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Farolitos + Fire = Free Fun

At Christmas time, Santa Fe is bathed in a warm, golden light that literally shines with the spirit of the holiday season.  

Residing in a region that can arguably be called the heart and soul of the American Southwest, Santa Fe is one of the area’s signature cities. Its definitive Mexican inspired architecture, culturally rich resident population, and diverse outdoor and indoor entertainment and recreational opportunities are second to none. It’s one of the few cities that are immediately recognizable for anyone who has lived in or visited it.

Along with its natural beauty and Native American heritage, Santa Fe is a city that has developed a kind of mystical, aura about it. This magical sense that exists in Santa Fe is strongly enhanced during the holidays. One of Santa Fe’s signature seasonal events is the Canyon Road Farolito Walk, which takes place on Christmas Eve.

The Canyon Road Farolito Walk – also known as the Farolito Walk and the Christmas Eve in Santa Fe, Canyon Road Farolito Walk – is an incredibly moving and entrancing event.

Small paper bags are filled with sand and small votive candles, and then placed side-to-side along historic Canyon Road. When these candles are lit, the bags are transformed into farolitos (the Spanish word translates to small paper lantern).

On Christmas Eve, people gather in downtown Santa Fe close to the New Mexico State Capitol building. As twilight begins to darken the winter sky, the lighted farolitos provide a calming, resplendent glow for walkers and carolers as they stroll along the golden path.

Many of the businesses along the Canyon Road Farolito Walk route traditionally offer hot cocoa and hot cider to revelers, and there are usually a couple of bonfires along the way for participants to warm up before rejoining the walk or singing some carols.

You do not have to be in Santa Fe on Christmas Eve, however, to be a part of this unique city’s wondrous holiday season celebration. All you have to do is get yourself to Santa Fe’s historic Plaza in its downtown area on any chilly, star-filled night during the weeks between Thanksgiving Day and New Year’s Day.

On these meditative evenings, the adobe shops and restaurants blush with the receding light of the setting sun, and all of the trees in the Plaza come alive with the silvery glow of strung lights. The holiday season is a special time sure to create memories for residents and visitors to Santa Fe.

Archaeologists recently discovered what may well be one of Santa Fe’s earliest streets – dating from the 1600s – while working on a dig downtown.

The New Mexico office of Archaeological Studies became involved with an area a couple of blocks east of Santa Fe Plaza, an area that Drury Southwest, a hotel chain, plans to redevelop from its former life as the St. Vincent Hospital complex. During the redevelopment process in 2008, an excavation discovered a cobbled surface four feet below grade which represents four feet and four centuries of accumulated civilization. Today’s Cienega Street area was once a spring-fed marsh.

A second archaeological dig of the area commenced in September of this year and ended on October 20^th with the reburying of the site. The dig determined that the cobbled surface was a street which ran mainly north-south. The original name of the street is unknown, as are its beginning and ending points, but archaeologists believe the street ran along the path of today’s Otero Street. They surmise that street may have led to Santa Fe’s initial parroquia – a parish church. The street is not seen on the first known map of Santa Fe in 1766.

The dig exposed roughly half of what they believe to be a thoroughfare with a standard Spanish width of 7-1/2 varas (21 feet). It could be Santa Fe’s oldest street, but archaeologist Jim Moore indicated that the cobblestone is unlike European or Spanish paving techniques. “It just looks like somebody brought in a couple of loads of gravel and dumped them on the road to create a nice solid surface,” said Moore. (Santa Fe New Mexican, October 19, 2011)

Interestingly, archaeologists discovered portions of Pueblo Indian pottery, some of it glazed ware from Galisteo Pueblo and other southern villages that was no longer produced after the early 1700s. They also found types of majolica pottery from Puebla, Mexico of a type that was discontinued after the 1600s; the interpretation of these finds is that the avenue was used during Santa Fe’s first century as a Spanish city.

Another excavation a few meters away from the road surface explored a garbage pit. Several different types of objects were found, including a piece of Chinese porcelain which may have been made a century earlier than Santa Fe’s founding. Archaeologists estimate that it may have been acquired in the Philippines and was then taken by Spanish galleon to Mexico and later brought to Santa Fe by wagon along the Camino Real.

Drury Southwest is expected to retain some of the artifacts to display inside its new hotel.

Santa Fe History 101

When many people think of Santa Fe, New Mexico they think of amazing artwork, beautiful countryside, great outdoor activities and astonishingly spectacular restaurants. All of these attributes are incredibly true of Santa Fe, but were you aware that it's the oldest U.S. capital city? Dating back 400 years to its elevation to capital city status, it's filled with historic ambiance and culture. But even though Santa Fe's 400 year old road ties into the city’s prominence in the past, the city’s history is actually much richer and older.

