Reason #4: The Rio Grande Theatre

Much has been written about the renovation of the Rio Grande Theatre. Originally built in 1926 as a movie house, it was closed for business in 1997, only to be revived to its former glory at the beginning of the 21^st century, when it was donated to the Doña Ana Arts Council by the descendents of the original owners. The Rio Grande Theatre has a rich history, in an area awash in historical and cultural significance.

As she was in the beginning.

For me, however, the Rio Grande Theatre is so much more than a history lesson, or a ghost of the past. She’s a symbol of the future--a grand dame whose living presence gives hope to a new generation of artists, in a time when the future of the Arts has been in question. A vital promise made to the city of Las Cruces, that beauty can mean something to a community and reinvigorate a declining economy. And finally, a reminder that everything changes. For me, this last lesson is the most personal.

As she stands today.

In the early 80s, while a student at NMSU, I attended the Rio Grande Theatre as a movie-goer. I have fond memories of those times and like the river after which it was named, the Organ Mountains and the Mesilla Plaza, it was one of the very landmarks that drew me back, some 25 years after my departure. To be part of its on-going history now, as a volunteer for the Doña Ana Arts Council, fills me with a profound sense of place and an equally satisfying feeling of pride.

She’s more than a theater to me. She’s a monument, mirroring my own personal growth.

Returned to her former glory

Articles & Resources:

A comprehensive look at the theatre, through local eyes:

http://lascrucesblog.com/las-cruces/2007/rio-grande-theatre/

 

A story in Desert Exposure about the Grand Reopening in 2005:

http://www.desertexposure.com/200509/200509_riogrande.html

 

Official site:

http://www.riograndetheatre.com/

Reason #3: The Food

There’s an art to dining in Las Cruces; one that tends to escape most transplants to the area. I’m talking, of course, about those who can’t quite wrap their heads around the most often used phrase: red or green? It refers, of course, to red or green chile, a staple of the area and a reason many of us choose to live in the Southwest. After all, when in Rome, one doesn’t lament the absence of good Moo Goo Gai Pan, especially when there are so many fabulous regional dishes to choose from. The same can be said for the great Southwest, where the best chile in the world can be found.

 

It begins and ends here…

 

Here too can be found wonderful steaks, because of the proximity to Texas cattle country, and delightful pecans, another export of the area.  It isn’t unusual to find pecan crusted steaks being offered on a menu, alongside the ubiquitous red or green chile choices. As with any culturally steeped regions where the cuisine is a reflection of the area’s history, there are the good, the bad and the outstanding by way of restaurant choices. One has only to ask around to find a virtual smorgasbord of choices and opinions to go along with them.

Having reviewed several such restaurants for the local newspaper, I am perhaps better acquainted than most with the local cuisine. Rather than present a list of my favorites, however, I offer a bit of advice: pay no attention to the naysayers who fill local message boards with vitriol and diatribes about the lack of diversity to be found in the area, where cuisine is concerned. Instead, read what others have to say about the positive experiences they have had, because is it is here that you’re most likely to discover a connection that very well could change how you view what can only be termed New Mexico Cuisine.

Remember, Google is your friend and if you’re visiting from the Midwest, you’re more likely to believe the words of a fellow Midwesterner when it comes to flavor and spice.  Oh, and if it’s exceptional Moo Goo Gai Pan that you’re craving, you might want to consider booking a flight to San Francisco’s Chinatown. It’s amazing. I’ve had it. Nuff said.

You haven’t lived until you taste it…

 

Articles & Resources:

 

A nice comprehensive overview, with a few recipies thrown in:

http://www.blogher.com/discover-call-new-mexico-cuisine-recipes

 

Historical overview by the Food Museum:

http://www.foodmuseum.com/foodheritagecommunityLas%20Cruces.html

Reason #2: El Rio Grande

The first time I saw the Rio Grande, I was disappointed. Having grown up in the Southwest, the reality just didn’t match up to the grandeur of its legend. It wasn’t until much later on that I came to discover it was man’s intervention that had diminished this once mighty tributary. Dams and irrigation canals, though life-giving to those who settled along its banks over the centuries, had sucked the pomp out of the river itself. The Rio Grande, once known as the Mississippi of the Southwest, had become the Rio Pequeño over time. And nobody feels the effect more than the poor citizens of our neighbor to the South, Mexico. But that’s another story.

Today, the Rio Grande follows a completely different path than the lazy, twisty, windy sojourn it once traveled. The bosque that once marked its passage for miles on both sides, is long gone, except in small pockets where conservationists and national parks try desperately to preserve it. The annual floods that once swelled its banks and brought life to the surrounding desert have been tamed by human engineering. It’s hard to complain about such things, because without that engineering, there couldn’t be places like Las Cruces or Truth or Consequences along it’s banks. And let’s not forget the chile industry, which has become part of the lifeblood of this area. It’s all give and take, in the end.

