Jenny's View

Friends,

We’re having a fabulous ski season in New Mexico, and especially at Ski Santa Fe. February’s sure to be a peak month at all our area ski resorts with more snow predicted and plenty of crisp blue skies ahead. For me, there’s nothing better than plowing through piles of new powder to make me feel alive! I recently skied my little legs off and then made my way back to the hotel for a well-earned treatment at The Spa at La Fonda.

It’s been 17 months since we reopened our refreshed and renewed Spa at La Fonda on the Plaza, inviting visitors to the City Different to sample our expanded menu of wellness services. And it’s been a great 17 months! The Spa has taken off as word has spread about our three relaxing treatment rooms where you can indulge in a massage, facial or other body treatment.   

Facials are a great introduction to The Spa, and one of my favorites. Our abundant sun, dry climate and cold winter weather really takes a toll on the part of my skin that’s always exposed – especially because I’m outside all the time with my horse or on the slopes.

A facial with lead aesthetician Gladys Diaz starts with a full skin evaluation, drawing on her 30 years of experience and extensive skin care knowledge. You might choose our new Desert Rose replenishing facial. It gives skin a youthful glow with the healing and regenerating properties of Bulgarian Rose oil. And it smells divine! Gladys’ gifted hands will have you doing a double take in the mirror because you’ll look so good!

(Gents, we’ve got a facial especially for you, too. It combines steaming hot towels, targeted exfoliants, contouring eye treatment, hydrating products, and last but not least, a relaxing neck and shoulder massage).

It’s really the people that have made the Spa a destination for indulgence. Our incredible massage therapists are all experts at making guests feel welcome and pampered. With decades of collective experience, our therapists have cultivated the focus and attention necessary to evoke truly relaxing experiences. They love what they do and it shows.

One of our most popular treatments, especially in February, is the couple’s massage – whether you bring your bestie, your mom or sister, or your partner. Check the website for a full list of spa treatments, and reserve your perfect time.

Don’t wait another four years to treat yourself – especially if you’re outdoors a lot in the winter, like I am. You’ve got an extra day to do it this month at the Spa.

See you on the slopes,

Jenny

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Detours at La Fonda

A Santa Fe Merchant Since 1922

Detours is all about love this month!  Discover the perfect gift for your Valentine at La Fonda's Gift Shop. 

Purchase a Muzen Button bluetooth speaker through our online store by February 14, 2020 (or while supplies last) and you'll be entered to win a free night stay at La Fonda!  

Bluetooth Speaker on a table
Valentine Gifts

Close up of guitar

Live at La Fonda

Johnny W. Lloyd Band

Guitarist and vocalist Johnny W. Lloyd, who is about to release not one but two CDs, arrived in Santa Fe a decade ago on his horse. Literally. He spent 6 months and 3 weeks riding from Monroe, Michigan to arrive in the City Different.

“I’ve been playing around town for 10 years now, but this is the first time at La Fiesta Lounge at La Fonda,” Lloyd says. “I’m honored to play here – it’s the premiere spot in Santa Fe.”

Audiences might recognize him and his flowing white beard from other gigs around town, and his frequent busking performances on the Plaza. He’ll be backed on guitar by Tim “Cactus Slim” Arnold, whose 6-foot 5-inch, skinny-as-a-pool-cue frame is unforgettable. The two met in Madrid, New Mexico ten years ago and have played together ever since. Rounding out the trio on drums and harmony vocals is Luke Ashley Aires - the “pretty” one, according to Lloyd.

Check out Lloyd’s Facebook page and stay tuned for his next La Fiesta Lounge performance.

Try La Fiesta’s featured cocktail this month for a delicious way to remind yourself that though we’re in the frigid throes of winter, spring is just around the corner. The Regal Bramble brings together fresh blackberries, lemon juice and agave with the bold flavor of Chivas Regal. For those of you not indulging, La Fiesta also offers a Sparkling Bramble that substitutes club soda for the alcohol.


It’s a Good Time To…

This is the final month for La Fonda’s Artists in Residence program. Through February 29, stop by from 4 - 7pm, Thursdays through Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 3pm to see accomplished artists practicing their craft in the lobby. February’s artists are painter Del Curfman (Jan. 31-Feb. 2), jeweler Jeff DeMent (Feb. 7-8), and painter Kathy Olshefsky (Feb 21-23). And if the winter’s blues have you, shake them off with us with our special Artists in Residence rates at La Fonda.

