si las cruces magazine

1Si Las Cruces | November 2013 11Si Las Cruces | November 2013Si Las Cruces | November 2013

L a s C r u c e s , N e w M e x i c oU . S . A .

L a s C r u c e s , N e w M e x i c oU . S . A .

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3

2 Si Las Cruces | November 2013

Contents

Locally Sourced Restaurant Ignites Tastebuds

Discover the heART of Downtown

Defining Downtown

10 Things to Do Downtown

Relaxation Finds New Home

The Resilient Rio Grande

Keeping it Fresh

Photo of La Placita mosaic located in the downtown mall. Photo of La Placita mosaic located in the downtown mall.

L a s C r u c e s , N e w M e x i c o

U . S . A .L a s C r u c e s , N e w M e x i c o

U . S . A .

Editor | Creative DirectorLeslie Hibner

Sales ExecutiveKarl Lopez

Graphic DesignersJennifer Hernandez, Monica Soltero

Contributing WritersJocelyn Apodaca, Jessica Cervantes,

Bethany Blundell, Monica Soltero

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Si Las Cruces offers a wide range of advertising options both in our bimonthly print issue and everyday online. We have many sizes to fit all needs.

We also offer FREE design and set up of any size ad. This is strongly encouraged to ensure that your ad fits to our exact measurements and color requirements.

Please visit us online at SiLasCruces.com.

Si Las Cruces Magazine is a bimonthly publication, with a digital publication, located at SiLasCruces.com. For advertising information, submissions inquiries, or general informatoin please email [email protected].

The editor would like to thank everyone who provided information and material for this issue. No part of Si Las Cruces may be reproduced without the written consent of Si Las Cruces or the artist.

Owner | PublisherDouglas Campion

RevSyn Creative GroupRevSynSi Las Cruces is a publication of RevSyn Creative Group. 221 N. Main St., Ste. 202A, Las Cruces, NM 88001 T 575.527.4700

RevSyn’s main mission is to better the community through design.

We feel a great way to accomplish this is to create an outlet for

businesses, the arts and community events to all have one centeral

media source. Our goal is to better our community through design

and Si Las Cruces creates a functional creative way of doing this.

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By JOCELYN APODOCA

By MONICA SOLTERO

By JOCELYN APODOCA

By JESSICA CERVANTES

By BETHANY BLUNDELL

By LESLIE HIBNER

Cover and Photo by Leslie Hibner.

3Si Las Cruces | November 2013

Si Las Cruces is a monthly magazine and website dedicated to all of the amazing things happening in Downtown Las Cruces. We are here to show you

the great events, the delicious food available in the area, and tell the stories of the entrepreneurs and organizations working in the city center. The magazine will focus on all of the opportunities and the exciting things happening downtown. Si Las Cruces is a way to share Downtown Las Cruces with the rest of the city.

Itʼs Time to Rediscover Your Downtown

We are proud to present SiLasCruces.com and the bimonthly magazine to the City of Las Cruces and Doña Ana County as the defi nitive guide to downtown. This publication would not be possible without an amazing staff . They have worked hard to produce this great magazine and website. Leslie Hibner, Editor/Creative Director, and Karl Lopez, Sales Executive, have been the leads on this project for several months and are key in making this publication happen. Our contributing writers and design interns are all current or former New Mexico State University students. They have also been a huge factor in making Si Las Cruces great. I want to thank each of them for their hard work and taking the time to make this magazineʼs fi rst issue and our continuing issues a huge success.

Since I started the Community Enterprise Center, located at 125 N. Main St. in the Spring of 2012, downtown has been my home Monday through Friday (and more weekends than I would like to admit). Out of all the places and spaces where I have worked, it is by far my favorite. I love Downtown Las Cruces! There are so many great people doing amazing work and so many wonderful projects taking shape that the area is full of hope, possibility and action. I feel, as a supporter of entrepreneurs, Si Las Cruces is a great project to support. With great ideas and visions, the magazine will be around to support local businesses for a very long time.

