Header photo: Kayaker John Fullbright on the Rio Grande by Geraint Smith
In This Issue:
DMC Broadcasting Annual Mother's Day Concert
Red River Bike Rally
Taos School of Music
Taos Solar Music Fest
Yves Saint Laurent: The Retrospective
Taos Pueblo Pow Wow
Fiestas de Taos
Taos Plaza Live!
Taos Contemporary in Denver
World Class Dining
Taos Express
Calendar of Events
Enchanted Circle Happenings
Special Musical R&R Just for Moms
May 12 – May 13, 2012
Moms work hard throughout the year, and they deserve a little R & R for at least one weekend of those 52 weeks. This year DMC Broadcasting will again hold their free Mothers’ Day concert and celebration at Filemon Sanchez Park in Taos. Taos provides a beautiful backdrop for this live music event that features New Mexico's premier musicians, along with great food and fun for everyone! This event is no cost and is sponsored by DMC’s four radio stations, the Town of Taos, Taos County and many more. Make it a weekend retreat, and choose from the numerous, cozy bed and breakfasts or luxurious resorts and spas in the area – nurture the one who nurtures you.
taos.org/art/festivals-events
Memorial Day Weekend – Get Ready to Rumble at the Red River Bike Rally
May 24 – May 28, 2012
Over Memorial Day weekend 20,000 bikers will roar into New Mexico and line Main Street in the town of Red River. Just 45 minutes from the Town of Taos, NM, Red River lies in the beautiful Sangre de Cristo Mountains at the southern point of the Rocky Mountains. This annual event features live music at venues throughout town, vendors selling an array of products for everyone in attendance, great food and fun.
Be sure your ride includes the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway - an 83-mile loop through northern New Mexico's most beautiful scenery. And if you want some respite from the rumble of the rally, make your home base in Taos where there are accommodations, dining options and entertainment venues to suit every taste. The rally concludes on Monday morning with a group ride and visit to the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Angel Fire. www.redriver.org
Taos School of Music Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary
June 17 – August 5, 2012
With alumni that have served in award-winning chamber groups and gone on to become principal players of major U.S. orchestras, the Taos School of Music is one of the oldest and most respected summer chamber music programs in the country. Founded in 1963, the Taos School of Music offers an intensive eight-week program with an unparalleled faculty to student ratio and solely focuses on performance of chamber music.
This summer, the Taos School of Music will celebrate its 50th anniversary season of chamber music. Performances will be held at the Taos Community Auditorium in beautiful downtown Taos and will feature renowned faculty in residence along with other guests from highly revered chamber groups like the Jupiter and American String Quartets and Christopher Costanza, cellist with the St. Lawrence String Quartet. There will also be accompanying seminars held at the Hotel St. Bernard in Taos Ski Valley, which are free of charge. Tickets for faculty concerts are only $20, and a detailed calendar of specific concert information is available on the website. There is no better place to engage the senses than Taos in the summer. Be inspired by the sights, smells and, especially, sounds at this special 50th Anniversary celebration.
Get Ready To Rock at the Taos Solar Music Festival
June 30 – July 1, 2012
Lyle Lovett—www.solarmusicfest.com
The Taos Solar Music Festival is an annual live music show in downtown Taos at Kit Carson Memorial Park. The weekend of the festival, the park becomes known as Solar Village and is free and open to the public. This fantastic music event, now in its 13th year, boasts headlining bands in an intimate outdoor setting. This year’s lineup proves to be no different and thus far includes Michael Franti and Spearhead, Lyle Lovett, Los Lobos and the Del McCoury Band. More bands will be added to the concert lineup as the weekend nears. For centuries Taos has been home to visual artists, musicians and creative spirits. Perhaps it is the endless skies, the serene mountain beauty or the longstanding cultural tradition of music and movement, but artists and attendees alike will relish their time at this great annual music festival. www.solarmusicfest.com
Don’t Miss the Only U.S. Destination for Yves Saint Laurent: The Retrospective
March 25 – July 8, 2012
The Denver Art Museum is the exclusive U.S. venue for this must-see exhibition exploring Yves Saint Laurent’s 40 years of fashion design, from his first days at Dior to his final runway collection in 2002. Through a selection of 200 haute couture garments, photographs, drawings, and films, you will experience the creative development of one of the world’s most iconic fashion designers.
