Arts

From Marfa to the Moon:
A Weekend in West Texas

Vogue.com asked Fairfax Dorn, cofounder and executive director of Ballroom Marfa, to share some of her favorite snapshots from the weekend and offer an insider’s opinion on where to eat, shop, and stay while in town.
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Ballroom Marfa: This where it all began. In 2003, Virginia Lebermann and I knew there was something special about the former dance hall (The Queen’s Ballroom, circa 1927) and decided to create a cultural center of art, music, and film in this remote desert community, where the minimalist artist Donald Judd lived and worked. We kicked off our benefit weekend with a cocktail reception at the Ballroom space.Photo: Mary Lou Saxon
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During Memorial Day weekend in May, Ballroom Marfa, a contemporary arts and culture hub in the high desert of west Texas, hosted its 2012 benefit dinner and concert, A Trip to the Moon: A Weekend with Aliens and Astronauts. Three days of events celebrated the organization’s nine years of art, film, and music projects, with guests traveling from as far away as Hong Kong. Vogue.com asked Fairfax Dorn, cofounder and executive director of Ballroom Marfa, to share some of her favorite snapshots from the weekend and offer an insider’s opinion on where to eat, shop, and stay while in town.

Where to Eat, Shop, and Stay in Marfa: Fairfax Dorn’s Picks

Stay at the contemporary Thunderbird hotel or the historic Hotel Paisano.

For the best savory red-pepper margarita, steak frites, and chocolate soufflé, go to Cochineal.

For lunch, go to the one-and-only Food Shark. I also recommend Pizza Foundation, and Tacos del Norte (1501 W San Antonio St.; 432.729.4540) for nopales tacos.

For home-cooked pasta, go to Maiya’s and for chicken-fried steak, visit Jett’s Grill at Hotel Paisano.

For buying books and more, The Marfa Book Company is a beautifully considered shop where you can peruse their impressively stocked shelves, see art, hear music, and listen to readings by some of the world’s most renowned authors (many of them courtesy of the Lannan Foundation).

For shopping, I recommend Tienda M (108 S. Highland Avenue, 432.729.4440), where you’ll find Dosa apparel and handmade pottery, paper jewelry, and rugs from Mexico, along with local artisan accessories.

For custom cowboy boots, stop by the Cobra Rock Boot Company.

For locally made art and jewelry, visit the Wrong Store. For more art buying, there’s 2D Exhibitions or Galleri Urbane Marfa.

Of course, no visit to Marfa is complete without a visit to Donald Judd’s Chinati Foundation and Judd Foundation, and you can’t forget the oldest attraction in town—the mystery Marfa Lights.

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