The Everyday Marvel: Discovering Public Space in Paris

A guest essay from friend, new Parisian, & urban strategist Brent Longley

One of the endlessly fascinating aspects of spending time with new residents, or even visitors, to Paris is learning what moves them when they arrive. What questions about the local culture and way of life seem vital to them to ask? What discoveries feel the most meaningful to them? And what can other places draw from the French capital’s greatest assets? I get moments of this with my tour clients but I can go even deeper with friends who are new to the city. It has been a joy to get to know Brent Longley, an urban strategist who made a permanent move to Paris earlier this year, and discuss his early observations at length—which largely inspired this essay! Don’t miss his reading recommendations at the end. Thanks, Brent!