Monthly Archives: December 2010

Chanukah celebration brings light and joy to Taos children

Posted on December 24, 2010 | Leave a comment

Rabbi Eliyahu Kaminetzky lights the Chanukah Menorah during a Festival of Lights celebration held Dec. 8 at the Taos Community Auditorium.

On Dec. 8, the Taos Community Auditorium opened its doors to Chanukah — a cele­bration of light and joy — spon­sored by the Chabad of Taos and the Taos Jewish community.

The event included art, music, traditional food, toys, and the lighting of the Menorah. “For me, Chanukah carries a strong connection with Judaism and my childhood,” said Rhonda Velkovitz, who attend­ed the event. “We used to have big family celebrations, from 50 to 100 people. Some of my cousins were musicians, actors and actresses, and we always had a lot of fun. We would get together and light the candles and it was such a big, wonder ful celebration. I particularly enjoy the Chanukah candles because they br ing light to our lives in the darkest days of the year.”

Art pieces by Jonathan Sobol, Bill Acheff, Barry Dinowitz and Anita Bauer were on display. Dinowitz’ abstract pastels are part of his shadow/light series. The contrast between light and shadow in his paintings can be linked to the Chanukah Menorah lighting ceremony and its symbolism of overcoming the darkness in the world.

The celebration began when Rabbi Eliyahu Kaminetzky lit the menorah while Nancy Laupheimer and Martha Grosman from the Taos Chamber Music Group played “Maoz Tzur,” the traditional Chanukah song. After a moving performance by Andy “Rosey” Hayett, director of the Woogaboo Foundation, the rabbi called Steve Natelson to talk about the history of Chanukah and why the holiday is celebrated. Chanukah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt, during the Second Century BCE, after a miraculous Jewish victory over the Seleucids, who sought to Hellenize the people of Israel. But what they really cel­ebrate, Natelson emphasized, is not only a military victory, but the fact that the oil in the temple, that was supposed to last for just one day (only one vial of unadulterated oil was left), instead bur ned for eight whole days, until new, pure oil could be prepared. In that sense, Chanukah celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, of purity over adulteration and of spirit over matter.

Chanukah customs include preparing foods fried in oil like latkes (traditional potato pan­cakes) and doughnuts, as well as giving presents to children. To highlight the impor tance of oil, an olive press was brought to the event. With children and adults gathered around them, David Hassan and Israel Bennish, visit­ing student rabbis, operated the press and offered the audience a hands-on exper ience on how olive oil is made.

As for the kids’ presents, a very important part of the cel­ebration was the toy drive launched by the Chabad of Taos. The collected toys were given to Frances Romero and Yolanda Valdez who were there representing the Head Start program. “We got hundreds of toys,” said Rabbi Kaminetzky, “and we chose to give them to the Head Start program because they had the highest number of registered low-income families in Taos.”

Nikki Ross was there rep­resenting Twirl. The store also donated toys for the event, and Ross helped children make Stars of David as part of the project. “Chanukah is a Festival of Lights, which means that it is centered on spreading positive feelings and joy in the commu­­nity,” said Rabbi Kaminetzky. “That’s what we are doing here tonight. We want to thank every­one who contr ibuted to the toy drive, particularly the Gearing Up Bicycle Shop, that donated a $400 bicycle for the raffle.” While waiting for the raffle to take place, people sampled latkes prepared by the rab­bi’s wife or talked about past Chanukah celebrations.

“I remembered Martha Schlamme’s songs being played during Chanukah,” said Lucy Melamed. “The whole house would come alive with music and we danced for hours. This event is very special for me not only because it brings back many good memories but because it allows us to interact as a community and get to know each other better.”

The Jewish community in Taos, said the rabbi, con­sists of around 3,000 people.

“Celebrating Chanukah is also part of my identity,” said Melamed. “I would have never missed it.”

To contact Chabad of Taos, visit the website jewishtaos.org or call (575) 751-1323.

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Speaking in Taoseño

Posted on December 9, 2010 | Leave a comment

Originally published in The Taos Times

My husband and I had been in Taos for just a couple of months when we visited Michael’s Kitchen. After eating a delicious burrito smothered in red chile, I saw the son of a good friend of mine. He said that he was a cook’s helper and that he wanted to practice his Spanish as much as possible.

