Thanksgiving weekend is coming up.
taoStyle turns 5 that weekend, and I am certainly filled with gratitude; for life, for family and friends, and for you, my readers, without whom, this blog would not have made it this far. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart, for being there through thick and thin!
For many, Thanksgiving means a chance to gather around the table, with good friends and family, to eat, drink, give thanks and enjoy everything about the experience; good, bad, sad and hopefully, joyful. Family gatherings bring up the gamut of emotions. But for others, it’s not such a happy time; family members are scattered in faraway places, and the dread of Christmas shopping (and Black Friday), looms.
Well, Black Friday is a made up story by the corporate retailers who want to keep you in thrall to the slavery of perpetual consumption, as I noted in Monday’s post. And truthfully, it’s no fun being caught up in that mania, so what are the alternatives?
Lucky for us here in Northern New Mexico, the clever folks at Heritage have already thought about it and provided us with a great solution; one that includes fine dining (yes, if you want it, turkey is included), a cocktail or two at a rooftop bar overlooking the city, along with a comfy, clean room to return to at the end of the day, without leaving Old Town once.
The New Mexico Multi-Cultural Foundation (NMMCF), a non-profit promoting the multiple cultures within the state of New Mexico, educating the public about these cultures, and Heritage Hotels & Resorts, the largest independent hotel group in New Mexico, have gathered more than 150 New Mexico-based artisans to showcase their wares at the 2019 New Mexico Artisan Market at Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town Friday, this coming Thanksgiving weekend, November 29th through Sunday, December 1st.
Last year, my daughters and I, along with my youngest grand-daughter, stayed at Hotel Albuquerque for two nights after the Holiday, for the inaugural event. The three-day Artisan Market featured a number of carefully chosen artists and artisans, representing a broad spectrum of New Mexico communities, including the pueblos. Applications for the 2019 New Mexico Artisan Market have doubled from 2018, and selected artisans were chosen from a large variety of contemporary and traditional styles, all of which showcase New Mexico’s unique creative genres.
Visitors and guests have the opportunity to browse and purchase from a huge array of beautiful, handcrafted items; art, apparel, jewelry and accessories, home decor, and much more. The New Mexico Artisan Market also hosts a variety of activities during the market, including artisan sponsored workshops, raffles, and other fun events.
“The New Mexico Artisan Market is more than a shopping experience; it’s a place to connect with and truly support New Mexico’s finest artists and artisans,” said Chris O’Donnell, Director, New Mexico Artisan Market and Creative Director of Heritage Hotels & Resorts/Sawmill District. “The Market is excited to be a holiday tradition for visitors to meet with and learn about locally made goods and these artists’ talents. We’re proud to continue to support these local artists and benefit our local economy, our people, and our culture.”
In 2018, the first-ever New Mexico Artisan Market experienced nearly 7,000 visitors and generated more than $700,000 in combined merchandise sales over the three-day holiday weekend. Clearly Heritage gets “it” that New Mexico’s Arts and Culture impact our economy more than most other industry in the state. The Artisan Market keeps this in mind as it seeks to “ celebrate the state’s tradition of community marketplace by supporting and promoting local creative talent. “
Taos of course will be present at Old Town! With Angelo and Jacquelene McHorse (last year’s winners for Best in Category) Bison Star Naturals, there again this year, among others. Shopping is hardly a chore when approached in this way. It becomes a pleasure; supporting our local economy is a sustainable practice.
If you have been wanting to stay at Hotel Chaco, book early (it’s no longer a secret), and head directly to the rooftop bar upon arrival, for a bite to eat (the food is fabulous – farm to table – and fresh), and a view to die for, before heading next door to Hotel Albuquerque to peruse the stands and enjoy a cocktail in one of the hotel’s several bars and restaurants. Taos treasure, Patricia Michaels, designed the stunning uniforms worn by the chic staff at Hotel Chaco, seen in the image above. Items from the Project Runway finalist’s PM Waterlily line are for sale in Heritage’s gift shops.
End your day with a dip in the spectacular shared pool and turn in early.
On your way over to the Artisan’s Market the following morning, you can’t help but notice the modern and very urban, Sawmill District that’s being developed just behind Hotel Chaco. Or perhaps you sighted it from your rooftop perch at Level 5 the evening prior?
Projected for a February 2020 opening, the Sawmill Market is New Mexico’s first artisanal food hall. The market, set in a former lumber warehouse located in the Sawmill District, will feature local farmers and food artisans, craftsmen, and artists, again celebrating the diverse cultures and culinary traditions that make up the eclectic New Mexican landscape.
A rich part of the city’s history, this location was a bustling epicenter for industry from the late 1800s and early 1900s along the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway, first as agricultural land, then owned by the American Lumber Company, the largest lumber company in the Southwest. The building was once home to over 800 sawmill employees, and is Heritage Hotels founder, the unstoppable Jim Long’s newest baby.
Founded in 2005 by Long, a native New Mexican, Heritage Hotels & Resorts are a collection of culturally distinct hotels in New Mexico and is the largest independent hotel brand in New Mexico. Through architecture, design, landscaping, cuisine, art, entertainment, and music, Heritage Hotels & Resorts provide their guests with an authentic to New Mexico, cultural experience. Their properties include Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town, Hotel Chaco, and Nativo Lodge in Albuquerque, Hotel St. Francis, Eldorado Hotel & Spa, Hotel Chimayo de Santa Fe, Inn and Spa at Loretto, and The Lodge at Santa Fe, in Santa Fe, Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces in Las Cruces and El Monte Sagrado and Palacio de Marquesa here in Taos. Each hotel donates a percentage of its revenue to (domestic), cultural causes.
The company not only promotes and supports our diverse culture and heritage, it also provides more than 2,000 jobs in NM. With Hotel Chaco and the Sawmill District, Heritage have reinvented the way visitors see our state, by reimagining a New Mexican present and future that includes the past in a brilliant continuum; the juxtaposition of the old and new, comes together here through great design and impeccable attention to detail.
I’ll have a post on the Sawmill Market itself in the very near future, but meanwhile, please visit
The 2019 New Mexico Artisan Market at Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town opens on Friday, November 29 at 11 a.m. for VIP Early Admission and will be open from 12 – 5 p.m. for General Admission. Doors for all ticket holders will open on Saturday, November 30th from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and on Sunday, December 1st from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
General Admission tickets can be purchased in advance for $10 before October 30th and for $15 after. VIP tickets can be purchased for $45. Tickets can be purchased at:holdmyticket
To learn more about the New Mexico Artisan Market, please visit them at nmartisanmarket
For more information about Heritage Hotels & Resorts, please visit their site linked below
All images thanks to Heritage Hotels & Resorts
