Nightlife

National recording artists frequently perform at NMSU's Pan Am Center (tel. 575/646-1420; www.nmsu.edu). The NMSU Music Department (tel. 575/646-2421) offers free jazz, classical, and pop concerts from August to May, and the Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra (tel. 575/646-3709; www.lascrucessymphony.com) often performs here as well.

Hershel Zohn Theater (tel. 575/646-4515), at NMSU, presents plays of the professional/student American Southwest Theatre Company from September to May, featuring dramas, comedies, musicals, and original works. Visit http://theatre.nmsu.edu/astc for information. The No Strings Theatre Company at the Black Box Theatre, 430 N. Downtown Mall (tel. 575/523-1223; www.no-strings.org), presents an eclectic selection of plays in a relaxed atmosphere, including some excellent local works.

The Las Cruces Community Theatre (tel. 575/523-1200; www.lcctnm.org) mounts six productions a year at its own facility on the downtown mall.

The Mesilla Valley Film Society (tel. 575/524-8287) runs a good selection of contemporary and vintage art films at the Fountain Theatre (www.fountaintheatre.org), 2469 Calle de Guadalupe, a half-block south of the plaza in Mesilla, nightly at 7:30pm and sometimes 9:45pm, and Sunday at 2:30pm and sometimes 5pm.

If you'd like a cocktail in a fun atmosphere, a new option has opened up. Azul Nightclub in the Hotel Encanto, 705 S. Telshor Blvd., (tel. 866/383-0443 or 575/522-4300; www.hhandr.com). In a contemporary setting reminiscent of a Spanish nightclub, the city's youngish business set has drinks and hors 'd oeuvres.

Rambling Downtown -- The first Friday of each month all the galleries on the Downtown Mall stay open until 7pm for the Downtown Ramble. Most serve refreshments and have artists on-hand to visit with patrons. While wandering in the area stop in the Rio Grande Theatre, 211 N. Downtown Mall, (tel. 575/523-7403; www.daarts.org). Built in 1926 as a movie palace, it has been restored to an elegant performing arts center. With Art Deco touches inside and out, including a restored neon sign and elaborate tile work, it's worth seeing in its own right. But plenty happens in the theater as well. Recent shows include Eliza Gilkyson in concert and a rendition of Prairie Home Companion. The theater sits along Main Street in downtown, also restored, offering a great place to stroll, though at this writing few shops had as yet opened up. One gallery worth checking out is M. Phillip's, 300 N. Downtown Mall (tel. 575/525-1367) which carries Russian and European fine art.