Real Estate Information Archive

In the “City Different” there’s no shortage of variety when it comes to dining.  So if you’re thinking about calling Santa Fe your new home, then you won’t be disappointed when it’s time to go out on the town.  Here’s a few of the top places to eat here in Santa Fe.

Geronimo

Located on Canyon Road, this fine restaurant is located in a 260 year old home.  It was voted in the “top 100 restaurants in America” by Opentable and features an eclectic menu.  Whether you’re in the mood for Telicherry Rubbed Elk Tenderloin, Green Miso Sea Bass, or a good old fashioned Prime NY Strip, you’ll enjoy every bite. Top it off with dessert with favorites like Strawberry Cheesecake or Crème Brulee. 

The Ranch House

Enjoy classic American food at the Ranch House.  Josh Baum started to showcase his passion for smoked meats in 2005 in a small BBQ restaurant.  It then outgrew their location, so it was moved to its current spot in 2011.  The Ranch house still serves Josh’s signature smoked meats, and offer BBQ to go.

Jambo Café

If you’re in the mood for African and Caribbean eats, then check out the Jambo Café.  Start off your meal with Fried Cornmeal Plantation Crab Cakes or Stuffed Phyllo, then launch into some Caribbean Goat Stew. Or try the Kenyan Style Beef Kabobs. Then finish it off with some mango Cobbler or Pumpkin Coconut Flan.  No matter what you get, it’s sure to be a unique dining experience.

Of course there’s a whole array of great places to eat and fun things to do in Santa Fe.  Visit our blog every week for more great Santa Fe real estate info and local ideas.

Whether you are new to Santa Fe or have been a lifetime resident, you know that our city is abundant in natural beauty. Winter is a great time to get outdoors and take advantage of Santa Fe’s sunshine, expansive wilderness, and proximity to the mountains. Here are some fantastic ways to keep active this winter while taking in all the sights.


Skiing

Perhaps one of the most popular winter activities in Santa Fe is skiing. Ski Santa Fe is situated in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. As Ski Santa Fe is one of the highest ski areas in the United States, seasoned pros will enjoy the challenge of a difficult run. Ski Santa Fe is also family friendly, providing ski lesson packages for adults and children alike. Take a break for lunch or end your day at one of Ski Santa Fe’s on-site restaurants. At the base of the hill, La Casa Cafe Grill boasts a large deck ideal for catching up with friends and enjoying a view of the ski runs. Wind down after a day on the hill at Totemoff Bar/Grill and Lodge and grab a drink and a burger. Totemoff’s is set closer to the top of the slopes, giving diners a different perspective of the ski runs.

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing can be a great alternative to hitting the slopes. Outspire Hiking of Santa Fe provides private snowshoe tours for outdoor enthusiasts of all levels and abilities. No experience required! Take in Santa Fe’s beautiful scenery during a 2-3 hour guided tour through a winter wonderland, pausing for pictures and refueling with a hot beverage and snacks along the way. Outspire will supply you with a knowledgeable guide, snowshoes, poles, daypacks, water, and snacks. Dress warmly, and don’t forget your camera!


Sledding

Release your inner child! Dig out your sled or be resourceful and use a trash can lid and find your nearest Santa Fe sled hill. For a thrill, try Hyde Memorial State Park’s sledding hill (hint: the park charges $5 for parking). Close by is Black Canyon Campground which has gentle hills ideal for safe sledding and playing in the snow. Big Tesque Campground is another hot spot for sledding and building snowmen. Sledding is a fun (and cheap) way to get outdoors and experience all that winter in Santa Fe has to offer.

If you’ve been considering a move to Santa Fe, but aren’t quite sure where to start; let me know!  I have years of experience with buyers and sellers in the Santa Fe area as a Santa Fe Real Estate agent, and can help you find the home that fits your needs and lifestyle.  You’ll find Santa Fe to be a refreshing and fun place to call “home.” Feel free to contact me anytime to get started in your Santa Fe home search!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Susan Orth & Isabella Luconi
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
City Different Realty

Phone: 505-216-6535
Email: [email protected]

SantaFeHomeStore.com
Santa Fe Homes
Santa Fe Real Estate Podcast

Since a big part of Santa Fe culture is tradition, it's not often you get to be there for the "first" of a happening or an event. Come February, however, you will have your chance. Announcing the very FIRST, soon-to-be-annual,

Santa Fe Winter Fiesta!!

