The Railyard Santa Fe

How to Santa Fe

It’s no secret that Santa Fe lures visitors with its climate, art scene, food scene, and ready access to nature. Whether you’re visiting or live here, there are plenty of great guidebooks and websites to help you choose your next adventure—we thought we’d share some of our own favorite things to do as summer moves into fall.

DINING One of Santa Fe’s great appeals is its restaurants. From world-class fare to food trucks, the culinary scene goes far beyond green chile (although we love our chile!). Most restaurants have curbside take-out as well as dine-in options—reservations are strongly encouraged. In honor of our Tres Modernos show, here are some of our favorite Spanish and Hispanic eateries:

La Boca Chef James Campbell Caruso explores modern Spanish cuisine with exquisite tapas, wine and sherry pairings, and an intimate atmosphere. Try the flat-iron steak with smoked sea-salt caramel sauce, the grilled artichokes, or their famous paella. 72 West Marcy Street 505.982.3433 labocasantafe.com El Chile Toreado A food truck with a street address! El Chile Toreado’s logo of twinned chiles forming bigotes (mustaches) can be seen around Santa Fe, but most often at their location on Early Street, near the Railyard. This popular destination for burritos, tacos, and hot dogs serves breakfast and lunch every day but Sunday. 807 Early Street 505.500.0033 elchiletoreado.com

Photo: La Boca Photo: Horno Restaurant

Paloma Paloma is a vibrant, Mexican-inspired kitchen and bar on South Guadalupe Street, just across from the soon-to-open Vladem Contemporary. Tacos, tortas, enchiladas, and other Mexican specialties all get elevated updates in a lively, intimate atmosphere. Wine, beer, and innovative mezcal and agave cocktails are served for lunch and dinner. Vegetarian? Try the cauliflower tacos! 401 South Guadalupe Street 505.467.8624 palomasantafe.com NEW ON THE SCENE Horno Restaurant Dubbed an “Italian-leaning gastropub” by chef David Sellers, Horno opened this summer with an eclectic menu informed by fine dining, wines by the glass, and Sellers’s food-truck background. Expect a fun, casual atmosphere. We liked the fresh-made pasta and, for dessert, the semifreddo. 95 West Marcy Street 505.310.1065 hornorestaurant.com Photo: Paloma

Photo: EVOKE Contemporary

OUTDOORS It’s not just delicious dining all the time in Santa Fe—gotta work off some of that good food by exploring the countryside on walks and road trips! With the advent of fall, leaves turn, the air gets crisp, and the pace slows, but not too much—there’s still so much to do!

HIKING Aspen leaves turn bright yellow in late September, and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains boast one of the largest colonies of these trees in North America. We enjoy walking Aspen Vista, about 12 miles toward the Santa Fe Ski Basin on Hyde Park Road (also known as Artist Road or Ski Basin Road, but hey, Santa Fe streets exist to confuse you). It’s a seven-mile hike on a wide, easy access road to the top of the mountain, but we’re content with a stroll to where the Big Tesuque trail crosses the creek, about a mile up—it’s uphill but not difficult. The views are breathtaking in any climate, but especially when enveloped in the golden light of overarching aspens.

Photo: Janet Worne/Alamy

If your trip brings you later, don’t fret—more yellow is on the way in late October, when cottonwoods begin their bright display at lower elevations. Cottonwoods like water, so they grow along rivers and streams and in low-lying areas. From late October through early November, watch for cottonwoods turning bright gold along the Rio Grande as it parallels I-25 between Santa Fe and Albuquerque, or on the High or Low roads to Taos.

PUEBLOS AND DANCES If you’re interested in Native American culture, the Pueblo communities of northern New Mexico welcome visitors to experience their cultures and traditions. Visit https://indianpueblo. org/feast-days/ for a schedule of feast days, dances, and other activities, and information about visiting their living communities.

Photo: Shiiko Alexander / Alamy Photo: Jim Ekstrand / Alamy

ROAD TRIP To explore the beauty of northern New Mexico, we love a good road trip! In addition to leaf-peeping, a road trip to Taos is always rewarding. There are two routes—the main or Low Road through the Rio Grande Gorge, and the longer High Road, through numerous mountain villages.

Once in Taos, explore Bent Street, dine at The Love Apple restaurant or Doc Martin’s at the historic Taos Inn—and don’t miss our own Nicholas Herrera’s artwork in an exhibition at the Harwood Museum of Art.

Nicholas Herrera, Viva Los Low Riders

Harwood Museum of Art Santo Lowride: Norteño Car Culture and the Santos Tradition Through October 10, 2021 This exhibition explores the unique story of the interwoven expressions of New Mexico’s devotional art and lowrider culture. Santeros, santeras, and famed lowrider artists cruise low ’n’ slow, side by side, to make apparent how these two art forms share subject matter and religious functions that bind them across past and present peoples.

