Canyon Road, the storied street lined with shops and galleries on Santa Fe's east side, has seen its share of changes. Known for the creative community that sprang up in the 1920s and its vibrancy in the '60s, Canyon Road unquestionably played a role in establishing the City Different's status as an arts mecca in the Southwest. But to hear Maggie Fine tell it, the arts district has lost some of its luster compared to past decades, particularly for locals.
"I was kind of like, 'Why don't we come here? Why don't we feel welcome here?' " said Fine, a Santa Fe native who returned to her hometown in 2017 from New York City, where she worked as an actress. "It's really because in the '90s we were kicked off Canyon Road when Santa Fe sort of exploded as a tourist mecca." The idea that some locals have lost contact with Canyon Road prompted Fine, the co-owner of Santa Fe Magazine, to spearhead this year's Canyon Road Summer Walks, held from 5-8 p.
m. the first Wednesday of each month from June to October in a series of roving celebrations. On Wednesday, the third walk this summer, pedestrians descended on the street — which was closed to traffic — to absorb live music, dine on food from vendor trucks and browse the galleries.
The walks aim to "revitalize and celebrate the rich artistic and cultural heritage of Santa Fe's historic Canyon Road for generations to come," the project's website states. Many locals remember the lively Friday night scene on Canyon Road in the '90s and ear.