Discover Taos Visitor Guide Summer/Fall 2024

We proudly celebrate the same small town charm people have loved for more than a century. Come see what all the fuss is about.

Overland Sheepskin Co. started here in Taos, NM, in 1973, o ering sheepskin apparel made with meticulous craftsmanship. Today we proudly o er premium leather and sheepskin outerwear, accessories, and home items. We invite you to visit us in-store, where our passion for quality is matched with always exceptional service.

Overland Sheepskin Co. 1405 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte (Two miles north of Taos, towards Taos Ski Valley) (575) 758-8820

Coldwell Banker Mountain Properties is proud to be the Premier real estate company in Taos, Angel Fire and Santa Fe, because we know the land. upsizing or downsizing, hinges on selecting the right real estate ally. At Coldwell Banker Mountain Properties, our team holds a deep-seated Meet our

Welcome to Taos County and Northern New Mexico

within these pages, but on a more poignant note, alert readers will see our 50 year-span is bookended by John Nichols’ book Milagro Beanfield War, published in 1974, and Nichols’ death in 2023.

Roberto “Bobby” J. Gonzales, District 6, Democrat

To celebrate 50 years in this issue, we had to limit our search to fun photos from our archives and decades of bound newspaper volumes. Pages 34 through 42 show a tiny glimpse of Taos summer visitor guides’ history.

We hope you enjoy the trip as much as we did.

Paid for by the Committee to Re-Elect Roberto “Bobby” J. Gonzales

JULY 19–21, 2024

A centuries old fiesta celebrating the gathering of generations to enjoy delicious cuisine, traditional music, And fellowship, while honoring the cultural uniqueness of taos.

We invite you to join us for the Fiesta de Taos JULY 19-21, 2024, FIESTA DE TAOS, INC.

Due to continued construction projects within the vicinity of the Historic Taos Plaza, the Fiesta de Taos is again relocated to Kit Carson Memorial Park

Photos by Chuck McLaughlin of Sean Kelly Portraits, Taos, NM seankellyportraits.com

AMINA’S CHILDREN’S BOUTIQUE

AMINA’SCHILDREN’S BOUTIQUE

AMMANN GALLERY

BEAD CREATIONS

AMMANNGALLERY

BENT STREET GRILLE

BEAD CREATIONS

BOMB STREET TACOS

BENTSTREETCAFÉ& DELI

CAFÉ SAGRADO– ESPRESSO BAR

CLARKE&CO. MENSWEAR

KOKOPELLI FLUTES

COYOTE MOON

LAS COMADRES GALLERY

GREATSCHWARMA

LITTLE PLACE BOUTIQUE

KOKOPELLI FLUTES

LOTERIA PALETERIA

LA TIERRAMINERAL

MODA – FOR WOMEN

MONET’S KITCHEN

MONET’S KITCHEN

MOONCAT FIBER

MOONCAT FIBER

OP.CIT BOOKSHOP

OP.CIT BOOKSHOP

SECONDSECOSTORE

SECONDS ECO STORE

STEPPIN’ OUT

STEPPIN’ OUT – SHOES/FASHIONS

CLARKE & CO. – MENSWEAR

CICI’SBEANESPRESSO BAR

COMMON THREAD TEXTILES

COYOTE MOON

COMMONTHREAD

LASCOMADRES GALLERY

STITCH IN TIME

STITCH-IN-TIME

TAROT FOR WELL BEING WILD EARTH REMEDIES

THE HOTDOGLADY

WILDEARTH REMEDIES

Discover the creative work of the artists who live, work, teach, exhibit and contribute to the vibrant stone carving community of Taos and Northern New Mexico.

ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE

October 12-20, 2024

Open Daily • 11am-5pm

Artists carving on site Mon – Fri • 1-4pm

October 12 • 11am-5pm • Light refreshments

P.J. Garoutte

See our Paintings at Wilder Nightingale Fine Arts (Taos), Legacy (Santa Fe) and Manitou Galleries (Santa

Fe)

“Evening Drama on the High Plains” 30x40 o/c

“Reverie” 24x48 o/c

Perusing Mabrey’s sculpture studio means looking and touching the big soft stonework on exhibit or being worked on. Inside and out, the stone beckons and rewards the viewer with a gentleness that belies the stone, a mirror opposite of her own soft southern drawl overlaying a steeliness of resolve ultimately revealed in her stone work.

In exuberant press about the exhibit, Mabrey says “Discover the creative work by sculptors who live, work, teach, exhibit and contribute to the vibrant activity recently seen in the stone-carving community of Taos and environs.”

This year’s sculptors are Brian Barreto, Schuyler Blanchard, Britt Brown, Petro Hul, Daisuke Kiyomiya, Luke Leone, TJ Mabrey, Sarah “Rosie” Rosenthal, Mark Saxe, and Margaret Tange.

Mabrey says she strives through her stone sculpture “to make the point that nature and humans are the same. To destroy one is to destroy the other … Art is given freedom — as are dreams, religion and the like — the freedom to distance itself from logic, much as Zen Buddhism invites us to return to prelinguistic consciousness where there is no ‘I’ separate from ‘the other’.”

Dive into this magical exhibit or stop by Mabrey’s sculpture studio any day of the year (email to set up an appointment) — you’ll never be the same. For more information, see tjmabrey.com.

tjmabrey.com

thru May

June

thru

October 5 thru November 16.

IMAGES: Upper left: Andrea Hegeman, exhibiting

12; Upper right: Jim Romberg, exhibiting

8

July 28; Bottom left: Abby Salsbury, exhibiting August 10 thru September 22; Bottom right: NMPCA’s 50th Anniversary Celebration of Clay, on exhibit

WHERE HISTORY COMES ALIVE!

Arbiters of the Arts

CHELSEA REIDY

TAOS CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Chelsea Reidy arrived in Taos in 2016 for a short-term house-sitting gig, and like so many before her, she ended up staying. She was drawn into community theater, working backstage for Metta and then in 2018 for “Bye Bye Birdie” at the Taos Center for the Arts (TCA). This led to her first job at the center as a part-time projectionist and theater technician. She was promoted to theater manager and continued moving up the lad der until she was named executive director two years ago.

Reidy grew up a long way from Taos on the tiny island of Guam in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

“It was an amazing experience. I had a very free childhood. My parents were of that hip py scenario and idea so we were just kind of running wild … in the ocean all the time.” The family home was in a tropical forest, off the grid with an open living plan and an outdoor kitchen.

She attended the island’s public schools all the way through high school. After gradu ating, she moved to Hawaii, where she attended community college and discovered she loved learning. She had always done well in school but sports — not academics — had been her focus. She’d played basket ball, volleyball, tennis, soccer and excelled at them all. Now she wanted to know where she could get a good education without having to work threwe jobs to pay for it.

On a visit to one of her brothers, who was studying in Maryland, Reidy and her mother went to Annapolis for lunch. As they passed an imposing Beaux-Arts building, Reidy was surprised to learn it was the U.S. Naval Academy.

