New York City
April 1, 2024
Took the subway from Courtney and Julie's apartment into SOHO this morning and thanks to Google Maps, found my way to Little Paris. It's only a block long but there were several good photo opportunities -- and two places to stick Goong To Paris stickers.
In order to prepare for a lot of walking in Paris, I decided to walk the 4.7 miles back home. The walk included the Manhattan Bridge which from the walkway sure appears to need a paint job. My sense of cleanliness was challenged during my walk -- so many areas of the city are unkept. I understand there isn't money in the city's budget to make the city beautiful but st some point something is going to have to be done! End of rant!
About Little Paris:
One group of French business owners is determined to showcase NYC’s own enclave of French culture by dubbing Centre Street in Nolita/SoHo (between Broome & Grand St.) as “Little Paris”!
The initiative is spearheaded by women-owned language and cultural center Coucou. The business moved to Centre St. in 2019, and the owners noticed how they were tucked in between well-known cultural neighborhoods but didn’t have “a strong identity of its own.” They also noticed that the “quaint little boutiques, cafes and restaurants, and bakeries” reminded them of Paris.
Along Centre St. you can find French café and bakery Maman, wine bar La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels, and art and home decor shop Clic. And a short walk away in the same neighborhood you can find even more French shops and brands, like: Sézane, Cire Trudon, Maison Kitsuné, Ba&sh, Atelier Cologne, Le Labo, Ceci Celà Pâtisserie, Diptyque, French Cheese Board, and more.
To complete the Parisian vibe is the old police headquarters located across the street from Coucou, whose architecture was inspired by Paris’s famous Hotel de Ville (City Hall) with its Beaux Arts style.
Though they have already petitioned Manhattan’s Community Board 2 (you can sign it at the shared link) to officially name the area “Little Paris,” they have also gone ahead and commissioned hand-painted street signs made in Paris to install on the exterior of the buildings on Centre St.
The walk back:
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