Madame Butterfly: The season opens with a new production of Madame Butterfly, perhaps the most beloved of all operas, which has not been staged here in more than ten years. Kelly Kaduce returns as Puccini’s heartfelt heroine Cio-Cio-San, joined by Elizabeth DeShong as Suzuki and Brandon Jovanovich as Pinkerton. Antony Walker and Lee Blakeley make their Santa Fe debuts as conductor and stage director.

Performance dates: July 2, 7, 10, 16, 23; August 2, 9, 14, 20, 26

The Magic Flute:  The powers of music and of love unite to triumph over evil in The Magic Flute, Mozart’s ultimate opera. Director Tim Albery’s production was a sold-out sensation in 2006 and it returns under conductor Lawrence Renes to cast its radiant harmonies over Santa Fe audiences. Joshua Hopkins and Andrea Silvestrelli return as Papageno and Sarastro, joined by Ekaterina Siurina as Pamina, Erin Morley as the Queen of the Night, and Charles Castronovo as Tamino.

Performance dates: July 3, 9, 14; August 5, 10, 16, 23, 27

The Tales of Hoffmann: The Tales of Hoffmann is Offenbach’s glorious final masterpiece and it has never before been seen in Santa Fe. Tenor Paul Groves stars in the title role, the poet who duels with the unscrupulous Councilor Lindorf over the most glittering of all prizes—the opera star Stella. This new production, conducted by Stephen Lord and directed by Christopher Alden, features Erin Wall as the four heroines, Kate Lindsey as Nicklausse, and Gidon Saks as the four villains.

Performance dates: July 17, 21, 30; August 3, 7, 11, 17, 24, 28

Life is a Dream: Life is a Dream will be The Santa Fe Opera’s newest world premiere. Based on a towering masterpiece from “The Golden Age of Spanish Drama,” the opera by Lewis Spratlan explores provocative questions about the nature of perceptions and reality—and won the 2000 Pulitzer Prize in Music. Conductor Leonard Slatkin and director Kevin Newbury lead a cast that features Ellie Dehn, Roger Honeywell, James Maddalena and John Cheek in the leading roles.

Performance dates: July 24, 28; August 6, 12, 19

Albert Herring: Albert Herring proved that Benjamin Britten could create comedies that were just as successful as his dramatic masterworks such as Peter Grimes and Billy Budd. A turn-of-the-last-century English village is shocked to discover that chaste young women are in perilously short supply, so bashful Albert is crowned “King of the May Festival,” only to launch a night of revelry that leaves his elders aghast and his chums impressed. Fast-rising young tenor Alek Shrader stars in the title role, joined by Christine Brewer as the imperious Lady Billows. This new production is conducted by Sir Andrew Davis and directed by Paul Curran.

Performance dates: July 31; August 4, 13, 18, 21, 25

For schedules, tickets, info, etc. check out the opera website below. And for all of you really big planners, the 2011 season has also been announced. The 2011  line up includes; Faust, La Boheme, Griselda, The Last Savage, and Wozzeck. Have a great season at the Opera!

Link to the Santa Fe Opera Website

Contact Matt Desmond and Ryan Bolton

one of those is the Dale Ball trail system. In Santa Fe, unlike the other fitness “meccas”, you can access the trails within five minutes of downtown. The Dale Ball Trails are 17 miles worth of city own and maintained trails in the foothills of the rockies. This trail system also provides access to the Santa Fe National forest, and endless miles of  hiking, biking, running, snowshoeing, etc.

So please, join us in celebrating and personally thanking Dale, for the gift he has given Santa Fe.

The article features many of Santa Fe’s cultural events and spaces, restaurants, and going ons about town.

ARTICLE

36 Hours in Santa Fe
By Fred Bernstein

The Plaza, the heart of old Santa Fe, hasn’t changed much since the Spanish settled here 400 years ago. But surrounding the Plaza is an increasingly cosmopolitan city. Sure, it’s possible to focus entirely just on the historic center, where Native American handicrafts are for sale on every corner.

A Weekend in Santa Fe But the rest of Santa Fe now offers groovy contemporary art spaces, hot Asian restaurants and a park by a pair of trailblazing architects. Accept that Santa Fe isn’t just tacos and turquoise anymore, and you’ll find yourself loving the New Mexico capital not for what it was, but what it is.

