Taos - American Southwest - page 235

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The Major Concert & Performance Halls

Taos Convention Center, 121 Civic Plaza Dr. ( & 575/758-5792 ). This conven-
tion space has an exhibit center where presentations, lectures, and concerts
are held.
Taos Community Auditorium, Kit Carson Memorial State Park ( & 575/758-
4677 ). A comfortable, small-town space, this community auditorium makes a
nice venue for films, concerts, and lectures.

THE CLUB & MUSIC SCENE
Adobe Bar A favorite gathering place for locals and visitors, the Adobe Bar is
known for its live music series (nights vary) devoted to the eclectic talents of Taos musi-
cians. The schedule offers a little of everything—classical, jazz, folk, flamenco, and world
music. The Adobe Bar features a wide selection of international beers, wines by the glass,
light New Mexican dining, desserts, and an espresso menu. Their margarita consistently
wins the “Best of Taos” competition in Taos News. In the Historic Taos Inn (p. 206), 125
Paseo del Pueblo Norte. & 575/758-2233.
Alley Cantina Moments This bar that touts its location as the oldest house in Taos
has become the hot late-night spot. The focus is on interaction, as well as TV sports, but
there's also a cozy outdoor patio. Patrons playing shuffleboard, pool, chess, and backgam-
mon listen to live music 4 to 5 nights a week. Burgers, fish and chips, and other informal
dishes are served until 11pm. 121 Teresina Lane. & 575/758-2121. Cover for live music only.
Anaconda Bar Set in the eco-resort El Monte Sagrado, this is Taos's most hap-
pening nightspot, with live entertainment—jazz, blues, Native American flute, or
country—playing Thursday through Saturday. An anaconda sculpture snaking across the
ceiling and an 11,000-gallon fish tank set the contemporary tone of the place, where a
variety of the hotel's signature dishes are served. In the El Monte Sagrado hotel (p. 204), 317
Kit Carson Rd. & 575/758-3502. www.elmontesagrado.com.
Caffe Tazza This cozy three-room cafe, with a summer patio, attracts local com-
munity groups, artists, performers, and poets. Plays, films, comedy, and musical perfor-
mances are given here on weekends (and some weeknights in summer). The food—soups
and sandwiches—is quite good. Pastries, which are imported from many bakeries around
the region, are almost as big a draw here as the Taos Cow ice cream. Choose from 15
flavors. 122 Kit Carson Rd. & 575/758-8706.
Eske's Brew Pub and Eatery I have a fondness for this place that one might have
for an oasis in the desert. The first time I ate here, I'd been on assignment ice climbing
and just spent 8 hours in the shadow of a canyon, hacking my way up an 80-foot frozen
waterfall. I sat down at one of the high tables in the main room, dipped into a big bowl
of Wanda's green-chile turkey stew, and felt the blood return to my extremities. Owner,
Steve “Eske” Eskeback, designs all the beers here, which are excellent. At times, this can
be a rowdy place, but mostly it's just fun, with lots of ski patrollers and mountain guides
showing up to swap stories. In summer, you can eat on picnic tables outside. March to

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