"Let’s take a tour," her mother suggested. While there, she learned two things: to get

in, applicants had to play a sport and be good students, and tuition is free. Bingo! Reidy spent one year at the Naval Academy Prep School and two years at the Academy before deciding it was not

She returned to Guam to complete her studies earning a degree in interdisciplinary studies in arts and science with a focus on science technology and the environment. She then spent four years teaching English in Japan. A couple of years traveling the U.S. doing everything from website design to painting and cleaning houses led to the fateful trip

Reidy sees it as her role as executive director to support her colleagues to be successful in their jobs and, with guidance from the board of directors, to carry out the TCA’s mission “to inspire creativity and foster a thriving love for the arts.” What she enjoys most is working with the TCA’s community partners and collaborators who are concerned about the well-being of Taos residents — the people who live here, grow up here, go to school here — and to understand how the arts contribute to that well-being, how the arts could play a greater role in it and what adjustments need to be made to achieve that goal.

JAZZ MUSICIAN GRACE KELLY

JUNIPER LEHERISSEY Arbiters of the Arts

HARWOOD MUSEUM OF ART

Juniper Leherissey, who grew up in Taos and Peñasco, had no idea she’d end up staying when she landed back here in 2000 after 10 years away (meeting someone messes up lots of plans), or that 19 years later she’d be running the Harwood — though, one could argue, if there were any job in Taos she would have wanted, it was that one.

“My art education was mostly me going to Europe for six months and visiting virtually every museum in a number of countries,” she says, “that is my osmotic learning of art and art history.” She also learned she liked being in the museum environment, with the creativity of the exhibitions and the fascina tion with objects and art, but “being in the gallery, organizing things, knowing the art history of everything wasn’t my propensity.”

he has an analytical brain. Her skill set is administrative: fundraising, marketing and membership, with their data bases, spreadsheets and budgets. “Re-hanging the museum sounds like a daunting project to me and you better not leave me in charge of it.” Leherissey’s first arts-related job to tap those skills was at Henry Art Gallery, a mid-sized museum on the University of Washington campus.

It was after a move to Barcelona didn’t pan out as planned that Leherissey found herself back in Taos, where she worked in galleries until she decided that wasn’t a road she wanted to travel. Instead, she pursued a master's degree in arts management at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. During the two-year program, she interned at the Carnegie Museum, raising funds for the 2004 Carnegie International, and was one of the founders of Future Tenant, a program to reinvigorate downtown areas by filling vacant buildings with art.

In her post-graduate career, she focused on fundraising because, “I knew that if a nonprofit is going to be successful that was a very critical piece of it. And once you’re in development there’s always a job.” She was development director for the 2006 International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe. Then she filled the same position at the Harwood, stepping into the role just as the 2008 recession hit and the museum realized it needed another $3.3 million on top of the $3 million it had received from the state to build its planned 11,000-square-foot

Leherissey had stepped away for a couple of years to work at the Taos Land Trust, but when the Harwood’s directorship opened in 2019, she was a natural choice to take over — as a former museum employee, as a local who had witnessed the Harwood’s evolution over the decades, and as one who understood the complex forces at work in our county.

eherissey considers overseeing the Harwood a privilege and enjoys the challenge of moving it forward, of not letting it become an ivory tower but a place that represents Taos in all its diversity. And she loves her hometown, “I could have gone elsewhere and wouldn’t have found as dynamic an artistic community or one as supportive of that creativity as I’ve found here.”

TAOS HISTORIC MUSEUMS

Harwood Museum of Art is considered the second-oldest art museum in the state and houses an impressive array of Spanish colonial and Hispanic relics, as well as works from the many waves of artists who have found their muse in the Taos Valley. Next door, the E.L Blumenschein Home & Museum is a living museum and shrine to Ernest and Mary Blumenschein’s legacy.

Also a National Historic Landmark, the Kit Carson House near the plaza is a prime example of vernacular New Mexico adobe architecture that gives us a better understanding of how people lived in the 19th century. Restoration, at an estimated cost of $3 million, will stabilize and rehabilitate this 200-yearold historic adobe structure.

Down the street, the Couse-Sharp Historic Site features the former homes and studios of E. I. Couse and J. H. Sharp, two of the American-born, European-trained artists who formed the Taos Society of Artists in 1915.

Part of Taos Art Museum at Fechin House, the Fechin House was once home to the Russian artist, Nicolai Fechin. Today, the beautifully restored adobe building is a museum dedicated to Fechin’s life and work. The museum’s collection includes Fechin’s paintings, drawings and sculptures, as well as works by additional Taos artists.

Millicent Rogers Museum houses an impressive and priceless collection of Native American art and jewelry, Hispanic textiles and Spanish colonial art.

Hacienda de los Martinez, a living museum on the outskirts of town, is a Spanish colonial-style fortress-like home (now on the National Register of Historic Places) that became an important center of commerce for traders.

LITTLE RED SCHOOL HOUSE MUSEUM

Red River was born from mining. Much of the town’s mining history has disappeared like the prospectors who once sought gold, but it is still possible to find remnants of the past. The historic Little Red Schoolhouse houses a museum with numerous artifacts and photos from Red River’s past. Stop by and say hi to the museum’s caretaker, longtime Red River resident Mary Miller. Check the museum’s Facebook page for hours: facebook.com/redriverhistorical.

EAGLE NEST GATEWAY MUSEUM

This visitor center and museum is the place to go for information — current and historical! Look for collections from the Moreno Valley’s mining and agricultural history, along with information about the Eagle Nest Lake dam. Look for a spate of special programs/tours this summer: Eagle Nest Dam tour; geology tour of the Moreno Valley; outlaws, bummers and vigilantes; intro to fly fishing; gold, gold, gold; and Eagle Nest Lodge. Jack Schweitzer, museum board vice president, notes, “All subject to finalization based on volunteer availability.” Check visiteaglenest.org.

238 Ledoux

575-758-9826

575-758-2690

CIMARRON & PHILMONT MUSEUMS

A stop on the Santa Fe Trail, and part of the 1.7 million acre Maxwell Land Grant (also known as the Beaubien-Miranda Land Grant), Cimarron features a number of unique landmarks, including the St. James Hotel, built in 1875 by Henri Lambert, and the Aztec Grist Mill (now a museum), built by Lucien Maxwell in 1864. At Philmont, Kit Carson Museum at Rayado is an authentic 1850s hacienda and living history museum. National Scouting Museum helps preserve the 110-plus-year history of the Boy Scouts. The 28,400-square-foot Villa Philmonte mansion was constructed in the Spanish Mediterranean style from 1926 to 1927. Tour guides tell the story of the Phillips family, their ranch and the gifting of that ranch to the Boy Scouts of America. At the Historic Chase Ranch Museum outside Cimarron, the ranch, established in 1869, was owned and operated by the Chase Family for 143 years. During summer months, sta o er guided tours of the main house, grounds, orchards and tack room. The museum site includes restrooms, picnic amenities and a gift shop.

