Chile chocolate mousse at Casa Chimayó, photo Carlos Zozaya

It’s Santa Fe Restaurant Week again, running from tomorrow, Sunday, February 18th through Sunday, February 25^th. Try a new restaurant that you’ve been wondering about or get a good dining deal at an old favorite. Besides great deals from the participating restaurants, many of them offer special events, ranging from Signature Agave Margarita and House-Made Salt Tasting at Casa Chimayó to whiskey, tequila and cocktail tastings and classes in all manner of food making. Chef Cristian Pontiggia of El Nido will even teach you how to make mozzarella cheese. All of the restaurant menus and their special events are on the Restaurant Week website. All of the restaurant links below are to their Santa Fe Restaurant Week menus. Thanks to Carlos Zozaya inviting me along and for taking some great photos!

This week I got to sample some of this year’s Santa Fe Restaurant Week offerings. I know, it’s a tough job…

The Santa Fe Restaurant Week menu of Midtown Bistro ($35 per person) features creations of Executive Chef Angel Estrada. I loved the grilled Scottish salmon, with Israeli couscous and a decadent caviar buerre blanc. The menu also features veal osso bucco and a locally sourced rib-eye steak with a red wine demi-glace.

Grilled Scottish salmon with saffron Israeli Couscous, and Tobiko Caviar Beurre Blanc, photo Carlos Zozaya

The $15 menu of the Plaza Café Southside offers a selection of tacos (my favorite were the crispy avocado tacos but you can also get crispy Baja fish tacos or chicken mole enchiladas) or a great green chile cheeseburger made with locally sourced beef. Start with green chile stew and finish with a tres leches cupcake. Everything is made from scratch.

Crispy avocado tacos: fresh avocado coated with quinoa, sesame and poppy seeds, photo Carlos Zozaya

If you haven’t yet tasted the northern New Mexico comfort food of Casa Chimayó you owe it to yourself to do it soon. What better time than Restaurant Week! Their $25 per person menu features time tested comfort food as it has been made by abuelas (and abuelos) in Chimayó from recipes handed down through generations. Posole is not just for New Year’s here. The locally sourced grass-fed lamb chop is rubbed with coffee and coriander and grilled. The chile enogada is a unique take on a traditional specialty, a poblano pepper filled with a mixture of lean steak, apricot, pinions and raisins and drizzled with a creamy walnut sauce, and adorned with pomegranate seeds, pinions, and cilantro

Nativo Posole: colorful hominy with pork made in the traditional way, photo Carlos Zozaya

La Casa Sena’s $45 menu has a fabulous apricot glazed Muscovy duck breast stuffed with apple and chestnut and served with bacon celeriac puree. Their osso bucco is made with pork shank, slow-braised and delicious, or you can get pan-seared trout with artichoke risotto cakes and lemon caper oregano sauce. Start with hoisin braised pork belly, their classic poblano cream soup or a salad of baby kale, macadamia nuts, sesame seeds and tequila vinaigrette.

Stuffed Muscovy duck breast: apple-chestnut stuffing wrapped in honey and bacon over celeriac puree with sherry apricot glaze, photo Carlos Zozaya

Have you been to Milad Persian Bistro yet? This quiet spot is on Canyon Road between Geronimo and El Farol. Their $25 menu features classic Persian specialties. My favorite entrée was boneless trout stuffed with walnuts, barberries, garlic and tarragon. Other entrees include roasted vegetables in a walnut and pomegranate stew, a leg quarter of braised chicken with carrots and dried plums and diced beef and split peas with sun dried lime basmati rice. Start with eggplant and walnut served with house made and wood-fired oven baked pita, or carrot and beet falafels, hummus and vegetables or crispy saffron rice layered with turmeric chicken and barberries.

Milad Persian Bistro’s pan-seared trout, stuffed with walnuts, barberries, garlic and tarragon

Julia, A Spirited Restaurant and Bar, at La Posada, offers a lunch restaurant week menu for $20 or a dinner menu for $35. I sampled offerings from the dinner menu. The piquillo relleno, a sweet mild pepper filled with smoked chile con queso and a lime aioli dip was my favorite appetizer, but olives poached in olive oil came in a close second for me. Tough choices for entrée, too but I loved the pan-seared striped bass accompanied by quinoa pilaf and tomato ceviche. Go with friends and share so you won’t have to choose.

Pan-seared striped bass accompanied by quinoa pilaf and tomato ceviche, photo Carlos Zozaya

It was a tough job having to sample all of this wonderful food but I enjoyed it. It’s great to know our city has a thriving diverse and innovative culinary scene. This is but a small taste of the offerings of Santa Fe’s finest chefs that you can taste next week. Treat yourself. Bring a friend. You’ll love it and you might learn about a new restaurant or two!

The post Enjoy 2018 Santa Fe Restaurant Week appeared first on Santa Fe Travelers.

La Dean, getting ready for a road trip

Christmas of 1953 didn’t have quite the zing that I was hoping for. It looked like Mom wasn’t going to be there. I was eight years old and hoped that it would get better; that it would be like all the magical Christmases before that. There was a wonderful tree and Mom did help decorate it but it didn’t seem fair that she wouldn’t be there on Christmas morning. Dad was there but he had to leave right after breakfast. Bill and Pam were there and so was Gram. I think Ross was even there. It should have been a great Christmas. Under the tree was an electric train set, and a toy 6-shooter and holster. Exactly the gifts I’d wanted.

Mom always made Christmas special. The weeks and days leading up were always exciting. Letters to Santa Claus. Special Christmas treats. Even Advent was fun. We always had an Advent calendar to count off the days until Christmas. Mom and Gram would make special candies and cookies. Gram made  divinity (that she would always apologize for) and Mom would make English toffee.  By Christmas Eve the excitement was boiling. But Mom wasn’t there for that Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.

She was in the hospital because there was a new baby. Don’t get me wrong I loved babies. I just didn’t like the timing of this one. I don’t remember why if she was born on December 21^st Mom couldn’t be home by Christmas Eve much less Christmas morning.

Well, Mom did get home on Christmas Day (in the afternoon) bringing the best gift ever. When my baby sister LaDean came into the house my glum feelings were transformed to joy and magic.

Over and over again throughout my life I would be enchanted by the magic of the completeness with which she lived her life. This year I had the gift of spending some very special time with her when we knew her life was coming to an end. She lived life with that fullness every day of her life.

Everyone who met LaDean was immediately captivated by the fullness of her enthusiasm. That enthusiasm was a true concern that everyone around her was enjoying life at least as much as she was. She told me last summer that she had to have a belly laugh every day at least once, preferably lots of times every day.

She wasn’t a saint, she could be a bit trying sometimes. If she were here she would adamantly insist that she wasn’t a saint by a long stretch. But she brought her gift into our lives and shared that gift generously with all those around her. That gift transformed people, helped them find the courage in their own resources to get through some very tough times without relying on crutches or victim hood.

Over the years I have had a lot of special Christmases. My first Christmas with Billie was very special and among the most memorable of our Christmases together. Our first Christmas with Ethan was magical. But, if someone were to ask me what was my most special Christmas I would have to say the Christmas of 1953 is number one because LaDean was the best Christmas gift our family ever got. Thank you LaDean for the joy and magic that you brought to so many of us.

The post The best gift our family ever got appeared first on Santa Fe Travelers.

An Outpouring of Support

Billie with Irish friends, Michael and Carmel Joyce at Corcomroe Abbey, at the edge of the Burren in County Clare

It has been gratifying to read social media comments and feel the impact she had on so many of the people she touched while sharing her unique voice with others. Billie was a paradox in many ways. Although she loved engaging with others, whether through the Santa Fe hospitality community or communicating with friends on Facebook and Twitter, she was most comfortable in her bed, her “safe zone”. That’s where she would retire to regroup, regain her strength and be ready to come back and give it her all on another day.

She had a small group of women friends. She was selective. On the day she died I received a phone call from one of her closest friends. The first words out of her mouth after expressing the shock and surprise at Billie’s sudden passing were, “she was a bulldog. She was tenacious and fiercely loyal toward those she loved.” There was no halfway about it. If she named you among her friends you got that loyalty. I consider myself privileged to have shared that loyalty as well.

Billie’s Strength Remembered

Billie as a toddler with her mother, her first teacher, from whom she first learned how to be strong in her convictions.

