Marfa Texas | marklipsky.com

The cold weather and Covid made it impossible to fairly evaluate Marfa. I’m sure that warmer temps and a town generally free of disease would have made our Marfa experience considerably more exhilarating. As it was, it was…fine. No regrets for taking the long-ish drive.

Stayed at the appropriately low-fi Tumble In RV park. (The park at the opposite end of town was even less fi.)

The so-called ‘office’ was a self-serve affair. Never seen this before. A hand-written note stated that there would be no fresh water the day I checked in, but that it should be back on the following day, which it was. Freezing cold weather will do that.

There’s a literal wrong side of the tracks in Marfa where pretty much everything is is in some state of disrepair. The tourist side is much more attractive, though nowhere I’d want to live.

Margaret’s had been recommended as the best place in town for food. We had takeout our first night in town and returned a few days later for in-restaurant dining. Not much on environment here. The space leaves something to be desired but they’ve done a pretty good job with a somewhat challenging footprint.

The local newspaper, The Big Bend Sentinel, doubles for a café that serves coffee, a few cocktails and beers, as well as a short list of mostly Mexican food items. They also sell a nice collection of glassware and other household items and tchotchkes. Open until 3pm, their flat white was excellent, their cocktails kinda meh and their outdoor seating area inviting and comfortable.

We stopped in at the Planet Marfa Beer Garden a couple of afternoons where environment is everything. I know, a picture would have helped but I only shot the outside of these joints. Why? Don’t know. Lots of pics in this link though.

We also stopped in at the Marfa Spirit Company where they distill an assortment of spirits. They serve drinks at a long bar inside their funky-sheik interior. Their merch was by far the most expensive I’ve ever seen. Unfortunately, their limited graphic designs are also the best in town.

Here are Cliff & Linda & Lexi at a corner hosting a Thai food truck and outdoor movie screen. You can’t really see the food truck, but the rusted out car art and painted cruiser make for a very Marfa backdrop.

We also day-tripped to the nearby McDonald Observatory, about 45 minutes from town. We took in their Solar Viewing show featuring live views of the sun from various telescopes. Pretty cool, NPI.

Followed the week in Marfa with a week in Cave Creek where I had a doc’s appointment to address an elbow thing I’ve been dealing with for about a year. Got the shot of cortisone I expected and believe it’s finally on the mend.

I’ll be flying east out of Phoenix for a wedding near the end of March so decided head up to Vegas for a visit with brother Jeff. I’m more than half way there at the moment, spending a few days on BLM land just outside Lake Havasu City, AZ. I’ve stayed here before. That’s an advantage of being on the road for the past 16 or so months. Now, as John Lennon and the Beatles might sing, there are places I remember.

7 Responses to “Marfa Texas”

Paul Langer February 23, 2022

Was “I love Dick” filmed in Marfa or was it just supposed to be about Marfa? In the TV show, it looked much more
modern and sophisticated.

Mark Lipsky February 24, 2022

Here’s a partial answer https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/new-show-love-dick-say-marfa/

Marco February 24, 2022

Great pics!
Steve Burns February 24, 2022

Mark,
I’ll be in Tucson until the beginning of April then Durango then Westcliffe Colorado for a few weeks. I am hoping our paths can cross sometime. Let me know if you’re back in Arizona before you go East. Maybe we ca work something out. Otherwise I hope to see you in Colorado.
Thanks for the Blog. I’m loving it.
BTW Rob says hi.

Steve