A train trestle north of Chama was recently destroyed in a fire–so the Cumbres & Toltec railroad service is running only on its northern leg in Colorado, from Antonio north. If you have tickets on the train from Chama, they’ll put you on a bus up to Antonio, where you can ride the rest of the train.
Unfortunately, this situation is for the foreseeable future, until they’re able to repair the trestle.
Fernandez de Taos bookstore has moved around the corner, onto Paseo del Pueblo Norte just next World Cup coffee.
The road running along the Rio Grande gorge on the west side has been paved, so you can head down this way and then jog over to Ojo Caliente and on south to Santa Fe–another scenic route, with potential for a hot-springs break! Look for the turn off US 64, about a mile west of the gorge.
Joseph’s Table is shut! Sad. Sabor de Antonio, a Mexican-style seafood and steak place, is now in the space–which is funny, because this is the second time Antonio has taken over Joseph’s Table’s old space.
Dragonfly Cafe is no longer open for breakfast, except for Sunday brunch. Now it does lunch and dinner (and is closed Tues).
Guadalupe Cafe and the Sustaining Cultures bookstore is shut.
Maverick County Food Co. is shut–it’s now a Japanese place.
Apple Tree is shut.
Byzantium is substantially cheaper than it used to be.
Antonio’s has reopened next to where Guadalupe Cafe used to be, with his good Mexican menu–roast lamb, cochinita pibil.
The Laughing Horse Inn is no longer particularly cheap, which is odd. I now think the Taos Inn has one of the better deals for solo travelers.
The Paragon Inn has changed names and is embroiled in a bit of a local scandal, and I can’t really bring myself to recommend the place.
Mountain Light no longer functions as a B&B, just a longer-term retreat center.
The Pink Schoolhouse Gallery is shut. Which means…there appear to be no functioning businesses left in Tres Piedras.
Paloma Blanca coffeehouse has shut–it is now an all-purpose restaurant that doesn’t look particularly notable.
Texas Reds moved across the street and east about a block.
The Hole Thing is shut.
Cookin’ Books is shut.
Gandy Dancer B&B is shut.
Taos is jumping on the successful Rail Runner link between ABQ and Santa Fe: Starting June 4, Taos Express will run a shuttle bus will between Taos and the Santa Fe Rail Runner depot, timed with the train’s arrival, on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Round-trip price is $10, and you can transfer to the Taos Chile Line town bus for free.
Mountain Treasures (p. 157) is shut. In fact, the building it was in is completely gone–always disorienting. Also, The Hole Thing is for sale, so might not be reliable for much longer.
Dragonfly Café (p. 147) does only lunch and dinner now, not breakfast—plus Sunday brunch.
Joe’s Main Street Bakery (p. 147) is shut.
Gypsy 360 (p. 147) is now the Maverick County Café—totally different menu, but very good. Open only for long lunch (11am–4pm or so).
Antonio’s (p. 148) is closed; fortunately, Rellenos Café is still open.
The pastry chef at De la Tierra (p. 148) is gone; unfortunately I can’t vouch for the pastry quality any longer.
The Burrito Wagon (p. 148) is gone. (I saw it parked in someone’s yard a few blocks away—so sad!)
Blue Rain Gallery (p. 140) has moved to Santa Fe.
FX/18 (p. 141) has moved to Bent St, east end, closer to Taos Inn.
Winter hours from the Blumenschein Museum (p. 131) are 10am to 4pm Tues through Sat, and noon to 4pm on Sun. (I’m remiss in posting this—someone alerted me to this months ago!)
The address of Gearing Up bike shop (p. 143) is 129 Paseo del Pueblo _Sur_–it’s just south of the intersection with Kit Carson Rd.
Taos Ski Valley will start allowing snowboarders on its slopes as of March 19, 2008. Truly a major change.