575-758-1000 harwoodmuseum.org taosartmuseum.org taoshistoricmuseums.org

E L Blumenschein Home & Museum

222 Ledoux St,Taos

575-758-0505 taoshistoricmuseums.org

Eagle Nest Gateway Museum

580 E.Therma Dr., Eagle Nest

Kit Carson Museum At Rayado

NM-21, Cimarron

505-721-0704 visiteaglenest.org

575-376-2281 philmontscoutranch.org

Kit Carson House/Museum Questa History Trail National Scouting Museum

575-758-4945 kitcarsonhouse.org

113 Kit Carson Rd,Taos 575-613-2852 questatrail.org

Hwys 522 & 38, Questa 575-376-2281 philmontscoutranch.org

17 Deer Run Rd, Cimarron

Couse-Sharp Historic Site Millicent Rogers Museum Chase Ranch

575-751-0369 couse-sharp.org

146 Kit Carson Rd,Taos 575-758-2462 millicentrogers.org

1504 Millicent Rogers Rd. 575-376-2281 chaseranch.org

NM Hwy 204, Cimarron

St,Taos

Paseo Del Pueblo Norte708 Hacienda Rd,Taos

Harwood Museum of Art Taos Art Museum/Fechin Martinez Hacienda

National Scouting Museum

Little Red Schoolhouse Kit Carson Museum

CREATIVE CONSTRUCTS

From adobes to Earthships, Taos architecture is full of surprises

BY C R A I G S M I T H

Taos County is home to some of the most distinctive architectural styles in the country: adobe, Earthship, Pueblo, mission, Spanish revival, territorial, folk Victorian — these styles and more await your visit.

No trip to Taos is complete without a visit to where the town began — Taos Pueblo. A thousand years of history greet you at this multi-story example of traditional Pueblo construction, dwellings made of adobe (straw mixed with mud) reinforced by interior timber.

This style inspired subsequent architecture, such as the Spanish Pueblo revival style popularized in the 1930s and 40s. Prominent examples include structures on Taos Plaza; the Mabel Dodge Luhan House on Morada Lane; San Francisco de Asís Church in Ranchos de Taos; the Harwood Museum on Ledoux Street; and the University of New Mexico complex on Civic Plaza Drive.

Hotel La Fonda on Taos Plaza exhibits many of the characteristics of the Spanish Pueblo revival style,

TAOS · NEW MEXICO

Krysteen Waszak

Contemporary Plein Air Oil Paintings

Discover Taos... Plein air paintings by Krysteen Waszak

Studios visits by appointment in Taos and Albuquerque. 505-250-0455

krysteen@krysteenwaszak.com instagram@krysteenwaszakart www.krysteenwaszak.com

Events

Taos Art Studio Tour, Labor Day Weekend, 2024

— Ellen M.

Rio Grande, Winter Colors 36x48 Framed, Oil on Canvas

Susanna Starr’s

ODYSSEY

Starr Interiors celebrates 50th year

Now in its 50th year, Starr Interiors seems more vibrant than ever — if that’s possible. One of the oldest galleries in Taos, its uniquely beautiful courtyard accents the wraparound gallery rooms just north of Taos Plaza on Paseo del Pueblo Norte, seducing every passerby into its welcoming embrace.

Since 1974, owner Susanna Starr has carefully chosen each piece created by a select group of Zapotec weavers, people indigenous to the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. The heart and soul of the gallery these past 50 years benefits both weavers and their collectors. Besides continuing their fine weaving traditions, Zapotec weaver villages now boast most modern conveniences and advanced education, plus doctors, dentists and other professionals.

Starr and her family members maintain a close and personal connection with each weaver, a labor of love now spanning three generations producing the high quality, extensive range of size, color and design of this creative and functional art form.

As of spring of this year, Susanna and son Roy Starr were with the weavers in Oaxaca, overseeing this year’s works, including their exclusive “Line of the Spirit” collection representing a different approach to more traditional Southwestern rugs.

“‘Line of the Spirit’ incorporates design elements from cultures all over the world,” Susanna said by phone in a midMarch quasi conference call from the mountainous village Teotitlan del Valle of Oaxaca.

Each one-of-a-kind rug is a piece of art, Roy and Susanna explained. Some large pieces take more than half a year on the loom, “But every weaving is infused with spirit” — hence the name, “Line of the Spirit” weavings, which not only carry traditional geometric patterns from various weaving cultures, including nomadic tribal design inspirations from Turkey and the Middle East, but also design elements from Navajo, Zuni, Hopi and Plains Indians of the Southwest.

“Trading is as old as human history, whether for goods or services,” Starr says in the dedication of her and (late partner) photographer John Lamkin’s book, “Our Interwoven Lives with the Zapotec Weavers: An Odyssey of the Heart” (Paloma Blanca Press; 2014). “It doesn’t have to be exploitative nor impersonal to be successful. Rather if it is infused with joy and happiness, it can provide a vital, important and enriching aspect of our lives.”

Susanna arrived in Taos in 1973, after six months roadtripping down to the Yucatán Peninsula and beyond, with then- husband Ian and three children Mirabai, Roy and Amy Starr.

The suburban NYC life they left behind was barely a memory after six months living in a camper, which they continued to do in the eastern Taos neighborhood of Cañon that summer, “reveling in the beauty of Taos, and making new friends,” she told Tempo in a Mother’s Day 2021 article.

“My mom was very adventurous — she was on the vanguard of things,” Roy says about her instant attraction to Oaxaca and surrounds in those early years. “Cancun didn’t exist then. It was nothing but rough roads down into the jungle … It’s really about heart connections. She lets business take care of itself.”

Roy says they sometimes lived on food stamps, and after one Mexico trip they spent all their allotted $750 on weavings and ran out of money — they had to get cash wired to make it home.

“We just kept on keepin’ on,” Roy says. “Business was a byproduct of what she really wanted to do: be with the weavers.” Her book stays close to these “interwoven lives” that first entwined their families and cultures in the Mexican village marketplace half a century ago.

The thousands-year-old Zapotec culture was largely unknown to the American public at that time, Susanna says, “so it was our job to not only show the hand-loomed pieces, but to introduce them to the [Zapotec] culture.”

Visiting Starr Interiors, you can see, touch and appreciate the products of this ancient culture. The entire gallery bears the hands and hearts of the Zapotec weavers. Built around 1860 — the same era as the nearby Taos Inn — the adobe walls present the charming, historic courtyard that overflows with vibrantly-colored flowering plants from spring to fall. The adobes also offset the captivating fiber art of rugs, wall hangings and pillows — all beckoning a welcome into the interior showrooms.

One side of the building is dedicated to Starr Interior’s “Line of the Spirit” designer collection, representing the ongoing collaboration of Starr and the group of weavers carefully chosen for the collection since its inception more than 35 years ago.

Master dye-maker Alta Gracia Morales created a unique palette of vivid, saturated colors using hand-carded, handspun wool, stirred in dye pots over open fires. Her son Jacinto, a master weaver himself, is the present art director and liaison between all the other weavers on the project.

On the other side of the building are specific displays of individual work by master weavers representing their own traditional designs and color palettes. Many “vignettes” provide ideas for how weavings and pillows work together to create a special addition to a space and show the range of choices between the various weaving families represented, all of whom Starr has known for decades.