She wasn’t easy. We met at a time when men’s attitudes towards women were changing. It didn’t take long to figure out where she was coming from. Many men were intimidated by the force of her personality. Those men who had the misfortune to patronize her soon found the error of their ways. There are lots of definitions of masculinity and I don’t necessarily subscribe to most of them but I believe it takes a strong man to be with a strong woman. I’d like to think that I was a strong man with her strong woman. I loved the idea that for her, being liberated was non-negotiable. We were partners in the truest sense of the word. Not only was she strong in living her convictions, she supported her sisters along the way.

She was my teacher. The special relationship of lifelong lovers means that both partners are the chosen spiritual partners of the other. At least that’s how it was with Billie and I. We had a difficult relationship with many tumultuous experiences but we also shared many tender moments with each other.

Remembering Our Life Together

Animals responded to her special energy, photo Steve Collins

Here is a sound clip of Billie reading The Woman Who Blew with the Wind. She wrote the words and is the narrator. Her dear friend, Joey Christenson, accompanied the reading on flute and harp. I thank Joey for sharing this with me.

As I write this I am in the bosom of my family, being well cared for. My loss is great. My love for her demands that I don’t short cut the grieving process or glibly pretend that I don’t hurt as deeply as I do and I am grateful for that.

I will continue to post in Santa Fe Travelers at least through the end of the year. At that point I will take stock and decide where to go from there. In the mean time I’ll periodically post a series of recollections of our life together. There may be contributions from other bloggers as well. And I may occasionally repost some favorites from our years posting together.

Sláinte, Billie. We miss you.

The post We mourn a grievous loss appeared first on Santa Fe Travelers.

She wasn’t a fan when the book’s publisher, Harvard Common Press, pitched the idea. She didn’t even own a slow cooker. “The one I had gotten rid of more than two decades ago was one of those old burnt orange ones from the 80s,” she shares. There was no insert and it was hard to clean. She also felt that “most things I made in it suffered from that gray meat and grayer gravy problem, and didn’t have a lot of flavor.”

Slow cooking up a storm- testing three recipes with a copy of Cooking Light on the counter, photo/courtesy Cheryl Alters Jamison

“So, what brought me to this?” she asks in the book’s introduction. A conversation she had with her stepdaughter Heather, busy mom to three Austin teenagers, sealed the deal. “Heather talked about how essential the slow cooker is in her life. It allows her to get a good meal on the table a few nights a week,” she shares. “An inexpensive appliance (you can get a decent one for under $20), that can help a family sit down to a wholesome meal, says Jamison, “I’m all for that.” She went out and bought three cookers, borrowed a few more and started checking them out.

Flying solo

Cheryl Alters Jamison in her kitchen, photo, courtesy Cheryl Alters Jamison

For over 25 years, Cheryl had collaborated with her husband Bill creating their cookbooks. Their first, Rancho de Chimayó Cookbook, released in 1991, was followed by over a dozen more; four were James Beard Award-winners. Sadly, Bill passed away in 2015. The book was in contract before Bill became ill but now she was now on her own.

When asked how the process writing Texas Slow Cooker differed from their collaborations she said, “I had no one to bounce ideas off of, critique food with me, share the work load with, or share that feeling of accomplishment with when [the manuscript was] turned in.” She had to learn how to do it on her own. “I simply stared at the kitchen cupboards for a couple of months,” she says, “then had to pick myself up and seriously get to work.

Preparing to write Texas Slow Cooker

Cochinita pibil wrapped in banana leaves, photo/courtesy Cheryl Alters Jamison

She began by researching everything she could about the subject, using books, magazines and other publications as well as the Internet. She talked to Heather and other slow cooker users and even to some who didn’t use them to find out why not. Her goal: to come up with recipes “at least as good as, but hopefully even better than conventional versions.” She gave a lot of thought to barbecue, a favored slow and low cooking style, popular with Texans as well as bain marie (water bath cooking) because slow cookers keep things moist.

She researched what slow cookers on the market and tried a number of them. She gives the pros and cons of each so you can purchase the one that fits your lifestyle. She shares insights about cooking with slow cookers as well as how to use the cooker itself. She even has tips for high altitude cooking (the recipes were tested at Santa Fe’s 7,000 feet above sea level altitude). She also includes helpful advice on adding flavor, texture and color to slow cooked food.

Slow cooker Texas Sheet Cake, photo/courtesy Cheryl Alters Jamison

She discovered that slow cooker foods need an extra hit of flavor, “that deep umami kind of flavor,” so she ended up adding a little soy sauce, Maggi sauce (a sauce made from fermented wheat protein that has a deep, rich and salty flavor profile) or Worcestershire to some of the savory recipes. She discovered that flavors such as garlic and onion fade quite a bit, so she added more than she’d normally use. Another discovery: liquid does not evaporate so you can typically reduce the amount of liquid you would usually use by about half. She also added cornstarch or masa (corn flour used for tamales and tortillas) to some of the recipes to thicken their juices. “Chicken recipes do best on the low setting,” she notes, and “desserts do best on high.”

The book

Chicken Tinga, a dish from south of the border, photo/courtesy Cheryl Alters Jamison

If you’re like most slow cooker users, you probably think that slow cookers are synonymous with pot roasts, stews and soups. Texas Slow Cooker takes it way beyond that. There are 125 recipes in  eight sections; A Breakfast to Kickstart Your Day, Starters, Tailgating Snacks and Soups, Chili and Stews (chile spelled the Texas way), Beef, Bison and Venison, Pork, Goat and Poultry, Gulf Seafood and Freshwater Fish, Beans, Vegetables and Other Sides and Desserts and Other Sides.

While most of the recipes are Texas-inspired, Jamison goes south of the border for some of her dishes such as chicken tinga (chicken cooked with tomatoes, chipotle chile in adobo and onions), cochinita pibil (a traditional Mexican slow-roasted pork dish from the Yucatán Peninsula that is made with Seville oranges, achiote paste and spices) and fajitas. She even goes to Vietnam for a skirt steak recipe, noting that there’s a “long history of Vietnamese settlement along the Gulf Coast, in particular.” Because of the German and Czech presence in Central Texas since the late 19th century, some of the recipes come from that culinary tradition.

Butterscotch Blondies, photo/courtesy Cheryl Alters Jamison

She also adapted many dishes, from classic Texan to Tex-Mex, barbecue, Southern, Mexican and New Mexican; all things she’s regularly seen in frequent visits to the Lone Star State. She also adapted recipes from Texas Home Cooking and The Border Cookbook, two of her and Bill’s earlier cookbooks to work with slow cookers.

The hardest recipes to adapt for the slow cooker were the desserts. “They required rethinking science, not just art,” she says. “I ended up reducing sugar and fat in them, along with liquid, for best results.”,

What was her favorite thing to cook? “All of them,” she answers. But perhaps it’s the beef pot roast. Why? “It makes a comforting full meal with its vegs.  Cooking in the slow cooker is the perfect way to keep it moist while cooking it long enough to get super-tender.”

Whether you’re a busy working person or just want to go out for the day and have a hot dinner waiting for you when you get home, Texas Slow Cooker is a great addition to your cookbook collection.

Author’s note: We first met Cheryl and Bill Jamison in 2004. I had an assignment to write about their new cookbook, Chicken on the Grill. Steve and I sat down with them in their lovely courtyard and talked cookbooks, grilling and smoking. We interviewed them twice more over the ensuing years. In 2014 we interviewed them for their latest effort, Smoke & Spice and our last chat was in 2015 for their second Rancho de Chimayó cookbook, Chimayó RANCHO DE CHIMAYO COOKBOOK 50^th Anniversary Edition. It was always a pleasure.

The post Texas Slow Cooker: the cookbook for busy people appeared first on Santa Fe Travelers.

Many people feel that travel is expensive. However, we truly believe that it’s possible to have unforgettable experiences on a tight budget. In order to achieve this it’s essential to include free activities in your itinerary. Here are seven free things to do in Halifax.

Point Pleasant Park

Point Pleasant Park, photo/courtesy The Dime Travelers

Point Pleasant Park is located in the South End of Halifax. The 75-hectare (about 18 acres) park boasts 39 km of paths and great trails for walking, running or even skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. Detailed maps inside the park identify where various ruins of early fortifications as well as cultural sites can be found. With its location alongside the harbor, you can also go for a swim on the supervised beach or explore coastal ecosystems. The park also offers special events and off-leash areas for dogs.

Halifax Seaport Farmer’s Market

Halifax Seaport Farmer’s Market, photo/courtesy The Dime Travelers

The Halifax Seaport Farmer’s Market, opened in 1750, is the longest running market in North America. Over 250 vendors offer delicious cuisine, amazing art and all kinds of surprises along the way. It is always an enjoyable experience to take in the sights and sounds of this busy (especially on the weekends) market. If you go on a sunny day, don’t forget to make your way to the roof top patio for a beautiful view of the Halifax Harbor.

Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk

Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk, photo/courtesy The Dime Travelers

Wander away from the Seaport Farmer’s Market and you will discover the wonderful Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk. This 4 km long wooden path stretches alongside the waterfront, offering a view of the historic and military boats that call the harbor their home. Many of the city’s best restaurants are also located here and the area hosts various events including the Halifax International Busker Festival every August. You can observe the ferries connecting Dartmouth and Halifax and browse the extensive variety of shops in the downtown’s core.

Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse

Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse, photo/courtesy The Dime Travelers

Thee iconic Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse, built in 1915, is a 45-minute drive from the city, is well worth the trip. The rugged coastline surrounding this popular provincial attraction and the village of Peggy’s Cove will give visitors a feeling of Canada’s east coast. Take in the ocean or explore the coast along the rocks (but be careful, the waves and current can be deceptively dangerous). The lighthouse is the focal point of any visit to this part of the province!

Fairview Lawn Cemetery

Fairview Lawn Cemetery, final resting place for Titanic victims, photo/courtesy The Dime Travelers

Over 100 tombstones at the city’s Fairview Lawn Cemetery belong to victims who lost their lives when the RMS Titanic sank on April, 15 1912. While some of the graves are well marked over one third of them remain a mystery. Though a rather unconventional attraction while visiting a city, these eerie monuments represent an important historical moment and are worth a visit.

(Editor’s note: read more about the Halifax/Titanic connection here.)

Halifax Public Gardens

Halifax Public Gardens,photo/courtesy The Dime Travelers

The Victorian Halifax Public Gardens boast colorful eclectic plants and offer lots of benches for a break. It’s also home to over 140 different species of trees. It’s a popular with both tourists and locals who enjoy eating, meeting up or simply relaxing before returning to the busy city streets.

Beaches

Crystal Crescent Beach, photo/courtesy The Dime Travelers

The sound of crashing waves, the light summer ocean breeze on your skin and your feet in the feel of the cool white sand; need I say more? Many beaches in and around Halifax are well worth a visit. Crystal Crescent Beach, Rainbow Haven Beach as well as the beach areas on Chocolate Lake and Long Lake are within easy driving distance. Go for a refreshing swim, a walk in the cool ocean breeze or sit and listen to the relaxing sound of crashing waves on Nova Scotia’s rugged coastline.

2017 BONUS: Halifax Citadel National Historic Site

The Citadel, photo/courtesy The Dime Travelers

The Citadel National Historic Site on Citadel Hill, overlooking the bustling downtown core, harbor and bridges provides breathtaking views. It the perfect vantage point to take it all in while relaxing high up, away from all the noise and stress of the busy city. Venture into the fort. Completed in 1856, it was a military fortification intended to defend the city. Also check out the Halifax Citadel Army Museum, the hourly sentry changes (during opening hours) and the daily noon gun fire. There is usually an admission fee, however, in celebration of  150^th year of Canada’s confederation, all Parks Canada admission fees have been waived for 2017. Take advantage of this amazing opportunity and make sure to visit Citadel Hill.

Halifax is a wonderful city filled with great budget friendly activity ideas for travelers with diverse interests. The free things to do in Halifax above provide a great combination of experiences representative of the Maritime culture. Don’t wait too long, come explore this fun destination!

What are your favorite free things to do in Halifax?

Office workers by day and travel hunters by night, Janie and Christine, aka The Dime Travelers, are on the pursuit of finding ways to travel on a dime. Currently located in Canada, they enjoy exploring various budget friendly destinations and are always up for an adventure. Come explore the world with us. You can also find us on Instagram and Facebook.

Read more posts in our free things to do series

Free things to do in Santa Fe
Free things to do in San Diego
8 free things to do in Melbourne 
5 free things to do in Seattle
5 free things to do in London
Free things to do in Ipoh, Malaysia
Free things to do in Budapest
11 free things to do in Edinburgh
Free things to do in Lisbon
Free things to do in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Free things to do in Ottawa
7 Free things to do in Rome
5 free things to do in Copenhagen
5 free things to do in Barcelona
Free things to do in Paris the City of Lights
Free things to do in Toronto, Canada
Free things to do in Buenos Aires
9 Free things to do in Jerusalem
Free things to do in Shanghai
7 Free things to do in Taipei
Top 9 Free Things to do in Auckland, New Zealand
5 Free things to do in Amsterdam
5 Free things to do in Hong Kong
Free things to do in New York City
Free things to do in Geneva, Switzerland
Free things to do in Sydney
5 Free things to do in Hanoi
5 Free things to do in Beijing including dancing grannies
Cool free things to do in Brisbane

The post 7 free things to do in Halifax appeared first on Santa Fe Travelers.

Brisbane, the capital city of the Australian state of Queensland, is a perfect city for those who love the outdoors. With a relaxed, casual lifestyle it’s a place that’s easy to fall in love with. While often overlooked for the more recognized cities of Melbourne and Sydney, it is slowly earning a reputation for being a must-visit on any Australian itinerary. With near perfect weather all year round, there are great opportunities to take advantage of the many free things to do in Brisbane. Here are my favorites.

South Bank

Streets Beach South Bank, photo/Matt Williams, courtesy Beer and Croissants

A visit to Brisbane must include a visit to South Bank, the inner city’s green oasis. South Bank is made for visiting over and over. There’s a constant and varied range of free activities. Where else in a major city can you have a swim in pristine waters, surrounded by white sand with a stunning view of the city across the river? The man-made beach here is the most popular attraction in the precinct. There are also wonderful pedestrian and bike pathways that wind their way through South Bank and along the river.

On weekends, free activities include the local markets and Sunday afternoon music in the natural grassy amphitheater. From picnics on the riverfront, to food and cultural festivals and fireworks displays, there is always something free to get involved in at South Bank.

Take in the city view from Mt. Coot-tha

Moon over city viewed from Mt Coot-tha, photo/Matt Williams, courtesy Beer and Croissants

Also known as the Brisbane Lookout, Mt. Coot-tha overlooks inner city Brisbane. On a clear day, you can see Moreton Island from the top of the mountain. Mt Coot-tha is a great spot to get a panoramic view over Brisbane and of the Brisbane CBD (Central Business District). It’s one of the best seats in the house when fireworks light up the Brisbane sky. It’s also an awesome place for sunrise photos, as well as watching thunderstorms sweep across the city. Walking tracks provide access into the bushland for hiking, walking and birdwatching. Bike paths allow mountain bikers to pit their skills against the often steep terrain.

Walk or cycle the Brisbane River Loop

Story Bridge Brisbane, photo/Matt Williams, courtesy Beer and Croissants

Brisbane is set on a winding river. Both sides of the river have excellent cycle and pedestrian paths. Brisbane boasts incredible weather all year round; outdoor activities are popular with visitors and locals alike.  The Brisbane River Loop takes in many of the city’s iconic landmarks including the Story Bridge, the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, South Bank and the Botanic Gardens. There are plenty of great opportunities to stop at the various cafes and restaurants along the way, or to simply sit and watch the people go by. Bicycles may also be hired for a small fee at many locations along the loop.

Spend time at the Cultural Precinct

Old Cultural Centre, photo Matt Williams, courtesy Beer and Croissants

The Cultural Precinct, located adjacent to South Bank, has much to offer. The Gallery of Modern Art, with its huge permanent display of historical and contemporary art pieces and the children’s art center, is popular with locals and visitors alike. Their visiting exhibitions.  the majority of which are free, draw the biggest audience, Nearby, the Queensland Museum has exhibitions on rotation all year round as well as exceptional permanent displays.

 Ride the river on a City Cat

City Cats Brisbane River, photo/Matt Williams, courtesy Beer and Croissants

If getting onto the river is more your style, catch the CityHopper service, with free ferries that run every 30 minutes. You can hop on and hop off at various locations along the river. It’s a great way to see the city from a different perspective.

Visit Kangaroo Point Cliffs

Rock climbing at Kangaroo Point Cliffs, photo/Matt Williams, courtesy Beer and Croissants

Kangaroo Point Cliffs, lining the river directly opposite the city, are a Brisbane landmark offering a magnificent view of Brisbane. You can rock climb, run the hundreds of steps up to the top, or kick back and have a relaxing BBQ with your friends and family. It’s another free vantage point to watch the fireworks during New Year as well as the Riverfire Festival in September. Better still, bring a few drinks or take-away down here at sun set, and watch the night lights twinkle on the city buildings and the iconic Story Bridge.

