What's New

New Mexico has come by its mañana reputation honestly. Usually change happens . . . tomorrow. But some lively additions have occurred in the region that are well worth exploring.

Albuquerque

Where to Stay in Albuquerque -- The Sheraton Old Town has come under new management and received a major makeover. Now called Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town, 800 Rio Grande Blvd. NW (tel. 800/237-2133; www.hotelabq.com), it offers colonial elegance near the city's best attractions.

Where to Dine in Albuquerque -- Those who befriend complex flavors will enjoy AmbroZia Café & Wine Bar, 108 Rio Grande Blvd. NE (tel. 505/242-6560; www.ambroziacafe.com), in Old Town. In an intimate setting, this restaurant serves contemporary global food. The duck burger with polenta fries is especially memorable.

What to See & Do in Albuquerque -- The city's new Balloon Museum, 9201 Balloon Museum Dr. NE (tel. 505/768-6020; www.balloonmuseum.com), tells the history of ballooning from its first flight in 1783 to the present, with authentic air-crafts displayed. Albuquerque's brightest new district -- Gold Avenue -- provides fun shopping and dining.

En Route to Santa Fe: Along The Turquoise Trail

The mining village of Madrid has become a booming arts town. At Al Leedom Studio, 2485 NM 14 (tel. 505/473-2054), visitors can watch the artist blow glass on weekends. Meanwhile, Indigo Gallery, 2584 NM 14 (tel. 505/438-6202), represents 20 New Mexico artists working in a broad range of mediums.

Santa Fe

Where to Dine in Santa Fe -- Many Santa Feans' favorite new spot is Aquasanta, 451 W. Alameda (tel. 505/982-6297). In a cozy hacienda-like atmosphere complete with kiva fireplace, diners feast on fresh, often organic, inventively prepared food. The lamb burger rates as one of the city's best lunches. The biggest change to a restaurant in the City Different is the transformation of The Palace to Señor Lucky's at the Palace, 142 W. Palace Ave. (tel. 505/982-9891; www.senorluckys.com). It now has a festive patio and elegant Western interior and serves delectably complex foods by the same chef as the famed Geronimo. Try the tacos! If you're looking for a bit of Italy, head to Trattoria Nostrani, 304 Johnson St. (tel. 505/983-3800; www.trattorianostrani.com), a northern Italian cafe not far from the plaza. The chefs visit Italy each year to enhance their offerings such as roasted quail with sweet Italian sausage or rack of lamb. Meanwhile, the chef at notable 315 has opened an American food restaurant that has locals talking. The Railyard Restaurant & Saloon, 530 S. Guadalupe St. (tel. 505/989-3300; www.railyardrestaurantandsaloon.com), offers tasty steaks and less American fare as well. The sesame-and-panko-crusted tuna is dynamite.

What to See & Do in Santa Fe -- The City Different's newest way to relax is with an Indo-Asian spa treatment at Absolute Nirvana Spa, Tea Room & Gardens, 106 Faithway St. (tel. 505/983-7942; www.absolutenirvana.com). The spa has master-level therapists who use plants, herbs, and spices in their treatments.

Taking the High Road to Taos

The High Road Marketplace, a co-op gallery off the Santuario de Chimayo plaza (tel. 866/343-5381 or 505/351-1078; www.highroadnewmexico.com), offers art and crafts from all over northern New Mexico, with an excellent collection of devotional crosses. Also along the High Road to Taos, in a vintage theater in the village of Peñasco, the Sugar Nymphs Bistro, 15046 NM 75 (tel. 505/587-0311), serves inventive food such as a pork tenderloin with chipotle cream sauce.

Where to Stay in Taos -- For better or worse, the Taos Ski Valley seems to be condo-izing. Last year, the Edelweiss made the move. This year, the Snakedance has become Snakedance Condominiums and Spa, 110 Sutton Place (tel. 800/332-9815 or 505/776-2277; www.snakedancecondos.com). These upscale condos at the very base of the mountain offer all the luxuries of home.

Where to Dine in Taos -- The Taos dining scene, always imaginative, has a few new notches on its hostess stand. First, La Folie, 106-B Paseo del Pueblo Norte (tel. 505/751-7549; www.restaurantlafolie.com), offers elegant French food in a relaxed urban environment. Lunch has soups, salads, and sandwiches, while dinner offers stacked creations with delectable accoutrements such as tenderloin with saffron polenta. Taoseños are bowled over by Gutiz, 812-B Paseo del Pueblo Norte (tel. 505/758-1226), a French/Latin fusion spot in a modest space north of town. Some come for the fresh baked bread with brie at breakfast or the pork tenderloin with onion confit at lunch. Ice-cream lovers congregate at Taos Cow, 485 NM 150, Arroyo Seco (tel. 505/776-5640; www.taoscow.com). Breakfast tacos and sandwiches are a prelude to ice cream made with natural ingredients -- flavors range from cherry ristra to simply good old chocolate.

What to See & Do in Taos -- The Kit Carson Home and Museum, 113 Kit Carson Rd. (tel. 505/758-4613; www.kitcarsonhome.com), has become a whole different museum from its predecessor, which closed in 2004. It now offers a glimpse of the sparseness of 19th-century frontier-town life.

