It was very interesting to hear about all the contributions that African Americans made to the French culture and freedoms.

The Magnificent “Mrs. Ellen” will guide you on your Harlem in Paris! The “Harlem in Paris: the Birth of Jazz in France” walking tour is a fascinating exploration of a unique cultural infusion that reshaped the Parisian music scene. This tour delves into the warm reception of African American service members by the French during World War I, a pivotal moment that laid the groundwork for an enduring friendship. This connection facilitated the flow of Harlem’s jazz into the heart of France, where it found a passionate audience. The tour brilliantly highlights the remarkable accomplishments of African American entertainers, musicians, and writers who made Paris their home. These pioneers not only brought their art to the European stages but also thrived as entrepreneurs, with many owning clubs, homes, and businesses that became central to their communities in Paris. The narrative includes tales of legendary figures like Josephine Baker, who became a star on the Paris stage and an icon of the Jazz Age, and writers like Langston Hughes, whose work resonated with themes of freedom and racial harmony. As you walk the streets of Paris, the tour vividly brings to life the vibrant atmosphere of the jazz clubs during the Roaring Twenties and the profound impact of these artists on French culture. The “Harlem in Paris” tour is not just a historical journey; it is a tribute to the resilience and creativity of a community that, despite facing adversity, left an indelible mark on the world.

Ellen is amazing!. She is an amazing storyteller. I’ve been looking forward to this tour with her for a while. She provided pictures, videos, songs of artists and a souvenir booklet, something I’ll always cherish. Joy B.

My wife and I loved this tour! We had recently seen Ken Burns' documentary and have visited Hemingway's former home in Key West several times, so we had some understanding of Hemingway's life, but both of us were very impressed with the depth of Ellen's knowledge of Hemingway and his life. She answered all of our questions and provided unknown insight into this American icon. Thank you, Ellen, for such an enjoyable tour! And a special thanks for the chocolate mousse!

My husband and I had a great time on this tour! Ellen was very knowledgeable about Hemingway, and while this is technically a walking tour, we enjoyed sitting and sipping on coffee (not included in tour fee) during her introduction, as well as finishing the tour over cocktails (not included in tour fee) at Le Select. She also gave us a list of jazz club options, from which we selected the perfect spot for us the next evening! Highly recommend all that Ellen has to offer!

Very informative and pleasant experience with Ellen. I highly recommend to anyone who loves jazz and Paris.

Loved our tour. Ellen was extremely knowledgeable, full of interesting anecdotes and took us to hidden treasures that we would never have found on our own. She brings her tablet so you can see historic pictures that highlights the profound changes that have happened in Paris. We loved the cheese tasting! Ellen is a real treasure, very generous with her time and by the end we felt like we were saying goodbye to a friend and not a tour guide.

This tour exceeded my expectations. I was particularly interested in Josephine Baker. There were so many musicians covered, including many unknown and untold stories of Black Jazz musicians who earned their place on this tour and in our history books. The tour started in a speakeasy-style bar that was fascinating in and of itself. Ellen has done such a beautiful job putting together the stories of the black musicians who made Paris home and shared so much history and context of the time. The tour included music clips of the artists discussed and pictures to accompany Ellen's amazing storytelling. I plan to take other tours with Ellen when I return to Paris.

Traveling with friends, we ended up being the only four on this tour with Ellen and it was amazing! She was accommodating when we had to reschedule at the last minute and still made our tour feel scandalous even though it was during the day with coffee instead of cocktails! Between the detailed presentation Ellen showcases along with the history of jazz, we were captivated. Ellen is a dream and we will definitely be taking more of her tours next time we are in Paris. Thank you!!!

Our tour guide was Ellen and she was wonderful! She put together a two day tour for our small group of six. We sent her a list of various churches and areas we wanted to visit along with Musee d’Orsay. She planned the itinerary,bought tickets and passes we needed and was very knowledgeable about the areas we visited. Many of these were “ out of the way” and not your typical tourist attractions. We had a lovely time with her.She was great!

Ellen was a wealth of knowledge on the history of Harlem jazz in Paris. She shared intriguing (and sometimes scandalous) information on jazz icons while also introducing me to a few lesser known jazz greats. The stories kept me eager to hear more. The walking multi-media tour is a must for jazz aficionados and history buffs!

My wife and I had a wonderful time on the Hemingway tour with Ellen. Great communication with Ellen and easy meet-up got the tour off to a great start. It only got better with the mix of history lesson and sightseeing that would be enjoyable for the most ardent Hemingway fan or someone who is just looking for an alternative to the standard Paris walking tour. Thanks Ellen next time we’ll have time to take you up on the drink at Harry’s!

Ellen gave us an excellent overview of Earnest Hemingway’s life, especially while he lived in Paris. She is very knowledgeable and a good storyteller. She took us on a good walk along the same streets that Hemingway and his literary friends such as James Joyce and F. Scott Fitzgerald roamed. Along the way Ellen pointed out some of Hemingway’s favorite cafes and bars such as Les Deux Margots, Cafe de Flore, and Harry’s Bar. I would highly recommend this tour while in Paris.

What a wonderful tour! Ellen did a fantastic job and I learned quite a bit after studying Hemingway since I first saw his hime in Key West in 1964. Highly recommended. Thanks Ellen!

Ellen was very good, knowledgeable, concise, and to the point, with many worthy antecdotes and stories of Hem's life, both in and outside of Paris. Intro a bit long before the start, but good walk, and plenty of new info, along with a hearty drink at Harrys at the end.