Connecting People to Build a Stronger Community
Image courtesy of Mario Manzo
The Abiquiu News is brought to you by Carol and Brian Bondy
Image Courtesy of Mario Manzo
See more of Mario's work here.
Image Courtesy of Mario Manzo
See more of Mario's work here.
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August 22, 2025
In GratitudeWe thank the San Gabriel Historical Society for becoming a sponsor, and Adobe Sky and Las Parras de Abiquiu for renewing their sponsorships.
The museum was named after Frank Bond who emigrated to Española from Quebec, Canada in 1883. He and his brother George bought their first mercantile store and renamed it G.W. Bond and Bro. The first rooms to the Bond House were built in 1887, the same year Frank Bond married May Anna Caffall. As the family and business grew so did the home.
The family eventually sold the Bond House to the City of Española in 1957. It was used to house municipal offices until 1978 and then fell into disrepair. The Bond House may have been torn down and its history lost if had it not been for the San Gabriel Historical Society and other interested parties who helped refurbish the building. The museum was added to the State Register of Historic Places in 1978 and the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, becoming the Bond House Museum and Cultural Center. A $1 million renovation project was completed in 2001. Today, the museum continues its mission to promote the preservation of the history of the Española Valley through the collection of artifacts, curated exhibitions and community education, all coordinated by Society volunteers. The museum is opened Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm. Group visits can be scheduled in advance by calling 505-747-8535 or email sg.history65@gmail.com. Like us on Facebook: San Gabriel Historical Society at the Bond House Museum. See you soon! 
El Jardin
The design theme for El Jardin was inspired by the “tree of life” Navajo rug which hangs on the wall. The color palette includes gold, green, and blue. A wrought iron headboard of cornstalks graces a luxurious bed with hand-pressed sheets, comforter and quilted floral coverlet. Relax with a book by the fireplace in a most comfortable upholstered chair with an ottoman, or work a puzzle at a handcrafted table. Treat yourself to the fresh feeling of El Jardin. El Pedernal The Navajo (Teec Nos Pos) rug hanging in El Pedernal inspires with its earthy color palette of rust, gray and black. A 200-year-old mesquite door with hand forged hinges from old Mexico was transformed into the headboard for this most comfortable bed. You will love the feel of hand-pressed sheets and a cozy comforter. A handcrafted table and chairs allow you to sit and sketch or figure a crossword. Of course, you might enjoy doing nothing but gaze at the flames of the fireplace. Come enjoy the rustic warmth of El Pedernal Book your stay at: lasparras.com
Adobe SkyThank you to our lodging sponsor, Adobe Sky. View their listing here: www.stayatadobesky.com
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor either at a basic or platinum level get in touch and find out how we can support your business. Email
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News and Features
Acres: 17,415
Start Date: 06/25/2025 Location: Gallina, NM Fuels: Oak brush, ponderosa pine, Piñon-juniper Containment: 90%
Sacred music will be echoing across the valleys of Abiquiu soon with the arrival of the famed Reed Society, an organization that protects the timeless heritage of traditional artistry in many fields. As their website at reedsociety.org states: Through a global network of master artists and musicians, the Reed Society cultivates harmony, on paper and in the world, by honoring the timeless bond between student and master.
SANTA FE, NM — Moving Arts Española is thrilled to announce a collaborative project with the Museum of International Folk Art in conjunction with the exhibition Between the Lines: Prison Art & Advocacy. This powerful initiative shines a light on the Española Valley and its triumph over negative stereotypes and stigmas—as seen through the eyes of its youth.
A pair of panting crows peers down from a cottonwood perch, croaking when I pass. Yellow breasted chats call from brush along the river channel. And a single, dazzlingly white egret hops knee-deep into a warm, brown puddle, stabbing the water for fish.
Cuts to the country’s food assistance programs in the recently enacted Congressional spending bill will leave food banks and other charities across the state with less food to feed longer lines of hungry people, leaders warned Monday at a roundtable with U.S. Rep Gabe Vasquez.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Tuesday that housing funds the state Legislature approved this year will soon leave state coffers as agencies try to address an affordable housing and homelessness crisis here.
This week’s newsletter is a tale of four numbers that are important as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the Legislature could head into a special legislative session in the coming month to respond to lower levels of federal dollars flowing into New Mexico.
Young people just don’t read anymore. This must be truth, because I work in the book industry, and I hear it from plenty of older people who
a) monopolize my time at bookselling tables to tell me that b) they know exactly what young people do with their spare time.