“Ah, bueno, so you are a pinche here,” I said, to encourage his linguistic endeavors. His face turned as crimson as the red chile sauce that had covered my burrito. “I am not a pinche,” he mumbled. “I’m just learning how to cook.” And he scurried away.

It wasn’t until a few days later that I discovered my gaffe. Pinche in Mexico (and in New Mexico, it turned out) is a pretty bad word, an adjective that could be translated as damned…or something worse.

But in Spain —and in Cuba, where I come from— it simply means the cook’s assistant. “El pinche” is used for the male assistant and “la pincha” for the female one. And a tortilla, which for me was simply a plain omelet, here is the tasty (albeit muy fattening) unleavened bread made of corn or flour used to prepare tacos and burritos. Ay, ay, ay!

New Mexican Spanish has put me in more than one embarrassing situation. But I still love it. I love the diminutive forms like “jito” and “jita” (short for hijito and hijita, little son and little daughter). They roll off the tongue like hot cocoa. Jita and jito… sweet terms of endearment that the New Mexican abuelas have kept over the years with the same care they did their recipes for enchiladas and flan.

I also love the articles “el” and “la” when placed before proper nouns. For my New Mexican friends I am “la Teresa.” (Hopefully, not la pinche Teresa). As our beloved Dr. Larry Torrez wrote in his article Understanding the Spanish of Northern New Mexico can be un poco difícil, published in The Taos News “seasonal visitors will often bone up on their Spanish skills hoping to communicate with the local populace. More often than not they find that standard textbook Spanish rules hardly apply when dealing with the people of the Taos Valley.”

Well, they can learn Taos Valley Spanish, too. ¿Que no?

In Taos, we all are trying to keep Spanish alive—el español de los viejitos, the traditional Spanish that has been spoken here for centuries. Enos García and Río Rancho Elementary Schools offer a dual-language program. As a visiting artist, I am currently working with Enos García 5th graders to create a bilingual book entitled ¡Somos taoseños!/ We are Taoseños! It will be consist of short essays written by the students about what being a Taoseño means for them and will also contain their teachers’ point of view.

Tanya Vigil, the Visiting Artist Program Coordinator and a bilingual Taoseña herself, said, “Preserving Spanish is all about preserving our roots and our culture, not just the language. I believe that Spanish is alive and well in our town.”

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A Five-Star Winner

Posted on December 7, 2010 | Leave a comment

After a long day of skiing and maybe following a well deserved pampering session at the Skin Sanctuary or Essential Massage and Spa Therapies, you are likely to be hungry—hungry for healthy, fresh and tasty food. Why not go to a restaurant that makes the best green chile cheeseburger in the state and that was also named a “Great American Burger Joint” by USA Today?

This restaurant is 5 Star Burgers, located at 1032 Paseo del Pueblo Sur. The walls are painted with bright shades of orange and purple and mouth-watering smells fill the air. Oil paintings by Marsha St. John (a local artist and the restaurant’s manager) decorate the space. One is appropriately called Spirit of Fall and brings all the autumn leaves inside in a psychedelic blur.

“I enjoy working in an environment where I see some of my favorite people at least once a week,” said St. John, whose art has been inspired by the Taos landscape. “We provide not only good food but also a very pleasant atmosphere.”

Bob Gontram, the owner and founder of 5 Star Burgers, is a white-haired gentleman who has created over 140 restaurants that he has bought and sold. The first one he opened in Taos was 5 Star Burgers, in April 2008, which was followed by another location in Albuquerque in March 2010. “Next year I expect to open five more 5 Star Burgers, three in New Mexico and two in Denver,” he said.

5 Star Burgers is an environmentally conscious company. They use biodegradable packaging made from corn and recycled paper. Frying oils are recycled for bio diesel fuel and their equipment is energy efficient. Most importantly, all beef is trans fat free, fresh, never-frozen, hormone free and antibiotic.

“The ground beef we use is all-natural Angus beef from Harris Ranch,” Gontram said. “The burgers are hand formed here. I am confident that we have the best burgers in New Mexico.”

