Inspirations: An interview with Claudine Hemingway
Paris expert, author and art cultural historian
Hello and happy Friday!
First of all, my apologies for not writing in a while. You see, for the past month, I have been busy settling in to my new role as editor of Discover Benelux, a lovely magazine published in the UK! As some of you may know, I have been editor of DUTCH, the magazine since 2012 (published in North America), so taking on this new job has come with its share of challenges – from working with a new team, to acquiring a new pool of journalists and, of course, adjusting to a totally new way of working. But, I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s a huge privilege and honor to be entrusted with helping create these two beautiful publications! Who needs sleep when you love what you do!
I’m still freelance writing for various publications, I've landed a new wine column (more on that to follow), and I’m headed on a wine journey to Italy next month! So, as you can see, there’s never a dull moment here! It’s a good thing I try to really take the weekends off to recharge, drink good wine (there’s a fine Chardonnay chilling as we speak) and go for extra long walks. In fact, I’m just back from my usual neighborhood wander, and I couldn’t help but notice that spring is really in the air. Which actually made me think of Paris and how wonderful it is to be there in this season (in any season, really!). I should plan a trip — and so should you.
In today’s post, I’d like to introduce you to someone who knows Paris like the back of her hand, Claudine Hemingway, author and art cultural historian.
Before signing off, there’s one last (very important thing) I wanted to mention. It appears that some subscribers have been having issues with upgrading to a paid subscription. I am in the process of finding a way to solve this and apologize for any inconvenience. If you have tried upgrading to paid and haven’t been successful, please let me know so I can find another solution. I am not adding the subscribe button to posts until I’ve got this figured out. Your support means a lot!
Bon week-end and enjoy meeting Claudine!
Where are you originally from and when did you first discover Paris?
I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, on the west coast, or “above California,” as I have to describe it to people in Paris.
When did you fall in love with the French capital? Describe what that was like.
It started as a child. My grandparents visited for the first time in 1972, and when I was little, my grandfather would show me all his amazing photos.
You are a French author as well as an art and cultural historian (and descendant of the great Ernest Hemingway!). You offer a variety of tours throughout the city, including one that follows in the footsteps of the renowned author. Tell us a little about your tours?
It started with the Hemingway tour, but now that includes everything from Saint Germain to a day visiting all my favorite restaurants, cafés and the Louvre.
You also offer travel planning for those visiting the French capital. Can you tell us more about that?
Planning a trip to Paris can be a huge undertaking. For some, it’s the fun part but can also take a long time, and the Internet is filled with inaccurate information. I work with clients based on what interests them, including their favorite types of food and how they like to visit a museum. It’s a lot of fun, and it’s great to hear from them that they enjoy every moment in Paris.
Tell us about your podcast, La Vie Creative?
My good friend Krystal Kenney created La Vie Creative during the pandemic, and I had thought of also doing a podcast, so we partnered up and every monday we release a new episode of Paris History Avec A Hemingway on La Vie Creative. Each episode features an amazing woman touched by or inspired by Paris as well as special episodes of the museums, art and tips for your next trip to Paris.
What is your favorite food market in Paris and why?
My go-to is my neighborhood Marché Saint Germain, it’s a permanent market, but has the greatest cheese and produce.
What was the most memorable meal you’ve ever had in Paris and where was that?
On my first trip, I had an amazing lunch at the Le Grand Véfour in the Palais Royal. It’s one of the oldest restaurants in Paris where every seat is marked with a brass plaque of who once sat there. I was given the seat of Colette who wrote the series of Claudine. She once lived above and was carried down to dinner. The table next to us shared an incredibly old and amazing wine, and the cheese cart is a thing of beauty.
Describe a perfect day in the French capital?
My perfect day would be to start at Le Nemours with a café, then a few hours in the Louvre, pop on up to Willi’s Wine Bar for lunch, wandering the streets of Paris exploring and making notes and then ending at L’Avant Comptoir de la Terre. This way I also get to spend it with a few of my favorite people.
What is your favorite season in Paris and why?
There is something great about each and every one of them. I love the winter because the trees are bare and more of the architecture is exposed. The spring is when everything slowly wakes up and any sight of pink cherry blossoms can always bring a smile to my face. In the summer, the days are long with light until 11pm and warm enough to sit along the Seine late into the night with rosé, picnic basket and friends. And, of course, autumn for the early red leaves and the greatest weekend of the year in September, Patrimoine weekend when the historic government buildings open for two days.
What advice would you give to anyone considering moving to Paris?
It’s a big task, but worth it. The best advice is to get assistance from someone who can help you navigate through the paperwork. It’s a lot, but so worth it!