Please help me in welcoming Si Las Cruces to our beautiful valley by visiting the website and Facebook page to keep yourself updated on everything our wonderful downtown has to off er.

Best Wishes,

Douglas [email protected]

SiLasCruces.com


Sprung from the Mountain View Market Co-op, the biggest natural foods co-op in southern New Mexico, Mountain View Market Kitchen off ers the same freshness, friendly environment and community eff ort as Co-op. Serving up

delicious recipes that are organic (almost all local), some vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free, MVM Kitchen encourages their customers to “Eat Healthy and Be Happy.”

The Kitchen off ers breakfast and lunch with bagels from The Bagel Shop in Las Cruces. Other menu items include breakfast sandwiches, coff ees made with Beckʼs MVM Kitchen Espresso Roast, soups, cold and hot sandwiches and organic juices and smoothies.

“The fact that you can turn anything vegan or vegetarian and that we can cater to gluten-free makes us unique,” Jahred Hopkins Kitchen Director Assistant said. “My favorite is the chicken Caesar because the dressing is just amazing.”

Some hot favorites from the restaurant are the Indonesian tofu sandwich and the grilled eggplant.

The meats MVM Kitchen uses are antibiotic-free and come from Applegate Farms or other farms in the Mesilla Valley.

If youʼre going for something light, try one of the all vegan juices with boosters such as chia seed, spirulina, multivitamin, vegan protein powder, and local bee pollen. The choices for juices include anything from apples and carrots to pineapple and beets.

MVM Kitchen is open for catering or call to order. They are located at 120 S. Water St., and their menu can be downloaded online at www.mountainviewmarket.coop

For more information on food items, allergy or hours call 575-556-9856

Top: Indonesian tofu sandwich. Right: Jahred Hopkins preparing an Indonesian Tofu Sandwich. This is an all vegan cold sandwich that includes baked Indonesian tofu, sprouts, cucumber, carrots, tomato,and a peanut Indonesian sauce. Photos by Jocelyn Apodoca.

For more information on food items, allergy or hours call 575-


DirectionsSlice eggplant into 1/4 inch slices. Marinate the eggplant slices in the balsamic vinegar and salt for 20-30 minutes.

For grilling: Cook the eggplant on a preheated grill over a medium fl ame for 5-7 minutes per side.

For baking: Cook the eggplant on a baking sheet at 375 for 10-15 minutes until golden brown and the skins are soft.

While the eggplant is cooking, prepare sandwiches with bread, arugula, provolone cheese and tomato. Sprinkle with salt and freshly ground pepper. Add the Dijon mustard if desired.

When eggplant is done cooking, add to the sandwiches and enjoy!

Ingredients

3/4 lb of eggplant (about 1 medium globe eggplant)1 cup of balsamic vinegar½ teasoon salt5 oz of Arugula A few thick tomato slicesProvolone cheeseBread of your choiceDijon mustard (optional)

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F E AT U R E

WBy JOCELYN APODOCA

hen the downtown area of our city began to revitalize itself, city planners sprang into action, helping recreate, re-establish and reinvent what we consider downtown.

With a growing population of 101,047, according to the 2012 United States Census Bureau, it is apparent that our next step as a city is to rethink the boundaries of our downtown area.

View of Main Street Las Cruces.Photo by Leslie Hibner.


Currently, downtown is made up of three diff erent districts. These include Main Street, Mesquite Historic District, and Historic Alameda Depot District. Si Las Cruces has re --envisioned these districts into four distinct cultural experiences.

This new idea of redefi ning our downtown into four districts will help each districtʼs small business owners and citizens feel like they are part of a larger movement to revitalize the area. Through the Downtown Charrette, the re- envisioning event held in the fi rst week of October, which Senior Planner of downtown Andy Hume hosted, elaborated on issues downtown faced. The Charrette proved to be more relevantthan ever before.

