it…  Stunning !!!!  I felt like I was transported to the 1920′s and that one of the ex-pats would be sitting by the bar, smoking, drinking.  It is very expensive but all so worth the experience. Dinner was so delicious. Jaden enjoyed his steak and frites, his second in two days.

Friday – day 3 of our Parisian Adventure !!!

I woke up Friday morning excited to head out  to the pre-planned  Hemingway’s Paris walk with the reputable company Paris Walks. Joe and Jaden opted to sit out on this adventure and stay  in the hotel to get a few more hours of rest. Yikes !!!! I was both excited and scared to be off on my own in Paris. Then again I am the Adventurista after all, I knew I would have a blast. French phrase book in hand, I was off  to the location everyone was to meet for the walk- The metro Cardinal Lemoine. I met some die-hard Hemingway enthusiasts like myself on the walk.

Our guide took us to explore the charming district in the Latin Quarter with the old houses of the Mouffetard market street, an impressive fragment of the medieval city wall and the lovely historic church of St Etienne-du- Mont ( where a scene from the Woody Allen movie , Midnight in Paris was filmed) and the Pantheon. It was everything I expected and was so happy to have done the walk. I felt so bad Joe and Jaden missed the walk earlier, I  decided to take them back to the same  area later that afternoon. After all they had to see the Pantheon. We also took the loveliest walk around St Germain, down to the gorgeous Notre- Dame Church where we had the pleasure of sitting in on an actual service.

A few of my friends before our trip insisted  if we had time, to visit this neighborhood called the Marais. The Marais is where old and new Paris mix together, as it is both the old Jewish Quarter and a popular gay area, side by side. The 17th century buildings are beautiful, and the cobble stone streets remind you this is old Paris, mixed in with some of the hottest fashion boutiques in the city. After the service at the Notre-Dame church we took a taxi over to the Marias. We walked along the quaint streets and stopped into a wine shop to buy a bottle of wine, then a cheese and sausage shop to get some goodies and finally a bakery for bread. We headed back to our hotel room at the Le Meurice and ate and drank it all.

Saturday – day 4 and our last day of our  Parisian Adventure !!!

It eventually had to come to an end , our magical Parisian adventure. I knew I had to plan out a short but epic adventure before our 5 pm train ride back to London. It was difficult getting out of  our comfy beds at the Le Meurice , but it had to be done and around 10 am we packed our belongings so it could be stored  with the front desk at the hotel , until it was time to leave Paris. I decided our last adventure in Paris will be in Montmartre, steep with cobbled streets it is one of the most historic and interesting neighborhoods in Paris. The Basilica of Sacre-Coeur (the big white church) sits on the crest of the hill, and there is exactly where were Joe, Jaden and I were going to start our last day in Paris.

Before leaving the hotel, Jaden and I walked next door to the fabulous Angelina’s for macaroons,  an historic restaurant on the Rue de Rivoli, I have heard that Coco Chanel used to drop by for tea, since it was just down the street from her shop on Rue Cambon. Jaden devoured his macaroons. After we hopped into a taxi and we were off to Montmartre . How perfect I thought, as we  ascended the hill and first glimpsed the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur. The whole of Paris was before us from the top of the hill. We settled in with the hundred or so people, basking in the beautiful Paris sunshine. There was a futbol ( soccer) player  showcasing his amazing skills on this small ledge, I was intrigued. Jaden also saw a group of French kids playing futbol to the side of the Basilica, he longed to join in, alas we did not have the time for him to do so.

I took so many beautiful pictures, then I suddenly realized that I  did not get a chance to eat  a crepe in Paris. I quickly googled where near the Basilica prepares the best crepes. It just so happened to be a few blocks down the hill. Au Relais for the most delicious crepes. I sat there looking at my six year old son Jaden , who was gazing out the window at Paris. My husband Joe , happily sipping on his glass of wine. I felt nostalgic already about the amazing experiences the three of us had together as a family. We  just traveled to three countries- London, Belgium and France in ten days. I look forward to writing about and sharing my photographs about the wonderful time we had in London and Belgium with my cousins. In the meanwhile I hope you enjoyed my photo-dairy of our Parisian adventure. I leave you with these few words – “Paris était au-delà magnifique et je n’oublierai jamais mon temps magique dansla Ville des Lumières.”- Naima

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The architecture, the art, the Seine , the fashion, the food, the wine, the brassiere’s, the arrondissements  – My Parisian adventure was a dream come true. The moment my Husband Joseph , six year old son Jaden and I arrived in Paris, my heart was racing, stomach fluttering and I fell instantly in love. A week before in New York City, I was nervous that I had over romanticized, over analyzed, and over planned our short but sweet holiday in Paris. If one was to take a peek into my “Paris bookmark folder” on my lap-top, one would have found at least 40 different blogs, websites, reviews on how to see Paris. Then a few days before my trip a friend of mine sent me a message on Facebook:  “We just walked around until we found things we liked and had a great time discovering things accidentally. It’s Paris- you really can’t go wrong, but it is nice to have a few simple goals in the process.”

