Celebrate Día de Los Muertos Thursday evening — and support a good cause — with a gourmet Mexican dinner at Bert's La Taqueria restaurant, 416 Agua Fría St.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. with a brief lecture about the history of the Día de los Muertos festival by Yolanda Nava, director of special projects for the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque.

Mexico City-born La Taqueria chef/owner Fernando J. Olea Caballero, president of the United States Mexican Restaurant Association, will offer an explanation of the traditional meal.

The price of admission is a donation of $100 to benefit Mexican Cultural and Educational Foundation scholarships. Call Irene Sanchez at 998-4000 for ticket information.


From 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday there's a Day of the Dead celebration at the Sanctuario de Guadalupe, 100 S. Guadalupe St. The party features posole, enchiladas, frijoles and Spanish rice (olé!) — as well as raffles, a silent auction, entertainment and games and prizes for the whole family.

Tickets — $10 for adults, $5 for children 6 and under —are available at the door. The event supports Los Niños de Santa Fe Ballet Folklorico


Slow Food Santa Fe presents a Day of the Dead Feast from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Eldorado Community Center.

Día de los Muertos festivities begin at 4 p.m. with completion of the Day of the Dead altar. Bring flowers, candles, and/or photographs to honor departed loved ones.

Slow Food Santa Fe members will prepare a traditional Mexican Day of the Dead menu of moles, tamales, rice, beans, salad, tortillas, calabazas, pan de muerto, flan and chocolate under the guidance of former restaurateur Marilyn Farrell. Aguas frescas and traditional Mexican beverages will be provided. Bring your own wine or beer.

The price for the fiesta is $25 per person. Space is limited, so RSVP to 466-4469 today if you would like to attend..


Mi Corazón Chocolate & Gallery, 839 Paseo de Peralta, Suite K, presents Los Muertos, an exhibit that features original Day of the Dead-themed pieces by local artists Stacey Sullivan de Maldonado and John Maldonado. The exhibit, which opened Oct. 26, runs through Nov. 30.

Mi Corazón, which is tucked behind Arte del Mundo, features organic Venezuelan chocolate and artisanal truffles and drops, as well as Day of the Dead-themed specialties. It's open 1 to 5 p.m. Monday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 1 to 5 p.m. Friday; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Call 505-417-3105 for more information.


Turning the clocks back one week later this year — on Nov. 4 — doesn't make the shorter days any less depressing. But a free sample of good dark chocolate may make the whole thing easier to swallow.

To claim your complimentary sample of Green & Black's dark (70 percent) or milk chocolate bar, log on to www.appreciatethedarkness.com between 4 p.m. Nov. 3 and 4 a.m. Nov. 4. The site will be live — and the offer will be good — only for those 24 hours, so keep an eye on the time.