I don’t know if I’ve ever properly expressed how much I love my neighborhood. For 4 years, I’ve lived in the Oberkampf/Parmentier area on the east side of Paris and can’t imagine life anywhere else. Yet just as anyone would, I enjoy outings in neighborhoods very different from my own – areas more posh, more calming, more central or even more green. I have fantasies of a large Haussmanian apartment with classic moldings, and a balcony that would fit a little two-person table, a couple of wicker chairs, and pots full of hanging flowers that transform the cozy space into an urban garden. Sure, it’s an expensive fantasy but one that comes to life as I stroll through much of Paris.
When I first moved to the 11th, much of my neighborhood was considered up-and-coming – full of potential yet still trickled with some seedy corners and vacant shops. Yet over the last year alone, I’ve witnessed a transformation; what was once up-and-coming has emerged a lively and increasingly active social hot spot. I’ve seen my own street evolve and while some might cite gentrification, I welcome the change. Whereas the world renowned Chateaubriand was once the primary source of foodie…
