The Fork

Beer and Cheese

Mother's Day tends to be a pretty emotionally charged day for a lot of reasons, but for most people, Father's Day is a lot mellower. All the dads I've talked to recently are like, "Wait, what am I doing for Father's Day? That's this Sunday, you say? Er ... I dunno." Well, get a sitter on Sunday, moms. SFR's Beer and Cheese Fest is back for a second round, because OMG BEER AND CHEESE, AMIRITE? Take Dad down to Iconik Coffee Roasters (1600 Lena St.) on Sunday from 4-7 pm. There will be beer from Bathtub Row Brewery from Los Alamos, cheese from the Cheesemongers (some of my recent faves pictured here), Picnic Catering and La Lecheria. Tickets cost $30, and you can buy them online. Father's Day: Done.

Family Food Truck Event @ Fairgrounds

If getting a sitter is impossible (because it always seems impossible; gah) check out the Father's Day food truck event over at the Santa Fe County Fairgrounds (next to the Rodeo Grounds) Sunday from 3-7 pm. There will be plenty of distractions for the kids (bouncy house, big slide, inflatable sumo suits, face painting, car show, fire trucks etc.) and food trucks from Bonsai Asian Tacos, Dr. Field Goods, Taqueria Gracias Madre, Jambo Café, Bang Bite Filling Station, Kebab Caravan and Rainbow Snow.

Art and Wine in Red River

If you want to get out of town, you can head up to the annual Art & Wine Festival at Brandenburg Park in Red River. In addition to art and wine (and "easy listening" music), there's a pub crawl-type wine walk involving bars and restaurants around the park. I love these small-town festivals. Tickets cost $20.

Restaurant Walking Tour

If your dad is in from out of town, or he just likes an early evening, he might enjoy a walking and eating tour of downtown. The Santa Fe School of Cooking is hosting a tour on Friday 2-5 pm. You start with some nibbles at the school, then take a not-difficult walk to Ortiz (in the Hilton), Galisteo Bistro, Anasazi Restaurant and State Capitol Kitchen. It's a fair amount of food, so you'll be ready for drinks and maybe a snack, but probably not a full dinner afterward. $115 per person.

Other thoughts: Bistro 315 (characteristic deliciousness, at left) is having a Bourbon and Bordeaux Dinner for Father's Day: three courses, paired with Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon, a Grand Cru Saint-Emilion and Maker's Mark 46. The cost is $75.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail is playing at Railyard Park for free on Friday night at 8 pm. That movie is filled with jokes every dad loves, plus it's free: Also something every dad loves.

The Motorado Motorcycle Classic Show takes place Sunday from 10 am-3 pm at La Tienda complex in Eldorado. If your father likes Harleys or Indians or Vincent Black Shadows, take him out to Eldo for an afternoon of bike bliss.

And the Herb & Lavender Festival is happening this Saturday from 10 am-4 pm at El Rancho de las Golondrinas ($8 for adults, $6 seniors & teens, kids under 12 free). Some dads like herbs, some dads like lavender and some dads like the Shiners Club Jazz Band. Should your father enjoy any or all of those things, get him out to Golondrinas.

Santa Fe Reporter