Alright then, I had a few simple goals- The Eiffel Tower, Arch de Triomphe , The Louvre, a jardin, seeing ” Hemingway’s Paris” circa 1920′s, eat as much steak and frites, baguettes, croissants, crepes, drink loads of wine and take my son to the many carousels in the City.

The most important decision? To decide where we would stay in Paris. Do we stay in a lovely, intimate boutique hotel on the left bank or do we stay in a  bigger luxury  hotel on the right bank?  We actually decided to do both. I was extensive in my research and after reading many reviews on the top luxury hotels, I gravitated to Hotel Le Meurice.

“ In the heart of Paris ,opposite the Tuileries Gardens and Louvre Museum, lies Dorchester Collection’s Le Meurice, the first Parisian palace hotel, which has presided over Rue de Rivoli since 1835. Since then Le Meurice has continued to create a sense of the grandeur and splendour of Versailles, of Kings and Queens, Patrons and Artists, enthusiasts and adventures and  has been perfecting l’art de vivre for 190 years. At Le Meurice, the past and present meet with both wit and glamour, the style of the Grand Siecle encounters Philippe Starck’s signature surrealist’s style. The private space embodies the quintessence of luxury. Le Meurice is home to the creations of Yannick Alleno, the three star Michelin starred Chef. Just steps from Place Vendome and Rue Saint-Honore, where luxury boutiques and young designers abound. Le Meurice is a source of inspiration for those who love culture, emotion and sensorial exuberance of the French capital, while France has made the art of living the foremost expression of its culture.  Le Meurice has transformed the luxury hotel experience into a fine art.”

Our time in Paris was in one word – Magical. We spent our days exploring the breath-taking city and our afternoon’s cafe hopping. Le Meurice was pure perfection to come back to at the end of a fabulous adventure in Paris. The first time we walked into Le Meurice, our jaws dropped by the beauty and elegance of the lobby. The staff were immediately accommodating and Pr Manager Marie -Aude Laurent was superb with greeting us and arranging a treasure hunt for our son Jaden while she took us on a tour of  the hotel. Entering our room for the first time, one cannot help but gasp at how luxurious the decor is. Front and center is a huge king’s size bed, (which was one of the most comfortable beds I have ever slept in) the gold colors in the room that played off the ornate chandelier lighting, were all quite impeccable. The bathroom, wall to wall marble gave it the over the top decadence one should find in a five star luxury hotel in Paris. Jaden was delighted to find an adorable teddy bear and slippers on his bed. Joe and I appreciated the VIP service, a bottle of champagne, the yummiest macaroons and chocolate chip cookies

Marie-Aude was the loveliest host  taking Joe and I around the hotel ,giving us a brief history of Le Meurice as well as some cool stories about its past guests.. One of the most notable guests of Hotel Le Meurice was the Spanish surrealist painter Salvador Dali. Marie- Aude told us that Salvador Dali took up residence once a month for more than thirty years until his death in 1989. His exploits were legendary.  One story that gave Joe and I a giggle was the occasion when Dali once demanded a herd of goats be brought to his room, when upon their arrival Dali took out a pistol and shot them. Luckily for the goats the gun was filled with blank bullets. I was enthralled by the stories of the hotel’s salon’s hosting extravagant celebrations for the high society in the 1930′s. Most notable of these was Coco Chanel’s glittering receptions, as well as Guy Laroche’s staging  fabulous fashion shows in the Le Meurice’s salons. One floating rumor we heard was that Beyonce and Jay Z’s daughter Blue Ivy was conceived at Le Meurice. We were intrigued and really enjoyed Marie- Aude’s tour of the magnificent hotel. We reunited with Jaden who was giddy with exciting news of his treasure hunt and his fabulous finds.

Later that afternoon, Joe and I headed to the hotel’s Bar 228, the most gorgeous bar, where British club feel meets French style luxury. Joe and I sat there and watched the bartender prepare for us the most luxurious cocktails. Joe had the ” Meurice Millennium (Cointreau, liqueur de rose, rose champagne) and I had the Gala & Dali (Vodka, Kirsch, strawberry coulis).

The concierge at the Le Meurice was very helpful  giving us wonderful suggestions of where to eat in the areas we wanted to explore. The hotel is such an ideal location, literally in the cultural heart of Paris. Joseph and I took Jaden to the Louvre ( the World’s largest Museum) which was right next door. Two weeks later, our son is still talking about the ” highlight”  of  his Paris vacation, seeing the Mona Lisa in the Louvre.  On our last day at the Le Meurice , Jaden and I walked next door to the fabulous Angelina’s for macaroons,  an historic restaurant on the Rue de Rivoli, I have heard that Coco Chanel used to drop by for tea, since it was just down the street from her shop on Rue Cambon.

When we plan a holiday, Joe and I always look for a hotel that is sexy, stylish, luxurious and kid friendly. Hotel Le Meurice embodied all of our criteria . It will always be an important part of our beautiful Parisian adventure.