From February 18 - 27th, Santa Fe residents and visitors alike will fill the streets, shops, hotels, and restaurants of Historic Eastside and Downtown Santa Fe. Skiiers may come here for the snow capped mountains in the winter, but those of us who live in Santa Fe know that there is so much more here that is alive and kicking during the normally sleepy winter months. Santa Fe's attractions, restaurants, shops, culture, and Old World charm definitely don't hibernate for the winter, so neither should you!

The Winter Fiesta is your big chance to experience the renowned restaurants, businesses and cultural institutions of Santa Fe at a discounted rate. During the Fiesta, there will be a special Lanyard offering value prices at all participating vendors. Go to ticketssantafe.com to find out more.

The pillars of Santa Fe living are all represented here at the Fiesta: Shopping, Music, Mountain, Culture, Night Life, and Dining. Too many to mention, here is just a sampling of each kind...

Santa Fe Night Life
Experience the best of Santa Fe night life at the Live 505 Bar Crawl. Some of the best Downtown Santa Fe bars are participating - Corazon, Cowgirl BBQ, El Farol, Tin Star Saloon, Vanessie, Orehouse at Milagro.
Date: February 18th, 8 pm

Santa Fe Music
If you're looking for something a little more soul-stirring, then look no further than The Lensic for an evening with Brett Dennen. This California-born singer songwriter already has a new record set to be released in 201, legions of fans (one of which is John Mayer), and multiple critics betting on him to be the next up and coming singer songwriter.
Date: February 18th, 7:30 pm

Santa Fe Shopping
There are too many shopping opportunities to mention here, so I will do my best to point out some of the best. Please note that you will need a lanyard to take advantage of any of these discounts. A free $18 gift with the purchase of $50 or more at Au Boudoir, one free cupcake from Cakes by Ginene, 50% off all winter goods at Chapare, 20% off organic and natural products for your child at Indigo Baby, a free on-site consultation from Santa Fe Water Gardens - ideal for the new Santa Fe home buyer, and so much more!

Santa Fe Mountains
Santa Fe Mountain Adventures is holding a snowshoe outing. With the use of GPS technology and some rewarding treats, you should be able to navigate the beautiful natural setting of Santa Fe trails on snowshoes.
Date: February 19th, 1-4 pm

Santa Fe Dining
Don't think we didn't save the best for last! ARTsmart presents the ARTfeast Gourmet Dinner & Auction at Encantado Resort. Honoring sculptor Rebecca Tobey, this multi-course banquet, created by some of Santa Fe's best chefs, will feature a live auction where collectors can bid for a sculpture by Tobey as well as other pieces of art from Santa Fe students.

Please keep in mind that we only chose one or two events from this 10 Day Santa Fe extravaganza. We are almost overwhelmed by the delectable dining options, amazing deals, and first class entertainment - but in a good way. This is an event that only Santa Fe could pull off. Downtown Santa Fe already has everything that a festival could need - in abundance. We're surprised it's taken this long to put together such an event. Nevertheless, it has arrived and we highly recommend you attend.  If you're looking to move to Santa Fe, especially the Downtown area, this is the perfect opportunity to get a taste of all of its elements at once. When you come, give us a call. We'll be happy to navigate you in the right direction.

Susan Orth & Isabella Luconi
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
City Different Realty

Phone: 505-216-6535
Email: [email protected]

SantaFeHomeStore.com
Santa Fe Homes
Santa Fe Real Estate Podcast

"Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school."
-Albert Einstein

When you live in Santa Fe Real Estate, surrounded by culture, art, opportunity, and open minded people, educating your children is of the utmost importance to any Santa Fe homeowner. When you move to Santa Fe and you have a family, or are considering having one, we know that education is going to be at the top of your list of things to look for.  Raising children starts with putting them in the right environment. Santa Fe is a place for any young mind to flourish, but you must also be completely confident in a community's school system before you make the commitment to move there.

Great Schools, the country's leading source of information on school performance, is one of the best resources for finding out how a school is ranked by parents, students and the surrounding community. We did a little research on the public schools in the Santa Fe area to show you just how great Santa Fe schools are.

