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Happy Veterans Day, Santa Fe. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Santa Fe Brief serve up everything you need to know for the week ahead.
In today’s edition: Local election results, Veterans Day ceremony, Santa Fe Artists Market, and more.
Let’s get to it.
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Highlights from local races: New Mexico’s local elections saw turnout up 22%, with over 25% voting statewide. Michael Garcia was declared Santa Fe’s next mayor, and Albuquerque is set for a Dec. 4 runoff — see results and what’s next.
Irrigation district alerts residents: Maintenance began on Nambe Dam valves, and crews will return within two weeks, releasing 60 cfs that could raise river levels and affect 8 to 10 road crossings — read the full story.
Community pride in action: The New Mexico DOT and Governor’s Office named 14 high schoolers as the inaugural 2025–2026 Land of Enchantment Young Ambassadors, leading youth beautification efforts to curb litter and graffiti statewide — see who was selected.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
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Japanese bamboo art with a modern edge
Craving a shift in scenery? TAI Modern in the Railyard showcases contemporary Japanese bamboo art, with sculptural baskets and airy, mind-bending forms, alongside select American contemporary pieces.
Founded by Robert T. Coffland and now led by Margo Thoma, the gallery represents more than 35 bamboo artists and curates focused, beautifully installed exhibitions.
Work by these artists appears in major museums, including The Met, LACMA, and MFA Boston. The staff brings deep expertise and a quiet, hands-on approach.
If your living room needs soul and structure, wander in and let the bamboo speak. Start your browse at TAI Modern, then return to see what evolves.
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Advertising with us is as easy as it gets. Fill out this quick form and we’ll get you in an upcoming edition!
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🫶 We got your back
Neighbors lining up early: After SNAP benefits were thrown into turmoil, The Food Depot’s first-Thursday Santa Fe distribution hit a record, serving 743 households, nearly 3,000 people. With need rising statewide, the nonprofit extended hours, added weekly pop-up distributions, and leaned on increased donations while courts and the state scrambled to keep benefits flowing. Get all the details.
Boost for relative-led homes: New Mexico has launched a Kinship Caregiver Pilot Program, now taking applications in Rio Arriba and San Juan counties. Led by Aging and Long-Term Services with support from the LANL Foundation and Anchorum Health Foundation, it offers monthly stipends and navigation help to relatives raising kids, with plans to add 4–6 more counties and potentially benefit 36,000 children statewide. See how and where to apply.
Your midweek music fix: From indie folk to jazz legends, The Lensic Performing Arts Center keeps Santa Fe’s 1931 stage humming with touring names and local favorites, plus dance, film, and more. Check the calendar and slide into a seat for culture that pairs perfectly with sweater weather.
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.
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🤝 Introducing local deals (just for you)
We’re launching a brand new segment to bring you exclusive local offers from trusted businesses right here in Santa Fe. Think of it as your inside pass to the best local finds, discounts, and experiences.
The kind only available to Santa Fe Brief readers.
Know a local business you love? Send ’em this newsletter and encourage them to get involved.
Own, manage, or market a local business? We’d love to feature you here for free. The only catch? Your deal has to be genuinely valuable and exclusive to our readers.
Email us 👉 [email protected] to get started.
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📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
Have an event to share? Submit it here for free →
This week
🎖️ Veterans Day Ceremony @ Santa Fe Community Convention Center˜ | Tuesday (11/11) at 11:00am – Veterans Day calls for showing up, not scrolling, so head to the convention center for a respectful ceremony. Santa Fe’s Concert Band and Community Orchestra Choir, the Navy drill team, and remarks from Jamison Herrera and Mayor Webber. We clap, get misty, then chile.
🎨 Robin Jones: Nos Galan Gaeaf @ Blue Rain Gallery | Tuesday (11/11) at 6 pm – Step into a spellbinding world where myth meets brushstroke. Robin Jones’ newest collection, Nos Galan Gaeaf, draws on Celtic folklore and the eerie beauty of autumn’s end. Her portraits and landscapes blur the line between the living and the spirit realm—perfect for those who like their art with a touch of mystery and magic.
