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A Perfect Palette: Art in the Southwest

Reno-Tahoe, Nevada

The Nevada Museum of Art in downtown Reno features modern and contemporary works, as well as historic artifacts. The museum’s Chez Louie restaurant emphasizes local food and is headed by one of the region’s top chefs, Mark Estee.

“When the museum’s rooftop is completed early next year, groups can rent out this venue that overlooks the city and the mountains beyond,” said Ben McDonald, communications manager for Reno Tahoe USA. “Groups can build their own menu with Chef Estee who does everything in-house, including his own butchering and baking for his six Reno restaurants.”

Heading into its 21st year in July, the city’s Artown program boasts more than 500 events, including musical performances, interactive workshops and art exhibits. It involves more than 100 organizations and businesses at nearly 100 locations citywide. Its footprint is expanding to a year-round calendar.

The nationally recognized Reno Chamber Orchestra and Reno Philharmonic perform at the 1,500-seat Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts with its gold geodesic dome roof. The chamber orchestra’s conductor is the most recorded conductor of his generation. The AVA Ballet Theatre partners with both groups for numerous performances.

“Each December, the internationally acclaimed Nevada Chamber Music Festival attracts international competition winners, Grammy nominees and Reno’s finest talent,” said McDonald.

Approximately 45 minutes from Reno, Sand Harbor Beach in Lake Tahoe makes the perfect setting for the summer Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. The stage is built with the lake as its backdrop, and people can bring in food and wine for the productions. Groups should reserve tickets in advance.

www.visitrenotahoe.com

San Antonio, Texas

Central to San Antonio’s heartbeat are its five missions, which were collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015. The missions reflect the city’s blended Spanish, Mexican and Native American cultures. All are active Catholic parishes, and the clergy still wear the traditional brown robes.

Mission San Antonio de Valero, known as the Alamo, was founded in the early 1700s. Four more missions followed. They secured the land and formed the backbone of society. Every Sunday at Mission San José, once the largest Spanish mission in Texas, the bilingual Mariachi Mass is celebrated by Franciscan priests.

For active tours, bikes can be rented at the Blue Star Art Complex or through the city’s B-Cycle program. The missions lie along the eight-mile Mission Reach trail that now adjoins the Riverwalk for 15 total miles. The paved pathway connects the missions with downtown’s Briscoe Western Art Museum and the San Antonio Museum of Art.

Six blocks from the downtown Riverwalk lies Market Square, the largest Mexican marketplace north of the Rio Grande. Stores stock clothing, crafts and striking Mexican pottery. At the bustling Mi Tierra restaurant, four generations of the Cortez family have served Tex-Mex and homeland specialties from Guadalajara since 1941.

Foodies will enjoy the weeklong Culinaria festival, held annually in May. Among the festival’s many events, local chefs and chefs from Mexico cook side by side at Friday night’s Best of Mexico.

www.visitsanantonio.com

Oklahoma City

Besides its Western influences, the Sooner State serves as headquarters to 39 Native American tribes. In Oklahoma City’s Bricktown district, Exhibit C, part gallery and part boutique, showcases the history of the Chickasaw tribe with authentic artwork handcrafted by Chickasaw artists: native jewelry, pottery, paintings and clothing. Bedre Fine Chocolates, the only chocolate made by a Native American tribe, can also be found there.

Spanish Revival architecture graces the Paseo Arts District with original stucco and clay tile roofs. The district, which dates to 1929, hosts monthly First Friday Gallery Walks and boasts restaurants, boutiques, 17 galleries and more than 70 artists. The annual Paseo Arts Festival, which takes place over Memorial Day weekend, showcases juried works, along with performances and live music.

The National Cowboy Western and Heritage Museum tells America’s story through its superb collection of classic and contemporary art and artifacts. Groups can schedule a themed tour that highlights rodeos, the American cowboy or Native American art. In June, the museum will host Prix de West, an invitational art exhibit of more than 300 Western paintings and sculpture works by the nation’s finest contemporary Western artists. The show kicks off with seminars on art-related topics and culminates with a fixed-price sale of the exhibition pieces.

“Prix de West is a very prestigious event, and people travel from all over to look and buy,” said Tabbi Burwell, communications manager for the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Opening weekend is June 10, but the exhibit will be displayed through early August.”

For cowboy tunes, the Saturday evening Rodeo Opry in Stockyard City introduces talented new performers, local favorites and the professional Opry house band. Designated Oklahoma’s Official Country Music Show, the Opry delivers family-style entertainment and works with groups for private events.

www.visitokc.com

Elizabeth Hey

Elizabeth Hey is a member of Midwest Travel Journalists Association and has received numerous awards for her writing and photography. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook @travelbyfork.