David Jaggard
Sign of the Weeque 04.02.15
C’est Ironique Sign of the Weeque Photo by two-in-a-row Sign of the Weeque spotter Margie Rubin of Paris Your Way.The same owner also has an appliance store called “I Love My Lender,” a bank called “I Love My Mender,” a … Read More
Sign of the Weeque 28.01.15
C’est Ironique Sign of the Weeque Spotted by sharp-eyed reader Margie Rubin. Let’s see here: there’s an optician who sells stuff for people’s eyes, including contact lenses, and there’s such a thing as eye contact. So “Eye’s Contact” is a … Read More
Crowd Control in France: A Whole Lot of Crowd, Virtually No Control
There We Stood... And Stood... and Stood...
I have no desire to contribute to any bias-tinged, futile but impassioned online debate. So I’m going to start by explaining what this article is not about. It’s not about terrorism, anybody’s religion, the comparative atrociousness of different atrocities or … Read More
Sign of the Weeque 21.01.15
C’est Ironique Sign of the Weeque Such is love in Paris: we even have a specialty shop that caters to heartsick silviculturists. David Jaggard Have you seen a ridiculous sign in Paris? Or anywhere in France? Send me a photo … Read More
Sign of the Weeque 14.01.15
C’est Ironique Sign of the Weeque This week’s sign is not a strange business name choice due to idiocy, but rather a strange business name pairing due to laziness. Or lack of budget. Or idiocy. It’s an eatery in the … Read More
European Shop Signs: From the Ridiculous to the Sublimely Ridiculous, Part 12
Special Guest City: Seville, Spain
The first time I went to Seville, I missed out entirely on one of the most important aspects of the local culture. In my report from two years ago, I discussed the city’s lovely and ubiquitous orange trees, its beautiful … Read More
Sign of the Weeque 07.01.14
C’est Ironique Sign of the Weeque You know all those Italian restaurants in English-speaking countries that call themselves “La Trattoria”? As though it’s supposed to be some kind of clever, evocative name even though it just means “The Restaurant”? Did … Read More
Sign of the Weeque 17.12.14
C’est Ironique Sign of the Weeque Spotted by reader John Friedman. Everyone knows that Donatien Alphonse François “Marky” de Sade was a French author, philosopher, politician and sexual whack job. But what few people know is that he also founded … Read More
Raising Spirits: The French Scout Calendar Dredges Up Memories
Ah, the Thrill, or Whatever, of Scouting
The end of the year is always a time for thoughtful reflection. A time to look back at pleasures savored and milestones achieved. And so, as 2014 draws to a close, I, like all Parisians, am thinking about one thing: … Read More
Beautiful Mind: I Take the Miss France General Knowledge Quiz
Behind That Face Lies A Veritable Database
Readers, I have terrible news. You’d better sit down. I’m not sure how to break it to you… This won’t be easy, but I guess I should just come right out and say it: I am never going to be … Read More