This Just In ... New Mexico Travel News ItemsJulyHiking La JaraNow you can walk, at your own pace, in the splendor and solitude of the grasslands of the Valles Caldera. This self-guided walk of about 1.5 miles, away from roads and structures, will take you around Cerro la Jara, a distinctive ring-fracture dome that is a reminder of the volcanic forces that shaped this land. Interpretive stops along the way are keyed to a trail guide. Bring a snack, plenty of water, sunscreen, rain gear, insect repellant, and layered clothing in case the temperature drops suddenly. A camera and binoculars will round out your enjoyment.Costs: $5 per person, childern 5 years old and under are free. No reservations are necessary. Where: Just off Highway 4, around mile marker 39, you will find the entrance to the Valle Grande Staging Area. Take this dirt road 2 miles into the Valle Grande to find the staging area. Reminder: No pets are allowed on the Preserve. New Mexico Museum of Art offers "Flux: Reflections on Contemporary Glass"Like the material itself, the discourse surrounding glass is also always in a state of flux. The exhibition "Flux: Reflections on Contemporary Glass", which considers the sculptural possibilities of glass - from vessel to minimalist sculpture, blown glass to cast glass, ancient artifact to popular culture icon - opened June 7thMany of the acknowledged international masters of glass are included in this survey exhibition, among them: William Morris, Stanislav Libensky and Jaroslava Brychtova, Dante Marioni, Toshio Lezumi, Lino Tagliapietra, Dale Chihuly, Bertil Vallien, Jessica Loughlin, Michael Glancy, and Toots Zinsky as are some of New Mexico's own artists working in glass, including Mary Shaffer, Larry Bell, Charlie Miner, Timothy Horn, Tony Jojola, Stacey Neff, and Judy Tuwaletstiwa. In all, nearly 50 artists will be represented in this contemporary glass survey that will explore the themes of cultural artifacts and appropriation, the metamorphosis of the vessel, and sculptural studies. "Flux" looks at contemporary glass as if through the lens of the medium's own history. The exhibition begins by exploring artists who reference the cultural artifact (past or present) in glass. Some re-create ancient Mesopotamian glass vessels, while others emulate African textiles or Chinese jades or European jewelry design. Glass can disguise itself in so many ways that it can appear as stone, wood, metal, or fiber. Next the show moves to a consideration of the metamorphosis of the vessel, which is historically the most common form for glass to take. New Mexico Tourism Department Partners with Ruidoso's Billy the Kid Byway Visitor CenterThe Village of Ruidoso and the New Mexico Tourism Department have joined forces to help the staff of the Billy the Kid Byway Visitor Center along US 70 in Ruidoso Downs in its promotion of all state-wide attractions and events.Although the Billy the Kid Byway Visitor Center is not an official state visitor center (which takes Legislative approval), it does meet certain state-owned center criteria. Most of the nine state Visitor Information Centers are at key entry points around the state, with most of them situated on or near major state highways utilizing Department of Transportation Rest Areas, Property Control buildings and a partnership with one city. Center locations are Anthony, Manuelito, Glenrio, La Bajada, Chama, Lordsburg, Raton, Texico and Santa Fe. JuneOnly Triassic Exhibit in North America opens in AlbuquerqueDawn of the Dinosaurs explores the plants and animals of the Triassic Period in New Mexico and the world. The Triassic is a time that saw the extinction of many kinds of plants and animals and the emergence of two types of animals that have dominated the planet ever since - dinosaurs and mammals.Visitors to Dawn of the Dinosaurs will meet one of the first dinosaurs, Coelophysis, a voracious predator who led the way to dinosaurian dominance of the planet and New Mexico's official state fossil. In addition, visitors can interact with the scientist who worked for over three years cleaning the fossils from a 2-ton stone slab filled with Coelophysis and other fossils. Dawn of the Dinosaurs is a highly interactive, cutting edge exhibit hall of paleontology that features living fossils, the most complete database of research into Coelophysis, a wall of phytosaur skulls and an interactive sculpture that allows visitors to explore the evidence scientists use to identify evolutionary trends. The underlying theme of the hall is the evolution of species and how at any one time, species can be placed into one of three categories, species that are: first evolving, persisting in a stable environment, or going extinct. Visitors can explore these three components extensively through text panels, interactive displays and an animation of the concept. Dawn of the Dinosaurs is the Museum's newest permanent exhibit and is housed in the Edward and Mary Gavin Family Dawn of the Dinosaurs Hall. The hall is dedicated to the tireless efforts of the Gavins and their successful quest to establish the museum in the early 1980s. Dawn of the Dinosaurs is free with regular Museum admission. The museum is located at 1801 Mountain Road NW in Old Town Albuquerque. