Nosotros
Best Art Collective
1. Meow Wolf
At the core of Meow Wolf's successful business model lies the progressive belief that its artist-employees deserve to make a decent living. Also, they do kickass concerts.
1352 Rufina Circle, 395-6369
54 ½ E San Francisco St., Ste. 7
3. City of Mud
1114 A Hickox St., 954-1705
Best Band
1. Nosotros
We aren't hurting in the talented musician department around here, but when a band like Nosotros can so seamlesly blend elements of Latin, rock, jazz and beyond into one incredibly danceable and sexy vision, it's easy to see how they rise to the top of our readers' lists.
2. JJ and the Hooligans
3. Cloacas
Best Bar
Margs that come with a shaker full of extra, an affordable bar menu and all the sports and open windows in the beautiful summertime you can handle. Plus, check out the once-tented patio space that's now a nice bright room.
101 W Alameda St., 954-0320
2. Boxcar
530 S Guadalupe St., 988-7222
3. Santa Fe Spirits Tasting Room
308 Read St., 780-5906
Kelli Johansen
Best Bartender
1. Zane Duffy, Violet Crown
With the concept of theaters and booze finally married, a collective sigh of relief rang out across the land. When said concept made its way to Santa Fe, the people celebrated. And there, someplace in the thick of it all, is Duffy.
1606 Alcaldesa St., 216-5678
2. Clifford Pena, Santa Fe Spirits Tasting Room
308 Read St., 780-5906
3. Leahi Mayfield, The Palace Saloon
142 W Palace Ave., 428-0690
Best Dance Company
If you don't sing along to the songs from The Little Mermaid or tap your feet when 100 kids belt out "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" with choreography during one of packed NDI performances, you might need a heart transplant.
1140 Alto St., 983-7846
550 St. Michael's Drive, Ste. B1, 983-5591
3. Pomegranate/MOSAIC Dance Company
1935 Warner Ave., 501-2142
Best Date Spot
1. Violet Crown
The old movie date standby still delights, and is made all the more sweet with a varied menu for all appetites, that gigantic beer list and a comfortable picnic-style patio with a view of the beautiful mountains.
1606 Alcaldesa St., 216-5678
21 Ten Thousand Waves Way, 982-9304
3. Meow Wolf
1352 Rufina Circle, 395-6369
Best DJ
1. Felix Cordova
He's facilitated parties since the days of Corazón (and even earlier) with a carefully curated setlist and an undying mission to get the dancing started. Cordova, aka Your Boy Re-Flex, wants to pump you up—and does.
2. DJ Dynamite Sol
3. DJ Feathericci
Best Gallery
Paintings? Check. Music? Check. Video, sculpture, dance and pretty much any kind of contemporary awesomeness you can imagine in the Railyard Arts District? Check, check, check and check.
435 S Guadalupe St., 982-8111
1075 Paseo De Peralta, 982-4631
3. Wow! Gallery
135 W Palace Ave., 466-1225
Best Hotel Bar
1. Del Charro Saloon, Inn of the Governors
The best hotel bars can boast an identity separate from the hotel itself, and Del Charro has that in spades. Comfortable seating, a beautiful patio and some of the best drinks and food in town make it one of the best, hotel or no.
101 W Alameda St., 954-0320
delcharro.com
2. Secreto Lounge, Hotel St. Francis
210 Don Gaspar Ave., Ste. A, 983-5700
3. Bar Alto, Drury Plaza Hotel
228 E Palace Ave., 982-0883
Best Instagram Feed
In the span of a few short years, Simply Santa Fe's Amy Tischler and Caitlin Jenkins went from new friends snapping pics to straight-up social media influencers.
2. @meow__wolf
(that's two underscores, folks)
3. @haydenfold
Best Live Music Venue
It only goes down a couple months out of the year, but no place else will you find more live music acts for free under those famous New Mexico skies.
The Plaza, 100 Old Santa Fe Trail, 986-6054
301 Opera Drive, 986-5900
3. Lensic Performing Arts Center
211 W San Francisco St., 988-1234
Best Movie House
1. Violet Crown Santa Fe
Unlike your average multi-plex movie theater, Violet Crown makes sure to include foreign films and throwback screenings alongside whatever Hollywood blockbuster is dominating at the time, plus animation and guilty pleasure one-offs alongside whatever kid's movie is making the rounds.
1606 Alcaldesa St., 216-5678
418 Montezuma Ave., 466-5528
3. Center for Contemporary Arts Cinematheque
1050 Old Pecos Trail, 982-1338
Best Museum
1. Museum of International Folk Art
Step into the Museum of International Folk Art—the largest of its kind in the world—and check out some of the finest examples of art and craft spanning hundreds of years and countries.
706 Camino Lejo, 476-1200
1606 Paseo de Peralta, 989-1199
217 Johnson St., 946-1000
Best Performing Arts Venue
1. Lensic Performing Arts Center
Nowhere else in town can you see world-class theater or opera simulcast in HD, Weird Al Yankovic playing live, ballet, talks from the likes of John Waters, standup comedy, lectures and lessons, classical music, rock and … the list goes on and on.
211 W San Francisco St., 988-1234
301 Opera Drive, 986-5900
3. Meow Wolf
1352 Rufina Circle, 395-6369
Best Theater Group
1. Wise Fool
Wise Fool draws from hundreds of years of circus arts tradition while engaging the community through workshops, performances and more.
1131 Siler Road, Ste. B, 992-2588
142 E De Vargas St., 988-4262
1213 Parkway Drive, Ste. B, 629-8688
