Hats off to our Linda!

Linda taking a little break from the hard work at the Paris flea market

The Atlanta Journal Constitution used to run an article every Sunday entitled, “Why I Love My Job.” Our employees have kiddingly said, -- usually in jest on a particularly grueling, schleppy kind of day, when paintings show up unwired, and Styrofoam peanuts coat every surface of the gallery -- that they wanted to write their own stories. There are other days, when we’ve gotten some great new paintings, and had extraordinary Aha moments hanging for a show, and a client has been particularly enthusiastic or we’ve earned ourselves one more buying trip to France, that the appreciation is more sincere.

Linda with Monsieur and Madame Nepo

Well we’d like to turn the tables a little and write our own mini series: About why we love our employees.

Today we’re picking on our sweet and gracious Linda Mohan, who has been with us almost from the beginning, and who continues to delight us daily with how much she brings to the gallery. She’ll be mortified, of course. But as small business owners, we realize more than ever how important the people are to the work we do. So maybe this isn’t just about Linda but about what makes any employee, especially in a small business environment, invaluable and appreciated and the secret to success.

The keeper of the loot!

With apologies for causing her embarrassment and singling her out in this first expose, here are the top ten reasons why we love working with our wonderful Madame, Linda Mohan:

10. Because she’s always prompt and dependable. Like a ray of sunshine, she comes bouncing in to the gallery on Monday mornings, coffee in one hand (always in an old fashioned French coffee bowl and without a top to it – how does she do it?), and waving a fabulous article that she read over the weekend, in the other.

9. Because she has such style. Yes, appearances do matter! And how fun it is to see what chic and creative outfit our Madame will turn up in every day. She is a true original who always looks beautiful and always with a little edgy, fun panache to every outfit.

8. Because she has a great work ethic. Our Madame exemplifies hard work. She doesn’t balk at the bad stuff (and there’s plenty of it). And she seems to swoon over the good stuff. If we let her, we think sometimes she would stay in the gallery until midnight – or at least until she gets it all done. By the way, will our ever-so-slightly over-indulged and over protected children inherit this same work ethic when they hit the work force? We certainly hope so.

Our favorite Schlepperella!

7. Because she loves to travel. Indeed, as an ex-flight attendant, and one who has never lost the bug for traveling, this one is up for anything anytime, even when it means lugging 50 extra pounds of paintings and sconces back from a buying trip in France. No surprise that one of her many terms of endearment is “schlepperella.”

6. Because she’s always upbeat. We have an unwritten rule at the gallery that we will only work with people we like and people who have a positive energy. Linda’s positive energy is positively contagious.

With artist Pascal Bouterin

5. Because she’s wonderful with clients, artists, and us, even when we don’t deserve it. Luckily, Miss Linda has never met a stranger and she always makes everyone feel comfortable and at ease. Again, a note to our children – yes, education comes first, but people skills and connecting with others are the keys to success in most professions.

With artist Georges Nasri

4. Because she’s always furthering her knowledge and always curious to know more. We appreciate that she is studying art history in the evenings and reading books about art. And we love that she is curious and passionate about a lot of different interests, like travel, learning French and knowing where to find the best macaroons in whatever city she happens to visit.

3. Because she takes initiative. As small business owners, we know that feeling of hating to ask someone to do something because it’s almost easier just to do it ourselves. Well, with Linda, we don’t have to ask her to do it, because she’s already thought of it, planned it, and committed to it. Aaaah ….

With artist Ewa Rzeznik in Paris

2. Because she has a great eye. There’s nothing more fun than going on a buying trip with Linda, who will quietly rustle through a bin of paintings and manage to gently point out several that we may have overlooked (but she knows are quite fabulous). Her eye goes much further than art too, since she has a great eye for fashion, for interior design and for gifts! In fact, we kiddingly call her the VP or Corporate Gifts because nobody can find the diamond in the rough like Linda or the perfect quelque chose to bring back to somebody back home.

With artist Andree Thobaty

And the number 1 reason we love working with Linda is ...