El Dorado Elementary and Middle school
El Dorado Elementary and Middle school is consistently ranked high on Great Schools. It has a current Great Schools rating of 9 out of 10 and an average community rating of 4 out of 5. The extracurricular activities that the school is best known for are Basketball, Community Service, and German. Parents very highly rated the level of parent involvement, as well as student involvement in El Dorado.

Santa Fe's Southwest Elementary school
Santa Fe's Southwest Elementary school is yet another school that has earned the esteemed Great Schools rating of 9 out of 10. Southwest Elementary serves grades K - 5. This school has ranked above average for their NMSBA test results, with a 94% ranking in Science and an 86% ranking in reading.

Los Alamos High School
With 1149 students, serving grades 9-12, Los Alamos High School has earned a perfect 10 out of 10 rating from Great Schools. This school has an average community rating of 4 out of 5 stars. One parent wrote in their review that, they moved from California to Los Alamos New Mexico to give their children a quality education. She was more than pleased with the results, adding "The Los Alamos Schools did their job."

If you have any other questions about the schools in Santa Fe, specifically in communities such as Aldea, El Dorado, La Tierra, Las Campanas, Los Alamos, Nambe, Pojoaque Valley, Rancho Viejo, or Tesuque Village, we would be more than happy to help. We want to help you find the perfect Santa Fe home, in a great Santa Fe neighborhood, and find your children an education that remains long after school.

Susan Orth & Isabella Luconi
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
City Different Realty

Phone: 505-216-6535
Email: [email protected]

SantaFeHomeStore.com
Santa Fe Homes
Santa Fe Real Estate Podcast

We don't mean to brag, but we really have it really good living in Santa Fe. For example, need a little fresh air? No problem, we just step out of our City Different Realty office, walk a few blocks, and we are smack dab in the middle of the one-and-only historic Canyon Road.

If you are looking at Santa Fe real estate, then we highly suggest you take a trip down to Canyon Road too. However, if you can't quite get there yet, we have provided a few pictures of our walk to visually guide you through the history of Canyon Road...

Canyon Road was at one time a rural neighborhood stretched along an old Indian Trail. The oldest Santa Fe home on Canyon Road dates back to at least the 1750s.

As farming in the desert was not an easy feat, the Spanish built an irrigation canal above the River, parallel to Canyon Road and called it "Acequia Madre" ("mother ditch"). The water from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains sustained the crops, the livestock, and the people of the Canyon Road neighborhoods, and continues to today. A walk down Acequia Madre Street, just one block south of Canyon Road, is one of the best ways to witness the ancient stone-lined canal and the beautiful Adobe homes.



A century later, when the US Army arrived in Santa Fe, soldiers built a sawmill in the Canyon to allow for the building of Ft. Marcy, located just Northeast of the Santa Fe Plaza. This marked a big change in the area for it was the United State's acquisition of New Mexico in the Mexican-American War.

Even with the changes to the area, including the influx of Anglo-American people, Canyon Road somehow kept its quiet, peaceful demeanor. And it stayed that way, until the early Twentieth Century when the art community found its way to Canyon Road.

Not to say that it is no longer a peaceful area, but today Canyon Road is known for its more than 100 art galleries and studios, variety of  restaurants, and of course, the historic adobe architecture.

If you've decided that you want historical beauty, artistic personality and archictecture with character all within two blocks of your work or your home, then there's no place better than Santa Fe. If you want to take a walk with us next time, just give us a call. We'd be happy to have you join us!

Susan Orth & Isabella Luconi
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
City Different Realty

Phone: 505-216-6535
Email: [email protected]

SantaFeHomeStore.com
Santa Fe Homes
Santa Fe Real Estate Podcast

Santa Fe New Mexico is definitely a one-of-a-kind place. Although part of the States, it boasts a culture all its own, especially at the holidays. After all, it is called "The City Different."  Now that you are thinking about moving to Santa Fe (or maybe you already live here and you are just following this Santa Fe Realtor for the fun of learning what's going on around town), you are going to have to become acclimated to the Holiday traditions in the Land of Enchantment…

Candles in Bags: Also known as "Farolitos."  Fill small bags with sand and light them with votive candles and voila! You have a Farolito. This is New Mexico's version of the traditional Christmas decoration. You will find them sprinkled throughout Santa Fe, around buildings, in trees, on walls, and along sidewalks.

