Ah, the holidays—that most magical time of the year during which everything feels extra-hard and no one is particularly happy despite the assurances of so many films. This is also the most wasteful time of the year thanks to eons of marketing that dictates our friends and family will only be happy with material gains, tech, fast fashion sweaters and the like. We submit in 2025, however, that it’s time to think of gift-giving as a more active affair than whatever iPhone is newest. We’re talking experiences, dear readers—memories waiting to be made; museum memberships, painting classes, guitar lessons…tattoos, even. OK, and we threw biscochitos in there. There’s always going to be some new tablet dropping with incrementally better features, and only a madman buys a car with one of those huge ribbons that we keep seeing in commercials. Instead, make a commitment to do something with someone, or gift them a lesson in something or even just think about broadening those horizons. Have fun with the people you love, because you’re sure as hell going to remember that better than the time you gifted some cheap-o digital frame for someone to stick in a corner and forget forever.
Adam Ferguson
High on Everyone’s List
Well, this one might not exactly get anyone off their ass, but tis the season for stress, no? Combat it by stuffing your loved ones’ stockings with cannabis treats. For tips, consult our Best of Santa Fe Cannabis Winners list as voted upon by the readers of SFR (sfreporter.com/bestofsantafe). You can hit the top dispensaries in town and create a super chill, yet thoughtful gift. Think: chocolate bars, pre-rolls, THC/CBD salves, tinctures and soaking salts. (Adam Ferguson)
Adam Ferguson
An Hour of Tattoo Time
We get that tattoos aren’t for everyone, but we promise you’ve got at least a friend or two who’d love to get that next piece started. At $150-$200 per hour at most shops (prices vary, though), we admit this gift errs on the slightly more expensive side—and you might have to do some research into what styles your giftee likes before you choose the shop. We recommend Four Star Tattoo, Shrine Tattoo and Dawn’s Custom Tattoo as the best in the local biz. (Alex De Vore)
Guilt-Free Gifting Starts with Freeing Your Guilt
This year, why not Support Indigenous Futures by becoming a monthly contributor to the O'ga P'ogeh Land Tax? Your donation ensures the redistribution of funds from settlers living in Santa Fe County to the Indigenous Peoples of O'ga P'ogeh, the Tewa name for Santa Fe. You can even use the online calculator at ogapogehlandtax.org as a tool for considering your contribution amount. (Dave Cathey)
Axe display at the Candyman.
Music Lessons for Kids and Adults
We all know some goober who’s always talking about picking up the guitar, and Santa Fe musician Mikey Baker is here to help (mikeybaker.com). With 15-plus years in the teaching biz and dozens more as a pro player, Baker offers low-pressure intro classes to make sure he and you vibe for a mere $45 for 45 minutes. Where you go from there is up to you. (ADV)
Courtesy Paseo Pottery
Throw That Clay
We at SFR have long loved Angela Kirkman’s Paseo Pottery (1273 Calle de Comercio, (505) 988-7687) both because Kirkman and her instructors are masters of clay, but also because the business donates everything after recouping costs to local nonprofits voted on by participants. For $115, you can snag a one-off experience for a bud or family member, plus they’ll get the satisfaction of getting their hands dirty. (ADV)
Concerts on Concerts on Concerts
Ever since local promoters Jamie Lenfestey and Tim Franke joined forces with the Lensic Performing Arts Center to form Lensic360, the quality of local shows in and around Santa Fe has markedly improved. Many events are free, like in the Railyard and on the Plaza, but a quick visit to lensic360.org will herald tons of results for upcoming concert events. Perhaps the most value? The annual Blossoms & Bones Music Festival in Abiquiú each late summer/early fall, details for which can be found on the site when the time comes. (ADV)
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Adam Ferguson
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Adam Ferguson
Let Them Cook
Santa Fe has any number of cooking class possibilities in town, but Los Cosas Kitchen Shoppe & Cooking School (181 Paseo de Peralta, (505) 983-3394) has some of the more affordable options we’ve seen. A cursory glance at the site showed classes in New Mexican hits, perfect prime ribs, paella and more, and with most workshops only running $99, you might just win Christmas/Hanukkah. Got a gluten-free baker on your nice list? Send them to Revolution Bakery’s Gluten Free Baking Academy (418 Cerrillos Road Ste. 6, (505) 346-2669) for classes. (ADV)
Rancho Days
El Rancho de las Golondrinas (334 Los Pinos Road, (505) 471-2261) does a killer lecture series every year, but did you know an annual membership ($55-$125) gets you and/or your family free admission to killer events dedicated to wine, beer, lavender and the freaking Renaissance at the space just outside town? Membership means never having to worry those events will sell out. The Ranch is currently closed for the season; have friends and family sorted before it reopens again. (ADV)
Hellllloooooo, Ice Cream
Though El Dorado-born ice creamery Hello Sweet Cream (7 Caliente Road B2, (505) 525-0266) sadly closed its outpost in the CHOMP food hall recently, you can still pop out to its flagship store in the Santa Fe subdivision for pints and scoops. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again—the non-dairy coconut variety is the best over there, but with new styles and old favorites available, you’ll have choices for your ice cream-lovin’ pals. (ADV)
Revenge of the Nerds!