1. Because she loves what she does, and it shows. Just as they always say you should ask for the job when you are interviewing for it, you should appreciate it when you’re in it. There is nothing better than to work with people who are enthusiastic, and as employers, there is nothing that we appreciate more than happy employees. It’s contagious, it benefits everyone and it makes us all happier to work together. Merci, Linda!

Linda, who has never met a stranger, with a new friend in Provence!

Ta ta,

HH

PS: Gallerina, M'selle and Sam: We love you too ... and watch out, your turn will come!

Heaven on Earth: Le Train Bleu

Postcards from Paris...

Entrance to Le Train Bleu Restaurant in the Gare de Lyon, Paris

Anyone who has ever hopped on a train at the Gare de Lyon in Paris has probably been aware of Le Train Bleu, the venerable restaurant that sits up high over the quays and is decorated to the max in sumptuous 19^th century rococo perfection. When Huffingtons take the train, it’s usually rush rush rush to a quick and fast connection, with no time to enjoy a croissant, let alone a fabulous four course meal. We’ve peaked into the restaurant, from time to time, and it has certainly piqued our interest. But the idea of actually sitting down to a sumptuous, leisurely meal there has been an elusive dream … until now.

It so happened that on Valentine’s day, this solo Huffington gave herself all the time in the world to make a train connection and decided to indulge herself in a romantic dinner for une, at Le Train Bleu. Reservations were made long in advance just to enhance the anticipation of this magical event.

I love my traveling companions and love my big and tall Valentine, but when in France, I have to admit, it’s a wonderful luxury to eat in a fine restaurant toute seule. My luncheon at Le Train Bleu was no exception. The French admire people who take the time to eat and who obviously enjoy a great meal. You will always get lots of attention and respect from the waiter for ordering with care and savoring the food. And if you go so far as to invite the sommelier for a little advice about wine, you will be the darling of the restaurant.

My dinner companion, watching over me.

I was very comfortable in my luxurious velvet tufted banquette with plenty of room to sit back, relax and enjoy the incredible décor (and snap a few pictures, surreptitiously). I started by ordering a lovely glass of Pommery champagne. When I heard that familiar “pop” (admittedly a sound that makes all of us Huffingtons jump with joy), I knew that we were off to a great start.

After that, a little “Amuse Bouche” (the only possible translation would be something like “tickle your appetite” ) of caviar, cucumber and sour cream followed by my first course, a somewhat heavy Saucisse en brioche, which was appropriately rich and delicious. After the champagne and the healthy red wine that followed, my lunch was a bit of a buttery blur, which entailed some wonderful veal in a white sauce accompanied by loads of winter veggies and followed by a sumptuous cheese course that was ripened to perfection.

As with many French restaurants, I found the first part of the meal quite speedy and efficient, while flagging down the bustling waiters for my final “addition” was much more of a challenge, almost to the point of a little panic. By the time I rushed to the train, put my bags up and sat down in my lovely solo seat, I heard the whistle blow and discovered that I’d made the connection with just one minute to spare. I know someone wiser might have skipped dessert to avoid this kind of rush, but this little gourmande had to have it all. Mmmmm …

Here’s a bit of advice to those who want to indulge in this marvelous experience but may not have two leisurely hours to spare: Order the 45 minute menu. My neighbors had it and it looked marvelous. The first course was foie gras (of course) followed by a piping hot Gigot d’Agneau et Gratin de Pommes de terre a la Fourme d’Ambert, which means lamb accompanied by sliced potatoes baked with a delicious bubbly (and marvelously smelly) cheese, followed by a café gourmand, which is always a wise choice because it is one of the few times in France that you can actually have your coffee and dessert at the same time (normally terribly frowned upon in French restaurants).

But regardless if you go quick and speedy, or slow and leisurely, the next time you are in Paris, treat yourself to a grand lunch at Le Train Bleu. The food, the comfy seats, the ambiance and the amazing decor all contribute to making it pretty darn close to heaven on earth.

Ta ta,

A.

Having Some Fun…

Some of us are addicted to lots of the great blogs out there, and one that always gets our attention is Velvet & Linen, the brainchild of the fabulously talented designer duo, Brooke and Steve Giannetti, out of California. There was a great blog recently about a massive renovation they have undertaken, and it was filled with creative ideas that reflect the duos’ amazing taste.

