Jenny's View

Dear Friends,

We hope you can make it this Friday, December 2nd as we honor La Fonda icons! Our inaugural Legends of La Fonda Awards will take place in our New Mexico Room from 2-4pm. The event is free and open to the public.  

Over the past few decades, the soundtrack to La Fonda’s 100 Years of Hospitality has been headlined by the super popular Bill Hearne and his late wife Bonnie. Bill has been strumming’ his Collins guitar late nights in La Fiesta for over thirty years and we can’t wait to honor his legacy in kind. Without his folk tunes and Texas drawl, sincere heart, and the laid-back vibe that his performances evoke, La Fonda would be at a loss for an incredibly special vibration that truly renders the rooms and corridors of La Fonda blessed.  Bill is bringin’ along his mic and guitar — so be prepared to two-step as we raise a toast in his honor! 

A Person Wearing Glasses

Just as Bill’s tunes linger long after the show stops, so do the thoughtful design decisions of our dear friend and architect, Barbara Felix. As travelers, we don’t often stop to consider the emotional impact creative decisions have on the spaces we enter and experience. But I know, because of her passion, that nearly every waking minute of every day, Barbara is pondering the thread between place, materials, culture, and the very thoughts that result in the construction and caretaking of amazing structures, like La Fonda. Her partnership with the hotel spans nearly two decades and her impact on our iconic building is immeasurable. We’re honored to acknowledge Barbara and her talented team for the work they’ve done to restore and honor our rich history. 

A Group Of People Sitting At A Table With Wine Glasses

The famous Harvey Girl Twins of La Fonda, Beverly Ireland and Bernette Jarvis — the vibrant gals with first-hand insight to the Fred Harvey era — are true stewards of our past. Through storytelling and their vast network of friendships stemmed from their time boarding in the basement of the hotel during the ‘50s, these wonderful women truly are a part of our La Fonda family. These amazing sisters are a testament to the spirit of authenticity we value and admire. 

Jenny Kimball Et Al. Posing For A Photo

Our team recently returned from the Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide 2022 Awards of Excellence and Conference at the gorgeous Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa in Point Clear, Alabama. What a trek! We ventured out to Point Clear to celebrate our nominees, Ed Pulsifer (Historian of the Year), Rik Blyth (Hotelier of the Year), Connie Stahlhut (Ambassador of the Year). The experience was wonderful; we ate a lot of seafood gumbo, connected with old friends, enjoyed traditional southern hospitality, and learned important lessons about the region. 

One keynote’s story resonated deeply. Darron Patterson, President of the Clotilda Descendants Association and a descendent from the last slave ship to the America’s, presented a story that evolved from horror to hardship to hope. His relatives were among the 110 captured Africans forced to make the voyage across the Atlantic on the Clotilda. He called on all the historic hoteliers present to not only promote the preservation of history, but to make sure we don’t sugarcoat the struggles of the folks that helped our iconic properties achieve success. If you are interested in learning more about the history of Clotilda, click here.  

And it sure feels great to come home from such a prestigious event with a win! From over 350 nominations, the awards committee evaluated the nominee finalists and, after careful consideration, selected La Fonda for Best Social Media. What an honor!  

It’s hard to believe our Centennial Year is ending, but we still have a few tricks up our sleeve to keep the champagne pouring! Join us on December 7th in our lobby as we unveil the permanent installation of our commemorative plaque that was debuted at our Centennial gala in March. Our friend, the honorable Mayor Alan Webber will lead us with a toast to our next century of success! And in typical La Fonda style, we’re going to officially close out the year with a bang! Don’t miss the annual New Year’s Eve fireworks display from our rooftop. We can’t wait to ring in another 100 years of hospitality.

A Man And A Woman Standing In A Room

Cheers! 
Jenny 

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A Cake Made To Look Like A Face

Detours at La Fonda


In the shop this month, we're featuring the work of artist, Sandy Vaillancourt.  Sandy's paintings capture the essence and magic of Santa Fe -- perfect for the holidays!  Don't miss her trunk show in the hotel lobby December 23, 2022 through January 1, 2023.

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La Plazuela


La Plazuela is the ultimate destination for a traditional meals with a dash of New Mexican flare.  Enjoy the warmth of our inviting atmosphere and delicious cuisine this holiday season. Take advantage of our Christmas prix fixe dinner in the atrium dining room, or our holiday buffet in our ballroom.

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Cynde Roof Fine Art Gallery


Be a Special Santa to someone you love this Christmas. Gifting a lovely work of art is ALWAYS the right size. Enjoy secret Holiday Pricing only available only to you reading the December issue of the La Fonda newsletter! Mention you are a “Special Santa” and claim awesome benefits.

Cynde Roof Fine Art
105 Old Santa Fe Trail   
Santa Fe

1-505-365-2758     

A Red Can Of Soda

Photogenesis

An American Icon

The esteemed Photogenesis Gallery has been located in La Fonda on the Plaza in Santa Fe for over 30 years.  The gallery features the work of some of the finest photographic artists.  For many years Photogenesis featured only black and white images, but they expanded to showcase fine art color prints, as well -- either archival pigment prints or giclée prints.

TAB!!!   TAB, one of Coca Colas favorite soft drinks of all times ceased to exist a few years ago. TAB had a great following among soft drink lovers. Photogenesis offers this image of TAB that will last a lifetime -- even though you can’t drink it, you can enjoy the beauty of an American icon, the TAB can!

Visit Photogenesis Gallery this holiday season!

To order please call (505) 989-9540 or email: ojoette@gmail.com, or stop by to visit Joette in the gallery.

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Rocki Gorman


Make a bold statement with handcrafted Southwestern inspired accessories and jewelry that seamlessly blend classic and contemporary styles.

Phone: 505-983-7833

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Gemsong Gallery


Now expanded next to Detours at La Fonda!

Gemsong Gallery features a large selection of pieces by top Indigenous artists, along with an extensive selection of collectible American Turquoise from the gallery founder's five decades of experience as a trade leader in the Gemstone and Indigenous Jewelry & Arts industries.

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Tom Taylor


Tom Taylor offers America's largest selection of premium leather & exotic skin belts, buckles & bags.

Explore their latest!

A gift shop

The Shops at La Fonda


Discover the fall offerings from the amazing Shops at La Fonda!

A Tall Building In A City

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Activities in Santa Fe

There's so much to see and do in Santa Fe, so make sure to plan ahead!  Whether you're into live concerts, hiking, biking or golf -- there's something for everyone in The City Different.


La Fonda and Santa Fe in the News

 
NATIVE AMERICAN ART MAGAZINE
A Century of Art and Culture

 
CONDÉ NAST 
Top 5 Ski Resorts in New Mexico to Enjoy
HISTORIC HOTELS OF AMERICA 
La Fonda Wins Best Social Media!