Going back to approximately 1050 A.D., the area was originally occupied by Pueblo Indian villagers. Archaeologists concur that these villages were essentially abandoned (for unknown reasons) as early as 200 years prior to the conquistador Coronado's arrival in 1540. He claimed the area for the Spanish crown, and he didn't stop there. Coronado and his men also are credited with having discovered the Great Plains and the Grand Canyon.

Eight Indian Pueblos still exist north of Santa Fe, and there are a total of 19 pueblos across New Mexico. The rich cultural legacy of Native Americans is still in great evidence here - whether expressed in beautiful hand-crafted works of art, jewelry and clothing in local stores, via some of the many festivals which take place, or through delicious Native cuisine and their hauntingly lovely music - you can enjoy all of those aspects in modern day Santa Fe, year-round.

Fun, Cultural & Outdoor Activities and More! 

In addition to art galleries, festivals and amazing restaurants, there are several museums which can magically transport you back to a simpler day and age. Many of these offer classes, workshops, educational programs and fascinating community events. One of the city's many free walking tours is an excellent way to enlighten yourself about Santa Fe's history as well as its modern day offerings.

The area is filled with excellent outdoor activities including world-class golf and skiing & snowboarding; there's exciting river rafting; great hiking, camping and fishing; bicycling paths; numerous parks and recreation areas and more. You'll find many kids activities here, too, so there's truly something for everyone, no matter their age or interests.  Like great shopping, resorts, bed & breakfasts, performing arts centers....the list goes on.

Yes, Santa Fe's more than 400 year old history beckons you to come visit or live, learn, and enjoy its many modern day amenities.

Located in the heart of gorgeous Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Canyon Road Arts district boasts more than 100 art galleries and studios - about as close to heaven as Southwest, contemporary and experimental art aficionados can get! Some galleries exclusively feature fine painting, others show art photography, while others feature beautiful hand-crafted jewelry, just to name a few art forms to be found in the district. There's truly something here that will suit everyone's artistic tastes.

Just to the east of Santa Fe Plaza, the Canyon Road Arts district not only features amazing artistic expression, but amazing dining choices as well. So when you're ready to take a break from perusing the beautiful artwork, check out any of the following fine restaurants to replenish your energy and titillate your palette:

• Geronimo offers elite, unique dining with its "Global French Asian" menu. A multi-award winner, Geronimo’s Chef Eric DiStefano and staff ensure a dining experience like no other - delectable! 
• The Compound Restaurant features mouth-watering Southwestern cuisine prepared under the direction of award winning Chef Mark Kiffin. The Compound also has delicious holiday fare, and is a great place to spend those special occasions, or for any event.
• El Farol is Santa Fe's most historic restaurant/cantina, and its ambiance combines live entertainment and exquisite artwork, which definitely complements the amazing menu choices perfectly. El Farol also offers incredible holiday menus.

There are many other taste-tempting restaurants along Canyon Road Arts district. If you're wondering about great shopping, that's nearby as well! Directly across from Geronimo is Desert Son, one of the Southwest's treasures when you're seeking the finest handcrafted expressions of Santa Fe style and design.

As you can tell, Canyon Road Arts is a bountiful center of culture, cuisine and creativity. Santa Fe is an absolutely beautiful place to visit, and an enchanting place to live. Come visit Santa Fe and see for yourself - but a word of warning, you're bound to fall in love with its beauty!

The population of Santa Fe more than doubles for a week.

Check out the SWAIA Indian Market.

Saturday, August 20: 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Sunday, August 21: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Free Admission. The Santa Fe Indian Market is the preeminent Native arts market in the world; it simultaneously embraces the past, present and future of Indian Arts. There is simply no other time and place in the Native arts world where the impact and influence of Native culture and identity is reinforced, reestablished and reinvented. The Indian Market features visual arts, literature, film, music, culinary arts, symposiums and much more. The Santa Fe Indian Market hosts over 1100 artists from 100 tribes and is the largest cultural event in New Mexico, attracting 100,000 visitors per year.

Get to the Plaza and enjoy!

Just ten miles NE of Santa Fe and three miles from Tesuque, lies the Village of Chupadero.  This small, fairly unknown community is a jewel located in the Chupadero River Valley along County Road 78, which is only a little more than a mile long.  This area boasts amazing views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains to the east  and the Jemez mountains to the west.  Amazing rainbows, sunrises and sunsets as well as a year round running creek.   You will find miles of trails nearby to hike or bike in the Santa Fe National Forest.  What you will not find in the Chupadero Valley is pollution… no air pollution, light pollution or noise pollution. 

