Santa Fe, New Mexico

I’ve lived in Colorado for awhile and while I’ve seen a lot of the state, I haven’t visited neighboring states very much. One reason is because it takes such a long time to drive anywhere. But recently I went down south to Santa Fe, New Mexico with my Mom and sister for a four day weekend (actually only two full days because of travel time – with good weather, no traffic and minimal pit stops we made it in six hours).

Santa Fe is like any other city. It has hospitals, grocery stores, strip malls, shopping malls etc. But the downtown area is where all the history and action is. This is where you’ll find all the art galleries, museums and trendy restaurants. It’s an artist’s Mecca. Here are some of the highlights:

Loretto Chapel (http://www.lorettochapel.com/) – This little chapel is special because of its spiral staircase (know as the Miraculous Staircase) at the back of the chapel which leads up to the choir loft because it two 360 degree turns and no visible means of support. Legend has it that when the chapel was completed in 1878 there was no way to access the choir loft other than ladder because a regular staircase would interfere with the interior space. So the Sisters of the Chapel made a novena to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters. On the ninth and final day of prayer, a man appeared at the Chapel with a donkey and a toolbox looking for work. Months later, the elegant circular staircase was completed, and the carpenter disappeared without pay or thanks. After searching for the man (an ad even ran in the local newspaper) and finding no trace of him, some concluded that he was St. Joseph himself, having come in answer to the sisters' prayers. The staircase is extremely beautiful and well worth the $3 admission charge.

Native America Art – Walking along Palace Avenue in front of the Palace of the Governors is where you’ll find the Native Americas selling their wares. Every day Native Americas arrive in the morning to draw lots as to who and where they can set up their ware which is mostly silver and turquoise jewelry. If you don’t get a spot, there is a waiting list and as soon as someone leaves you can set up your stuff. You have to prove you are a Native American to get a spot and you also have to demonstrate that you are actually making what you are selling (I learned this from one of the Native American’s who was waiting for a spot while Mom and Sister were off buying jewelry). The people governoring this are making sure it’s authentic.

The Shed (http://www.sfshed.com/Restaurant.html) – Just east on Palace Avenue is this popular Mexican restaurant. My guess is you’ll have to wait for a table any time you go there. Ours was about 20 minutes but it was worth it for the Cold Red Raspberry Soup. Made with fresh raspberries, Rose wine, line and a hint of sour cream, this unique soup isn’t very sweet but instead more on tart side. We almost had to restrain my Mom from licking the bowl, it was that good.

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum (http://www.okeeffemuseum.org/) – If you like art, this is the place to stop. While Santa Fe has several art museums, its most famous artist has a museum of her own. Georgia O’Keeffe (1887 – 1986) is mostly known for panting flowers, rocks, shells, animal bones and landscapes (if you don’t know her name you probably recognize her work). She came to New Mexico in 1929 which inspire most of her work. The museum opened in July 1997 and has a collection of over 1,149 O’Keeffe paintings, drawings and sculptures in its collection (it’s the larges single repository of O’Keeffe’s work in the world). The O’Keeffe collection changes throughout the year and also shows works from other artists.

Canyon Road (http://canyonroadarts.com/) – Just southeast of the downtown area is Canyon Road, a mile long stretch of road which is home to more than 100 art galleries and studios, many of which are in historic adobe homes (some dating back to the 1750s). Art work ranges from paintings to statues, Native American to contemporary. Many of the galleries also have beautiful sculpture gardens with old leafy trees and fountains. Even if you aren’t an art enthusiast, it’s a great place to see some old adobe houses or people watch as you sit on a bench under the shade of a tree.

Tea and Tablescapes

Today I went to Tea and Treasurers at Tablescapes 2010 sponsored by the Assistant League's Auxiliary of Denver. First, let me tell you what a tablescape is. Tablescapes are basically creatively designed table arrangements or centerpieces that showcase or highlight a specific object or collection. A friends did a tablescape for this fundraising event.

This was definitely not something the girls from Sex and the City would do. It's more something that the Golden Girls would do. But it was interesting. It was held in a Victoria house on the corner of 14th and Josephine just southeast of downtown Denver. For the price of admission you got to see about 20 tablescapes, have tea and a snack, and a look around this beautiful Victorian house. They were also selling arts & crafts throughout the house.

Some of the tablescapes had really neat themes, were really original (one table had a place setting the was identical to the Colorado state flag) and were beautiful. Although my friend's table (an Africa theme) didn't win a prizes from the judges I think it was one of the best ones there.

If I remember correctly, the top price was a table setting that consisted of genuine artifacts from caveman times and was called something like First Dinner. One table that won a people's choice award had a gnome theme. There was Christmas themed one, a Halloween themed table, a table of all Campbell soup items and one that had an all chocolate theme. My second favorite, after my friend's, was a Tinkerbell inspired table setting. It won either 2nd or 3rd place by the judges.

All of the money raised by the Assistance League Auxiliary Denver goes to different charitable projects, like Operation School Bell which gives over 2,000 Denver Public School children new clothes as well as health kits and a new book to promote literacy.

So today was definitely something different and probably not something many people my age would do (without giving out my age, my friend and I were probable two of the youngest people there) but we did have a lot of fun.

Krispy Kreme - Lone Tree, CO

A couple of years ago there was a lot of hoopla over Krispy Kreme coming to Denver (if you don’t know, Krispy Kreme is a donut shop). When the first store opened people were clamoring to get in, cars and people were lined up to get a donut. I was NOT one of those people (although I probably will be one of those people when IKEA opens south of Denver in Fall 2011!). Their specialty, the glazed donut, really isn’t my favorite but eventually I did have one, but it wasn’t directly from their store. Once it got up and running Krispy Kreme started delivering its signature donuts to other grocery and convenience stores. And at the time I really didn’t think there was anything special about this donut.

On Monday (Memorial Day) I was scrapbooking with a friend and decided to make a run to the nearby Krispy Kreme store. I was told that they had more than glazed donuts. They did have the kind I liked, stuffed donuts (crème, custard, raspberry).

Now there are only three of these stores in the Denver metro area (Lone Tree, Aurora and Thornton) so it’s not like Starbucks on every corner. We didn’t know if they would be open because it was late in the day and a holiday. When we arrive there were no cars in the parking lot but five cars in the drive-thru. Yes, the donut shop has a DRIVE-THRU!

While we were deciding what to choose we got a free glazed donut (not sure if they do that all the time or it was a special for Memorial Day) that was still warm from the oven and it was probably the best glazed donut I’ve ever had (remember, I’m not big on glazed donuts to begin with). My friend and decided to split a s’more donut (marshmallow crème filling with a chocolate glaze and graham cracker crumbles on top) and a custard filled with chocolate glaze on top. Both were extremely good.

I like donuts but I don’t really go out of my way (i.e. drive 25 miles) just for donuts. And I kid you not, while we were there they got a call from a woman in Colorado Springs (some 55 miles away!) asking for directions to the Krispy Kreme.

But just a heads up, if you’re in the neighborhood of a Krispy Kreme on Friday, June 4 is National Donut Day!