Put on your broomstick skirt and take out a loan to buy dinner—in honor of the International Folk Art Market, it's Culture Shock, Santa Fe-style.

Judith Cooper Haden

Santa Fe International Folk Art Market

Ousmane Macina has been making jewelry since he was 7 years old.

Unlike American students who decide what careers they'd like to pursue, Macina says he was destined to be a goldsmith. "I didn't have a choice," Macina explains. "I had to do it because it's tradition, and I'm glad I'm doing it."

Macina was born in Nioro, Mali. The men in Macina's family have been designing gold jewelry for more than 10 generations. People wear his creations at traditional ceremonies and during the holy month of Ramadan. Macina keeps his familial legacy alive by selling his work at functions like the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market. The event draws crowds of 20,000 people and, in its sixth year, the market will feature 136 artists from 46 countries.

Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, former reporter for the Albuquerque Tribune, has churned out another book as part of her chick-lit moneymaking machine. This one's called The Husband Habit. Because I forced myself to read it, I know that it's about Vanessa Duran, a chef at an upscale Albuquerque restaurant. And—wouldn't you know it?—she has the unlucky habit of unknowingly dating married men. What is a thirtysomething to do? Swear off men, that's what! Of course, that's when a handsome man enters the scene. I wonder what happens?

An interview with newly crowned Slam Poet Laureate Danny Solis

On Saturday, June 13, some of Albuquerque's top slam poets met at the KiMo to battle it out for the title of Albuquerque Slam Poet Laureate. Danny Solis, longtime slammer and dreadlock connoisseur, emerged as the winner. Solis talked with me over expensive coffees at Flying Star about what the future holds for this newly made-up position.