Brisbane is a great city for walking. The activities and areas mentioned in this post are either in the CBD or nearby. Access, either by foot from the CBD or by public transport, is easy. When out and about always remember that the weather here is always warm; a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen are always a good idea. Finding free things to do in Brisbane is easy!

What are your favorite free things to do in Brisbane?

Kerri McConnel, a business executive for over 20 years, now travels regularly with her husband. Eating great food, drinking great beer and wine, and cooking international foods are integral to their adventures. Kerri, a firm believer that everyone can travel, shares her tips, advice and stories on everything from motor home travel to luxury experiences on her website Beer and Croissants. You can follow Kerri’s adventures on Facebook or Instagram.

Thanks to Matt Williams for his Brisbane photos. You can find more of his work on his website, Matt Williams Photography and on Instagram. You can also find him on Twitter.

Read more posts from our Free things to do series

Free things to do in Santa Fe
Free things to do in San Diego
8 free things to do in Melbourne 
5 free things to do in Seattle
5 free things to do in London
Free things to do in Ipoh, Malaysia
Free things to do in Budapest
11 free things to do in Edinburgh
Free things to do in Lisbon
Free things to do in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Free things to do in Ottawa
7 Free things to do in Rome
5 free things to do in Copenhagen
5 free things to do in Barcelona
Free things to do in Paris the City of Lights
Free things to do in Toronto, Canada
Free things to do in Buenos Aires
9 Free things to do in Jerusalem
Free things to do in Shanghai
7 Free things to do in Taipei
Top 9 Free Things to do in Auckland, New Zealand
5 Free things to do in Amsterdam
5 Free things to do in Hong Kong
Free things to do in New York City
Free things to do in Geneva, Switzerland
Free things to do in Sydney
5 Free things to do in Hanoi
5 Free things to do in Beijing including dancing grannies

The post Cool free things to do in Brisbane appeared first on Santa Fe Travelers.

A lot’s been going on in our lives. Currently, we’re at a friend’s house in Crestone, Colorado in the San Luis Valley, the northern end of the Sangre de Christos. It’s glorious; we woke up to snow on the mountains on Sunday and the aspens are at their peak.

The first snow on the Sangre de Christos in Crestone, CO photo/Steve Collins

We owe you a big apology. Last month, for the first time in our almost seven years of blogging we missed a Tidbits. We have a great excuse. The weekend before Tidbits was due to post we were at the Angel Fire Food and Wine Roundup. On Sunday on our way to Santa Fe, somewhere between Angel Fire and Taos, our trunk somehow opened and Steve’s computer flew out. We lost years of photos and other vital things. Monday was spent changing all of our Internet passwords and filing an insurance claim. There was no way we were getting Tidbits out on time. We just decided that sometimes you just have to let go so we did. For travel bloggers, losing over eight years of travel photos is HUGE. Every time I thought of the loss, my stomach seized up. The good news: two weeks later I got an email. The computer had been found and turned into the Angel Fire Police. A very enterprising Lieutenant there found business cards Steve had collected during the weekend and emailed each of the people. One of those emailed knew me and forwarded the email to us. We contacted the police officer and went to claim the computer the next day. It was a miracle!

Inflating balloons, ones ready to ascend and one in the air at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, photo/Steve Collins

Before we get to Santa Fe news, we want to mention one of the state’s most important annual events, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. This event, which started with a handful of balloons in a field in 1972, has grown to be the largest balloon gathering in the world attracting over 500 hot air balloonists each year. The 2017 Balloon Fiesta runs from Saturday, October 7th through Sunday, October 15th. It took us 13 years to get to this amazing event. Don’t wait that long! You can find out why and get helpful info on making the most out of your Balloon Fiesta experience from our post, Our best Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta tips.

Now onto October happenings in Santa Fe and some local dining and food news.

Fall foliage in Santa Fe

Fall foliage viewed from the Ski Santa Fe chairlift, photo Steve Collins

The first two weeks in October, fall foliage in Santa Fe is at it’s prime. The huge stands of aspen trees turn a beautiful shade of gold and people flock to see this fall phenomena, The best place to view it is from Hyde Park Road. Two of the best views are at Aspen Vista and from the chairlift at Ski Santa Fe. The chairlift runs weekend in September and during Balloon Fiesta Week (October 7^th through 15^th). Our best tip: go on a weekday if you can. On weekends it can be challenging to find parking.

Food and dining news

There have been a lot of comings and goings on the Santa Fe restaurant scene over the last month or so. Here are some of them:

Departures

Chef Paddy Rawal in his Raaga kitchen, photo Jane Rosemont

Raaga, the beloved Indian Restaurant Chef Paddy Rawal opened on Agua Fria in 2011, closed its doors on Saturday, September 23^rd. He closed the restaurant on the advice of his doctor, “With deep gratitude and humility I announce that upon the advice of my personal physician regarding my health, I can no longer maintain the pace that Raaga demands.” We’re sad to see this popular restaurant go and wish Rawal well.

New Mexico Specialty items at The Hive Market, photo Steve Collins

We drove past Hive Market, at the corner of Marcy and Lincoln Streets last week and noticed it was gone. Opened as a pop-up market by Beestro owners  Greg Menke and Devon Gilchrist during Christmas season 2015. It was a fun shop offering local honey and made-in-New Mexico packaged and bottled foods as well as other gift products made in the Land of Enchantment. It was such a success they kept it open. Gone, too is The Root Cellar, the tavern and gastropub that was in Hive Market’s basement. We could not reach the owners to get the skinny on this but a reliable source I checked with said that they closed a few months ago saying they were looking for another location. Sure hope they find one.

The Beestro is also shuttered. A call to them got a voicemail message saying they’d be closed for several weeks “while we work through logistical issues.” I left a message but haven’t yet gotten a call back. We love The Beestro. It opened without a brick and mortar location, delivering lunch in October 2011. They wanted us to write about it so Menke delivered lunch to our door. It was fabulous and we’ve been fans ever since. They got their storefront location in 2012. We hope they’re coming back!

One of our favorite Taos restaurants also closed this month. El Meze featuring Chef Fred Muller’s Mediterranean and North African inspired food since 2007 closed its doors on September 21^st. We have fond memories of wonderful dinners on their back patio with the view of Taos Mountain.

Arrivals

The dining room at Maize, photo courtesy New Mexico Fine Dining

A few months ago, we wrote about the arrival of New Mexico Fine Dining, a new player on the robust Santa Fe dining scene. Maize, 225 Johnson Street, in the historic former military barracks that was most recently home to Georgia, opened on opened Friday, September 15^th. An email from Chef Charles Dale describes the new eatery, “Combining centuries-old traditions with modern cooking techniques, Maize evokes the soul of Santa Fe regional cuisine. A spacious patio, cozy bar and inviting dining room offer three distinct settings for your enjoyment. Signature cocktails, a varied and well-priced wine list, and exciting fare combined with attentive service provide our guests with all the elements for a delightful evening.” We can’t wait to try it. Dale. Who opened Bouche Bistro in 2103 is now overseeing the four restaurants that will make up the NM Dining brand.In addition to Maize, there’s Bouche Bistro and coming soon, A Mano featuring handcrafted Italian food opening in the spot that formerly was  Galisteo Bistro . The resurrected Bobcat Bite on Old Las Vegas Highway will open sometime in 2018.

Chef/owner Alex Hadidi with front of the house manager,  Alcyone Greenling, photo/courtesy Mimosa

Mimosa, 513 Camino De Los Marquez, a new brunch restaurant in digs that once housed the much-missed Backstreet Bistro, plans a mid-October opening. A press release we received notes “We intend to deliver the same leisure and pleasure of weekend brunch experience every day of the week.” Chef/owner, Alex Hadidi, a graduate of New York City’s French Culinary Institute is excited to share what he calls “global eccentric cuisine” in a “laid back cool environment.” Besides brunch, they plan to hold pop-up dinners offering authentic Thai cuisine. They are committed to offering a healthy menu using locally sourced organic foods when possible. They will also offer vegetarian and gluten free options.

Speaking of Backstreet Bistro, fans who’ve been missing former owner David Jacoby’s soups are in luck. Since early August he’s been the manager of the Match Point Café at the Santa Fe Tennis and Swim club at 1755 Camino Corrales. On the menu: some his famous soups such as the Hungarian Mushroom and Southwest Chicken. You will also find old Backstreet favorites such as New York-style corned beef or pastrami and his popular Reuben. Other items include burgers, Nathan’s hot dogs, and nachos. The café is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:30as to 4:30pm.

