Kivas at Chaco Canyon , photo/Steve Collins

Modern architects still cannot quite figure out how the people who built Chaco Canyon did it. The site dating from around 850 to around 1150 AD is an architectural wonder.  Some believe that astronomy governed building placement. On the solstice, a “sun dagger” appears at Pueblo Bonito, one of the major houses there. Chaco should, officially, be one of the wonders of the world. To us, it is.

It’s a bit off the beaten path, but you can visit Chaco Culture National Historical Park about 3½ hours northwest of Santa Fe.

Have you been to Chaco or any of the other ancient archeological sites in the southwest?

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A patio garden at a John Gaw Meem designed house on the 2012 tour, photo/Steve Collins

Last year the tour included the garden at a home designed by John Gaw Meem (one of the fathers of the Pueblo Revival movement) and a fabulous estate with an infinity pool — a rare sight in the high desert.  The gardens at these and every other home on the tour were fabulous. It’s a special treat to get to see them.

An unexpected infinity pool in the midst of lush growth on a Santa Fe estate, photo/Steve Collins

Every year there are two tours. The first weekend always features an optional box lunch (for an additional fee) eaten at a location not included on the tour. Enticing? You bet.

A water feature gives a feeling of lushness in our high desert city, photo/Steve Collins

Ticket prices vary, depending on when you buy them, from early bird pricing to paying a premium at the door. If you love gardens and want to see behind some of the ubiquitous adobe walls and coyote fences that make Santa Fe, well, Santa Fe, here’s your chance.

A garden runs wild, photo/Steve Collins

The 2013 Santa Fe Botanical Garden Tours are Sunday, June 2^nd and Sunday, June 9^th from 1 to 4pm. Ticket prices are on their website. The tours, begun in 1996, are a fund raiser for the Santa Fe Botanical Garden.  The long-time dream has come true. The first phase of their permanent home on Museum Hill opens to the public on Sunday, June 19^th.  We previewed it last week. With about two months to go, it’s looking great.

Candyce Garrett’s sculpture “Emergence” at the new Santa Fe Botanical Garden, photo/Steve Collins

Tickets are available at the Lensic box office in person, by phone at (505) 988-1234 or at Tickets Santa Fe. For more information call the Santa Fe Botanic Garden or check their website.

Here are more home and garden tours held throughout the year.

Have you been on a Santa Fe garden tour?

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When, why and how did you start your travel blog, Monkeys and Mountains?
I started my blog almost 3 years ago when I first moved to Germany from Canada. I knew that I wanted a career change. Going from a Program Director at a university to a travel blogger wasn’t the most logical choice but I haven’t regretted it for a second.

Laurel enjoying the rewards of a hard hike in the Canadian Rockies, courtesy Monkeys and Mountains

That’s a great name. How did you get it and what does the name mean to you?
Thank you! The name comes from two things that I love. I have a degree in primatology (the study of primates) and am in the mountains every weekend. I wanted something that was personal and memorable.

What is the thing that keeps you the most jazzed about blogging?
The connections I have made with my readers, both online and sometimes even in person. I love to inspire someone to travel to a place they hadn’t considered before, or try a new activity while traveling. Equally I am inspired and grateful to my readers who frequently tell me where I should go, or what to see.

What excites you about travel?
The unknown.  I’m very curious and love not knowing what will unfold next.

Are you a solo traveler or do you like to travel with others?
I used to do mostly solo travel, but now I do a combination. I enjoy traveling with someone, preferably my husband. My experience is enhanced when I can share it and relive it with someone that I love.

Laurel and her husband meeting a new friend in the Galapagos, photo/courtesy Monkeys and Mountains

Are you a part-time or fulltime traveler?
I have a permanent base in Munich, and travel frequently – anywhere from 1-4 trips a month.  I guess that would qualify as part-time+. I used to teach online courses for a couple of universities in Canada, but recently I have launched my own online social media training company. It’s important to me that I can work from the road wherever I am.  As I type this I’m in a hotel room in Rotterdam with an incredible view of the harbor.

What kind of traveler are you?
I’m more on the luxury end, but I don’t mind trading a bit of luxury for an incredible experience. Two summers ago my husband and I did a three day sea kayaking trip with whales which required us to sleep in a tent. The whales made it completely worth while, but three nights of sleeping in a tent was enough for me! We stayed in luxury hotels for the rest of our trip.

Laurel diving with Oceanic white tip sharks in South Africa, photo/ courtesy Monkeys and Mountains

On the road, do you seek out some experiences more than others?
Definitely! I love anything to do with animals or adventure. A few of my favorites include shark diving without a cage (numerous occasions), trekking with gorillas, safaris in South Africa and hiking tours.

