Embrace the French joie de vivre with American expat Ajiri Aki

Wednesday, November 15, 2023 From 11:30 AM To 12:30 PM Add to Calendar 2023-11-15 11:30:00 2023-11-15 12:30:00 Embrace the French joie de vivre with American expat Ajiri Aki Come join us online to meet Ajiri Aki, author of Joie: A Parisian Guide to Celebrating the Good. This talk will help you to better understand the French concept: la joie de vivre. Online via Zoom America/New_York

At Online via Zoom

Join us online to meet Ajiri Aki, author of Joie: A Parisian Guide to Celebrating the Good. This talk will give you the keys to better understand the French concept of la joie de vivre. In her first book, Ajiri shares what she has learned about living in Paris—from hosting the perfect apéro (happy hour) to lingering around town like a flâneur (loafer) to thrifting for antiques at the market. While listening to her journey, you will be inspired to reclaim your right to leisure as the French have, so you, too, can savor the spontaneous, joyful moments that happen every day.

Whether you are planning a trip to Paris, moving there or you simply want to learn how to appreciate life better, come meet Ajiri. The interview will be followed by a Q&A.

Online event in English

Member

Non-member

$12

About Ajiri Aki

She created the online boutique Madame de la Maison because celebration is in her DNA.

She is Nigerian and her folks love to party. Their guest list is full of family, friends, and even welcomed party crashers. If there's food, music, and good vibes, they are happy. She learned from an early age there is power in gathering around a table and sharing with others.

After university in Texas, she moved to New York where she worked as a stylist and on fashion exhibitions for the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of the City of New York. At this time, she found a group of Mexican girls with a similar DNA. Mexicans love a good celebration too! The ten years she lived in New York were full of wine- filled weekly festivities. Every Thursday no matter what was happening in her life, she met with her latin crew for “Juevesitos”: food, drinks, dancing, and chats. Some of the happiest and most memorable moments of that decade took place on a Thursday.

She left New York and moved to Paris, married, and started a family. Paris brought her many treasures, but she missed that sense of community and joy that she derived from weekly fellowship with others. So, she decided to bring it back! She created Madame de la Maison to put the spotlight back on the table and help others to do the same.

Here is her encouragement for you: Gather around the table and celebrate life with beautiful things whenever possible. Never wait to use your best pieces.

About the book

The French are known for their joie de vivre—celebrating the simple things—a philosophy that tastemaker Ajiri Aki embraced all her American life. As a child, she frequently tried to convince her Nigerian-Jamaican mother to pull out the fine china for everyday meals or when hosting friends. Her mother always said she was waiting for a special occasion, which sadly never came before she passed away when Ajiri was only twelve. Ajiri promised herself she would never hesitate to use her treasured pieces. When she moved to Paris, France, as an adult and she learned how central that idea is to French life, and she also began to absorb other essential lessons from her new friends: treat yourself to fresh flowers just because, take time to source the best baguette, and most importantly, enjoy être—just being.

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