B&B’s Strawberry, Green Tea, Red Velvet and Chocolate gluten-free chiffon cakes, photo/courtesy B&B Bakery

Santa Fe just got another bakery, but this one has a twist. It’s offering a range of baked goods including South Korean and Asian breads and pastries. B&B Bakery (the B&B stands for Bread and Butter) opened in August at 38 Burro Alley. Owners Sky and Amanda Yang relocated from Las Angeles to Los Alamos in January and opened the bakery’s doors in August. Besides traditional American and Korean breads, they are committed to offering gluten-free and vegan offerings. Gluten-free options include red velvet chiffon cake made with rice flour, and macaroons. Vegans can choose from three kids of dairy free muffins as well as other baked goods. B & B Bakery is open from Monday through Friday 8am to 5pn and on Saturdays from 8am to 6pm. Stop by and check them out.

Santa Fe nightlife is getting a new addition. Tonic, a bar which will offer food and entertainment, is opening in the Water Street location that used to be home to Atomic Grill and, most recently home to Elevations Bistro. Twenty-something owner Winston Greene is no stranger to the local bar scene. He’s been behind the bar at Rouge Cat, Eloisa and Bar Alto at the Drury Plaza Hotel and Low ’n Slow. Décor is deco and the ambiance: sophisticated. In a departure from night life as usual in The City Different, Greene is encouraging patrons to dress up. They plan to be open Monday through Saturday from 5pm to 3am. The kitchen, open until 1am, will offer small plates. Greene is designing retro cocktails that will reflect a bygone era. Put on your finest duds and check them out when they open their doors, hopefully soon.

Cookbook event

Cookbook author and Santa Fe food personality Cheryl Alters Jamison will be at Collected Works, photo/ Marianne Tenenbaum courtesy of Cheryl Alters Jamison

Cheryl Alters Jamison, James Beard Award-winning cookbook author, New Mexico Magazine’s food editor and radio food talk show host, will be discussing (and signing) her newest cookbook, Texas Slow Cooker at Collected Works Bookstore & Coffeehouse,  202 Galisteo Street, on Sunday, October 8^th at 6pm. She will be talking with KTRC Radio’s Richard Eeds. The book’s official release date is October 9^th so be one of the first to get a signed copy of this possible future James Beard Award winner. Jamison (along with her late husband and cookbook-writing partner Bill Jamison) is considered to be one of the preeminent authorities on American regional cuisine. Arrive early; this is sure to be a packed event.

Santa Fe Art

Detail from “Like a Hammer” by artist Jeffrey Gibson from SITElines 2016 much wider than a line, summer 2016 at SITE, photo/Steve Collins

SITE Santa Fe, the city’s cutting-edge art house, closed for expansion over a year ago. The project is now completed; their first exhibition, Future Shock (named for Alvin Toffler’s seminal  1970s book), opens on Saturday, October 7^th. Their press release says, “With Toffler’s predictions and warnings as a backdrop, Future Shock will bring together the work of 10 artists, including new commissions by Regina Silviera, Alexis Rockman, and Lynn Hershman Leeson,” SITE’s exhibitions are always provocative and this looks like it will follow suit. Works in the show include large scale videos, installations, paintings and sculptures which “explore: the role of technology and science in society, the effects of financial markets and globalism, the impact of migration and population growth, and issues of surveillance and privacy whose works imagine a range of visions of our present and future.” The show runs through January 10, 2018.

Martha Kellar, Jewels Of Light, phptp courtesy Sorrel Sky Gallery

Sorrel Sky Gallery opens Light and Shadow, a two-person show of work from painters David Knowlton and Martha Kellar, on Friday, October 6^th from 5 to 7:30pm. The exhibition features Knowlton’s stylized paintings of iconic structures, trains, bridges, and machinery inspired by his travels as well as Kellar’s still lifes, figurative works and landscapes. The show runs through October.

Bloom, Andrew Fisher, 2016, plastic tarp, archival paper, oil paint, 24K gold leaf, thread, 72”x60”, photo/Patina Gallery.

A Friendship Forged in Gold opens at Patina Gallery. The exhibition, opening on Friday, October 13^th from 5 to 7pm, features the work of Bay Area painter and sculptor Andrew Fisher and Santa Fe jewelry maker Claire Kahn. Fisher’s new collection of gilded tapestries and Kahn’s luxurious bead-crochet necklaces and bracelets will be on view. The exhibition runs through Sunday, November 12^th.

Judy Kramer bracelets, photo/courtesy Eldorado Studio Tour

Eldorado Arts & Crafts Association is holding its 16th Annual Eldorado Arts and Crafts Fall Show on Friday, October 20^th from 3 to 7pm and Saturday, October 21^st from 9am to 5pm at St. John’s United Methodist Church at 1200 Old Pecos Trail. Over 40 Eldorado artists are bringing their art to Santa Fe. The genres on sale include painting, jewelry, ceramics, glass, photography, sculpture, fiber art, wearable art and folk art.

Artists at the 2013 Canyon Road Paintout, photo Steve Collins

Canyon Road Merchants Association holds the 10^th Historic Canyon Road Paint & Sculpt Out all day on Saturday, October 21^st from 9am to 4pm. Over 100 artists including painters, sculptors, potters, photographers and weavers will participate. The event is a day-long artist demonstration, with the artists showcasing their talents, sharing their creative processes and discussing their techniques with visitors. Artists will create new works of art in sculpture gardens along Santa Fe’s historic Canyon Road as well as inside the intimate adobe buildings that lime this historic byway. The event, which is free and open to the public, is a fundraiser for the Santa Fe Public Schools.

Santa Fe Music

Serenata of Santa Fe, courtesy The Serenata of Santa Fe

Serenata of Santa Fe presents String Influx, a chamber music program, on Sunday, October 1^st at 3pm at the First Presbyterian Church. Works of Frank Bridge, Bohuslav Martinu and Richard Strauss will be featured. Performers are David Felberg and Ruxandra Marquardt (violin); Shanti Randall and Laura Manko (viola); and Sally Guenther and Dana Winograd (cello). Tickets, $20 to $40, are available at the Serenata website and at the door (cash or check only). Senior and student discounts are available at the door only.

Performance Santa Fe presents music legends Irma Thomas, The Blind Boys of Alabama, and The Preservation Hall Legacy Quintet on Tuesday, October 10^th at 7:30 pm at The Lensic Performing Arts Center. The Soul Queen of New Orleans, blues vocalist Irma Thomashas become one of the Crescent City’s most beloved and honored musical ambassadors. The Blind Boys of Alabama have provided spiritually uplifting vocals since the 1930s. Collectively they have six GRAMMY Awards under their collective belts. Tickets, $29 to $110, are available on Performance Santa Fe’s website or at the Lensic box office as well as online at Tickets Santa Fe*.

The Santa Fe Symphony presents virtuoso violinist Alexi Kenney in two programs. The first concert is on Sunday, October 15^th at 4pm at The Lensic Performing Arts Center. The Avery Fisher Career Grant–winner will perform with the full Symphony Orchestra. On the program: Haydn’s Violin Concerto in C Major and Dvorák’s Romance in F Minor, among other selections.

On Sunday, October 22^nd at 4pm he’ll perform and Bach’s E Major Partita and Crumb’s Four Nocturnes accompanied by pianist Renana Gutman. Tickets to that performance, also at the Lensic are $22 to $80 (half-priced tickets available for children 6 to 14 with adult purchase). You can purchase tickets for both concerts at The Lensic Box Office the Symphony Box Office or online at Tickets Santa Fe.*

*Tickets Santa Fe

Santa Fe Misc

A mural by Hopi artist Fred Kaboti at Mary Colter’s fabulous Desert View Watchtower at Grand Canyon, photo/Steve Collins

The Sixth Annual Fred Harvey Weekend takes place from Friday, October 20^th through Sunday, October 22^nd. The New Mexico History Museum, where you’ll find Setting the Standard: The Fred Harvey Company and Its Legacy, a permanent exhibition devoted to Fred Harvey and the company he started, will host many of the weekend’s events. Talks on Saturday and Sunday include one on the state’s collection of Spanish Colonial materials from the Fred Harvey Fine Arts Collection which is housed at the Museum of International Folk Art; a talk by Dr. Charles Harvey one of Fred Harvey’s descendants; a presentation of the Mary Colter jewelry and library collection housed at Mesa Verde National Park as well as a talk on Harvey’s impact on New Mexico given by Stephen Fried, author of Appetite for America, perhaps the definitive book on the Fred Harvey empire. Check their website for a schedule. Admission is free but these events are popular so we suggest reserving seats in advance (the site requires a Google account to sign up).