Over the past two years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with Veree Parker-Simon, principal architect at PREDOCK, on her recently completed home in La Cienega, NM. We are nearly done with the basic elements and relationships for landscape.
Found in wet areas near slow-moving water
Seen blooming in August by the Rio Chama
Do you do a lot of typing on your smartphone’s virtual keyboard?
If so, you surely know how difficult it can be trying to tap the correct letters and select the proper punctuation marks. One tip that can really save you a lot of time when typing on your phone is skipping the period at the end of a sentence and pressing the space bar twice instead. Previous News and Features
Community Café
The Community Café is open to the Abiquiu community. Come meet your neighbors. Come to discuss local issues and creative programming. Be a part of the solution. We are here to support and collaborate with local organizations.
At present, we are working with our County Commissioner and the DOT to lower the speed limit to 45 mph from the Dollar Store to Bodes - 2.4 miles. Join us if you have heart, commitment and willingness to support our local community. DATE: Second Thursday of every month TIME: 6:00 pm LOCATION: Rural Events Center Contact: abiquiucommunitycafe@gmail.com NOTES FROM AUGUST 14, 2025 MEETING Many thanks to the 20 folks that came to discuss the present and future plans of the Community Cafe (CC) group. Here are 2 organizations that the CC is committed to support: 1. LUCIENTE - Jen Harrington shared the work of Luciente - running the Local Farmers Market with Andrew and Lupita, and filling local schools food pantries. (...and much more) Volunteers are appreciated and needed for the Farmers Market at 3:30 pm ton Tuesday to set up, direct parking and help to close up. We'll be following up on more information regarding food security throughout the year. 2. ABIQUIU LIBRARY - Offering a variety of programs and events for all ages. Please check out their website (www.abiquiulibrary.com) for more information. I hope to see you all at the upcoming Santa Rosa de Lima Fiesta on Saturday, August 23. We have just begun to work with Andie Manzanares, (board president) to support their mission. UPDATE ON THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT) 3. We have been informed that we do not qualify for a Safety Corridor on our 2.4 miles of concern, with 4 different speed limits. Carol Bondy and I met with our County Commissioner, Jeremy G. Maestas who does support our request. We are working hard to get a clear answer to our next steps...this may be a Road Safety Audit and/or a Speed Study. Once we have that we'll be continuing our quest. TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE 4. Ruth Ann Johnson (Wonder Woman #2) will be working with a volunteer committee to look at the possibility of offering rides for locals to shop or go to doctor appointments. Please contact her if you are interested and willing: Ruthann026@aol.com FUTURE POTLUCK 5. We will plan a potluck for the fall to be held at the Rural Events Center - please send me any dates of events you are aware of so we can avoid those. I do know about the studio tours and Dar Al Islam programs/concerts. We are working on a monthly calendar to be posted in the future. If you would like to help with that please let me know. GET FIT 6. FREE exercise classes (and so much more) at the Rural Events Center starting September 4th. Info is in the Abiquiu News or call Joy at 505-685-4523. With Deep Gratitude... Stay Amazing, Laurie We Get Letters
Do you have a story to tell, a history to share?Whether you have been here ten years or your family hundreds of years, you have a story to tell about your connection to Abiquiu. Email us
If you have a story to tell, send it in. If you want, interview your friend, relative, teacher, co-worker. If you think it would be interesting, I bet other people would too. Give it a try and send something in to us. Carol Bondy We Get Letters from Carol Bondy - Rio del Oso Bridge Construction
We’ve been asked “What is the update on the road work on the Rio de Oso Bridge on 84?” Raise your hands if you’ve been stuck on 84. I know we have. We reached out to NM Department to transportation and their reply was as follows. “The railing work was completed but work on the bridge continues. The contractor feels the need to keep a lane closed for safety reasons. Work zones will be in place until the fall. nmroads.com has the following information - Rio del Oso Bridge #6481 on US 84 will undergo preventative maintenance including mill and overlay. The roadway will be widened to provide a left-turn lane. Permanent signing and striping will be installed along with a new guardrail and fencing. Channel grading will take place. Driving lanes will be reduced to one direction with a signal during certain times of construction. We have reached out and asked for more information including an anticipated date of completion. "We should be Substantially Complete on September 19, 2025, which means there won’t be anymore disruptions to traffic flow. However, there will still be punch list work happening." Scene Around AbiquiúSend us your local images! Send to AbiquiuNewsImages@gmail.com. Please send images under 1mb. My inbox will thank you. ~Carol
Courtesy of Barbara Moore
Art, Music, Film, and BooksVisit our Arts sponsor page
Learn more & buy online tickets here: abiquiustudiotour.org/raffle-fundraiser/
Call for Teaching Artist Proposals
Adult Studio Classes | O'Keeffe Welcome Center in Abiquiu As part of an ongoing initiative to collaborate with creatives based in Abiquiu and Rio Arriba County, the O’Keeffe Welcome Center seeks proposals from area artists for studio classes, and/or workshops for adults that can be hosted in the Center’s community spaces.