Is being in your comfort zone important to you?
Sometimes.  I function best when I can go back and forth from being in my comfort zone and out of it. For example, I’m happy to try local food (within reason), but don’t make me get up and try and learn a local dance. The most out of my comfort zone was when I lived in rural Thailand. I loved and hated it, both at the same time. Sometimes the culture and language got to be too much and I would be seeking out the nearest Pizza Hut in an attempt to find something familiar. But at the same time, my fondest memories are time spent chatting with Thai friends.

Laurel celebrating with her gorilla tracking guides in Rwanda, photo/courtesy Monkeys and Mountains

What’s your most memorable travel experience or favorite trip?
It happened earlier this month. I was in Rwanda on a primate safari and saw an incredible seven species of primates in seven days, including Mountain gorillas. I had worked with Western Lowland gorillas in a zoo before, but nothing compares to seeing gorillas in the wild. One mother with a baby on her back gently brushed my leg to indicate that I was in her way. I was THIS CLOSE to the baby and it took every ounce of willpower not to reach and touch him. This was my dream trip and one that I will never forget.

What’s your favorite place on earth?
Probably at home with my husband and our two cats. I know it’s a really boring answer, but I find my favorite experiences are ones that I can share with him.

In terms of a location it would be Waterton National Park in Canada. I’ve seen more grizzly bears than anywhere else in the Canadian Rockies (that’s a huge plus point in my books) and it’s close to my home town, so it feels like home.

Laurel Robbins abseiling in Rotterdam recently, photo/courtesy Monkeys and Mountains

Where are you off to next?
I’m just left Rotterdam heading to Zurich, then Istanbul, which I’m really excited for and a couple of trips to Italy in the summer. But something else could come up, you never know – that’s the great thing about being a travel blogger!

What’s the biggest fantasy on your bucket list?
Up until last week it would have been trekking with gorillas, but now that that’s been checked off, I would replace it with diving with Tiger sharks. They’re known to be the most dangerous sharks to people (even more so than Great Whites), but it’s all relative. Vending machines kill more people that sharks do. I dove with Oceanic black tip sharks in South Africa last year and will never forget what the dive master said, “If you think the Oceanics are big, wait until you see a Tiger, they make the Oceanics seem like guppies.” I’m very intrigued and will take any chance I get to show people that sharks are not the dangerous killers seeking out humans that the media makes them out to be.

Laurel Robbins is an award winning travel blogger and social media expert based in Munich, Germany. When not traveling, you will likely find her in the mountains, on a bike or doing yoga.  Read her blog Monkeys and Mountains. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

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We were wondering why we kept seeing science superstar, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, host of the PBS series Nova, around town. He dined at the next table from us a few weeks ago and was spotted the next day on Canyon Road. He’s in town to film COSMOS: A SpaceTime Odyssey, the follow-up to the popular 1980s Carl Sagan series, COSMOS: A Personal Voyage. The show is being co-produced by Family Guy’s Seth MacFarlane. The new show, will be on FOX Broadcasting starting early 2014. BTW MacFarlane’s a busy guy. He’s in the area filming A Million Ways to Die in the West, along with a star-studded cast including heartthrob, Liam Neeson. See who and what is currently filming in and around Santa Fe.

The bar at Ristra, photo/courtesy Ristra

Santa Fe dining news:
If you’re a Santa Fean, you probably know about Ristra owner, Eric Malle’s recent death. There has been much speculation about the popular restaurant’s fate. It’s going to stay open with long-time Executive Chef Xavier Grenet at the helm. New:  Happy Hour, Monday through Friday from 5 to 7pm offering $5 wines (choose between a red and a white) and $7 martinis. Ristra is at 548 Agua Fria Street.

There are a few dining events of note coming up:
Monday, May 22^nd, 5 to 9pm: 315 Restaurant & Wine Bar, 315 Old Santa Fe Trail is celebrating in style. They’re roasting a whole local suckling pig on their patio. The three course dinner is $35 per person. Diners will be live jazz on the patio and wine will be 25% off. Call (505) 986-9190 for reservations.

