The Village Lane is once again part of Idyllwild’s night life, as
partners Taryn Scanlon and Rick Caughman opened Taryn’s Place, their art
gallery and tavern, Friday, March 22. They told the Crier they did a
soft opening earlier in the week but were now ready for everyone. Even
before 5 p.m., the place was full. We interviewed Scanlon in Dec. , and
this week Caughman took a few minutes out of the festivities to talk.

He said the project took about eight months from signing the lease to
opening for business. “You run into setbacks, you feel defeated, you
wake up the next morning, you don’t let go of the dream.”

During this time, while the county planning department was still
deliberating, they gathered over 600 signatures supporting their effort.
“What the supervisors look for is community, ‘public convenience.’” On
the bright side, the process “did allow us time to refine the space. I
don’t know if it would have turned out the same if we’d rushed.” The
space glows with the warmth of Scanlon’s paintings and the woody
interior. 

Caughman said the intent was to “create a pub space like you’d see in
Dublin or London. Designed for community, that’s why you see the long
table. You see people together. In the back there is a shelf where you
can set a drink and stand.” Asked about a favorite pub-crawling
experience, he recalled his first try at “bangers and mash with scrumpy
jack,” a kind of “very hard cider,” at a London pub in Piccadilly
Circus.

In the future, they intend to add outdoor seating. They already have a
railed-off “defined space,” a legacy from the old Backroom where Scanlon
also tended bar, but “want to make the outdoor space as special as the
inside,” maybe with black hand-cranked awnings sporting the Guinness
logo.

Scanlon has lived here 10 years, much of that time “building a
following” bartending. Caughman teaches art at San Bernardino Community
College as an adjunct professor, and says he and Scanlon are just as
happy working together in the studio as on the project. Scanlon, he
added, is “an accomplished artist. This is an opportunity to show her
work. It’s another part of her that people might not know.”

Beers range from Guinness and an Irish Red to Coors Light on tap. Wines
include a broad selection of reds and whites, with several local
offerings on both sides. Ages 21 and over only are allowed. Some snacks
are offered.

Taryn’s Place is in the Village Lane. Hours are from 4 to 9:30 p.m.
daily except Wednesdays.