🌿 Community Day at the Garden @ Santa Fe Botanical Gardens | Wednesday (11/12) at 9 am – Breathe in the crisp autumn air and wander through vibrant seasonal blooms—free for New Mexico residents and students. Community Day is the perfect excuse to slow down, connect with nature, and rediscover the serenity of Santa Fe’s most beautiful green space.
🏺 Underground World Experience: Future Retrieval @ form & concept | Friday (11/14) at 10:00am – Nothing beats getting lost in color and texture without battling a brunch line. Future Retrieval builds, piece by piece, a home-as-microcosm from nature-inspired textiles, handmade paper, and desert masonry, some born at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West. Smart, tactile, and quietly obsessed with mushrooms.
🖼️ Til We Are Full @ Strata Gallery | Friday (11/14) at 11 am – In this bold solo show, artist claudia hermano pushes the boundaries of portraiture and self-expression. Through layered photography, sculptural textures, and poetic storytelling, TIL WE ARE FULL examines identity as something fluid, embodied, and ever-evolving. It’s part visual meditation, part quiet rebellion—and entirely unforgettable.
This weekend
🖼️ Santa Fe Artists Market @ Railyard Plaza | Saturday (11/15) at 9:00am – Nothing beats a Saturday stroll through the Railyard, coffee in hand, rows of juried art that deserves wall space. Pottery, jewelry, paintings, textiles, and more by artists who live here, not your feed. Find it by the Water Tower, and let something follow you home.
🎨 Community Art Closet @ Vital Spaces | Saturday (11/15) at 11:00am – Take a break from hoarding craft bins and hit the Annex Gallery for a monthly Community Art Closet, the third Saturday ritual where everything is free. Fill a bag with sketchbooks, fabric, beads, markers, brushes, yarn, and whatever sparks that long-neglected project.
🔨 World of Treasures Silent Auction & Party @ Museum of International Folk Art | Saturday (11/15) at 6:00pm – World-class folk art without the airport, shelves could use a conversation piece. MOIFA’s silent auction offers hundreds of global finds to bid or buy now, a boutique for budgets, and New Mexico fare by Weldon’s Museum Hill Café. Benefits education, $75 tickets at worldoftreasures2025.eventbrite.com.
🎸 The DCN Project @ The Cowgirl | Saturday (11/15) at 7 pm – Santa Fe’s favorite honky-tonk turns up the volume with The DCN Project bringing their signature blend of bluesy grooves and rock ‘n’ roll swagger. Grab a cold one, hit the patio, and let the music roll deep into the night.
♟️ Turkey, Hold the Swiss @ Aldea Community Center | Sunday (11/16) at 10 am – It’s checkmates before cheesecakes at this cheeky chess tournament. With cash prizes on the line and bragging rights up for grabs, players will battle it out across two divisions. Win your match—and maybe save a turkey from the Thanksgiving table.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 11/11 Todd Rundgren @ Lensic Performing Arts Center – 7:30 pm
- 11/11 Nox Novacula @ Desert Dogs Brewery – 7:30 pm
- 11/13 Stanley Clarke @ Lensic Performing Arts Center – 7:30 pm
- 11/14 Shane Wallin @ Tesuque Casino – 6 pm
- 11/14 A 90’s Country Music Experience @ Tumbleroot Brewery – 7:30 pm
- 11/15 New Mexico Ale Trail @ Sky Railway – 12:30 pm
- 11/15 38 Special @ Buffalo Thunder – 8 pm
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🏠️ This house is wild
Listed by: David Fries (Sotheby's Int. RE/Grant)
Classic pueblo vibes in the north hills, five minutes to the Plaza, with Sun and Moon Mountain stealing the show. Hand troweled plaster, vigas, tile and wood underfoot, plus five kiva fireplaces to chase the chill. A flexible layout serves up roomy living and dining, two kitchens, and snug hideaways.
Wrapped portals frame big sky views, indoor outdoor flow stays on point. On over an acre with no HOA, there is room for a casita or more. 2 car garage, air conditioning, a steam shower, and a starry night hot tub.
Take a peek inside →
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