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $4 for children ages 3-12. For more information call 505-841-2800 or visit www.NMNaturalHistory.org. Santa Fe Studios gets final green lightSanta Fe County Commissioners unanimously approved the funding and the construction of the state-of-the-art film and media studios slated for the Santa Fe Media Park next year.Santa Fe Studios is the brainchild of veteran producer Lance Hool, who serves as the company’s CEO, and his son, Jason Hool, who is President. Lance fell in love with New Mexico while on location shooting "The Tracker" in 1987, bought property in the state, and has since moved his family to the area. Construction to begin by the end of this year, and the facility will be operational by late 2009. The studio will be the world’s first totally green-certified facility. It will include Pueblo style buildings in a campus style, reminiscent of the area’s traditional style of architecture, as well as four state-of-the art soundstages in the first phase. The studio will also be partnering with a number of local educational entities, including Santa Fe Community College and the Institute of American Indian Arts, providing filmmaking programs and mentorships on site. Will Shuster's Zozobra Inducted into Tourism Hall of FameThe enormous puppet Zozobra was created in 1924 by William Howard 'Will' Shuster, Jr., a Santa Fe artist inspired by the Holy Week celebrations of the Yaqui Indians of MexicoThe centerpiece of Santa Fe's annual Fiesta celebration, Zozobra is ceremonially burned each September in a giant bonfire during a special event that has been staged by the Santa Fe Kiwanis Club since 1963. Zozobra has become an international symbol for Santa Fe, drawing visitors from around the world to the City Different for more than 80 years. Today, some 30,000 spectators annually come out to witness Old Man Gloom going up in smoke. Record Snowpack Levels Make New Mexico A Whitewater WonderlandAs high water season descends upon Northern New Mexico, near-record winter precipitation has resulted in rushing rivers, transforming the state into a whitewater wonderland.This year's high-mountain snowpack level ranked second highest in the last fourteen years, and towards the end of May the Rio Grande went from flowing at 2,120 cubic feet per second to an amazing 3,700 cubic feet per second Now is the time to take advantage of New Mexico's world-class river running, whether for a scenic and calm Class I float or a wild and rugged Class IV adventure. Enjoy rafting and kayaking on the Chama River or the Rio Grande Gorge, with its famed Lower Taos Box, the most popular whitewater stretch in the state. Taos Historic Museums presents Inside Looking Out: Two Taos Pueblo Image Makers, a photographic exhibition by Bruce Gomez (Taos Pueblo/Navajo) and Rick Romancito (Taos Pueblo/Zuni).Both of these visionary artists use images from their tribal culture and contemporary society to interpret the land and peoples of northern New Mexico and the world. Their individual viewpoints as Native American photographers offer the unique perspective of artists on the inside of an ancient and enduring culture looking out to the wider world of 21st century America and beyond,Gomez is an Indian Market and Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) award winner for his color photography. A short film by Rick Romancito won the 2006 New Mexico Governor's Cup Short Screenplay Competition, Sponsored by the National Geographic All Roads Film Project and the New Mexico Film Office for his film Benito's Gift. The exhibit runs through July 31, 2008. For more information please call 758-0505 or visit our website www.taoshistoricmuseums.org. AprilThe Global Green Indigenous Film Festival will take place in Santa Fe, NM between April 18 and 20, 2008The National Tribal Environmental Council (NTEC) is honored to announce the participation of the prestigious National Geographic All Roads Film Project in the NTEC Global Green Indigenous Film Festival taking place at the Cinema Café, Center for Contemporary Arts, and NM Film Museum Theater. This is the inaugural year of what is slated to become an annual event of major significance. Held in tandem with NTEC's annual Environmental Conference and co-sponsored by the New Mexico Tourism Department and the Jicarilla Apache Nation, the Film Festival adds a new dimension to showcasing the issues, aspirations and innovations of global Indigenous communities in their charge to protect Mother Earth. Santa Fe Railyard an exciting development adjacent to the Santa Fe Southern rail line in the Guadalupe Street areaThe Guadalupe Historic District has been anchored for years by the refurbished railroad warehouses of the Sanbusco Market Center, Santuario