Santa Fe’s nerd community has never been better. Adrian Marcais, co-owner of tabletop game store Sorcery and Might (1966 Cerrillos Road, Ste C, (505) 629-5965) describes it as “a golden age,” and we here at SFR would have to agree. This holiday season, give the gift of pure, unadulterated nerd-dom by way of Sorcery and Might’s Gold Membership for $29.95. Weekly events are fit for novices and virtuosos alike, and the membership gives you access to all of them—including a book club, wargame day and Pathfinder home campaign—for 16 days. It allows for any friends that tag along to have a special discount on said events. (Callie Elkins)
Skin in the Game
Since most people have skin, it shouldn’t go to waste! This winter, let a loved one bask in the sensory melange of the personalized treatment at Mist Skincare (839 Paseo de Peralta, (505) 986-1356). A complete care package starts at $149 and includes customized exfoliation, deep pore cleansing, face masks, contouring facial massages and more. Looking for something that covers the bare necessities? Mist Skincare’s essential package starts at $122, and all packages have a variety of optional add-ons. (CE)
Courtesy New Mexico Museum of Art
A&C
Must-Have Museum Membership
Picking up the tab on someone’s annual membership to the Museum of New Mexico Foundation (museumfoundation.org) at $100-$150 gets them free entry to the Museum of International Folk Art, Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, New Mexico History Museum/Palace of the Governors and New Mexico Museum of Art. But that’s not all. This membership is good at numerous other historic sites and institutions across New Mexico, plus the Office of Archaeological Studies. (DC)
Tim Kraemer
Santa Fe Children's Museum wants to be fun for kids of all ages.
A Museum for the Kiddos
If you’re looking to get the family (especially kids) off their devices and out of the house, this one is for you. The Santa Fe Children’s Museum (1050 Old Pecos Trail, (505) 989-8359) has weekly education focused events that explore nature, science and more, all of which are included with admission. Year-long memberships run $130-$185. (CE)
Waxing Artistic
Speaking of museum memberships, here’s one for the person who cringes at the idea of visiting museums haunted by the ghosts of school field trips past. The Museum of Encaustic Art (18 County Road 55A, Los Cerrillos, (505) 424-6487 boasts more than 450 works of art, including 124 pieces of encaustic/wax artwork currently showing back in its original home on the property of artist/founder Douglas Mehrens in Los Cerrillos. Annual membership comes with free admission, special pricing on education programs and activities plus exclusive openings and events. (DC)
Pick1-CCA
Everyone knows about the cool movies that the Center for Contemporary Arts (1050 Old Pecos Trail, (505) 982-1338) offers on the regular, but did you know the gift of General Membership for an Individual ($60) or a couple ($100) earns them $2 off tickets to CCA Cinema? Your giftee will also score invites to special sneak peeks and appreciation day events in the spring and fall. (DC)
Adam Ferguson
Our State Cookie
Richard Perea’s Santa Fe Biscochito Company (330 Sandoval St., santafebiscochitocompany.com) seems like a no-brainer now, but we can’t recall if we’ve ever seen one shop dedicated fully to the noble state cookie. Perea’s got awesome gifties, too, from stocking stuffers like biscochito dust ($5) and a mini-tube of the cookies themselves ($6) to holiday gift boxes, New Mexico-themed ornaments made locally and more. Perea also makes his own ice cream for biscochito ice cream sandwiches. (ADV)
Yuletide Massage
Treating someone to a day at Ten Thousand Waves (21 Ten Thousand Waves Way, (505) 982-9304) after the holiday chaos can’t steer you wrong. The best part is, the gift certificates are all-inclusive, which is to say your buddy has access to massages and private soaks—or they can skip all that and have an epic lunch or dinner at Izanami. (AF)
Giftin’ for Green Thumbs
An annual membership to the Santa Fe Botanical Garden (715 Camino Lejo, (505) 471-9103) will only set you back $35-$150, and includes not only free year-round entry, but early access and discounts to all the cool programs for kids, students and adults. You’ll also get discounts at the gift shop, Museum Hill Café, Payne’s Nurseries and Agua Fria Nursery. (AF)
Zen Is In
It’s true that Mountain Cloud Zen Center (7241 Old Santa Fe Trail, mountaincloud.org) offers free, year-round meditations and teachings, but a $25-a-month membership not only supports the organization, but can offer inspiration for loved ones to stay consistent in their mindfulness. They could practice with workshops, talks and study groups, and you never know when it might help someone attain the enlightenment they’ve always wanted. (AF)
