If you ever get to visit downtown Santa Fe, the two places that my husband and I recommend are the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum and the nearby restaurant Fiesta Oaxaca. We have been fans of the museum since it first opened in 1997. We got to visit the first week it opened, and it was then that I discovered my favorite artwork by O'Keeffe, her painting entitled "Rust Red Hills" (1930). Exhibits change on a regular basis, and the artist's works from other museums as well as objects from her Abiquiu house are often displayed in addition to the museum's own collection. We went to see the recent exhibit "Georgia O'Keeffe: Making a Life" and thoroughly enjoyed it.
 |
| I just adore the colorful interior! (from the restaurant website) |
 |
| The restaurant patio open to the outdoors on a lovely warm day. |
Just a short walk away from the museum is one of our favorite restaurants, Fiesta Oaxaca, which features moles, one of my husband's favorite foods. He loves to order their Mole de Oaxaca, a chicken dish smothered in a dark mole sauce which is rich and deeply flavorful. My favorites include their Enchiladas de Mole de Oaxaca and Chilpachole de Mariscos, a tasty seafood soup that is so satisfying on a cold day. Be sure to order their mole tasting appetizer, which includes the five different moles they serve. (I look forward to trying their mole de verde the next time we dine there!) The restaurant has a wonderfully colorful interior as well as a patio that is completely enclosed and heated during the cold months but open to the outdoors when it warms up.
Across the street from both the restaurant and the museum is the Santa Fe County John Gaw Meem Historic Building, designed by Santa Fe's most acclaimed architect and recently restored to its original glory. It is worthwhile stopping by to visit the beautiful courtyard (shown above) and to admire the wonderful southwestern architecture.
 |
| "Homage to the Burro" by Charles Southard (1988) |
From the restaurant it is an easy walk to the downtown plaza via historic Burro Alley, which is my favorite street of course (I described it previously here). As you head to the plaza, be sure to stop by my husband's favorite place, Andrea Fisher Fine Pottery, which has an amazing collection of beautiful southwest Native American pottery, including the works of Maria Martinez.
Right now is a lovely time to visit Santa Fe, as we had a relatively wet spring and wildflowers are blooming everywhere. The landscape is very green and the mild temperatures are so comfortable for exploring the city. Oh, and one more activity you may enjoy while on the plaza is a visit to the rooftop bar at the famous La Fonda on the Plaza for a drink, appetizers, and a spectacular overview of the city and surrounding mountains. The rooftop bar is only open during the warmer months, so if this appeals to you plan your trip accordingly!
No comments:
Post a Comment