Many things are fascinating about Paris, France. (I needed to clarify so you didn’t confuse this with a Paris Hilton post.)  One of the memories just popped into my head, because of this post about converting parking spaces into parks.

Parisian restaurateurs (oo-la-la, such linguistics) had a great knack for turning sidewalks into restaurants. Or rather extensions of their own restaurant, cafe, brasserie, bistro, whaddevah. I used to know, but I forgot. Let’s just ay, one of them eatin’ places.

About sundown, a phalanx of waiters would sweep the sidewalk clean and begin changing the sidewalk area in front of their eatin’ place. I’m not talking about dragging out some patio furniture like they do in the U.S. They brought out wooden tables and chairs. They drug out huge potted plants and in between would place a low attractive divider.

Most had awnings which provided ceiling feeling. But if they didn’t, very nice umbrellas would pop up. The nicer the restaurant the smaller the advertising on the umbrellas.

The tables were covered with white linen, a candle or two, china and silverware, perhaps even a flower would complete the conversion. Voila! (and they do say that in Paris, which I love!) the eatin’ place capacity would sometimes double.