Would it be disingenuous to offer a Happy Tuesday on a morning when The Fork doesn’t arrive in your inbox? We think so. This is not only not The Fork, it’s neither The Knife nor The Spoon. What is it? Some news nuggets SFR has been tracking and a little something to eat at the end.
Local traffic is heavy with tourists in town for the Balloon Fiesta and early fall weather, so show a little patience with drivers unsure of our fair town’s feckless roads. Oh, and carry an umbrella this week. The National Weather Service has rain chances scattered through the end of the week.
Between Balloon Fiesta and a myriad of other things to do in Santa Fe, it’s important to keep a calendar these days. Among the events you’ll want to add to it is an evening with acclaimed journalist, author and editor Carmella Padilla. We’re partial to Padilla since her byline is no stranger to SFR, but it’s also really cool that she is being hosted by Voces de Santa Fe for this public event.
Voces de Santa Fe co-founder Maria Montez-Skolnik says via release: “The range and depth of Camella’s subjects, along with her devotion to the literary arts dovetails perfectly with Voces’ mission of preserving New Mexico History.
Padilla is the co-founder of the Santa Fe Literary Arts Festival and the author and editor of numerous award-winning works exploring the state’s history, art and culture. Her writing spans an array of topics, from lowriders and chile to El Rancho de las Golondrinas and Gustave Baumann’s santos.
The special event is Sunday, Oct. 19 at 11:30 am at La Fonda on the Plaza. Tickets are $40 for members, $45 for nonmembers, which includes brunch and a talk by Padilla. Don’t want to miss this one. If you're a member, register on the Facebook page. Otherwise, email [email protected].
Meet the Candidates
Drinking Liberally is hosting a number of local candidates tonight Boxcar from 5 to 7 pm
Confirmed speakers include District 1 candidates Pat Feghali, David Montoya and Katherine Rivera. Not to be left out, District 2 candidates Liz Barrett, Paul Bustamante, Aurora Martinez and Leroy Trujillo will attend. The event also will include mayoral candidates Michael Garcia, Justin Greene, Tarin Nix, Oscar Rodriguez and Ron Trujillo.
Mural Launch Party set at Siler Yard
The Siler Rufina District will host a Mural Launch party at Siler Yard, 1218 Siler Rd. on Sunday, Oct. 12 from 2-6 pm. The mural is a large sculptural serpent, mounted in relief at the project site and wrapped in silver aluminum and gold brass sheeting from local artist Jonathan Meade.
Meade’s work is inspired by cross-cultural myths of serpent beings—heralds of change, renewal, and cosmic connection.
The artist says in a release: “My goal was to create something both unique and ecological—minimalist in design yet rich in symbolism. My deepest hope is that this piece carries true power, substance, and meaning, serving as a blessing for renewal, unity, and the flourishing of generations to come.”
He his brother Michael Meade are known as Earth Baby Boombox who are
creatives devoted to uplifting people and the planet.
The party is hosted by Siler Rufina District for more information, click here.
Southwestern College adds Marketing and Communications Manager
Southwestern College has created a new role, Marketing and Communications Manager. The new man for the job is Neil Mills, and he will report directly to college president Thom Chesney.
Mills brings nearly two decades of experience in branding, marketing and communications. He comes to the high desert after stops at Dickinson College, Princeton University, and The College of New Jersey.
Chesney noted in a release: “We are delighted to have Neil join our community and look forward to the energy and insight he will bring to our mission and the contributions he will make as we prepare to enter our fiftieth of providing transformational graduate degrees and certificates.”
Decency Not Dead!
Before we get to the tacos, I wanted to share a really nice email exchange I had with a reader. Won’t share the woman’s name, because she asked for anonymity. All I will say is, what started out as a very angry letter, which SFR offered to publish, ended with two very thoughtful emails from the person who engaged us. You don’t need to know the ins and outs of the original subject to understand what a beautiful sentiment this is:
“I have been thinking and I actually would like to apologize for sending you such a hostile letter. I really hate when people send out anonymous letters filled with anger and hatred, knowing they will likely have no consequences for their poor behavior. And yet, I did exactly that this morning.
“I know you don’t know me and this was probably unnecessary, but just wanted you to know that while I dislike what you wrote, I genuinely believe that we should all behave with civility towards one another, and I did not do that earlier.”
Dave Cathey
Finally, Tacos
One of the myriad benefits of working (and living) downtown is proximity to Zacatlan. Chef Eduardo Rodriguez has been dazzling diners on Aztec St. since summer of 2020, and I’ve been three different times in the last year. Each of those trips has included mole in some fashion or another. Why? Because mole rules, duh.
However, last week I stopped in for lunch and for the first time I reached for the only other of Mexico’s gifts to mankind I could bear to order besides mole. That gift, of course, is tacos.
Since this was an afternoon lunch with plenty of work left on my desk, I chose fish tacos ($20).
Mahi Mahi is double-wrapped in corn tortillas and served with pico de piña y mango, guajillo aioli, cabbage, and avocado hunks. I had two grilled and two fried, which was the perfect balance between satiation and nap inducement—highly recommend.
Finally, I sat in the patio room, which is now fully enclosed. The exit facing Aztec is now walled in and a long table resides there. Zacatlan’s actual outdoor dining options are now down to a couple of two-tops on what can best be described as a micro-patio. Cozy for sure.