See the exhibition in style through our exclusive hotel packages, which include two VIP exhibition tickets and two audio tours ($60 value). Visit www.YSLdenver.com/hotel-packages and book your stay today!
Calendar of Events
May 12 & 13, 2012
Taos Chamber Music Group
The Taos Chamber Music Group’s nineteenth season concludes with concerts on Saturday, May 12 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, May 13 at 4 pm. Works include W.A. Mozart’s Quintet for piano, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and horn; Ludwig Thuille’s Sextet for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn and piano; and Gary Schocker’s Native American Suite for flute and piano. These performances are part of National Chamber Music Month in May, sponsored by Chamber Music America. Tickets are available in advance for $20 at www.taoschambermusicgroup.org, or at the Harwood Gift Shop on Ledoux St. ($16 for Harwood Alliance members) www.taoschambermusicgroup.org.
Location: Arthur Bell Auditorium of the Harwood Museum of Art
May 12, 2012
Book Release and Signing Party
A Precarious Balance: Creative Women in Taos features photographic and word portraits of 52 women in northern New Mexico. The event takes place from 3 to 5 pm. www.parksgallery.com
Location: Parks Gallery
May 26 through June 30, 2012
Stephen C. Datz Solo Exhibition: "Silver & Gold"
Act I Gallery is honored to present the 9th annual exhibition of new works by Stephen C. Datz. This year’s show, “Silver & Gold”, is bold and beautiful with the colors of fiery autumn and crystalline winter. From small field studies to large studio works, this eagerly-awaited event is impressive in its breadth and splendor.
For this show which opens with a reception on May 26, from 4 to 6 pm, Stephen has painted the mountains and valleys of the Elk and San Juan ranges along with scenes from the desert landscapes. www.ActOneGallery.com
Location: Act I Gallery, Taos
Ongoing until July 18, 2012
Red Willow Farmers Market
Greenhouse grown produce, local buffalo meet and more. redwillowfarmers@gmail.com
Location: Taos Pueblo
2012 Remarkable Women of Taos and Northern New Mexico Exhibits
Ongoing through June 2012
Dora & Duane
Paintings by remarkable Taos artists, Dora Kaminsky (1909–1977) and Duane Van Vechten (1899–1977).
Location: Taos Art Museum
Ongoing through December
Maria Martinez: Matriach of San Ildefonso
The largest Martinez family collection of black on black pottery.
Location: Millicent Rogers Museum
May 12 through September 2, 2012
Millicent Rogers and Her Circle
Objects from the collection tell stories of Millicent Rogers, Dorothy Brett, Rebecca James and Martha Reed.
Location: Millicent Rogers Musuem
Ongoing through May 18, 2012
Out of the Background—The Women Artists of Early Taos
Helen Green Blumenschein, Elizabeth Case Harwood, Rebecca Salsbury James, Dora Kaminsky, Barbara Latham, Helen Campbell Martin, Ila McAfee and more.
Location: E.L. Blumenschein Home
Ongoing through September 15, 2012
Remarkable Women Artists of Taos
Over 50 artworks created by women working in Taos in 2012.
Location: Town Hall For a full listing of all events visit www.taos.org/women/exhibitions |
27th Annual—Taos Pueblo Pow Wow Is Sure to Delight
July 13 – July 15, 2012
Photo Courtesy the New Mexico Tourism Department
Mark your calendars now for the 27th Annual Taos Pueblo Pow Wow. Taos Pueblo, the oldest continually inhabited pueblo in the United States is over 1,000 years old. With approximately 150 full time pueblo residents, Taos Pueblo is a true national treasure. It is the ONLY Living World Heritage site in the U.S. out of the 19 designated in the nation by UNESCO, while also listed as a National Trust for Historic Preservation Landmark. Taos Pueblo offers a glimpse of Native American culture history unlike any other.