Enjoying a 2012 Italian Table dinner on the patio, photo/Steve Collins

The Italian Table at The Teahouse, 821 Canyon Road, is offering Saturday evening dinners starting June 1^st. The concept has Chef/owner Rich Freedman continues the intimate, almost underground, dinners he began last summer before he took over the restaurant. The five-course, prix fixe menu changes for each dinner. Freedman says he uses the very best local produce and meats. He also sources ingredients from Italy. Diners can purchase wine by the glass. Seating is at communal tables. Come with friends or be prepared to meet new people. We were at the inaugural dinner, on the candle-lit patio last summer. We had a congenial table; it was a memorable evening. Space is limited; for reservations call 505-992-0972.

Chef Andrew Cooper and son at Old Windmill Goat Farm, photo/courtesy Andrew Cooper

On Wednesday, June 5^th from 11:30am to 2pm there will be a Farmers’ Symposium and Luncheon at Four Seasons Resorts Rancho Encantado. The event brings together local farmers, local experts and the public to talk about sustainable food and agriculture in the Santa Fe area. Chef Andrew Cooper, a big proponent of fresh and local, will create small plates using locally sourced produce, meat, and cheese for attendees. Tickets are $25 each; reservations may be made by calling (505) 946-5814.

The Wine Shop at Arroyo Vino photo/Steve Collins

Saturday, June 8^th, 12 to 3pm: Second Annual Grand Rosé Tasting at Arroyo Vino, 218 Camino La Tierra. Over 50 still and sparkling rosés will be offered. Executive Chef Mark Connell and four other local chefs will be preparing tasty nibbles to go with the wine. The local chefs volunteering their time are Rocky Durham of the Santa Fe Culinary Academy, Louis Moskow of 315 Restaurant and Wine Bar, Steve Lemon, now at Pranzo Italian Grill and  Josh Gerwin of the newly opened Dr. Field Goods. Tickets are available at the wine shop or by calling (505) 983-2100. Proceeds above cost go to Pediatric Oncology Research at the University of New Mexico Cancer Center.

Belisama Dance Company, photo/Kate Russell, courtesy Belisama Dance Company

Santa Fe music and dance:
Friday, May 24th and Saturday, May 25^th, Belisama Dance presents its second annual Contemporary Spring Repertory Concert. The event takes place at the James A. Little Theater at New Mexico School for the Deaf, 1060 Cerrillos Road. Performances, featuring modern, jazz, contemporary ballet, and Irish dance, are at 7pm. Over 70 Belisama students will take part in the recital. Tickets are $15 for adults, and $10 for children, students, and seniors.

The Lensic Performing Arts Center presents award-winning actor and pianist, Hershey Felder, in Maestro: The Art of Leonard Bernstein, a one-man show. The show tells the story of Bernstein’s life through music and the spoken word. The three performances are:Friday, May 31^st and Saturday, June 1^st at 7:30 pm and Sunday, June 2ne at 2 pm. Tickets range from $20 to $50.

Tickets for the above events are available at the Lensic box office of online at Tickets Sana Fe.

Churro sheep at Las Golondrinas, photo/Steve Collins

Misc:
Our grandsons still remember making miniature adobe bricks at El Rancho de las Golondrinas’ Spring Festival and Children’s Fair years ago.  The weekend event takes place Saturday, June 1^st and Sunday June 2^nd from 10am to 4pm. There will be demonstrations of Spanish colonial era lifestyle necessities including sheep shearing (the raise Churro Sheep here), weaving demonstrations, blacksmithing, milling, bread baking, hide tanning, and other demonstrations. There will also be archery in the big field, arts & crafts, tin stamping, and more. In addition to the sheep there will be horses, sheep, goats, burros, and even a wolf. Enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides. Add food and traditional New Mexico crafts sold by the artisans who made them and you have a recipe for a fun-packed day. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors (62+) and teens. Children 12 and under are admitted free of charge.

Zozobra, photo/Leslie Alsheimer

If you live in Santa Fe, you know who Zozobra is. For those not in the know — he is the giant sized effigy of Old Man Gloom burned every year on the Thursday night before the start of the annual Fiestas de Santa Fe. This year, the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe, the keepers of this folk icon (conceived in the 1920s by artist Will Shuster and his friends), are launching the First Annual Zozofest. It takes place in the Railyard August 30^th and 31^st, the weekend, before the beast’s 89th annual torching.  The event will include mariachis playing beneath the water tower, a free animated kids’ movie and the Boys and Girls Club’s Annual Fun Fair on Saturday.  The giant puppet will be on view, without his famous hair, at El Museo de Cultural de Santa Fe.  His hair color is a well-guarded secret each year; you’ll have to wait for the main event to find out.