de Guadalupe, the city's most contemporary museum SITE Santa Fe, and the many shops, galleries, and restaurants along and just off of Guadalupe. As the Santa Fe Railyard project takes shape in earnest this spring, a whole new dimension will be added to this already lively part of the city. MarchThe Cradle Project OpensIn Spring of 2008 one thousand cradles and cribs made by artisans from around the world are being exhibited in Albuquerque. The Cradle Project is a fundraising art installation designed to represent the plight of the estimated 48 million children who have been orphaned by disease and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. The mission of The Cradle Project is to promote awareness and raise financial support to help feed, shelter, and educate these children. In an effort to raise funds, The Cradle Project is seeking sponsors for each of the cradles represented in this installation. Additionally, they will host an on-line auction where each of the cradles can be purchased. Each cradle and artisan will be featured in our on-line gallery and auction. All proceeds from the sponsorship and purchase of the cradles will be donated to our partner organizations who work directly with orphans throughout sub-Saharan Africa to help alleviate the suffering caused by this dire situation. According to a recent item in the Albuquerque Journal (March 2nd) the cradles are currently on view at the First National Bank building on the 7th and 8th floors, located at Third and Central, NW. A CHAIR FOR ALL REASONS: An international take on the various ways to sit June 29, 2008 – early January, 2009Sitting is a universal experience. Throughout the world, people settle into chairs, stretch out on benches, perch on stools, sink into sofas or cushion themselves with a pillow, marking the body’s state as being both stationary yet dynamic. A Chair for all Reasons explores how we use chairs in daily life, and celebrates the genius of Alexander Girard's designs and the Girard Year at the museum. Mikhail Gorbachev to Speak in Santa Fe April 14th -- From the End of the Cold War to the Growing Environmental CrisisThe Honorable Mikhail Gorbachev, former President of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Nobel Peace Prize winner, will make his first visit to Santa Fe on April 14, 2008. Former President Gorbachev will be participating in a series of events, to benefit the Santa Fe Institute, culminating in a reception and a lecture entitled Gorbachev on Leadership: From the End of the Cold War to the Growing Environmental Crisis. The first half of the lecture will concern post-Soviet Russia; the second half will address the global environmental crisis. Gorbachev will be introduced by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. El Pinto and Their Six New FlavorsSome things are just worth waiting for -- the these are them. FebruaryNew Mexico Soap Rolls Out Their New Products and Declares February You Gotta Love Soap MonthIntroducing: Sky City Casino Hotel Geting Done UpAcoma Business Enterprises is asking all of its patrons to ‘Bear with US’ as they begin construction at Sky City Casino Hotel on March 9 through April 1, 2008. Acoma will be replacing carpets on the casino floor and painting throughout the property. This is all a part of the Acoma initiative to better serve their patrons, giving a more inviting place to come and enjoy entertainment and game. Annual GreenBuilt TourThe U.S. Green Building Council New Mexico Chapter (USGBCNM) will hold its ninth annual GreenBuilt Tour in New Mexico and is seeking green built homes to feature. The tour will take place May 17 and 18, 2008. Want a genuine New York hotdog? Hunger for Nathan's? Yes, now here in New Mexico at the Acoma Pueblo hotelSky City Casino Hotel’s Club 102 is now offering “World famous Nathan's Hot Dogs.” Food and Beverage Director, John Dill said, “If you’re a fan of hot dogs, wait until you try one of these!” Denise Vallo, Club 102 Manager said, “We now have the regular and foot long hotdogs starting at $1.79 plus tax. Also featured are other Nathan’s favorites including Kielbasa and Hot Polish. Authentic Chicago Style Italian Beef sandwiches for $5.99 are also available at Club 102.” Sky City Casino Hotel is the first Native American casino to offer Nathan’s Foods on their menu. Nathan’s started as a nickel hot dog stand in Coney Island in 1916 and grew to become the much-loved New York institution now available throughout the United States and overseas. Call for Artists - 36th Annual Arts & Crafts ShowGirls Incorporated of Santa Fe is currently accepting applications from fine artists and craftspeople to participate in our upcoming 36th annual Arts & Crafts Show, to be held Saturday, August 2, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, August 3, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the historic downtown Santa Fe Plaza. New Exhibition at National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque to Feature Nuevomexicano