Taos On The Cheap

The month-long Taos Big Read book party kicks off this weekend in celebration of New Mexico author Rudolfo Anaya’s jewel of a novel: Bless Me, Ultima. At the launch on Saturday Nov 7 at Taos Public Library, you can pick up a free copy of Bless Me, Ultima in either English and Spanish, and enjoy music by Dos Amigos plus local nibbles. Drop by between 12 noon and 2:30 p.m.  Here’s the info on all the Taos Big Read events.
On the evening of  Nov 7, critically acclaimed Dixon poet Levi Romero gives the keynote presentation, sharing his work, the influence of Rudolfo Anaya on his poetry, Romero’s life growing up in New Mexico, and the value of local stories. I’ve interviewed Romero for radio, and he is a cracking speaker and poet, with a voice that could move a mountain… possibly even Taos Mountain. Taos High School Poets will also share their youthful perspective. This free evening is at Taos Center for the Arts from 7:00 to 8:45 p.m.

Happy Birthday to Cid’s Food Market, where Taos Society mingles over the organic zukes and hot-off-the-spit roast chickens. (I’m generally in a bliss coma sniffing stuff in the soaps and potions aisle.) If it’s usually hard to get out of Cid’s in 20 minutes because you bump into everyone you know there – plus quite a few people you’d LIKE to know – this weekend will be even more of a party atmosphere, as Cid’s Food Market celebrates its 23rd anniversary on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 Nov. Expect food tastings, BBQ, a live DJ, raffle drawings every hour, and give-aways. Follow the throng at 623 Paseo del Pueblo Norte.

Forgive me Taosphiles, I’ve been sadly neglecting darling Taos while writing a guidebook to our Big Sister city just down the Rio Grande…  the Insiders’ Guide to Albuquerque (Globe Pequot Press) due in bookstores early in 2010, or available for preorder now.  I’m finally back in the saddle and all spurred up to hunt out Taos discounts, deals, and freebies, including fun events that won’t break the bank. Please get in touch if you have leads on business specials or other value-packed Taos suggestions, or just to let me know what you’d like to see covered here.

The opening reception for the ‘Paintings from the Sixties’ exhibition, featuring the work of Charles Strong, a member of the San Francisco School of Abstract Expressionists, takes place Friday Nov 6 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Taos Community Auditorium’s Encore Gallery. If you miss the Charles Strong reception, the show runs through Dec 15. The TCA is just north of the Taos Inn on Paseo del Pueblo Norte.

Four artists participate in a new multimedia show at the lovely RANE Gallery: poet Veronica Golos, sculptor Deborah Rael-Buckley, painter Nancy Delpero, and photographer Robbie Steinbach. The opening reception for My Land Is Me: A Collaborative Multimedia Installation is on Saturday Nov 7, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., with refreshments served. A conversation with the artists follows a week later on Sunday Nov 15, at 2:00 p.m. Both events are at the RANE Gallery, 214 Ledoux Street, and the show runs through to Nov 29.

Here are two free opportunities for families to get tied up with string and applique themselves together…  As part of the Taos Summer of Love, The Harwood Museum is hosting:

Aug 15 – Saturday Arts Macrame
Aug 22 – Saturday Arts Applique

Times for both are 10 to 11:30 a.m. and all ages are welcome.