“We want people to have something

that touches them, whether created for ‘Line of the Spirit’ collection or from the individual weavers’ own creativity,” Starr told Taos News in 2021. “They come from their hands to our hands in a very personal way. ... Rugs, wall hangings and pillows bring an important presence to a home, providing a special warmth as well as the aspect of décor, and are a direct connection to an important weaving tradition, representing the heart and spirit of a people and its culture.”

575-758-3065 starr-interiors.com

For their 50th anniversary celebration, Starr Interiors is having major sales throughout the year, including 50 percent off various collections. A special event will be announced when planning is finalized. Be sure to stay tuned and drop by.

117 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte

Chefs’ guide to local dining

Four renowned Taos chefs share their personal faves

Inspired by the late, great “bad-boy chef” Anthony Bourdain, who traveled the world in search of “culinary hotspots and out-of-the-way gems” we asked some of Taos’ esteemed chefs to share their favorite spots to dine in Northern New Mexico.

Continues on page 102

mChef Wilks Medley

Chef Wilks Medley owns and operates medley [lowercase intentional] with his wife, pastry chef Colleen Medley. He notes, “My mother’s side of the family homesteaded part of New Mexico, so we've been in New Mexico forever.” A Taos Ski Valley a cionado since age three, Wilks feels he was destined to return to Taos — something he did in grand style with the establishment of medley on Highway 150 outside Taos. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, Wilks worked at several restaurants in Los Angeles before living the dream here serving his modern spins on nostalgic classics, artisan cocktails and exceptional desserts.

“When we go to somewhere new, I'm checking TripAdvisor and other sites, but anytime I go anywhere, I also ask the locals, 'Where should I go?'"

And if a visitor asks him?

“My breakfast spot is Golden Piñon always. Dude [Jaime Saenz Ramirez] makes some damn good breakfast! I think he's got some of the best chile in town. His food's just what you want. It's good. For handheld burritos, I'd probably say the Cow [Taos Cow in Arroyo Seco]. They make a damn good breakfast burrito."

For a special night out, his favorite is the Corner O ce near the Plaza. “They really go for it on the food. It’s a creative menu, outside the norm, and they have a nice wine selection," says Wilks.

“Trujillo’s Diner on the south side has a solid burger and Lambert’s is always on the list."

Medley admits with young children, sometimes the best option is to grab carry out. “Once a week we get Pizaños pizza and wings, and during COVID we got lots of takeout from Sushi Siam. I’m a big curry lover.” 104

Lambert's of Taos

Chef James Crowther III

Lambert’s is a Taos institution. Established in 1989, its current owners, the Troy family, maintain its reputation for excellence — buoyed in no small part by Chef James Crowther III, a native of Northern Virginia who’s overseen dining at Lambert’s for over eight years. Because he uses locally sourced ingredients, the menu changes regularly, though popular items like lamb and prime beef fillet are staple items. Crowther, a graduate of Johnson & Wales University with an associates in culinary arts and a bachelor’s in food service management, says he loves what he does. “It allows me to make people happy and to be creative and artistic at the same time.”

For Crowther, Gutiz is a go-to favorite in Taos for its Latin and French cuisine (un croque monsieur, anyone?) and Southwestern-fused options like their goat cheese quesadilla. “I enjoy the fusion aspect of it, plus they have good service and the quality is always consistent.”

The father of two, Crowther says cooking at home is often the easiest option but “they love Chalupp's Pizza.”

He says Taos Cow in Arroyo Seco is a good choice for quick pickups like co ee, ice cream and other treats, and for baked goods recommends A Salty Little Sweet Shop just beyond Taos Plaza. “Every Saturday morning Holli [Everson, owner] serves cinnamon rolls, which are absolutely delicious, and she does a variety of di erent treats and cookies that are always changing.”

Farther afield, Crowther loves Radish and Rye in Santa Fe for its Southern sensibilities and bourbon. 106

Suchness dining room

Chef Kevin Sousa U

ntil recently, Kevin and Meg Sousa could be seen around Taos with their “Hungry Ghost” pop-up restaurant, however, as Kevin noted, “Due to a trademark conflict, Hungry Ghost will now be known as SUCHNESS dining room. We will have a brick-andmortar restaurant in downtown Taos. Our goal is to be open by June 1.”

Sousa loves Taos for its mix of restaurants. “I don't want to make it sound like I have explored every culinary corner, because we work. We get takeout or go out once every two weeks. We get tacos from La Terraza de Taos Cocina, we grab sushi from Sushi Siam. I mean, heck, I'm not going to make it seem like we’re too fancy. I love it if I happen to be in the Smith’s parking lot at the right time of day on a weekday and the fried chicken is just coming out. That fried chicken is no joke!”

For finer dining, Sousa says, “We've had really nice meals at the Corner O ce we’ve had nice meals at Lambert’s Those have been our go-to places. I think the Corner O ce is doing something di erent for this town. They have a creative wine list, their food is very locally oriented and, technically, the food is very well-executed, very well-seasoned and nicely presented.

“Our first experience with New Mexican food was at the Alley Cantina. It was a bustling Saturday night with a bunch of people in there and I was impressed that they were putting out really delicious, well-seasoned food.

“We have an a nity for pizza of all styles but as the cliche goes, there’s not really bad pizza, it’s just what your preference is. We like Chalupp’s Pizza, and Pizaños is good for traditional-style pizza.” 108

Avett Brothers w/ Iron

Chef Elijah Safford

Wine Dwight Yoakam & The Mavericks

Midland

In 2018, 18-year-old Chef Elijah Sa ord began cooking at ACEQ, the popular Arroyo Seco restaurant. By 2019, the Taos County native had stepped up as head chef and owner putting his stamp on the menu to reflect Northern New Mexico’s rich culinary history. "My biggest focus is building community and providing the best experiences for my guests."

Sa ord is known for sourcing the highest quality ingredients, including bison from Beck & Bulow, grass-fed “wangus” beef (wagyu/black angus crossbreed) and wild-caught fish. Says Sa ord, “I take a lot of pride in sourcing local ingredients, and I think the quality of our food at ACEQ is phenomenal.” ACEQ’s desserts are phenomenal, too, thanks to Elijah’s sister, pastry chef Lilith Sa ord.

“A few restaurants in Taos are really doing an outstanding job,” Sa ord notes. “One of my favorite things is the mom-andpop shop that really cares about the food they're cooking. … A place that cares the most in my opinion is this little restaurant called El Sabor Real. Axel [Resendiz] and his family have been in the restaurant industry forever and I truly think Sabor Real does a phenomenal job with some good home cooking.”

“Another favorite of mine is Golden Piñon. The owner/chef is the same guy who used to cook at the Taos Diner, and I grew up eating his food as a child all the time. He does an amazing job. I think all of his food is all tasty and definitely well worth the price.”

“I think Pizaños has the best pizza in town and Martyrs [Steakhouse] always does a good job as well, and of course Sushi A La Hattori is phenomenal. They've been doing a really good job for a very long time. Danny Cortez at Bomb Street [food cart on Bent Street] makes the best tacos and burgers in town!”