The map on page 9 displays the four districts as distinct areas. Each district off ers a variety of attractions and eateries to visit.

The Depot District includes the Las Cruces Railroad Museum, High Desert Brewing Co., Nelliʼs Mexican Cafe, and West End Art Depot. This area has been part of Las Crucesʼ history since the arrival of the railroad in the late 1800s.

The neighboring boundary to the Depot District is the Historic Alameda District. This residential area contains over 200 of the areaʼs historically signifi cant homes. Built in Victorian, Pueblo, Gothic, and other contemporary fashions, the homes of Alameda District are as diverse in style as the art enthusiasts who own many of them today. Pioneer Park was considered Las Crucesʼ fi rst “green” spot, built in 1896. Built almost 100 years ago, the signature gazebo of Pioneer Park still remains in pristine condition.

In the Historic Mesquite District, visitors can fi nd the original El Camino Real, Jardin de Mesquite, Klein Park, and many adobe vernacular style homes dating back to the early 1900s. The mostly residential area is a reminder of the variety of cultures that once resided in this area. Klein Park, named and dedicated to longtime Mayor Sam Klein, is a great spot to stroll after a meal at La Nueva CasitaCafe or Nopalitoʼs Restaurant.

Depot District a few yards from the Las Cruces Railroad Museum. Photo by Leslie Hibner.

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Just a few blocks from the Historic Mesquite District lies our original Main Street. When Las Cruces was founded in 1849, Main Street served as the only road to and from the center of town.

In 2005, the city made a decision to renovate the downtown pedestrian mall, making Main Street a two -lane road. Since the construction and improvements, many people downtown have begun to re-

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think how downtown should be used by visitors and locals alike.

Main Street features Dayʼs Hamburgers, the Rio Grande Theatre, and Branigan Cultural Center, all holding decades of history. Newer businesses like The Spa Downtown, Black Box Theatre, Coas Bookstore, Las Cruces Museum of Art and countless art galleries now call Main Street home.

The Director of Museums, William Ticknor, has been in the downtown area overseeing all of the renovations and additions to the four museums. Comparing business then and today, Ticknor said the street today serves as a more inviting and welcoming environment.

“The new design of the street, the new trees and shade structures, attractive lighting and many business owners who have improved their facades have made a world of diff erence,” Ticknor said. “Itʼs nice to see so many people enjoying

being downtown now.”

Defi ning our downtown by these four districts helps each districtʼs small business owners and citizens feel like they are part of one cohesive community.

With the growth of this area, it is important for Las Cruces to align itself with other cities that take full advantage of their Main Street Districts and downtown areas.

“Those four districts really create a city center,” said Doug Campion, Chief Executive Offi cer of the Community Enterprise Center. “This is an amazing opportunity for entrepreneurship, public places, parks and restaurants. Itʼs already pedestrian friendly and thereʼs already residential and historical districts.”

Keeping the downtown area as an art enriched and cultural hub at the center of our city, is the best way to branch out and encourage more visitors and events to come downtown.

Top: Placemaker’s Plaza rendering. Inset: Museum of Art facade. Photo by Leslie Hibner.


Historic Mesquite

Historic Alameda Main Street

Depot District

“The development and expansion of the cultural corridor on Main Street is my favorite aspect of the downtown revitalization,” Ticknor said.

Las Cruces has always diff erentiated these areas, but never as four separate districts. Launching this idea of regions allows an easier transition for expansion and growth.

Inviting the community to partake in some valuable sessions regarding the growth and design of downtown was Hume. As a way for the developers to revisit the downtown plans, discuss the economic development and gain input on design, Hume and his team from Placemakers, an urban planning and design company, led gatherings in a week long Charette.

Intended as a means for direct input from the community the meetings accommodated the opinions of the patrons of the area.

With all the changes and growth taking place throughout our four districts and mainly along Main Street, ideas about tourism, plaza and callecitas design came forth.

