.... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... ....ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. The calming properties of local lavender can be enjoyed in numerous ways this July as part of the reimagined Lavender in the Village Festival.
Vendors showcase their lavender products at a past Lavender in the Village Festival. (Courtesy of Blue River Productions)
In place of the traditional two-day festival, the event now features boutique lavender events, lavender festival survival kits, a fundraising concert with the Robb Janov Quartet on Saturday, July 24, the lavender market on July 25, and the Fourth Street Passport Experience. The Lavender Run is also scheduled to take place. A date for the run was not available at press time but information will be posted at lavenderinthevillage.org. Event tickets and lavender survival kits also can be purchased on the website.
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Steel Bender’s Shine On Saison is available at Whole Foods Market locations in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Proceeds benefit the Agora Crisis Center. (Courtesy of Mario Caldwell)
Steel Bender Brewyard is giving the Agora Crisis Center a financial boost with its Shine On Saison.
Six-packs of the limited release will be available while supplies last exclusively at Whole Foods Market locations in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Proceeds will benefit the Agora Crisis Center in Albuquerque. The center operates on a small budget, and most of its phone workers are volunteers who have been trained in suicide prevention. Agora has a small staff and about 100 volunteers. The organization does suicide prevention training around the state on how to recognize warning signs and respond to someone who might be at risk for suicide. New Mexico has one of the nation’s highest rates of suicide.
New Mexico Pink Boots Society members before the pandemic shutdown. (Courtesy of The Pink Boots Society)
The New Mexico Pink Boots Society has been unable to gather for about a year due to the pandemic.
March 6, 2020, was the last time members were able to get together for the group’s annual brew day. The society annually brews a beer to benefit its organization on National Women’s Day. It was uncertain whether the society could meet for this year’s brew day. But where there is a will, there is a way, and the society held its sixth annual brew day on March 31 at Rio Bravo Brewing Co.
Santa Fe Spirits’ bottled cocktails. (Courtesy of Santa Fe Spirits)
Cross off the local craft beer, wine and spirit lovers from your gift list with plenty of holiday offerings from New Mexico breweries, distilleries and wineries.
Santa Fe Spirits is helping your gift receivers be their own personal bartender with its bottled cocktails. The Mesquite Manhattan is created with single malt, vermouth and bitters. NM Negroni features Wheeler’s gin, vermouth and bitters. Estrella is made with gin, vodka and Lillet Blanc. Nut Job is a blend of single malt and sweet vermouth. The distillery has cocktail cubes for people who prefer to prepare their own cocktails. The Hot Toddy cocktail cube contains a bottle of Apple Brandy, teas, glasses and mixers. The Colkegan Coffee cube has a bottle of Colkegan, Ikonic coffee, glasses and mixers. The distillery is offering a discount of 20% off all spirits until the end of the year. Learn more at santafespirits.com.