RED RIVER

SHOTGUN WILLIE’S

Self-described as a “quaint, no-frills mainstay for down-home breakfasts, BBQ, Southwestern specialties & burgers,” Shotgun Willie’s has been a Red River institution for over 30 years. If you haven’t already indulged in one of their HUGE breakfast burritos, grab one with melt-in-yourmouth brisket, sausage or both! Shotgun’s also caters events for 10 to 500 guests.

403 West Main Street

575-754-6505

shotgunwilliescafe.com

RED RIVER B REWING COM P AN Y

Red River Brewing Company & Distillery is a family owned and operated business with great beer and cocktails, fantastic food, and top-notch service. Enjoy traditional and fusion-inspired barbecue and brews in their beautiful space, or order brisket, pork ribs or chicken to go.

575-754-4422

217 West Main Street redriverbrewing.com

ANGEL FIRE

SMOKE RINGS BBQ

Owners Grant and Jennifer Gergen took a passion for backyard smoking and are living the dream with their food cart at Frontier Park. Jennifer notes, “Grant’s the meat cook and we make our own sauces.” In fact, Jennifer adds, “Everything is homemade,” including all the sides that accompany their barbecue meals.

Frontier Park, 3367 Mountain View Blvd

806-333-5653

STATE-SANCTIONED BBQ COOKOFF

This year’s 8750’ BBQ & Music Festival in Red River features BBQ, red chili and green chile competitions, and, for the first time, the festival is an official state championship, sanctioned by the Lone Star BBQ Society.

575-754-1708

August 15–17, 2024

8750festival.com

SOL FOOD MARKET & CAFE

Nowhere. This is the Jeopardy answer to the question, "Where are there more talented musicians per square mile than in Northern New Mexico?" A corollary question might be, "Where are there more amazing music venues in a rural setting?"

ur local restaurants and bars feature a varied selection of jazz, rock, folk, pop, Spanish and world music. In Taos, fans can find live music at The Alley Cantina, El Monte Sagrado's Anaconda Bar, Dona Luz Social Club, Daleee at KTAOS Solar Center, La Luna at Hotel La Fonda, Rolling Still Distillery, Barra Vino,

Sagebrush Inn, Adobe Bar at Taos Inn, Taos Mesa Brewing Mothership, Goathead Collective, The Burger Stand, and Th e Gorge Bar and Grill. In Arroyo Seco, find music at Sabroso Restaurant and events under the Seco Live banner. Up in Tres Piedras, check out the Chili Line Depot. In Red River, stop by Bull of the Woods, Red

River Brewing Company & Distillery, Texas Red's Lost Love Saloon, or the legendary Motherlode Saloon. In Angel Fire, head to Zeb's (Zebadiah's) or enjoy music and spectacular sunsets at Elements Fine Dining and Bar. Eagle Nest offers Comanche Creek Brewing, Lucky Shoe and the Laguna Vista Saloon.

TAOS OPERA INSTITUTE

MAY24-JUNE 30

Every summer, the Taos ORera Institute invites Rromisingyoung artists and esteemed faculty to ifaos Ski Valley fm intensive lessons and free concerts for.tne Greater.Jaos Community, as well as an annual Snowcase Gala at tneifaos Community Auaitorium. t.i:earn more at taosoi.org.

COOL SUMMER NIGHTS

JUNE14-SEPTEMBER6

THE TAOS SCHOOL OF MUSIC

JUNE16-AUGUST4

COWBOY EVENING

JUNE20 - LABOR DAY WEEKEND

TAOS PLAZA LIVE

JUNE27 - AUGUST 8, 2024

ROCKIN' 3 M CHUCKWAGON DINNER & SHOW

JUNE29 - AUGUST 24

THE AVETT BROTHERS WITH IRON & WINE AT KIT CARSON PARK

JULY3

DULCIMER AND OLD TYME MUSIC FESTIVAL

AUGUST 2 — 4

Free workshops and concerts at the Red River Community House. Come learn to play mountain or hammered dulcimer. This year’s teachers and performers are Joe Collins, The Vanderveers, Sweet Song String Band featuring Dana Hamilton & David Lindsey, Scott & Irma Reeder, and David Ellison. Learn more at redrivercommunityhouse.org/dulcimer

B LOSSOM & BONES MUSIC FESTIVAL

AUGUST 9 10

This intimate festival takes root in the heart of the stunning landscape Ghost Ranch that inspired Georgia O’Kee e’s life and work in Abiquiu, west of Taos and north of Santa Fe. Festival-goers can enjoy two days of music featuring Vance Joy, Mavis Staples, Lucinda Williams, Courtney Barnett, Dakhabrakha and more. Camp, glamp, sip and eat from local vendors and breweries, enjoy morning yoga, hike, swim, ride horseback, and dance into a red rock sunset and starry New Mexico night. Learn more at ghostranchmusicfest.com

MUSIC FROM ANGEL FIRE

AUGUST 15 29

Founded in 1983, Music from Angel Fire’s revised mission statement since 2018 is to “enrich the lives of Northern New Mexico residents and visitors through extraordinary music performances and educational outreach programs that are sustainable.” Named in 2019, artistic directors Tara Helen O’Connor, flutist, and Daniel Phillips, violinist, invite amazing musicians, students and composers to perform at concerts held in Taos and Angel Fire. Learn more at musicfromangelfire.org

8750’ BBQ AND MUSIC FESTIVAL AUGUST 15 17

The 8750’ BBQ & Music Festival combines live music with BBQ and chili in Red River. Highlights of the 2024 lineup include Ray Wylie Hubbard, Dale Watson, Uncle Lucius, Seth James, Jesse Daniel, Josh Weathers, along with many more local and national favorites. Learn more at 8750festival.com

DWIGHT YOAKAM WITH THE MAVERICKS AUGUST 24

Country music superstar Dwight Yoakam returns to Taos for a concert at Kit Carson Park. Yoakam has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide. His Grammy Award record boasts 18 nominations and two wins. He was also inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2019. The Mavericks is an “eclectic rock and country group known for crisscrossing musical boundaries with abandon.” Tickets are available at lensic360.org

SHAKEY GRAVES AUGUST 25

The performance moniker of Austin, Texas-born Alejandro Rose-Garcia, the ever-bold Shakey Graves is set to perform at Taos Mesa Brewing Mothership west of Taos. His dynamic blues, folk, country and rock ‘n roll style won him an Americana Music Award in 2015 for “Emerging Artist of the Year.” On tour for his latest album “Movie of the Week,” Rose-Garcia has devised his most innovative musical adventure yet. A performance at the legendary Mothership is sure to impress. Tickets available at holdmyticket.com

MICHAEL HEARNE’S BIG BARN DANCE MUSIC FESTIVAL

SEPTEMBER 5 - 7

Michael Hearne’s Big Barn Dance Music Festival is an annual tradition for music lovers and dancers from across the Southwest and beyond. Award-winning musician Michael Hearne invites some of the best songwriters in the music business to perform their original music in a listening room atmosphere. There is a side dance floor all three days, and on the last night the main floor clears for a big barn dance like none other. Learn more at bigbarndance.com

PERFECT PAIRINGS

As you plan your high-altitude

adventures in Northern New

Mexico this summer, be sure to consider some of the perfect pairings of outdoor fun followed by sublime food and drink.