Artists - Through August 10, 2008This exhibition celebrates the work of New Mexican artists Patrocinio Barela, a Taos sculptor; and Edward Gonzales, an Albuquerque painter and printmaker. Each artist blazed trails both locally and nationally, helping to dispel stereotypes of Hispanics and their art. New Mexico Airlines Expands Air Service to include Ruidoso, Midland/Odessa, El PasoNew Mexico Airlines, a subsidiary of Pacific Wings, is now offering daily air service into Sierra Blanca Regional Airport, located 15 miles northwest of Ruidoso, from Midland/Odessa, Albuquerque and other southern New Mexico cities. Ruidoso flights to and from El Paso are set to begin March 1, 2008. These new flights join New Mexico Airlines’ current offerings of daily air service among Albuquerque, Hobbs, Carlsbad and Alamogordo as well as daily air service between those cities and Midland/Odessa and El Paso, Texas, in addition to Ruidoso. New Mexico Tourism Department Wins Industry's Prestigious Platinum Adrian Award for their Best Place in the Universe advertising campaign.The new advertising campaign was conceived by the Tourism Department's contracted advertising agency, M&C Saatchi, and the Department. Its tone is funny, lighthearted and witty. Likeable, but severe-looking aliens (designed by Hollywood special-effects legend Stan Winston), are ensconced in day-to-day office situations. Despite their ferocious appearance, their down-to-earth conversation leads us to believe they are more of this world than of another. And of course, also like us, they can't wait to get back to New Mexico. "With so many phenomenal experiences waiting in New Mexico," one alien tells the others, "the word is out: It may just be the best place in the universe." JanuarySky City Casino Hotel is now offering FREE shuttle service to and from Sky City Cultural Center.Beginning November 29, 2007 the shuttle service will pick up at Sky City Casino Hotel at 8:00 am, 11:00 am and 1:30 pm and return to the casino at 10:15 am, 1:00 pm and 3:30 pm. This service will be available seven days a week, days and times are subject to change. The 20 minute ride from the casino includes a 20 minute video about Acoma and its history. The Pueblo Tour is an hour and 15 minute, guided “Walking Tour” that takes you through the San Esteban del Rey Mission (1629) and through historic Acoma “Sky City” village. The pueblo covers about 75 acres atop a 357-foot high sandstone mesa overlooking the Acoma valley floor. The legendary Sky City is the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in North America (1150 A.D.) The crown jewel is the Sky City Cultural Center and Haak’u Museum sitting in the valley below, which opened in May 2006. It replaced their previous tourist center that was felled by a devastating fire in 2000, destroying not only the building but priceless artifacts. Sky City Cultural Center is an expression of the Acoma culture. Everything has been carefully chosen and planned. The materials and colors which recall the colors of the pueblo with its whitewashed walls. Traditional designs with stone floors help to achieve a look similar to the dirt floors of their adobe homes. Doors that pivot open and closed, like the doors of the San Esteban del Rey Mission in the pueblo. The T-shaped doorways hark back to the structures of New Mexico’s Beer For My Horses to be filmed in New MexicoBeer For My Horses, a feature film starring country music star Toby Keith (Broken Bridges), and Rodney Carrington (Rodney TV series) will be shot in New Mexico. Multi-award winner Michael Saloman will direct. Toby Keith, Donald Zuckerman (Not Forgotten currently prepping in Santa Fe, Broken Bridges), and local New Mexican Brent Morris (Monster, Smoke Signals) will produce the film. T.K. Kimbrell will be the Executive Producer. Farm Fresh and New Local Cooking classes at The Santa Fe School of CookingIn 2008 the Santa Fe School of cooking has raised the bar by adding no fewer that 5 new, cooking classes, including the much anticipated Farm Fresh and Local! Santa Fe School of Cooking has teamed up with the historic Los Poblanos Farm for this celebratory series of seasonal, local produce. Twice a month, one of the talented chef-instructors from the Santa Fe School of Cooking will employ their skills and creativity to weave a multi-course meal out of a box of goodies from the certified-organic gardens of Los Poblanos as well as local, organic meats from such revered producers as Pollo Real and Shepard's Lamb. Described by one patron as the "Adobe Chef Challenge", the instructor has only the knowledge of the seasons to anticipate what will be in the box that day! Look forward to rolling up your sleeves and having a fun, delicious, educational and ever changing 3-hour class. 