Northwestern New Mexico

At Acoma Pueblo (tel. 800/747-0181 or 505/552-7860; www.skycity.com), visitors now have more than the Sky City to see. A 40,000-square-foot museum presents the pueblo's history and present-day life through lovely artifacts.

In nearby Grants, the notable Uranium Café, 519 W. Santa Fe Ave. (tel. 505/285-4550), now serves diner-style food in a Route 66 atmosphere. Watch for a renovation of the legendary neon sign out front.

Coal Street Pub, 303 W. Coal Ave. in Gallup (tel. 505/722-0117), offers American food in a brewpub ambience with Gallup memorabilia hanging on the walls. Try the Monte Cristo.

In Farmington, Artifacts Gallery, 302 E. Main St. (tel. 505/327-2907), convenes a handful of artist's studios in a Victorian-style lumber building -- a great place to browse and schmooze with the creative set.

Not far away, the Soaring Eagle Lodge, 48 C.R. 4370, off NM 511, Navajo Dam (tel. 800/866-2719 or 505/632-5621; www.soaringeaglelodge.net), offers cabins along the San Juan River and angling on private waters.

In Chama, Cookin' Books, 2449 US 84/64 (tel. 505/756-1717), is the community's new hangout, offering tasty sandwiches such as roast turkey with goat cheese and pesto. The daily specials here are always a culinary adventure.

Northeastern New Mexico

Skwatchers are starry-eyed about the new $85,000 Observatory at Clayton Lake State Park, 141 Clayton Lake Rd. (tel. 888/NM-PARKS or 505/374-8808; www.claytonlakestatepark.com), where they can take advantage of the region's especially dark skies to see to the edge of the universe. The place to rest and dine in Capitan is the Eklund Hotel Dining Room and Saloon, 15 Main St. (tel. 505/374-2551; www.theeklund.com). Recently remodeled, it offers late-1800s-style rooms updated with contemporary amenities. At the Old West-style restaurant and bar, you'll dine on New Mexican food, steaks, and seafood.

Southwestern New Mexico

The biggest news in this part of the state is the El Camino Real International Heritage Center, C.R. 1598, 30 miles south of Socorro (tel. 505/854-3600; www.caminorealheritage.org). With artifacts and state-of-the-art exhibits, the museum presents the story of the 1,500-mile trade route from Mexico to near Santa Fe.

Certainly not new, but suddenly famous, Manny's Buckhorn Tavern, Building 68, NM 380, San Antonio (tel. 505/835-4423), serves what GQ magazine rated as one of the top 20 burgers in the United States. It's an atmospheric small-town tavern worth a stop.

The city of Las Cruces is talking about Lemongrass, 2540 El Paseo Rd. (tel. 505/523-8778). This Thai restaurant serves tasty pad Thai and other dishes made with fresh ingredients.

Road warriors cruising Interstate 10 across southern New Mexico have an oasis at the Triple J Café, 228 E. Motel Dr. (tel. 505/542-3073) in Lordsburg. Run by a close-knit family, it wins first prize in my own personal "chicken taco tour of New Mexico" competition. The baked goods are also excellent.

Under new ownership, Silver City's Vicki's Eatery, 107 Yankie St. (tel. 505/388-5430), is this mining town's hottest lunch spot, serving tummy-warming treats such as quesadillas made with cheese and black beans and a mean Reuben.

Southeastern New Mexico

If you wore yourself out playing at White Sands National Monument, step into Nature's Pantry, 915 New York Ave. (tel. 505/434-1670), to get rejuvenated. This health-food store offers tasty sandwiches and salads, accompanied by juices and smoothies. Try the espresso fruit freeze, and you'll be ready for another round on the sand.

In Ruidoso, a fun place to sample some of New Mexico's finest flavors is Viva New Mexico, 2811 Sudderth Dr. (tel. 505/257-VIVA; www.vivanm.com). Stahmann Farms pecans and Indian Summer Salsa accompany a broad rack of New Mexico wines.

Just down the street, more pleasure for the palate awaits at Sundance, 2523 Sudderth Dr. (tel. 505/257-2954), a steak-and-seafood spot that's in the building that for years held La Lorraine. Contemporary offerings stud the menu, such as a chicken Alfredo for lunch and an oven-roasted duck with cherry chipotle sauce at dinner.

In Roswell, Tia Juana's Mexican Grille & Cantina, 3601 N. Main St. (tel. 505/627-6113; www.tiajuanas.net), offers some of the liveliest food and ambience in the region. Try the enchiladas.

Hobbs' claim to fame is now the Black Gold Casino at Zia Park, 3901 W. Millen Dr. (tel. 888/ZIAPARK or 505/492-7000; www.blackgoldcasino.net), with over 700 slot machines. Live horse racing takes place September to December.

Finally, and of great note, is the resurrection of Tinnie Silver Dollar Steakhouse and Saloon, on US 70, 43 miles west of Roswell and 28 miles east of Ruidoso (tel. 505/653-4177; www.tinniesilverdollar.com). The restaurant offers excellent food in an elegant 1870s Victorian building. Try the coconut shrimp followed by filet mignon.