March 4, 2026

LA

Prior to the opening of Gotham, Fred and I would spend three months a year in LA. Gotham was a bit of a hiccup for a few years, but this year we made our way to LA for an extended stay. Fred is longer than me, but it has been great. I am able to stay involved in the business through Zoom. Although I do miss the in-person, particularly because I rarely get to see the rest of the company unless I am present. But we have a great team, and I can be in LA without feeling out of touch, well, not completely, but.

Favorite activities in LA are the farmers’ market. I have been to the Santa Monica Farmers Market and the Hollywood one, too, and others throughout the city, but my absolute favorite is Mar Vista. They have everything, including food to go, so think Smorgasbord meets Union Square Market. One of my favorite discoveries this year is the mango sticky rice booth.

Everything is so beautiful, tastes delicious, and smells good too. It is hard to get this anywhere else except the East Coast during August and September but the peaches and plums out east will never compete with the west coast farmers market.

This past weekend was Frieze. I have bemoaned the art fairs and how they are a major part of the transformation of the gallery world, in both good and bad ways. The last few years have felt so staid, from the art to the installations. In LA, at the Santa Monica Airport, 3/4 of the rows are mostly LA galleries, with those representing younger, up-and-coming artists. Up-and-coming doesn’t really exist price-wise at Frieze anymore, but of course, that is everywhere. (Artist Lebohang Kganye @ Southern Guild)

It’s too bad because the price points here make it hard for many, and it shouldn’t be. Everything used to be $10-20K, and now everything is $75K, but at least this year, I was inspired. There were a few pieces I would have bought, but I am watching from afar these days. (Artist Ludovic Nkoth, Movement @Francois Ghebaly)