Paris Unlocked

29/06/2026

Heading to Paris this August? Here's everything you need to know, from what to see & do, summer festivals to make time for, good temporary exhibits to see - and how to survive increasingly probable, severe heatwaves. You'll find the link to the full article in the comments and photo descriptions.

23/06/2026

Were Matisse and Picasso really frenemies, or has their supposedly bitter rivalry been overstated? I tackle this question in a bonus episode for The French Culture Podcast: a companion to our full episode on Henri Matisse (Episode 2). It’s all part of our inaugural season’s look at Great French Icons of the 20th Century. Follow the podcast at Spotify, Apple or your favorite platform, and get bonus episodes and early releases by becoming a subscriber at Apple or Substack (Paris Unlocked Newsletter).

18/06/2026

At my latest newsletter at Substack, I’m featuring a new piece from that steers us to decent places to eat in the Latin Quarter, a Parisian district that’s notorious for its tourist traps. She makes suggestions for every budget and mood, too, rather than suggesting the “best” places are necessarily Michelin-starred and/or stuffy. Also in this issue, summer festivals to beeline to in the capital, news on my subscription model, and why June 18th is such an important date in French modern history. Make sure to subscribe if you haven’t yet (link in bio).

18/06/2026

At our latest free newsletter at Substack, we offer some key intel on where to find decent lunch or dinner in the Latin Quarter, Paris-- with choices for all budgets and moods. Then it offers some advice on navigating the joyful chaos this weekend’s Fête de la Musique, points you to some other fun summer festivals, and explains why June 18th remains an important date in French history. If you haven't subscribed yet, please do! (Link to the newsletter in comments below). Photo credits: Rachel Naismith, Alliance Restaurant, Au Moulin à Vent

17/06/2026

The Caverne du Pont Neuf project will see the artist JR use nearly 20,000 square meters of canvas to turn the bridge into a giant grotto.

17/06/2026

For decades, Edith Piaf’s life has been framed and appreciated by popular culture primarily through her love relationships, even sometimes to the detriment of her music, her theatrical talents, her enormous influence on other musicians (many men!) In this clip from The French Culture Podcast, Episode 3 in our series on Great French Icons of the 20th Century, I talk about why we’ve gotten it wrong— and suggest a different lens through which to understand Piaf. You can find the link to the podcast and all episodes of our current season above, in our profile description.

11/06/2026

I'm honored to see The French Culture Podcast and our own episode on the one and only Josephine Baker included in this excellent post from Monique Wells at Entrée to Black Paris. If you're a Baker fan, read the piece for more suggestions on where to find audio stories and podcasts on Josephine, whether in English or French. And make sure to consider booking one of the excellent Paris tours offered by Monique and her husband Tom of Paris Insights-- they're among the most well-researched and interesting out there.

Josephine Baker podcasts

June 3, 2026 was the 120th anniversary of Josephine Baker's birth.

On the eve of this auspicious occasion, Courtney Traub of Paris Unlocked released a 1 hour 14 minute podcast that takes an unvarnished look at Baker's life. Read about it and other podcasts that feature Josephine here: https://www.entreetoblackparis.com/blog/josephine-baker-podcasts

Josephine Baker in La Folie du Jour
1926 Walery
Image in the public domain

08/06/2026

So many people think the French painter Henri Matisse was a "tame" or "safe" painter, but when he first exploded onto the Paris arts scene in 1905, he was likened to a "wild beast", and people were deeply shocked by his radical colors and choice of subjects. In this short clip from The French Culture Podcast, I'm giving you a short glimpse of what to expect from the full episode. I hope you'll join us for the full story on why Matisse has been so misunderstood-- and why you should take a fresh look at his paintings.

Watch the full episode of The French Culture Podcast at YouTube (and follow our channel!): https://youtu.be/rrh7WdaoSK4?si=DggDaZ50C5d7MKM6

Listen to the episode on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ZVJpgKMMQ5WCzV6d24CIs?si=ckWgqt2LQbm-uePIr4h7vA

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-french-culture-podcast-by-paris-unlocked/id1893956944?i=1000770718411:

02/06/2026

The first four episodes of The French Culture Podcast have finally dropped! Listen on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music, Rss.com or other players. You'll find links in the comments. Thank you for following, liking and sharing with anyone you think might be interested!