There’s a proposal afoot to transform the now-defunct Manderfield School, on Canyon Road across from Cristo Rey Church, into artists’ studios, six apartments, and a coffee house.  Developers are also asking to add four casitas behind the school. If approved, ground breaking won’t be until 2014. The school building was designed by renowned Santa Fe architect John Gaw Meem, one of the founders of the Pueblo Revival architectural movement.

Have a great holiday weekend.  Do some great stuff.  Need some ideas? Santa Fe Travelers is loaded wth them!

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The Phoenix native got his start at Sapristi Bistro and Wine Bar in Fort Worth in 2001 and worked in various Texas kitchens, including a stint as sous chef at the legendary Nobu’s Dallas branch before coming to Luminaria in 2011.

Luminaria Executive Chef, Brett Sparman, photo/courtesy Inn and Spa at Loretto

He’s taken to his new position like the proverbial duck to water. “I always come into a kitchen like it’s mine,” the chef writes. “I had a lot of free reign here when I arrived. I was pumping out nightly specials, etc. from the day I stepped in the kitchen.” He calls his food, “Innovative Santa Fe cuisine.” He says he embraced a lot of local flavors. He buys locally whenever he can with weekly trips to the Santa Fe Farmers Market during the growing season. He sources meat from local farms including Wagu beef from the Lone Mountain Cattle Company and lamb from Talus Wind Ranch. Servers are educated about produce sources so they can share with diners. Sparman credits a mentor, Chef Anthony Bombaci, for teaching him about “simplicity and letting all the food talk.” Learning new techniques and discovering new flavors to experiment with keep him jazzed about cooking. Being in the kitchen in general keeps his culinary juices flowing.

Brett Sparman’s Seafood Paella, photo/Steve Collins

For him Santa Fe is a “hidden gem of chefs and culture.” He loves being away from the hustle of a big city and being able to take as 20 minute drive to the woods to get away from it all. He spends his spare time (a bit of an oxymoron in a chef’s life) with his wife, Steffani Marie and their two children, 5 year old Ryder Otis and newborn, Ella. And he loves to cook with the family while listening to jazz. Pizza night is a big hit with his son.

Luminaria at the Inn and Spa at Loretto, photo/courtesy Inn and Spa at Loretto.jpg

In keeping with hotel dining tradition, Luminaria, with its Santa Fe inspired dining room and glorious patio offers three meals a day.

Chef Sparman shares his recipe for Shrimp and Chorizo with Santa Fe Travelers’ readers.

Shrimp and Chorizo (Brett Sparman 2013)
Serves 2

8 large tiger shrimp
4 oz chopped Spanish chorizo
3 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
2 Shallots, chopped fine
1 TBS Smoked paprika
1 ½ cup w½ cup white wine
4 TBS butter
Chopped Italian parsley

Heat a sauté pan over medium high heat, add olive oil. When hot, add chorizo and shallots and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add garlic and shrimp to the pan and cook for a few minutes more, be careful not to burn your garlic, so watch the heat. Remove the shrimp and deglaze the pan with the white wine and let reduce for several minutes, and then add paprika. Finally add a good amount of butter and parsley to make a rich sauce. Serve with grilled bread.

LIVE, LOVE, EAT!

Author’s note: We were wined and dined by Luminaria. Their gracious hospitality didn’t influence this post in any way.

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Arbor a the new t Santa Fe Botanical Garden opening in July 20013, photo/Steve Collins

The Santa Fe Botanical Garden on Museum Hill is a work in progress that has been developing for many years. Anyone who has spent any time in Santa Fe knows that our ecology is unique. This uniqueness is celebrated in a diverse bio-culture that exists despite the minimal rainfall we get most. This has always created a challenge for the humans who have chosen to make an existence here. It is a manifestation of the dynamic tension that creates the matrix of possibilities in New Mexico.  Before man the diversity existed with the rhythms of the seasons. The Santa Fe Botanical Garden presents this high desert culture in  beautiful ways. This arbor will be covered with abundant floral growth, creating a feast for the senses. Part of the garden is designed to celebrate plant life that thrives in our arid high desert environment.  The Santa Fe Botanical Garden, on Museum Hill, is scheduled to open to the public on Sunday July 20th. A festive weekend is planned. Observe for yourself.  Possibilities unfold.

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When, why and how did you start Caroline in the City?
In March 2009, I was a junior in college, bored one afternoon. I started a Blogger site to document my old travel journals and different adventures around Charleston, where I lived at the time. Eventually I took notice of other travel blogs and it became more about my trips to Europe and elsewhere.