Friday

5 p.m.
1) PUBLIC SPACE

For a beautifully curated introduction to Santa Fe, visit the New Mexico History Museum (113 Lincoln Avenue; 505-476-5200; nmhistorymuseum.org), which opened in 2009 and includes a gripping display about Los Alamos, where the Manhattan Project was conducted in secret during World War II. A large courtyard with ancient walls and shady trees separates the museum from the Palace of the Governors (palaceofthegovernors.org), the Spanish seat of government in the early 1600s and now a small museum of Colonial and Native American history. The two-museum complex is free on Fridays from 5 to 8 p.m.

7 p.m.
2) WHITE WALLS AND WINE

You’d have to be crazy to pay for a glass of white wine on Fridays. Canyon Road, which angles up from the center of town, has more than 100 galleries, and there are openings every Friday night. According to canyonroadarts.com, the largest category is contemporary representational (think brightly colored paintings of the desert). Check out Eight Modern (231 Delgado Street; 505-995-0231; eightmodern.net), where you’ll find the geometric scrap-metal constructions of the Santa Fe artist Ted Larsen. The backyard sculpture garden is a great place to marvel at New Mexico’s amazingly clear sky and savor its piñon-infused air before heading to dinner.

9 p.m.
3) AHI MOMENT

Martín Rios is a hometown boy made good: Born in Mexico and raised in Santa Fe, he apprenticed at the Eldorado Hotel and the Inn of the Anasazi — two local stalwarts — and made a brief appearance on “Iron Chef” before opening his own place, Restaurant Martín (526 Galisteo Street; 505-820-0919; restaurantmartinsantafe.com), in 2009. The main draw is the food — dishes like ahi tuna tartare ($14) and duck breast with smoked bacon polenta and Marcona almonds ($25) offer hints of the Southwest, with a dash of global aspiration. But the homey décor makes you want to stick around even after finishing the bittersweet chocolate truffle cake ($8).

Saturday

10 a.m.
4) SPICE MARKET

The Santa Fe Farmers’ Market (1607 Paseo de Peralta; 505-983-4098; santafefarmersmarket.com) dates back a half-century, but it stepped up a notch when it moved to a permanent building in 2008. Everything sold here, including dried chilies, yogurt and grass-fed meats, is produced in northern New Mexico. The market is part of a bustling district that includes the new Railyard Park by the architect Frederic Schwartz and the landscape architect Ken Smith, both Manhattanites whose taste is anything but quaint. As you wander around, be on the lookout for the Rail Runner, a gleaming new passenger train scheduled to pull in from Albuquerque at 11:08 a.m.

Noon
5) SUSTAINABLE SALADS

Santa Fe residents — as you learned roaming the Farmers’ Market — care where their food comes from. No wonder Vinaigrette (709 Don Cubero Alley; 505-820-9205; vinaigretteonline .com) was an immediate hit when it opened in 2008. The brightly colored cafe has a menu based on organic greens grown in the nearby town of Nambé. Choose a base — Caesar, Cobb and Greek are possibilities (around $10) — then add diver scallops or hibiscus-cured duck confit ($7) for a satisfying meal. Wines by the glass start at a very friendly $6.

2 p.m.
6) RIDING THE SPUR

Thanks to Santa Fe’s sometimes depressing sprawl, it’s getting harder and harder to find wide-open spaces. But drive (or bike) to the corner of Galisteo Street and West Rodeo Road, where there’s a small parking lot — then begin pedaling due south, in the direction of Lamy (about 12 miles away). What starts as an asphalt path morphs into a dirt bike trail that swerves around a 19th-century rail spur. There are some pretty steep hills, but they’re short, and the momentum from a downhill is usually enough to handle the next uphill. (If only life were like that!) The scenery is always gorgeous, especially in late afternoon, when the sun is low in the sky. Mellow Velo (638 Old Santa Fe Trail; 505-995-8356; mellowvelo.com) rents mountain bikes starting at $35 a day.

7 p.m.
7) TAPAS WITH STRANGERS

La Boca (72 West Marcy Street; 505-982-3433; labocasf.com) is one of downtown Santa Fe’s most popular new restaurants — thanks to its contemporary tapas, plus larger dishes like cannelloni filled with crab, scallop and Manchego ($11). You’ll find yourself sharing tips on what to order — and even forkfuls of delicious eats — with strangers.

