Below is the year-end real estate report for Eldorado. Activity remains steady, particularly for this time of year.
 
 - 47 active listings which is about half of what it was in August. What is interesting is that pendings and solds are still strong with 10 each.
 
 - $168 was the average price per square foot for December, but remember it depends on the size of the house, the larger the house, the lower the price per square foot.

 -153 were the average days on the market. Sellers continue to price properties more aggressively and they are getting them sold more quickly. About 100 days less than last January.
 
95% is the sales price vs. listing price for December . This has ranged from 94% – 96% for the last 3 years.

 - 368K is the average listing price for December, a little less than November.
 - 313K is the average sales price, which is down, but it means less expensive houses sold.

 4.7 months of inventory which means the length of time it would take to sell all the homes listed at the current rate of sales. In February of this year is was 32 months!! Eight months is a healthy neighborhood, so Eldorado remains an in-demand neighborhood.

*** Publisher’s Note ***:
If your email program is not displaying the chart graphs properly, please click on the following link which will take you to a web page that contains the graphs:
Show charts

all day Contemplative Landscapes
at New Mexico History Museum/Palace of the Governors

For centuries, artists and photographers have turned to New Mexico’s land for inspiration.
all day Illuminating the Word: Saint John’s Bible
at New Mexico History Museum/Palace of the Governors

Considered the Sistine Chapel of the modern era and overseen by the Benedictine monks at Saint John’s Abbey in Minnesota,
all day WOVEN IDENTITIES Basketry Art from the Collections
at Museum of Indian Arts and Culture Museum Hill

For the first time in over 30 years, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture opens a major exhibition of North American Indian baskets.
All objects tell a story, if you know the right questions to ask.
all day NEW BOLD&SURPRISING
at Jane Sauer Gallery 652 Canyon Rd.

New Gallery Artists
John Dodd
Krista Harris
Patrick McGrath Muñiz
Kent Townsend

John Dodd designs contemporary furniture that simply and elegantly performs its function.
all day New Paintings: Ernst Gruler and Blair Vaughn-Gruler.
at GVG Contemporary 202 Canyon Road

An exhibition of new paintings by husband and wife gallery owners Ernst Gruler and Blair Vaughn-Gruler.
all day “Sacred Mountain: Modernist Portraits of Taos Mountain, 1920-1970.”
 at William R. Talbot Fine Art, Antique Maps&Prints 129 W. San Francisco St. (second floor)

At 12,000 feet above sea level, Taos Peak looms over the surrounding Rio Grande Valley, beckoning travelers who pass beneath its shadow.
all day Affordable Art Show
at Zane Bennett Contemporary Art 435 South Guadalupe Street

Zane Bennett Contemporary Art is pleased to announce our inaugural Affordable Art Group Show. Also,
all day BELISAMA SCHOOL OF CONTEMPORARY DANCE Open Enrollment in Ballet, Modern, Jazz&Irish Dance Classes
 at 901 West San Mateo Road, Suite X

Belisama School of Contemporary Dance open enrollment is happening Monday, January 2nd, through Sunday, January 8th at 901 West San Mateo Road, Suite X, in Santa Fe. The School offers a highly tailored dance experience of bonding,
all day 47 Stars – An exhibit of the officially unofficial 47-star flag
at New Mexico History Museum Palace of the Governors

The United States Flag Act of 1818 set forth a rule that no new stars could be added to Old Glory until the Fourth of July immediately following a state’s admission to the union.
9:30 AM Historic/Cultural Walking Tour
at Eldorado Hotel

Featured on GOOD MORNING AMERICA – “Weekend Window to Santa Fe!” Historic/Cultural tours led by professional museum docent guides who give outstanding commentary on the rich history, cultures,
10 AM – 12:15 PM BREAD and CHOCOLATE: An Artisanal Epicurean Delight NEW!!
at State Capitol Building

noon – 8 PM ARTcade
at Eggman and Walrus 130 W. Palace 2nf Fl. 131 W. San Fran- alternate entrance

2 PM Randall Davey Historic House Tour
at Randall Davey Audubon Center&Sanctuary

Step back in time as you stroll through the old Santa Fe style home (originally a lumber mill built in 1847 by the U.S. Army), of the artist Randall Davey (1887-1964).
3 PM – 3:30 PM Spiritual Circles
at Santa Fe Railyard Park

Church for the Non-Church Going Crowd Looking For the Benefits of Congregation!

Spiritual Circles elevate all attendees to the highest level of the most advanced participant. If all attend, all will be elevated higher.
3:30 PM – 7:30 PM Ballet Folklorico/Traditional Mexican Folk Dance classes
at LNSF Dance Space

Los Niños de Santa Fe (LNSF) is a local program dedicated to preserving traditional dances of Mexico. Students ranging from ages three to adult learn the fundamental techniques of traditional and modern movements,
4 PM – 5 AM Drum&Journey Circle @ The Bishop’s Lodge
at The Bishop’s Lodge Resort&Spa 1297 Bishops Lodge Rd.

http://www.bishopslodge.com/
5 PM – 7 PM Openibg reception for WARD JACKSON A Survey of Five Decades
at David Richard Contemporary 130 Lincoln Avenue

5 PM – 7 PM Opening Reception for BEATRICE MANDELMAN Music in the Garden
at David Richard Contemporary 130 Lincoln Avenue

