Food, Fashion, & Style

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The vibrant and thriving food and fashion scene of Santa Fe attracts visitors from around the world

Independent, locally-owned bookstores are fast becoming a rarity in the U.S. So much so that there are tour operators organizing trips to some of the nation's favorites. And Santa Fe boasts one of the best in Collected Works Bookstore and Coffeehouse.

Since 1986, Collected Works has been Santa Fe's community hub for the written and spoken word. Owners Dorothy Massey and her daughter Mary Wolf have poured their hearts into making Collected Works a local favorite. With an events calendar that a performing arts space would be proud of, Collected Works hosts poetry readings, music and meet-the-author events and book signi

The Legacy of Norah Pierson: The Golden Eye

She was a woman of talent, taste, and humor; an original character who added new color and beauty to Santa Fe's unique retail jewelery landscape. Norah Pierson was one of the first female jewelers in Santa Fe to work in high carat gold and rare exotic gemstones. And yet there remains an air of mystery around this creative figure whose legacy lives on in The Golden Eye at 115 Don Gaspar Street, just steps from the historic plaza. I wanted to know more about this Santa Fean who named her store after the symbol of the ancient Egyptian sky god Horus, which represents protection, royal power and good health.

In 1984, Norah opened her "dream store" in Sant

El Farol - The Welcome Light in the Canyon

Since the mid-1800s there's been a welcoming light along Santa Fe’s Canyon Road. It was known then as La Cantina del Cañon, a popular saloon owned and operated by the Vigil family. It was a time when Canyon Road was a raw dirt trail that ran through the Santa Fe River Valley, and the low-slung adobe homes served as rough and ready shelter, not as the world-class art galleries they've been transformed into today.

Adobe buildings on Canyon Rd by Jesse Nusbaum-1912- Palace of the Governors P

The Cutting Edge in Santa Fe

For more than thirty-six years, Alan Van Pelt's specialty cutlery shop has literally been the source for the best cutting edge in Santa Fe. Tucked alongside the famous La Fonda Hotel, at the southeast corner of the historic Plaza, Cutlery of Santa Fe, with its creaking wooden floor and large glass displays, houses some of the rarest, extraordinary custom-crafted knives and utensils from around the world - most not easily found in bigger cities. Implements of myriad sizes, uses, and styles for every need, at prices for every budget, line this tiny store. But more than just a cutting edge, these tools offer insight into a wealth of history and artistry that I never expected to discover.

Some of the most elegant works include woolly mammoth tooth, obsidian, sapphires, rubies, and turquoise - just a few of the unique elements that adorn the steel that has its own beautiful design and interesting history. Damascus steel originated with sword-makers in Southern Asia and the Middle

Southwest Buckles, Bolos and Beyond

The Chinese have record of belt buckles beyond utilitarian value from as far back as 2 B.C. Elsewhere, tombs of kings and pharaohs have been unearthed to reveal a cherished buckle or two. It isn't new that decorative statements of status, prowess and fashion via the buckle have continued to develop style and collectibility through the centuries.

Here, in the relatively young American Southwest, it wasn’t until the mid-1800s, when the Spanish and Mexicans brought their silver folk art in the form of ornamental horse bridles and various other adornments to the Four Corners region, that Native American silverwork began to evolve from its simpler origins.

The skilled, industrious Navajo, Zuni and Hopi artisans soon developed their own distinctive designs and techniques for the beautiful style of the concha or concho (meaning “shell” in Spanish) belts. Decorated with silver shells from tip to tail, and the addition of turquoise and other ethnic accents, these belts heralded a distinguishe

Feed Your Fetish at KESHI-The Zuni Connection

The origins of the noun fetish stem from the17th-century Portuguese word feitiço meaning "charm or sorcery," and the Latin word facticius meaning "made by art." In Native American culture, it represents a found rock or pebble that resembles an animal, which may be carved to enhance the image, and imbued with a spiritual power or "medicine." Native Americans have carried these talismans for more than a thousand years. Fetishes have served as empowering reminders of the human connection to nature and to those qualities the animal reflects, such as agility, perseverance, independence, and survival.

Buffalo

Christmas - Santa Fe Style

Santa Fe wears Christmas so well. From Thanksgiving through New Year's, its adobe parapets lined with farolitos, cedar and piñon burning in fireplaces, and the abundance of sweet-smelling spruce trees create an air of warmth and comfort against the backdrop of snow-capped Santa Fe Baldy. The Holiday nostalgia is easily rendered along Canyon Road as it offers up its historic sidewalks and alleyways to the paper and candle farolitos, which guide the way for hundreds of people as they walk and sing Carols on Christmas Eve.

Canyon Road Christmas Eve. Photo courtesy of Katharine Egli.

The air may be cold, but the small bonfires,

Tour the World at The International Folk Art Market – Santa Fe

Intended as a one-time event in 2004, the International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe is now the largest of its kind in the world. Now, this highly anticipated extravaganza is held every year, usually the second weekend in July, in Santa Fe. Since it began, as many as 650 master folk artists from as many as 80 countries across six continents have participated. I hope you enjoy the following visual record I took at the 2013 market. I tried to make note of everyone's name and country, but I admit I couldn't keep track of them all.

