The Earful Tower: Paris

This week we shared a picture on social media of a cheese massacre at a Parisian dinner party. The culprit? A newly arrived American in France. The victim? An innocent 18-month-old Comté slice. After the picture went viral in the Earful community, we took a much deeper look at what happened. Here comes an interview with some mortified cheesemongers, some first-class acting from Earful VIPs, and th...

To celebrate the launch of our new book, Grace the Giraffe in Paris, we've put together a little pub quiz for you all.  Ten questions, getting progressively harder.  The rules: Answer out loud. If you're right, you get the points. That's it.  Good luck. Find our book here: www.theearfultower.com/grace or browse the whole shop here: www.theearfultower.com/shop   Become a Patron here: www.patreon.co...

Today on the pod it's Australian author Sarah Turnbull, the woman behind the 2002 smash hit memoir Almost French. But she isn't in Paris anymore, no no! She is in Sydney, which couldn't be more different. So with all these years gone by, what does Sarah miss about Paris? Of course, this is but one part of a sprawling conversation we had at Frenchy's cafe in Mosman. We also touched on how Australia...

Edward Chisholm joins The Earful Tower to talk about his new hit book "A Waiter in Paris: Adventures in the Dark Heart of the City". He also gives his thoughts on how much to tip a French waiter, the truth behind the service industry, and what goes on behind closed kitchen doors. We recorded the chat inside the lavish Belle Époque brasserie Bofinger in the 4th arrondissement, so with the backgroun...

Let's explore the Cimetiere du Calvaire, which is the oldest cemetery in Paris and surely the hardest to get inside.  How did we get in? Well, today's guest Eric Lejoindre - the Mayor of Montmartre - happens to have a key. Or at least, he knows the man with the key, father Alexandre Denis, who also features in this "on the go" episode.  All three of us visited the cemetery for the first time as pa...

Oliver, Lina, and Eddie discuss how three small French words created a tempest of opinions in Earful Tower circles this month...  They also discuss communication between cultures and languages, the risks of "dumbing down" a children's book, and their book tour that's CURRENTLY HAPPENING in Australia.  Get your copy of Grace the Giraffe here:  https://theearfultower.com/ grace Find more about the A...

We've just made 20 podcast episodes and 20 short videos around Paris, one for every arrondissement. And Pres Maxson made all of the music. He chats with host Oliver Gee about the soundtrack that went with it all, and how he made it (and chose it!)   This chat was recorded in front of a live online audience and was followed by an interactive Q&A with Patreon members from around the world (you can w...

We've just done 20 photo shoots around Paris, one in every arrondissement. Photographer Augusta Sagnelli chats with host Oliver Gee about how the process of taking the photos.   They also chat about how the city changes with every neighborhood, how to photograph Paris, and the challenges of capturing the spirit of each district.   This chat was recorded in front of a live online audience and was f...

We've just filmed 20 short videos around Paris, one in every arrondissement. Videographer Eddie Gee chats with host Oliver Gee about how the process of making the movies.   They also chat about how the city changes with every neighborhood, how to film and edit videos about Paris, and the challenges of collaborating on this project from two different corners of the world.    This chat was recorded...

This week we reveal the story of the giraffe that walked to Paris in 1827 and made everyone go bananas. This story, especially the bit about Parisians going berserk for giraffes, is the subject of our new children's book: Grace the Giraffe in Paris.  A bit of background: The giraffe walked from Marseille to Paris in 1827, a gift to the King Charles X of France from Egypt. This true story is fascin...

The 1st arrondissement is this week's focus on the podcast. Here's what we found after spending a full day there. Mentioned in this show Louvre Museum   Jardin des Tuileries Square du Vert-Galant   Place Dauphine Place Vendôme Pont Neuf Domaine National du Palais-Royal  Samaritaine  Costes Bar   Restaurant Le Dalí   Bonjour Cafe Café le Nemours   This podcast episode includes our final ranking on...

The 2nd arrondissement is this week's focus on the podcast. Here's what we found after spending a full day there. Mentioned in this show Zouzou cafe Boneshaker's donuts and brownies   Rue Montorgueil Stohrer Bakery Covered Passages: Grand Cerf , Vivienne , Panoramas The beautiful Starbucks on Boulevard Capucines Tour Jean Sans Peur La Fontaine Gaillon restaurant Le Grand Colbert restaurant Harry's...

The 3rd arrondissement is this week's focus on the podcast. Here's what we found after spending a full day there. Mentioned in this show 46th and 3rd National Archives Fringe Cafe Musée National Picasso Marché des Enfants Rouges Musee Carnavalet Le Mary Celeste Le Progrès The Cambridge Public House This podcast episode includes our final ranking on the district out of 100.  This episode also featu...