“There were three big focus areas in the master plan update,” said Hazel Borys, Principal and Managing Director of placemakers.com.

The main priority from the citizens of downtown and surrounding areas pushed for the construction of a plaza.

“Itʼs something the city really wants and is in negotiations at the moment,” Borys said.

The second focus area is to return Water and Church Street to two-lane traffi c. Some street upgrades including parking with wider and safer sidewalks were discussed.

The third area is a zoning code update.“We have to make some changes,” said Hume. “That is the topic we will be looking at following this [meeting].”

There is also a push to breathe in some residential life in the downtown area.

The old County Courthouse is being redeveloped as a boutique hotel and the existing courthouse is already being renovated. There are also 38 units going into the condos being built beside the Las Cruces Sun News. These are catalyst projects for getting downtown moving again.

“When people visit, the fi rst place they go is Old Mesilla unless, itʼs a Saturday when the Farmerʼs Market is open,” Borys said. “We want to make downtown one of their fi rst stops.”

Friday, during the closing statements from Hume and the Charrette team, City Councilor Miguel G. Silva reiterated the necessity and responsibility to complete goals.

“We only have one or two chances to get this done,” Silva said in his opening comments, “and we have limited funds.”Some of the other designs and proposals mentioned at the closing comments gathering included the need for better parking management, the request to redo the facades of certain buildings, and to create a maintenance or improvement ordinance program.

With backing from the city and its residents, the changes are completely doable given the appropriate funding and time. The Place Makers team off ered some simple solutions in compliance with coding regulations already enforced.

“When the city invests, then the development does follow,” said Susan Henderson, Placemakers Principal and Director of Coding. “Youʼve entered a new era. Youʼre gonna see things happen.”


Once the cityʼs center for hustled vehicles on a dirt road, leading visitors, locals and desert dwellers alike to and from downtown Las Cruces, Main Street has since transformed into a cultural center. Some of the areaʼs revitalization is due to the Downtown Ramble that occurs on a monthly basis.


The fi rst Friday of every month the Downtown Ramble rolls in, highlighting art, music and fun for the whole family.

The Downtown Ramble, often referred to as an art walk, is a stroll through the thriving art galleries, restaurants and shops that are located in the downtown mall.

Every month, each gallery will bring in a new featured artist. Unveiling these artists in one night is the intended purpose of the Ramble. The event will also have local music, snacks and refreshments.

“We currently have about 250 to 400 people out on fi rst Friday,” said Gail Bleiweiss of M. Phillipʼs Gallery. “It was founded by Flo Dougherty, and itʼs become a major event since.”

Galleries and studios involved in the Art Ramble include Branigan Cultural Center, Las Cruces Museum of Fine Art, Las Cruces Museum of Nature and Science, The Main Street Gallery, Julie Ford Oliver Gallery & Art Studio (formerly Art Studio Las Cruces), Cottonwood Gallery, M. Phillipʼs Gallery, The Rio Grande Theaterʼs El Paso Electric Gallery, Carolene Herbel de Mesilla Galleries, Gallery 309, Justus Wright Galeria, MVS Studios, Creative Harmony Gallery and Gifts, The Quillin Studio & Gallery, The Mountain Gallery and West End Art Depot.

The event starts every fi rst Friday of the month at 5 p.m. and the reception will last for two hours. During these two hours, Ramblers are invited to stroll through Downtown art galleries and view the new artistʼ work on display.

“Itʼs a great opportunity to see lots of art, to see whatʼs going on downtown, to see old friends and make new ones,” Bleiweiss said. “Downtown Las Cruces has become a center for the arts, whether it is painting, music or theater.”

For November, the Doña Ana Arts Council will house the work of Joie Morillo. Morilloʼs exhibit is entitled “Day of the Dead,” and will display puppets, paintings and handcrafted boxes.

The Arts Council said the majority of the artistʼs work in the galleries will be for sale.