After enjoying the peace and tranquility of home,  a short 10 or 15 minute drive takes you to;

-Gabriel’s Mexican Restaurant

-Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino

-The Santa Fe Opera 

-The Tesuque Flea Market 

-Shidoni Foundry

-Tesuque Village Market 

The new Encantado Resort is just 3 miles down the road with its award winning Terra at Encantado Restaurant and the Santa Fe Plaza, with its many shops and restaurants is 20 minutes away.

If you take a 30 minute drive you can spend a day at the spa, the Ojo Caliente hot springs, or visit the city of Los Alamos, or the Bandelier National Monument  and see the many ruins and cliff dwellings.  Or jump off for a day trip to Chimayo or Truchas and take the beautiful “High Road to Taos.”

Chupadero Gatherings

Do you enjoy poetry?  Join the local poetry group for monthly potluck dinners and poetry readings, including open mic segments.

In autumn-one of the most beautiful seasons in the valley-take your baskets, jars and appetite to a local apple-pressing event.  Pick you own apples, fill your jars with freshly pressed apple juice and feast at the free barbecue.

On Christmas Eve, the roads are lined with luminarias created by the youth in the area.  Enjoy their glow as you tromp through the snow to a neighbor’s home for a potluck dinner; and visit other neighbor’s homes on your way to the house where Santa always arrives and has gifts for the children.  Continue to visit with friends and neighbors as you gather to watch the huge fireworks display, followed by more munching and sipping if you saved some room.  And don’t forget the hayride that follows.  Back home and to bed with your own dreams of sugarplums.

Chupadero is a wonderful, inviting community. Residents include local artists, astronomers, attorney’s, EMT’s and fire fighters, Los Alamos scientists and computer specialists as well as Santa Fe business owners- a wide variety of occupations and talents.  If you’d like to consider a home in the Chupadero Valley, check out this great property at 7 Vista Chupadero, or see all of the available properties in Chupadero and the Tesuque Village area here.

If you’ve seen a movie in theaters over the past couple of years, you may have noticed some Santa Fe landmarks you recognize. Santa Fe has become a popular location for major motion picture filming. The city’s vibrant art scene, varying landscape and quality production spaces attract filmmakers from around the world.

This past summer, you may have seen Olivia Wilde and Harrison Ford in Santa Fe on location for their film Cowboys and Aliens which is due to be released this July. Thor, due out in May 2011, starring Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman and other notable actors and actresses, was filmed at popular Santa Fe bar Cheeks last spring. Where are these movies filming, and how do you get a peek at some of Hollywood’s most famous? Here are a couple of popular filming locations in Santa Fe.

Garson Studios
These state-of-the-art sound stages are located on the campus of the Santa Fe University of Art and Design right in the heart of Santa Fe. Major motion picture producers are drawn to the Studios’ two large stages with ample room for production staff, wardrobe facilities and more. Notable films which have most recently been filmed in these studios include True Grit, starring Matt Damon and Jeff Bridges, Oscar-winning film No Country for Old Men starring Tommy Lee Jones and Javier Bardem and Terminator Salvation starring Christian Bale and Sam Worthington. There always seems to be something going on at Garson Studios, so keep an eye out when you’re in that area of Santa Fe!

Bonanza Creek Movie Ranch
Located eight miles south of the heart of Santa Fe is Bonanza Creek Movie Ranch. Built in the 1950s, this location is ideal for the filming of Westerns with its 1850’s movie town and two home sets. Unlike many movie sets, the buildings in Bonanza Creek Movie Ranch are four-sided and have running water and electricity. 3:10 to Yuma starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale was filmed at the ranch, as was the comedy Wild Hogs starring Tim Allen, John Travolta and others. Because this is a working ranch, Bonanza Creek Movie Ranch is able to accommodate visitors who want to see the movie sets by appointment only.

Because there are always movies being filmed in Santa Fe, you’re bound to see an actor or two if you happen to be in the right place at the right time. To make your run-ins with movie stars more frequent and less of a coincidence, check out On Location Vacations to see up to the minute details on who is filming what and where in Santa Fe.

If you want to sell your Santa Fe home or are in the market to buy a home in Santa Fe, I’d love to give you a hand or show you around. Please contact me to get started, and I promise to help make your transaction go smoothly!