Caroline at the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, photo/courtesy Caroline in the City

How did you get that name and what does the name mean to you?
It was the name of a television show in the 90s. Some elementary school boys called me that and since I am more of a city gal than nature gal, I decided to use it as a blog name. And I’m not the only one! There is at least three other Caroline in the City blogs, but mine is the only travel blog.

What is the thing that keeps you the most jazzed about blogging?
Meeting people is the best part about blogging. I love talking travel with anyone, so if they read my blog, that’s even better.

You call yourself a member of the “generation in limbo; highly educated college graduates who are working jobs well below or outside of their skill sets.” How did that affect you?
I think I had to change my perception about what was expected out of me as a college graduate. For a while I felt pretty useless because I didn’t have a “real” job, but instead was bartending and waiting tables. But I have always known that 9-5 jobs weren’t for me, so once I figured out that I could work towards making a living from blogging and writing, my attitude changed. I’m now proud of the fact that I don’t have a grown-up job because the flexibility of freelance and temporary jobs has allowed me to travel like I do.

Caroline at Oktoberfest, courtesy/Caroline in the City

You spent a year on a work visa in Australia. What was your most memorable travel experience in Oz?
It’s hard to pick just one. I loved working at a bar with other foreigners, who became my close friends. But I think bungee jumping in Cairns is what sticks out the most. I don’t love heights, but I knew I had to do it, especially as the platform overlooks a rainforest. It was so fun I did it twice!

You’re based in Atlanta. How often do you travel now?
This year I’ve been traveling at least a week out of every month, sometimes more, but mostly around the south. Most of my travels are around the southern USA partially to visit friends and family and partially to create content for my other blog, This Is My South, which is a travel guide to the southern USA. Atlanta is a great hub for other trips. In past years I’ve only taken one big three-week trip per year.

Do you travel solo or with others?
Ninety per cent of my travels are solo because most of my friends have “real” jobs, but I occasionally travel with my family.

Caorline at a glacier outside Innsbruck, Austria,photo/courtesy Caroline in the City

What excites you most about travel?
I think it’s all about seeing something different. I love my hometown, but different landscapes fascinate me, like the rainforests and outback in Australia.

On the road, do you seek out some experiences more than others?
For some reason I end up purposely doing things that scare me, like the bungee jumping in Australia and paragliding in Austria. I think I seek out things that will make for a funny story. I also like more offbeat experiences, like street art and abandoned buildings.

What’s your most memorable travel experience or favorite trip ever?
I could talk about Australia all day, but in the middle of my year there, I flew to Hawaii to meet my mom and sisters for a trip. It was disastrous at times (like when we got scammed by a hotel and drove around in the dark with no place to stay) and dramatic at others (four women, after all), but Hawaii really surprised me. The food was amazing and cheap and there was no shortage of waterfalls, volcanoes and forests.

Caroline SCUBA diving in the Florida Keys, photo/courtesy Caroline in the City

What’s your favorite place on earth?
Charleston, South Carolina has very fond memories for me. I lived there for four years during college and still visit a couple of times per year. Every time I go, I walk to my old house, grab a cold drink from the Palestinian deli across the street and reminisce.

Where are you off to next?
I’m embarking on a crazy long Megabus trip from Atlanta to Toronto for TBEX {Travel Bloggers Exchange}. I will be tweeting all along the way, stopping in Charlotte and Washington DC before finally rolling into Canada. I will take a breather for a few months to work, but then in September I’m off to Turkey!

What’s the biggest fantasy on your bucket list?
India fascinates me and terrifies me at the same time. It’s big and loud and pungent and overwhelming. I think it would be the biggest accomplishment in my travel life.

Caroline Eubanks is a freelance writer and travel blogger originally from Atlanta, Georgia. After graduating from college, she went to Australia for a yearlong working holiday. Follow along with her adventures at Caroline in the City, This Is My South, and on Twitter.

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The Santa Fe CVB’s Celebrate Santa Fe Tourism Expo was a big success. Our booth was buzzing. We got to say “hello,” to many old friends and meet new ones. Plus, we won a great prize. We’ll be back next year!

Santa Fe dining and food news:
Maybe you missed it, but Kaune’s Neighborhood Market (511 Old Santa Fe Trail) was closed a month; they were getting a facelift. The market reopened Saturday, May 11^th. It’s chic, spacious-feeling, brightly lit and reminiscent of a big-city gourmet shop. Santa Feans in the know, shop Kaune’s for their meat. Here’s a tip; while they do have prime meats, they also have some great prices on choice cuts they say are sourced from anti-biotic and hormone-free animals. You may be a bit disoriented when you enter. The registers now face a different direction the well-stocked wine section is the first thing you see when you walk in the door, the cheese section is expanded, there’s salad bar and more Shelves are loaded with specialty food items. If you want to have lunch, can grab some of the prepared food items or sandwiches made fresh every morning and eat at the outside patio tables. We loved the new Kaune’s, hope you do,too.

