It's No Mystery Why People Love Marfa

Marfa use to be known mainly for the optical phenomenon of
mysterious lights that take place in the Marfa skies and the
 movie "Giant" that was filmed there in 1956 with James Dean
(his last movie he made before his untimely death).  It may be
located in the vast prairie land of West Texas, but this dusty little town
  where cattle and other livestock outnumber the human population, has
become one of the hippest communities of art, food and hotels  like no other.
 Part art town, part ranching town, former military town, former oil town,
 and part border-patrol town makes Marfa a unique place where artists
and ranchers sit at the same coffee shops.

Prada is a faux couture shop located just west of town in the
middle of nowhere.  It was constructed by artists Elmgreen
and Dragset.  Marfa is a magnet for many contemporary and
minimalist artists.   There are a number of wonderful galleries
 there including the Binder Eugene Gallery, Galleri Urbane
Contemporary Art, Inde/Jacobs Fine Art &Photo, Urban Art,
 Marfa Studio of Arts and Ballroom Marfa.  But, none more
 infamous than founder Donald Judd's Chinati Foundation,
an indoor/outdoor contemporary art museum that put Marfa on
the map as the cutting edge of contemporary art in the world.

Even though the nearest commercial airport is three hours away,
there is a good reason the Smithsonian Magazine, recently named Marfa #8
in its poll of  the 20 Best Small Towns in America.  

Marfa boasts iconic hotels such as Thunderbird, a blend of contemporary
architecture with western touches built by the same team in Austin that
built the funky Hotel San Jose, El Cosmico which is an assemblage
of yurts, safari tents, a teepee, and meticulously restored mobile
home sitting on 18 acres at the edge of town and Hotel Paisano, a 1930's
Spanish Colonial edifice where James Dean stayed during
the filming of "Giant".  Cibolo Creek Ranch is located just
40 minutes south of town.

Ballroom Marfa has two art galleries totaling 4,500 square feet
with a 6,000 square foot courtyard.  It is housed in a 1927
 converted dancehall. 

The Marfa National Bank Building has been restored
 to encompass part of the Judd Foundation.

A display of the Chianti Foundation art.

Funky and tasty restaurants are plentiful in this little outpost
such as:
Food Shark -- a vintage food truck serving Mediterranean-
by-the-way-of-West Texas food and open from 11:45a.m.-3:00p.m.
Frama@Tumbleweed Laundry -- a quirky coffee shop that
that is attached to a coin-operated laundry.
Austin Street Cafe -- after enjoying an 18 year run in Santa Fe,
the owners moved it to Marfa into a restored 1885 adobe house
where they serve homemade sandwiches, salads,
 soups and baked goods open from 11:00a.m. until 2:00p.m.
Jett's Grill -- named after James Dean's character in "Giant", this
restaurant is located inside the historic Hotel Paisano and serves
seafood, pasta, chicken and beef dishes.
Maiya's -- this Northern Italian restaurant is the place to go for
a gourmet dish featuring grilled and roasted meats and veggies along
with an excellent wine list that you can enjoy under Marfa's
massive moon-lit sky.
The Pizza Foundation -- serves up New York-style thin crust pie in
a former gas station that stays open until they run out of dough.
Afraid Book Co. -- a popular place in the center of town with an art
gallery, bookstore and wine/coffee shop.
Squeeze Marfa -- a cozy little sandwich shop open until mid afternoon.
Brown Recluse -- drop in early for cappuccino, Mexican pastries, burritos,
and breakfast in this charming home.  It is also home to Big Bend
Roasters where they also have vintage books, records,  and cowboy boots.
Marfa Burrito --  located in a freestanding commercial building, but
feels like you are in a family kitchen serving great burritos
for breakfast and lunch.


I'LL BE MAKING MY WAY BACK TO MARFA SOON!
TRAVEL M GIRL