Happy 4th of July to all my American friends! Today’s blog has nothing to do with this holiday other than it’s about a celebration. But it’s really about a great wine bar you must visit if you’re in Paris.

My lovely Parisian friend David hosted an amazing fete for me in honor of a very special birthday in March 2007. The details of age are not important. I’m timeless. But the place: Wini June on 16 rue Dupetit-Thouars in the 3rd — that’s what you should remember.  A wonderful, intimate wine bar in Le Marais that was opened by Wini and Massimo. Wini and I share a similar life story about finding our true selves again at the same age. We even share the same middle name: June (hence the name “Wini June”). At a particular age and juncture in her life she wanted something different. She saw this space and was inspired. She had found what she was looking for. Her calling. The space gave her the idea and that’s how Wini June came to be.

Of course, my dear friends Melissa and Carl from LA were both there for the fete, along with a small group of American and Parisian friends that I met while living in Paris. The night was sublime. Perfect. Dazzling. We started with cocktails at the Murano Resort Hotel; dined, sipped champagne and talked endlessly about life at Wini June; and then ended the evening (or at that point early morning) with a lovely walk and then one more glass (or two -- we were in Paris celebrating after all) of champagne to toast the new decade and all the beautiful friendships  -- the old ones and the new bonds that were made that night.

The girl with the bob and bangs is me in the top picture and the lovely woman I’m smiling with is my dear friend Melissa -- the incredible goldsmith Melissa McClure Jewelry Alchemy. Check my blog soon to hear more about her exquisite collection.