The before and after pictures had us all salivating, especially the magical transformation of the family room.

The Before

The After

That beautifully proportioned, classic French limestone mantel just stopped us in our tracks! You see, we Huffingtons can’t pass up a mantel, especially such an elegant one in a gorgeous, sophisticated room. For us, it’s the equivalent of the kid in the candy store or the girl with the paper doll cut outs.

So, with all due respect to Brooke and the new homeowners, we hope you’ll indulge us if we let our inner child dress up the mantel, and let our artists’ work play with the room. How would it look, for example, if we added a soft, abstracted Bouterin landscape? Or a pop of color from Elizabeth Barber? Or a mysterious encaustic from Danna Harvey? Or we could keep going with lots and lots of other ideas ....

Pascal Bouterin, Le Port

Elizabeth Barber, Pansies

Elizabeth Stockton, Listening

Dana Ruth Harvey, Natural History

Doug Foltz, Rubicon

Onyeka Ibe, Red Roof

Nancy Franke, Fresh Start

Lorraine Christie, A Kiss From A London Sky

Peggy Everett, Interlude

Todd Alexander, Elk Alone

Elise Morris, Mirrored Perception

Or how about this: A painting by the multi-talented architect himself (with our apologies for not having a better image of it), Steve Giannetti.

Steve Giannetti

We hope you've enjoyed our fun. What about you? Any preferences for which painting you would select to complement this gorgeous room? We'd love to hear your thoughts.

Tata!

HH

He rocks!

A Magical Place

Just steps away from where France’s other most famous rock star, Serge Gainsbourg, used to live, there lives and works a different kind of rock star named Claude. I happened upon his shop quite by accident one day recently, as I was strolling along one of my favorite streets in Paris, just steps away from the famous cafes in St. Germain des Pres. I walked by his modest little shop, tucked in with all the fancy new art galleries and antique stores, and immediately back tracked to take a second look. What were these intriguingly beautiful little paintings that looked like miniature Christian Nepo landscapes, and what were they doing there?

Mysterious Seascape

Magical Sea

Imagine my surprise when , upon further examination, I discovered that these are not paintings at all, but in fact Mother Nature imitating art! These little jewels are actually Florentine marble slabs made up of a certain kind of limestone called Eocene that is found just below the surface of certain quarries in Tuscany.

Eocene in the raw

Over the centuries, water carrying iron and manganese oxides has trickled through these blocks, gradually coloring them at random. The end result is astonishing: They look like miniature seascapes or cities, in the most beautiful shades of blue, brown and beige. They evoke a magical sense of mystery, depth and beauty all blended together and weathered with time. And yet they are rocks -- aged and colored in a beautiful patina that only Mother Nature could create.

The finished product…Rocky Mystery

I was delighted to meet the rock star owner, a “man of certain age” who is charming and modest , and loves to talk about everything from literature to art. In fact I liked him so much, I went back to visit him three times, each time buying more of his rocks.

Monsieur Claude

Over time, Claude told me how he had become involved in his art. His father was a chemistry professor at the Sorbonne in Paris who naturally expected his son to follow in his footsteps. Claude decided to specialize in mineralogy and went to study at the University of Pisa, in Italy, which is apparently renowned for its program. It turns out he was bored out of his mind and wanted to get away from it all. One day, killing time before his return to Paris, he went on an archeological dig outside of Pisa and discovered these rock formations buried in the soil. This was his Aha! Moment and he knew that that day would change his life forever.

Paysage Mysterieux

Au Bout du Monde

Paris

I had my own little Aha! moment when I walked by his store, and my guess is that our clients will feel the same way. So lucky for me, I plan to go back over and over again, to visit my new rock star friend and see what other little jewels he has unearthed from the ground.

Tata!

A.

Hotels in Paris

We'll call this little travel series, "Postcards from Paris..."