Food critics from USA Today agree with him. “What distinguishes 5 Star Burgers (…) is quality. Served on a brioche bun from local Fano bakery, their hormone and antibiotic-free Black Angus beef is ground fresh daily and cooked to order. The 8-ounce green chile cheeseburgers come in two varieties with green chiles the star attraction,” said the USA Today press release.

Gontram is also particular about the kind of chile that they serve with the burgers. “There is more demand for chile now than it used to,” he said. “It is grown in other states like Texas, and even imported from Mexico, to supply the demand. But we buy only New Mexico green chile.”

A delicious green chile mayonnaise is served as a dipping sauce for the French fries and also put over cheeseburgers. As for the other ingredients, “we use gorgonzola cheese because it is creamy and works very well with the bacon without overpowering the burger,” Gontram said.

Then there is their signature tomato marmalade. Served with the grilled cheese sandwich, the combination makes the best comfort food I’ve ever had.

The restaurant runs a burger special every month.

“I am really passionate about the menu because I designed everything myself,” said Gontram. Though the Five Star burger is their biggest seller, the menu isn’t limited to burgers. It includes specialty sandwiches like Coho Salmon and Portobello Stack, as well as different kinds of salads, beer and wine.

The restaurant has a busy happy hour, from four to six pm. It also offers comfortable chairs and good coffee, two significant aspects that have been overlooked by a few restaurants in town.

5 Star Burgers’ hours are Monday through Thursday 11-9, Friday to Saturday 11-10 and Sunday 12-9.

Winter hours:  The restaurant closes at 9:00 p.m. every night

To learn more about 5 Star Burgers visit their website http://www.5starburgers.com or call (575) 758-8484.

 

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Winterize your skin

Posted on December 7, 2010 | Leave a comment

“Sacre” Rand at the Skin Sanctuary

How to keep your skin healthy and hydrated while enjoying the season

Now that winter approaches and with it all the end-of-the-year festivities, it’s the perfect time to beautify yourself. Taos offers a variety of places where you can be pampered, energized and rejuvenated… all that while enjoying a ski vacation or simply spending some free time browsing the tienditas in town.

An essential part of the beautification process includes the proper care and protection of the skin in the dry mountain climate of New Mexico.

At The Skin Sanctuary of Taos, conveniently located within walking distance to Taos Plaza, the friendly staff makes you feel welcome the moment you enter. As office manager Pat Brown put it, “It’s the people who make a place special. Danny Neifert (the owner) has also created a peaceful and nourishing atmosphere that enhances the spa experience for all our clients.”

Sarah “Sacre” Rand is the spa’s esthetician. A tall, youthful looking blonde with an ebullient personality, she shares some tips to keep the skin hydrated during the dry New Mexico winter.

Protect

“First, apply sunscreen,” she said. “It’s obvious, but sometimes people forget it. They think that sunscreen is not necessary because it is cold here, and end up badly burned. I have seen many unsuspecting tourists, particularly skiers, in that case. Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours. And the best kind? “The one you are willing to put on,” she said.

Hydrate

One should moisturize too, of course, but that is not enough. Simply applying a layer of a moisturizer, no matter how fancy, won’t cut the mustard. There is another very important, albeit less known product, that helps to keep the skin hydrated and supple. It is called hyluronic acid and its function is to stimulate the tissues’ water retention capabilities. It should be applied before any moisturizer in order to lock in the water molecules. “It acts as the best delivery system of water into the skin,” Rand said.

Pack away beauty

The Skin Sanctuary is also offering special winter packs and nutritive masks that reduce the stress caused by the wind and the sun. The packs can be combined with any of the other treatments that the spa offers.

The Signature Custom Facial is one of the most popular ones. After Rand finished it, I felt refreshed, renewed and totally revitalized. She truly took years off my skin! Rand is an expert in restoring vitality to the skin without stressing it. The mask she used, a Hungarian product called ILIKE, had all the fragrances of a spring garden… and it looked like one, too. “Here, after you have a facial, you become family,” she said.

Brush and flush

Essential Massage and Spa Therapies are located 824 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, just north of Guadalajara Grill. It just celebrated its tenth anniversary. Over a cup of soothing warm tea, the proprietress and licensed massage therapist, Kyoko Hummel, reminded me that the skin is our largest organ. “When it ‘breathes’ right, it eliminates a lot of metabolic waste,” she said. “That’s preferable to getting hives and rashes!”