The 4th arrondissement is this week's focus on the podcast. Here's what we found after spending a full day there. Mentioned in this show Saint Regis Ile Saint Louis Notre dame  Le Peloton Cafe Miznon restaurant   Philippe Auguste Wall Place des Vosges  Victor Hugo museum Carette cafe Centre Pompidou museum Maria Loca rum bar Bofinger restaurant Bar 1905 This podcast episode includes a brief interv...

The 5th arrondissement is this week's focus on the podcast. Here's what we found after spending a full day there. Mentioned in this show Le LouLou cafe Musée de Cluny  Pantheon Bibliotheque Saint-Genevieve Jardin des plantes Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle Grande Mosquée de Paris Rue Mouffetard   Le Contrescarpe Maison de Verlaine Caveau de la huchette This podcast episode includes a brief in...

The 6th arrondissement is this week's focus on the podcast. Here's what we found after spending a full day there. Mentioned in this show Breakfast at Cafe Flore Musee Delacroix / Square Furstenburg Buly perfumerie La Palette Cafe Luxembourg Gardens  Treize au Jardin cafe Ladurée confectionary store The church: L'abbaye Saint-Germain-des-Prés The bouquiniste bookshops by the Seine Le Select bar Bra...

The 7th arrondissement is this week's focus on the podcast. Here's what we found after spending a full day there. Mentioned in this show Coutume Cafe Park Catherine Labourée Deyrolle taxidermy shop Eiffel Tower Rue Cler Musée Rodin Musée d'Orsay Les Ombres restaurant and bar (with the Eiffel Tower views) Including an interview with Francine Campa, the head of the Deyrolle taxidermy shop and museum...

The 8th arrondissement is this week's focus on the podcast. Here's what we found after spending a full day there. Mentioned in this show, in order of mention Bridge: Pont Alexandre III The Champs-Elysées (Send a postcard to: The Earful Tower 34 Ave des Champs Elysees 75008 Paris, France) Iwi Coffee shop Galeries Lafayette Église Saint-Philippe-du-Roule Petit Palais American Cathedral Parc Monceau...

The 9th arrondissement made for the first time we felt like tourists in Paris, while visiting the breathtaking Opera Garnier. But there's a lot more to it all than that, with the famed department stores, the cool Pigalle neighbourhood, and the famed rue des Martyrs. Here's what we found. The Earful Tower podcast episode This podcast episode features music by Pres Maxson, including his take on the...

So you're coming to Paris and you want to maximise your time and spend your money wisely. But how to do it? Here are some suggestions from your hosts Oliver and Lina, based on our deep explorations of the city as part of our Paris Countdown series (from which we're currently on a two-week intermission). So here they are: Ten expert tips for planning your Paris trip.  A thank you to Pres Maxson for...

The 10th arrondissement feels like the centre of everything. People spill into the streets from the Gare du Nord station, one of the busiest rail terminals in the world, and mingle into a melting pot of old Paris, new Paris, and cultural offerings from around the world. The district also features an intriguing museum of handheld fans, a delightful art nouveau restaurant, and the authentic Paris pi...

The 11th arrondissement is undoubtedly the cool part of town. Some call it the trendiest Paris district. It's where you might find an eco-friendly garden hotel, a 1920s themed speakeasy bar, and a restaurant that's so cool you can't even find its name on the facade. We found all those places, plus took a more traditional exploration through the old alleyways that were once thriving artisanal passa...

It's the Paris Countdown! Here comes an-depth guide to the 12th arrondissement of Paris after we spent 24 hours there. The blog post  is here with all the pictures .  A big thank you to the Patreon supporters, without whom we wouldn't be making this season.  Join them here . Music: A Pres Maxson interpretation of Plus Bleu Que Tes Yeux ( A Blue Like the Blue of Your Eyes) by Charles Aznavour Below...

It's the Paris Countdown! Here comes an-depth guide to the 13th arrondissement of Paris after we spent 24 hours there. The blog post  is here with all the pictures .  A big thank you to the Patreon supporters, without whom we wouldn't be making this season.  Join them here . Music: A Pres Maxson interpretation of La mer, by Charles Trenet. Below are all the places we mentioned. Where to stay? / An...

It's the Paris Countdown! Here comes an-depth guide to the 14th arrondissement of Paris after we spent 24 hours there. The blog post is here with all the pictures .  A big thank you to the Patreon supporters, without whom we wouldn't be making this season. Join them here . Music: A Pres Maxson interpretation of Le poinçonneur des Lilas, by Serge Gainsbourg. Below are all the places we mentioned. W...