Mandelman painted a number of diptychs and triptychs in the 1990s in several series, such as Jazz, Carnival, New York, Garden and Music.
5 PM – 7 PM Opening Reception for Teapots
at Santa Fe Clay, 545 Camino de la Familia

A collection of teapots from ceramic artists across the nation. Through February 18.
5 PM – 8 PM 19th Annual Historic Art of the Americas Exhibition
at Peyton Wright Gallery 237 East Palace Avenue

Opening Reception: December Friday 2nd , 5:00 – 8:00 pm
This exhibit features Spanish Colonial Viceregal paintings, sculpture, furniture, silverwork,
5 PM – 7 PM Opening Reception for SANTIAGO PÉREZ In the Hall of the Mountain Kings
at Nuart Gallery 670 Canyon Road

(SANTA FE, NM) Nuart Gallery is pleased to present, “In the Hall of the Mountain Kings,” a solo exhibition of new paintings by the artist Santiago Pérez. The artist will be present.
6 PM – 9 PM Free Friday Night Tennis Fiesta
 at Shellaberger Tennis Center, 1600 St. Michael’s Drive (enter at the Santa Fe University of Art&Design)

To celebrate the re-opening of the Shellaberger Tennis Center under new ownership, Santa Fe’s world-class facility is throwing a free tennis party every Friday night for a year.
6 PM – 10:30 PM Grand Centennial Ball
at Santa Fe Community Convention Center

Come celebrate New Mexico’s 100th birthday at this black tie event (or, dress in period clothing!) where entertainment, great food and dancing will take place on the Land of Enchantment’s Statehood Day. Buy Tickets
6 PM – 7:30 PM Sufi Cirlce
at Rotating Locations

Sufi Circles are Heart Circles – open to all. Come experience the advanced meditation practices of Sages, Saints and Seekers searching for Divine Presence.
7 PM – 11 PM The Bert DaltonTrio with Guest Vocalists World Class Jazz
at VANESSIE’S 434 West San Francisco

7:30 PM – 10:30 PM The Three Faces of Jazz
at El Meson, 213 Washington Ave.

Classic Swinging Jazz Piano Trio
featuring Dan Borton on Alto Sax.
8 PM – 11 PM Night Train
at La Fonda Hotel, La Fiesta Lounge, 100 E. San Francisco St.

Blues – This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 505-995-2363.
8:30 PM – 11:30 PM Eldorado Court Lounge Live Entertainment
at Eldorado Hotel & Spa

Join us at the Eldorado Hotel & Spa for live entertainment Thursday through Saturday! Cover charge is $5. Thursday live entertainment is from 7pm until 10pm.
8:30 PM – 12:30 AM Winter Break Camp
at Fact 1516 Pacheco St.

A morning ART Camp for students 5 to 10 years old. Cost of the camp will be $225 and will include all materials and nutritious snacks. As with all FACT programs, scholarships are available.
$225
Sat., January 7, 2012
 
all day “Sacred Mountain: Modernist Portraits of Taos Mountain, 1920-1970.”
 at William R. Talbot Fine Art, Antique Maps&Prints 129 W. San Francisco St. (second floor)

At 12,000 feet above sea level, Taos Peak looms over the surrounding Rio Grande Valley, beckoning travelers who pass beneath its shadow.
all day Affordable Art Show
at Zane Bennett Contemporary Art 435 South Guadalupe Street

Zane Bennett Contemporary Art is pleased to announce our inaugural Affordable Art Group Show. Also,
all day BELISAMA SCHOOL OF CONTEMPORARY DANCE Open Enrollment in Ballet, Modern, Jazz&Irish Dance Classes
 at 901 West San Mateo Road, Suite X

Belisama School of Contemporary Dance open enrollment is happening Monday, January 2nd, through Sunday, January 8th at 901 West San Mateo Road, Suite X, in Santa Fe. The School offers a highly tailored dance experience of bonding,
8:30 AM Guided Bird Walk at the Audubon Center
at Randall Davey Audubon Center&Sanctuary

Every Saturday morning an experienced birder will lead an easy walk on the grounds of the 135–acre Randall Davey Audubon Center&Sanctuary. Bring your binoculars or borrow ours. All skill levels are welcome.
9:30 AM Historic/Cultural Walking Tour
at Eldorado Hotel

Featured on GOOD MORNING AMERICA – “Weekend Window to Santa Fe!” Historic/Cultural tours led by professional museum docent guides who give outstanding commentary on the rich history, cultures,
noon – 8 PM ARTcade
at Eggman and Walrus 130 W. Palace 2nf Fl. 131 W. San Fran- alternate entrance

2 PM DANZA FOLKLORICA QUETZAL
at El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe, 555 Camino de la Familia

Danza Folklorica Quetzal for secondary school and college age students. Info: (505) 992-0591 or (505) 603-7997 (Xochitl). There is no charge. A co-operation of Antonina Valdez Romp, Director,
4 PM – 5 AM Drum&Journey Circle @ The Bishop’s Lodge
at The Bishop’s Lodge Resort&Spa 1297 Bishops Lodge Rd.

http://www.bishopslodge.com/
7 PM – 9 PM Noche de Flamenco
at El Meson, 213 Washington Ave.