February also boasts several Pueblo feast days and celebrations open to the public, all excellent ways to experience a taste of authentic Pueblo life. February includes feast days at Picuris, San Felipe, Acoma, San Juan and Cochiti Pueblos. Because scheduling varies and can be inconsistent, always contact the visitor center or Pueblo office beforehand.

Hailed by the New York Times as "...a one-man band who turns a guitar into an orchestra and his voice into a chorus," Grammy-nominated jazz musician Raul Midón returns to New Mexico to celebrate his New Mexican roots at a benefit event for his alma mater, Santa Fe Prep (Feb. 5). Come join this exceptional opportunity and honor retiring Head of School Jim Leonard's 21 years of leadership at Prep.

February is also Black History month, and you’re invited to the Kumbuka Celebration at the Lensic. This multimedia program (Feb. 28) will include song, spoken word, and dance tributes and will culminate with an interactive libation ceremony.

If you thought the eating was over, think again! Foodies sharpen your knives and tuck in your napkins, Santa Fe Restaurant Week (Feb. 23-Mar. 1) is back with a roster of top eateries offering bargain-priced prix-fixe menus, including La Plazuela at La Fonda. Keep checking the website for additions, and make your reservations early! Taos and Albuquerque follow with their own Restaurant Weeks in March.

A Close Up Of A Painted Wall
La Fonda hotel is located on the Santa Fe plaza

                                                                                                                                              


A Close Up Of A heart belt buckle

Tom Taylor

Belts
Buckles
Bags

TOM TAYLOR 2020 SHOPPING

Happy Valentine’s Day! Check out Tom Taylor's low-sugar, keto and paleo-friendly Valentine’s treats for your sweetheart in their La Fonda store.  Stop in to see the stunning collection of one-of-a-kind belts, buckles, and bags, all handcrafted by Tom Taylor's world renowned New Mexican silversmiths and leather artists, or check out their collection online at Tom Taylor. And be sure to subscribe to their newsletter for a personal invitation to Tom Taylor's upcoming Spring Sales event.

A Woman Talking On A Cell Phone

Sense


Sense Clothing® designed in the USA is headquartered in downtown Santa Fe, NM in the historic La Fonda Hotel on the Plaza. Sense launched their first collection in Spring 2005, consisting of ultra-soft fabrics and modern colors. Sense is all about the "multi-functional" wardrobe which makes our collection the perfect travel line, uniting the elements of Spa and Travel for today's active women.

Guests at La Fonda receive 25% off any Sense item.

111 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501 in La Fonda

Call: 505-988-5534

chocolate

Señor Murphy

Santa Fe Chocolate Maker

Señor Murphy's uses only the very best and freshest ingredients in their sweets.  Stop by their shop at La Fonda for delicious hand-made treats!

Photogenesis Gallery at La Fonda

Photogenesis

A Gallery of Photography

Photogenesis features fine art photography for both the new and the established collector.


Film & Performance 

The Met Live in HD series at the Lensic features  Agrippina, Handels’ tale of intrigue and impropriety in ancient Rome, with star mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato as the controlling, power-hungry Agrippina and Harry Bicket conducting (Feb. 29).

The NT Live in HD theater series at the Lensic brings an encore of The Lehman Trilogy (Feb. 8), in association with the Santa Fe Jewish Film Festival. This gripping story of a family and a company that changed the world is told in three parts on a single evening.

Then return to the Lensic for James McAvoy (His Dark Materials, X-Men) in an inventive new adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac, broadcast live to cinemas from London’s West End (Mar. 4). Fierce with a pen and notorious in combat, Cyrano almost has it all - if only he could win the heart of his true love Roxane.

WildEarth Guardians’ Mountainfilm on Tour comes to the Lensic (Feb. 6) with a mix of films, from mountain sports to amazing wild places, all bound to appeal to people from all walks of life. The annual Santa Fe Film Festival (Feb. 12-16) offers the best in cinematic arts at various local venues, with over 100 films including narrative and documentary features, shorts of all types, as well as a spotlight on local filmmakers. Don’t miss the panels, workshops and parties during this annual five-day event.

