Santa Fe Nightlife

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This is an unassuming little bar just south of the Plaza, with live music some nights. We came here a couple of times. The first occasion was on a Tuesday, which is “open mic” night. We thought this might be interesting; however in the time we were there (well over an hour) only one band played, that of the manager, and the light jazz style was not really to our taste. A few other people had turned up, including a guy with a guitar, but they seemed reluctant to take the stage! In the end we gave up waiting, but not before I’d enjoyed a decent margarita and Chris a couple of bottles of beer (total bill $12).

When we went back the following evening there was no live music, and we enjoyed it rather more. The bartender poured a generous Jack Daniels, the non-live music was much more to our taste than the live had been, and there was a friendly, buzzy atmosphere without it being too busy.

They also serve pub-style food and New Mexican dishes, but we never ate here. Prices looked reasonable though so it might be worth a try.

+++Next tip!+++

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This could go under restaurant tips as well but am sticking it here as a fair amount of folks were just having cocktails...

Coyote Cantina is the lively, tomboy sister of the sedate and very expensive Coyote Cafe. Located up on a rooftop patio over the cafe, it's only open during the warmer months and a good choice for sampling some of Coyote's legendary fare without the three-figure price tag of dinner down below!

We stopped in one afternoon for one of their prickly pear margaritas and while they were as good as we'd heard, the place was insanely packed and service was slow and impersonal so we didn't stay long. Still, the food is supposed to be excellent and it's probably a fun place to hang out in the evening - although they don't stay open very late.

Latino/Cuban menu items run to specialty enchiladas, tacos, sandwiches and the like (most around $15) but you could also just grab a basket of chips and salsa ($5.25), a creative, tequila-spiked concoction and a perch overlooking the street for a little people watching and to cool your heels after a day of sightseeing. Open 11:30 AM - 9:00 PM, reservations highly recommended for lunch or dinner.

Dress Code: Anything goes (within reason)

Maria Benitez retired in summer 2008 (although she's taken breaks before and come back, so who knows?). The cabaret where she performed was taken over by her protege Juan Siddi (a.k.a. Juanaire) and a troupe incorporating many veteran Benitez dancers and musicians, who presented a comparatively abbreviated but well-reviewed season in July and August. I didn't get to see the show myself, unfortunately; but, based on having seen Juanaire's and other members' performances over a number of seasons, I'd enthusiastically recommend it to any flamenco fan.

Dress Code: No dress code, but most guests dress up a bit. (The room is on several levels separated by steps, so I recommend low-heeled shoes.)

I think the stools at the back of the room have the best view of the stage. Flamenco is sweaty work, so if you sit at the tables in front of the stage, you're likely to get splashed (although for some people that may be just part of the intimate gypsy experience) ...

If you're mobility-impaired, tell the box office when you make reservations, and they'll see that you're accommodated.

Warning: NO PHOTOS!! NO RECORDING!! TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONES!!! (No kidding, the musicians will stop the show if your phone goes off.)

Robert Earl Keene, Taj Mahal, Trish Hinajosa- who's next? The small local bands are good too! Their own locally famous brews and good SW pub food. Choose the sweet potatoe fries with chipotle mayo as your side dish! Warm days, there are tables outside.

SFBC is a good place to go after a day of skiing, kayaking on the Rio Grande or hiking in the Sangres or the Jemez.

Dress Code: Santa Fe eclectic.