Green chile cheeseburge at Bobcat Bite, photo/Steve Collins

If you missed the news about Bobcat Bite; current owners, Bonnie and John Eckres will close Bobcat on June 9th. Read the details here. If you want to have one more of the iconic burgers, hurry out! They’ll be reopening in town. While the burgers will be great, I’m sure; the gestalt will never be the same. Read more here.

The Santa Fe Farmers Market Tuesday Market opened for the season last week. It’s a great mid-week opportunity to shop locally and sustainably. Hours are from 8am to 1pm. Other Farmers Market news: the Saturday market will go to summer hours, 7am to noon on June 1^st.

Cafe Fresh, the anchor for the new Farmers Market Shops, with over 2,500 feet of shopping and dining space, opened on Saturday, May 11^th. The indoor café features espresso drinks (made with locallyl roasted, Aroma Coffee); locally sourced pastries including gluten-free and ice cream (from Taos Cow). On Saturdays, they’ll offer soups, salads and wraps made with produce from the Farmers Market. Hours are: Saturdays and Tuesdays from 8am to 2pm and Sundays from 10am to 4pm.  The focal point of the café is a mural painted by Native American artist Dominic Arquero, depicting Santa Fe and the mountains beyond before the Europeans arrived.

This week is American Craft Beer Week and Blue Corn Brewery & Café, 4056 Cerrillos Road, is celebrating. They’re offering a “wide spectrum of beer events and tastings” including a beer and tapas brewer’s table dinner on Thursday, May16th. Call them at (505) 438-1800 for details.

Jeanne Hyland’s water color “39 Studebaker”, Eldorado Studio Tour photo/courtesy Eldorado Studio Tour

Santa Fe art:
Northern New Mexico’s studio tours kick off on Saturday, May 18^th and Sunday, May 19^th with the 22^nd Annual Eldorado Studio Tour.  Over 72 studios with over 110 artists in 17 mediums will be open both days from 10am to 5pm.  Genres represented include acrylic, ceramic, digital, fiber, glass, mixed media, oil, pastel, watercolor, sculpture, photography, recycled art and more.  There’s an artists’ reception at the Preview Gallery at La Tienda at Eldorado on Friday, May 17^th from 5 to 7pm. a Here’s a schedule of area studio tours throughout the year.

Squash blossoms at Medicine Man Gallery, photo/courtesy Medicine Man Gallery

Fans of Navajo and Zuni jewelry will want to put this show on their to-see list. Squash Blossom Necklaces: A Resurgence of Style at Medicine Man Gallery, 602A Canyon Road, opens on Saturday, May 31^st. The show, which runs through July 3^rd, features 50 vintage Navajo and Zuni squash blossom necklaces, circa 1900-1960.

Hopi Katsinas on display at the 2012 Native Treasures show, photo/Steve Collins

And speaking of Native American art, one of the premier art events of the year, Native Treasure Indian Arts Festival, takes place over Memorial Day Weekend. This juried show, sponsored by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation, attracts the crem de la crem of Native American artists and artisans. The promoters call it “Santa Fe’s only museum-quality Indian art show and sale.” Each year there is a featured artist, the 2013 Native Treasures featured artist is renown Santa Clara potter, Tammy Garcia. The show will be at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center. There is a benefit preview on Friday from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Tickets are $100 and allow you into Early Bird shopping on Saturday morning. Regular hours are Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm. There is a $10 admission charge on Saturday (Early Bird from 9 to 10am is $20), Admission is free. Proceeds from the show benefit the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture.

Buddha in a garden on the 2012 Santa Fe Botanical Garden Tour, photo/Steve Collins

Garden Tour:
The 18^th annual Santa Fe Botanical Garden Tours will be held on  Sunday, June 2^nd and Sunday, June 9^th from 1 to 4pm both days. If you want a peak at some incredible private gardens hidden behind adobe walls and coyote fences, this is your chance. According to the Botanical Garden, “Garden styles are as varied and diverse as the gardeners who tend them, but all are standouts. “

The June 2^nd tour, On and Around Old Santa Fe Trail, will feature gardens in that area. The annual Gourmet Picnic Lunch, on the first Sunday, takes place at the historic National Park Service Building on Old Santa Fe Trail. The CCC-constructed headquarters was completed in 1938. Lunch tickets, $25 each, must be purchased by May 30^th

The June 9^th tour, From Historic To Panoramic, goes farther afield featuring gardens from the “outskirts of the historic district” up to Tano Road north of town. Advance Tour tickets are $35 per person for one day, $65 per person for both days. You can buy tickets at any of the houses on the tour for $40 per person for one day and $75 for both.