WILLIAMS LAKE & THE BAVARIAN

A classic combination is a hike to either Williams Lake or Wheeler Peak with a stop at the Bavarian Restaurant in Taos Ski Val ley afterwards. I love these trails because they take you high into cool mountain valleys and peaks. In the summer, there are often many stands of luminous blue and white columbines blooming in the boulders along the trail. Williams Lake is beautiful alpine lake surrounded by high peaks. If you climb above the lake to Wheeler Peak, the highest point in the state, you’ll be rewarded with 360-degree views of snow-covered peaks, distant

The Williams Lake Trail (Carson National Forest Trail #62) is a moderate trek to a high altitude lake outside Taos Ski Valley. Park at the lot on Deer Lane. From there, follow the signs past The Bavarian up the hill to the hobbit bridge that marks the trail’s entrance. Beginning at 10,200 feet, the trail follows the Rio Hondo, then crosses a meadow and two boulder fields

sightings of bighorn sheep, pica, marmot and other wildlife. To reach the peak, set out toward Williams Lake and look for the Wheeler trail sign to the left (this is before you reach the lake). Turn here and climb the gradual uphill section through the woods. Soon the trail emerges into an open area above tree line. A series of switchbacks take you higher. Ahead is the ridge that connects Mount Walter and Wheeler Peak. On the ridge, the views open up dramatically. Horseshoe and Lost Lakes are visible below. A short rolling section brings you to the peak. Watch for frequent afternoon thunderstorms.

Irot cake for my June birthday at Sugar Nymphs Bistro in Peñasco. Now it’s become an annual tradition in my household. Pastry chef/owner Ki Holste serves up farm-to-table fare, including a variety of cold and hot sandwiches, burgers, soup, organic salads, and hot entree specials. For dinner, try all-natural, antibiotic-free roast chicken, tri-tip steak, hand-tossed pizza and a variety of vegetarian choices and specials made with a Southwestern flavor. You’ve hiked all day, so don’t skip the desserts! Organic carrot cake, triple layer chocolate cake, chocolate maple pecan pie, cookies and a variety of fruit desserts are available daily. Summer hours after Memorial Day are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. 575-587-0311

DANIEL PEARSON/Taos

DANIEL PEARSON/Taos News

COURTESY ELLEN MILLER-GOINS EXCEPT WHERE NOTED

WILD RIVERS & WILDCAT’S DEN

BY E L L E N M I L L E R

Wild Rivers, 14.8 miles from Questa, o ers several fun hikes including the Riconada Loop Trail, a 5-mile, beginner-level trail. which snakes along the rim of the Rio Grande Gorge and features a wide, all-weather surface. More adventurous visitors will want to check out the Big Arsenic Trail, which drops into the gorge and features numerous petroglyphs for the curious explorer. (These are intentionally unmarked to mitigate vandalism. Ask at the Visitor Center for directions.) Last spring, for the first time, my sister, Mary, and I hiked the Las Vistas De Questa Trail on the Questa side. This is a 4-mile moderate hike with a 500-foot elevation gain, nice views, and wildflowers. From the Questa tra c light, drive 1.5 miles north on NM-522, then turn left (west) onto Don Martinez Road. Continue for half a mile to the end of road and park in the small lot, the trailhead is the right.

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132

COURTESY

CHRISTUS ST. VINCENT AND MAYO CLINIC

For a post-hike treat, head to Wildcat’s Den and know this is not a “fast food” joint: Nothing is cooked ahead of time, so everything is served fresh and hot. This means a bit longer wait, but it’s worth it! Miguel Rael, who bought this Questa institution with his family in 2022, calls the restaurant a perfect fit for “every demographic, every generation, any kind of group. It's like that perfect homestyle restaurant.” Rael’s menu includes a delicious mix of burgers, sandwiches, burritos, tacos, salads, and more. A popular hangout since 1980, the Den is a magnet for those of us who live north of Taos. I love a tortilla burger smothered in red chile, but you can’t beat

the popular Bobcat Special. As one enthusiastic Facebook reviewer gushed, “Man, that [Bobcat] Special, burger (with cheese and bacon) with fries and coke really does it for me! Juicy!” Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. 575-586-1119.

2457 NM-522, Questa, NM

575-586-1119 bit.ly/3U0UjTw

COURTESY

COURTESY

COLUMBINE CANYON & SUNDANCE MEXICAN RESTAURANT

BY E L L E N M I L L E R - G O I N S

From the trailhead at the back of Colum bine Campground in the canyon between Questa and Red River, it is possible to hike all the way to the summit of the 12,115-foot Lobo Peak, the highest point in a small range of mountains between the Rio Hondo and the Red River, or the 11,900-foot Gold Hill. The Columbine-Twining N.R.T. Trail 69, designated as a National Recreation Trail in 1978, ends at Twining Campground in Taos Ski Valley (be sure to arrange for a pick up!). We

The biggest danger in heading to the Sundance Mexican Restaurant following a day’s hiking is the unlimited homemade chips and salsa. If you can curb the impulse to eat too many before dinner, enjoy these crispy treats with sangria or agave wine margaritas. Sundance opened in 1974 and quickly established a loyal following for the delicious food served up by owners John and the late Linda Hoag. The food is delicious and the service is always impeccable. Today, John partners

features an impressive array of fine arts by Linda Hoag. Summer Hours are 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday through Tuesday. 575-754-2971. 575-754-2971

COURTESY ELLEN MILLER-GOINS

ADVENTUREMEMORIES

Steal away a day on the award-winning, historic Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. Climb aboard and leave your worries behind. From the open air gondola to the breathtaking views from your private window, this is a scenic train ride unlike any other. Join us for a day trip through the unspoiled Rocky Mountain West. Vibrant and beautiful as always. Depart from Antonito, Colorado or Chama, New Mexico. The modern world can wait while you take the ride of a lifetime.

book now at cumbrestoltec.com 1-888-286-2737

HORSE GAMES

DISCOVER YOUR INNER WARRIOR

Experience the art of archery on horseback as a spectator or participant.

Enroll in games. Sign up for training. Buy spectator tickets & packages. Call for details.

16

G o bird watching

The story “Birding the Rio Fernando Wetlands” by Jim O'Donnell notes, “Taos County … has on record 276 bird species. The Río Fernando wetlands hot spot has 186 species — twothirds of the species that have been recorded in the whole county.” Read the story and find a list at bit.ly/rio-birding

17

Observe wildlife

Wild things abound in the Enchanted Circle! Take the 86-mile road tour and look for bighorn sheep, bear, bald eagle, coyote, deer and elk. Evening-time cars can be seen inching along the highway, binoculars poised, maybe pulling over to get a closer look at something they’ve spotted. In early summer, look for bighorn sheep in the canyon between Red River and Questa, wild horses in the San Luis Valley north of Questa, and hundreds of elk grazing on hillsides in the Moreno Valley. (Around the second or third week in June, mothers typically return with their elk calves.)

18

Dig it!