“Vibrant skin comes from the inside out,” she said. “Healthy food and plenty of water keep it supple and radiant.”

Proper elimination is fundamental, too. One of the services offered by the spa is colon hydrotherapy. This popular procedure uses water to cleanse and tonify the colon and contributes to overall health and wellness.

Dry brushing is a good way to slough off dead skin cells and promote lymph circulation. “The skin feels softer and breathes better without the dry dermal layer,” said Kyoko. “Get a natural-bristle, long-handle brush. Before bathing, brush the skin using circular strokes. Start at the feet, use clock-wise strokes on the stomach and brush down the neck toward the heart. If you choose to brush the face, use a smaller, softer brush on your cheeks. Afterwards, take a warm bath or shower. End with a cool water rinse to invigorate the blood circulation and close the pores.  It’s a great way to keep skin supple and healthy during the winter.”

Ananda Kali, also a massage therapist and the spa’s the esthetician, chimes in. “Another wonderful treatment is moist exfoliation. You can do it in the shower.  Put a fair amount of an essential oil on your skin (the size of a quarter); then put sea salt in your hand too and rub them. Rinse everything off. This removes all the dead cells and gives you a healthy flow.”

“The products do not have to be very expensive,” she said. “The most important thing is that they are effective, not how much they cost.”

Rock it!

Nothing is more comforting than the feeling of warm, smooth rocks over your skin, particularly after spending a long day outside in the cold air. The Essential River Rocks Massage starts with a traditional massage, then uses heated basalt rocks to help tight muscles release.

I had come in with a sore back (too much time in front of the computer) and I literally felt the stress leaving my body as Ananda firmly, yet gently, rubbed my back with the rocks. I felt relaxed, soothed and definitely ultra pampered. I recommend this kind of massage anytime, summer or winter. It’s a year-around treat!

Ananda’s Winter Skin Care Tips

Wear sunscreen.
Wear sunglasses.
Watch intense temperature changes that can cause capillary damage (rosacea).
Wash your face in warm (not hot) water.
Use a mild cleanser instead of soap. Regular bath soap is irritating and can over dry the skin.
Avoid toners that contain alcohol (it’s drying, too).
Prefer hydrating masks over clay-based masks that dry out the skin.
Use moisturizer twice a day if you are outside.
Put oil inside the nose to avoid nose bleeding. There are herbal oils especially formulated for the nose at health stores, but you can use regular olive oil too.
To heal dry, chapped skin, use clear Aloe jell and high potency Vitamin E, available at drug stores.
Drink lots of water.
Avoid wet gloves and socks that can cause chapping.
Use a humidifier inside a heated home. Heated air dries the skin.

To reach The Skin Sanctuary of Taos call (575) 751-0037 or visit its website http://www.skinsanctuaryoftaos.com

To reach Essential Massage and Spa Therapies call (575) 751-4040 or visit its website http://www.taosessential.com

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Christmasing in Taos

Posted on December 7, 2010 | Leave a comment

Photo Curtesy – Lex Python with  John Fullbright Studio

 

Christmas celebrations begin early this year, with the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree on Taos Plaza after Thanksgiving.

Other pre-Christmas events are

Holiday High Tea

The Turquoise Teapot is located at 605 Camino De La Placita. Tel: (575) 737-0419

The Turquoise Teapot, the only tea house in the town of Taos, is an English-style tea shop and gallery with a fabulous assortment of teas. Every year the owners serve a holiday high tea on December 4th. “We do a special buffet with season fare that includes Christmas sandwiches, truffles and cakes,” said Kathleen Smith, one of the proprietresses. “We also have live music (a wonderful harpist) and holiday wreaths.” Reservations are accepted for seating at 12 noon and at 2:30 p.m.

 

Las Posadas (Spanish for “the inns”)

San Francisco de Asís Church is located at 60 St Francis Plaza, Rancho de Taos

Tel: (575) 751-0518

The nine days before Christmas, taoseños reenact the holy family’s search for lodging in Bethlehem. A well known posada starts in San Francisco de Asís church, in Rancho de Taos. The peregrinos (pilgrims) sing traditional songs as they go to different houses and are turned away… until they finally find a “posada” in one of them and everybody is invited to come in and celebrate. There are other posadas going on around town, in churches as well as in private homes.

