Parisian Exploration With Friends

O N E  O F  the best parts of living in Paris is the friends- new and old- who are always visiting and joining me for walks and exploration. About three friends a week visit from the United States alone- so I am always kept busy entertaining and giving tours. There are also plenty of friends I meet in Paris. These are a few pictures from our wanderings... Kent, Andrew, Josh, Ilinca... good times and discoveries.

Jonathan Randall Grant

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Culture Keeper

Yes. Play.

photo by Maria McGinley

I was just reminded this morning of the importance of play. As creatives- so much of what we do is play-based, but that does not take away from its importance. In order to create and grow and explore we need to feel free to play. So go play.

Jonathan Randall Grant

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Culture Keeper

Brand On The Rise: SANDRO

F O R  S O M E O N E  who works with clothing- I am too often bored by clothes. Rarely do I find a piece that inspires me- let alone an entire line. So when I discovered Sandro I was quite taken aback. Not only did I like their entire collection- but I found their work inspiring. I would wear absolutely every piece in Sandro's Fall / Winter collection- and as I am quite picky- that is actually the highest compliment I can give them.




The primary aspect that struck me about their line is how well it covers a variety of styles- yet remains consistent and cohesive. I have NEVER found that in a line before. I myself live in two places- dividing my time between northern Michigan and Paris. I am always searching for a brand that sums up my style- looking for clothing that I can wear in both worlds. That is what I have discovered in Sandro. I could wear their men's line just as easily in the michigan woods or the streets of Grand Rapids as I could in the back alleys and Paris fashion shows.

As for service they are rarely outshone- their Paris shops are staffed with super-helpful and friendly types, who are always ready to point out their favorite pieces. The quality of the clothing itself is phenomenal. I am mesmerized by this brand- as though I had found myself in a clothing line as one would see their reflection in a mirror. Accessible yet chic, the city and the country, two worlds combined. Check out their Men's Lookbook.

 Jonathan Randall Grant

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Culture Keeper

In The Forest With Megan

O N A  rather drippy day this summer, three friends gathered to plot and dream out a photo-shoot. We wanted something that evoked adventure, was natural, but was also stylish. We pawed through Megan's closet until we found something that would really pop- a 1960's inspired dress that we layered a printed skirt under to relax it a bit. We gathered up umbrellas jackets and wellies, and headed out into the forest behind Megan's Michigan home. This is what we came up with...

Megan Gilger and Michael Newsted might be my two favorite people to collaborate with. For starters- although, like most creatives we bat around hundreds of dreams and ideas together- these two actually get around to some of them. That is rad. They are also super-fun to be with and are talented at what they create. Both of them are contributors to Culture Keeper so it is only natural for all of us to work together. Perhaps style and adventure are the two themes of this blog because they are also the themes of my life- and the lives of my friends? We pondered and chatted as we pushed through the lower boughs and over crunchy needles. 

 Megan posted these pics on her blog: The Fresh Exchange- so check out her version of the story.

I know that I have mentioned it before- but I cannot get over the raw quality of Michael's photos. I am constantly in awe. He captures life in such a beautiful way. This coupled with Megan's growing ease in front of the camera, made the afternoon a blast.

In other news these two will be joining me in Paris in one week! I am beyond excited. Megan and I will be working on a promotional video for our alma mater- Asbury University. This school will be opening a campus in Paris in a few years and we are honored to be a part of that process. Michael and I will be photographing the forthcoming collection from Jane Mow... perhaps you've heard of her? so stay tuned for more adventures and more mischief.

I cannot wait to collaborate further, and to share my favorite places with them.

Jonathan Randall Grant

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Culture Keeper

The Life Nomadic

photo by Michael Newsted

I  H A V E  moved 32 times.  In a month, I will move for the 33rd time.  In the words of my little friend Jack, "Shea, you move every time you have a birthday!" He is right. I've lived with college roommates, parents, families and multiple friends in community. To keep my sanity, my center and my sense of self I have subconsciously developed patterns of living in order to remain a Nomad.