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

How often do you take the time to relax and appreciate the beauty Santa Fe has to offer? In today’s busy world, we’re constantly rushing around and rarely go out of our way to de-stress. Consider taking a mini-vacation this weekend. We’re lucky to live in Santa Fe where we can take advantage of mild weather and different natural wonders just by taking a short drive. I’ve researched a few ways to relax in Santa Fe whether you need just an hour or a few days of peace.

La Posada de Santa Fe Resort & Spa
This Adobe-style resort and spa is located in the heart of Santa Fe. Relax in the tranquility of beautiful gardens by day and curl up by one of the cozy outdoor fireplaces by night. Even if you don’t spend a weekend there, RockResorts Spa offers day packages with treatments inspired by nature. Yelp.com reviewers recommend the facials, where you have a choice from their signature treatments like the “Desert Enchantment Facial” or skincare therapy like the “ManSpace Facial” for men. This Santa Fe spa also has dozens of other services such as body wraps, manicures and pedicures, and massages. Whatever your body craves, you’re sure to be completely relaxed and rejuvenated when you leave La Posada.

Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa
You may have soaked in a hot tub before, but have you ever experienced the relaxation that natural hot springs in Santa Fe provide? Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa offers a unique type of relaxation in their natural waters and mud pool. The Spa has ten different pools, each with a different combination of four different types of mineral water ranging from 80 to 109 degrees. All of the pools are what the Spa calls a “whisper zone” so you are ensured peace and quiet while you soak. Ojo Caliente’s mud pool is great for detoxifying the skin, and is open seasonally from May to October.

Golfing
If spending the day at a spa isn’t your way of relaxing, spend a day golfing on one of Santa Fe’s golf courses. No matter where you go, you’ll enjoy stunning mountain views and pristine courses. Resorts like Buffalo Thunder offer overnight golf packages for those visiting Santa Fe. Take in Santa Fe’s beautiful landscape, fresh air and sunshine while golfing a round with good friends and you’ll instantly feel relaxed.

Once again, Santa Fe proves to be a wonderful place to enjoy life whether you’re a Santa Fe resident or visitor. The abundance of options available to those looking for a life well-rounded in culture, nature and beauty need not look any further than Santa Fe. Whether you’re looking to sell your Santa Fe home or relocate to Santa Fe, I can help make your transaction go smoothly. As a Santa Fe resident and real estate agent, I’d be happy to help in any way I can. Contact me today!

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 all know that Santa Fe is overflowing with art and creativity. One sect of art that doesn’t receive as much attention as it should is cinematic art. Santa Fe celebrates its film makers and welcomes film makers from all over the world with its annual 3-Minute Film Fest. May 20, 2011 will mark the Fest’s 11th appearance in Santa Fe with submissions flowing in from amateurs and professionals. The 3-Minute Film Fest provides a great opportunity for budding Santa Fe filmmakers to showcase their creativity and for experienced artists to show off their skills in a condensed short film.

In 2000, Jerry Barron founded the 3-Minute Film Fest in Santa Fe as a way for local and regional filmmakers to promote their work in a juried exhibition. The Fest quickly attracted attention worldwide and now receives hundreds of submissions every year in categories like comedy, documentary, experimental, and animation. The 3-minute time limit is taken very seriously and provides a challenge for new filmmakers as well as professionals. Anyone is allowed to submit a short film for an entry fee of $15.

All participants will find helpful tips for successful filmmaking as well as reminders for submission on the 3-Minute Film Fest’s Facebook page. Submissions are due by April 11, 2011 and those selected for the exhibition will be notified by May 5, 2011. The Lensic, Santa Fe’s Performing Arts Center, will hold a gala on May 20, 2011 showcasing all of the films selected to be judged. This will be a great event to attend even if you don’t submit a film, just to see the work of your Santa Fe friends and neighbors.

Whether you’re a Santa Fe resident who is already involved in the arts or are thinking of relocating to Santa Fe, there is no better way to get involved in the artist community than pulling out a video camera and getting creative! Prospective home buyers in Santa Fe will love our new listing on East Alameda.  Only one block from the biggest art district in Santa Fe, Canyon Road, artists define this area of the city. The home’s proximity to Canyon Road’s endless art galleries and location along the Santa Fe River will provide plenty of inspiration for your short film. As a Santa Fe resident and real estate expert, I have plenty of experience with the area. Please contact me for a showing!

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

A great part about Santa Fe culture is the wide variety of dining options available to visitors and residents alike. An excellent way to experience a taste of what different Santa Fe dining establishments have to offer is to go out during Santa Fe Restaurant Week. Santa Fe restaurant-goers have the opportunity for one week, once per year to dine at participating restaurants for unbeatably low prices. Virtually any type of restaurant you can imagine has some sort of deal going on during Santa Fe Restaurant Week: French, American, New Mexican, Fusion/Eclectic, Italian, and Japanese are just a few of the different flavors you can experience at a great price this week in Santa Fe. Prices range from $20 to $40 per person at fine dining restaurants, and can be as low as $25 per couple at more casual dining establishments.