It is a global event in many ways. Where else can you find so

Santa Fe's Own Distillery Row: Santa Fe Spirits

Colin Keegan, owner of Santa Fe Spirits, wended his way to Santa Fe from Newcastle in northeast England. I think he'd get a kick out of the idea that as I listened to him tell his story, I was reminded of a familiar beer commercial, “He has climbed Mont Blanc, Kilimanjaro, and Denali. He was an architect. He left England to become a beach-bum in the Virgin Islands. He made apple brandy from his back yard orchard in Santa Fe...”

Colin earned his degree in Design Technology in England and worked in London. Riding the economic ups and downs has certainly been a challenge for architects and designers since the eighties, but Colin adapted his skills to the projects that came along to enjoy many years of success. One of the projects was in the British Virgin Islands. “I always dreamed of becoming a beach bum. This seemed like an opportunity to do that,” says Colin

"At The Edge of Town" : A Timeless Classic

The Shed and La Choza are two beloved restaurants in the heart of Santa Fe. They have become as much a part of authentic Santa Fe history as the buildings they occupy. It's hard to believe that each was once considered to be "at the edge of town." From burro shelter, to a governor’s home, to a ranch house, the path of the Carswell family legacy has certainly been unique.

Thornton and Polly Carswell were originally from Springfield, Illinois. They were part of the migration west after the Great Depression, and first settled in Carmel, on the California coast. Polly was a weaver and artist and Thornton was a professional printer with a local newspaper press. Always in search of unique cultural experiences, the

The Famous Plaza Café - From Greece to Santa Fe

Anyone who has ever been to Santa Fe in the past 110 years knows that a must-visit spot is The Plaza Café. Before then, it was the Star Restaurant.

The Star Restaurant, on Lincoln Ave west side of the plaza, where The Plaza Cafe now stands. circa 1800s.

The Ipiotis brothers, originally from Greece, first opened the Plaza Café in 1905.

Santa Fe School of Cooking-The Making of a Foodie

Santa Fe is world-renowned for its culinary arts, and Santa Fe School of Cooking is a one-stop destination where you can experience and learn about unique Northern New Mexican and Southwestern cuisine with myriad cooking classes, restaurant tours, and culinary demonstrations.

I love food, but I can’t say I’m a true foodie, and I’m not a culinary talent by any stretch, so I was more than a little curious to see the effect a few different activities at the top cooking school in New Mexico would have on me. I decided to dedicate enough time on three different days to take a restaurant tour, a demo class, and a hands-on experience. I expected to be the only local among many out-of-towners, but I was surprised to find I wasn’t, and glad I wasn’t the only glutton among them with a multi-day plan.

Native Peoples' Traditional Dress at Indian Market

One of my favorite highlights of the SWAIA Annual Indian Market is the Native Peoples' Traditional Clothing Competition. The intricate work involved in these pieces represents the history, traditions and cultures of a variety of Native tribes. SWAIA's Indian Market brings Native Peoples together from around the United States and Canada. As so many tribes converge, it's a wonderful opportunity to see the styles, and traditional, ceremonial regalia as they compete for the best in their category.

It is not always easy to get up close to photograph, and ceremonial events at the individual pueblos don't usually permit photography, so I'm glad I was able to capture a few images of the beautiful clothing that is an integral part of the time-honored traditions of the Native Peoples.

I've compiled some images and labeled them where I cou

The Fresh Face of El Farol

At more than 180 years old, El Farol is without doubt the oldest, most iconic restaurant and bar in Santa Fe. Thanks to her new owners, Rich Freedman and Freda Scott, this world-renowned, much-loved landmark just underwent a major face-lift. The fresh faces of the new ownership, new decor, and new Head Chef, bring this Grande Dame of Canyon Road into the 21st century, while maintaining her integral connection to her well-seasoned, brilliant history, since 1835.

Owners Rich Freedman, & Freda Scott with Head Chef Shane Alexander

When David Salazar, the previous owner for over 35 years, announced the sale o

Montecristi Custom Hatworks - Timeless

Since1978, Montecristi Custom Hatworks has been established as the world's finest custom hatter. Visiting Milton Johnson's workshop is a must for anyone looking for a beautiful and functional hat! Montecristi Custom Hatworks is situated on McKenzie Street, in Santa Fe's downtown residential district, just a few blocks from the historic Plaza. What once was an adobe home is now a quietly bustling hive of the international hat-making industry.

Three Days In Santa Fe - Explore History, Food Culture, Art, and the Great Outdoors

UPDATED MAY 2025

With so many options of things to do, places to eat, stay and play in Santa Fe, travelers often ask me for some itinerary ideas to help them make the most of their often limited time here. Three days is a very popular vacation duration for many travelers. I've put together a sample itinerary for three days in Santa Fe to help you get an idea of the broad scope of things to do here. This particular itinerary offers a variety of interests from history, food culture, and art to outdoor adventures. If your tastes vary, you can also reference

Five Days in Santa Fe for Art & Food Lovers!

UPDATED MAY 2025

First things first, you’ll want a map to orient you to the area. Send me an email with your name and U.S mailing address to [email protected] and I will send you the best one for free. The Santa Fe Selection Mini Guide Maps piece offers three easy reference maps with ideas on where to eat, shop, play and more in Santa Fe & surrounding areas.

Santa Fe is one of the to

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Feed Your Fetish at KESHI-The Zuni Connection

Southwest Buckles, Bolos and Beyond

The Cutting Edge in Santa Fe

The Legacy of Norah Pierson: The Golden Eye

By Book or By Crook

The vibrant and thriving food and fashion scene of Santa Fe attracts visitors from around the world