10 p.m.
8 ) REGGAE FOR ALL AGES

Santa Fe isn’t a night-life town, but Milagro 139 (139 West San Francisco Street; 505-995-0139; milagro139.com) is helping to change that. A building that had housed a coffee shop was recently converted to a restaurant that becomes a club on Friday and Saturday nights. There’s no cover, and the drinks, including a house margarita called Beginner’s Luck ($5), are delicious. A recent visit coincided with performances by Rubixzu, a local band that performed a blend of reggae and Latin hip-hop to a diverse crowd, aged 9 to 90. For a trendier vibe, head to Meow Wolf (1800 Second Street; 505-204-4651; meowwolf.com), an alternative art space, or check its Web site for other parties hosted by Meow Wolf artists.

Sunday

10 a.m.
9) FREE-RANGE PEACOCKS

For a big breakfast and an early start, drive south on Cerrillos Road about 10 miles past the Interstate, until you see a handwritten cardboard sign that reads, “Pine wood stove pellets sold here.” You’ve arrived at the San Marcos Café (3877 State Road 14; 505-471-9298). Dozens of peacocks, turkeys and hens roam the property (which also houses a feed store), providing an Old McDonald-like backdrop for crowd-pleasers like eggs San Marcos, a cheese omelet in a bath of guacamole, beans and salsa ($12).

Noon
10) KITSCH TO CONTEMPORARY

If you ever thought that item you found at a roadside stand was one of a kind, Jackalope (2820 Cerrillos Road; 505-471-8539; jackalope.com), a sprawling, indoor-outdoor flea market, will disabuse you of that notion. There are hundreds of everything, including punched-copper switch plates and tote bags that depict Michelle Obama smiling on a swing. If you need to shake off the kitsch, head to SITE Santa Fe (1606 Paseo De Peralta; 505-989-1199; sitesantafe.org), a contemporary art space where the 2010 biennale, focused on moving image technologies in contemporary art, will run from June 20 to Jan. 2, 2011.

1 p.m.
11) YOUR OWN ADOBE

It’s difficult to spend time in Santa Fe without thinking about buying a home (or second home) here. So check out Zocalo (Avenida Rincon; 505-986-0667; zocalosantafe.com), a striking development by the Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta. He is known for crisp geometry and super-bright colors — a welcome sight in this city of browns and terra cottas. Consider it real estate voyeurism, combined with a crash course in contemporary architecture.

IF YOU GO

Santa Fe has a tiny airport, which offers nonstop service to and from Dallas and Los Angeles on American Eagle. Most visitors fly into the larger Albuquerque airport, about an hour south. A recent Web search found round-trip fares from Kennedy Airport on Delta, from about $260 for travel in June. Sadly, the Rail Runner doesn’t run to the Albuquerque airport.

The Hotel St. Francis (210 Don Gaspar Avenue; 505-983-5700; hotelstfrancis.com), billed as the oldest hotel in Santa Fe, completed a top-to-bottom renovation in 2009, and it looks spectacular. Doubles from $120.

The El Rey Inn (1862 Cerrillos Road, 505-982-1931; elreyinnsantafe.com) is a retro-chic 1930s-style motel, with nicely furnished rooms and beautifully landscaped grounds to go along with the kitschy Native American-themed architecture. Doubles from $99.

Hilton Santa Fe Golf Resort & Spa (30 Buffalo Thunder Trail; 505-455-5555, buffalothunderresort.com) is part of a new casino complex, about 15 minutes north of town. Doubles from $159. Hilton also built a less-expensive Homewood Suites nearby (10 Buffalo Thunder Trail; 505-455-9100, with doubles from $109.

Link to Original Article In The New York Times Here

Contact Ryan Bolton and Matt Desmond

The two of us participated in the ride last year, and chances are good you’ll find us out on the course again this year.  We’ve been pretty busy with the whole real estate thing, so neither of us are in tip-top shape, but that hasn’t discouraged us before!  If interested in joining us on this years ride we will be taking off from the Swain, MacKinnon, and Grieco accounting offices(check out their website here) at 6:45 a.m. Their offices are located at 2050 Botulph Road, just south of the hospital. This group usually rides at a pretty fair pace, and often waits for people to “regroup” at the top of the big hills outside of Madrid.

Have a great ride!