2008 New Mexico Vacation Guide Hot Off the PressThe handy dandy "2008 New Mexico Vacation Guide" - 192 pages chock full of places to see, things to do and people to meet, along with information essential to living and working in the Land of Enchantment - is available free of charge at a tourist destination near you. November-DecemberThe Village of Chama will be rolling out the Food Cart and the Red Carpet with their participation in the Smithsonian Institute's Traveling Food ExhibitCalled "Key Ingredients: American By Food" Chama has created a six-week event showcasing the North-Central region with a multi-cultural overview of food from this area of the state. Flower Power: A Subversive Botanical February 1, 2008 — May 11, 2008 at The New Mexico Museum of Art, Santa FeThis new exhibit will examine anti-war sentiments, anti-establishment demands, class realignments, gender divisions, and utopian desires associated with the single petal, daisy flower that was an icon of the 1960s. OctoberHistoric Green Bridge Comes to New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum -- Party to follow October 20thAfter years of planning, researching and seeking funding, the bridge is in its new home, and the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum is planning a large celebration for October 20th. A ceremony and ribbon-cutting at 1 p.m. will kick off an afternoon-long schedule of activities that includes a vintage cars and trucks on display, refreshments and music by the Deming Fusiliers. Also planned is a panel discussion of historic roads and bridges, scheduled for 3 p.m. in the museum's theater.Listed on the New Mexico Register of Cultural Properties in 1997, the bridge was identified in a 1987 bridge survey as the oldest and longest Pratt through- truss bridge with pinned connections in New Mexico, the second-oldest surviving highway bridge in the state, and the state's oldest steel highway bridge. The structure is 133 feet long and 16 feet wide. The bridge is a dramatic addition to the Museum and will provide pedestrian access across the Tortugas Arroyo and will be a centerpiece in our effort to showcase the history and importance of rural transportation in New Mexico. Admission to the afternoon events on Oct. 20 is free. For more information, please call (575) 522-4100. ART Santa Fe to be an Annual EventBy popular demand, ART Santa Feis slated to be an annual event, announced the organization this month. Held in July this year, the fair-a biennial occurrence since its inception in 1995-proved beyond uncertainty that Santa Fe, New Mexico is a thriving international contemporary art destination. ART Santa Fe 2007's turnout of some 5,000 people over four days left all involved, from gallerists to artists to collectors, feeling that the fair was an unmitigated success.The next ART Santa Fe, slated for July 10-13, 2008, ought to prove prominent among art fairs. Organizers are working to secure a noteworthy program for the keynote lecture evening. First Monday of every month enjoy a continental breakfast and gallery talk at Georgia O'Keeffe MuseumJoin them the first Monday of every month from 8:30 to 9:30 AM for a continental breakfast and gallery talk with a distinguished guest from Santa Fe's vibrant arts community.SeptemberAmerican and Delta Airlines will begin direct air service into the Santa Fe Municipal Airport starting in late 2007Both airlines made their announcements within a day of one another, just one month after Santa Fe’s award-winning Municipal Airport attained Class 1 status under Part 139 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. Divine Comedy Illustrations Coming to Las Cruces September 7th through Saturday, November 24thArt and literature enthusiasts in the Southwest have the rare opportunity to see a literary masterpiece illustrated by one of the most famous and recognized surrealist painters of his time as Salvador Dalí's Divine Comedy will be on display at the Las Cruces Museum of Art, located at 490 N. Water St. in the Downtown Mall Excavating Egypt: Great Discoveries From the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archeology in Santa Fe until January 6thNew Mexico Museum of Art will bring an eye-popping exhibit of Egyptian art to the city at the end of August. This is a major traveling exhibition documenting the story of archaeologist William Matthew Flinders Petire's exploration of ancient Egyptian civilization. Known as the father of Egyptian archaeology (and considered the inspiration for the film hero Indiana Jones), Petrie excavated Egypt for well over 50 years. The exhibition will feature 221 of his most significant finds, many of which have never been on public display. The exhibit will open August 31, 2007 and run through January 6, 2008. For more information, http://www.mfasantafe.org August'Journey's End' Bronze Sculpture on Santa Fe's Museum Hill Wins National Scenic Byways Award"Journey's End," a life-size bronze sculpture created by well-known New Mexican sculptor Reynaldo Rivera located in Santa Fe at the entrance to Museum Hill in Santa Fe, was honored at the 2007 National Scenic Byways Conference for "Excellence in Byway Interpretation." © 2007
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