Each year Taos Pueblo hosts its own Pow Wow, a traditional gathering of Indian people. Derived from the Algonquin nation word meaning “a gathering of spiritual leaders,” Pow Wows were historically celebrations of successful hunts, preparations for war or celebrations of victories. Today, like many other tribal nations, the Taos Pueblo Pow Wow combines ceremonial dances with traditional food, arts, crafts and food booths, dance and drum performances and competitions and other ceremonial and tribal activities.
Events begin at noon on Friday and run throughout the weekend concluding with the announcement of contest winners on Sunday evening. Visit www.taospueblopowwow.com for event details for the 2012 Pow Wow and visit Taos.org for information about lodging and accommodations in Taos.
Celebrate Tradition at Fiestas de Taos
July 20 – July 22, 2012
Photo Courtesy Paula Valentine
Why not plan a week-long stay in Taos this summer and experience both the Pow Wow and the Fiestas de Taos? The cooler Taos mountain weather is the ideal setting for this traditional experience that dates back to the early 1900s. Fiestas de Taos is a celebration of two Catholic saints, Santa Ana and Santiago, Saint Anne and Saint James. Saint Anne, identified as the patron saint of virtue, and Saint James, are honored over the course of the weekend with song, dance, food, a children’s parade and a traditional fiesta Catholic mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The fiestas take place on historic Taos Plaza. The plaza is filled with booths featuring arts, crafts and food, including roasted corn, green chile hamburgers, sopapillas and ice cream.
One of the unique events during the Fiestas de Taos weekend is the coronation of the Royal Court, which includes the Reina (queen) and two Princesas (princesses). Though church fiestas are common throughout New Mexico, the Fiestas de Taos provides a distinct glimpse of northern New Mexico culture and exposure to the rich traditions and heritage of the people of Taos. The historic parade takes place in the early afternoon on Sunday, the final day of the event. Floats, Mariachi bands, Native American dancers and drummers, conquistadors, cowboys and Fiesta royalty travel the crowded parade route in a colorful procession. For an updated schedule of events visit the website at fiestasdetaos.com.
Experience Weekly Summer Music Every Thursday Night
May 24 – September 6, 2012
Taos Plaza Live concert by Ollie Bell
Taos Plaza Live! is a free music event on Taos Plaza, presented every Thursday during the summer from 6 pm to 8 pm. Outstanding local bands have already been scheduled for a summer of free entertainment. Featuring local musicians covering nearly all genres of music, including jazz, country western, rock, traditional New Mexican or anything in between, there is always an evening of music just for you!
www.taoschamber.com
Contemporary Art Colony of Taos Extends its Reach to Denver
Susan Pasquarelli, "Untitled", watercolor on paper
Secure in its place in art history as a vanguard art colony, Taos maintains its own creative center-of-gravity in the 21st century.
Curators Cecily Cullen and Stephanie Grilli invited over 50 artists to participate in Taos Contemporary at Metro State’s Center for Visual Art in Denver (opening May 31 and running til August 11). The gathering of artwork includes individuals who are well-known residents as well as those who have chosen to be “off the grid” — from Larry Bell to Zoe Zimmerman.
A national treasure for its concentration of artists, Taos continues to beckon independent, innovative spirits, who are inspired by its light, land, and otherworldliness. The Center for Visual Art offers visitors the sheer pleasure of viewing top-notch artwork as well as the opportunity to consider a unique aesthetic and energy of this special place.
Admission is free. For more details, visit metrostatecva.org. Center for Visual Art, 965 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO 80204, Tel: 303-294-5207
Also upcoming at David Cook Galleries in Denver: Colorado and the West (May 17 – July 31). The annual show this year features historic women artists, including a section devoted to Taos; 1637 Wazee Street, Denver, CO 80202, davidcookfineart.com, 303-623-8181. |
Click here to view in web browser
Experience Taos' Remarkable Women
March 22 was the official kick off of the 2012 celebration of the Remarkable Women of Taos and Northern New Mexico.
