Hello, my name is Pippa Graber. I am an art dealer and I own and run artdog gallery in SE23
How long have you lived in the area?
I have lived in southeast London since 1993, before that I was in Wimbledon for three years and before that I was in New York City.
What brought you here?
I grew up in the UK until I was eight and always wanted to return. I also married a man who lived here and we wanted to raise our family in the UK rather than the USA. Turns out that was a very good decision.
What has changed most during that time?
Almost everything has changed in the last 30 plus years but the nicest thing about our area is that it seems to maintain its authenticity, its basic nature. This is despite the huge gentrification that has taken place in so many areas of the southeast, the area just seems to attract nice people.
What do you most value about the area/street you live in?
I love my neighbourhood, it is so varied and never boring. I get so many interesting and interested people visiting the gallery.
What’s the one thing you couldn’t do without?
Art
Describe your perfect weekend
I work on the weekends, it is my busy time in the gallery and as I run a one-woman show, I have to be there.
So my perfect weekend is probably lots of footfall in the gallery. I love what I do and I love talking with people and talking about art. Also, I love my social life, so our evenings are full. My partner and I will either be out at a gig, having dinner with friends at home entertaining or going out to a restaurant and/or movie in the evenings.
What is your favourite place to eat?
I really like the variety of great local restaurants and I am a big foodie. I often go to Yama Momo in East Dulwich, Two Spoons in Honor Oak and The Thai Corner Café are just some of my regular favs. Pizzarte is only a few doors away from me and I often think if they did not exist, I sometimes wouldn’t eat! I don’t even have to order any more when I go, they know what I have.
We also often have breakfast/brunch at Forest Hill Café & Bistro…the best omelets!
Coffee or tea? Where?
Coffee, always. Marvelous Greens and Beans are fantastic as is The Pantry in Forest Hill.
What’s your favourite place to go for a drink?
Two Spoon in Honor Oak make a mean G&T.
Where’s your favourite place to walk?
My favourite local walk is up Lowther Hill to Blythe Hill Fields, then down to Ladywell Park and through to Ladywell. I then like to go for coffee at the excellent French Café in Ladywell then walk back via Hilly Fields, which also has an excellent café. We are so lucky to have so many fantastic green spaces in the area and be able to observe the seasons. Next favourite place is the Suffolk countryside.
If money was no object..
If money was no object, other than buying houses for my children, I don’t think my life would be very different. I think if I could hire someone to be in the gallery two days a week, I probably would but not sure that I would!
The book I’m reading at the moment..
The Women of Troy by Pat Barker
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