The Welcome Center is specifically seeking proposals for one-time class sessions that can be conducted in 3.5 hours or less on Saturdays or Sundays. Workshop proposals can be for any medium and should be described to reflect the appropriate level of experience expected from participants (i.e. beginner, intermediate, advanced). Proposed class topics should also connect with Georgia O’Keeffe’s artistic vision, philosophies, and/or themes that relate to the history of New Mexico and the New Mexican landscape. To submit a proposal for consideration, please review the following requirements and instructions. Proposal Format Workshop proposals must be one page and should include the following information: • Proposed Title or Topic • Brief Description • Proposed Program Length • Material/Supply Requirements • Facility Requirements Background and Qualifications • 2-3 Years’ experience teaching studio art making techniques - Required• 2-3 Years’ experience as a professional artist - Required • 2-3 Years’ experience designing, teaching, and facilitating art classes for adults – Preferred Skills and Abilities • Experience teaching adults; strong oral and written communication skills • Flexibility and adaptability • Arts-based creativity • Studio art experience • Strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills • Ability to connect with adult audiences To submit a proposal for consideration, please send your resume and a one-page proposed class to: mseymour@okeeffemuseum.org Additional Information: Teaching Artist proposals are being collected on an ongoing basis. If a member of the Welcome Center has a question about your proposal or would like to discuss the proposal further, you will hear from someone via e-mail. Teaching Artists who offer classes/workshops for the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum enter into an Independent Contractor Service Agreement with the Museum. 
New Hours at Nest Gallery
In an effort to balance my creative output with the gallery hours, I have decided to cut back one day a week, making my new hours Wednesday through Saturday 10-5
As always, if you have a need or have guests visiting and want to make an appointment for a day I am normally closed, please call me (505) 376-9651 I look forward to seeing everyone! Warmest, Tamara. 
El Rito Studio Tour Featured Artist
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This week, Miguel recommends Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage, by Haruki Murakami: "This is one of those books that takes place over much of a lifetime, from youth through many years later. Tsukuru ultimately goes on his own search for happiness, and that's the kind of complicated emotional journey I resonate with. Might not be Murakami's most famous book, but I think it's among his best."
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Have a book to recommend? Send it to Zach at casaurracaltd@gmail.com – title, author, and the reason you suggest it.
The full Locals’ Picks list is available to view here on Bookshop.
A purchase from Casa Urraca's link helps support independent bookstores.
Abiquiu’s Casa Urraca Press earns a commission from every shopping trip that starts with the above Bookshop link—you can shop the entire Bookshop site in addition to the locals' picks. Plus, a percentage of every book (at least 10%) goes straight to independent bookstores. This is an opportunity to support small businesses with the same convenience as large online retailers.
The full Locals’ Picks list is available to view here on Bookshop.
A purchase from Casa Urraca's link helps support independent bookstores.
Abiquiu’s Casa Urraca Press earns a commission from every shopping trip that starts with the above Bookshop link—you can shop the entire Bookshop site in addition to the locals' picks. Plus, a percentage of every book (at least 10%) goes straight to independent bookstores. This is an opportunity to support small businesses with the same convenience as large online retailers.
Local Library News
El Pueblo de Abiquiú Library & Cultural Center
El Rito Library
Abiquiú Book Club
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The Abiquiú Book Club will be reading The Music of Bees for the August meeting. The group will meet on August 26 at 5pm at El Pueblo de Abiquiú Library & Cultural Center.
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The group has compiled the list of books they plan to read for 2025. Check this out and mark your calendar if you wish to join in the discussions.
