New Mexico Main Street 25th Anniversary Poster Competition

Attention all New Mexico resident artists and guests of The Casa Blanca Inn! The Economic Development Department's New Mexico Main Street Program is conducting a competition for the selection of the 25th Anniversary New Mexico Main Street Commemorative Poster.

An original artwork, which depicts New Mexico’s Main Street communities, will be selected for reproduction and display in New Mexico Main Street communities. The selected artist will receive $1,000 and 50 copies of the Commemorative Poster.

The entry deadline for artwork is March 11, 2010 and the winning poster image will be unveiled in June, 2010. The artists will be acknowledged at the New Mexico Main Street 25th Anniversary Symposium and Awards Dinner August 14, 2010. View competition details or call Friends of New Mexico Main Street at 505.748.4410.

The Casa Blanca Inn, The Don Gaspar Inn, and Blue Lake Ranch are members of the Inns of the Southwest. Please visit our websites for monthly specials.

Heart of the Southwest Exhibit at the Artifacts Gallery

When guests stay at The Casa Blanca Inn they always enjoy taking a stroll into town to experience the plethora of local experiences that make this area so unique. This month, The Artifacts Gallery is on the list of must see venues, with its current Heart of the Southwest exhibit. Running through March 30th, the gallery is displaying the works of fifty local and area artist’s original works.

Artifacts Gallery is known for its selection of watercolor, pottery, handmade furniture, books, and mixed media for sale. With twelve artists in residence, the gallery experience is highlighted with a first-hand view of artists at work. Their latest addition is The Chili Store, where you can find a variety of New Mexico chili products, including salsa, dry mixes, jellies, and hot sauces.

The Artifacts Gallery is located in the historic Farmington Lumber building in downtown Farmington. For hours of operation and further information, call (505)327-2907.

The Casa Blanca Inn, The Don Gaspar Inn, and Blue Lake Ranch are members of the Inns of the Southwest. Please visit our websites for monthly specials.

Crown Point Rug Auction

The Crown Point Rug Auction, a monthly auction and rug sale on the Navajo Reservation, will take place on March 12th. The Crown Point Rug Auction gives buyers the unique opportunity to purchase Navajo rugs directly from the weavers themselves, at prices well below retail. Three to four hundred hand woven Navajo rugs are auctioned off at this monthly auction sponsored by the Crown Point Rug Weavers Association. Rug viewing takes place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Auction begins at 7 p.m. For more information call 505-786-5302 or visit www.crownpointrugauction.com.

Future dates of the rug auction are April 13th, May 18th and June 15th. Call to reserve your room at The Casa Blanca Inn today!

The Casa Blanca Inn, The Don Gaspar Inn, and Blue Lake Ranch are members of the Inns of the Southwest. Please visit our websites for monthly specials.

From Dinosaurs to Drill Bits

The Farmington Museum, a short trip from The Casa Blanca Inn, features on-going exhibits that tell the rich history of the Four Corners area. Current features include From Dinosaurs to Drill Bits, an exhibit that highlights the oil and gas story of the San Juan Basin. Utilizing state of the art technology, the exhibit tells the story of one our greatest natural resources. Visitors will experience the thrill of riding deep into the earth in search of oil on a simulated floor shaking adventure and learn what it takes to drill thousands of feet looking for black gold. In an educational and entertaining fashion, visitors will then discover how it's transformed into consumer products.

The Farmington Museum is located at 3041 East Main Street in Farmington. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. For more information call 505-599-1174 visit their website.

The Casa Blanca Inn, The Don Gaspar Inn, and Blue Lake Ranch are members of the Inns of the Southwest. Please visit our websites for monthly specials.

Robotics Exhibit - Fun for the Whole Family!

For those with children visiting the Casa Blanca Inn, Farmington offers activities for the whole family. The E3 Children’s Museum & Science Center is featuring Robotics, a Carnegie Science Center traveling exhibit through March 27th.

The exhibit explores how humans and robots sense, think, and act. This exceptional 2,500 square foot exhibit includes a variety of interactive fun for families and kids. Fool a motion detector, race a robot, talk with an android and discover how robots work and how they will change your future.

Admission Fee: Adults $5, Seniors $4, Children 12 & Under $3, Children 2 & Under Free, Museum Foundation Members and Friends of the Nature Center Free. The exhibit hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10am – 5pm.

The E³ Children's Museum & Science Center is located on Orchard Avenue near historic Downtown Farmington. For more information reference The E³ Children's Museum & Science Center or call (505) 599-1425.

The Casa Blanca Inn, The Don Gaspar Inn, and Blue Lake Ranch are members of the Inns of the Southwest. Please visit our websites for monthly specials.

3RD ANNUAL HIGH DESERT FINE ART FESTIVAL

While visiting The Casa Blanca Inn February 26-28, you can attend the premier fine art festival for the ultimate local arts experience. The event features some of the most talented artists in the Four Corners presenting diverse work in multiple mediums. The festival will begin with an exciting opening reception on Friday, February 26th from 7pm to 9pm. Hours for the event will be 10am to 6pm on Saturday and from 11am to 5pm on Sunday at the San Juan College Henderson Fine Art Center in rooms 9008 and 9010. For information contact Michael Bulloch at 505-716-6057.

The Casa Blanca Inn, The Don Gaspar Inn, and Blue Lake Ranch are members of the Inns of the Southwest. Please visit our websites for monthly specials.

Year round wonders of Farmington, NM

The Casa Blanca Inn is perfectly situated for business travelers who need easy access to downtown that want to experience the unique landscape of Farmington and surrounding areas.

Just a short drive from The Casa Blanca Inn is Shiprock Pinnacle, a unique towering rock formation that can be seen for miles in all directions. Shiprock is known to the Navajo as "Tsé Bit' A'í", or rock with wings. The peak is 7,178 feet above sea level, and is at the center of three volcanic pressure ridges that pushed the rock skyward millenniums ago. The best view of Shiprock Pinnacle is located west of Farmington on Highway 64.

For more information call (505) 368-1089 or visit www.lapahie.com/shiprock_peak.cfm

The Casa Blanca Inn, The Don Gaspar Inn, and Blue Lake Ranch are members of the Inns of the Southwest. Please visit our websites for monthly specials.