Flamenco Performance. $10 cover, Reservations required
7 PM – 11 PM The Bert DaltonTrio with Guest Vocalists World Class Jazz
at VANESSIE’S 434 West San Francisco

8 PM – 11 PM Night Train
at La Fonda Hotel, La Fiesta Lounge, 100 E. San Francisco St.

Blues – This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 505-995-2363.
8:30 PM – 12:30 AM Winter Break Camp
at Fact 1516 Pacheco St.

A morning ART Camp for students 5 to 10 years old. Cost of the camp will be $225 and will include all materials and nutritious snacks. As with all FACT programs, scholarships are available.
$225
8:30 PM – 11:30 PM Eldorado Court Lounge Live Entertainment
at Eldorado Hotel & Spa

Join us at the Eldorado Hotel & Spa for live entertainment Thursday through Saturday! Cover charge is $5. Thursday live entertainment is from 7pm until 10pm.
Sun., January 8, 2012
 
all day “Sacred Mountain: Modernist Portraits of Taos Mountain, 1920-1970.”
 at William R. Talbot Fine Art, Antique Maps&Prints 129 W. San Francisco St. (second floor)

At 12,000 feet above sea level, Taos Peak looms over the surrounding Rio Grande Valley, beckoning travelers who pass beneath its shadow.
all day Affordable Art Show
at Zane Bennett Contemporary Art 435 South Guadalupe Street

Zane Bennett Contemporary Art is pleased to announce our inaugural Affordable Art Group Show. Also,
all day BELISAMA SCHOOL OF CONTEMPORARY DANCE Open Enrollment in Ballet, Modern, Jazz&Irish Dance Classes
 at 901 West San Mateo Road, Suite X

Belisama School of Contemporary Dance open enrollment is happening Monday, January 2nd, through Sunday, January 8th at 901 West San Mateo Road, Suite X, in Santa Fe. The School offers a highly tailored dance experience of bonding,
9:30 AM Historic/Cultural Walking Tour
at Eldorado Hotel

Featured on GOOD MORNING AMERICA – “Weekend Window to Santa Fe!” Historic/Cultural tours led by professional museum docent guides who give outstanding commentary on the rich history, cultures,
10 AM – 4 PM Artisans Market
at Santa Fe Farmers Market, 1607 Paseo de Peralta

New Mexico Artisans Market features local artists and craftspeople from New Mexico, as well as food artisans, musicians,
2 PM – 4 PM Music from the Ades
at Museum of International Folk Art

Join musician Mario Reynolds for an afternoon of Andean music and learn about the ancestral history of Andean Music. By Museum admission, New Mexico residents free on Sundays.
4 PM – 6 PM Ramon Calderon A Sunday Afternoon in Havana
at El Farol 808 Canyon Rd.

A Sunday Afternoon In Havana Imagine yourself with a mojito listening to Latin music in Old Havana. Ramon Calderon has recreated this scene right here at El Farol. Ramon is from Cuba, a great musician,
7 PM – 11 PM The Bert DaltonTrio with Guest Vocalists World Class Jazz
at VANESSIE’S 434 West San Francisco

8:30 PM – 12:30 AM Winter Break Camp
at Fact 1516 Pacheco St.

A morning ART Camp for students 5 to 10 years old. Cost of the camp will be $225 and will include all materials and nutritious snacks. As with all FACT programs, scholarships are available.
$225
Mon., January 9, 2012
 
all day “Sacred Mountain: Modernist Portraits of Taos Mountain, 1920-1970.”
 at William R. Talbot Fine Art, Antique Maps&Prints 129 W. San Francisco St. (second floor)

At 12,000 feet above sea level, Taos Peak looms over the surrounding Rio Grande Valley, beckoning travelers who pass beneath its shadow.
all day Affordable Art Show
at Zane Bennett Contemporary Art 435 South Guadalupe Street

Zane Bennett Contemporary Art is pleased to announce our inaugural Affordable Art Group Show. Also,
9:30 AM Historic/Cultural Walking Tour
at Eldorado Hotel

Featured on GOOD MORNING AMERICA – “Weekend Window to Santa Fe!” Historic/Cultural tours led by professional museum docent guides who give outstanding commentary on the rich history, cultures,
2 PM – 4 PM GEEKS WHO DRINK TRIVIA CONTEST
at El Farol 808 Canyon Rd.

3:30 PM – 7:30 PM Ballet Folklorico/Traditional Mexican Folk Dance classes
at LNSF Dance Space

Los Niños de Santa Fe (LNSF) is a local program dedicated to preserving traditional dances of Mexico. Students ranging from ages three to adult learn the fundamental techniques of traditional and modern movements,
7 PM – 11 PM The Bert DaltonTrio with Guest Vocalists World Class Jazz
at VANESSIE’S 434 West San Francisco

7:30 PM – 11 PM Cathy Faber
at La Fonda Hotel, La Fiesta Lounge, 100 E. San Francisco St.

“We don’t play them unless it was a hit a long time ago, like the ’40s or ‘50s,” Faber laughs. She hunts down lesser-known tunes that are fun, danceable,
8 PM – 10 PM POETICA
at El Farol 808 Canyon Rd.

8:30 PM – 12:30 AM Winter Break Camp
at Fact 1516 Pacheco St.

