An evening of chamber music, rooted in history

On Wednesday, June 14th Los Poblanos will host a performance in the La Quinta Ballroom in collaboration with Chamber Music Albuquerque as part of the 2023 Dr. Armin Rembe Lecture Series. Chamber Music Albuquerque was founded in 1942 as the June Music Festival by Ruth and Albert Simms, and re-named in 1997 by the Board of Directors to better describe the scope of the organization’s programs. The series was the first of its kind in New Mexico and attracted guests from around the state as well as visitors from far as New York and Detroit and was broadcasted live on radio station KOB. We are excited to revive this connection between CMA and the La Quinta Cultural Center.

 Program excerpts (top and above) from the first June music festival held at La Quinta Cultural Center in 1942

Recognizing Creative Women of Los Poblanos

Over the past 100 years, a series of remarkable women have left a lasting mark on our historic property. From the bakery to the finance office to the fields, women continue to play an integral part of the story of Los Poblanos. We're pleased to introduce three women who's creativity drives our distillation and cocktail program. 

Introducing the 1922 Blend with La Fonda on the Plaza

We are delighted to present the 1922 Blend product collection, developed in collaboration with La Fonda on the Plaza in Santa Fe. The collection celebrates La Fonda’s 100-year anniversary with a custom-blended signature scent that can be enjoyed as a handmade soap, room mist and candle. Both properties were designed by architect, John Gaw Meem and share a rich history of hospitality. Los Poblanos evolved into an inn as part of a preservation project, and La Fonda has been a model of the great New Mexican hospitality experience.

Los Poblanos Selected as FIELD Immersion Project Partner for Harvard Business School

Los Poblanos recently had the opportunity to host a team of students from Harvard Business School for one week as part of a required course called the FIELD Immersion. Los Poblanos was one of 171 FIELD Immersion Project Partners spanning 15 cities across 15 states. Together these Partners combined to host more than 1,000 Harvard Business School students in all.

Upcoming Lecture Series at La Quinta

The Dr. Armin Rembe Lecture Series celebrates Dr. Rembe’s legacy with stimulating conversations rooted in the core values and mission of Los Poblanos. The series honors the La Quinta Cultural Center’s rich history from the 1930s and 1940s when the Simms family held lectures and events promoting the arts. Soak in summer at Los Poblanos with Afternoon Tea at La Quinta before the lecture or enjoy dinner afterward at Campo.

Celebrating San Ysidro Day

Today marks the feast day of San Ysidro, the patron saint of farmers, gardeners and laborers. An important figure around the farm, his remarkable story has been told for centuries. Ysidro and his wife, Maria, were poor farm laborers who went to mass every morning before going to work. Yet despite the hours of lost labor, the fields and plants were as well cared for as those of other laborers. When other farm workers became envious and told the landowner, it was discovered that while Ysidro and Maria were praying at mass, an angel was plowing their fields for them. 

The Legacy of Women in the Fields and Gardens of Los Poblano

Los Poblanos has a long and varied history of visionary women that created the foundation and the future of our cherished farm, fields and gardens. Beginning in the 1930s, Ruth Simms was instrumental in laying the groundwork to build an experimental farm that pushed the boundaries of farming and gardening in the New Mexico desert. By bringing Rose Greely to Los Poblanos to design the formal rose garden and surrounding areas, Simms firmly established that women were vital to the vision of the farm's future. One of the first female landscape architects in the country, Rose Greely made a permanent statement with her design contribution to our historical gardens.

Dr. Armin Rembe Lecture Series: The Next Installment

The Dr. Armin Rembe Lecture Series aims to celebrate his legacy by promoting stimulating conversations rooted in the core values and mission of Los Poblanos. The lecture series is also a nod to the rich history of the La Quinta Cultural Center in the 1930s and 1940s, when the Simms family held lectures and events that promoted the arts. If you've attended any of our monthly lectures, recently launched in October, there's no doubt you left with new knowledge and perhaps a fresh perspective. We're delighted to announce this new installment of lectures for the new year. Consider gifting a ticket as an experiential gift this holiday season and enjoy a culturally rich day at La Quinta by joining us for Afternoon Tea before the evening lecture. 

Celebrating the Legacy of John Gaw Meem

Each November we pause and reflect on the life and legacy of one of the most influential figures in the storied history of Los Poblanos: John Gaw Meem, the renowned architect behind Los Poblanos Ranch and the La Quinta Cultural Center. Meem, born on November 17, 1894, is widely considered New Mexico's greatest architect of the 20th century. Throughout his long, successful career, Meem worked on countless projects and collaborated with many leading figures in the Southwest including Ruth and Albert Simms, the owners of Los Poblanos in the 1930s.

Thoughtful Water Use on the Farm

Water is the most precious resource we have, and without thoughtful consideration, the importance of this treasured life source can be overlooked. With our extensive farming initiatives here at Los Poblanos, it could be very easy to use more water than necessary. However, stewardship is one of our foundational core values and we actively work to use water in careful, strategic ways. 

The Pueblo Peoples of the southwest had created acequia systems to irrigate their dryland farming long before the Spaniards arrived with the  systems that for them originated in the Middle East.  Drawing water from the Rio Grande, acequias are still at work in New Mexico today. Just like natural rivers and streams, they create agroecosystems that promote soil conservation and the creation of healthy soil, while also forming wildlife habitats. These gravity-flow ditches are maintained by the community under an elected official called the mayordomo.