Bonjour, Friends!

Summer has officially packed its bags. Last weekend brought us those glorious fall days - cool enough for a jacket, warm enough to linger outside - so we did what any Parisian family with a toddler does when the weather cooperates. We chased playgrounds.

We landed at Square Trousseau in the 12th, where a small concert was happening under the gazebo. My son was more interested in the playground, of course, than the concert music, but I stayed for a few songs while he climbed.

From there, we headed to Ground Control for lunch. If you haven't been, it's a food hall in the 12th with multiple stalls, indoor and outdoor seating, and a casual vibe that works well when you have a toddler who might throw his fries.

Sunday's mission was to find my son's favorite slide in all of Paris, which lives in La Villette. We found it, he went down approximately 17 times, and then we wandered down the canal to Paname Brewing Company for food by the water.

During the week, I arrived early for my Paris History Walking Tour on the islands and caught the cafe where we start in soft morning light with the exterior lamps illuminated. This is Le Louis Philippe. If you've been on my tour, you know it. If you haven't, now you know where to find me most Mondays.

I also took my son on a Batobus adventure recently and filmed it for you. We got the 24-hour pass to hop on and off at any of the 9 stops along the Seine. It's basically a river cruise with more freedom and less forced commentary. Worth doing if you want to see Paris from the water without having to sit through a 60-minute tour. Check out the YouTube video below.

➡️ 6 Lively Paris Restaurants - Where to Go For a Festive Night Out: HiP Paris spotlights six festive Paris restaurants, including Bonne Heure in South Pigalle and Magdalena near Place de la Madeleine, where excellent cuisine meets lively cocktails and a fun, buzzy atmosphere.

➡️ An art deco lover’s guide to Paris: National Geographic explores Paris's art deco architecture and heritage, from the style's 1925 origins to landmarks like Théâtre des Champs-Elysées and Palais de Chaillot, plus centennial museum exhibitions celebrating the movement's 100th anniversary.

➡️ Paris Events for October: Paris Discovery Guide rounds up October 2025's top events, including Montmartre's Grape Harvest Festival, Jazz sur Seine's 15 days of performances, the Salon du Chocolat, and museum exhibitions featuring Sargent at Musée d'Orsay and Picasso works.

Our friend, the Mystery Parisian, introduced me to Entre 2 Rives this week, a Vietnamese restaurant in the 2nd arrondissement, and I left wondering why I don't eat Vietnamese food more often in Paris. Seriously, I called the MP the next day to thank him again for the experience.

We ordered bánh nậm, bánh xèo, mango salad, chả giò, and kept going from there. Everything was homemade with fresh ingredients and was incredibly flavorful.

The staff were great. The owner was there, happy to walk us through her favorite items on the menu and make recommendations. They speak excellent English, so if you need help navigating the options, they can assist you.

Vietnamese food fits naturally into Paris once you know the history. France colonized Vietnam from the mid-1800s until 1954, and when that ended, many Vietnamese immigrants made Paris their home. Vietnamese restaurants are now woven into the city's dining scene.

If you're looking for something off the beaten path, Entre 2 Rives is worth the trip.

Quick reminder: Our Seine River walking guide is still available at beta pricing. $9 instead of the regular $39, and you'll get all future updates as we enhance it. If you've been thinking about it, now's the time.

I climbed Tour Saint-Jacques this week, and I'm convinced it's one of the most underrated monuments in Paris. You've probably walked past it a hundred times. It stands alone in a small park near Châtelet, 62 meters of Gothic stone with gargoyles and statues, looking like it should be attached to something but just standing there in the middle of the city.

The tower was built between 1509 and 1523 as the bell tower for the Church of Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie, which was the patron church of butchers from the nearby Les Halles market. For centuries, it served as a departure point for pilgrims walking the Via Toronensis to Santiago de Compostela, which is why it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.

The church was demolished after the French Revolution and sold in 1797, but the tower was saved. For a while, it was used as a shot tower where molten lead was dropped from the top into water at the bottom to create perfect spheres of ammunition. The City of Paris bought it back in 1836, restored it in the 1850s, and created the park around it.

The view from the top is stunning! I'm sharing the photo above, and I'll have a video ready for you next week once I finish editing. You climb 300 narrow spiral steps to reach the platform, where you get a 360-degree view of Paris that rivals anything else in the city.

This week's song is Carla Bruni's "Quelqu'un m'a dit" (Someone Told Me), from her 2003 debut album. It's gentle, contemplative, and perfect for October in Paris.

The melody is simple and intimate, the kind of song that feels like it was written in a quiet apartment overlooking the rooftops.

Bruni's voice has this breathy, conversational quality that makes the whole thing feel personal. The song reflects on time, memory, and a lingering hope that someone still cares. It's wistful without being heavy, which makes it perfect for cool mornings and long walks through the city.

Want to experience Paris beyond the guidebooks? Join me for private walking and/or biking tours for fascinating stories, hidden corners, and local insights that make this city extraordinary. From the bohemian streets of Montmartre to the medieval layers of the Marais, each tour combines history, recommendations, and the kind of authentic discoveries that turn a visit into a love affair with Paris.