The Harwood Museum of Art presents the most diverse and extensive art exhibitions in Taos, sharing its comprehensive collection of artworks celebrating more than a century of art in Taos. 238 Ledoux Street 575.758.9826 harwoodmuseum.org

Railyard Samta Fe

As one of the top cultural destinations in the world, Santa Fe enjoys eleven museums, a rich multicultural community, and some 200 galleries in three arts districts. The Santa Fe Railyard has become a second center of gravity for citywide activities, and includes the Farmers’ Market, restaurants, a premium movie theater, museums and galleries of the Railyard Arts District,a beautiful urban park, and shopping. Visit santaferailyard.com for a complete list of a wide range of activities and locations, from concerts and movies in the park to craft fairs and community events.

RAILYARD ARTS DISTRICT Part of the Railyard Santa Fe, the Railyard Arts District is the city’s contemporary-art destination. With eight contemporary art galleries and two—soon to be three—museums, all within walking distance of each other, the Railyard Arts District is an art lover’s paradise. The final Friday of each month is the District’s Art Walk, with galleries open late with featured exhibitions. Visit santaferailyardartsdistrict.com for a complete list of galleries.

SITE SANTA FE The Railyard Arts District is anchored by SITE Santa Fe, a non-collecting contemporary art museum with a focus on innovative visual art and community engagement through education and outreach programs. Visit Curated, the store at SITE, for artist-designed objects, artists’ limited editions, contemporary art books, and unique gifts. 1606 Paseo de Peralta 505.989.1199 sitesantafe.org NEW ON THE SCENE Thoma Foundation Art Vault This free, nonprofit exhibition space is a new addition to the Railyard Arts District. It’s the only digital art collection open to the public in the Southwest, and one of the very few in the United States. Featured shows will include emerging and mid-career artists alongside internationally renowned pioneers of video sculpture, self-taught computer artists, and influential digital time-based media artists. 540 South Guadalupe Street artvault.thomafoundation.org

Photo: Site Santa Fe Photo: Mara Christian Harris

THE RAILYARD PARK Urban-landscape design firm Railyard Park Conservancy, founded in 2010, integrates railroad infrastructure with native plants, a children’s park, a labyrinth, and spaces for community activities. railyardpark.org

Photo: Violet Crown Theater

MOVIES Violet Crown is a premium movie theater with a bar and restaurant, big cushy seats, and top-notch sound and screens. But you don’t have to watch a movie—you can sit at the bar to people-watch as you enjoy a wood-fired pizza and a local beer. 1606 Alcaldesa Street 505.216.5678 santafe.violetcrowncinema.com

Photo: Mara Christian Harris

SANTA FE FARMERS’ MARKET Every Saturday morning, 8 AM–1 PM year-round. Tuesday mornings, May through November.

This bustling market has been consistently rated among the top ten farmers’ markets in the country. At its peak in summer, it hosts up to 130 local farmers and producers who sell only what they themselves produce, all from the surrounding area. It’s truly local, and some of the best people-watching around. As fall days crisp up, put on a fleece vest, grab a cup of early-morning coffee and a lavender donut, and enjoy the colorful variety of produce. 1607 Paseo de Peralta 505.983.4098 santafefarmersmarket.com MUSIC The plaza under the Railyard’s iconic water tower has become a gathering place for music of all kinds, from buskers to free concerts featuring local and national acts. For information about scheduled concerts, visit railyardsantafe.org.

RAILS AND TRAILS Take the Rail Runner from Santa Fe to Albuquerque for an excursion through extraordinary landscape. Trains depart daily from the Santa Fe Depot, in the Railyard. New Mexico Rail Runner Express Santa Fe Depot: 410 South Guadalupe Street 866.795.7245 riometro.org If you’re up for a workout, walk or bike all or a portion of the 15.5-mile Santa Fe Rail Trail, which parallels the Rail Runner tracks all the way to I-25, then branches off to follow the Santa Fe Southern Railway tracks to the village of Lamy. railyardsantafe.com/rails-trails/RESTAURANTS Brew pubs, casual dining, and coffee shops abound within walking distance of each other. Consult railyardsantafe.com/restaurants for a complete list of offerings.

Photo: Santa Fe Railyard Community Corporation

Photo: Scott Belonger for The New Mexican

WELCOME TO ART VAULT

Art Vault is a space dedicated to sharing works from the Thoma Foundation Collection – including our pioneering Digital & Media collection of software, video and electronic art. Our themed installations rotate annually.

Miguel Ángel Ríos, Piedras Blancas, 2014, digital video (color, sound) (still). ©Miguel Ángel Ríos, collection of the Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation

540 South Guadalupe Street Santa Fe, New Mexico 505 428 0681 thomafoundation.org