Mark your calendars for Hummingbird by Santa Fe playwright Alix Hudson at Teatro Paraguas (Feb. 6-23). The play takes place in an unspecified first-world country. Nadia and Miriam are best friends and seniors in high school; Sam is Nadia’s big brother and works at a local factory. After Nadia and Sam’s parents are deported for being undocumented immigrants, however, Nadia falls into a coma-like state — the so-called "Apathy Syndrome" that’s plaguing the children of refugees.

New Mexico School for the Arts presents Fools by Neil Simon (Feb. 13-15) at the James A. Little Theatre. Leon Tolchinsky is ecstatic. He’s landed a terrific teaching job in an idyllic Russian hamlet. When he arrives, he finds people sweeping dust from the stoops back into their houses and people milking upside down to get more cream. The town has been cursed with chronic stupidity for two hundred years, and Leon’s job is to break the curse.

Prodigies: A Million Dreams promises an evening of awe-inspiring performances by young musical prodigies at the Lensic (Mar. 7).  Angelica Hale, Karolina Protsenko and Kayden Kelly are up-and-coming musicians that dazzle and inspire.  Don't miss it!


Out & About

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, join the creative folks at the NM Museum of Art for a day of Renaissance-style art (Feb. 9). Create one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Day cards and collages. Eric Careno will get you in the mood with Renaissance music. Explore the museum on a love-themed treasure hunt, enjoy refreshments, and tour our galleries with someone you love. Free and fun for all ages.

The New Mexico Multi-Cultural Foundation presents the New Mexico Artisan Market, a boutique shopping event showcasing the state’s most talented artisans and makers (Feb. 15-17). Head to the Community Convention Center for locally curated, artisan goods and celebrate the craftspeople who contribute to our vibrant creative economy.

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean that the Farmers Market and Artisan Market have gone into hibernation. Saturdays year round you can choose from food, arts and crafts, music and more at the Farmers Market Pavilion.  During weekends the Market at El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe is back, bigger and more eclectic than ever. Get out and support our local vendors this winter!


Music & Dance 

Join the Santa Fe Symphony for Symphony Strata (Feb. 1), evoking the layers of musical conversation seen in chamber music plus the diversity of venue and repertoire experienced through these concerts. Then come back for Guest Conductor Nir Kabaretti and Tuba Concerto featuring Richard White, Violin Concerto featuring Guillermo Figueroa, and Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 New World (Feb. 16).

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet returns to the Lensic with Grupo Corpo (Feb. 4). Founded in 1975 in Belo Horizonte, this boundary-breaking company stands out for its dancers’ technical precision, dazzling partnering, and explosive energy. Grupo Corpo brings two works for its exclusive Santa Fe engagement: Dança Sinfônica, created to celebrate the company’s 40th anniversary in 2015, and Gira, a journey into the universe of Afro-Brazilian religions.

Serenata in SITE: Riffs & Digressions final performance (Feb. 7), Migration and Complex Stories, features original music and stories of displacement and homeland performed by Syrian clarinetist Kinan Azmeh and Sri Lankan pianist Dinuk Wijeratne. Captivating and beyond borders, this all original music reflects art in the time of crises.

International Guitar Night, the world’s premier touring guitar festival, celebrates its 20th anniversary at the Lensic! This year’s lineup includes Mike Dawes, Cenk Erdogan, Olli Soikkeli, and Jim Kimo West (Feb. 7).

Performance Santa Fe presents jazz chanteuse Alicia Olatuja (Feb. 11), praised by Downbeat for her “full-bodied tone, precise pitch and personal engagement at the lowest whisper or highest wail” – will astound you with her exquisite vocals, artistic versatility, and captivating stage presence.

Grammy and Emmy-winning The King’s Singers are back! Fresh off their 50th anniversary tour, this “immaculate” vocal sextet returns to Santa Fe for another magical evening at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi (Feb. 22).

At the Lensic Feb. 13, Kat Edmonson’s “vintage pop” is like the Great American Songbook meets Turner Classic Movies. Her inimitable “fresh as a spring bouquet” (New York Times) music has topped the Billboard jazz charts and made her an NPR favorite.

Santa Fe Pro Musica’s month features Brentano String Quartet (Feb. 23), named for Antonie Brentano, considered Beethoven’s “Immortal Beloved.” The Brentano Quartet is the Resident String Quartet at the Yale School of Music, a position they formerly held at Princeton University. The London Independent raves that their performances are “passionate, uninhibited and spellbinding.”