The fireplace designed by Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter at Santa Fe’s La Fonda in Santa Fe, photo/Steve Collins

La Fonda, a former Harvey hotel, will host the Fred Harvey Food Happening  a dinner of classic Fred Harvey dishes interpreted by a roster of Santa Fe’s star chefs: Chef Lane Warner from La Fonda, Louis Moscow from 315 Restaurant, Greg Menke from The Beestro & Root Cellar and Rocky Durham from Sunrise Springs Blue Heron restaurant. They will be joined in the kitchen by Chef Johnny Vee of La Cosa School of Cooking.

Trackside view of the Castaneda, Las Vegas, NM, photo/Steve Collins

On Sunday the Harvey Weekend moves to Las Vegas, NM, once home to two Harvey House hotels (Montezuma Castle and the Castaneda Hotel). Events include a talk by hotel owner Allan Affeldt about his Castaneda Hotel renovation, a Harvey-themed cooking demo by Chef Johnny Vee and tours of both Montezuma Castle and the Castaneda. All events are free except for the tours which are $10 per person. If you don’t know about Fred Harvey, the man and company and his impact on tourism in the Southwest, read this comprehensive post I wrote for Bid on Travel Blog.

And a quick note: The New Mexico Museum of Art is celebrating its 100^th is closed for renovations and reopens on birthday  on October 25^th with a big birthday celebrations open to the public from 10am to 5pm.

That’s it for this October happenings in Santa Fe. Tidbits be back on the last Tuesday in October to fill you in on November’s happenings. ¡Hasta Luego!

If you don’t already subscribe to our blog and want to read about Santa Fe, Northern New Mexico or our latest travels, subscribe here.

What are your favorite October happenings in Santa Fe?

What are your favorite October happenings in Santa Fe?

The post Tidbits: October happenings in Santa Fe appeared first on Santa Fe Travelers.

Booking a flight, room and rental car

The tops of these colorful balloons like a bit like flowers, photo/Steve Collins

Tip: Book early, this is a hugely popular event and things book up early.

People often book their hotel rooms a year in advance. If want the hotel of your choice, book early, you can always cancel (subject to the hotel’s cancellation policies). Prices for hotels and car rentals are at their peak during Balloon Fiesta so  shop around for deals.

When to go

A sky full of balloons, photo Steve Collins

Tip: For the mass ascensions go on Saturday.

The event takes place over nine days. There are two sessions each day; morning and evening. The best and most attended events are the weekend mass ascensions held early Saturday and Sunday mornings with more than 500 hot air balloons taking to the sky en masse. It’s a visually stunning experience! The catch? Balloons can only ascend in certain air and wind conditions. One of the reasons Albuquerque is ideal for ballooning are the wind patterns that create The Albuquerque Box.”These perfect conditions often occur on early October mornings. If the weather conditions aren’t just right, the balloons won’t launch.

We went on a rainy, cloudy, windy Sunday. The launch, which is supposed to be a 7am, was delayed. Just when the it was about to be cancelled. a bit after 8am, there was a window and balloons started to launch. It was a short window so not all the balloons got off the ground, but, none the less, it was a splendid spectacle. Had they not launched, we would have been back the following Saturday. The lesson we took away from this is to make sure you get to see a mass ascension, go the first day of the Fiesta. If the balloons aren’t able to take off, you can try again the next day. If you’re local and there’s no ascension, you can come back the next weekend. Coming from out of town? Morning sessions end at noon.

Evening sessions are less crowded which means less traffic. The gates open at 3:30 and everything winds down by 9pm.

The longer your stay in Albuquerque, the better your chances for catching the weather-dependent events such as launches and balloon glows.

Getting there

A pre-dawn souvenir balloon vendor on Main Street, photo Steve Collins

Tip 1: Arrive early!

It took us 13 years to get to Balloon Fiesta. Why? The mass ascensions take place at 7am. To beatd the worst of the traffic, you have to leave Santa Fe by 4:30am so you can arrive at Balloon Fiesta Park, get parked and on be on the field in time for the 7am launch. Traffic headed to the Fiesta is massive and waits are long. We finally bit the bullet when I got a writing assignment that included the event. I needed first-hand experience. (Because I was on assignment, we got press passes to the Fiesta.) We made great time getting to the Tramway Boulevard exit on I-25, arriving at 5:30am. That’s when we encountered the bumper to bumper traffic and then the slow crawl began. It took us about an hour in the cold, pre-dawn to get to the parking lot. But we made it.

Bring cash (the only thing accepted) for parking fees. Current parking rate is $15.

Tip 2: Take the Fiesta Express Park & Ride.

The Fiesta Express Park & Ride, sponsored by Visit Albuquerque, is a great way to avoid driving in traffic. Bring your morning drink and a snack and enjoy the ride. You can even catch a few winks. Currently there’s pick-up at six locations around the city. Buses start running at 4:30am. The bus ticket price includes Balloon Fiesta admission. Advance online purchase tickets are less expensive than ones bought onsite day of; you can purchase them online before midnight on the day before you want to attend a morning session and up to noon day of for the evening sessions. While children 12 and under get free admission to the Fiesta, children over five must pay to ride the bus.

Tip 3: Ride your bike

The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta makes it easy to ride your bike and avoid traffic jams and bus lines. They offer a free Bike Valet service. It’s open mornings from 5:30 to 10:30am and evenings (when there’s an event) from 5 to 9pm. As you’ll be riding in the dark, either arriving in the morning or departing at night, make sure your bike is equipped with safety gear including headlamps, reflectors and tail lights.

Tip 4: Take your RV.

If you want to be onsite and not hassle with traffic and you own (or decide to rent an RV) it’s a great way to experience Balloon Fiesta. Here’s a post with tips written by people who shared their experience RVing at the Fiesta. Reservations for spots for the next year’s Fiesta, which currently run from $35 to $175 per night, depending on location and amenities. You can reserve a space starting a week after this year’s Fiesta. This is a popular option and sells out. Reserve early!

Ticketing

More inflating balloons, ones ready to ascend and one in the air photo Steve Collins

Tip: Buy your tickets in advance online.

Anyone 12 or older needs a ticket to get into the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. If you want to avoid possible lines on the day you go, buy your tickets online in advance. If you’re buying at the gate, bring cash; they don’t accept credit cards. Current admission price is $10. You can purchase a book of five tickets for $45. Tickets are non-refundable. If events are cancelled, your ticket will act as a rain check; hang onto it!

If you want to go in-style, check out the Gondola Club. Admission (currently $100 per person, per session (group discounts available), has a lot of perks including: admission to the Fiesta, parking pass to private Gondola Club parking (as well as shuttle service), buffet meal (breakfast or dinner buffet, depending on session attended), free alcoholic beverages (except Sunday’s before noon when no liquor, per state law, can be served, prime location to view balloon launch and my favorite: real bathrooms.

The Chasers’ Club (tickets currently $45 per person, per session) includes park admission, private patio seating and a drink and food item.

What to wear

Special shape balloons such as the bear are big crowd pleasers at the Fiesta, photo/Steve Collins

Tip: Dress in layers.

Dress in layers; the weather will change throughout the day. At 5am it can be mighty chilly! You want a jacket. I HATE having cold feet; I actually wore UGGS and carried shoes. I also brought gloves and a hat, in case. Wear closed-toe shoes as the grass could be damp. The day we went it was wet. By 10am, it could warm up; in early October it can get pretty warm during the day.

For evening sessions, it’s the reverse. even on a warm evening it can chill before the event ends.  Be prepared!

Other things to bring

A mounted patrol at the launch site photo Steve Collins

Also, at almost a mile above sea level, you’re closer to the sun. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a hot. Also, New Mexico is very dry. Carry (and drink) a lot of water. Also, as you will be arriving in the dark in the morning and leaving in the dark at night, bring a small flashlight. If you want to sit while at Balloon Fiesta, bring your own chair.

Plan your Balloon Fiesta time

Balloon glow at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, photo Angelina Peace, courtesy of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Tip: Make sure to attend a mass ascension

Mornings

There’s a lot going on each day at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. If you’re not planning to go more than one day, plan to attend on days that offer scheduled events that interest you. Weekends are prime time. The mass ascensions are the most coveted events. There’s nothing like seeing hundreds of balloons in the sky! Mornings start with a laser light show at 5:45 followed at about 6am (weather permitting) by the Dawn Patrol, a choreographed inflation and launch. The show, set to music, has been part of the Fiesta since 1996. Another morning event open to the public is the Pilot Briefing starting around 6:15am. Pilots learn of any delays or event cancellations here. Be one of the first to know!