Hotel Le Meurice

228 Rue de Rivoli  75001 Paris, France
01 44 58 10 10

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Spring -Forward and with that comes longer days with sunshine. One of my favorite pastimes with The Epicurean Man and Karate Boy  is heading to a leisurely brunch on the weekends. This past Sunday, March 11th, the three of us headed to the Meat-Packing District to the fabulous Cafe Gitane in the Jane Hotel for a yummy brunch. It was such a glorious sunny day and we had the most special time, relaxing, eating scrumptious food and sharing loads of laughs with each other. The Karate Boy especially enjoyed his Orange blossom waffles. The Epicurean Man insists Cafe Gitane makes the best coffee EVER !!!!!

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I am already dreaming of our four days in Paris in less than a month away. We won’t be there during Fashion Week, it is happening right now as I type. I am so in love with this video by Garance Dore. I am transported immediately. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

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Ah to have lived in Paris during the 1920′s! Hemingway’s Paris — outdoor cafes, bookstores, bistros, writers, drinking! Lately my life has been full of so many twists and turns. I am wearing many different hats, Blogger, Real Estate investor, Mum, Wife, Friend… when would I  ever find the time to read a book? In April the Hubby , Son and I off to Europe for Easter break. A ten day adventure, gallivanting through three cities – London, Paris and Antwerp. I was inspired to read A Moveable Feast, written by Ernest Hemingway, one  of  the most famous  twentieth-century American writers. His classic memoir of Paris in the 1920′s.

The short stories in Hemingway’s Paris memoir are amazing. He moved to Paris in 1921 after the First World War and became a member of the circle of expatriate writers and artists working and residing there. His “Paris Wife” Hadley is remembered fondly here as is his son. Through Hemingway’s eyes we meet Gertrude Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Zelda Fitzgerald, Ezra Pound, Ford Madox Ford, and more, seeing through the veneers of their literary reputations and coming to know them as real people. His talks of authors and books with Gertrude Stein is a form of art in itself, the kind of sparkling, intelligent conversation so sorely lacking in modern society- Amazon

When Hemingway wrote this book, he was an up and coming writer, still  hungry and honing his craft. I am truly enjoying Hemingway’s thoughts on writing, “All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.”

It has become a magical  escape , reading A Moveable Feast. I  read mostly when I am sitting at some quaint little cafe, sipping on coffee or a martini , alone and with my own thoughts. With just a few chapters into the book , it feels like it is the closest thing we have to traveling back in time to one of those wind-swept Paris mornings, sitting at an adjoining table at one of his beloved cafes, and watching Hemingway work. I am looking forward to finishing this beautiful book and  visiting Hemingway’s Paris in April.

“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.” – Ernest Hemingway

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One of the most beautiful things about living in New York City, is it’s abundance of sidewalk culture. A subway ride can get you to the most splendid adventures . Last Sunday  morning , lazing in bed I jumped up and proclaimed to the hubby and son that we are heading to the Metropolitan Museum Of Art for an Egyptian Art adventure. City bound we were at the Temple of Dendur within thirty minutes of leaving home. It was a wonderful time, The Epicurean Man, Karate Boy and I walked around this ancient temple in amazement .

The Temple of Dendur is a temple that was built by the Roman governor of Egypt, Petronius, around 15 BC and dedicated to Isis, Osiris, as well as two deified sons of a local Nubian chieftain, Pediese (“he whom Isis has given”) and Pihor (“he who belongs to Horus“).^[1] The temple was commissioned by Emperor Augustus of Rome and has been exhibited in theMetropolitan Museum of Art in New York since 1978. Source

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I was so excited to be invited  this past Thursday  16th , to the first ever fashion show for Moms during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Strut : The Fashionable Mom Show, organized by Denise Albert and Melissa Gerstein of The Moms, a multiplatform lifestyle brand, looking to showcase everyday fashion for moms with different styles, different jobs and different lives. Held at the Mercedes Benz fashion tents in Lincoln Center, it was a fabulous show and turnout. The gorgeous Mom of two , super-model Iman hosted the fashion show with models… mothers of all different shapes and sizes. Clothes came from top designers like Tory Burch and Michael Kors, maternity wear from Hatch and A Pea in the Pod.

Since becoming a Mom six years ago, I will admit , knowing how to get my fashion mojo back has been touch and go to say the least. There are  a few moments when I shock myself and will easily pull together a fabulous outfit. Those are far and in between. The problem I have is my every day fashion statement.  ’We need stuff that’s transformable and affordable, that real moms like us can wear every single day to all of the things that we have to do, whether it’s the grocery store, school pickup, back to the meeting, back to school,’ Melissa of The Moms, explained. There were blazers and jackets from Chris Benz to the Gap, bags Iman sells on HSN.com and dresses by Kors and Rachel Roy. The Moms strutted down the runway  looking chic for everything from school drop-off  to a hot date night. What a fantastic way to close Mercedes Benz Fashion Week !!!!!

* images courtesy of The Moms

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