A morning ART Camp for students 5 to 10 years old. Cost of the camp will be $225 and will include all materials and nutritious snacks. As with all FACT programs, scholarships are available.
$225
Tue., January 10, 2012
 
all day “Sacred Mountain: Modernist Portraits of Taos Mountain, 1920-1970.”
 at William R. Talbot Fine Art, Antique Maps&Prints 129 W. San Francisco St. (second floor)

At 12,000 feet above sea level, Taos Peak looms over the surrounding Rio Grande Valley, beckoning travelers who pass beneath its shadow.
all day Affordable Art Show
at Zane Bennett Contemporary Art 435 South Guadalupe Street

Zane Bennett Contemporary Art is pleased to announce our inaugural Affordable Art Group Show. Also,
9:30 AM Historic/Cultural Walking Tour
at Eldorado Hotel

Featured on GOOD MORNING AMERICA – “Weekend Window to Santa Fe!” Historic/Cultural tours led by professional museum docent guides who give outstanding commentary on the rich history, cultures,
7 PM – 10 PM Singer Songwiter’s Open Mic at Tiny’s Presented by 505 Bands.com
at Tiny’s Restaurant and Lounge 1005 St Francis Dr.

Hosted by Synde Parten and John Reives with (most tuesdays) backing musicians Dave Crosby on bass and Frank Schmitt on electric guitar and M. c. Clymer (of 505bands.com) on sound.
7 PM – 11 PM The Bert DaltonTrio with Guest Vocalists World Class Jazz
at VANESSIE’S 434 West San Francisco

7:30 PM – 11 PM Argentine Tango Milonga
at El Meson, 213 Washington Ave.

Tango Dancing
$5 Minimum Consumption
7:30 PM – 11 PM Cathy Faber
at La Fonda Hotel, La Fiesta Lounge, 100 E. San Francisco St.

“We don’t play them unless it was a hit a long time ago, like the ’40s or ‘50s,” Faber laughs. She hunts down lesser-known tunes that are fun, danceable,
8 PM – 9 PM TROVA DINNER SHOW
at El Farol 808 Canyon Rd.

$15 COVER. SEATING BEGINS AT 6:45, SHOW BEGINS AT 8:00.
8:30 PM – 12:30 AM Winter Break Camp
at Fact 1516 Pacheco St.

A morning ART Camp for students 5 to 10 years old. Cost of the camp will be $225 and will include all materials and nutritious snacks. As with all FACT programs, scholarships are available.
$225
9 PM – 11:30 PM BLUES JAM
at El Farol 808 Canyon Rd.

Wed., January 11, 2012
 
all day “Sacred Mountain: Modernist Portraits of Taos Mountain, 1920-1970.”
 at William R. Talbot Fine Art, Antique Maps&Prints 129 W. San Francisco St. (second floor)

At 12,000 feet above sea level, Taos Peak looms over the surrounding Rio Grande Valley, beckoning travelers who pass beneath its shadow.
all day Affordable Art Show
at Zane Bennett Contemporary Art 435 South Guadalupe Street

Zane Bennett Contemporary Art is pleased to announce our inaugural Affordable Art Group Show. Also,
9:30 AM Historic/Cultural Walking Tour
at Eldorado Hotel

Featured on GOOD MORNING AMERICA – “Weekend Window to Santa Fe!” Historic/Cultural tours led by professional museum docent guides who give outstanding commentary on the rich history, cultures,
noon – 1 PM Brainpower&Brownbags Lecture Series – Richard Melzer,“Political Cartoons and New Mexico’s Struggle for Statehood 1850-1912″
at New Mexico History Museum 113 Lincoln Ave

Melzer is a history professor at the University of New Mexico’s Valencia Campus and author of several books, including New Mexico: Celebrating the Land of Enchantment (Gibbs Smith 2011),
noon – 1 PM Richard Melzer,“Political Cartoons and New Mexico’s Struggle for Statehood 1850-1912″
at New Mexico History Museum Palace of the Governors 105 West Palace Avenue

Melzer is a history professor at the University of New Mexico’s Valencia Campus and author of several books, including New Mexico: Celebrating the Land of Enchantment (Gibbs Smith 2011),
noon – 1 PM Richard Melzer,“Political Cartoons and New Mexico’s Struggle for Statehood 1850-1912″
at Fray Angélico Chávez History Library 105 West Palace Avenue

Melzer is a history professor at the University of New Mexico’s Valencia Campus and author of several books, including New Mexico: Celebrating the Land of Enchantment (Gibbs Smith 2011),
7 PM – 9 PM Jim Almand
at El Meson, 213 Washington Ave.

Singer, songwriter, guitarist and harpist. No Cover
7 PM – 11 PM The Bert DaltonTrio with Guest Vocalists World Class Jazz
at VANESSIE’S 434 West San Francisco

7:30 PM – 11 PM Bill Hearne Trio
at La Fonda Hotel, La Fiesta Lounge, 100 E. San Francisco St.

FOR INFORMATION CALL 995-2363
8 PM – 9 PM TROVA DINNER SHOW
at El Farol 808 Canyon Rd.

$15 COVER. SEATING BEGINS AT 6:45, SHOW BEGINS AT 8:00.
8:30 PM – 11:30 PM SANGRE LATIN JAM-MUSICIANS WELCOME
at El Farol 808 Canyon Rd.

