Something to Do Every Night

The nightlife in Santa Fe is the type you would expect in a city of culture and fine dining. It is an intellectual and one-of-a-kind gumbo of art openings, rarely-seen films, unique New Mexican cuisine and exquisite dining, performance art, book signings, and theatre. Also, there’s music of all types, including classical music, jazz, country, swing, world beat, Tejano, and rock.

The best source for up-to-the-minute information about events such as these is the Friday edition of the local newspaper the Santa Fe New Mexican, called Pasatiempo. Pasatiempo each Friday publishes a complete listing of the coming week's events, along with restaurant bargains and irreverent movie reviews (movies are rated by chiles - four chiles is a real barn-burner). Access this information by visiting www.freenewmexican.com, or ask the front desk of your hotel to save you a copy. Newpaper vendors also sell this newspaper at major intersections around town.

If you're arriving at the Albuquerque airport on a Friday, the Friday Santa Fe New Mexican with Pasatiempo is available in the gift shop on your right as you leave the gate area.

Where to find it:

Many of the fine restaurants in Santa Fe have bars, and many serve a wide variety of imported beers and margaritas made with rare tequilas. The wine list of many restaurants is quite extensive.

Along with food and drink, many of the establishments provide live entertainment in the evenings.

Don’t miss the superb jazz played every Friday night by Brian Lewis and The Three Faces of Jazz at El Meson Restaurant, about one block north of the Plaza on Washington Street.

The Cowgirl Hall of Fame is known for folk and blues, and La Fonda’s bar also features interesting performers. Local country artist Bill Hearne appears around town at the Cowgirl and other Santa Fe venues, and the Catamount has similar sounds in the evenings and is a well-known hang-out for young locals. Nightlife is also updated in the Pasatiempo.