Link to the Santa Fe Century website

Contact Ryan Bolton and Matt Desmond

Max’s opened in late 2007 and has been building a solid reputation in Santa Fe and beyond ever since. The owner, Max (Maxine), and chef, Brian Rood have created a menu that specializes in sustainable and locally farmed meats and produce. The atmosphere is cozy, sophisticated, yet casual, and certainly has an intimate feel.

A sample of menu items include:

Starters:

• Caramelized Onion and Red Potato Soup with Crouton 
• Hong Kong Style Shrimp with Saifun Noodles in Spicy Chile-Leek Ragout with Fried
• Shallot and Broccoli Florets
• Certified Organic, Grass Fed River Canyon Ranch Beef
• Grilled Sirloin Salad with Crouton and Charred Red Onion and Lime Vinaigrette
•  Homemade Duck Confit and Field Green Salad with Herbed Crouton, Roasted Shallot and Red Wine Vinaigrette
• Field Green Salad with Homemade Applewood Smoked Bacon, Local Farm Eggand Creamy Tarragon Vinaigrette

Mains:

• “Cassoulet”; Homemade Duck Confit, Slow Braised Pork Shoulder, Homemade Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, White Beans, Roasted Mirepoix and Parmesan Bread Crumbs
• Certified Organic, Grass Fed River Canyon Ranch Beef; Dry Aged Sirloin Coulotte with Heirloom Baby Carrots, Marinated Grilled Rapini, Fried Shallot and Veal Pan Sauce
• Pan-Seared Red Grouper with Red Potatoes, Braised Kale, Pickled Red Onion, Carrot Leafand Toasted Coriander-Lime Vinaigrette
• Certified Organic, Grass Fed Shepherd’s Lamb; Grilled Lamb Chop and Leg with Grilled Rapini, Roasted Oyster Mushroom Sweet Onion-Potato Confit, Fresh Herbs and Cider Gastrique
• Roasted Green Chile Shrimp and Grits with Homemade Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Roasted Garlic and Mirepoix
• Vegetarian Homemade Semolina Pappardelle Pasta with Seasonal Vegetables in White Wine Cream Sauce 

When dining there last night I had the spectacular lamb dish, and my dining partner, Jerry, had the sea scallops (not listed on the menu above). The lamb was perfectly prepared, and the accompaniments were a perfect compliment to this rich dish.  The scallops, a somewhat lighter dish, were very fresh, and melted in your mouth. We both started with the field green salad, and, of course, had a nice bottle of Pinot Noir.

From the atmosphere to the food, everything at Max’s was fantastic.  I would highly recommend this restaurant to locals and visitors alike. They are open 7 nights a week from 5:30 to 9:00, and reservations are recommended, especially on weekends.  For more information on Max’s, click on the link below.

Max’s Restaurant

Contact Ryan Bolton and Matt Desmond

See below for an nice article in the New Mexican today regarding the impact of this year’s good skiing conditions.

ARTICLE

Retailers, restaurants say good ski season provides spring break lift

By: Bob Quick for The New Mexican

Many Santa Fe retailers report more consumer confidence, but it’s far too early to say the good old days are coming back. High unemployment and uncertainty about what will happen in coming months apparently are still causing visitors to hold off on buying sprees, for now at least.

Last year at spring break, Latricia Gonzales McKosky says, when she asked people browsing her InArt gallery on Delgado Street if she could help them, some reacted defensively. She took that as an indication of worries about their jobs and the faltering economy — and a lack of money to buy much of anything.

This spring those who come into the gallery seem to have a whole different attitude. “It makes a big difference,” Gonzales McKosky said. “People seem more optimistic about things.”

But that hasn’t yet meant a big turnaround in sales.

“There are a lot more people in town,” Gonzales McKosky said, “but buying art is not the reason they’re here. It’s more that they’re on vacation and just enjoying Santa Fe.”

The city has benefited from a good ski season — even a great one — and the number of people headed for the slopes has made a big difference this year for some businesses.

“Things have been going very well,” said Debi Owen, communications director for Ski Santa Fe. “We were up for the week, and we’re well ahead of last year. We’ve got 110 inches of snow on the ground.”

Those conditions allowed managers to extend the ski area’s 2009-2010 season through April 11.

Back downtown, Dorothy Massey at Collected Works bookstore says there are definitely more people in town. “Our sales have been going up steadily,” she said. “That’s from January, and I really can’t tell you it’s the result of spring break.”

Best-selling items, Massey said, are books for children and young adults.

