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Le Gai Rossignol bookstore in Paris now carries The Chairfather funny photo book

So, I’m wandering in the Marais, and I happen upon the Gai Rossignol bookstore. They have lots of maps and travel guides and photo books outside to entice tourists. Many out-of-town folks happen by, because it’s close to the City Hall and cool sites.

Knowing they’re a sister store to Le Merle Moqueur, I pop in and ask if they’d be interested in carrying The Chairfather which is popular among tourists. The bookstore is very welcoming and they agree.

I’m filling out the paperwork, and noticing they have lots of quirky gifts, gags and impulse buys to bring a smile. I’m about to leave when I notice that my book is right next to another, called “The Big Penis Book.” In fact, that title’s cover art is literally pointing its business at me.

Who knows, maybe it’ll drive traffic. You can check out both here:

Le Gai Rossignol
9 rue Saint Martin
75004 Paris

https://www.lemerlemoqueur.fr/le_gai_rossignol/

 

© Copyright Joe Start. All rights reserved. © 2018



 

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Le Merle Moqueur bookstore in Paris now carries The Chairfather funny photo book

I’m really pleased that an independent bookstore very close to the south entrance of the Père Lachaise cemetery is now carrying my book The Chairfather. It’s called “Le Merle Moqueur” or the mockingbird. They’re part of a handful of little jewels of book shops in the capital, dedicated to readers looking for something fun and off the beaten path. My titles are also in another of their stores with a different name, that I’ll introduce you to another day. Meanwhile, if you’re in the neighborhood of the metro Alexandre Dumas, come check out this bookstore.

Le Merle Moqueur

51 rue de Bagnolet, 75020 Paris

https://www.lemerlemoqueur.fr/

© Copyright Joe Start. All rights reserved. © 2018



 

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The Chairfather funny photo book now available at the Père Lachaise métro kiosk in Paris

As you emerge from underground at the Père Lachaise métro station, you immediately spy two things: a café and a kiosk. The café is called the Brasserie au Rond Point, and it’s everything you want in a traditional French bistro from the belle epoque. I like to go there for a ‘démi’ or half-pint beer and a ‘croque madame’ or grilled ham & cheese sandwich. I prefer it to the ‘croque monsieur’ because the ‘madame’ comes with a sunny-side-up egg on top. The Brasserie has honored many of the Père Lachaise residents with collages. They’ve put a lot of care and creativity into these little ‘windows’ to the lives of the personalities. The one above is for my favorite ‘locataire’ Georges Méliès.

Now that your belly is full, you’re ready to grab your guide and head out for a lovely walk while listening to amazing stories. Just across the street is the entrance to the Père Lachaise cemetery. On the island in-between, you’ll find one of those distinctly Parisian kiosks selling magazines, newspapers, and sometimes books. It’s very popular for tourists who want a street plan of the city, or seek the latest showtimes for theater, concerts and cinema.

However, some less-informed vacationers go there asking for a map of the cemetery…

Didn’t they read my blog post about the 5 kinds of folks you meet at Père Lachaise?!?! Don’t be Dora the Explorer!

Now, they don’t have to, because the kiosk sells my book, The Chairfather! Inside the book, they’ll find links to my VoiceMap tours. Visual and audio, together, now that’s what I call a prepared pedestrian!

Kiosk

67 boulevard de Menilmontant
75020 Paris

Brasserie au Rond Point

65 boulevard de Menilmontant

75011 Paris

© Copyright Joe Start. All rights reserved. © 2018



 

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The Chairfather funny photo book now available at the Gambetta kiosk in Paris

Just steps from the Gambetta entrance to the Père Lachaise cemetery, you’ll find one of those distinctly Parisian kiosks selling magazines, newspapers, and sometimes books. It’s very popular for tourists who want a street plan of the city, or seek the latest showtimes for theater, concerts and cinema.

However, some less-informed vacationers go there asking for a map of the cemetery…

Didn’t they read my blog post about the 5 kinds of folks you meet at Père Lachaise?!?! Don’t be Dora the Explorer!

Now, they don’t have to, because the kiosk sells my book, The Chairfather! Inside the book, they’ll find links to my VoiceMap tours. Visual and audio, together, that’ll wise them up, and take them right to the sights they want to see, lickety-split! (That last comment wasn’t a reference to Colette, really.)

Get smart at the kiosk!

7 Place Gambetta
75020 Paris

© Copyright Joe Start. All rights reserved. © 2018



 

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Happy B-day Alice B. Toklas

I love you Alice B. Toklas!  And so does Peter Sellers.  We both know the secret ingredient in your birthday cake.  We just can’t remember how to make it, because, uh…

Her most famous creation has a bit less cachet now that many governments have legalized marijuana.  If you don’t want to eat dope, but prefer to smoke it instead, you also have her to thank.  The verb ‘to toke’ comes from a play on her last name.

I’ll guide you to her final resting place on my @VoiceMap tours of the Père Lachaise cemetery, and recite stories from her life.

See funny pictures and text from our picnic together in The Chairfather book.

The passed have never been more alive!