Why am I a Nomad? I can tell you that I did not plan it. However, because I'm single and there have been opportunities to become a more interesting person, I have taken them.  While adventure is around every corner, it can take a toll.  It wasn't until the Culture Keeper himself left for Paris did I realize how many routines I have developed at every place I call home. 

Here are a few recommendations for those who pack their bags frequently:

1. Routines: As you assimilate to your new space and new schedule remember to keep your routines. Do you sip coffee every am and tea before bed? Do you rise around 7:00 am and slumber at 10:00 pm? Do you prefer to journal every day or connect with a best friend? What about that run you always take? Keep your sense of control (as it will feel a little chaotic for a few months) by keeping the natural rhythms of your diet, exercise, rest and emotional outlets intact.

2. Friends: Plain and simple…you win some you lose some. The ones that remain as you come and go in and out of their space are your soul mate besties. The depths of your friendship will change with the tides of life. Don't be offended to find that some of your friends move on when you are gone. Besides, you're about to meet some really amazing people. Practice your friendship intuition and invest where you will get a return. It's all part of growing up and owning the relationships in your life. I believe it was Donald Miller who said, “Show me your friends and I will show you your future.”

3. Trinkets: A pic of a friend? A quote? A letter from a lover? A necklace? A stone? Whatever trinket speaks to you as a voice from the past that will propel you into your truest self and most alive future, keep it with you as a reminder of them. Physically moving forces you to recreate visual memories which makes it easy to forget the old ones. Heck, get a tattoo if you need to!

4. Forts: Your space is your fort. You have your routines, your friendships, your trinkets and your fort. Evaluate how long you will be staying in this space. Are you getting a bed? Then use the pillow cases that Grandma made you (I have a box full) Do you have a bedroom? Cover each wall, the door and the floor with signs of your life. Get a house? Collaborate with your roomies to create a mutually beneficial living space.

5. Left Behind: How long will you be gone? Can your possessions have a place to stay while you're away? Perhaps in mom and dad's basement or your friend's empty storage space? However you leave it, leave it organized and safe! You never know when you'll need to call up your parents to have them send your favorite pillowcase or ask your dad to burn the love letters from old boyfriends (um, yeah, I did that once).

6. Blah, blah, blah paperwork: Spend $15 and get yourself a portable filing cabinet. Take one with you and leave one with trusted friends or family. Remember to call your bank, your student loan provider, your health insurance and phone company and the post office to notify them of change of address or just go electronic with every bill you can. And…not to get morbid here, but I would recommend you have a Will written with listed beneficiaries. My parents have a list of final requests and music selections for my funeral. My sister-in-law get's my ring and my favorite heels.  She will be happy to see this in writing.

Dealing with reality as a Nomad can be difficult. Isn't that one of the reasons we are Nomads in the first place?

Shea Petaja

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Culture Keeper

explore

image source: unknown

Paris Fashion Week #3

W H E N  Asna and I left the Peachoo + Krejberg show we made our way through the (slightly-less) rainy streets. On a little side street beneath some trees we waited before a set of impressive bronze doors. They were sculpted in bas-relief with tribal images and when finally opened, revealed a completely different scene than the last show:

The walls were lined with bookshelves and mirrors. the air heavy with smoke. At the entrance we were handed glasses of absinthe and we walked over crocodile skins to find a spot in the crowded room. The staircase along the wall was choked with various 20-somethings but no seemed to notice each other. Tribal drumbeats filled our ears, punctuated now and then by woman singing a simple song with a guitar. The mood was electric. There was a woman dancing like a dervish. The models seemed to take hours to process from the back up to a stage/throne/altar. Each model carried with her a piece of fruit which she laid upon the altar before leaving again.