8:30 PM – 12:30 AM Winter Break Camp
at Fact 1516 Pacheco St.

A morning ART Camp for students 5 to 10 years old. Cost of the camp will be $225 and will include all materials and nutritious snacks. As with all FACT programs, scholarships are available.
$225
Thu., January 12, 2012
 
all day “Sacred Mountain: Modernist Portraits of Taos Mountain, 1920-1970.”
 at William R. Talbot Fine Art, Antique Maps&Prints 129 W. San Francisco St. (second floor)

At 12,000 feet above sea level, Taos Peak looms over the surrounding Rio Grande Valley, beckoning travelers who pass beneath its shadow.
all day Affordable Art Show
at Zane Bennett Contemporary Art 435 South Guadalupe Street

Zane Bennett Contemporary Art is pleased to announce our inaugural Affordable Art Group Show. Also,
9:30 AM Historic/Cultural Walking Tour
at Eldorado Hotel

Featured on GOOD MORNING AMERICA – “Weekend Window to Santa Fe!” Historic/Cultural tours led by professional museum docent guides who give outstanding commentary on the rich history, cultures,
5:30 PM From Behind The Lens
at Museum of Indian Arts and Culture

Buy Tickets
5:30 PM The Wild Frontier
at St Francis Auditorium, Museum of Fine Arts

Buy Tickets
7 PM – 9 PM The Gruve
at El Meson, 213 Washington Ave.

Soul and Blues duet with Ron Crowder and Steve O’Neill. No Cover
7 PM – 11 PM The Bert DaltonTrio with Guest Vocalists World Class Jazz
at VANESSIE’S 434 West San Francisco

7:30 PM – 11 PM Bill Hearne Trio
at La Fonda Hotel, La Fiesta Lounge, 100 E. San Francisco St.

FOR INFORMATION CALL 995-2363
8 PM – 9 PM TROVA DINNER SHOW
at El Farol 808 Canyon Rd.

$15 COVER. SEATING BEGINS AT 6:45, SHOW BEGINS AT 8:00.
8:30 PM – 12:30 AM Winter Break Camp
at Fact 1516 Pacheco St.

A morning ART Camp for students 5 to 10 years old. Cost of the camp will be $225 and will include all materials and nutritious snacks. As with all FACT programs, scholarships are available.
$225
8:30 PM – 11:30 PM Eldorado Court Lounge Live Entertainment
at Eldorado Hotel & Spa

Join us at the Eldorado Hotel & Spa for live entertainment Thursday through Saturday! Cover charge is $5. Thursday live entertainment is from 7pm until 10pm.
Fri., January 13, 2012
 
all day “Sacred Mountain: Modernist Portraits of Taos Mountain, 1920-1970.”
 at William R. Talbot Fine Art, Antique Maps&Prints 129 W. San Francisco St. (second floor)

At 12,000 feet above sea level, Taos Peak looms over the surrounding Rio Grande Valley, beckoning travelers who pass beneath its shadow.
all day Affordable Art Show
at Zane Bennett Contemporary Art 435 South Guadalupe Street

Zane Bennett Contemporary Art is pleased to announce our inaugural Affordable Art Group Show. Also,
9:30 AM Historic/Cultural Walking Tour
at Eldorado Hotel

Featured on GOOD MORNING AMERICA – “Weekend Window to Santa Fe!” Historic/Cultural tours led by professional museum docent guides who give outstanding commentary on the rich history, cultures,
noon – 8 PM ARTcade
at Eggman and Walrus 130 W. Palace 2nf Fl. 131 W. San Fran- alternate entrance

2 PM Randall Davey Historic House Tour
at Randall Davey Audubon Center&Sanctuary

Step back in time as you stroll through the old Santa Fe style home (originally a lumber mill built in 1847 by the U.S. Army), of the artist Randall Davey (1887-1964).
4 PM – 5 AM Drum&Journey Circle @ The Bishop’s Lodge
at The Bishop’s Lodge Resort&Spa 1297 Bishops Lodge Rd.

http://www.bishopslodge.com/
5 PM – 7 PM Artisan Wine and Cheese Pairing
at Estrella Del Norte Vineyard 106 N Shining Sun

Join Estrella Del Norte Vineyard and Chef Rocky Durham for the first of our “Artisan Wine and Cheese Pairing” series for 2012.
6 PM – 9 PM Free Friday Night Tennis Fiesta
 at Shellaberger Tennis Center, 1600 St. Michael’s Drive (enter at the Santa Fe University of Art&Design)

To celebrate the re-opening of the Shellaberger Tennis Center under new ownership, Santa Fe’s world-class facility is throwing a free tennis party every Friday night for a year.
7 PM – 11 PM The Bert DaltonTrio with Guest Vocalists World Class Jazz
at VANESSIE’S 434 West San Francisco

7:30 PM – 10:30 PM The Three Faces of Jazz
at El Meson, 213 Washington Ave.

Classic Swinging Jazz Piano Trio
featuring Dan Borton on Alto Sax.
8 PM – 11 PM SOULMAN SAM
at La Fonda Hotel, La Fiesta Lounge, 100 E. San Francisco St.

R&B. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 505-995-2363.
8:30 PM – 12:30 AM Winter Break Camp
at Fact 1516 Pacheco St.

