A Place Tucked Away
There is nothing quite as intriguing as a place tucked away behind something else or deep within a neighborhood. Perhaps it is an unexpected find, like the glass studio my husband and I recently found in an old industrial district along the water, or the jazz club hidden behind a warehouse in a nearby town known for its belching smoke stacks and tough neighborhoods.Whenever possible, we eschew main streets for alleys and twisting passages, at least when we have the good luck to be walking in Paris, or some other French city. It is an urban form of shunpiking and usually leads to charming surprises.
The tiny bistro above is just north of Notre Dame Cathedral on Ile de la Citie, just yards from the spot where Heloise met Abelard. We were on our way to meet Richard Nahem of Eye Prefer Paris that early evening in May and did not have time to stop.
"We'll come back," we promised ourselves, but we never did. We will - I hope - in 2008.
Another place tucked away is St. Paul Village, sandwiched between Rue St. Antoine and the Seine in the Marais. Passages and alleyways and courtyards are filled with shops, many of them purveyors of antiques of one sort or another, or objets d'art. High tourist season was not yet upon us, and many of the shops were still closed or just opening for the season. It reminded me of Door County in November, quiet but still alluring.Since my husband and I are both film buffs, as well as Francophiles, we just had to search out "Le Grand Colbert," a restaurant tucked behind the Palais Royale and made famous in the movie "Something's Got to Give," with Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson.
What is your favorite tucked-away find anywhere?
Comments
Ah, no Lydia, darn, no such scene. I was on myway to E. Dehillerin that day, so I was full of anticipation, though.
Nothing like getting lost in the heart of ac ity looking for some obscure place, Katie. Ah, the llife you've led!
Christine, I love that sort of travel, just walking and looking for something - not sure of what you will find. We find a lot of parks that way...
Also, very near St. Paul, is the Forney Library: a beautiful building with an inner courtyard. They were having a fundraiser the day we discovered it. So many happy, smiling people - they were saving their building!
Tanna reminded me of the anniversary that Clay and I spent in Portland: We arrived, parked the car, and didn't get into it again until the day we drove away. That city is so accessible, both on foot and by their beautiful transit buses.
I'm so happy to see a post from you. Not hearing from you in so long had me worried. Are you happy with your new job?
Christine, we did not go inside the church, which is a pity, because I saw a photo on Paris Daily Photo that made me want to go inside.
I did find a lovely little place tucked away behind Musee Carnavalet with a great courtyard - and an even nicer park.
My new job keeps me very, very busy. The man who had the job until April took Fridays off - now I know why: You work 40 hours between Monday and Thursday!
And a hidden away place...I love rue Champagne Premiere in the 14th. Tucked away with lots of old ataliers that make me feel I'm back in Paris of the 20's.
OH...speaking of Paris in the 20's. Just finished a good book you might enjoy...."The Shoe Queen" by Anna Davis. Clever twist on Kiki of Montparnasse. It's fiction.
Great story, TerryB. I think a glimpes of hidden doorways, open courtyards and secret gardenes is what nourished me in Paris, as must as the bread, cheese and wine. Such hints of what might be beyond fuel the imagination.
I am reading that book, too, Terri! Great minds read alike. But I want to sit in that little bisto...
I have a picture of a place I want to go back to, but unlike clever you, I did not include the street sign...I will search it down next time but it will be a challenge!
They only have one waitress during the day, Janelle, who is just lovely and sweet. In the afternoon, there were four friends who came in and smoked (ah not any more alas) and drank cafe and chatted with everyone who came in. A real neighborhood find.
They are closed on Sundays, like so many other places, but on Thursday evening, offer a perfect dinner with music.
I can't believe I'm about to do this (reveal the name) as it will not be my little secret but it is such a lovely little place and the staff is wonderful and they have an old fashioned cave a vin that they will actually let you taste before you buy (which I heartily recommend you do...taste and buy that is) and oh my I am so ready to go back right this second and have a late lunch but...alas...I can't.
The name of the place is La Reserve De Quasimodo and you just have to go back and have lunch, at least once.
Laura, that ice cream place sounds charming! My town never had many tucked-away places. But, there was a drug store on a corner downtown that had a tiny, three-stool soda fountain in one corner. That always intrigued me.
Mary, I thought you had mentioned this one earlier, but was not sure if it was the same one! There was something about it that made me feel safe and comforted. We were so tired that day, as we'd spent a long time on Rue Cler early, ran errands in our neighborhood all day, caught a late-afternoon No. 63 bus for the Latin Quarter (standing all the way), visited Shakespear & Co., the crypts, the marche aux fleurs and the island that day. We were exhausted by the time we caught up with Richard!
Anyway, I will go there next time!