The opening of a new gallery in Tacoma is a cool thing.

The opening of a gallery combining the directorial vision of  New York gallery-‘nista Kelly Joseph, just arrived from NYC, combined with a Sixth Avenue vibe, is a very cool thing.

Put that gallery next to a wine merchant/wine bar, and give them a joint opening with fabulous food catered by Il Fiasco with some lovely solo guitar music, and you have me deeply ensconced in cool-thing Heaven.

The art at Rebecca V Gallery â€" named after the daughter of owner Tony Valenzuela â€" showed an array of styles, from the expressionistic Impressionism of Martha Reisdorf, to the glass work of Diane Hanson, to the watercolors by Mary Ann Coles evoking Venice and Sun that made me want to take them home; on to Molly Cliff-Hilts’ deeply personal painted paraffin pieces that mixed saturated cerulean blues with iridescent pigments and deep introspective umbers that also made me want to take them home. Gelatin print photographs by Philippe Mazaud intrigued me, as did the paintings by Carol Hartsock and the landscapes by Patrick Howe, situated toward the front of the gallery where a very cool desk balanced out the leather furniture and hanging panels displaying art suspended from beams that worked as architectural counterpoints to the exposed, subtle vaulting of the ceiling.

In Pairings Wine Bar, it was more of the same, architecturally, with rustic elements marrying the urban in the exposed (faux finished, actually!) floors, exposed trusses, and rough-hewn wood main bar.

The wines offered were exquisite â€" I have to say I am now a fan of the Oregonian “7” â€" and the service was offered in a friendly, open manner despite the crazy crowd mingling about.

After we perused the gallery, my friends and I beat the rush to Asado, where we supped on appetizers, and found it fun to face-spot the individuals coming in from the gallery.

It felt like the post-Kulture Lab Tempest, but dressed in their Sunday best.

It felt like a new art-kid in town, all dressed up and ready to sell. â€" Jessica Corey-Butler