Guess who’s back? Thank you for being so understanding of my pause in posts. In the 15 years of blogging, I’ve never taken such a long break but I was still posting almost 100 Instagram Stories each day of my month in Paris so I didn’t take a complete break and I hope that you enjoyed them. It’s taken me a week to get back into the swing of things in New York. I miss the beauty of Paris and if the French ever got on board with air conditioning, I would move there full time in a heartbeat. Until then, let’s check out what’s new online and real life for this weekend.

Conversations with Friends is my favorite book by Sally Rooney. I always say that you don’t read her books as much as feel them and the new Hulu series Conversations with Friends based on the book feels the same way. They changed or left out a lot of plot points so if you haven’t read the book, I highly recommend that you do so you get the complete picture of the characters and story.

We saw posters for Operation Mincemeat all over Paris where it had already been released under the name La Ruse. Now we can watch it on Netflix here in the US. It’s based on the true story of two British intelligence officers hatch an outlandish scheme to trick the Nazis and alter the course of World War II. I won’t go into details so I don’t ruin the story for those who aren’t familiar with the scheme that included author Ian Fleming before his James Bond days. I actually knew about the story from Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond which was a 2014 British miniseries detailing the military career of Ian Fleming which I also recommend watching.

I started to watch The Northman on Amazon Prime when I returned from Paris but quickly realized it was too deep for my reentry viewing. It’s rainy and grey in New York today so maybe I’ll try again tonight. It is supposed to be an action-filled epic that follows a young Viking prince on his quest to avenge his father’s murder and stars some big names Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, and Anya Taylor Joy.

While France many be the country in which I feel the most at home, I am probably overdue for an Italian getaway. Until that happens, I am happy that Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy has returned for season two on CNN. So far he’s visited Venice, Piedmont, and Umbria, and I look forward to seeing where he goes in the next episode on Sunday.

I didn’t love the last Downton Abbey movie but in Downton Abbey: A New Era, the family heads to the South of France to check out the Villa that that Dowager Countess of Grantham has been left in a will while Mary oversees the production of a movie being filmed at Downton Abbey. This I might be able to get behind.

Last year, the Frieze Art Fair was the first big event that took place in New York after vaccinations and it’s back again this week. I attended the first day preview yesterday and even though contemporary art is not my domain, I think it’s good to stay abreast of what’s going on in the art world. You can see my tour in my Instagram Stories which I’ll save in my Highlights. It runs through Sunday, 22 May 2022.

Now that I’m back, I’m looking forward to finally checking Fasano which just opened at 280 Park Avenue. The new restaurant comes via Gero Fasano of the Brazilian-based Italian hospitality group Fasano, in São Paolo, founded by his great great grandfather in 1902, and now with restaurants and hotels throughout Brazil and Uruguay. Brazilian interior designer Isay Weinfeld used natural materials, with exquisite new furniture, spacious tables and antiques in what was the location for the Four Seasons after they moved out of their iconic location in the Seagram Building.

I always joke that the entire fashion world is run by a woman who didn’t even graduate high school so I’m excited to dive into Amy Odell’s new biography, Anna, about the sunglass wearing editor.

I wore this Tory Burch Poplin Embroidered Dress once before I left Paris on an 80 degree day and also to Frieze this week. I don’t think I’ve ever worn it without someone complimenting me on it including a French woman and a woman at the art fair. It might go on extra sale over Memorial Day weekend if you want to keep an eye on it. I treated myself to the Celine Teen Panier in Denim in paris which is what they call their blue color. It’s not available in the US yet so I suggest checking out the different colors and styles if you are in Europe this summer. My sandals are no longer available but these A Emery Suede Sandals are pretty close.

I love the Les Mains Hermès Nail Enamel in Rose Porcelaine and I’m happy to report that it’s back in stock. I know it’s expensive but I am still doing my own manicure a lot since the pandemic started which makes it more cost effective. It’s the perfect neutral shade for summer manicures.

I had the most amazing facial with Oni Skincare before I left for Paris. She customized my treatment with microdermabrasion, a peel, and yellow and infrared lasers, before she targeted some of my hyperpigmentation. That part didn’t look good as it scabbed over and healed but then my face was glowing for my entire trip. I’m still amazed at how good my skin looks and I only took a handful of products with me for my trip. The workhorses of my trip were the Augustinus Bader Riche Cream for day followed by The Feelist Oil. For night, I used Glyderm Cream Plus 12 followed by the Augustinus Bader Riche Cream. I actually rain out of The Riche Cream while I was in Paris so I took the opportunity to shop at the Augustinus Bader Boutique in the Palais Royal which is their only freestanding store anywhere. For both day and night, I used the Neocutis Lumière Firm Illuminating and Tightening Eye Cream which is a long time favorite.

I have very thick hair that has a bit of wave and I’ve been loving the Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil to keep it under control. I went through my first bottle and just bought a new one which is always the sign of a good product. I like how it creates shine and protects my hair from heat damage without weighing it down or making it look greasy. It’s the perfect product for summer weather which we are about to experience in New York.

Bon week-end!

XOXO,

HC