Here comes Notre Dame! And American donuts! And a Christmas party!

Another week in Paris.

Can you believe that Notre Dame reopens tomorrow?? Five long years of restoration. I cannot wait to see inside.

I can so clearly remember being down there on the night of the fire. Parisians spontaneously started singing hymns. It was so touching. So raw. So… unforgettable. Below is a video I took later in the evening as people were taking stock of the tragedy.

And now, fast forward five and a half years, and I was down there again today. It’s already looking quite magnificent, especially on such a beautiful winter day (see pic below).

But it will be mayhem tomorrow. All the surrounding streets have already been cordoned off for the extra security that comes with the heads of state from around the world. Television crews are setting up. Shops are closing. The circus is coming to town. It felt just like the lead-up to the Olympics again.

As for me, I’m meant to be talking to the Today Show in Australia, on Channel 9, for Sunday morning. These live TV things have a habit of getting changed at the last second, so no guarantees, but perhaps you Aussies will catch me.

And of course, I’ll be on site tomorrow trying to find a way into the cathedral (unlikely) and I’ll try to record some interviews (likely).

In other news, just when I was convinced that no-one really commented on Facebook or Instagram anymore, I shared a post today that set both channels off!

The culprit: The new Krispy Kreme donut shop that’s opening on rue des Rosiers in the Marais. Right across from l’As du Falaffel.

Check out a few of these comments from the 300 or so people who vented about the Americanisation of Paris. Krispy Kreme certainly got people talking, you could say their marketing campaign was a hole in one. (Donut pun?!)

In other news, on the evening of Monday the 9th of December, we will host our annual Christmas party. We’ve privatized a bar on the Bastille square. It will be low-key. Less of an event, more of a Christmas drinks, a chance to catch up, meet up. I’ll invite a bunch of past podcast guests too. The first glass of Champagne is on me, and I will have enough of our children’s books on sale to hopefully cover the cost of the Champagne ;) Kids books make such excellent Christmas presents. (Browse our collection online here).

If you would like to join the party, simply respond to this email with your name so I can add you to the list. Then I’ll send you the meeting details on Saturday (that goes for anyone who responded to my last callout. I’ll email you on Saturday too!). Looking forward to seeing you.

Oh yes, if you’re a paying Earful member on Patreon or Substack, there’s a second and more exclusive Christmas party at the gin distillery on Friday night, December 13th. Email me if you missed your chance to get a ticket, there are still places left.

Speaking of the distillery, that was the topic of this week’s podcast episode. I’ve embedded it below, plus the YouTube video I made with Charlotte from the shop.

I was glad to hear some of you have been reaching out to them at the Distillerie de l’Arbre Sec. Their gin workshop it a must.

That’s enough Paris for one newsletter.

Talk soon,

Oliver