Two American jazz musicians with decades of international experience have made Paris their home. Heather sits down with saxophonist Rick Margitza and drummer Jeff Boudreaux to find out what made them choose to settle in the City of Light, like so many jazz...
Author - Heather Stimmler
American-born travel journalist and non-profit media specialist living in Paris since 1995.
French newspaper Le Parisien exposes how private ATMs like Euronet target tourists in Paris with inflated exchange rates and hidden fees. Learn how to recognize these machines, avoid paying up to 40% more, and withdraw cash safely. And whether you actually...
In this detailed discussion, Jeff shares what drew him to settle in Paris (spoiler alert: the quality of life), explains in detail the French system of taxes and benefits for performing artists, and what makes his favorite jazz club -- La Gare -- so special.
Discover Paris’s new Cité Immersive des Fables, where La Fontaine’s 17th-century tales of lions, foxes, and frogs are reimagined for today’s world—clever, critical, and surprisingly timely.
Detroit-born saxophonist Rick Margitza grew up surrounded by music; his father played with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and his Hungarian Romani grandfather introduced him to the violin at age four. He studied jazz at Berklee and Loyola before touring with...
Our latest Secrets of Paris Book Club guest is David Lebovitz, author of several cookbooks and memoirs about life in Paris. In this interview, we discuss the recently revised edition of his first book, "Room for Dessert", which includes not only updated...
La Rentrée is always an exciting time in Paris with all of the new exhibitions and the annual Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days). Here's the latest round-up of what we’ve been seeing and doing behind the scenes at the Secrets of Paris in the past month...
Fred & Heather woke up early on September 21st, 2025 to catch the waiters and waitresses of Paris show off their moves for the annual Course des Cafés (formerly known as the Course des Garçons). They were followed by the amateurs race, where anyone can give...
Neighborhood Guide to Saint-Germain, Odéon & Luxembourg Gardens: Heather's insider guide to cafés, shops, museums, galleries, nightlife, gardens & the quartier’s history, with addresses, links, maps and photos.
Inside this Issue: * Do You Really Need Reservations for Notre Dame? * Conversation Meetup: Practicing Your French in Paris * Neighborhood Guide to St-Germain-des-Prés & Luxembourg Gardens * Budget Hotel Recommendations * Free New App to Find the Best Vélib...
The latest events and expositions in Paris this October.
After almost a year of its reopening, many Secrets of Paris readers still have questions about visiting Notre‑Dame Cathedral. Here’s the simplest, up‑to‑date guide to understanding the optional reservation system, the newly reopened Bell Towers visits, and...
