A Great Time to Be in Santa Fe: Summer Events and News for 2014

IFAM Joins the SWAIA Indian Market in August

There’s something to do for everyone in Santa Fe during the summer. Santa Fe invites visitors to wrap up their summer travel with a slate of new events in the Best Small City in America, as rated by Condé Nast Traveler. Whether travelers are making their first trek to Santa Fe or their 100th, a lineup of new events, activities and restaurants are certain to offer fresh, one-of-a-kind experiences for all. Here’s a quick rundown of some of Santa Fe’s newest attractions:

For the Art Lover: Purveyors of the best in Native American art and design will have an entirely new outlet to explore alongside the world renowned Indian Market this year, taking place Aug. 18-24. Sidling up to the world’s biggest Native showcase is the Indigenous Fine Arts Market, debuting Aug. 21-23 at the Santa Fe Railyard. The juried show will offer both emerging and established Native artists in an entirely new venue.  Admission is free. Visit http://www.indigefam.org/ for more information. 

For the Foodie: FUZE SW brings together the best chefs and authors from across the nation Sept. 12-14 on Museum Hill to discuss (and of course, taste) how the traditions and techniques of the state’s diverse population have coalesced to form one of the most unique food cultures in the world.  The chefs featured at the state’s only annual food conference range from James Beard-award winners to local grandmothers bringing together their finest dishes for a sophisticated potluck. A variety of tastings, meals, and satisfying conversations with some of the nation’s leading foodies are all on the menu.  For tickets and more information, visit http://fuzesw.museumofnewmexico.org/

Home cooking gets a run for its money with the opening of The Kitchen Window, a niche of a restaurant tucked inside The Santa Fe Design Center.  It serves breakfast all-day, including its house-made granola, along with made-from-scratch comfort-food classics like biscuits and gravy, New Mexican staple Frito Pies, and a red chile brownie. 

Venerable restaurants around town welcome new chefs to their kitchens. Bishop’s Lodge welcomes Executive Chef Tom Kerpon, whose previous credits include Inn of the Anasazi, Rio Chama and Tanti Luce 221. Rio Chama introduces Tony Blankenship as its executive chef. An alum of Hotel Santa Fe, Rancho Encantado and The Club at Las Campanas, Blankenship is reinvigorating the menu with dishes like burrata tomato salad with heirloom tomatoes and balsamic Jell-O. . . .Quail Run presents Evan Doughty as its new executive chef, whose prestigious training at New York’s Culinary Institute of America, previously dazzled diners at The Eldorado’s Old House. . . With a keen eye towards locally-sourced ingredients, beef, and bison, Chef de Cuisine Kristian Markland joins Buffalo Thunder’s Red Sage.  Markland’s resume includes training at Napa Valley’s French Laundry, Okada at Las Vegas’ Wynn Hotel, and his own restaurant, Morsels, in Southern New Mexico.

For the Cycling Enthusiast: The International Mountain Biking Association this month recognized Santa Fe as a 2014, Silver-Level Ride Center—one of only 10 communities worldwide to receive the distinction.  The designation means Santa Fe offers an abundance of trails for every level of rider and a welcoming environment for bikers both on and off the trails. 

Two new events reinforce Santa Fe’s biking reputation:

The Santa Fe Reporter’s Super Spoke Cyclocross Race takes off Sept. 20 from Railyard Park, complete with a kids’ fair, food carts, music, beer, and, of course, cyclocross around a course designed by six-time US National Cyclocross Champion Laurence Malone. 

Just a week later, on Sept. 28, Santa Fe debuts one of its most scenic (and tastiest) bike rides. Join the Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta’s Inaugural Gran Fondo. This 75-mile ride begins at the historic Four Season Resort Rancho Encanto and winds through the Northern New Mexico communities of Nambe, Cundiyo, Truchas and Chimayo. The best part? Gourmet food stations replace water stops in this race, with chefs Mark Kiffin of The Compound, Kevin Nashan of Sydney Street Café in St. Louis, Michelle Bernstein of Michy’s in Miami and Matthew Accarrino of SPQR. 

For the Yogi Pick your posture the Santa Fe Yoga Festival, Aug. 28-31. The new event packs 108 yoga classes, led by 35 world-renown instructors, over three days, against the breathtaking backdrops at Bishop’s Lodge. The workshops range from the traditional—with Native drummers providing the soundtrack—to the avant-garde, with DJs providing a yoga atmosphere like no other.

  

Lodging Updates:

For the first time in nearly two decades, downtown Santa Fe last cut the ribbons to a brand-new hotel, the Drury. Located just two blocks from the famed Plaza, the property offers 182, full-service rooms, a heated rooftop bar and pool with stunning views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, a 3,800-square-foot ballroom, and free breakfast and evening appetizers and beverages.  In classic Santa Fe style, though the Drury is new, it’s already steeped in tradition. The property boasts more than 400 years of Santa Fe tradition. Before renovation and construction began, an excavation and archeological team explored the site. Many artifacts were recovered, and a Spanish roadbed estimated to date from the 1610s was discovered. 

For more information, visit www.santafe.org.

Information courtesy: Santa Fe CVB