FIELD TRIP: TUCSON GEM & MINERAL SHOW

Stunning cluster of quartz crystals roughly two feet in diameter

Photo - Richard Snyder

According to their website, the

Tucson Gem and Mineral Show

is the "largest, oldest and most prestigious gem and mineral show in the world." The show has "enjoyed international stature since the 1970s, and was the first gem and mineral show to bring the hobby enthusiast, the public, and the curator/professional together for discovery and discussion."

Paul Wiseman and Richard Snyder in front of a spectacular crocodile fossil

Photos - Kirsten Honeyman, unless otherwise indicated

Paul Wiseman has been attending the Tucson show for years. It is a wonderful opportunity to find one-of-a-kind treasures for clients looking for that certain something to enhance their decor. Paul has a long-standing relationship with many of the top dealers, and they greet him by name as he moves about the show. Paul's spouse, Richard Snyder, has had a life-long passion for minerals, and the two make a formidable team: Paul zeros in on what is aesthetically beautiful while Richard adds helpful guidance as to the specimen's quality and provenance.

Pair of fossilized palm fronds

Museum quality Woolly Mammoth fossil (10,000 to 15,000 years old) found in North America

Fabulous conference table made of two booked slabs of fossilized wood

Paul sits on a naturally formed lingham stone found in the Narmada River in India

Paul and Richard always stay at the

Arizona Inn

, a storied property with great character and charm. The exceedingly polite young staff add to the of pleasure staying at the hotel.

Grounds of the Arizona Inn

Photo - Inn website

Cozy library where morning coffee and afternoon tea are served

Photo - Inn website

Tucson is a fascinating area, so taking side trips from the show rounds out the experience. The flora and fauna of the surrounding high desert create an other-worldly experience.

Paul at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum near Tucson

Mountain lion exhibit at the museum

Photo - Richard Snyder

Saguaro cacti on the grounds of the museum

Returning from the show, one feels as though one has been in a far-away land, not a place only a hop, skip, and jump from California!

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INNER SPACES BOOK: LOOKING BACK AT 2014

Moritz Hammer (KGM Architectural Lighting), James Hunter (TWG design principal), Jessica Barnard (TWG designer), and Mauricio Muñoz (TWG design principal)

This time last year The Wiseman Group was fêted by Therien & Co. at their La Cienega showroom in Los Angeles. The occasion? The publication of TWG's book, 

Inner Spaces: Paul Vincent Wiseman and The Wiseman Group

. It was fitting that the SoCal company played host to the San Francisco-based Wiseman Group: Therien, 

a 

Dessin Fournir

 company, h

ad deep roots in the San Francisco Bay Area before opening a Los Angeles showroom in the late 1980s.

JP Hayden (Hayden & Fandetta Rare Books) and

 Patri

cia Sims (Therien)

Chase Roberson (TWG) and Andrew Huge (Deloitte Consulting)

Kirsten Honeyman (TWG blog author) and Michael Danahy (Writer/Producer)

Devin Donner (Rudin Donner Design, Inc.) 

and Bill Dono

hoe (Donohoe Design Works)

with 

Kevin Peters (TWG CEO)

The company is a purveyor of timeless period antiques, but in keeping with shifting design tastes, has also created a division devoted to 20th Century classics. Thus their location on La Cienega Boulevard is known throughout the U.S. and Europe as a one-stop source of premier quality decorative arts.

Mary Kate Spach and Tim Barber (both of Tim Barber Ltd. Architecture), Keith Granet (Granet Associates), and Brenda Mickel (TWG design principal)

Suzanne Shepela, 

Brian Pinkett

, and 

Lauren Fulton (all of 

Landry Design 

Group)

Guests were able to wander among the company's several showrooms and take in their lovely contents. CEO Kevin Peters greeted guests and Paul Wiseman signed books during the event. Wiseman Group Designers, Mauricio Munoz, Brenda Mickel, and James Hunter mingled with guests and sipped celebratory wine.

Phaedra Wilson (Munder Skiles)

Alison

 Chozen and TWG client 

Jill 

Chozen

Tom Stanley, Ron Woodson (Woodson & Rummerfield's), and Rocky La Fleur (Kneedler|Fauchère)

Paul Wiseman (TWG founder and president)

An after-party dinner was hosted by The Wiseman Group at nearby Ago. All in all, a lovely evening!

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OUT AND ABOUT: HUDSON GRACE AT MARIN COUNTRY MART

Gary McNatton and Paul Wiseman talking shop while Hudson stands by

Photos - Kirsten Honeyman

On a recent trip to the farmer's market, held on Saturday mornings at the

Marin Country Mart

, Paul wandered into

Hudson Grace

. Owner Gary McNatton happened to be in the store.

Gary and Paul enjoying catching up with one another

Holiday selection of quality tabletop and gift items

Terra cotta bust festively bedecked in a wreath and strand of over-sized

wooden prayer beads

Salesperson Jennifer Murr ringing up a

red gnome

, a popular gift item

Paul's favorite item among many wonderful choices? A comfortable, well-crafted Adirondack chair.

Adirondack chair by Woodlodge

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CHEZ PAUL: ROGER THOMAS OPINES ABOUT DINNER ON BELVEDERE

Roger Thomas, head of design for Wynn Hotels and Resorts, recently dined at Paul Wiseman's home on Belvedere Island. Visit

The Roger Thomas Collection

for a report... 

FIELD TRIP: VEGAS DONE WELL

Photo - Wynn Hotels and Resorts

On a recent business trip to Las Vegas, Paul Wiseman stayed overnight at the Wynn Encore. The luxury hotel was decorated by

Roger Thomas

, friend and head of design for Wynn Hotels and Resorts.

Table lamp at the Encore Hotel

Photos - Kirsten Honeyman, unless otherwise specified

The luxury decor at the Encore doesn't translate readily into the kind of residential design done by The Wiseman Group, but Paul was able to spot a number of light fixtures that could work well in a private home.

Wall sconce in the Encore Towers lobby

Crystal chandelier in the Encore Casino

One of the key amenities of the Encore is the availability of fine restaurants within the Wynn-Encore complex. Paul dined at the Wing Lei, the first Chinese restaurant in the country to be awarded a Michelin star.

Paul Wiseman dining at the Wing Lei

After a delicious dinner, Paul took a short walk through the complex to take in a performance of 

Le Rêve

at the aqua theater-in-the-round built especially for the production. The fantastical show, voted "Best Production Show in Las Vegas" for an unprecedented five consecutive years, did not disappoint.

Gigantic flowers unfurled in the finale of

Le Rêve

The Wynn experience made it possible to conduct business and enjoy a mini holiday all in the span of 36 hours! 

~