“If it ever stops snowing,” she added, “I think we’ll do well.”

Closer to the Plaza, longtime Santa businessman John Kinsolving has been seeing out-of-state tourists coming into his Tees and Skis store on Washington Avenue.

“We were seeing Texas last week and Oklahoma this week,” he said. “We’ve also got a lot of people from New Jersey and Washington, D.C., and back East, which is great. It’s bringing our store back a little bit.”

Two years ago, at the height of the recession, “we nearly closed it,” Kinsolving said. “Last year we broke even.”

But it wasn’t all good news after that. “Our January and February of this year were terrible,” said Kinsolving, who has been in business for nearly three decades. “But now it’s much better. We’ll probably make it to 30 (years).”

After T-shirts, Kinsolving said, his best sellers are gift items and chile ristras.

The restaurant business is an important part of Santa Fe’s economy, and for Santa Fe Dining, which operates Blue Corn Restaurant, Rio Chama Steakhouse and other eateries, “spring break has been pretty good,” general manager Jeff Jinnett said.

As in recent years, he said, “casual dining is doing better than fine dining. We did see significant increases through the weeks of spring break. And there was continued strength last week. It was very encouraging.”

Among the company’s best-performing restaurants were Sleeping Dog Tavern and Rooftop Pizzeria, both downtown. Jinnett also said that his Marble Brewery tap room on the Plaza is doing well and will be expanding.

Overall, he said, “Things are up one week, down the next week and even the next week. I feel better about summer coming, based on the business we got in spring break.”

Some restaurants would appreciate a little more business. Among them is Santa Fe Capitol Grill, in Plaza San Isidro on Santa Fe’s southwest side.

“It could be the weather, it could be taxes,” manager Joe Johnson said. “We’ve definitely slowed down in the last few weeks.”

Link to Original Article Here

Contact Matt Desmond and Ryan Bolton

The church, with its twin bell towers, enclosed garden, and colorful interior sits on what many consider to be holy dirt. Many stories of the land’s healing powers have been told over the centuries, staring from the inception of the church’s construction in 1813.  The holy dirt can be bought on-site and can be ordered online and shipped.

Also known as the “Lourdes of America”, the Santuario has served as a place of pilgrimage for many years. At different times thoughout the year, especially during the later part of this week (Good Friday through Easter Sunday), people can be seen all around nothern New Mexico walking on the sides of roads making their way towards the Santuario. The church promotes other pilgrimages thoughout the year, some attracting thousands of visitors.

Until 1929 the Santuario was privately owned when citizens of Santa Fe bought it and turned it over to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Now, the church is open to the public and mass is held daily at 11:00 a.m., and on Sundays at 10:30 and 12:00. Father Casimiro Roca, who has been in Northern New Mexico and at the church from many, many years, leads the services.

The church will be holding mass this Easter Sunday at 10:30 and 12:00. However, come early as services are expected to be very busy.

Link the the Santuario de Chimayo website

Contact Matt Desmond and Ryan Bolton

On wintery days like these the New Mexican posts a blog for people either wanting information regarding road conditions, or people wanting to tell/show others about current road conditions.  It’s pretty handy, and people will often post photos of specific trouble spots. It can be found below:

Santa Fe New Mexican Road Condition Blog

Don’t despair though, in the past few days you could start to see the first signs of spring.  Daffodils, tulips, and Iris’ were starting to poke through the ground, and grasses were starting to green up a bit. Heck, even the buds on my apricot tree were starting to perk up. After the significant amount of precipitation that we have had this year (Santa Fe’s normal average amount of precipitation by March 10th is 1.68 inches, whereas this year we are at 2.65), it’s sure to be a green spring.  And in a month all will be abloom and spring will have arrived.

Contact Ryan Bolton and Matt Desmond

The New Mexican published a great article today about the resort and all of the recent attention that it has received. Check it out, and then set up a tee time!

By: Bob Quick in The New Mexican
 
Hilton Santa Fe Golf Resort and Spa at Buffalo Thunder has received three awards from industry publications that have recognized the Pojoaque Pueblo development as a top meetings destination.

“Receiving recognition from our readers — who are ultimately our customers — and industry leaders is an honor and a fitting way to celebrate our success,” said Timothy Booth, general manager of the resort, in a statement. “We hope we can continue our track record … in the years to come.”