Asna and I were really impressed with the collection (or what we could see of it). Fitting with the theme, there were a lot of tribal elements, but there were some great knit pieces as well. In particular I liked an off-white sweater-dress, and the small, tasseled, purses. The designer, Pierre Antoine Vettorello, presented a solid collection that was playful, wearable, would be really fun to photograph.

We thought about staying and chatting and trying to get a better view of the collection- but we had to move on.

The night was young and there was another collection to view. 

Jonathan Randall Grant

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Culture Keeper

Paris Fashion Week #2

AT 6 P M  I met my friend Asna near the St. Paul metro. It was pouring rain. The air was chilled. We huddled under a canopy for a while drinking tea... She was very casual about the fact that we were heading to a show at Paris Fashion Week. I was talking excitedly. As an editor for L'Insolent Magazine Asna gets invited to TONS of shows- and she was kind enough to ask me to join her for the evening.

Soggy yet enthusiastic we made our way to the Peachoo + Krejberg show. It was held in a brightly lit warehouse. Everyone stood in line in the rain and chatted politely. Inside there was champagne and dripping umbrellas and laughter. Asna and I sat next two an older lady who was a buyer for a shop in California. Throughout the show the lady explained the fabric choices and provided insight into the collection and the designers behind it. Afterwords she introduced me to a lebanese jewelry designer she thought I should know.

The collection was fantastic. white. black. silver... lace. chiffon. beadwork. It was elegant, had a bit of an edge, yet still managed to convince me that it could be worn by real women. I am still not sure about the "ribcage" vest... perhaps I'll need to see it worn in daily life before I'll be convinced. What struck me most about the experience was that everyone was so chill. No-uppity-ness, everyone was friendly, and no one seemed to care how much money one spent on one's clothes. The mood was a celebration of creativity.

This was my first "real" runway show... quite the good time ... but there is more. 

My adventures at Paris Fashion Week continue...

Jonathan Randall Grant

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Culture Keeper

Grant Hits Paris Fashion Week

Behind the scenes at Emporio Armani

T O D A Y  I went to the Oratoire du Louvre for the Jean-Charles Castlebajac show. I prepped myself the entire way...

"I will go to the guard at the door, I will politely announce my name and reason for being there. I will tell him that I do not have an invitation, but could he kindly let me stand in the back."This is what I had been advised to do. I had already emailed the press manager. If that failed I would just lurk outside and take photos of the well-dressed attendees. I was ready. I was braced. Nerves were calmed. 

... As I strode up I noticed some youths loafing on the steps. There was no bustle. There was no fashion-fervor. All was calm. ... the realization gradually sunk in... I was a week early. This would have been daunting perhaps to a normal person- but realizing that all the shows I planned to attend were a week away, gave me the slight glimmer of hope that even though newbie bloggers NEVER get invites, perhaps I could yet be the exception.

Experiencing Fashion Week, is to me, more about having a grand and stylish adventure then about fashion. I want to experience, photograph, and discover new collections- but I also want to give you all a peak into that world. I won't be taking pictures obsessively, but perhaps a moment or two to share with you.

Jonathan Randall Grant

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Culture Keeper

Together at Joli Deli

I love hosting photo-shoots that merge real-life-fun with helping friends. I also love showing off my favorite things and places... so when a family friend opened up the cutest little deli I had ever seen- I simply had to gather fiends for a shoot...

Joli Deli is the cutest spot in Paris for lunch with friends or coffee with wifi. It is quickly becoming one of my favorite spots in Paris. I love that it is in a great neighborhood- but tucked away down a quiet street. I love that in a cafe- when you feel like you have it all to yourself. 

We gathered for lunch around two-thirty in the afternoon; our tiny group of ex-pats. Not my normal crowd, but all people I adore. Michelle and Kevin who have just moved to Paris. Ilinca from Romania who has been here for quite a few years. My friend Peggy and her daughter Lucie who have been in Paris most of their lives. The day was grey and threatened rain- but we sat inside and listened to the mixture of latin music and old standards that played overhead. We enjoyed simple carafes of water, simple salads, and simple, tasty sandwiches... along with cheesecake, coffee and key-lime pie.

