After the Pop-Up
There are two things that keep me motivated when it comes to working on Paris in my Pocket.
The first is the obvious one: helping people visiting Paris to love it as much as I do.
The second may be less obvious: supporting the small businesses I love.
Building, growing, and maintaining a business in Paris is among the Herculean feats of modernity. France exchanged its entrepreneurial spirit for security in the second half of the last century, and one of the ways to feel that most directly is to try and start a business here. I've seen a lot of places I loved, run by very smart and capable people, go out of business for all kinds of reasons. While I can't help them if the government comes calling (as happened to me a few years ago, a situation that nearly bankrupted me), my hope is that I can do something to send them more business.
One of the new twists in sending people their way is our interview series over on the Paris in my Pocket Instagram account. Rather than recommend the places I love, why don't we ask them where they would go? You get my implicit recommendation, but you also get to know the locals a little better. A rising tide lifts all boats, and if we can help visitors (and locals even) find spots they might otherwise never have known existed, perhaps we can draw some traffic away from the chains and multi-nationals that have taken up so much oxygen and throw some support behind the little guys.
What about you?
What would you ask if you were to interview some local business owners?
A Big Thank You
…to everyone who was able to make it out to our first Paris in my Pocket event - locals and visitors, friends and Patrons… the evening meant a lot to the whole Paris in my Pocket team.
We chatted, we drank, we laughed, we cheers’d, we maybe even teared up a little. Cooper slept. Seeing so many wonderful, supportive people come out to buy tee-shirts, books, and raffle tickets meant the world.
If you were at the event, we’d love to know more about your experience! Was there something you were hoping for but didn’t receive? Did it meet your expectations and beyond? We have big dreams for more Paris in my Pocket events in the future, and we’d love your input - what would you like to see or do? Who would you like to hear from? Our community is unique in that it’s made up of locals and travellers alike. What a joy to be able to come together.
And pssst… there might still be a few limited edition tee-shirts left for sale locally…
The Olympics and Paralympics
As we near the kick-off of the Olympic games, much is happening, and there are lots of questions. Some of these questions we can answer; others not so easily. But rest assured we’re doing a deep dig into the Olympics in search of responses to some of the questions we’ve seen pop up time and time again over on instagram.
We’ve got the whole team researching the games to keep you well informed, so you can expect more content over on social media soon.
Jay is also investigating various monuments and the construction around them on his personal vlogs.
We’re gathering info from our friends in tourism in the know, such as Jess from Fat Tire Tours.
And we’re keeping up to date with the city of Paris’s regular communications.
So if you have any lingering questions about the Olympics, Paralympics, construction, zones, metros, anything about the games - now’s your moment! Ask your questions in the comments here or on social media, and be sure to subscribe on Youtube, follow along on Instagram, and subscribe to this newsletter to stay in the know.
Not long now!
Hi Team! Will you have a popup in July? We will be in Paris and would love to come! Got our t-shirts in plenty of time for the trip!
Wondering if you are excited for all of the games, or more excited for all of it to be over so Paris can return to normal?