In a recent meeting with a reporter, Allen Mosley, chief executive officer of Buffalo Thunder, Inc., and Gov. George Rivera of Pojoaque Pueblo discussed the awards and Buffalo Thunder’s performance as a local business.

The three awards were the 2010 Elite Gold Certification from Elite Meetings International, publisher of Elite Meetings magazine; a 2009 Platinum Choice Award from SmartMeetings magazine, and a 2009 Gold Key Award from Meetings and Convention magazine.

“The Elite Gold award represents a new level of endorsement from the Elite Meetings Advisory Board,” said Travis Hodge, spokesman for Elite Meetings. “This recognition — which cannot be purchased — is granted only to upscale and upper-upscale hospitality providers offering an exceptional group experience.”

The 700,000-square-foot Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino previously received the Project of the Year award from the American Subcontractors Association of New Mexico.

The hotel and casino, along with Pojoaque Pueblo’s other business interests in the area, employ about 1,200 people, making it one of the largest private employers in Northern New Mexico. The pueblo’s annual payroll comes to $28 million a year, Rivera said.

Buffalo Thunder has 395 rooms, a golf course and spa, 13,000 square feet of retail space and 66,000 square feet of meeting and convention space.

Pojoaque Pueblo doesn’t disclose its profits or losses, but for the quarter ending Dec. 31, 2009, the pueblo reported a net win from its gaming operations of $12.2 million. That compares with the same time period in 2008, when the net win was $12 million, and 2007, when it was $6.3 million.

That information is from the New Mexico Gaming Control Board, which monitors the gaming contract signed by 14 tribes with gaming operations in the state. The net winnings are deposited in the state general fund.

Buffalo Thunder’s current traveler percentage is about 30 percent group business and 70 percent individual travelers.

A key to increasing that group business at Buffalo Thunder is working together with Santa Fe businesses, many of which benefit from the patronage of Buffalo Thunder’s guests.

“Everybody recognizes the name of Santa Fe,” Rivera said, who added that the pueblo did $3 million in group business last year and hopes to increase that amount to $6 million or $7 million this year.

Buffalo Thunder, like other hotels in the U.S. and elsewhere, has been impacted by the downturn in travel. “The economy is having an effect on our business, People are still traveling, but they’re spending less,” Mosley said.

To cope with soft sales, “we’re not sitting back and waiting for things to happen,” Rivera said. “We’re shaking the trees for visitors. We know we’re competing with Las Vegas and other prime destinations.”

The faltering economy resulted in a drop of both group and individual travelers and resulted in Buffalo Thunder’s not being able to make payments on the $245 million in bonds used to finance the project.

Rivera is confident the financial problems can be dealt with.

“We’re in constant communication with the bondholders as to a possible restructuring of the debt,” Rivera said. “It’s a very long and complicated process.”

A restructuring could include reset bonds, Mosley said.

Reset bonds are issued with a provision that on specified dates, the initial interest rate is adjusted so that the bonds trade at their original value, Mosley said..

That would happen if the economy improves and people begin traveling again, creating more revenue for tourism businesses.

Link To Original Article Here

Contact Matt Desmond and Ryan Bolton

The New Mexican recently published a great article discussing the project and other thoughts about New Mexico life with Redford.

ARTICLE

Screen legend Redford speaks on New Mexico, film and social change

By: Robert Nott | The New Mexican

Robert Redford speaks of New Mexico as if it’s his home. And in a way, it is. Though he was born in California, he first visited the state some 65 years ago, has lived here part-time in the past, shot one of his most memorable movies here — the 1988 film adaptation of John Nichols’ novel, The Milagro Beanfield War — and he just moved into a new house in Tesuque.

On Friday, Redford announced that he — in conjunction with Gov. Bill Richardson, the New Mexico Film Office, and the state Department of Cultural Affairs — is launching Milagro at Los Luceros, a training venue for Hispanic and Native American filmmakers. Modeled after The Sundance Institute, which Redford founded in Utah in 1981, Milagro will offer free screenwriting, directing and acting workshops and labs as well as media-related discussions relevant to independent film.

Speaking over lunch at Maria’s New Mexican Kitchen in Santa Fe, Redford recalled the first time he visited New Mexico in the early 1940s when his mother was driving from California to Texas to visit family members.

“We’d pass through these reservations and it was so different,” he said. “Native Americans on the streets, in blankets, the streets were muddy, no pavement, lots of artifacts around. I got fascinated by that.

