THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT SANTA FE

SFREPORTER.COM • DECEMBER 22, 2021-JANUARY 4, 2022 25

Santa Fe Brewing ups its cocktail IQ at the HQ

Simply put, Santa Fe Brewing Co. makes good beer, so it’s no surprise that the company’s new cocktails are delicious, too. One of our favorites is the “fizzle dance,” with vodka, prickly pear liqueur and ginger beer. The addition, rolled out in late November, is only possible because the Legislature reformed the state’s liquor laws earlier this year. Under the legislation, Santa Fe Brewing has to use local liquor, which it’s getting primarily from Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery. While the offerings have expanded, the company is staying true to its roots; the main inspiration for the menu was “what can be efficient and not overwhelming for our staff, so they can still focus on interacting with customers, and focus on the beer side,” says General Manager Alana Harris. The Beer Hall at HQ is the only Santa Fe location serving cocktails as of now. Oh, and grab some birria tacos from Fusion Tacos while you’re there. (BD)

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Free Blue Buses to Ski Santa Fe

SFR is a big supporter of all things free (hence why SFR’s print edition and website remain paywall free.) And public transit is one of those things that should probably be free. The North Central Regional Transit District’s 255 Mountain Trail route carries riders from South Capitol Station deep into the Santa Fe National Forest. The Blue Buses that make the trip to Ski Santa Fe transport between 6,000 and 10,000 riders each year but Jim Nagle, a spokesman for NCRTD, anticipates that number will increase now that the bus is free. So instead of schlepping up

that windy, wintery road, skiers can take advantage of a free lift. As an added incentive, Nagle adds, riders will get a $5 token to spend at Ski Santa Fe when they take the bus. That benefit goes into effect “when Ski Santa Fe opens the top of the mountain,” says Nagle. (WM)

WILLIAM MELHADO

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Non-rich artists can sort of thrive now

Isn’t the art world fun? A whole entire industry based on believing “experts” about value, plus the wonderful world of flipping assets, make for a labyrinthian parade of nonsense stacked against the

sort of indie artists most regular folks would rather support. Enter COVID-19 and a universal plea from lesser-known creators for assistance. Since the lockdown began, it’s been a breeze to pick up prints from folks like Future Fantasy Delight visionary Nico Salazar, watercolor genius Zahra Marwan and printmaker Terran Last Gun. There was the original custom skate deck from multidisciplinary illustrator and sculptor Dylan Pommer, the hand-cut paper skull from the brilliant Ian Kuali’i and even an original photograph by Arizona’s Douglas Miles—not local, no, but still awesome. All those works together still clocked in at less than a single cloudy landscape at some big time Canyon Road gallery, and the system remains imperfect, though you should see the walls around here. (ADV)

COURTESY DYLAN POMMER

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COURTESY NMHEALTHYSOIL.ORG

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We’re dirty and we love It

Maybe it’s the weird post-hippie vibe we’ve got going on, but there’s a lot of thought about the land here. We don’t mean the surface-level aesthetic (but dang, that’s nice), but what’s going on underneath all that beauty. Groups like Santa Febased New Mexico Healthy Soil Working Group are making a big effort to remind people why soil health matters in our day-to-day lives. If you want to know how deep the roots go, check out their regular series “Soil Stories” where local farmers and ranchers share how important healthy soil is to everyone. In our desert climate, healthy soils obviously mean better yields, but also better water retention and better longevity. If you wanna get the ball rolling on getting your soil in shape, you can check out the New Mexico Department of Agriculture’s Healthy Soil Program. As it turns out, it’s not difficult to make sure even our dusty soil is thriving. Santa Fe’s agriculture can even prosper. Thank God for our little soil geeks—we really appreciate you teaching us. (RG)