Fellini Film Café: Screen Your Favorite Foreign Film Tonight

November 1, 2012 By balfour

El Paso’s Fellini Film Café is something of a one-stop shop for lovers of foreign and alternative films, European-style coffees, and fine foods. The café is part coffee shop and restaurant, part video store, and part screening room. The coffee shop features a light menu of sandwiches, salads, and pastries as well as a variety of espressos, lattes, cappuccinos, mochas, teas, and Italian sodas. The video boutique has a carefully selected variety of art house and foreign films for rent, ranging from classic European directors like, say, Federico Fellini to contemporary independent and hard to find films. Daily screenings of new releases allow cinema-lovers to experience films from around the world. Visitors say that Fellini Film Café is a perfect spot for any film buff, or anyone just looking to have a unique movie-going experience in El Paso.

Fellini Film Café
220 Cincinnati Avenue
El Paso, TX 79902
(915) 544-5420

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Filed Under: Around Town Tagged With: El Paso Attractions, Fellini Film Café, Movie Theaters, Things to Do in El Paso

Wyler Aerial Tramway: Take the High Ride to Franklin Mountain

October 11, 2012 By balfour

The Wyler Aerial Tramway takes visitors to El Paso’s Franklin Mountain State Park on a memorable ride to Ranger Peak. After driving up the winding road along Franklin Mountain’s east side, visitors can park their cars and board a gondola that will carry them another 1000 feet in elevation. The tramway ride offers scenic views of cacti and rock formations, as well as the opportunity to see some of the abundant wildlife on the mountain. On its way to the peak, the short tram ride passes over a vast and deep canyon, offering dazzling and breathtaking views below. Once at Ranger Peak, park rangers and directional signs identify landmarks surrounding the mountain. On a clear day, the peak offers views not only of El Paso, but also of the surrounding towns and land in Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico. Repeat visitors say the Wyler Aerial Tramway is a fun and scenic attraction for locals and tourists alike.

Wyler Aerial Tramway
1700 McKinley Avenue
El Paso, TX 79930
(915) 566-6622

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Filed Under: Around Town Tagged With: El Paso Attractions, Parks, Things to Do in El Paso, Wyler Aerial Tramway

Franklin Mountains State Park: A Wilderness Close To Home

July 12, 2012 By balfour

Franklin Mountains State Park has the distinction of being the largest urban park in the US, with 37 square miles of park land within El Paso’s city limits. The park, which has been open to the public since 1987, overlooks the Rio Grande, and offers a variety of passive and active recreational opportunities for visitors. For those looking for a relaxing experience in the outdoors, the park offers numerous lookout points, scenic vistas, and wildlife observation opportunities – Franklin Mountains are a popular destination for birders, especially. Those seeking high adventure can enjoy challenging hiking trails, primitive tent camping, mountain biking, or rock climbing in the park’s McKelligon Canyon. Visitors praise the park ranger-led tours of Franklin Mountains, offered several times throughout the month when weather permits. Reservations are recommended for many of the organized activities including tours, rock climbing, and camping. Whether you love nature, history, or physical challenges, Frankling Mountains State Park has something to do for the whole family.

Franklin Mountain State Park
1331 McKelligon Canyon Road
El Paso, TX 79930
(915) 566-6441

By Paul Jerry from Medicine Hat, Canada [CC-BY-2.0 or CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License.

Filed Under: Around Town Tagged With: El Paso Attractions, Franklin Mountains State Park, Parks, Things to Do in El Paso

El Paso Zoo: See the Animals

March 22, 2012 By balfour

The El Paso Zoo brings family fun, education, and conservation together on 35 acres of El Paso parkland. The zoo takes a unique approach to the visitor experience, creating open landscapes that immerse visitors in the natural habitats of the animals housed within. As you wind your way through the park, you may see meerkats peering at you from the desert plains, lions lounging in the grasslands, or orangutans swinging from the forest trees. During normal visiting hours, the zoo hosts periodic Animal Encounter programs which feature up close or behind the scenes looks at trainings, feedings, and zookeeper interactions with animals. In addition to regular visiting hours during the day, the El Paso Zoo hosts Zoo Adventure Programs like Night Time Zoo sleepovers and private tours, safaris, and special education programs. Children and adults will delight in the opportunity to learn about animals and about conservation efforts happening around the globe.

El Paso Zoo
4001 E. Paisano Drive
El Paso, TX 79905
(915) 544-1928

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Filed Under: Around Town Tagged With: El Paso Attractions, El Paso Zoo, Things to Do in El Paso, Zoos

El Paso Museum of Art: A World Class Small Town Art Museum

February 16, 2012 By balfour

The El Paso Museum of Art shows that art can be proudly displayed in cities of all sizes. With an extensive permanent collection of over 5000 pieces, the museum displays a variety of pieces from Europe and the Americas. Visitors will find paintings from the 12th century, contemporary sculpture, photography, prints, and drawings from around the world all within the museum’s spacious galleries. The museum features visiting exhibitions that rotate seasonally. In addition to displaying works of visual art, the museum also hosts lectures and gallery talks, and offers classes for children and adults. Art classes include drawing, painting, print making, ceramics, and mixed media. Art lovers will rejoice at the opportunity to view world-renowned pieces in the intimacy and comfort of the El Paso Museum of Art.

El Paso Museum of Art
1 Arts Festival Plaza
El Paso, TX 79901
(915) 532-1707

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Filed Under: Around Town Tagged With: El Paso Attractions, El Paso Museum of Art, Museums, Things to Do in El Paso

Hope and Anchor: Liven Your Spirits

January 5, 2012 By balfour

El Paso’s Hope and Anchor bills itself as an “Epic Patio Bar.” Regulars and new visitors both will likely agree that this indoor/outdoor venue has an impressively large selection of spirits, beers, and wines to be enjoyed in the lively bar. Known for having friendly bartenders who serve up devilishly good fine cocktails and engaging conversation, Hope and Anchor is a trendy nighttime destination for all ages. With a laid back, relaxed atmosphere, this is a bar that welcomes people from all walks of life who are seeking a more mellow experience than a nightclub while still enjoying a night out on the town. The jukebox sports a wide selection of alternative, indie, and classic rock songs, ensuring that the music is never dull. The daily happy hour attracts an early drinking crowd with deals on everything in the bar, plus extra specials on seasonally changing drinks.

Hope and Anchor
4012 N. Mesa Street
El Paso, TX 79902
(915) 533-8010

By Gonzosft (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.