Still, I wonder at times what it must have been like to come across an immense body of water, in the middle of the desert, that stretched so far it was difficult to see the other side.  What must those early pioneers have thought? Had they finally reached the ocean they’d heard so much about? Were they, in fact, in California? Maybe. Maybe, not.  The irony is that it was this great body of water that convinced those pioneers they should settle here. It’s all part of the history of the area, dating back to the mid-16^th century. That, in and of itself, creates a mystique that will always lend charm to the Rio Grande; both for the people who live here and those who make a pilgrimage to its diminished banks, in search of the true wellspring of the Great American Southwest.

Lush vegetation and filled to the banks only during the monsoon months.

Still, the winter lends its own beauty to el Rio.

 

Articles and Resources:

 

Living In Las Cruces: A River To Flow Through It

http://www.livinginlascruces.com/html/SP2008/riogrande.html

 

Wikipedia Entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Grande

 

Google Timeline with links to articles and historical texts:

http://www.google.com/archivesearch?as_user_ldate=1500&as_user_hdate=2009&q=rio+grande&scoring=t&hl=en&um=1&q=rio+grande&lnav=od&btnG=Go

Vintage Wines: Where Friends Gather

Once upon a time, there was a wildly successful television series about life in and around a Boston watering hole, with a quirky cast of characters and a catchy theme song. You know the one. The place where “everybody knows your name.” I’m often reminded of that show when I visit Vintage Wines, without a doubt one of the best-kept secrets in La Mesilla.

In less than a year, Vintage Wines has become the kind of place people like to fantasize about. Non-commercial, privately-owned and loaded with charm. Literally starting from the ground up, owners Nicki and Brian O’Dell have created a cozy little bistro, the likes of which aren’t often found outside of California’s wine country, or tucked away down a dirt road in a pastoral, grape-growing region of France.

Ah, but you won’t find any of those wines for sale here. Nor are you likely to find wines by the local conglomerate, which seem more at home stocking shelves in local grocery stores. No, here you’ll find a wonderful selection of over 50 different wines from some of the finest wineries in northern New Mexico, where grapes were being grown and wine pressed literally centuries before Napa Valley became the wine capital of the United States--if not the world.

Add to that a light menu of Tapas, made to order and featuring an assortment of selections specially created to accompany the wines on the menu--from Seasonal Fresh Fruits and Cheeses to Salsas and Tepenades with fresh baguette slices. More discerning palates can finish that off with a delightful smorgasbord of imported cigars for all tastes. The result is a coup de esthétique to please even the most discriminating of social provocateurs.

Those who have made Vintage Wines a regular stop in their communal wanderings tend to agree, however, that the main reason for the success of Vintage Wines is the atmosphere. Though the shop only opened its doors in February, it has quickly become popular with the residents of Mesilla and the word has spread to all corners of the Mesilla Valley. People come from as far away as El Paso and Deming to enjoy not only the wines and Tapas, but also the fact that Vintage Wines is the kind of place wherein one can enter a stranger and leave having made new friends.

“What I love about Vintage is that it captures the feeling of Old Mesilla,” says regular Patti Havstad. “It’s comfortable, cozy and a great place to meet people and have a good time with friends. I always have a lot of fun here.” Mesilla resident Cecilia Vigil agrees, “I really like Nicki and Brian,” she says. “I love that they started this little shop from scratch and built something special. The place has great personality and it’s easy to come in and talk to them. They’re like neighbors.”

 “Vintage is more than just a bar,” says Kelly Covert, who can often be found pouring wines and trading quips from behind the bar. “It’s a neighborhood place where people come to hang out. We’ve made a lot of really good friends here and friends have made friends here. People who never knew each other gather here and make new friends. They come here for the wine and find so much more.”

This friendly and inviting atmosphere is a point of pride for Nicki O’Dell, a bright, open-faced woman who treats every person who walks through the door as if she’s known him or her forever. “It’s sort of a dream come true,” she says. “Besides the business having done well, we’ve made a lot of really great friends. It’s been a fantastic first year. I chalk it up to the Cheers syndrome,” she laughs. “We have a lot of Norms here.”

Location is everything, too. The main entrance for Vintage Wines can be found half a block south of the historic Mesilla Plaza, on Calle de Principal, but the back patio gate opens onto a lot off Calle de Guadalupe, directly across from the Fountain Theatre. It’s out on this warm, inviting patio that live music can be heard every Friday and Saturday night, by such local luminaries as Kiki & Michelle, Gary Vau and the inimitable Bugs Salcido.

All of which comes together in an eclectic and welcoming environment of food, drink and camaraderie not often realized in today’s fast-paced, modern world. A place to take a break from all your worries, where they’re always glad you came. Whether you’re new to the mysteries of the vine or an old pro at winespeak, Vintage Wines is a secret whose time has come.

If you go

What: Vintage Wines

Where: 2461 Calle de Principal in La Mesilla, NM.

Hours: W – TH, 11am – 8pm; F – S, 11am – 10pm, SUN, 12pm – 8pm; M – T, Closed.

Info: (575) 523-9463

Expect To Spend: Between $5 and $8 per glass, or $4 for a tasting flight of four. Tapas run between $4 and $7

(Originally published in the Las Cruces Sun-News, December 25, 2008, under the title "Atmosphere draws friends to Vintage.")