Nitasha Manning
and
Kitchen’s Opera House
Gallup, New Mexico

After leaving Richardson Trading Company, we met Nitasha Manning on the way to our car...she was working at the well-known restaurant next door, Eagle Café, and wanted us to try the organic cuisine. The restaurant, which has since closed after being in business many years, was located in Kitchen’s Opera House.

Constructed in 1895, Kitchen’s Opera House is one of the oldest buildings in Gallup, having been used as a multi-faceted facility for over 50 years and still standing after 116 years. It originally functioned as an opera house in the mining community. Opera houses were popular in the western part of the U.S. in the 1800s. The railroad presence in that town made it possible for theatrical companies and other entertainment to come Gallup. In the early part of the 20th century it hosted social, sporting, and political events.

We accepted Nitasha's invitation and returned the following day for Sunday brunch. As promised, the food was great, but we were in for an even greater treat when Nitasha shared with us her background as a Native who dedicated her life to working with children in her community and, as an artist and historian, her creative work as an energizing force in the Gallup arts scene. Nitasha is active in ArtsCrawl, a town-wide cultural event held every Saturday. The work she and other Native Gallupians are doing to preserve Gallup and its traditions is notable and her story touched us deeply.