Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1172262
OBSESSIONS. DECORATION. SALIENT FACTS. 24 G et ready for a lush dive into a breathtaking flower boutique in River Oaks District. Event designer Todd Fiscus of Todd Events, known for his over-the-top (in the best possible way) weddings and private parties, has brought his beloved Dallas flower shop Avant Garden to Houston for a pop-up. But don't expect a carbon copy of the Highland Park shop, which was modeled after the sunroom of Bunny Mellon's estate in Upperville, Virginia. Fiscus says he's studied the market for the last five years (he's married to hair guru Ceron so spends much of his time in Houston), and wanted to create something truly unique for Houston. M i Golondrina was created by Dallasite Cristina Lynch in 2013, and Texans went wild for the b e a u t i f u l h a n d - embroidered cotton shirts, dresses, pillows, and skirts made by artisans in small Mexican communities. Since the retail store was in Dallas, Houston fans had to get their fix online and with trunk showings, like the ones at Biscuit, where customers had to go early or go FLOWERS GONE AVANT-GARDE HOLA, MI GOLONDRINA! home empty-handed. Thankfully, Mi Golondrina has debuted a six-month pop-up shop in Rice Village, with a fun opening fête thrown by Biscuit's Bailey McCarthy and Keila Marino, where margaritas and mariachi music flowed. Cristina, a second-generation Dallasite (her aunt is artisan Jan Barboglio) worked in the fashion industry in New York before returning to Dallas to create Mi Golondrina, which is inspired by the beautiful handmade pieces in the tradition of her mother's native Mexico. The Rice Village location has Houston exclusives for avid collectors and beloved Mi Golondrina classics. Through March 2020; Mi Golondrina at Rice Village, 2528 Amherst St., migolondrina.com. Anne Lee Phillips in striking vessels, from artisan pottery to rare international cases, priced $45 to more than $500. Home gifts are proffered as well, which, along with flowers, are available for delivery. But, of course, this is Todd Fiscus, so there is always more: Avant Garden is an immersive, Instagrammable experience as well as flower shop. A complimentary Motus Red Photobooth is on hand for artful photos. First up is #FlowerRain with a three-dimensional flower curtain creating the effect of a flower shower, and #BringTheHouseDown, an eight-foot disco ball and crushed crystal chandelier elements. Avant Garden at River Oaks District, 4444 We s t h e i m e r R o a d , avantgardenrod.com. Anne Lee Phillips "Each city has different tastes, sensibilities, and demographics, and we're bringing a version of Avant Garden here that we think will really resonate locally," Fiscus says. In Houston, the aristocratic dining rooms of the Gatsby age — in a modern vein — inspire the 2,500-square-foot space with soaring 19-foot ceilings, a signature Orchid Bar, patisserie, and tuk- tuk cart of ready-to- go and customizable flower arrangements The new Avant Garden in River Oaks District Cristina Lynch