1 Sip and savor.

New Mexico Cocktail Week kicks off this weekend with an abundance of frothy events, including Saturday’s sold-out Taco Wars, Chef & Shaker Dinners that pair drinks with bites at some of Santa Fe’s premier restaurants, a yoga brunch, and seminars from the country’s finest mixologists.  

The brainchild of author and lauded mixologist Natalie Bovis, the festival caters to folks who want to delve into the world of cocktails with curiosity. “New Mexico Cocktail Week helps to build bridges between chefs and mixologists across our state,” Bovis says. “In any industry, peers love to come together and show off their skills, share with each other, and celebrate that feeling of community.”

This year, Bovis has partnered with Edible New Mexico to expand the festival’s reach. Look forward to Cocktail Week events in the Duke City next weekend at hot spots like Still Spirits and Vernon’s Speakeasy. “We have over 40 venues across the state participating with their own special cocktails and events, June 2 through 10,” Bovis says. Find a full calendar of offerings on the event’s website.

The Rest & Digest Yoga Brunch on Sunday includes yoga taught by Emily Branden, a Santa Fe–based instructor with more than 20 years of experience. Starting at 9 a.m. on Sunday, she teaches a vibe-y vinyasa flow that’s followed by brunch featuring Hendrick’s gin. Later, dress up and hit Palace Prime for the Chef & Shaker Dinner, where you can sip Roku gin, Knob Creek bourbon, El Tesoro tequila, and Maker’s Mark bourbon—responsibly, with a designated driver!

Rod S. Hubble's retrospective exhibition at the Farmington Museum will feature more than 100 of his paintings. Photograph courtesy of the Farmington Museum.

2 See a lifetime’s worth of paintings.

Growing up, artist Rod Hubble spent a lot of time near the San Juan River, where he swam and fished with his grandparents. As he blossomed into an accomplished painter, water became a frequent subject. “I really love the way water captures images on its surface and creates a contrasting duality with the images it reflects, as if it is an artist itself,” Hubble says. “I collaborate with the water and try again to create another image with the image it has given me. It’s a wonderful dance that I have with nature.”

A retrospective of his work, Rod S. Hubble: Song of My Life, opens at the Farmington Museum on Saturday. Featuring more than 100 of his artworks, ranging from early in his career to more recent pieces. A professional artist since 1973, Hubble speaks about painting like a philosopher. “You have to let yourself go and become the thing you’re drawing for whatever moments it takes to draw it,” he says. “It’s almost as if I become what I am looking at.” See the exhibit through October 31.

Kick off Pride Month with DJ Oona at the Disco Inferno Pride Party in Madrid hosted by the Santa Fe Human Rights Alliance. Photograph courtesy of the Santa Fe Human Rights Alliance.

3 Dance the night away.

Dust your bell-bottoms off, don your dancing shoes, and head to Madrid on Saturday evening for the Disco Inferno Pride Party at the Mine Shaft Tavern. Hosted by the Santa Fe Human Rights Alliance, the party includes prizes and a retro soundtrack by DJ Oona.

The event kicks off Pride Month. “It’s a perfect venue in Madrid. A lot of local people show up, which is nice. All our ticketed events raise funds for our nonprofit,” says Kevin Bowen, executive director at the Santa Fe Human Rights Alliance. “We donate to different organizations like Equality New Mexico and youth shelters. Our fundraisers allow us to thrive and survive throughout the year.” Buy tickets here or at the door. The party starts at 8 p.m. and goes until 1 a.m. Check the HRA website for more Pride events throughout the month.

Ray Drew Gallery's exhbition "The School of Schooley" will feature works by former NMHU teacher Elmer Schooley, his wife Gussie Du Jardin, and 12 of Schooley's students. Photograph courtesy of Ray Drew Gallery.

4 Honor a teacher.

The late artist Elmer Schooley, who worked in landscape paintings and lithography, was a beloved teacher at New Mexico Highlands University for 30 years, starting in 1947. He dedicated his life to his students, to his wife and fellow artist Gussie Du Jardin, to his home in Montezuma, and to capturing New Mexico on his canvases. His renowned works have been exhibited on Canyon Road, at the Roundhouse, and in the Albuquerque Museum.

This week, The School of Schooley—a new exhibition featuring works by Schooley, Du Jardin, and 12 of Schooley’s students—opens at the Ray Drew Gallery in Las Vegas, New Mexico. “From talking to his students, a lot of them said he was personable but tough,” says Gina Hartmann, the gallery’s curator. “He pushed people to do their best, but he was a jokester and funny. When you have a teacher who really cares about his students, they push.” 

The School of Schooley features more than 20 works by students who include his son, Ted Schooley; Jerry West; and Susan Morgan. “We’ve got printmaking, painting, and some print collage,” Hartmann says. “There is quite a lot to look at.” The exhibit includes Schooley artifacts like brushes, his palette, and the smock he wore to class. See the show through June 29. 

Don't miss Kevin and Jennifer's Box's origami sculptures at the Las Cruces Museum of Art. Photograph by Steven St. John.

5 See paper in metal.

In Origami in the Garden: Transforming Paper to Sculpture, Cerrillos–based artists Kevin and Jennifer Box turn the Japanese art of origami into metal through an ancient process of lost-wax casting. This weekend marks the first time these acclaimed sculpture artists bring their work to southern New Mexico. At the Las Cruces Museum of Art, visitors can see the unique visual alchemy the couple creates in collaboration with origami artists around the world.

The exhibit features an interactive station where attendees can learn to make their own origami butterflies. An opening party is set for Friday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. See the exhibition through September 23.

Read more: For more things to do, check out our online calendar of events.