During the early 2000’s the Lighting of Ledoux Street appeared on a national morning T.V. show

Toni Leigh remembers a conversation we had soon after, at Desert Blends on Bent Street (then occupying the space that now houses Chocolate Cashmere) about bringing people our way during the Holidays. I worked for Toni at that time, part time while I freelanced as a writer.

We talked to Loretta Chuzum at the Wild Life next door and then Susan Bacharach from Moby Dickens got involved, and the following weekend, we initiated the first Bonfires on Bent Street!

Fire pits blazed between our stores and a small crowd gathered to hear Ruben Medina’s drumming and partake of the cookies and hot cider we offered to last minute shoppers.

It was successful enough to make us continue the following year and all these years later, it has become one of the most beloved events of the season.

Interestingly, I was among the initiators of the Lighting of Ledoux also, when I worked at Flying Carpet, owned by the late Ambassador William Eagleton when he was called to service by the U.N. in Morocco. His sister-in-law Mary Valdez and myself, joined with artist Inger Jirby (we met in her kitchen), and other gallery owners on Ledoux, to try to bring business from town down our way during the Holiday Season. Et voila!

The Bonfires on Bent Street continue to follow on the heels of the Lighting of Ledoux, and now you know why!

Once again, this year the Bent Street Merchants are joining with the John Dunn Shops for what has morphed into a truly spectacular holiday event. The shops will offer hot beverages, snacks, hors d’oeuvres – a feast for all, along with entertainment, live music, bonfires and farolitos to elevate your shopping experience!

Sam’s Shop will have Belly Dancer Julia Fernandez de Maez  dancing outside around the bonfires. Mudd N Flood will have their famous  posole with their special farm made goat cheese and sourdough crackers. They’ll also have their “Wheel of Fortune.”

Taos Cookery  will serve hot cider and cookies and  special treats with each purchase will be given!

Taos Blue will have their Smores table near the bonfires and inside there will be hot tea and Holiday breads. Grab prizes available with each purchase.

In fact everyone on the street, from Artimesia to MoMo and all the others in between, will deck their halls and pull out all the stops to welcome you into their shops tomorrow on Bent Street and John Dunn Way starting at 10 a.m. With the evening reception from 4 to 7 p.m.

For more information please visit their Facebook Page linked below.

bonfiresonbent/facebook

All images thanks to Bent Street Merchants