Could it be the exhaustion from long and dreary winter months with no immediate holidays on the horizon? The bleakness of more snow and cold? The hope for a warm beach and gentle, rolling waves? Maybe it's the endless hours spent commuting in the dark? The romance of Valentine's Day spent dreaming of romantic beach [...]
In France, the holiday on February 2 is called La Chandeleur (Candlemas, or feast of the candles), or Fête des lumières (festival of lights). Marking the midpoint of winter, between the shortest day of the year and the spring equinox, Candlemas offers protection and light, with its own weather sayings that would make a groundhog [...]
Rather than sitting the little ones in front of unlimited cartoons or, for the older ones, a Netflix marathon, why not entice them to help out around the house? By making chores a chance to connect with mom or dad, children can learn responsibility without even realizing it. (Older children might require bribes, but that's [...]
(1) Simplify your life. Let us help you reclaim time and space by showing you how to let go of the excess, the clutter, the “stuff” that holds you back. Feng shui practitioners understand how physical clutter burdens us with mental clutter. Give yourself a fresh start for the New Year! Let us help you [...]
The gift-giving season is upon us, and whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, or the winter solstice, I thought I’d come up with some helpful suggestions based on this year’s blogs, month by month: January—Start the year off right with a sumptuous “king cake”: http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/kingcakes February—Keep on hand those Valentine’s Day essentials: Veuve Clicquot, https://www.sherry-lehmann.com/wine/champagne-and-sparkling-wine; Valrhona [...]
Does everyone know the story of Kevin from the movie Home Alone? Poor Kevin, the youngest child in the McCallister family, is accidentally left all alone at Christmas time while the rest of the family flies to Paris (in French, the title of the movie is Maman, j’ai raté l’avion, which we can translate as, [...]
It should come as no surprise that there is a long history of Native American residence in eastern Long Island. The Montaukett and Shinnecock tribes were both active in this area. In the seventeenth century Chief Wyandanch of the Montaukett sold land to the English colonists, including what is now Gardiner’s Island, for “a large [...]
Today I want to talk about André Malraux (November 3, 1901–November 23, 1976): writer, art theorist, and perhaps what is lesser known, France’s first Minister of Culture under de Gaulle. In that capacity he launched a program to clean the façades of France’s most important buildings; eventually there arose the “loi Malraux” (the Malraux law) [...]
With Halloween approaching I’m reminded of an episode of the Honeymooners in which Ralph and Norton compete for first prize for their costumes at a Halloween party (watch the full episode here—https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doDAfhbu‐‐U). Not to give too much away, but Norton dresses as Pierre François de la Brioski, the (fictional) designer and builder of the sewers [...]
Our property management services can help you maintain your Hamptons home. What, you ask, might this entail? Let us begin with a comparison to one of the great emblems of life in the States, the Statute of Liberty (or La Liberté éclairant le monde), which was dedicated in this in this month in 1886. As [...]
Fall begins September 23 and soon enough the leaves will be changing colors, it will be time to put away all the beach clothing and pull out the sweaters, to stow away the barbecue and get the fireplace ready. It’s also the time of les vendages (grape harvest), and the making of fine wine. Happily, [...]
Ah, with Labor Day nearly upon us, the “official” end of summer is at hand: all of us here at A Votre Service! hope you had a wonderful summertime. Also around the corner is the return to school—time to get those pens, pencils, notebooks, and apples for the teacher ready (although these days, it’s more [...]
Coco Chanel was born on August 19, although I suspect she would have preferred to have been born on May 5. The number 5 was of great importance to her, and as for the creation of her signature perfume, Chanel No.5, she was presented a number of samples and ultimately chose the fifth sample. As [...]
Ah, August, traditionally the last month of vacation (les grandes vacances) in France. Since French workers are permitted five weeks of vacation (and civil servants seven weeks), many choose to vacation the entire month of August. There used to be a time when Paris practically shut down in August; these days it’s not so extreme, [...]
I think I can say that this month is most certainly an interesting moon month. First, July 20 is the anniversary of Neil Armstrong’s walk on the moon. It’s also a blue moon month: by the modern definition that’s any time there are two full moons in a single calendar month (for July 2015, July [...]
In honor of the independence days of the US and France I thought a little comparison chart would be helpful: United States France what Independence Day Bastille Day when July 4, 1776 July 14, 1789 sport baseball waiter races; pétanque food hot dogs, hamburgers Brie, crêpes, baguette beverage beer Champagne dessert apple pie Napoleons (mille-feuille) [...]
Now that school is over (or soon to be over) that doesn’t mean that learning has to end. I’m certainly not one to dampen the joy of the summer vacation, but that doesn’t mean some good cleaning habits cannot be quietly taught during the summer. I thought I’d share some of my insight that I’ve [...]
Little darling, it’s been a long cold lonely winter Little darling, it feels like years since it’s been here Here comes the sun, here comes the sun And I say it’s all right “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGKPHFrHVVY At long last, summer is upon us, and it’s time to enjoy all that [...]
Since Memorial Day weekend (May 23-25) is the unofficial start of summer vacation, here’s a checklist to get you ready for summer: 1. Watch summer vacation movies. I must say that my favorite is Mr. Hulot’s Holiday (Les Vacances de M. Hulot), a 1953 French movie from Jacques Tati which was nominated for the Grand [...]
O, the month of May, the merry month of May, So frolic, so gay, and so green, so green, so green! In France May 1 is Labor Day (la Fête du Travail) and it is customary to exchange lilies of the valley for good luck. This tradition goes all the way back to the French king [...]