A morning ART Camp for students 5 to 10 years old. Cost of the camp will be $225 and will include all materials and nutritious snacks. As with all FACT programs, scholarships are available.
$225
Sat., January 14, 2012
 
all day “Sacred Mountain: Modernist Portraits of Taos Mountain, 1920-1970.”
 at William R. Talbot Fine Art, Antique Maps&Prints 129 W. San Francisco St. (second floor)

At 12,000 feet above sea level, Taos Peak looms over the surrounding Rio Grande Valley, beckoning travelers who pass beneath its shadow.
all day Affordable Art Show
at Zane Bennett Contemporary Art 435 South Guadalupe Street

Zane Bennett Contemporary Art is pleased to announce our inaugural Affordable Art Group Show. Also,
8:30 AM Guided Bird Walk at the Audubon Center
at Randall Davey Audubon Center&Sanctuary

Every Saturday morning an experienced birder will lead an easy walk on the grounds of the 135–acre Randall Davey Audubon Center&Sanctuary. Bring your binoculars or borrow ours. All skill levels are welcome.
9:30 AM Historic/Cultural Walking Tour
at Eldorado Hotel

Featured on GOOD MORNING AMERICA – “Weekend Window to Santa Fe!” Historic/Cultural tours led by professional museum docent guides who give outstanding commentary on the rich history, cultures,
11 AM – 1 PM “Straight Up” Java&Jazz
at Golden Dawn Gallery, 201 Galisteo St.

Come on and stop by Saturday mornings and start your weekend on the upbeat! Jazz and coffee. Call 505-988-2024 for details.
noon Siegfried
at Lensic Performing Arts Center

Buy Tickets
noon – 8 PM ARTcade
at Eggman and Walrus 130 W. Palace 2nf Fl. 131 W. San Fran- alternate entrance

2 PM DANZA FOLKLORICA QUETZAL
at El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe, 555 Camino de la Familia

Danza Folklorica Quetzal for secondary school and college age students. Info: (505) 992-0591 or (505) 603-7997 (Xochitl). There is no charge. A co-operation of Antonina Valdez Romp, Director,
4 PM – 5 AM Drum&Journey Circle @ The Bishop’s Lodge
at The Bishop’s Lodge Resort&Spa 1297 Bishops Lodge Rd.

http://www.bishopslodge.com/
6 PM – 8:30 PM T or C: 2nd Saturday Art Hop
 at Truth or Consequences, throughout downtown area from 2nd&Date to Broadway&Main

Belly dancing at Celestial Creations Enchanted Gifts of New Mexico,
7 PM – 11 PM The Bert DaltonTrio with Guest Vocalists World Class Jazz
at VANESSIE’S 434 West San Francisco

7:30 PM – 10:30 PM Jon Gagan Trio
at El Meson, 213 Washington Ave.

Santafe’s Jon Gagan on acoustic bass with his jazz trio, originals and standards. No Cover
8 PM – 11 PM SOULMAN SAM
at La Fonda Hotel, La Fiesta Lounge, 100 E. San Francisco St.

R&B. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 505-995-2363.
8:30 PM – 12:30 AM Winter Break Camp
at Fact 1516 Pacheco St.

A morning ART Camp for students 5 to 10 years old. Cost of the camp will be $225 and will include all materials and nutritious snacks. As with all FACT programs, scholarships are available.
$225
Sun., January 15, 2012
 
all day Affordable Art Show
at Zane Bennett Contemporary Art 435 South Guadalupe Street

Zane Bennett Contemporary Art is pleased to announce our inaugural Affordable Art Group Show. Also,
9:30 AM Historic/Cultural Walking Tour
at Eldorado Hotel

Featured on GOOD MORNING AMERICA – “Weekend Window to Santa Fe!” Historic/Cultural tours led by professional museum docent guides who give outstanding commentary on the rich history, cultures,
10 AM – 4 PM Artisans Market
at Santa Fe Farmers Market, 1607 Paseo de Peralta

New Mexico Artisans Market features local artists and craftspeople from New Mexico, as well as food artisans, musicians,
1 PM – 3 PM Ghost of the Plains – Pronghorn Antelope
at Cerrillos Hills State Park, 1/2 mile north of Cerrillos Village on County Road 59.

Pronghorn are North America’s fastest mammal&Ranger Sarah’s favorite ungulate. Incredible eyesight, skinny legs and a complicated social structure are all unique adaptations to the plains.

Meet at the main parking lot.
2 PM – 4 PM Geologic Quirks of the Sandia Mountains
at The DeLavy House (Sandoval County Historical Society Museum), 151 Edmund Rd&Hwy 550 (turn between IHOP&Warrior Gas).

Back by popular demand! The Friends of Coronado State Monument welcome Dirk Van Hart, local geologist, who will discuss the geologic history of our Sandia Mountains with an emphasis on some of its unusual features.
4 PM – 6 PM Ramon Calderon A Sunday Afternoon in Havana
at El Farol 808 Canyon Rd.

A Sunday Afternoon In Havana Imagine yourself with a mojito listening to Latin music in Old Havana. Ramon Calderon has recreated this scene right here at El Farol. Ramon is from Cuba, a great musician,
4 PM – 6 PM Santa Fe Symphony: Viennese Joy
at The Lensic, 211 W. San Francisco St.