Don’t just watch from afar. Get out onto the field in the middle of the inflating and launching balloons. Hearing the loud whoosh of the flame that powers the balloon is like hearing a giant Darth Vader breathe, it’s memorable. And watching these huge balloons go from flat on the ground to fully inflated and ready to go is another experience you’ll long remember. You also get to interact with the crews going up in the balloons.

Take lots of photos! Steve loved the photo ops and, almost as fun for him: seeing the range of photo equipment and talking to other shutterbugs

On weekend mornings, there are the mass ascensions at 7am, weather permitting.

Evenings

Evening sessions offer a variety of events. Some of the more popular are the America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race Launch, held on the first Saturday, the Special Shape Glowdeo, held on both Thursday and Friday nights and the Night Magic Glow on the second Saturday. There is a laser light show every night. There is no evening sessions on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The entire Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta schedule can be found here.

Visit Main Street

Want a bit of breakfast or a hot drink to help warm you up? Hit Mail Street, photo Steve Collins

Main Street, is the third of a mile stretch where you’ll find food vendors as well as booths selling Balloon Fiesta souvenirs. There are also public information booths set up. Grab a hand-held New Mexico burrito (our favorite: green chile and bacon) and eat it while browsing Main Street.

Book a balloon ride

Want to go up, up and away at Balloon Fiesta? Book a ride with Rainbow Ryders, photo Steve Collins

Want to experience balloon flight? You can book a balloon ride with Rainbow Ryders the only commercial balloon company allowed to launch passenger rides from Balloon Fiesta park during the Fiesta. While rides are way more expensive during Balloon Fiesta than they are the rest of the year, flights are popular and book up.

Plan your days

Take a day trip to Santa Fe where you can visit the oldest house in the USA photo/Steve Collins

The morning session, though open until noon, is pretty much over by 10am and evenings don’t start until around 6pm. What will you do during the rest of the day? Albuquerque offers shopping, interesting museums, including the Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum in Balloon Fiesta Park; cultural sites including the Indian Pueblo Cultural and the National Hispanic Cultural Center as well as Acoma Sky City, a thousand-year-old pueblo about an hour away; tours for Breaking Bad fans; a BioPark with a botanical garden, aquarium and zoo; part of Historic Route 66 as well as the Sandia Tramway. Farther afield, you can visit Santa Fe or take a day trip exploring Northern New Mexico; perhaps take the High Road to Taos. (Use the search box near the top of the sidebar on this page to find more day trips.) You can book a Santa Fe walking tour with us or ask us to design a custom itinerary for you.

We hope that our best Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta tips help you plan your time there. And, we’ll say it again: don’t forget to bring your camera. The Fiesta is one of the most photographed events in the world. You’ll see why once you’re there. We came home with hundreds of photos. There’s something about hot air balloons that fascinates people. Seeing hundreds of them in the air at the same time is pure magic. Put the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta on your must-do list. Up, up and away!

If you have any tips to add to Best Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta tip, leave them in the comment section below. Our readers will appreciate them!

The post Our best Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta tips appeared first on Santa Fe Travelers.

“How much should I tip?” is a frequently asked question. As former hotel concierges, this is an area we know about. To assist readers we created the Ultimate Guide to Hotel Tipping. Knowing how much to tip for services can make all but the savviest travelers insecure. People seem to be even less sure about gratuities at higher end hotels and resorts where there may be lot of people to take care of. Go with your comfort level and don’t be afraid to over-tip. No one ever complained when they got an overly generous tip. Understanding tipping can take the anxiety out of the process so that you can enjoy your stay without fretting about what to give the housekeeper, the valet, the bellman, even the concierge. Hope our Ultimate Guide to Hotel Tipping takes the stress out of tipping.

Restaurants

The dining room at Nine-Ten, the chic, sophisticated dining room at the Grande Colonial Hotel in La Jolla, photo Billie Frank

When dining is a high end restaurant,  18 to 20% of the bill is the norm. Tip more if you have an incredible experience or deep pockets or service exceeds all expectations.

If you are staying at a chain motel or; low-end hotel, mostly you don’t have to worry about tipping. If you stay for a few days, leave $2 a day for housekeeping. Here are some guidelines for tipping at higher-end properties.

The valet/bell-person

The first person you see at the hotel will be the valet, photo/
Stephanie Diehl

The first person you are apt to meet when checking into a luxury hotel is the valet (he/she may double as the bell-person). These folks really hustle and earn that tip. Now, here’s the tricky part; do you tip on both in and out? A common valet tip is $2, given when the car is delivered. Some people tip at both ends with the larger tip when the vehicle is brought to them. The valet that takes your car is often not the same one returning it. There is usually more hustle on the return end as the valet knows you want your car quickly. Some people tip $1, some $10, $20 and even more. Remember, a too small tip or no tip at all is as memorable as a large one. Guests who tip lavishly are often remembered whenever they return.

or luggage assistance, give at least $1 to $2 per bag; $5 to $10 is reasonable for good service. Tip more for an extremely heavy unwieldy bags or if there are a lot of odds and ends on the luggage cart. A good bell-person will set your luggage on caddies and hang appropriate garment bags and loose garments. Before leaving he/she will make sure you understand the intricacies of the heating, audio-visual, telephone and Wi-Fi systems. Tip more generously for this kind of service. Sometimes, there is a doorman, a valet, and bell person. That’s a lot of people to tip. Often, they pool tips. The only way to find out is to ask. For parking, unloading and luggage delivery, tip $10 to $20 depending on how much luggage you have.

The housekeeper

The housekeeper at Post Ranch Inn works hard to keep this suite perfect, photo Steve Collins

One of the hardest, most thankless jobs in a hotel is the housekeeper’s. People sometimes leave rooms in appalling condition. The housekeeper is not expected or in fact allowed to move your possessions, so leave the room in a cleanable condition. A suggested minimum amount is $3 per day; $5 is generous. If your room is really messy and requires a lot of work or really trashed when you check out, leave a larger gratuity than normal. It’s a good idea to leave housekeeping tips daily in an envelope marked “Housekeeper.” If you wait and tip at the end of your stay, it might be a windfall for a fill-in housekeeper who has done your room once in a multiple-day stay. During your stay, the envelope is important. In many hotels, if housekeepers touch money left in the room, they can be fired. If you need something brought to the room; pillows, extra towels etc. a dollar or two is appropriate. If the hotel offers turn-down service, a few dollars is a nice gesture. If a member of the housekeeping staff does something above and beyond, tip accordingly.

The concierge

Want dinner or tour recommendations? Talk to the concierge, photo/Stephanie Diehl

One of the trickiest tipping situations is the concierge. A good one can take your experience from good to incredible. He or she is there to make restaurant reservations, arrange for tours, secure tickets to shows or concerts, make hair or spa appointments or anything else you may require. The concierge can arrange your entire visit for you. A good concierge is a better resource than the best guidebook you can buy. A guidebook’s information may be obsolete before it arrives at the bookstore. New restaurants come, old ones go, shops and galleries open and close, hours and days of operation of businesses, museums etc. may change. The book won’t know about the hottest new restaurant, club, shop, gallery or attraction in town and it can’t tell you what the current exhibition at a museum is. The concierge and their level knowledge can make your visit really special. If you need flowers or candy delivered or the right gift for that special person, the concierge will know just how to get it done for you. These special touches can make your occasion and your stay memorable.

If you’ve been working with a concierge prior to arrival, a tip inside a card or a thank-you letter is a great gesture. You may also wait until departure to tip. These people can be your greatest asset in a hotel. Dedicated concierges do not expect a tip, but they appreciate getting one. Base the tip on what you ask them to do. If it is dinner for an evening, $5 is appropriate. If they are making a lot of arrangements for your stay, tip $10 or $20 or more, depending on the amount of work involved and your satisfaction. Sometimes you spend a lot of time with a concierge and tipping may feel awkward to you. Personal gifts are a wonderful idea, but before buying something, figure out if it’s an item they can actually use. A bottle of fine wine is an appropriate gift to a wine-lover, but if given to a recovering alcoholic, not so great. Food can be a welcome thank-you, but what if they’re on a diet. If possible, find out what store or restaurant they love and give them a gift certificate. But remember, cash is king and your concierge will appreciate being remembered.

