Jenny's View
Dear Friends,
For decades, La Fonda has been known as “The Inn at the End of the Trail” — the place where history and culture converge and all things Santa Fe fuse into the rich tapestry of our ever changing story. Next year La Fonda celebrates 100 years of hospitality and our spirit of gratitude for this amazing feat has never been greater.
As we near our Centennial, we look to the present, past and future with a clear lens, focused on maintaining a positive and prosperous workplace, being proactive stewards of our environment and mindful of the earth’s limited resources, all while collaborating with the folks that bring light and positivity to our business, staff and guests.
Our intention to move forward has not waned during the pandemic, and in fact, our ambitious planning has positioned us to celebrate the successful distribution of the vaccine and the reopening of travel with the launch of an exciting new brand under La Fonda’s umbrella: The Terrace Inn at La Fonda.
The Terrace Inn opens late July and conjures a blend of modern, refreshing design elements that combine with the artistry of traditional New Mexican craftsmanship, forging a fresh take on high desert style. In typical La Fonda fashion, we’ve commissioned local artists to enrich each Terrace guest room with unique colors, textures and lines — everything from the window drapery inspired by artist Del Curfman’s gorgeous horse paintings, to the handwoven, Navajo Chief blanket headboards — evokes a sense of authenticity, while encouraging quiet curiosity and luxurious comfort.
Unique flavors of summer will be available from a dedicated food and beverage station for Terrace guests, hosted by a highly trained team of service-oriented attendants. Chef Lane Warner pulled out all the stops as he crafted his seasonal ingredient list and the results of his efforts are equal parts delight and satisfaction. Whether you opt to enjoy our menu selections in the privacy of your room, in our gorgeous atrium dining room, La Plazuela, or on our destination rooftop bar, The Bell Tower — I promise you’ll enjoy the earthy blends of market greens with chile and spice!
This summer we’re thrilled to again partner with Sovereign Santa Fe for the curated Contemporary Native American Arts exhibition showcasing cutting edge indigenous creativity. The exhibit is organized by FaraHNHeight Fine Art, Tony Abeyta, and Randy L. Barton and takes place in our Lumpkins Ballroom & Mezzanine August 16-21, 2021. We love supporting Sovereign, a forward thinking community of artists that fosters collaboration and critical thinking. It’s been an extremely popular event and includes free admission for hotel guests.
Artist Armond Antonio is one of Sovereign’s featured artists who is also a hard working and dedicated horseman with an extremely kind heart. Early during the pandemic, he sought ways to inspire COVID relief for the Navajo Nation and the Pueblos of New Mexico that had been deeply impacted by the health crisis. He created and donated artwork in support of the relief effort and traveled over 100 miles by horseback to deliver his creations to our doorstep! We appreciate the generosity of his efforts. And though we’re experiencing relief from the pandemic, it’s important to remember that we’re not entirely out of the woods. Explore ways to participate in the Navajo relief effort here.
Save the date! The International Folk Art Market takes place July 7-14 and July 14-18, 2021. It’s that special time of year when it seems like the whole world arrives at our doorstep. By participating in the market, you help preserve and celebrate folk art traditions from across the globe. There’s still time to buy tickets — purchase them here!
The Traditional Spanish Market — the oldest and largest juried Spanish Market in the United States — is slated for July 24 -25, 2021. The celebration includes music and cultural events centered around Santa Fe’s historic Plaza, along with vendor booths lining San Francisco Street, right outside our front door.
And of course we look forward to celebrating the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) 2021 Indian Market. This year the market will be a hybrid event and is slated for August 21 & 22. Look forward to discovering the best of Native American talent at one of our favorite celebrations of traditional and contemporary work. Be sure not to miss their silent auction taking place on our Terrace Patio August 19 from 5-9PM!
It’s going to be a vibrant summer filled with a renewed sense of curiosity about the world, one another and ourselves. Please take time to enjoy it! Travel to new places, talk to artists about their work and process, and savor the unique flavors of the season!
See you at the markets!
Jenny