 My new friends Andrew Nicodem and Ryan Gilles were also on hand to photograph the lunch. I think their photos are stunning- which is why I am so excited to share them with you! Andrew and Ryan are currently on a round-the-world documentary trip. Be sure to check out their blog:

Naming The World

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 You can find Joli Deli on

Facebook

, and at 1 Rue Borda ... Metro: Arts et Metiers

 Jonathan Randall Grant

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Culture Keeper

Boys On The Pier

T H I S  was the last of the summer weekends at my family's cottage until my return from Europe in the late fall. I decided to celebrate by inviting some of my boy-friends (my brother included) up to the lovely northern Michigan lands for some adventures, late night jams, sailing voyages, and serious quality hang-time. These are just a few post-sunset snapshots I took on the pier in the lovely and quaint town of Frankfort. Thanks, boys. It was a wonderful weekend! Let's do it again, soon.

Michael Newsted

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Culture Keeper

Impulse Art

LE VASE ORANGE by Fernand Leger

I A M  not an impulse shopper. When I make a purchase it is after visiting the item several times, and thinking about the it constantly. On my last trip to Paris I visited one of my favorite galleries- Galerie Des Modernes. I love this gallery because when I arrive they treat me as a student and tell me the history and interesting facts behind each work of art. On my first visit in four years, I fell in LOVE. I returned several times that month to visit the painting that I was sure would be gone any day. What a huge surprise to discover yesterday that it is still there! I listened intently as they told me once more about the beautiful still-life by Fernand Leger. Only one owner. Only exhibited once. I know it would be too flashy for my lifestyle. I don't want to own artwork as a status symbol- not to mention the chance of being accidentally destroyed by an over-enthusiastic dance move. I still love to imagine it as the stunning feature of my future left-bank apartment- surrounded by friends and stacks of old books.

Jonathan Randall Grant

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Culture Keeper

End of Summer Street Style

 

P A R I S  is still warm and sunny,
everyone seems to be holding-on to summer as long as possible. 

Jonathan Randall Grant

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Culture Keeper

A Wedding in the French Countryside

L A S T  weekend it was my great pleasure to attend the wedding of two dear friends- Emily and Abebe. The wedding was held at Em's country house- of which I have heard, but never had the opportunity to visit. For years Emily had shared stories about curling up to read by the fireplace and hiking through the forest in this magical country world. Ancient stone houses and barns- surrounded by meadows and flowers and forests: The drive from the train station was enough to enchant me for the entire trip.

It was wonderful to finally experience this world and to share it with friends and family. Although I knew Emily's family I really did not know the other guests- though we soon became fast friends. All weekend we worked together to bring the wedding to fruition. As we picked wildflowers, hung garlands, made cream-puffs, and washed dishes we all got to know each other. There were people from all over the world- in the middle of as nowhere as you can get in France. Friends had made their way from Brazil, Guatemala, Peru, Ethiopia, Kentucky, Italy,  and South Korea. Emily and Abebe have such a fantastic spirit that they really bring together the best and kindest people on earth- not just for their wedding, but in daily life as well.

I have never laughed so much at a wedding in all of my life. After cocktails, the bride and groom joined all of the guests in sack races and games of tug-of-war. Even though I was one of the few English speakers- everyone was relaxed and I was able to interact. so many good vibes. I, of course, would never blog about any old wedding- but this one was so incredible and out-of-the-ordinary. It expressed so many beautiful emotions, and was such a great experience for me personally that I simply had to share it. Though every wedding has its share of stress, not many can manage to wrap you in the warmth of such incredible hospitality. We all left feeling loved and cared for. That is a great wedding.

Jonathan Randall Grant

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Culture Keeper