Autumn Hikes & More

by Wolf Schneider

Inside Restaurant Martin

Just hiked at the Santa Fe Canyon Preserve, up near the Randall Davey Audubon Center on Upper Canyon Road. We saw plenty of lemony autumn leaves, bright yellow-blooming chamisa, and purple asters. October is my favorite month in Santa Fe – – the scent of wood-burning fireplaces on cool mornings, the glow of yellow and green leaves swaying on still-full branches, and afternoons in the 60s and 70s. What could beat that? It’s a wonderful time to be out and about. This weekend feels like the absolute pinnacle of autumn, with green chile and marigolds at the Saturday morning farmers market, Saturday’s artists-out-everywhere Canyon Road Paint Out, and the Galisteo Studio Tour where the vistas go on forever.

I had a fabulous dinner this week at Restaurant Martín – – you haven’t lived until you try their delicate Yellow Fin Tuna Tartare with avocado, jalapeno oil, soy, vinaigrette, pickled pineapple, and buttermilk pancakes! And you have to have the Bittersweet Chocolate Truffle Cake with sweet and salty caramel and toasted cinnamon ice cream.

Coming up: I’m looking forward to Santa Fe’s Tony Hillerman Writers Conference (www.wordharvest.com) from November 10-12, with Sandi Ault and Jo-Ann Mapson both on panels! Especially popular, I’m going to predict, will be the new Writing with the Stars flash critiques on Friday night, where the opening page of manuscripts-in-the-works will be dramatized out loud, then authors Ault and David Morrell will be on the spot to spout instant critiques. Think: “Dancing with the Stars” morphs into a literary salon! I developed the concept with Ault and Wordharvest, so I’ll see you there.

Wolf Schneider has been editor in chief of the Santa Fean, editor of Living West, consulting editor of Southwest Art, and also blogs at www.wolfschneiderusa.com.

Photographer: David Alfaya, Taken in Artist Studio: Gregory Lomayesva