People often ask us, since we travel to Paris a fair amount, about where we like to stay. The truth is that we Huffingtons are creatures of habit, and once we’ve established our little hotel routine, with the bakery, the metro, the favorite restaurants and even the hair dressers, it’s hard to try something new. It’s a great feeling to get to know a neighborhood and have people in the “quartier” treat you like a local, even though you live 3,000 miles away! So that’s part of the reason we stick to a very few, and why we’re more than happy to share them with you.

On this first installment of our favorite three hotels in Paris, here is Ann, reporting live from Le Duc de St. Simon, right off the rue du Bac, in Paris’ tony 7^th Arrondissement:

It is a freezing cold February night, with a dusting of snow on the ground and a hefty wind blowing. But I am happily cozy and warm, in a cocoon-like room, with its pretty padded pink walls and timeless antiques in the lovely and elegant Hotel du Duc de St. Simon.

It’s a hotel I know well and one that comes stacked with years of memories, since I stayed here for the first time for a whole week when I was fourteen years old, and traveling to Paris my friend Muffie and her mother. La Muf and I had room #14, possibly the nicest room in the hotel with its own private terrace. The hotel has changed quite a bit since then, and along with picking up a duchy and a couple of extra stars (it used to be simply called “Le St. Simon,” ) it was renovated from scratch and to perfection several years ago.

Over the years, I’ve stayed in many different rooms: Some of them pink, some blue, some yellow; some small, some medium and some quite large. All of them are warm and elegant, with tufted walls, comfy bathrobes and the most sumptuous Italian cotton sheets, with matching color coordinated monograms depending on which room you stay in (such a nice touch). And all of them have a distinctly elegant feel of being more like a Parisian home than a hotel.

So here’s what I love about the Duc de St. Simon: It’s in a perfect location, or as they would say in Paris, “c’est le top top top.” Although it is steps away from the bustling Boulevard St. Germain and the elegant rue du Bac shopping district, as well as the metro and lots of bus lines, it’s quiet and quaint. With its cute little courtyard and few terraces, you could almost imagine being in the country instead of the heart of Paris.

I love the rooms. Yes, they’re small and some may say they’re a little dated now. But I think that like all fine design, they are timeless and have great bones. The walls are padded, the rooms are filled with antiques, the curtains are plush and the windows have the most wonderful hardware!! It’s an elegant combination of heavy iron and solid brass, and when you close the windows and eliminate any potential city noise, they make that satisfyingly substantial “umph” sound that you get with a really luxurious car. Although I sleep with the window open, I love to know that when I close it, in the morning, I’m going to hear the Umph!

I like the service. It is prompt, courteous and friendly. When you order your breakfast, you don’t have to wait: It comes quickly – and deliciously. On my plane on the way over here, I sat next to a delightful man from Asheville, who said, as he curled up to sleep after many glasses of champagne, “Just a few hours until croissant time!” I thought about him on my first morning of room service, since there’s nothing like the delicious croissants delivered to your room at the Duc de St. Simon: Luscious, buttery decadence at their best.

I love the details: The creaky stairs, the narrow halls, the marbleized floorboards and faux painted walls. I love the kilim lined elevator and the beautiful 19^th century art.

I really love the luxurious Beltrami sheets which are soft and silky and so welcoming, especially during those first few jet lagged nights, when they stroke and soothe you at 4 a.m. and say, “roll over, night night, go back to sleep now” – and you do!! I love the front desk and the sitting room, which remind me of an imaginary aunt’s house, somewhere near Fontainebleau.

I love how the sun reflects against the white buildings surrounding us, and I love the view of the terraces. I love the courtyard , especially in the summer, when it is shaded, flowering and welcoming.

But most of all. I just love love love that when you walk out the front door and take a few steps down the street, you go from being in somebody’s elegant country house to the heart of the most fun and fashionable part of Paris.

Ta ta, bonne nuit,

A.

PS: We will mention a couple of other favorite hotels in the next few months. But here is the info on the Duc de St. Simon:

http://www.hotelducdesaintsimon.com/en/index.php

14, rue St. Simon, 75007 Paris

PPS: Tell us about your favorite hotels too. But don’t be surprised if we just keep going back to the same ones over and over. Like so many things in life, once you establish that personal connection, everything else pales in comparison.