 

Lighting of Ledoux

It takes place on December 11th, a Saturday, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. For many taoseños and visitors alike, this is the kick off of the Christmas season. Lots of people who haven’t seen each other during the year get together that day to catch up and chit-chat. It all started as a “neighborly” function for the street, around sixteen years ago, but now it is an official event sponsored by the town. The neighbors bring out the luminarias (sand-filled paper bags with a votive candle inside) and the whole street gets lined up with them. “We start lighting them around three-thirty,” said Shaun Richel, owner of 203 Fine Art. “By four-thirty, the whole street will be lit up and people begin to stroll down.” All the businesses open their doors and cookies and punch are offered to the visitors. “But then it lingers on after everybody leaves… at eight p.m. the lanterns are still on and it’s so peaceful,” Richel said. “Some places have bonfires. Last year we even had roasted marshmallows.”

 

Harwood Museum of Art Celebrations

Located at 238 Ledoux Street. Tel: (575) 758-1475

On the same day that Lighting of Ledoux takes place, December 11th, the public is invited to visit The Harwood Museum of Art for the official opening of its 10,700 square-foot expansion. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony, live music and performances. Graham’s Grille will provide food and refreshments. An exhibition by Taos Modern Artists Bea Mandelman and Louis Ribak, for whom the major new gallery is named, will be on display. “We represent the estate of Mandelman-Ribak,” said Richel. “The big exhibit will be at the museum but we also have lots of printings and drawings for sale here, at 203 Fine Art.”

 

There is another special Christmas event for music lovers at the Harwood, “A Classical Holiday,” that will take place on December 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Arthur Bell Auditorium. Taos Chamber Music Group celebrates the holiday season with a program of music from the 18th and early 19th centuries. Tickets are $18 in advance; $20 at the door and $10 for children under 16.

 

A Skier’s Snowy Paradise

Taos Ski Valley offers a variety of activities for all ages and tastes. Celebrations up there begin with the Brewmasters Festival on December 18th from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Though not a Christmas activity as such, it is definitely a fun event… for those twenty-one and over. It takes place in Tenderfoot Katie’s and the Martini Tree. Admission is $25 and the fee includes souvenir sampling glass, good food and great entertainment. Come and sample beers from twenty-five breweries from across the southwest region!

 

Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade

Friday, December the 24th

Visitors gather in the base area at 6 p.m, when it’s already dark, to watch as skiers make their way down the mountain with flares as their only means of light. “You have to get here early to get a good spot,” said Heather Cleary, who works at The Boot Doctors, in the Ski Valley. “It’s spectacular. I wouldn’t try it, but I give the skiers kudos for doing it.”

 

New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parade and Fireworks
Friday, December 31st
It all starts at the base of lift #1 at 6:00 p.m. Watch a torchlight parade and fireworks display and follow it with the countdown to the New Year in the Martini Tree Bar. Welcome the New Year with fireworks and music while the mountain sings its winter song!

 

Christmas Eve at Taos Pueblo

Taos Pueblo is located 2 miles north of Taos

120 Veterans Highway, Taos – (575) 758-1028

First, bundle up before you go! The air will be frosted and it may snow that night. When the sun gets down, small bonfires are built near the San Geronimo church (there is no electricity in the pueblo) while people wait for the procession to start. The celebration begins with a dance, Los Matachines, in which El Toro, la Malinche and los Abuelos, in elaborate costumes, reenact one of the oldest ritual dramas in northern New Mexico. When it finishes, the firing of guns marks the start of the procession. The statue of Virgin Mary is taken out of the church, followed by the dancers, musicians and the crowd, and paraded around the plaza. As darkness increases, more families lit their own bonfires which are around twenty feet high. You watch the bonfires burn down, feel the heat of the flames, smell the aroma of the piñón… “It is close to how it should have been hundreds of years ago,” said Dr. Mike Adler, Executive Director of SMU-in-Taos. “To me, as an archeologist, it’s very special to see rituals like this one.”

You can enjoy luminaria displays in many other streets and try bizcochitos (spicy, anise-flavored cookies) all over town. Christmas in Taos is a flavorful, colorful and light-filled holiday. Just remember to keep your feet warm when Christmasing around.

 

 

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