Book a lunch date with the fallen famous NOW!

Or later…

Really, it doesn’t matter. Their agendas are quite open.

 

© 2018 Copyright Joe Start. All rights reserved.



 

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En voiture, Simone

It’s your Birthday Simone Signoret. The expression ‘En voiture, Simone’ meaning ‘let’s go’ has nothing to do with the alluring actress. It comes from one of the hosts on ‘Intervilles’ when they wanted to get the game started.

Anyway, in honor of Simone Signoret, I’d like to invite you to get in your car for two destinations. First stop, the city hall of L’Etang-la-ville. I’ve lived in the area for more than a dozen years, but only just found out that the suspense classic ‘Les Diaboliques’ was filmed there. It’s so cool to know I’m walking in her footsteps when  I go to find out when the next village-wide yard sale will be taking place!

Next stop, Paris. I’ll guide you to her final resting place on my @VoiceMap tours of the Père Lachaise cemetery, and recite stories from her life.

See funny pictures and text from our picnic together in The Chairfather book.  Find out why she slaps me, the wildcat!

The passed have never been more alive!

Book a lunch date with the fallen famous NOW!

Or later…

Really, it doesn’t matter. Their agendas are quite open.

 

© 2018 Copyright Joe Start. All rights reserved.



 

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Buon Compleanno Rossini

Happy Birthday Gioachino Rossini! Actually, we’re a bit early, because his birthday would be tomorrow, but this year doesn’t have a tomorrow.  That is, there’s no February 29th. But I don’t want to wait until Feb. 29, 2020 to celebrate the magnifico Italian composer.

Just like there’s nothing this year in between Feb. 28 and March 1, there’s nothing behind the house marked “Rossini” at Père Lachaise.  Why dat?  Come along my walk and I’ll tell ya.

I’ll guide you to his final resting place on my @VoiceMap tours of the Père Lachaise cemetery, and tell stories from his life.

 

See funny pictures and text from our picnic together in The Chairfather book.

The passed have never been more alive!

Book a lunch date with the fallen famous NOW!

Or later…

Really, it doesn’t matter. Their agendas are quite open.

#MyVoicemap #Paris #tourism #audioguide

© 2018 Copyright Joe Start. All rights reserved.



 

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Happy B-day Visconti

Happy Birthday Louis Visconti.  No, not Luchino, the Italian movie director.  Not a painter, writer, composer or aviator either.  No, he’s not part of the royal family which ruled Milan, nor a member of the nobles who ruled Pisa.  Our guy was born in Italy, but left for France, where he became a citizen and built monuments in his new home.

No, this one is Louie Louie, aka Grave the great.  He designed a lot of the tombs at Père Lachaise, and one very famous one under the Invalides dome: Napoleon’s tomb.

I’ll guide you to his final resting place on my @VoiceMap tours of the Père Lachaise cemetery, and tell stories from his life.

Coming soon…

See funny pictures and text from our picnic together in The Chairfather book.

The passed have never been more alive!

Book a lunch date with the fallen famous NOW!

Or later…

Really, it doesn’t matter. Their agendas are quite open.

© 2018 Copyright Joe Start. All rights reserved.



 

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s dnem rozhdeniya princess Strogonoff

888

Happy Birthday princesse Démidoff-Strogonoff.  You’re one kooky lady, if the stories about your tomb are to be believed.  Your death date has three number 8’s in it, which for some is a sign that the underworld is near.  I thought it was three 6’s that was the sign of the devil.  Three sevens are good.  But three eights are now also bad?

Which reminds me, do you know why 6 was afraid of 7?  Because 789.

The Chinese seem to like 888.  Were you Chinese, princess?  No, you were from Russia.

You were also very, very rich, and very lonely.  You didn’t want to spend eternity alone, so you devised a way to use your assets so you could have company.  If folks want to know what your macabre plan was, they can join my tour.

I’ll guide you to her final resting place on my VoiceMap tours of the Père Lachaise cemetery, and recite stories from her life.

Coming soon…

See funny pictures and text from our picnic together in The Chairfather book.

The passed have never been more alive!

Book a lunch date with the fallen famous NOW!

Or later…

Really, it doesn’t matter. Their agendas are quite open.

 

© 2018 Copyright Joe Start. All rights reserved.



 

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on this day… Dragon felled

201 years ago today, a Dragon died.  No, not that kind of dragon.  This doesn’t concern the last season of Game of Thrones.

“Oooh, did he play for the Barcelona Dragons of the NFL Europe?  I guessed it, right?  I knew it because this is Super Bowl Sunday.”

All will be revealed when you go on my tour.  How’s that for a teaser?  A pretty sneaky one.  A pretty snarky one.

I’ll guide you to his final resting place on my VoiceMap tours of the Père Lachaise cemetery, and tell stories from his life.

Coming soon…

See funny pictures and text from our picnic together in The Chairfather book.

The passed have never been more alive!

Book a lunch date with the fallen famous NOW!

Or later…

Really, it doesn’t matter. Their agendas are quite open.

© 2018 Copyright Joe Start. All rights reserved.



 

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