NM08 - Guadalupe District — By Quad!

While the Santa Fe Plaza is not to be missed, the Guadalupe District is emerging as Santa Fe’s second center. Long a favorite place for locals to shop, eat, and relax, the Guadalupe District — once Santa Fe’s railroad depot (the Santa Fe Southern Railway still operates scenic tours for visitors) — will become a bustling train station once again in late 2008, when the Railrunner commuter train begins to whisk travelers between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Already, new shops, galleries, parks, a movie theater, and restaurants are opening alongside those that have enjoyed this area for years.

And as Santa Fe’s newest section catches steam with the train and well-planned urban infill, it’s not forgetting its long history or neighborhood feel. Santuario de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, which lies on the northernmost edge of the district, was built in 1781 and is oldest shrine to our lady of Guadalupe in the United States. Its 3-foot-thick adobe walls and humble-yet-powerful profile remind everyone of the area’s roots.

Originally a farming community, the arrival of the railroad in the late 1800s transformed the Guadalupe District into a bustling commercial marketplace. Neglected for a time when the railroad ceased, it was rediscovered in the 1960s by newcomers to Santa Fe, giving it a counterculture flair. That creative, eclectic spirit persists to this day: its streets are lined with boutiques and restaurants selling everything from Asian antiques to hiking gear, chile fries to capellini con pomodoro, served by a Broadway singing waiter. The Sanbusco Center offers a variety of diverse shops, from doggie boutiques to toys that defy science, and on summer afternoons at the Santa Fe Farmer’s Market you’ll find fresh fruits, vegetables, cheeses, honey, and crafts, and neighbors catching up.

And there’s the artistic renaissance that’s taking place. Anchored by El Museo Cultural and SITE Santa Fe, the city’s internationally recognized contemporary art space, the Guadalupe District’s galleries offer a different type of zest to Santa Fe’s famed art scene.

To truly kick back like a local, grab a buffalo burger and a beer at the Cowgirl Hall of Fame or Willie’s Blues Bar. Both are perfect for late-night food and live music, and you’ll be boot scootin’ like a local in no time.