Celebrate the New Year with the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra as it presents “Viennese Joy” featuring guest conductor Guillermo Figueroa. Enjoy Monti’s Czardas, Strauss’ Pizzicato Polka, Waldteufel’s Les Patineurs, Buy Tickets
7 PM – 11 PM The Bert DaltonTrio with Guest Vocalists World Class Jazz
at VANESSIE’S 434 West San Francisco

8:30 PM – 12:30 AM Winter Break Camp
at Fact 1516 Pacheco St.

A morning ART Camp for students 5 to 10 years old. Cost of the camp will be $225 and will include all materials and nutritious snacks. As with all FACT programs, scholarships are available.
$225
Mon., January 16, 2012
 
all day Affordable Art Show
at Zane Bennett Contemporary Art 435 South Guadalupe Street

Zane Bennett Contemporary Art is pleased to announce our inaugural Affordable Art Group Show. Also,
9:30 AM Historic/Cultural Walking Tour
at Eldorado Hotel

Featured on GOOD MORNING AMERICA – “Weekend Window to Santa Fe!” Historic/Cultural tours led by professional museum docent guides who give outstanding commentary on the rich history, cultures,
2 PM – 4 PM GEEKS WHO DRINK TRIVIA CONTEST
at El Farol 808 Canyon Rd.

7 PM – 11 PM The Bert DaltonTrio with Guest Vocalists World Class Jazz
at VANESSIE’S 434 West San Francisco

7:30 PM – 11 PM ZENOBIA
at La Fonda Hotel, La Fiesta Lounge, 100 E. San Francisco St.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 505-995-2363.
8 PM – 10 PM POETICA
at El Farol 808 Canyon Rd.
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To add your event contact: The Santa Fean

Santa Fe is Child-Friendly, Too

By Michaela Cavallaro Boston Globe

Globe correspondent    

December 18, 2011 SANTA FE – This city’s reputation with tourists is built on high-end art, a vibrant tri-cultural history, and chili so hot it will leave tears running down your face. The combination does not scream “child-friendly.’’

But in fact, New Mexico’s capital has lots to offer families with small children – starting with museums and restaurants that not only tolerate but encourage visits from the short set. Residents of Santa Fe in the mid-1990s, my husband and I recently returned with our 5-year-old daughter. And while it took us a little while to reconcile the favorite activities of our 20s with our new roles as responsible parents, we managed to balance our competing interests and come up with a slate of activities that was fun for everyone.

Local performer Annie Rose, also known as the Flower Fairy, visits with Skylar Cook, 5, at the Santa Fe Children’s Museum.Foremost among them: the Museum of International Folk Art, one of four institutions set atop Museum Hill, a 10-minute drive from the downtown Plaza. If you had the good fortune to have a baby sitter nearby, you could spend an adult day absorbing a multitude of exhibits at all four museums, most of which focus on Spanish and Native American art and culture. If that’s not an option, follow in our footsteps and plan a shorter but still worthwhile outing for the family to the folk art museum. In addition to ever-changing exhibits full of fascinating eye candy and cultural history, the museum has an astonishing permanent collection populated by an enormous array of village scenes from around the world. Children are fascinated by the figures and scenes – essentially folk art Playmobil villages – while adults will ponder the combination of wealth and eccentricity that led Alexander Girard to collect more than 100,000 objects and personally install them in his namesake wing.

If the kids need room to roam after using their inside voices for a while, consider heading a mile down Old Pecos Trail to the Santa Fe Children’s Museum. A uniquely Southwestern take on the institution, it includes a large outdoor play area featuring gardens, a giant sandbox, and a focus on local flora and fauna. Inside, you will find children’s museum staples, including a hands-on water-play area, a small display of snakes and creepy-crawly critters, and a kiosk with mirrors and water-soluble face paints – the highlight of the place for our daughter. (A close second: a visit with local performer Annie Rose, the Flower Fairy, and her basket of cuddly live bunnies.)

The Children’s Museum is also home to the Slurpmarine, a cafe housed in a restored Airstream trailer that opened just after our visit. In keeping with the hippie ethos that runs strong in Santa Fe – nicknamed the City Different – the Slurpmarine has a full array of gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian menu items.We had eagerly anticipated spending many of our meals at restaurants specializing in New Mexican cuisine, especially since the emphasis on beans, cheese, and those addictively spicy chilies makes it relatively easy to adapt for less sophisticated palates.

Still, we ate at a few restaurants that were particularly welcoming to our daughter – and delicious to boot. Back in the ’90s, we had loved Tia Sophia’s, a local favorite just blocks from the Plaza. We knew we would be able to get a good meal there and were pleasantly surprised to find an extremely child-friendly waitstaff and a small library of children’s books for browsing while you wait for your meal. We chowed down on enchiladas topped with red or green chili – just ask for “Christmas’’ style if you want both. Our daughter happily ate a plain burrito with rice, beans, and cheese. The piece de resistance was an after-lunch sopaipilla, a puff of fried dough eaten with your hands and dipped in honey. Our daughter still dreamily mentions it today.

We also had good luck at Counter Culture, an off-the-beaten-track spot for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or coffee. It’s slightly disorganized – there’s that hippie vibe again – but offers lots of healthy options, plus racks of magazines you can peruse at your table. And no one blinks an eye if your child has a meltdown just before dinner.Though we made most breakfasts ourselves – we had reserved a three-bedroom condo with a full kitchen – we did indulge in one decadent New Mexico-style brunch.