Room service

Don’t forget to tip for room service. photo/Stephanie Diehl

Room service is tricky. The hotel usually adds a service charge to the bill. This is not a tip and a gratuity may have been added. The attendant does not get the service charge, and the tip, if included, may be pooled by the hotel. An appropriate tip is between 18% and 20% of the food and/or drink bill before taxes. If the server sets your food up and goes above and beyond, you may want to tip them a bit extra. You know the server gets to keep this.

The Spa

The serene waiting area at the spa at Sunrise Springs Spa Resort in Santa Fe, photo Steve Collins

Many luxury hotels feature spas. If you are pampering yourself with a spa service, often the tip is added on to the bill. If it is, no additional gratuity is needed. If it’s not included, tip 18 to 20% of the pre-tax bill.

The pool attendant

You’ll get great poolside service at the Paradise Pool at the Arizona Biltmore, photo Steve Collins

If there is a swimming pool or beach attendant and they bring towels or do other personal services tip $1 or $2. If you order food or drinks delivered to you and a tip is not included, again, 18 to 20% of the bill is appropriate. If a tip is added by the hotel, give the server a few extra dollars. You never know if these tips go to the server or the hotel.

Shuttle or Car Drivers

The Grande Colonial Hotel in La Jolla, CA shuttles guests in an authentic London taxi, photo Steve Collins

Many hotels offer shuttle or car service to guests. You can leave the car at the hotel and not have to worry about driving (and parking) locally. It’s a great convenience when going out to dinner. You can enjoy your cocktails or wine knowing you won’t get behind the wheel on the way back to your lodging. A suggested tip for the driver is $2 to $5 per person, per ride.

All inclusive

A panoramic view from a balcony at Secrets The Vine in Cancun, an all-inclusive resort, photo Stephanie Diehl

If you are staying at a hotel where a service charge is added “to cover tips”, don’t presume that the staff gets it. If you feel that you want to tip anyone or everyone who provides good service, go for it. It will ensure great treatment during your stay. Here are guidelines for an all-inclusive property: $2 to $10 for room service depending on the order, $5 per couple buffets, $5 to $10 per couple for a la carte restaurants, $1 to $2 per round or $5 to $10 for the day for drink service whether you’re at the bar, the pool or the beach. Staff members appreciate the reward and often depend on it.

No tipping policies

Some places have “no tipping” policies in place. It is usual for the employee to refuse once. If you really want to tip them, offer again. If they refuse a second time, it may be that there job is on the line and you don’t want to get them fired.

Some people are pleased with service but don’t tip. They feel the trip is already too expensive and that they can’t afford to. If you can afford to stay at a luxury hotel, you can afford to tip; use our ultimate guide to hotel tipping as a guideline. If the stay is a splurge or you got a great promotional rate, budget the tips into your expense planning prior to the trip. At least, tip the minimum; you’ll earn good karma points. Hotel staff generally remember the generous tippers and this small gesture can make the difference between a good and great stay. You’ll be rewarded in subtle (and often not-so-subtle ways) for your generosity.

Was the Ultimate Guide to Hotel Tipping helpful to you?

You can even print out the Ultimate Guide to Hotel Tipping and carry it with you or save it on your phone for reference.

Writer’s note: Thanks to Stephanie Diehl of Travel Designed by Stephanie for her input into this post. You can find her on Twitter and Facebook.

The post Ultimate Guide to Hotel Tipping appeared first on Santa Fe Travelers.

My first green chile memory

Albuquerque food legend Mary & Titos is a James Beard American Classic, photo/Steve Collins

On a visit to Albuquerque over Christmas 1991 we decided we had to eat at one of the city’s legendary New Mexican restaurants — there are a few. We headed for Sadie’s on a Saturday night. We waited a long time with a lot of other would-be diners for a table. I perused the menu and decided to order the stacked blue corn chicken enchiladas smothered in green chile. “Mild, medium or hot?” our server asked. Not having honed my New Mexico heat tolerance I went for mild. I tucked into my food when it arrived and immediately began to cough. That “mild” chile sure was hot. I had learned my first green chile lesson: the chile heat is what it is and that’s it. If you are heat-sensitive, ask to taste it or order it on the side. Don’t have your food covered in it! In New Mexico they won’t take food back for being too hot to eat.  Even sour cream could not make this tolerable for me. That was really the only NM restaurant I’ve been asked what heat level I wanted. There’s good reason for this. Chile, like wine grapes, is beholden to terroir as well as the year’s weather conditions. Wet conditions result in one heat profile while a dry creates another. There’s really no way to predict the heat of a chile before tasting it. I remember one year when the hot chile one market was selling was milder than one that was marked as “medium.”

By the time we ate at Albuquerque’s Mary & Titos, another legendary purveyor of traditional New Mexican cuisine, designated a James Beard Foundation American Classic, I was a pro.

Learning to eat hotter and hotter chile

Green chiles at the Santa Fe Farmers Market, photo Steve Collins

It took years but I can tolerate fairly hot chile these days. My eyes may tear, I may cough and my sinuses clear up, but I valiantly persist. Working at a downtown luxury hotel helped me adjust to chile heat. Employees got free lunch. Most of my fellow workers were either native New Mexicans or from Mexico, as were the cooks; the hotter, the better! On days when the food had chile it was often too hot, for me but it was darned tasty so I persisted. Slowly, my heat tolerance increased.

Santa Feans will tell you the hottest green chile in town is at Horseman’s Haven on the city’s south end. While I would never attempt their level two (or higher) green, it’s hotter than hell, I do eat their next level down. It hurts, but I can do it. I felt really proud the day I conquered their green. It’s one of my proudest and best green chile memories. I felt like I was Queen of the World. I can now mostly hold my own when it comes to eating New Mexican green chile.

Colorado chile

Eating Colorado green chile at the 4th Street Diner in Saguache, CO brought on the green chile memories, photo Billie Frank

My second green chile experience was in Northern Colorado where we lived for eight years before moving to Santa Fe. Juan’s a long-gone Mexican restaurant in Loveland had wonderful pork green chile that I used to order and cover my shredded beef. It was heaven. Colorado green, unlike its New Mexican cousin, is usually made with a roux so it has a way thicker texture.

One of our favorite Colorado greens is at Mountain Shadows Restaurant, our go-to breakfast placet when we’re in Colorado Springs. We found this funky gem, on the east side of the historic Old Colorado City, area by accident; it was a fortuitous one! They sell their green in mason jars and it’s so good we once left with some for ourselves and to give as gifts. It’s thick, not overly spicy and really tasty. It’s true comfort food!

Colorado tries to compete with NM in the unofficial chile wars, but, in my opinion, it’s no contest. New Mexico wins hands-down.

Buying New Mexico green

Matt Romero roasting green chile at the Santa Fe Farmers Market, photo/Steve Collins

New Mexicans are very opinionated when it comes to their green chile and just about everyone   has their favorite. As mentioned, chile takes on the character of the land it’s grown in. The best-known NM chile comes from Hatch in the southern part of the state. They’re famous for growing it and their annual chile festival draws people from all over. Hatch chile the main chile that gets shipped out of state. There’s a lot of it, though as Kelly Urig, the Chile Chica, creator of the Emmy Award-winning short The Chile Film (La Sangre Roja y Verde de Nuevo Mexico, points out in her book, New Mexico Chiles: History, Legend and Lore writes about the decline of chile production in the state due to a number of factors.

Berridge Farms roasting green chile in Santa Fe, photo/Steve Collins

The most popular chile is the Big Jim, a large chile perfect for chile rellenos. Much of the chile roasting in Santa Fe comes up from the Hatch Valley. You’ll find green chile roasting outside most grocery stores as well as in parking lots around town. Farmers from down south set up their roasters site around town. Hatch’s Berridge Farms, owned and run by Urig’s family, sets up at the Rodeo de Santa Fe grounds on Rodeo Road on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 5pm during roasting season; they’ve set up somewhere in Santa Fe during roasting season for decades.

We’re partial to the organic green grown at Matt Romero Farms in Velarde sold at the Santa Fe Farmers Market. Matt Romero mans his chile roaster all season. Chimayó is famous for its red chile. It’s allowed to ripen and then is dried and ground before use.

We miss not being in Santa Fe during chile season. It means our freezer won’t have green waiting for us all winter. The good news: Albuquerque’s Bueno Foods buys up copious amounts of New Mexico green and freezes it. It’s available in markets all over NM and shows up in markets around the country for those needing their green chile fix. But if you want fresh green chile, the time to strike is now.

It’s been fun and cathartic sharing my best green chile memories. Hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them!

What are your best green chile memories?

The post Best green chile memories: learning to love spice appeared first on Santa Fe Travelers.