This yearlong celebration, highlighted in the New York Times and Cowboys and Indians, is still going strong as we move into spring.
If you missed the March celebrations, there are still plenty of things to see and experience in town. Events at the Taos Art Musuem, Millicent Rogers Museum and the Blumenschein Home and Museum are all going on now and will continue into the coming months. Visit www.taos.org/women for more information or see below for upcoming events.
Taos Features World-Class As Well As Fabulous Family Dining
Photo by Lenny Foster
As if Taos didn’t already have a long list of accomplishments to brag about from world class skiing and hiking and the birthplace of the Taos Artists Colony to its recent recognition by Forbes magazine as one of “America’s Prettiest Towns,” three local restaurants have brought additional recognition to this idyllic mountain town. Doc Martin’s, Graham’s Grille and Sabroso Restaurant and Bar are each recipients of 2011 Awards of Excellence from Wine Spectator. Each year Wine Spectator magazine develops a comprehensive list that “recognizes restaurants whose wine lists offer interesting selections, are appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers.”
Both Graham’s Grille and Sabroso Restaurant and Bar won Awards of Excellence based on criteria that include wine lists that typically offer 100 selections, quality producers and a thematic match to the menu. Doc Martin’s was the recipient of a 2011 Best of Award of Excellence, a second-tier award that was created to honor restaurants that exceed the expectation of the Award of Excellence and typically offer 400 or more wine selections. They must also have, “superior presentation, display either vintage depth, with several vertical offerings of top wines, or excellent breadth across several wine regions.”
Delicious Chicken Posole at Graham's Grille
In addition to enviable wine selections, all three restaurants offer outstanding culinary presentations from red wine braised buffalo short ribs at Doc Martin’s to Spanish style mussels and Bilbao chorizo fettuccini from Graham’s Grille and wild mushroom farfalle carbonara at Sabroso Restaurant and Bar. For a more complete wine list and full menu selections visit each of the restaurants’ websites at: taosinn.com/restaurant.html (Doc Martin’s), www.grahamstaos.com and www.sabrosotaos.com.
Salmon at Doc Martin's, The Taos Inn
For those looking to replace the wine decanter with a kid’s menu, there are plenty of options to choose from while in Taos. As we approach summer we also embark on the historic season of the family vacation. So while fine dining may not be the best option, restaurants like Taos’ 5 Star Burgers or Orlando’s may be just the right choice.
5 Star Burgers has been named by USA Today as one of the 51 Great Burger Joints in the U.S. In addition to offering the classics and specialty burgers like the lamb, crab or portobello stack, 5 Star Burgers has gone so far as to offer New Mexico ONLY entrees like the Harris Ranch Hamburger Steak with gorgonzola cream and caramelized onions and they’ve even named one of their nationally served burgers the Taos Burger served with crispy green chile, bbq sauce and cheddar cheese. There’s also the standard kids menu fare that families can never go wrong with including cheeseburgers and fries, grilled cheese and that great American classic macaroni & cheese.
Enchiladas at Orlando's
Looking for traditional northern New Mexican cuisine? Orlando’s has the atmosphere and the menu to please. The rainbow palette that adorns both the interior walls and the large outdoor patio are the perfect setting for the notably New Mexican fare served up seven days a week for lunch and dinner. From the easily recognizable beef tacos to a uniquely New Mexican favorite, chile rellenos (also available with grilled shrimp), the entire menu stays true to its northern New Mexico roots. Children’s choices include quesadillas, tacos, burritos, nachos and, of course, cheese fries.
Visit both restaurants’ websites at: www.orlandostaos.com and www.5starburgers.com for locations and full menu listings.
Catch the Taos Express
Catch the Taos Express to kick-off your unique, Taos experience. This relaxing, lower cost, greener alternative to taking your own car is a non-stop weekend connection between Taos and Santa Fe—round trip is only $10. Kids 10 and under ride free with an adult .
Check www.TaosExpress.com for schedule details. Reservations on the Taos Express are required.
Reservations can be made at www.TaosExpress.com or by calling 575-751-4459.
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