The Las Cruces Museum of Art has come together with the Pottersʼ Guild of Las Cruces to hold an exhibit called “From the Ground Up XXVI.” This is a juried exhibition that consists

Far Left: A Sculpture featured at the Potter’s Guild Show at the Museum of Art by Tristyn Bustamante, Over Current, Stoneware. Bottom Right: Kindergarten by Jessica Zekus. Above: A man rides his bike down Main Street during the Art Ramble. Photos by Leslie Hibner

of sculptural and utilitarian ceramics that is open to all artists from the southwest. The exhibition will run until Nov. 9 and this yearʼs juror will be Jim Romberg.

Admission to the Ramble is free. Maps of the gallery locations can be found at the M. Phillips Gallery, 221 N. Main St. or at downtownlascruces.org/map-directory/. For more information call 575-523-2950.

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The downtown sector of Las Cruces is one of the oldest parts of the city, and somehow one of the most overlooked when it comes to entertainment. The area is brimming with activities

and an abundance of local fl avor if you just know where to look. Keep this list handy while exploring the area and make downtown a weekend destination.

1. Las Cruces Farmer’s and Crafts MarketEvery Wednesday and Saturday morning vendors set up along Main Street to provide the community with local produce, crafts and food. The lively environment is family and pet friendly. The street is often lined with street performers and musicians. Booths are set up by 8:30 a.m. and remain open until early afternoon. For more information on vendors visit, lascrucesfarmersmarket.org.

2. Rio Grande TheatreThe renovated movie theater that opened in 1926, seats 422 people and is home to the Doña Ana Arts Council. Performances and events are regularly scheduled. Some of these include Film Las Cruces, Every Other Tuesday, a bimonthly artist showcase, and RGT Live, a monthly open mic event. Expect a diverse entertainment line up that changes on a regular basis. For a full list of events and programs, visit riograndetheatre.com

3. Downtown RambleEvery fi rst Friday of the month, art galleries open up their doors for visitors to enjoy new artwork. This ongoing event highlights the diff erent studios and galleries downtown. Explore the Las Cruces art scene and enjoy some of the live music that is off ered along the way. The Downtown Ramble takes place every fi rst Friday from 5-7 p.m. For a map, visit mphillipsgallery.com.

4. Explore MuseumsSpend an afternoon exploring the downtown museums and learning about culture, science and the railroad industry of the Southwest. Three museums to visit are The Branigan Cultural Center (501 N. Main St.), the Museum of Nature and Science (411 N. Main St.), and the Railroad Museum (351 N. Mesilla St.) They each off er diff erent programs throughout the year that will engage the entire family. The Museum of Natural Science, for example, off ers a weekly Saturday class from 9-11 a.m. called “Fetch” that exposes the entire family to hands-on science. For more information on all three museums, visit las-cruces.org/museums.


5. Black Box Theatre and Las Cruces Community TheatreEnjoy a performance at one of the other theaters located in the downtown district. Black Box Theatre (430 N. Main St.), has a resident company called No Strings Theater Company that regularly showcases a variety of plays. For more information visit no-strings.org. Another venue featuring local acting talent is the Las Cruces Community Theatre (313 N. Main St.) For more information, visit lcctnm.org.

6. Attend a FestivalLas Cruces has several festivals throughout the year, many of which take place in the downtown district. These year-round celebrations range from country music to a celebration of salsa.

Top Left:New Mexico Soaps booth and close-up. Top Left Bottom: Street performer and gourd masks. Above: Bella Dulce Yarn at the Farmer’s & Crafts Market. Photos by Jennifer Hernandez.