Joy Kills Sorrow, photo/courtesy Santa Fe Performance Exchange

Santa Fe music:
Santa Fe Performance Exchange, a volunteer organization bringing alternative musicians to Santa Fe presents Joy Kills Sorrow on Tuesday, May 28the at 7:30pm at Gig Performance Space, 1808 Second Street. The group “brings together an eclectic mix of musicians who each have classical and/or jazz conservatory training, though collectively, they ambitiously utilize their years of study to hone a new acoustic territory yet discovered by many of today’s top artists.” Tickets are $15 advance or $18 at the door which opens at 7pm.

That’s it for this week. If you have any Santa Fe news to share, please let us know.

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Chef Andrew Cooper confers with his sous chef, Rubin Tanuz, photo/Steve Collins

Some people are born to cook. Cooper, a graduate of the prestigious CIA (Culinary Institute of America) in Hyde Park, New York developed a love of fire when he was a boy. Next came home economics classes in junior high school where, much to the teachers’ dismay, he got creative with the recipes. By high school, he was working in commercial kitchens. “When it came time for college,” Cooper says, “the chef I was working asked what I wanted to do when I graduated.  I told him, ‘I think about food for more than eight hours a day, I want to get paid for it.’” Not only did he graduate from the CIA, he has a Bachelor’s Degree in hotel restaurant management and a Masters in Food Service Management. This Generation Xer has already achieved one of his major aspirations: to become an Executive Chef.

Cooper, who describes his style as “contemporary regional,” is right in step with the current trend to fresh, local and sustainable. He says his biggest influence was David Bouley of Bouley Restaurant in NYC. Cooper did an externship there while at the CIA. “He really made me understand local ingredients,” Cooper says. How he got the externship is a great story, eat at his chef’s table in his immaculate kitchen and ask him. If you do dine at his chef’s table, be warned; he’ll have you wearing an apron and doing some of the cooking. His guests love it.

The energetic Cooper has a lot of interesting culinary innovations planned for Terra:

He’ll be offering “Culinary Adventure Tours,” where he’ll escort guests to the Santa Fe Farmers Market, or even to the farms themselves. After shopping, the group will either return to the hotel kitchen or head to a local winery and cook up the bounty creating a memorable food and wine lunch. He offers cooking classes and plans to expand them. He’s planting his own garden at the resort and will use the produce from there into farm to table cooking classes.

The wall of windows at Terra offers great views, photo/courtesy Four Seasons Rancho Encantado

He’s started a local beef program. They buy a half a steer once a week and age it on property for 21-48 days. The entire animal will be used in his kitchen. He’s also buying whole pigs from a local farmer for Terra’s new Charcuterie Program

This enterprising chef is working with a local bee keeper who will put some hives on the resort’s property. “The bees will be able to pollinate off of all the amazing lavender we have around the property,” Chef Cooper says, “and then we can use the honey for our restaurant, bar and even in our Spa.”

In the wings: private dinners in the vegetable garden serving from two to eight people. A private chef will create the meal right in front of the diners.

Cooper and his wife, Ruby are a Four Seasons family. They met when they were both working at the Four Seasons in NYC, got married at the Westlake Four Seasons, where she was the Room Service and Banquet Manager and had their sons while they were both working at the Hawaii property. She’s currently staying at home with their two young sons.

Cooper keeps himself jazzed about cooking. He says that every day, “something new happens.” What’s next for this creative chef? You’ll have to wait and see. “This is such an exciting industry, Cooper says. “ I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.” We can’t either.

Popcorn Crusted Scallops with Huckleberry Gastrique, photo/courtesy Four Seasons Rancho Encantado

Chef Cooper share his grilled scallop recipe with our readers.

Popcorn Crusted Scallop with a Huckleberry Gastrique (Serves 4)

For the carrot puree:
3 each large carrots (Peeled and cut into smaller pieces)
2 cloves garlic
1/3 cup (vegetable or Chicken) Broth(enough to cover the carrots)
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ cup heavy cream
1Tbs. butter

Simmer carrots, garlic, broth, and salt in a 1- to 2-quart heavy saucepan, covered, until carrots are very tender, 12 to 14 minutes. Purée mixture with cream and butter in a food processor until smooth.