August - The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin (5)
September - Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey by Kathleen Rooney (4)
October - James: by Percival Everett (4)
November - All Fours by Miranda July (4)
December - Anthropology of Turquoise by Ellen Meloy (4)
January '26 - Eventide by Kent Haruf
The group meets the last Tuesday of each month at the Abiquiu Library. Books are recommended by the members. All are welcome to join. Please call Analinda 927-6220 if you have questions
August - The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin (5)
September - Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey by Kathleen Rooney (4)
October - James: by Percival Everett (4)
November - All Fours by Miranda July (4)
December - Anthropology of Turquoise by Ellen Meloy (4)
January '26 - Eventide by Kent Haruf
The group meets the last Tuesday of each month at the Abiquiu Library. Books are recommended by the members. All are welcome to join. Please call Analinda 927-6220 if you have questions
Looking for lodging near Abiquiú?
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Look no further!
Visit our Lodging sponsor page |
Northen Youth Project Update
Events
Please remember, events will go in for a maximum of three Fridays before the event. Send text, word or publisher file and a separate image, please keep images below 1 mb and send to info@abiquiunews.com. Vertical PDFs or JPGs will be edited for space. Send by Wednesday Noon for inclusion in that Friday's News.
Dinner and a Show a Café Sierra Negra
Friday, August 22 with Sean Harrison
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Read Sean Harrison's bio here, or visit his Facebook page.
There's still room! Reserve your table (505) 685-0086
There's still room! Reserve your table (505) 685-0086
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Café Sierra Negra has new hoursTuesday & Wednesday: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 11:00am to 8:00pm Closed Sunday & Monday |
Fall Equinox Dinner + Storytelling Night for Women at Owl Peak Farm
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Join us on Sunday, September 21st at 5:00 PM for an evening of storytelling, community, and celebration. Together, we’ll share stories on home, land, and belonging while enjoying a thoughtfully prepared farm-to-table feast, created in collaboration with local farmers in northern New Mexico.
The gathering will be held at Owl Peak Farm in La Madera, NM. Tickets are $150 per person and space is limited. To reserve your spot, please email ojoconejonm@gmail.com or purchase tickets directly at ojoconejo.com |
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Announcements and Classes
Link to register: https://www.chamavalleyarts.org/programs
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Ghost Ranch
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Join us for immersive workshops at Ghost Ranch:
August
Living with Hearing Loss with Dean Olson | August 25-29
Mindful Birding with Holly Thomas | August 29-31
Self-Discovery through Memoir with Deborah Taffa | August 29-31
Become a Great Storyteller with Judith Fein and Paul Ross | August 29 - September 1
August
Living with Hearing Loss with Dean Olson | August 25-29
Mindful Birding with Holly Thomas | August 29-31
Self-Discovery through Memoir with Deborah Taffa | August 29-31
Become a Great Storyteller with Judith Fein and Paul Ross | August 29 - September 1
Become a Sponsor
or email us for more information on advertising in the Abiquiu News or click on Pay Now
or email us for more information on advertising in the Abiquiu News or click on Pay Now
Click on any of our sponsors below for more information.
Supporter
Midge
Midge is wrapped in softness that feels like a morning cloud caught between your fingers. She does not see the way you do; her eyes are closed to the visible world but wide open to love, scent, and sound. Her blindness does not keep her still, instead it makes her brave. She maps the universe with her whiskers, her nose and ears, and the steady beat of her trusting heart. We are open to walk-in adopters Monday-Saturday 11am-4:30pm.
Hunter
Hunter is an 82lb masterpiece of muscle, elegance, and heart. At just one year old, this Doberman is the perfect mix of striking good looks and playful puppy charm. His sleek, statuesque build could make him a cover model, but it’s his warm, approachable spirit that wins everyone over.
Hunter is a gentleman on leash, gliding along at your side like he was born to be your tango partner. He greets new friends with a tail wag and a sparkle in his eye. Confident yet gentle, social and sweet, he makes everyone swoon and feel like the most important one in the room! He goes home neutered, up to date on vaccines, microchipped, and with six months of free heartworm prevention. www.espanolahumane.org
Hunter is a gentleman on leash, gliding along at your side like he was born to be your tango partner. He greets new friends with a tail wag and a sparkle in his eye. Confident yet gentle, social and sweet, he makes everyone swoon and feel like the most important one in the room! He goes home neutered, up to date on vaccines, microchipped, and with six months of free heartworm prevention. www.espanolahumane.org
