Carole Bouquet Sangue d'Oro

 Last night French actress Carole Bouquet introduced her wine at Alliance Francais.

 Just as beautiful as ever...

 I thought I spotted Bouquet at bistro L'Ami Louis last October but I was wrong...

 Much better to see Bouquet up close and taste the luscious liqueur, Sangue d'oro she makes on the tiny island of Pantelleria near Sicily.

 Golden like honey, 'with confit notes of bergamot, cinchona and dried apricot...

 'A smooth mouth..the perfect blend of softness and fine length on the palate..' Try it!

 Bouquet chatted with John Mariani on her film career - she's 55 and has made 55 films. Acting doesn't stop for French women when they become 'une femme d'un certain age'. And national theatres, supported by the government provide additional work to films.

 Warm, natural, animated, Bouquet was not the Mona Lisa/sphinx I was expecting. 

 Her porcelain beauty is legend but working in the 007 film, For Your Eyes Only, was hell...

 Luis Bunuel's That Obscure Object of Desire was Bouquet's first entry into films at just 20 and mostly by chance and luck.

 Chanel quickly came calling but Bouquet waited till she was 28 to step into the role of spokeswoman, so her acting would not be overshadowed.

 I thought this was Carole Bouquet in the newest Cartier lavish commercial, but it's a look-alike...

 Have you seen it?

Bouquet was wearing earrings almost as fabulous as her wine...

MERCI Mme. BOUQUET!

Alliance Française de Philadelphie Expo

Another opening...

Another show...

As always macarons from Mad MacNYC and this time a lovely champagne...
Who knew you could find Champagne like this?
'medium dry with crisp fruit flavors - aromas of apple and pear are balanced with a bouquet of toasty, yeasty notes and floral nuances' And for all of $5 bucks (shhhh - a pastry chef shared his secret brew with the Philadelphia Alliance Francaise...)
My sister kindly brought les fromages Francaises to boot...
I ran over to Philadelphia Friday afternoon...
And hung the show...
Photos by Bonnie Squirers

And so many PBers showed up!!!
Big Merci! You cleaned off the walls too!

Quite a few Paris cats found new homes...
And Paris dogs...

Champagne and...

Bonbons were a favorite...

As were Paris fishmongers...
BEAR did NOT make it to Philadelphie...

But fortunately a PBer,Janet brought along her bear, Pan, da bear.

Again I forgot to taste a thing. There were tropical fruit macarons this time from Mad Mac and everyone was raving...

Later I got a French lecon from my petit niece's daughter, Shira... Bonne idee non?

I got lecons in Swahili (piki-piki) and Italian too before my head hit the pillow.

A terrific book for kids and adults from Funix.

FYI:I've put up some watercolor sketch sheets of chocolate pots and Angelina cups I painted this summer at a $pecial price on Etsy for a limited time.

THANKS SO MUCH PBers FOR COMING to my AF show!!

Musée Marmottan Monet

My Paris plan was to go places I hadn't visited before. Getting into the Monet retrospective at the Grand Palais was next to impossible until mid-December. So off I went to the Musée Marmottan Monet In the 16th (pronounced says-e-M [not seizes-e-M 6th arr.] my second cousin reminded me over and over.
2, rue Louis Bouilly
Metro:La Muette
I rarely go to the 16th so it was an adventure.

The musee Marmottan is a rather grand setting and perfect for Monet's paintings.

How au courant to have 'catty patterned' upholstery.

Not nearly as crowded as the Grand Palais exhibit either.

And one can soak up the 19th century atmosphere in these exquisite salons.

I loved this soft portrait by Monet's friend, Berthe Morisot of Julie Manet and her greyhound.

Monet's portrait of his long suffering wife Camille.

She endured years of penury and endless posing for Monet.

I was surprised how loose Monet's drawings were and like his painted brush marks.

Monet adored London smog and painted out the window of his room at the Savoy. Wonderfully casual sketches of London's houses of Parliment.

Foggy London was made for Monet.

Loose sketch of the interior of Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris.

Who knew Claude Monet, at age 15 earned his keep drawing charicatures of his teachers at school? There's a room full of them at the Marmottan.

Of course the Marmottan gift shop is not to be missed, along with the serious tomes are many artsy tchochtkas as only the French can do them. Hmmm

The grounds are quite serene but I don't think you can 'dejeuner sur l'herbe' here.

Do not miss this small select Monet exhibit if you're going to be in Paris...

And if you're going to be in Philadelphia tomorrow evening, PLEASE drop by my opening at the Alliance Francaise

6:30 - 8:30 PM

1420 Walnut Street - suite 700

Mad MacNYC macarons will be served up +
Paris Facade watercolors by yours truly.

BONJOUR EXPOS!