Do you like hunting, and maybe digging, for unique or pretty, shiny rocks? Northern New Mexico is a rockhound’s paradise! For advice on where to go, start with Taos Rockers Mineral & Fossil Outlet. Our insider’s tip: Visit the store on a Monday and ask for Jesse. An avid amateur mineralogist and field collector for over 30 years, Jesse Kline particularly enjoys mentoring younger collectors who are eager to learn. The state also offers information on where to go at bit.ly/nm-rockhound

COURTESY JIM O'DONNELL

19

‘Bathe’ in nature

Forest bathers seek a deeper connection with the natural world. The practice can be as simple as walking in any natural environment and consciously connecting with what’s around you. For a more structured experience, Johanna DeBiase, a Taos-based certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide, offers guided nature walks that invite participants to engage with the natural world using their senses. Bathe in Northern New Mexico forests of aspen, fir and spruce and return with calm, focus, creativity and a deeper connection to your Taos stay.

20

C apture an epic sunset

When the Spanish first came to this region, the mountains framing the valley to the east were bathed in a deeply slanted winter light that illuminated the snow on the towering peaks. The whole range was red just before the sunset. And, so, the Spanish named the mountains the Sangre de Cristo or "Blood of Christ" range. Photographers love golden hour in Taos for capturing stunning landscape images. That halfhour before and after sunset is the best time to capture the amazing scenery of Northern New Mexico.

HERITAGE INSPIRATIONS’ GLAMPING

Heritage Inspirations’ Glamping is both a getaway and an adventure. “Go luxuriously wild,” says their website, with package deals that exceed most visitors’ dreams. Inviting you along as a “Glampour,” Heritage Inspirations combines glamour, camping and touring, creating a unique atmosphere where camp is built around a

Immersive day excursions through the land of enchantment will teach you more about the Southwest than any tour guide or shopping trip, allowing visitors to fully embrace the wild and western spirit of Northern New Mexico.

Seasonally inspired multi-course meals paired with New Mexican wines are lovingly prepared by the Glamping Chef, allowing visitors time to sightsee and adventure. These excursions are best suited for those who want an authentic experience of New Mexico, and you can rest assured you’ll enjoy high-end creature comforts come nightfall.

Their 2024 summer glamping excursions revolve around the Perseid Meteor Shower,

with outdoor yoga, hiking, shopping and other opportunities to ground into the local culture and land.

The adventure starts with a walking tour through the historic downtown plaza area. Learn about the Taos Society of Artists and visit artisan studios and galleries. After learning about weaving, painting and jewelry-making, guests make a quick pit stop to sample sweet treats from the world-famous chocolate makers at Chokola, all ethically sourced and lovingly crafted by hand following a bean-to-bar process.

Guests then venture to the Rio Grande Valley for spectacular views of the Rio Grande Gorge and its jaw-dropping 800foot chasm. Finally, load into camp and enjoy the night relaxing or join others for a yoga class.

At night, guests stare in awe at the crisp, clear night skies, chock-full of stars and delight. This August 3-day, 2-night deluxe high-altitude adventure will leave you with leave you enchanted with memories. Don’t forget to register before it’s too late!

Seasonally inspired multi-course meals paired with New Mexican wines are lovingly prepared by the glamping chef, allowing visitors time to sightsee & adventure.

LA FONDA ON THE PLAZA

For a more luxurious option, head for the historic Hotel La Fonda, one of the most iconic hotels in Taos located downtown. The only lodging located in the historic Taos Plaza, Hotel La Fonda situates guests a stone’s throw away from delicious restaurants, art galleries, boutique shops and historic museums.

In 1820, Taos had its first “La Fonda” (“the Inn” in Spanish). Initially a mercantile store that rented rooms, this historic location is where today’s Hotel La Fonda de Taos sits.

Hotel La Fonda boasts quite the reputation and has been a meeting and resting place for artists, politicians, writers and celebrities since its inception. Art lovers and history buffs rejoice to see their D.H. Lawrence “Forbidden Art” collection, and on-site Noula’s Coffee Shop is available for a quick fix of coffee, tea and snacks.

Guests can choose from single occupancy rooms, multi-room suites or, for those wanting to splurge in style, the penthouse rental. Each room is filled with old world charm and character while retaining modern day comforts like luxury linens, internet, hand-tiled bathrooms and a cozy fireplace, or Kiva.

Hotel La Fonda offers just what a modern traveler yearns for: renovated rooms and accessible amenities with carefully-preserved old world charm and accentuated cherished remnants of Taos’ rich past — and present. Come stay a while! 156

As a native of New Mexico, and long-time business owner in Taos, I have a unique perspective on living and working here.

I have a “Local’s” appreciation for our Art, Culture, and History and our economy and

experience in results driven marketing and I am passionate about applying these skills to what is most familiar... my own home town. I hope to be of particular assistance in starting and buying business properties and opportunities.

NEW LISTING | Taos, NM | 410 Burch Street, 10 A

2BD | 2BA | $339,900 sothebysrealty.com/id/ 2VK854

Darling condo located in the heart of Downtown Taos! This small compound is made up of Northern NM-style pitched roof condominiums that o er modern amenities, open kitchen/ living/dining, beautifully landscaped spaces, and carports.

lisa.bybee@sothebys.realty

NEW LISTING | Las Campanas | 20 Black Mesa

| 3BA | 2.4 ACRES | $1,795,000 sothebysrealty.com

Simply beautiful single level southwest Contemporary with Italianate air. Travertine tiles throughout, spacious living areas, formal dining space, beautifully crafted features such as rounded doorways, high ceilings with T & G, and wood accents.

janelle.dry@sothebys.realty Representing Buyers & Sellers of Fine Properties in Santa Fe, Taos, and the Enchanted Circle

Questa

ELEVATION: 7,461 FT

MILES FROM TAOS:

ABOUT 30 MINUTES NORTH OF TAOS , the Village of Questa is the northern gateway to the Enchanted Circle. The town was host to a mineral mine for a century and now is known for its radical adoption of solar energy.

Artists and outdoorsmen have long been drawn to Questa, given its access to pristine alpine forests and the mighty Rio Grande. Adventurers can visit the Rinconada Loop Trail, Columbine Canyon, Cabresto Canyon and the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.

In the heart of Questa is the San Antonio de Padua Church, which was built soon after the village was established in 1842. The historic adobe structure was renovated in 2006 by volunteer artists and craftspeople.

Along with a number of restaurants and shops and a Sunday farmers market, Questa offers visitors a short walking tour of the town, featuring plaques with regional history and fun facts.

LOCATED NEAR THE FOOT of El Salto Mountain, the village of Arroyo Seco sits north of Taos along NM 150 — the main road to Taos Ski Valley. You can feel the sense of community and creativity in the shops, boutiques, galleries and eateries that line the main street of this charming village.

Hungry visitors can eat at Sol Food Market and Café, Abe’s Cantina y Cocina, ACEQ, Sabroso Restaurant & Bar and Taos Cow. Shoppers will find unique offerings at Arroyo Seco Mercantile, Claire Works, Fine Art New Mexico, Logan Wannamaker Pottery, Parse Seco, Rottenstone Pottery, Santos y Más and Marigolds.