7. Spend the Day Relaxing Downtown has many spas and salons that allow for a weekend of pampering. Two of these are located within La Esquina Plaza on Main Street. Be Young Hair Salon and Carmonaʼs Urban Spa and Salon are both located in La Esquina Plaza on Main Street. Carmonaʼs has diff erent spa packages that include massages, facials, manicures and pedicures. The area also has two pilates and yoga studios that would complete a full day of relaxation– Life in Balance Pilates (300 N. Main St.), and Downtown Desert Yoga, (303 S. Alameda Blvd.) 8. Enjoy the OutdoorsTake advantage of the cityʼs consistently sunny weather, and visit one of two parks ideal for an afternoon picnic. Klein Park (155 N. Mesquite), and Pioneer Womanʼs Park, (500 W. Las Cruces Ave.), both have picnic tables and playgrounds.

Dust off the old tennis racquet and hit the courts. Lionʼs Tennis Courts are open to the public year round and are free. Featuring lighted courts and located at the corner of Picacho & Melendrez St. it is sure to be fun for the whole family.

9. Explore Historic Mesquite DistrictJust a few blocks away from Main Street is the historic Mesquite district. The area is brimming with history, galleries and restaurants. The historic Camino Real runs through the district and old houses with rich historical backgrounds line the streets. Visit las-esperanzas.com to learn where notable stops on the map are located. For a tour of the local galleries attend Camino del Arte, which is the second Saturday of every month from 11 a.m. to 3p.m. The event is very similar to the Downtown Ramble, and covers a variety of art venues through a walking tour.

10. Taste the Local FlavorAfter a full day of exploring downtown and the surrounding areas, stop by one of the local restaurants. One place to consider is Nopalitos Restaurant (310 S. Mesquite St.). The restaurant has been locally owned by the Gallegos Family since the 1960s and has maintained a strong tradition of authentic New Mexican food. Adjacent to the restaurant is a gallery the family opened to showcase local art. Stop by for a plate of their signature green chile enchiladas and enjoy the artwork next door. For more information, visit nopalitosrestaurants.com or nopalitosgaleria.com.

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Near downtown Las Cruces lies the Downtown Desert Yoga Studio, owned by Colleen Boyd. With its fi rst location on Divot Avenue, then moving to a location on the downtown mall, and now currently located at 303 South Alameda Blvd it has grown and become more popular with each upgrade.

Nine diff erent instructors allow the studio to off er a pluralistic variety of yoga. Classes off ered include hot yoga, vinyasa fl ow, and Yin yoga.

Boyd was fi rst introduced to hot yoga in 1995, when she lived in San Francisco. Upon returning to Las Cruces in 2002, she discovered Desert Yoga, a studio owned by Kim Inman Gomez.

“I was happy to have something that was familiar from San Francisco,” Boyd said. “Kim was very ahead of her time.”

Inman Gomez eventually asked Boyd to teach a class of hers, sparking a new passion. Creating Downtown Desert Yoga as a spin-off on Inman Gomezʼs studio, Boyd was able to create a yoga studio that is strong because of the long standing presence in the community.

Boyd said she has enjoyed being part of the downtown boom. “Itʼs been awesome to see that life slowly breathed back into it,” she said. “We knew we wanted to be a part of that growth.”

And growth theyʼve received. Between yoga instructor certifi cation classes, workshops, and the diversity between instructors, the studio has maintained a sense of community within itself.

“All I can say is that the studio has taken a life of its own,” Boyd said. “It never seemed like a lot of work. Everything happened naturally.”

Another by chance happening was when Shawn Cornelison stepped into Downtown Desert Yoga. Two years ago Cornelison, while visiting his mother from Boston, signed up for a class at the studio. Upon learning he practiced at his own studio, Open Doors and was a registered yoga trainer, Boyd and Jane Bloom invited him back to teach a class as a guest instructor.

“Weʼre always kind of venturing out and trying new stuff ,” Boyd said.

Cornelison came back to DDY to teach the 200 hour yoga training certifi cation class and will be coming back in the fall to do another.

“He came for back-to-back weekends every other month,” Boyd said. “It makes it nice for people who are professionals or students; and having it local makes a big difference.”