The original Plaza Café operated on the Plaza from the early 1900s to 2010, when a kitchen fire shut it down. Fortunately, the Plaza Café Southside sticks to the original’s strengths, with top-notch diner fare – French toast, huevos divorciados, a teddy bear pancake – in an unassuming strip mall location south of town. And, crucially, it has both a kids’ menu and a full bar.We had heard about the Fort Marcy Hotel Suites from a friend, who advised that a living room, kitchen, and multiple bathrooms would go a long way toward making our family vacation successful. Even better: The three-bedroom rental came with gorgeous views of the Sandia Mountains 60 miles south in Albuquerque and the Sangre de Cristos just north of town, plus, to our daughter’s delight, use of the complex’s pool and hot tub. What’s more, we paid just $300 a night, a veritable bargain for the summer high season, especially given that we could walk to the Plaza in about 10 minutes. (The Villas de Santa Fe offer slightly more upscale lodging just a few blocks away from Fort Marcy Hotel Suites, with a two-bedroom suite going for roughly $285 a night in high season.)Another perk of the Fort Marcy suites: We were just up the hill from a recently remodeled playground and gym complex, also called Fort Marcy, that sells visitor passes for $5 a day.

A good round of swinging proved helpful in resettling our daughter after a stop at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, which she deemed “boring’’ despite the fact that a docent offered her a copy of “My Name Is Georgia,’’ a lovely picture book biography of the artist, to borrow while the adults tried to take in an exhibit about the relationship between painting and photography among 20th-century American artists.

If we had had more time, we would have shaken off the whining with an adults-only drive up toward the Santa Fe Ski Basin to Ten Thousand Waves, a mountainside Japanese-style spa where you can bask in a private hot tub under the brilliant night sky, then roll your mellow self inside for a massage. Instead, we spent our last night in Santa Fe at the Railyard, a formerly scruffy part of town that has been spiffed up in recent years. Now it’s home to a thrice-weekly farmers’ market as well as an REI store and a branch of the local Second Street Brewery, which that day had rolled up its garage-door style walls to let in the afternoon breeze. A friend’s band was playing original country-rock tunes up front as the adults drank pints of India Pale Ale and our girl watched a few other kids run around on the outside patio. She ordered a “hamburdog’’ from the children’s menu and we asked for one last hit of green chili on our cheeseburgers before we headed back east.

If you go… What to do

Museum of International Folk Art 706 Camino Lejo505-476-1200www.internationalfolkart.org Colorful rotating exhibits and an astonishing permanent collection, plus a children’s play area. Adults $9; children age 16 and under free.

Santa Fe Children’s Museum 1050 Old Pecos Trail505-989-8359santafechildrensmuseum.org Indoor and outdoor play areas with a gentle educational focus. Admission $9 per person; children 12 months and under free.

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum 217 Johnson St.505-946-1000www.keeffemuseum.org Exhibits focus on O’Keeffe’s work and her connection to American modernism. Adults $10, age 18 and under free.

Ten Thousand Waves 3451 Hyde Park Road 505-982-9304tenthousandwaves.com Indulgent indoor and outdoor hot baths and spa services. Private baths start at $29 per person; prices vary for spa services.

Where to eat

Tia Sophia’s 210 West San Francisco St.505-983-9880Traditional New Mexican cuisine for breakfast and lunch. Entrees $5-$8.

Counter Culture 930 Baca St.505-995-1105Eclectic healthy eats. Cash only. Entrees $6-$15.

Plaza Caf é Southside 3466 Zafarano Drive505-424-0755plazacafesouthside.com Diner-style dining with New Mexican flair. Entrees $8-$15.

Second Street Brewery at the Railyard 1607 Paseo De Peralta No. 10505-989-3278www.secondstreetbrewery.com Friendly brew pub, entrees $8-$21.

Where to stay

Fort Marcy Hotel Suites 321 Kearney Road888-575-2775www.allseasonsresortlodging.com One-, two-, and three-bedroom condos with heavy New Mexican decor. From $250.

Very interesting real estate story about the top 15 real estate markets over the next five years. Santa Fe lost the least in home values compared to the other 15 and is poised to be a top investment opportunity.

Annualized growth from 2011 – 2016: +9.1%
Santa Fe has a low unemployment rate of 5.4% and a median household income of $70,000. Its home prices are only down 17.7% since they peaked in Q4 2007.

Please call if you need anything. Click in the link below.

http://www.businessinsider.com/best-real-estate-markets-2016-2011-12

Bobcats in Eldorado

These two bobcats hung out in our front yard in Eldorado for a while this afternoon. I had never seen one before other than photos. They were gorgeous. Son was tapping on the windows to make then look at the camera. They were not scared at all.

More photos below:

Bobcats in Eldorado

Bobcats in Eldorado

 

Bobcats in Eldorado

fwdbobcatpix

 New Mexico’s Small Towns Ranked for ‘Brainpower.’ 
 
 
Very interesting story today in the New Mexico Business Weekly.
 
http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/news/2011/11/14/new-mexicos-small-towns-ranked-for.html?ed=2011-11-14&s=article_du&ana=e_du_pub

Outside Magazine Best Places to Live 2011