The 63rd Annual Rodeo de Santa Fe Parade was held Saturday, June 16th to kick off Rodeo Week in Santa Fe. It featured Santa Fe and Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Posses, Rodeo Contestants, a draft mule team and wagon, a chuck wagon and one very cute dog!

Brian Cox and Mike Shubic (‘The Road Bros”) are on a road trip across America to judge  five cities in the “Best Food” category in this year’s “Best of the Road” competition. We found them at the Matt Romero Farms  booth at the Santa Fe Farmers Market on Saturday morning. Matt prepared “American Edamame”(sauteed English peas) and sauteed baby carrots with mint for the bros. Everyone enjoyed Matt’s farm fresh veggies and “The Bros” agreed!

Music on the Hill is back for its Seventh Season

Santa Fe’s much loved “Music on the Hill” presented by St.John’s College is back for its seventh season. The fun begins on Wed. June 13th from 6 to 8 pm on the athletic field at St. John’s College with Santa Fe’s favorite keyboard player Bert Dalton and his Brazilian Project. Bert blends original Brazilian jazz with traditional and contemporary tunes. Joining Bert will be Rob “Milo” Jaramillo on bass, John Bartlit on drums, percussionist Frank Leto and vocalist Patty Stephens. Click for more info on this and other Music on the Hill events this summer.

Babaluu’s Cocina Cubano

Santa Fe’s first and only Cuban restaurant is open- and it’s hot! Its located about 8 miles south of Santa Fe at 3810 state road 14- just across from the Lone Butte General Store. For lunch Chef/owner Amaury Torres has created a delicious menu of Cuban/Caribbean dishes. Try the the “Santa Fe Pan con Lechon (Porchetta Panini) a pork lovers delight with an amazing black cherry and red chile mango barbecue sauce. The “Visit to Havana” is a half Cubano sandwich and black bean soup combo that’s served with Amaury’s amazing “El Cubano Pickles”.

Lunch is served 11 am to 3 pm Thursdays through Mondays and dinner is 5 to 9pm Friday through Sunday. Monday and Thursday dinners are reserved for parties of seven or more. Call (505) 471-1100 for dinner reservations (recommended).

Catch Babaluu’s Hot Cuban Band Friday Nights- 5-9 Call Mary at 505-471-1100 for more info.

Santa Fe Opera Backstage Tours

See production, prop and costume shops at the Santa Fe Opera, 7 miles north of town on US 84/285- take the Opera exit. Daily 9am,  $5.00 (17 and under free). Daily through Aug.24th. Call 986-5900 for more info.

Jambo opened in 2009 and hasn’t looked back since. Winner of the Santa Fe Reporter’s “Best New Restaurant” and “Best Ethnic Restaurant”.  Apps include cinnamon-dusted plantains with pineapple curry dipping sauce and coconut peanut chicken kebobs. Jambo’s soup of the day is not to be missed.  Main course includes grilled marinated Beef Kabobs, a spiced New Mexican Lamb Burger and Grilled Jerk Organic  Chicken. For dessert there’s Organic Coconut Lime Sherbet and Organic Dark Chocolate Cinnamon Gelato (yum). Jambo is located at 2010 Cerrillos Road, open Monday- Saturday, (505) 473-1269

Tune-up Cafe

If lunch is what you’re after, there’s a wide variety of delicious quesadillas, enchiladas, burgers and their famous Yucatan fish tacos. Tune-Up’s signature lunch item is their El Salvadoran Pupusas brought to Santa Fe by owner-chef and native Salvadoran, Jesus Rivera. You’ll find his wife and partner Charlotte behind the counter and keeping things “tuned-up”. Open for breakfast and lunch and dinner at 1115 Hickox St.,  Santa Fe (505) 983-7060.

The Atrisco Cafe

Atrisco is a third generation family restaurant with its roots in the 1940′s on Atrisco Boulevard in Albuquerque. Enchiladas, Burritos, Tacos, Chalupas and Chile Rellenos and the Roast Leg of Lamb Burrito (delicious) are a few favorites in this authentic New Mexican restaurant. Open daily for lunch and dinner with weekend breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays. Located at  the DeVargas Center, 193 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe (505) 9383-7401.