Relaxation Finds Relaxation Finds Relaxation Finds Relaxation Finds New Home New Home New Home New Home New Home


Imagine a place where you feel light, at peace, completely relaxed and open-- Having a hard time? Like

most people, we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life without any time for ourselves to

unwind or collect our thoughts. Practicing hot yoga delivers benefi ts that go beyond the workout appeal.

By JOCELYN APODOCA


Downtown Desert Yoga off ers workshops throughout the summer months, certifi cation trainings for yoga instructors in the fall and winter, a variety of classes with nine diff erent instructors and a partnership with Mountain View Market Kitchen off ering a weekly deal.

Bloom was the initiator for the collaboration with MVM Kitchen. Every Friday at noon a condensed version of hot yoga is off ered in a 45 minute class with lunch fresh and ready afterward by the time yoga is fi nished.

The studio creates an open atmosphere welcoming beginners to yoga, advanced and aspiring teachers or individuals trying to enhance their practice.

“Something thatʼs unique is the creativity

we are allowed,” Yoga Instructor Deidra Schaub said. “You donʼt get bored.”

Between the focus, relaxation, yet heart pumping poses, being bored is the last thing any newcomer should worry about.

“Our attention to breathing makes us diff erent,” she said, “which is so core to yoga.”

The instructors donʼt just teach their practice, they live it.

“Based on my own experience, itʼs given me a way to relax and de-stress. The workout is an added benefi t,” Boyd said.

“Thereʼs this misconception that you have to be fl exible to do yoga, but we want to open it to a broader audience.”

“My goal is to reach people who donʼt think yoga is for them or think that they canʼt do it. Itʼs not just exercise. Itʼs great for anxiety and depression,” Schaub said. “I want to reach those that havenʼt been able to reach yoga, and Iʼve been able to do that with Yin.” A style of yoga that focuses on the joints not muscles.

For a full list of DDYʼs workshops, upcoming certifi cation classes or schedules, go to downtowndesertyoga.com

My goal is to reach people who don’t think yoga is for them or think that they can’t do it. It’s not just exercise. I want to reach those that haven’t been able to reach yoga.Deidra Schaub, Yoga Instructor


November 16 | 2 pm November 23 | 7 pmAngelina BallerinaThe Musical

Blue corn: the journey

By JESSICA CERVANTES

For the past 87 years, change and renovation aff ected one of Las Crucesʼ most historic landmarks, but today the transformations continue to enrich the

presence of downtown.

Originally, the Hacker Hotel stood tall on Main Street until it was razed in the 1920s, and C.T. Seale and B.G. Dyne built the Rio Grande Theatre on the lot.

The Resilient Rio Grande

-Kathleen Albers, Director Doña Ana Arts Council

upcoming shows


During construction, Otto Thorman, a well-known El Paso architect, derived elements from the Italian Renaissance Revival style, which was popular in the 20s and 30s, to embellish the theater.

The Rio Grande Theatre opened with a showing of the fi lm “A Powerful Story of the Sea” July 29, 1926, but shortly thereafter the theater experienced an earthquake that caused major damage to the building. Yet the builders refused to let the theater crumble and continued to renovate.

Over the generations, the Rio Grande Theatre stayed in the Sealeʼs and Dyneʼs families, but in 1982 Allen Theatres — the local theater company — took over theater operations until the theater closed down in 1997.

Jan Clute and Carolyn Muggenburg, granddaughters of Seale, searched for partners to help revive the theater and gave a portion of the duties to the Doña Ana Arts Council. Although the DAAC gave the building to the city, the organization became responsible for the management of the theater.

“The DAAC has been able to accomplish so much with this gift from the granddaughters of Seale,” said Kathleen Albers, director of

the DAAC. “We have been able to give back so much to the youth and community with the theater.”

Locals go livePresently, the DAAC plans multiple events throughout each month to pack the 422 seat Rio Grande Theatre.

