Conversations Different with Inez Russell Gomez

For Ana Pacheco, a longtime writer and historian, words cannot describe the appreciation she has for a city that raised her.   Like many of the locals, Pacheco says growing up in Santa Fe nourished her soul with knowledge, culture and a sense of community that is hard to find in other places.    From riding the elevator at the old St. Vincent’s Hospital for fun as a...

When Congress passed the Big Beautiful Bill in 2025, SNAP benefits for millions of Americans happened to be a part of it. Reductions and new work requirements changed how the federal program would be implemented moving forward.   In New Mexico, a state where 21% of the population receives such benefits, children were among those most impacted. The New Mexican reported in July that 55% &m...

Award-winning author, chef and food lover Cheryl Alters Jamison has published two new cookbooks that feature a Santa Fe landmark and a high-class Texas staple.   The books share some beloved recipes and stories from the Plaza Café and the Perini Ranch Steakhouse.   The café, owned by Leonardo Razatos, has been around for eight decades cooking up American, Greek an...

A new art exhibition at Vladem Contemporary in Santa Fe is putting Japanese American internment on display to remind people of a dark and painful history.   Machiko Harada, a Santa Fe-based curator who was raised in Japan and moved to the U.S. in 2010, is the artist behind the exhibit, “Reclaiming the Future: The Legacy of Japanese American Incarceration.”   According to...

On the heels of the highly anticipated 2026 midterm elections, local organizers from Indivisible Santa Fe, the group tied to the national “No Kings” political movement, are gearing up to rally for democracy once again but this time things will look a little different.    The event, which has occurred annually since President Donald Trump took office in 2025, will not hav...

New Mexico was the most remote of the Spanish provinces in 1812 when an assembly known as the Cortes de Cádiz was convened to create a constitution for the empire. Don Pedro Bautista Pino was elected to represent New Mexico at the assembly and faced a taxing journey to get there. Former New Mexico state Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, a descendent of Pino, joins the “Conversations Different&...

In front of a live audience at Sky Cinemas in Santa Fe, Democrat Deb Haaland shares her plan for New Mexico as she seeks to win the governor’s seat in the November election. Haaland, the former U.S. interior secretary and congresswoman, speaks with Santa Fe New Mexican Opinion page editor and “Conversations Different” host Inez Russell Gomez in a wide-ranging interview that touch...

In front of a live audience at Sky Cinemas in Santa Fe, Republican Gregg Hull shares his plan for New Mexico as he seeks to win the governor’s seat in the November election.  Hull, the former mayor of Rio Rancho, speaks with Santa Fe New Mexican Opinion page editor and “Conversations Different” host Inez Russell Gomez in a wide-ranging interview that touches on child welfare...

Have you ever wondered who’s in charge of maintaining government buildings throughout New Mexico? That would be the General Services Department, currently led by Cabinet Secretary Anna Silva.  Silva, a native New Mexican and longtime state official, oversees a department with various responsibilities, including assisting other state agencies with procurement, insurance and day-to-day ad...

As our planet continues to experience environmental changes that have brought extreme temperatures and unpredictable conditions, faith leaders are stepping up to offer diplomacy when outside groups seek to extract precious resources.   Rev. Andrew Black, associate pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe and founder of EarthKeepers 360, is one of those leaders. His decades-long wo...

Teachers are often the ones who leave a lasting impact on a child both in and out of the classroom.   But they’re not alone. Community volunteers also play a special role in a child’s learning, especially early on. They are there helping with activities, being a role model for excellence and demonstrating what it means to have healthy relationships with others.   Th...

The Burning of Zozobra, which has taken place annually for over 100 years, is a special event that Santa Feans hold dear to their hearts.   That’s especially true for those who are actually involved in the event like Helene Luna, the Fire Spirit tasked with lighting the 50-foot effigy on fire while dancing in front of the crowd.   Luna became the fire dancer 30 years ago...

For roughly 30 years, the New Mexico Book Association has been a useful resource for authors and their books throughout the state.   The nonprofit’s work consists of supporting its members in various ways, such as through the editing and marketing process to offering workshops that aim to educate on modern publishing practices.    President Anna I. Sochocky says thei...

Following the successful release of a new album last year called Memory Mountain , Max Gomez has been busy these days on the road performing across the country.   The Taos-raised musician is coming home this month; however, for The Desert Companion Tour with Howe Gelb and band Slant Can. The tour will make stops in the trio’s favorite places across the Land of Enchantment and South...

Santa Fe’s John Berkenfield has been a volunteer with the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) Santa Fe Indian Market for nearly 40 years.   He says it was just yesterday that he joined the association, wanting to be more involved with the local arts community as a fellow art lover. His time volunteering started off by sweeping sidewalks an...

The newspaper industry isn’t what it used to be.   Over the last decade, publications across the country and here in New Mexico have declined, facing inevitable closures because of financial woes and corporate and private interests mandating restructures.   According to the Medill School’s 2025 State of Local News  report ,&nb...

If you are on social media, particularly Facebook and TikTok, you may have come across Nité Marquez’s cooking videos. The Taos-based chef uses those platforms to share his passion for cooking, which has drawn thousands of views and followers along the way.   On his pages, you’ll find tutorials on how to make a variety of authentic New Mexican dishes from stacked red ch...

Add contemporary dance to the list of experiences you can find in Santa Fe.    Local company Zeitgeist Dance Theatre is taking the artform to the next level by creating shows that center on emotional human connection in the present moment. The company’s artistic director says the goal is to help audiences see the world more intimately and beyond a reality where day-t...

Traditional Spanish Market, one of Santa Fe’s biggest cultural events, returns to the Plaza July 25-26, showcasing another year of juried artwork from artists across the region.  The market has been around since 1926. Artists accepted into the event are given the unique opportunity to spotlight their craftsmanship&nbs...

New Mexico’s oil and gas industry is a touchy subject if you ask anyone. Supporters say it’s the lifeline to the state’s economy and without it, New Mexico wouldn’t have the luxuries or cashflow that it does. But on the flip side, opponents argue the industry is allowing contaminants to pollute the environment, putting communities’ health and future sustainability at...

Fourth of July celebrations are one of America’s favorite pastimes that honor our nation’s history and independence. Each year, friends and family mark the occasion in their own ways, but a common activity is fireworks.    In Santa Fe, the Kiwanis Club puts on a fireworks display for the entire city to...

Santa Fe’s Railyard Park, located a short distance from downtown and the Plaza, is a familiar fixture for longtime residents and frequent visitors alike.  Founded through a public-private partnership in 2010, the park’s urban design in an old industrial train lot became a prominent project for the city of Santa Fe at the time because it preserved prime real estate f...

International Folk Art Market returns July 9–12 at Railyard Park, bringing artisans from around the world to Santa Fe to showcase multicultural works.  The annual market has long served as a venue for folk artists to sell their products and for community members to experience cultures from outside the United States. According to IFA...

From a small business office space on 2nd Street and Cerrillos Road to a refurbished bowling alley on Rufina Street, Meow Wolf’s success story is one marked by sacrifice, strength, vision and a little help from one of Santa Fe’s most famous residents — author George R.R. Martin. &n...

The Center for Contemporary Arts (CCA) is a beloved institution that for nearly four decades has brought creators and enthusiasts together to celebrate art forms of all kinds.   Founded as a grassroots organization in 1979, CCA has evolved into a welcoming meeting place in Santa Fe for everyone to experience ...