Santa Fe Tidbits: what’s new in The City Different

There are lots of signs that tell you spring is here is Santa Fe. Longer days, trees blossoming, flowers peeking out of the ground and Coyote Café’s Rooftop Cantina opens for the season. What’s your favorite sign of spring in Santa Fe?

And while we’re on restaurants, Santa Fe keeps getting new ones. The west end of St. Michael’s Drive is developing into a bit of a dining destination; the latest addition is the Green Owl Café.  We’ve been driving passed the new eatery since it opened in early February. It’s on one of our routes to downtown, but, we’re always on our way somewhere and, well, we forgot to check it out. An email from a friend this week reminded me. She’d heard the Green Owl’s cranking out great pretzel rolls and asked if I’d tried them. I’m heading there this week, but wanted to let you know all it’s there. Owned by former Long Island, New York baker and café owner, Bill Healy, the café opens Monday through Friday at 5am. The enterprising owner figured out he was already there, so why not let the customers in. If you’re an early riser (or are coming home after a serious night out) this is probably the only place outside of a chain restaurant serving at that hour. Healy, a baker by trade, bakes everything but the bread they use. There’s a pastry case full of fresh-baked goodies to tempt you. And if he ever takes a day off (he hasn’t yet) manager, Cindy Sheptow,  can take over the oven. She was pastry chef at Santacafe for a few years. There is a patio for warm weather and free Wi-Fi for customers.

The recently opened Green Owl in Santa Fe, photo Steve Collins

Weekends they open a bit later, 6am on Saturday and 7am on Sundays. They’re open (except Sunday, when they close at 5pm) until 7pm.. Stop in for a bite to eat or for a cup of the special house-blend coffee. For your convenience, they have a drive-through, too. He also has opened a satellite location at the Inn and Spa at Loretto, where he was a frequent guest before moving to Santa Fe.

Happy Birthday to Pranzo Italian Grill, they just turned 25.

Concerts:

The season for most concert groups in town is winding down, but summer has its own musical story here. Here are some of the closing offerings for the season.

Julian Pollack Jazz Trio

Friends of Santa Fe Jazz, The Santa Fe Concert Association and St. John’s College join together to present, pianist/composer/arranger Julian Pollack Jazz Trio in the Great Hall at St. John’s College on Saturday, April 21^st at 7:30pm. Promoters call the classically-trained Pollack a “rising star in the jazz world.” The group also includes bassist Noah Garabedian and drummer Evan Hughes. The evening is a benefit for the Santa Fe Botanic Gardens. Sponsor tickets ($75) include “Meet the Artists,” a dessert reception with the artists. General admission is $30.

Santa Fe Symphony and with chorus, photo/courtesy Santa Fe Symphony

On Sunday, April 22^nd, the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra presents an all-Brahms program. The program includes Variations on a Theme by Haydn and The German Requiem. The orchestra is joined by two soloists; soprano, Jamie Rose Guarrine and bass-baritone Eric Greene. Both the Eastern New Mexico University Choir, under the direction of Jason Paulk, and the Santa Fe Symphony Chorus, led by Dr. Linda Raney will perform. The performance begins at 4pm.

Tickets for both concerts are available at The Lensic Performing Arts Center box office or online at Tickets Santa Fe.

The Peace Project Trio, photo/courtesy Santa Fe Performance Exchange

Tuesday, April 24^th, Santa Fe Performance Exchange presents an eclectic musical evening at the intimate GIG Performance Space, 1808 2nd Street. NM. Local folk duo Round Mountain, brothers Robby and Char Rothschild, and the Boulder, Colorado based Peace Project Trio, led by Singapore violinist Kailin Yong will perform. Tickets for the 7:30pm show are $15 and are available at the door.  Doors open at 7pm. For information call (505) 466-3116,

Children’s Theater:

The kids will love the Southwest Children’s Theater Playhouse Production of Rapunzel at The Santa Fe Playhouse Saturday April 28^th at 6pm, and Friday May 4^th at 7pm and Saturday May 5^th at 2pm. The children’s story has been adapted for the 21^st century by local playwright Rebecca Morgan working with the after school students in SWCTP’s program. It’s now the story of a family coping with a wicked witch for a neighbor, food cravings, and an impetuous prince from the neighboring kingdom. The one-hour performance features 25 students from the after-school program. Tickets, $10 each ($5 for children under 17) can be reserved by calling the Playhouse 988-4262

Art:

There’s an artists’ reception at Beals & Abbate Fine Art on Friday April 27^th from 5 to 8pm. The Canyon Road gallery opens a new photography show. It will feature Cody Brothers’ traditional black and white photographs of the west and Lynne Pomeranz’s wild horses.  Attendees will be treated to light hors d’oeuvres from the Greg Menke of The Beestro and live music.

"Milagro, NM Car #2" photo/Cody Brothers courtesy Beals and Abate Fine Art

Northern New Mexico in the media:

Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi was named as a top honeymoon destination by Brides Magazine. The Four Star boutique hotel, located a block north of the historic Plaza, offers honeymooners a romantic, tastefully decorated oasis for their special time together. Guest rooms feature Santa Fe style décor and a host of amenities including evening turndown service. Splurge on one of the suites or balcony rooms. One of the hotels’ concierges can work with you either in advance or upon arrival to plan your special visit here and help you create lasting memories. With a little advance planning, you can arrive to a room full of romantic touches such as rose petal turndown, Champagne with chocolate-covered strawberries or an in-room massage. According to Christina Loosemore, the Inn’s Director of Sales & Marketing, the inn ” is thrilled to have been named a ’2012 Best Honeymoon Hotel’ by Brides Magazine. This is an incredible honor for the Hotel and the city of Santa Fe. It is a testament to the high level of service offered by our dedicated staff, who ensure that every honeymoon couple receives a world-class immersion into the historic charm and culture of the City Different.”

A south western influenced guest room at Rosewood Inn or the Anasazi, photo/courtesyAnasazi

The view coming into Taos is stunning; mountains reaching up into the blue, often cloudless sky. Forbes Magazine agrees. They named Taos to their 2012 America’s Prettiest Towns list. They went on to call it “a stunningly beautiful mountain community.” The downtown area, a great place for a leisurely stroll, is picturesque and steeped in history. People have been living on the  Taos Pueblo for over 1,000 years. The small town was also cited by Fox News in Best American historical towns you never heard of and by CNN as a celebrity destination in Getting away, celebrity style. If you don’t believe us and them, come check it out for yourself.

A majestic view of the mountains in Taos, designated One of America's Prettiest Towns, photo Steve Collins

And while we’re on Taos, the Pueblo, which closes for about six weeks each winter, reopened yesterday, a few days earlier than previously announced. A tour of this historic community is a highlight to any visit to this mountain town.

Any local news, things to do in Santa Fe or happenings you’d like included in Tidbits, contact us.