“Years later, when I was 17, 18, and I had my own car, I was able to drive into these areas and explore on my own. I would camp out, spend time on the reservations, and the more I learned the more I realized there was a value here, and if we didn’t honor it, it’d be gone. So it became part of the fabric of my life.”

His was a troubled adolescence, he said. He was bored in school and wanted to either express himself artistically or “get my education on the streets.” His academic pursuits led him to study art at the Pratt Institute in New York City. That didn’t quite work out.

“There was a lot of anger that I couldn’t manage. I was very undisciplined,” he said. That changed when he began attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.

There, “I was forced to focus, and I was forced to develop discipline in order to maintain the focus. And I took it so seriously that I developed my own work ethic.”

He graduated in 1959 and immediately got work both on the stage and on the small screen, guesting on many television shows including Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Perry Mason and The Twilight Zone (“a great training ground”) before he acted in his first film, War Hunt, in 1962. He had his share of star vehicles in the 1960s, including Barefoot in the Park (1967) opposite Jane Fonda, but said real celebrity didn’t kick in until after the release of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in 1969. After that, he racked up a steady string of critical and commercial hits, including The Sting (1973), All the President’s Men (1976), and his directorial debut, Ordinary People (1980).

It was around the time of Ordinary People that he conceived Sundance.

“When we started Sundance there was no independent film,” Redford said. “Independent film, in 1980, was a dead category. It was pretty much relegated to National Endowment grants. In fact, I started Sundance with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for $25,000.”

Sundance’s goal was to develop new voices in cinema by giving independent filmmakers an arena to develop projects and established mentors — directors, writers, cameramen, etc. — to guide them. Milagro, Redford said, will work the same way here in New Mexico.

“There won’t be any classroom stuff, no sitting in chairs and having someone stand up and lecture. I’m not big on that. To me it’s all about working, about getting up on your feet. You can sit around and read all day, but it’s when you get it on its feet that it all happens.”

The Sundance Film Festival was a natural, progressive step from the institute itself, Redford said, in that it provided a venue to screen the films made by participating filmmakers. He said Sundance needed four or five years to prove its success.

By that time, the independent-film bandwagon was picking up passengers. “A lot of other people came on starting with Sex, Lies, and Videotape (Steven Soderbergh’s 1989 drama),” Redford said. “Then people starting coming to Sundance who hadn’t come before, from Hollywood. And then they began to develop their own independent subdivisions: Fox Searchlight, Focus (Features), Miramax. Now they’re all folding. But when they started building those divisions, it was a sign that something was going right with independent films.”

Redford’s latest directorial effort, The Conspirator, is an independent in the sense that it has no distributor in place. It’s the story of Mary Surratt (Robin Wright), one of eight accused conspirators charged with aiding John Wilkes Booth in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. It represents Redford’s desire to use film as a force for social change.

“She was the first woman put on military tribunal trial for Lincoln’s assassination, and the secretary of war at that time (Edwin M. Stanton), who engineered the whole thing, wanted the conspirators erased,” Redford said. “He couldn’t erase John Wilkes Booth, but he wanted the others, including Mary Surratt, erased. The question is not whether she was guilty or not. That’s not what the film deals with. It deals with how she was treated as they broke down the Constitution just to satisfy legal expediency because the war was only five days over when Lincoln was shot, and there was such fear that it was going to break everything loose again and the South would resurge.”

Redford hopes to finish editing the film within a month, and then — “Well, there’s no distributor. Who knows whether it will be released. Talk about living your own life.” He praised the cast, including Wright, who, he said, has “a very rich quality.”

Redford also spoke of his quest to educate himself so he could speak clearly on protecting the environment and other political topics. “They were always going after me. The argument was, ‘What does he know — he’s an actor!’ And that stuck until Reagan got elected and took that argument off the table,” he said with a laugh.

He also listed some of his favorite leading ladies (it turns out all of them are his favorites), his prediction that more and more films will be made away from Hollywood — hence his outspoken defense of New Mexico’s film incentive program, which draws production companies here — and his belief that actors must continue working out via classes and refresher training.

And how does he define himself? He doesn’t.

“There’s so many people doing that — particularly the press,” he said. “I got accustomed to that early on. As soon as you have success, you’re being defined. The media needs to find a place for you, so they create a definition. I resist it.

“What finally will define me will be the work — what I’ve done, and not what I say about it.”

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