Be sure to check out La Santísima Trinidad Church, built prior to 1834. The historic church was given a place on the official State Register of Cultural Properties in 2009. secolive.org

Arroyo Seco

Taos Ski Valley

ELEVATION: 9,321 FT

MILES FROM TAOS: 18.8 MI

ADVENTURE - SEEKERS can take NM

150 up the canyon along the Rio Hondo to its end, where the Village of Taos Ski Valley offers an ideal base for Rocky Mountain activities — all along the base of Wheeler Peak, the highest elevation in the state. At Taos Ski Valley, one can escape the heat and quite literally “get away from it all” or use the cool mountain community as a stepping-out place for the Enchanted Circle.

Visitors can hike, bike, fish and camp among spectacular cool mountain forests. For something truly memorable, explore the landscape on the Via Ferrata, a climbing course featuring a metal wire bridge.

Taos Ski Valley started as a timber and mining operation before Swiss-German ski pioneer Ernie Blake began developing the area for tourism in the 1950s. Today, TSV offers visitors boutique shops, fine dining, a spa and wellness center, and so much more.

Taos Pueblo

ELEVATION: 7,119 FT MILES FROM TAOS: 2.9 MI

THE RED WILLOW PEOPLE

Pueblo have called the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains home for more than 1,000 years. It’s the oldest contin ually inhabited community in the United States, a National Historic Landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A guided tour of Taos Pueblo is highly rec ommended. Tours touch on the highlights of the culture, history and people of the region, and last 20-30 minutes.

The main part of the pueblo was built between 1,000 and 1,450 A.D. Its resi dents speak Tiwa, the language of their forefathers. Of the 1,900 people living on the 99,000 acres of Taos Pueblo lands, only 150 live inside the sacred walls of the ancient pueblo. They live much as their ancestors lived, though they have doors and windows while early residents entered by ladder and through the ceiling — a protection against invasion. That concession, and the addition of wood-burning stoves, are all that distinguish the pueblo of today from the pueblo of 100 or 1,000 years ago.

Visitors to this historic place will find colorful shops offering Native-made, handcrafted works from jewelry to pottery to paintings, plus delicious foods at Dawn Butterfly Cafe and Tiwa Kitchen. All sales are tax-free.

Adult admission is $16, senior/student/ group admission is $14, and children under 10 enter for free. The Taos Pueblo website lists several rules for visitation. For instance, any photographs taken must be for personal use only, and the pueblo prohibits photographing tribal members without their permission.

taospueblo.com

575-758-1028

Eagle Nest

ELEVATION: 8,238 FT MILES FROM TAOS: 31.3 MI

in neighboring Colfax County is the laid-back mountain town of Eagle Nest. The tiny village — with a long history of gunslingers and gold mines — is now a popular destination for outdoor fun and adventure.

In the summer, visitors can hike, camp, horseback ride, mountain bike, canoe, sail and fish. Eagle Nest Lake is a great spot for fishing year-round and is regularly stocked with trout and salmon. The area is also home to buffalo, elk, deer and golden eagle — for which the lake is named.

The main drag offers visitors hotels, restaurants, gift shops and a brewery. There’s even an outfitter to sell gear for adventurers visiting the Lower Eagle Nest Lake Trail and Cimarron Canyon State Park.

High Country Artisan Festival is the last weekend in July and in August, the town hosts an annual hot air balloon and country music festival.

Angel Fire

ELEVATION: 8,600 MILES FROM TAOS:

IN SUMMERS THE MORENO VALLEY spreads out grassy green, verdant as Midwestern farmland — with the added bonus of scenic mountains on all sides. Here lies Angel Fire, a community that is both thriving and relaxed.

Today, visitors can golf, ride horseback, fish, zipline and mountain bike. The top-rated Angel Fire Bike Park offers more than 100 miles of downhill and cross-country trails for every level of bike rider. The trails tie into the National Forest trail network, including the popular South Boundary Trail setting out from the Elliot Barker trailhead.

Angel Fire’s restaurants, from fine dining to coffee shops, are all locally owned and operated, serving up some of the best Northern New Mexico has to offer. Visit the weekly farmers market on Sundays in Frontier Park for down-to-earth foods and crafts.

There’s a summer concert series in Frontier Park and the annual classical music festival Music from Angel Fire. On Father’s Day weekend, the town hosts a hot-air balloon festival, and on Memorial Day, a flag march and ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

GETTING �altLakeCity

HERE

INFORMATION RESOURCES

Discover Taos DiscoverTaos.com

Taos News

TaosNews.com

Visit Taos, New Mexico 575-758-3873; taos.org

Visit Questa visitquesta.com

Red River Visitor Center 575-754-3030; redriver.org

Red River Chamber 575-754-2366; redriverchamber.org

Eagle Nest Visitor Center & Gateway Museum 505-721-0704; visiteaglenest.org

Angel Fire Visitor Center 575-377-6555; visitangelfirenm.com

Angel Fire Chamber 575-377-6353; angelfirechamber.org

SANTA FE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

American Airlines

Scipio 50Salina UTAH

ARIZONA Fla�v

COLORADO

Daily non-stop service to Dallas/Ft. Worth and Phoenix; 800-433-7300; aa.com

United Airlines

Daily non-stop service to Denver

800-864-8331; united.com

AIRPORT SHUTTLE

Mountain View Shuttle 575-770-8759

CAR RENTAL COMPANIES

Enterprise 1350 Paseo del Pueblo Sur. Taos 575-758-5553; enterprise.com

LOCAL GROUND TRANSPORTATION

Faust's Transportation 575-758-3410

Taos Rides, LLC Shuttle Service

New Mexico DOT-certified charter and shuttle service. Door-to-door service up to 12passengers to Taos. Santa Fe and Albuquerque airports. 575-613-3256; taosrides@grnail.corn; taosrides.com

Taos Taxi

Year-round service to Santa Fe and Albuquerque. 575-770-7563

Shuttle Taos

South Boundary & Continental Divide Shuttles. 575-770-4033; shuttletaos.com

NORTH CENTRAL REGIONAL TRANSIT DISTRICT

Northern New Mexico public transportation Reservations required. (866) 206-0754 or ncrtd.orgor taosexpress.com

DRIVING DISTANCES

MEXICO

Approximate travel tirne to Taos MILES HOURS

ALBUQUERQUE 1352½

AMARILLO 3024½

AUSTIN 76412

BRECKENRIDGE 2634

COLORADO SPRINGS 2303¾

CRESTED BUTTE 271 4¼

DALLAS 68210½

DENVER 3004½

DURANGO 208 3¼

EL PASO 4006

OKLAHOMA CITY 5588¾

PHOENIX 568 8½

PURGATORY 2333¾

SANTA FE 72 1¼

TELLURIDE 324

TUCSON 5698½

Denver

OKLAHOMA

TEXAS

O (TO DALLAS) Abilene

(TO AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO, HOUSTON)

San

Taos

Arroyo Seco

Representing the Historical Classics and the Best Contemporary Artists

Chris Morel “Through The Aspens” Oil on canvas, 20” x 16”

La Traviata

Giuseppe Verdi

June 28

July 3, 6, 12, 19

August 1, 5, 10, 17, 20, 24

Traviata Illustration