Why LA? Pourquoi Paris?

Of all the world’s great metropolises, Paris and Los Angeles are among those that house the most significant and immediately recognizable cultural milieus. From the Champs-Élysées to the Sunset Strip, Marilyn Monroe to Brigitte Bardot, LACMA to Louvre, there is plenty for visitors and residents alike to fall in love with these storied cities – and in Why LA? Pourquoi Paris?, for the first time ever, they are revealed in parallel.

Written in English and French by Diane Ratican – a Los Angeles based entrepreneur who calls Paris her second home – with illustrations by acclaimed artists Eric Giriat (Paris) and Nick Lu (Los Angeles), Why LA? Pourquoi Paris? is a gorgeous, full-color, 272-page collectible art book, travel guide, and personal journey. Playfully ‘connecting the dots’ between respective historical landmarks, architectural icons, style codes, and cultural peculiarities, Ratican weaves a compelling narrative throughout Why LA? Pourquoi Paris?, which is interspersed with quotes from famed L.A. and Paris residents such as Walt Disney, Jim Morrison, Coco Chanel, and Ernest Hemingway.

Colorful, charming illustrations by Girat and Lu – many of which are available to purchase as prints via online contemporary art dealer Image Republic – compare and contrast the foods, fashions, cultures, and cityscapes of the City of Stars and City of Lights. And, as an added bonus, precise GPS coordinates are included next to each illustrated page bringing the experience of these two incredible cities ‘off the page’ and into the real world!

Cleverly divided into seven distinct sections, Why LA, Pourquoi Paris? looks at:

* Cityscapes & Landmarks Magnifiques

* Culture Célébre: Cinema, Entertainment & Glamour

* Fashion, Style & Shopping à la Mode

* Sports & Leisure

* Communicating Ideas: Art & Culture

* Cuisine & Dining

* Cities in Motion

“I have lived in Los Angeles most of my life, and never tire of waking up each day to it,” writes Ratican in the book’s foreword. “It is an eclectic, energetic, and stunningly beautiful place.”

“However, like a true Parisian woman who believes she can have the best of both worlds, Los Angeles is my husband and Paris is my lover,” she continues. “Paris has its own drama and majesty, and like no other city I have ever traveled to, enables me to experience the privilege of being who I really am.”

A singular, delightful, and beautiful addition to the art book market brimming with joie de vivre and cool California glamour, Why LA? Pourquoi Paris? is a must-have for the bookcases, coffee tables, and suitcases of jetsetters, art lovers, culture enthusiasts alike.