CELEBRATING HOSPITALITY LEGENDS
Dear Friends,
A few weeks ago, I had the honor of speaking about La Fonda’s Fred Harvey history alongside my dear friends and Fred Heads extraordinaire, Stephen Fried and Allan Affeldt to a full house at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, then we traveled to the Grand Canyon for a special talk with award winning architect, Barbara Felix – also a near and dear friend of mine and deeply connected to the evolving history of La Fonda. It was amazing to see so many folks join us to learn about La Fonda’s history as a Fred Harvey Hotel.
It was certainly a special treat to speak about the challenges of renovating La Fonda to maintain our competitive edge while simultaneously maintaining the very things that keeps us unique and popular: our rich, rich history. And to be able to speak about the innovative design decisions made by the visionary Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter while being so close to the mesmerizing South Rim of the Grand Canyon was an honor. It’s no wonder Colter summoned so many inspired architectural feats into fruition while working on the famous Desert Watchtower; with the power of the canyon’s constantly shifting light and the rich blue and dark purple shadows cast off its dramatic bands of red rock—running over a mile deep! You can’t visit the Grand Canyon without a sense of awe, nor leave without reflecting on the transitory and brief nature of our human existence, just a brief blip compared to the canyon’s well-earned storyline, revealing over 2 billion years of Earth’s geological history. If you have never experienced it, please extend your next New Mexico itinerary from La Fonda to include a road, or train trip to the magical canyon.
Our new Presidential Suite (my old office that I inherited from my mentor, Sam Ballen – and believe me, I was sorry to see it go!) demonstrates how our unique blend of old and new unite into our signature La Fonda style. We added an outdoor patio with views of Santa Fe’s historic plaza and our neighbor, the stunning Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis de Assisi. It’s the perfect place to not only rest your head, but to wake up and enjoy coffee outside under the New Mexico blue sky.
It’s certain to make a great home base for visitors to the International Folk Art Market this month! This year the market will again be held at the Santa Fe Railyard Park, a central location and within walking distance of the hotel. There’s no better place to establish friendships with folks from all corners of the globe in a single weekend! From Namibia to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan to Norway, Lebanon to Bolivia – I can’t wait for what’s in store. Each year I pick up a few special pieces that become part of my home. You can still purchase tickets here!
No matter where you’re from, we invite you to gather and make history with us this summer.
See you at La Fonda!
Jenny
Jennifer Kimball
Ambassador and Board Chair Emerita
La Fonda on the Plaza
DETOURS AT LA FONDA
From HF Coors dinnerware, to Jan Barboglio home goods, the Shop has an eclectic mix of hand crafted goods. Explore and shop online!
PIÑON COURT BY LA FONDA
Join us on the patio at Piñon Court for a special menu showcasing fresh flavors, thoughtful ingredients, and the warm hospitality that defines Piñon Court. It’s the perfect opportunity to gather with friends, savor a delicious meal, and experience one of Santa Fe’s favorite dining traditions. Don’t miss Happy Hour, 4-6pm daily.
CYNDE ROOF FINE ART
Cynde Roof
105 Old Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
505-365-2758
GEMSONG GALLERY
Discover Santa Fe’s largest collection of turquoise at Gemsong Gallery, next to Detours at La Fonda.
Learn about the history of turquoise through Gemsong’s “Turquoise 101 Tour” guided by Peter Vajda, an industry icon and a unique resource in Santa Fe, who:
- Led the jewelry and gemstone trades for over six decades
- Operated on every level of trade from mining to retail
- Is a world recognized expert in colored gems, has lectured widely and advised gemstone laboratories around the globe
- Wrote definitions concerning the proper disclosure and sales of turquoise and other gems, definitions related to authentic Native American jewelry and other Native American Arts and Crafts for both state and federal laws (testifying before the US Congress twice)
- Was intermittently the largest international turquoise dealer during his career (acquiring over 10 billion carats of turquoise from virtually every iconic turquoise mine in the world)
- Specializes in collectable American Turquoise and Native American Jewelry
- Served as a board member for the New Mexico Better Business Bureau and a member of Ethical Trade Organization
- Featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal
To book a tour, inquire at the gallery or call:
505.819.7227 or 505.988.5536
EXPLORE THE SHOPS