For the popcorn:
Pop your own popcorn or use your favorite microwavable popcorn

For the Scallops:
8 each U-10 Scallops (cleaned)
Season scallops with salt and pepper
In a hot pan with 2T. of blended oil, Sear the scallops on both sides and finish in the oven.

For the baby Vegetables:
5 baby Carrots (blanched and sliced in half lengthwise)
5 asparagus tips (blanched and sliced in half lengthwise)
4 cherry tomatoes (cut in half)
Micro Green Salad

For the Huckleberry Gastrique
1 cup Sugar
½ cup raspberry vinegar
½ cup huckleberries (Fresh Raspberries can be substituted)

Huckleberry Gastrique
In a medium saucepan combine the raspberry vinegar and sugar. On high heat, reduce by half. Add huckleberries and allow to sit in hot mixture for 30 minutes. Turn heat back on and simmer for 30 minutes. Cool, then puree in a blender until smooth. Place the mixture back in the saucepan and cook until reduced by half again. This should be a semi-thick liquid, not runny.

To plate:
Spoon carrot puree in the center of the plate, then press the spoon into the puree and gently drag the spoon to the bottom of the plate creating a “schmear” on the plate

Place two seared scallops on top of the puree, then spoon some of the freshly made popcorn over the scallops. Garnish with the baby vegetables around the scallops. Spoon the gastrique around and finish with micro greens and a fresh herb salad

Authors note: We were guests of Terra for dinner. Their generous hospitality has not influenced this post in any way.

Santa Fe dining: Meet Terra’s Chef Andrew Cooper is a post from: Santa Fe Travelers

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At last, after so many years of wishing and hoping, New Mexicans who love the Big Apple can get there nonstop! On April 22, JetBlue began daily nonstop service from Albuquerque to JFK, and even if the flight times are a bit of a challenge, the fares are enticing.

jetBlue on Day One in Albuquerque, photo Judith Moir

We took the inaugural flight out of the Albuquerque International Sunport, and JetBlue really pulled out the stops to make us feel welcome. Gift bags for the lot of us, cake and champagne, free movies and a very welcoming staff all contributed to the excitement of getting to New York on a four-hour flight. Yes, if you live in Santa Fe you still have to add the hour or so for driving to Albuquerque and parking the car, but compare that to changing planes and using up a whole day to fly east, and it seems like a winner!

Full Service, photo Judith Moir

The flight from Albuquerque to New York is a red-eye – our flight left at 11:10pm (they may still be tweaking the times). But what’s not to love about having a whole extra day in the city. We arrived at 5:30am; no commuter traffic into the city? As long as your hotel will stash your luggage and you plan ahead, the only downside is an early-to-bed that evening, but Chinese food delivery and a big flat-screen compensate nicely. Judging from the passenger load, it’s a reasonable conjecture to think that if this catches on, better flight times may very well materialize.

Gifts for passengers on the inaugural flight, photo/Judith Moir

The return flight is a similar test of will. It leaves JFK at 8:25pm and arrives in Albuquerque a little after 11pm. Still, with 100 channels of Sirius XM radio and the 36 channels of free Direct TV to keep me occupied with all the programs I never have time to see, I was content.  I am always happy when the first checked bag is free, especially since I knew my half-empty bag would be a lot fuller after a few days of NYC shopping.  The pay-per-view movies are recent releases, and according to JetBlue press releases, Wi-Fi via satellite is coming soon.

Our fare was very reasonable, and since I have been getting regular emails about sale fares, it seems obvious that JetBlue wants to build a base of New Mexico travelers. If you want to trade the horizontal sights of New Mexico for the verticality of New York, check it out for yourself:

With JetBlue offering direct flights from NYC to Albuquerque (and vice-versa), it’s a great time to take that trip!

Will you fly JetBlue ABQ to JFK?

A set of genes colliding with a set of circumstances touching down in New Mexico, that’s Judith Moir, aka Santa Fe Red! Formerly Communications Director at Santa Fe’s Inn on the Alameda, Red is totally and irrevocably in love with all things Santa Fe and never misses an opportunity to share her insider’s tips for enjoying the music and art, cuisine and culture, and overall magic of travel to the City Different. Her romance with the written word combines with an art school education to paint the story of New Mexico in living color.You can find her on LinkedIn.

Feeling Blue? Perk Up with a JetBlue Nonstop from ABQ to JFK! is a post from: Santa Fe Travelers

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