RGT Live began as an idea from the DAAC to give back to the community, said audio engineer for the show Bruce Ven, and began in December of 2012. Every fi rst Friday of the month, the theater welcomes local artists to perform on their stage for a 10-minute segment.

The stage is also open to dancers, poets, comedians and anyone who wishes to showcase anything they consider art. Ven said he hopes in the future that performers from surrounding cities such as Deming, El Paso and Silver City will join the 13-spot lineup.

“Anyone who has a true passion they wish to share with the community should try it out,” Ven advises, “at least just once.”

“O & Co.” is familiar-faced band who performs at the Famerʼs and Crafts Market that recently began attending RGT Live. During the bandʼs performance in October at

the show, the contemporary group charmed audience members with their bluegrass sound.

Performing on a stage and being able to share their music with the community is something the band, composed of Kent Nelson, Gerry Szostak, Amy Jones and Olin Calk collectively said they wish to continue.

“Itʼs just nice to be able to play on stage and have a microphone,” said Jones who plays the upright bass and sings vocals with lead singer Calk.

The line-up included several other performers in October, ranging from solo performances to classical music, covers of famous songs like “Hotel California” by local band “Chips & Salsa” was well received by the audience.

The next RGT Live will be held from 7-9 p.m. with sign up starting at 6:30 p.m. Nov.1. Decemberʼs show will be held Friday, Dec. 6 at the same times. The Rio Grande Theatre is located at 211 N. Main St. For those who are interested in attending events or visiting the historic theater contact 575-523-6403 or visit riograndetheatre.com

Far Left:Kathleen Albers infront of the Rio Grande Theatre.Photo by Leslie Hibner. Right: Historic picture of Main Street. Courtesy of Kathleen Albers. Insert: Local musical group O & Co. performs at RGT Live at the Rio Grande Theatre in October. Photo by Jessica Cervantes

The restoration gave a new life to the theater, and was really a new starting point.

-Kathleen Albers, Director Doña Ana Arts Council


SHOP

It is an early Saturday morning in the heart of downtown on Main Street, but already vendors and shoppers are stirring, as warm smells of baked goods waft through the air. The Las Cruces Farmerʼs and Crafts Market has many booths set up along Main Street, containing items that have been carefully crafted, selected, grown or

baked by the people selling them.

The Market has been around since 1971, and has grown steadily since then. Booths are set up along Main Street every Wednesday and Saturday morning so shoppers can

enjoy the merchandise while walking along the closed-off street.

Two years ago it was voted the best large Market by American Farmland Trust- proof that it has become a favorite for local shoppers.

Keeping it Fresh

Robledo vista nursery

New Mexico Soap

Most Wednesdays & All SaturdaysFeaturing Produce, Baked Goods, Jams and Jellies.

Wednesdays & SaturdaysHomemade soaps make great gifts or pamper yourself.

Most Wednesdays & SaturdaysSelling Southwest cacti and plants.

Every Wednesday & Saturday

Fresh cup of coff ee or by the pound.

Kuhn farm

Beck’s Coffee

By LESLIE HIBNER

Learn to Save a Life

CPRNewMexico.com(575) 524.2167

1-800-Med Lift

Si Las Cruces | November 2013Si Las Cruces | November 2013

Emergency Air TransportProud Member of Air Methods

Silver City, Alamagordo, Carlsbad, Hobbs, Las Cruces, and Roswell

(480)-600-8426 AirMethods.com


COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE

CENTERLas Cruces

CECLasCruces.com(575) 525-1600

125 N. Main StreetLas Cruces, NM

(575) 525-1600125 N. Main Street

Las Cruces, NM

MAIN STREETB U S I N E S S C E N T E R

Please Join Us For Our Ribbon CuttingAugust 26, 2013 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

221 N. Main Street, Las Cruces, NM 88001 | 575.527.4800 | MSBCLasCruces.com

Let us help you start your business today!Let us help you start your business today!Let us help you start your business today!

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