Bonjour Mes Amis,

It seems gay marriage is on the forefront these days with the overturn of the Defense of Marriage Act in the United States. Hurrah! With the Socialists in power since Francois Hollande's 2012 election, France had it's own coming out party. Here is a Time Magazine article that spotlights the first gay marriage in France.
http://world.time.com/2013/05/29/meet-frances-first-married-gay-couple/

I'm nostalgic for Haussmannien Paris after watching Bel Ami, a story of social climbing in the guise of love. Robert Pattinson is a terrifying gigolo (those eyes!) and I have always loved Christina Ricci's otherworldly beauty.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0080CL0HM/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0080CL0HM&linkCode=as2&tag=bellaonlinefr-20

Find out more about the Opera Garnier, one of my favorite buildings in Paris, and get tips on how to secure affordable seats for yourself in my latest article, Visiting the Paris Opera.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art48513.asp

Have a beautiful summer,
Melissa Demiguel, French Culture Editor
http://frenchculture.bellaonline.com