AMP Concerts’ Santa Fe line up is amazing! February opens at Gig with C.W. Stoneking (Feb. 3), continues with Garza at Meow Wolf (Feb. 10), Flor de Toloache at the Lensic (Feb. 21), Beyond the Pale at Paradiso (Feb. 22), and Robert Earl Keen also at the Lensic (Feb. 23). The month wraps with Joseph at Meow Wolf (Feb. 28). And get your tickets now for iconic Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-winning singer Lila Downs (Mar. 1) and the Allman Betts Band (Mar. 5) featuring the songs of Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts for an evening of new music and classic Allman Brothers’ tunes, both at the Lensic.

Over at Meow Wolf, February brings Wolf Parade (Feb. 7), Baynk (Feb. 8), Murder by Death (Feb. 11), local favs Red Light Cameras (Feb. 14), HotBOI Showcase (Feb. 15), Pinegrove (Feb. 18), Autograf (Feb 22.), Magic City Hippies (Feb. 25.), Minnesota (Feb. 27), and Big Freedia (Feb. 29). Head into March with Twiddle (Mar. 3), Tennis (Mar. 4), Dombresky (Mar. 5) and Generationals (Mar. 8).


At the Museums

The Museum of International Folk Art presents From Combat to Carpet: The Art of Afghan War Rugs (thru Aug. 30). From Combat to Carpet is a traveling exhibition curated by Enrico Mascelloni and Annemarie Sawkins and features more than 40 handwoven rugs with war-related iconography collected over the past forty years.

The New Mexico Museum of Art opens Word Play (Feb. 8-Sept 13). Words and pictures have a long history of playing well together, sometimes reinforcing and sometimes contradicting each other. This exhibition of more than forty works of art in a variety of mediums features images by artists who incorporate letters, words, and phrases into their visual creations.

Also at Museum of International Folk Art, Sewing Stories of Displacement (Feb. 16-Sept. 27) captures moments of violence, political upheaval, and natural disaster throughout the 20th and 21st centuries that led to the displacement of entire communities. Since the 1960s, displaced people throughout the world—women, men, and children—have embroidered the stories of their forced migrations, new transitions, and memories of more stable lives. Through these textiles, they have been able to document their experiences, share their perspectives, and often, supplement their income during desperate times.

At IAIA, Way of Sorrows, a new installation by Charlene Teters (Spokane), addresses current issues such as forced migrations and the US-Mexico border crises, while asking questions about responsibility and identifying new myths (Feb. 7-May 17).


Speakers

School for Advanced Research invites archaeologist Ruth Van Dyke (Feb. 13) to discuss her research exploring social, political, and sensorial relationships across the greater Chaco landscape.  Van Dyke will share her insights on how archaeologists can work together with Native American communities to influence the public understanding of contemporary economic/extractive projects, including those in northwest New Mexico.

The Wheelwright Museum presents best-selling author Douglas Preston giving an account the author’s 400-mile horseback journey through the deserts in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico (Feb. 17). With his wife and daughter, Preston retraced the route of a Navajo deity, the Slayer of Alien Gods, on his quest to restore beauty and balance to the Earth. Then return on Feb. 19 for Anne Hillerman discussing her book The Tale Teller with the Friends of the Wheelwright book club.

Lannan Foundation’s Readings & Conversations presents Millie & Christine McKoy: Syncopated Sonnets in Song, a collaboration by poet Tyehimba Jess and composer Janice A. Lowe (Feb. 26). Millie and Christine McKoy were conjoined African American twins who were born into slavery in North Carolina in 1818. Trained as children to sing, dance, play string instruments, and speak multiple languages, the sisters, billed as “the two-headed nightingale” and “the eighth wonder of the world,” were presented as a traveling curio and performance act.

The Indian Arts Research Center at the School for Advanced Research presents The Language Warrior’s Manifesto: Indigenous Language, Culture, and Art in Motion with Anton Treuer (Mar. 4). Treuer is Professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State University and author of 15 books, including The Language Warrior’s Manifesto.


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NOMINATE LA FONDA FOR THE SANTA FE REPORTER BEST OF SANTA FE

BEST LODGING, La Fonda
BEST GIFT STORE, Detours
BEST PATIO, Bell Tower Rooftop Bar
BEST HOTEL BAR, La Fiesta Lounge
BEST BREAKFAST, La Plazuela
BEST CHEF, Chef Lane Warner
BEST TOUR BUSINESS, Docent Art Tours