Getting a great deal on dinner isn’t the only exciting part about Santa Fe Restaurant Week. Each day there are various demonstrations and events held at participating restaurants to further immerse yourself in the Santa Fe dining experience. There are still four days left to go out on the town and learn more about the food and beverages these restaurants serve.

This afternoon, Epazote is hosting an event that shows how to make Mexican mole from New Mexican ingredients. Head over to Osteria d'Assisi this evening to taste your way around Italy with different regional wines paired with fondue. Wind down from your week on Friday evening at San Francisco Street Bar & Grill with a tequila, wine, and beer tasting while enjoying live music. Round out your Santa Fe Restaurant Week experience Saturday evening with a flashback to the 1970s at La Casa Sena where you’ll enjoy a performance of songs from the decade while you dine.

The options are unlimited the rest of this week when you dine out in Santa Fe. Try a new restaurant or stick with an old favorite. You’re sure to get a great deal however you plan to tackle Santa Fe Restaurant Week. Whether you’re a longtime Santa Fe resident or a prospective home buyer who is lucky enough to be visiting Santa Fe this week, don’t pass up this opportunity to get immersed in local culture. You’ll be impressed by everything Santa Fe has to offer.

If I can be of any assistance to you the rest of your time in Santa Fe, please let me know! I have extensive experience in the Santa Fe real estate market, and would be happy to help you sell your Santa Fe home, or help you find your dream home!

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

If you’re a Santa Fe resident, you know how seriously the locals take chile. We even spell it with an ‘e’ instead of an ‘i’, reflective of the New Mexico-grown chile peppers used to make it. As perhaps the most definitive food of New Mexico, there are many places to eat authentic, delicious chile in Santa Fe. Diners have a choice of green or red chile, and they are added to many different types of food from pizza, to burgers, to burritos. I’ve selected the top three places in Santa Fe for the best chile based upon customer reviews from Yelp.com. Those relocating to Santa Fe will want to sample at least one of these Santa Fe restaurants to get a taste of the local flavor.

The Pantry
1820 Cerrillos Rd
Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 986-0022

The Pantry is a family-owned restaurant and has been serving comfort food to Santa Fe residents and visitors for over 60 years. Customers rave about The Pantry’s breakfast, with many of the items on the breakfast menu either containing or “smothered” in red or green chile sauce. Don’t overlook the lunch menu: sandwiches, burgers, soups, salads, and tacos ensure that there will be something delicious for everyone in your party. Of course, chile can be added to each item to spice up your meal. Reviewers recommend the Huevos Consuelo, the breakfast burritos, and the ever-flowing coffee.

Bobcat Bite
420 Old Las Vegas Hwy
Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 983-5319

Bobcat Bite is another Santa Fe restaurant which is family owned and operated. Famous for their Green Chile Cheeseburger, this is a place those relocating to Santa Fe must visit to experience New Mexican history and flavor. Bobcat Bite has been featured on the Food Network and in various newspapers and magazines for their comfort food and long-time history in Santa Fe. Voted as the best burger in town, you might have to plan your Santa Fe visit around trying one for yourself! Needless to say, reviewers raved about the Green Chile Cheeseburger, and remind future diners to bring cash.

La Choza Restaurant
905 Alarid St
Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 982-0909

La Choza is frequented by Santa Fe locals rather than visitors, so you’ll have a shorter wait time for a table at this Mexican restaurant. Authentic Mexican dishes such as enchiladas, tamales and burritos are served with, of course, your choice of red or green chile. La Choza also offers less traditional Mexican dishes with Santa Fe flair, like the Green Chile Clam Chowder. The menu allows diners to select from sangria, bottled beers and a selection of beers on tap, agave wine margaritas, several different types of wine, and a delicious dessert menu. Reviewers recommend the Green Chile Stew, Enchiladas with Green Chile, and Chiles Rellenos.

With so many ways to experience Santa Fe culture, eating a meal spiced up with your choice of New Mexico-grown chile peppers is one of the best. Santa Fe residents are passionate about chile, not only for the taste, but also because chiles are such a definitive aspect of New Mexican culture. If you’re considering a move to Santa Fe, I hope you find that these recommendations for experiencing Santa Fe culture will win you over. If you need any assistance in getting acquainted with Santa Fe, please contact me. As a Santa Fe real estate expert, I’d be happy to help you get settled in!

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