A number of concert venues in Santa Fe weren't originally built for that purpose, so the quality of the seating varies considerably. A few years ago I lost 40 lbs and discovered that it had one unfortunate side effect: sitting for 2 hrs on one's unpadded bones is a sure way to blight one's enjoyment of a concert! So here's my guide to concert seating at some popular venues around town:

1. Lensic Theater -- extremely comfortable
2. St. Francis Auditorium -- wooden benches with cushions (old but still OK)
3. James A. Little Theater -- just replaced the seats (which were long overdue for it!), and the new ones are quite comfortable
4. Loretto Chapel -- wooden church pews (ouch!!); bringing your own cushion is strongly advised
5. Santa Fe Opera -- remodeled a few years ago, very comfortable seats
6. Santuario de Guadalupe -- a motley collection of chairs, some cushioned, some not
7. Greer Garson Theater, College of Santa Fe -- old cushioned seats, but in pretty good shape
8. Paolo Soleri Amphitheater -- outdoors and concrete; bring a cushion (and appropriate weather gear!)
9. Great Hall, St. John's College -- various chairs, some more comfortable than others

Guitarist Bruce Dunlap founded this performance venue as the sort of place he prefers to play in: an intimate, smoke-and-alcohol-free setting, vs. a noisy bar. Originally the showroom for an outdoor furniture manufacturer (!), the room has erratic ventilation and a roll-up door at one side. But it's cozy, has comfortable seats, attracts serious music lovers, and -- because of the proprietor's excellent connections in the jazz world (he founded and ran the Santa Fe Jazz Festival for several years) -- the performers include international stars as well as local favorites.

The schedule is usually posted on the web site (see below). Normally Bruce performs on Fri. nights when he's in town, and other performers appear Thurs. through Sat. -- but some weeks there's a full schedule and other weeks are relatively quiet, so check the web site before you show up. Shows start at 8 PM. Admission is usually by donation, $10 to $15, but for some shows it's a flat $15 (or higher). Note: No refreshments are (usually) sold, but it's OK to bring in your own bottled water or beverages from the coffeehouse next door. (If you want to make an evening of it, there's a pretty good pizzeria across the street, and the Second Street Brewery -- which has an extensive food menu and good brews, but can get awfully noisy -- is behind the coffeehouse.)

Dress Code: No dress code, but I advise the layered look (the ventilation can be unpredictable).

The paramount is closed and swig is under new owners. The DJs (Chicono Built) from the paramount have gone to club alegria on Agua Fria street. Also the lodge just opened and plays house music. My favorite is Willees Blues Bar. They took all the good bands from around santa fe and hired them to play there. Very reasonable priced for santa fe.

High-quality performances in a spectacular setting.

Almost every seat in the house has a good view of the stage, although, on a warm night, the balcony and the rear corners of the main floor can get unpleasantly stuffy. If you have the choice, get center seats farther back, rather than close-in seats at the far sides: the set designers aren't always careful about sight lines. The acoustics, however, are excellent throughout the whole theater (so better a less-than-ideal seat than not going at all!).

Standing room is a bargain. Standing spots are numbered, and you're provided with a "shelf" to lean on and the same subtitle displays as the seats. Tickets are sold in advance through the Opera box office (and web site). Some performances fill up fast, so buy them early.

Pre-opera tailgate parties in the parking lot are a big tradition. Some are elaborate, with white tablecloths and silver champagne coolers; but if you bring takeout from Whole Foods and a couple of folding chairs, you can still have a great time watching the sun set.

NOTE: Performances start at 9 PM when the season begins, and get earlier as the days grow shorter. Be sure to check the time on your ticket before making dinner plans, as they're strict about making latecomers wait until the next scene change to take their seats.

Dress Code: Always be SURE to bring a jacket or coat, preferably rainproof. The theater is roofed, but if there's a thunderstorm (which happens fairly often) rain can blow in, and it can be a long walk back to your car. Also, when you leave at midnight, it may be 30 degrees cooler than when you showed up with your picnic basket at 7:30. (I bought a loden-cloth cape 16 years ago in Vienna, and it's been indispensible for the Opera.)

Wear fairly solid shoes -- flimsy sandals are a thoroughly BAD idea if you have to slog back to your car in a thunderstorm. But do dress appropriately: if you show up in a nylon jogging suit, you might as well wear a neon sign that screams "Clueless tourist"!