Winter Spanish Market: The Spanish Colonial Arts Society's annual winter market held in early December is an extravagant display of traditional Spanish Colonial artwork such as tin work, furniture, straw applique and Santos carving. Doing your holiday shopping here is sure to get you a one-of-a-kind, only-in-santa-fe, gift from the heart.

Christmas Eve, Noche Buena service: The midnight mass of the Rooster commemorates the folk story of the animals in the manger which were upset that no humans had come to see the Christ child. The story goes that an old rooster flew to a high point and announced the coming of the Messiah.

Christmas Eve at the Santa Fe Plaza: Adorned with thousands of farolitos (see above) that light up the city center, the Plaza is definitely the place to be on Christmas Eve. Apple cider is served while carolers fill the air with holiday music and the Santa Fe community strolls through to the nearby Cross of the Martyrs - also outlined in farolitos.

The Weather: Temperatures in December are normally in the low 40's during the day and the low 20's during the evening. However, don't shutter too much. With the sun still shining an average of 300 days a year, it never feels as bad as it sounds. In fact, it doesn't stop golfers from golfing and residents from hiking.

Skiing: The Sangre de Cristos Mountains, where Santa Fe sits at the base of, are covered in snow. Sixteen miles from the Plaza is the Santa Fe ski area (also known as Ski Santa Fe). This is the popular place to be around this time of the year. With 3,000 feet of height, 225 inches of snow, and a festive atmosphere, you can see why.

Native American Dances: See my previous blog to learn all about the Winter Dances of the Indian Pueblos.

Feast: Take a wild guess at the most popular ingredient in our Holiday dishes? That's right - Chile!  The traditional Christmas Eve meal is posole - dried corn fixed in a thick soup or stew with chiles. Other popular dishes include tamales, blue corn tortillas, and bizcochitos (tiny anise Christmas cookies that are the official state cookie of New Mexico).

Take all of this together and you get a city filled with sunny days, warm glowing lighting at night, culture and tradition, amazing food, fun things to do, and an overall festive atmosphere. What do you think? Do you think you could spend your holidays - and the rest of the year - in Santa Fe New Mexico Real Estate? If the answer is yes, then give us a call. We would be happy to find you the Santa Fe home of your dreams and make you an official Santa Fe resident. Before you know it, you could be enjoying all of these Christmas traditions in Santa Fe by next year!

Susan Orth & Isabella Luconi
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
City Different Realty

Phone: 505-216-6535
Email: [email protected]

SantaFeHomeStore.com
Santa Fe Homes
Santa Fe Real Estate Podcast

For the 19th Year in a row, Conde Nast Traveler magazine has voted Santa Fe New Mexico one of the best travel destinations in the U.S! Considering the poll has only been around for 23 years, this is quite an accomplishment.

Santa Fe was selected as the third most popular travel city in the country.  The best part is, this award was not selected by the editors of the magazine, but by the knowledgable travelers who read Conde Nast. More than 25,000 readers voted on the city's restaurants, lodges, retailers, galleries, performances, attractions and service providers. The ratings were based on Atmosphere/Ambience, Culture/Sites, Friendliness, Lodging, Restaurants, and Shopping.

The kind of people who voted have visited Santa Fe, or possibly already live in Santa Fe, and have been enthralled by its beauty...

They know that the Santa Fe restaurants have an atmosphere and quality of food you can't find anywhere else. They know that the galleries represent an artistic presence that lingers throughout Santa Fe's streets. They know that the city of Santa Fe has a personality all its own and is so addicting, they can't help but come back.

It's often these same travelers that become permanent residents of Santa Fe. They visit once, then find themselves returning on a regular basis, then realize that moving to Santa Fe is something they want to make a reality. Santa Fe real estate is a highly sought after commodity. Not just because of the beautiful Santa Fe homes, but because of the wonderful Santa Fe lifestyle. Sounds like something you might be interested in? Give me a call. I can help you make it a reality.

Susan Orth & Isabella Luconi
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
City Different Realty

Phone: 505-216-6535
Email: [email protected]

SantaFeHomeStore.com
Santa Fe Homes
Santa Fe Real Estate Podcast