Jacarandas in Bloom

I returned home from New York to a beautiful, violet-cloaked city! Jacarandas in full bloom and streets covered with purple petals. Los Angeles at its best.

Opening Our New Gallery Space

Many readers of LA in Bloom know that I own an art gallery in Culver City and that I have been embroiled in the lofty and exciting task of moving to a new location. After 7 years in our "intimate" space, Taylor De Cordoba has moved on and up into an airy storefront on a charming street (still in Culver City). It's been a major process and hugely exciting. It all started on December 31, when Alex and I spent New Year's Eve bidding farewell to the gallery we had called home for so long.


December 31, 2012, Adios cozy little gallery!!!


With big ass smiles on our faces, we moved seven years of business into this office space, which was calling out for a remodel.


Construction began the first week of January (just in time to pull out my Zara cape for its winter 2013 debut)


Moving into the new space we were able to solve many of the problems we encountered in our old space. The best example being this awesome art storage rack, designed by ADC.


Alex also designed these gorgeous desks (left). Once construction was complete, we installed our sign, designed by our friend Pete Bergeron (right).


The new and improved TDC HQ, open and ready for business.


I had been visiting the studio of NY-based artist Simone Shubuck for years and have fantasized about showing her work at the gallery. A new space felt the perfect opportunity to offer her a show. She made this sign to block out onlookers while we were installing.


For her new body of work, Do You Like Old Things or New Things That Look Old, Simone created large scale mixed-media works on paper, along with smaller scale, intimate pieces. I freaked out when the show arrived and wanted to keep everything for myself (classic temptation for a gallery owner, oy).


Installation complete!


Two of the smaller pieces installed.


Our big re-opening party was on April 27 and we hosted quite the soiree. The rad team at Jeffrey Valet provided our guests the chicest car parking services around.


With my partner-in-crime in our tricked out backyard.


It was a well-dressed crowd and Refinery 29 sent a photographer to shoot the arrivals, from left to right - Jeana Sohn and Jesse Kamm.


Meg Taylor (sissy!!) and Eviana Hartman (via R29).


Andy Griffith/Rose Apodaca and Beatrice Valenzuela (via R29).


In many ways Clare Vivier is responsible for this evening, as she introduced me to Simone and encouraged us to work together. Love this "BFF moment" as captured by Refinery.


The gallery was packed with happy people.


Shiva Rose and Kirsty Hume were among the gorgeous guests.


After the opening we hosted a private dinner in the backyard for our collectors and friends. In the spirit of LA, we served tacos and tequila (along with mezcal margaritas from our pals at Animal/Son of A Gun). Hollyflora did a number with poppies and peonies. We draped Mexican sarapes over the tables and strung carnival lights to create the mood. The evening went off without a hitch (although I was so deep in hostess mode that I didn't eat a thing and found myself a Canter's Deli at midnight wolfing down a plate of french fries). And the next day I took the longest and best nap of my life.


Thank you to Simone Shubuck (pictured here with her husband Adam Rapoport) for everything. What a perfect way to start this next chapter. If you are in LA, please come check out Simone's show, on view through June 1.

And lastly, we got some crazy, crazy press:

New York Times
Goop
Interview Magazine
W Magazine 
Refinery 29 
Domaine

In Bloom

Camping in Paradise

To celebrate my husband's recent birthday, we headed up to Los Padres National Forest and set up camp in the Upper Oso Campground for a weekend of campfires, gourmet camp cooking and no cell phones. Upper Oso is about a two hour drive from LA but it feels like another world - we could have been anywhere. The weather was hot, so after our first breakfast we trekked to the Red Rock pools for a day of swimming, sunbathing and jumping off rocks into the cool pools. Bea made cocktails and we had lunch of chips, guacamole, sardines, and cherries.

At night, we stoked the fire and cooked foil packets of potatoes and asparagus with wild sage and apricots. We made quesadillas and drank tequila. We told stories and slept underneath the stars. Can't wait for the next adventure.