Month: August 2008

Commissioned by the Dia Art Foundation in 1977, The Lightning Field, by the American sculptor Walter De Maria, is described as “a work of Land Art” situated near Quemado. According to the Dia Art Foundation’s website, “It is comprised of 400 polished stainless steel poles installed in a grid array measuring one mile by one kilometer. The poles—two inches in diameter and averaging 20 feet and 7 1/2 inches in height—are spaced 220 feet apart and have solid pointed tips that define a horizontal plane.”

Sounds pretty impressive, but it’s even more so when you get up close.

The sculpture is meant to be walked in as well as viewed, though this is not something you can just drive up to and take a picture (hey, it’s not the World’s Largest Ball of Twine.) Those looking to experience The Lightning Field need to visit the Foundations’s website and make reservations for an overnight stay at their cabin. The Foundation vehicle picks you up from Quemado and takes you on the 45 minute drive to the fields; you’re not allowed to drive in your own car. The “visiting months” are only from May 1 through October 31 (and right now the weather’s perfect for a high country visit!) Sounds a bit mysterious, but it all adds to the drama. After all, what could possibly be more hair-raising than witnessing a field full of lightning bolts? By the way, they don’t guarantee a lightning storm, but what you can bet on is a sort of Zen encounter. Or a polarizing one, depending on who you go with. Nature, Man, Art, the mountains, the sunset, the sunrise, six people to the cabin… One thing is for sure: you won’t leave The Lightning Field unmoved.

The balmy temperatures of late summer in Ruidoso are an invitation to c’mon up and stay a while! There’s plenty to do and see year round, and these latest events will give you one more reason to think about owning your own piece of the pie: just take a look at Vera Cruz Mountain Ranch, where you can take your pick of pristine views to enjoy from your balcony and still be just a short drive away from town.

August 1 to 3, 2008

Old Lincoln Days – Lincoln, NM – Street vendors, food, parade and mountain man camp. Don’t miss the “Last Escape of Billy the Kid” pageant. 575-653-4025.

August 30 & 31, 2008

18th annual All-American Gun & Western Collectible Show: Ruidoso Convention Center, 9-5. Everything that relates to guns as well hunting equipment, knives, cowboy gear, saddles, blankets, spurs, western relics, Indian artifacts, jewelry, coins and much, much more. Admission $5 adults, kids 12 & under free. Under age 18 must be accompanied by parent or guardian. Info: Jackie, 575-257-6171.
http://trekwest.com/gunshow/

September 1, 2008

All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs Race Track & Casino: Each year, the racing season comes to an end with the running of the World’s Richest Quarter Horse Race, the Grade I All American Futurity. For information 575-378-4431.

September 17 to 21, 2008

39th Annual Golden Aspen Motorcycle Rally: Ruidoso Downs Sports Theater Complex, 3/4 miles east of the racetrack entrance. The motorcycles come back for glorious fall weather and an exceptional trade show, live entertainment and more. For information call 800-452-8045.
http://www.motorcyclerally.com/

October 4 & 5, 2008

Aspenfest Weekend – It’s our annual fall celebration complete with a parade through midtown (Sat, 10am, from the corner of Sudderth & Mechem to 700 block of Sudderth), Arts & Crafts at Schoolhouse Park on Sudderth (Sat 9-5:30, Sun 9-5, admission $1 adults, free to kids under 12), & a Rod Run Car Show at the racetrack (Sat, 8-4, free admission). Bonnie Richardson (Arts & Crafts) 378-4661, Ron Duscha (Car Show) 915-598-0621,& Rachel Weber (Parade) 575-257-7395.
http://www.ruidosonow.com/aspenfest/

October 10, 11 & 12, 2008

19th Annual Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium:
This annual celebration is held at Ruidoso Downs Race Track, and features cowboy poets, musicians, chuckwagon cooks/craftsmen plus This year will feature Johnny Bush & The Bandoleros plus Red Steagall and Lynn Anderson performing a special tribute to Cindy Walker. For information call the museum at 575-378-4142.
http://www.cowboysymposium.org/

For more details and an online copy of the The Ruidoso Visitor Guide, visit the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce at www.ruidosonow.com.

Gasoline prices in New Mexico continue to fall, dropping nearly another nickel and in particular, drivers in Las Cruces saw the cost of gasoline tumble by 13 cents per gallon. Albuquerque and Santa Fe saw much smaller declines of four and three cents, respectively.

New Mexico drivers are now paying $3.75 a gallon, that’s six cents higher than the national average of $3.69. Prices in New Mexico have fallen statewide between 30 and 35 cents in 5 weeks, since reaching a peak of $4.08 on July 17th. Still, the price of a gallon of gasoline is 85 cents more today than it was one year ago.

Las Cruces now has the least expensive gas at $3.59 a gallon, 15 cents below the statewide average and 10 cents below the national average. Santa Fe, which has had the most expensive gas in the state this summer, continues to do so, now motorists are paying $3.75 a gallon.

“While crude oil prices this week have been flat or trading slightly upwards on world markets, the price of oil is still substantially below the all-time high of $147 a barrel reached on July 17th and that decline is still being reflected at the gasoline pump. That means consumers have seen prices drop by more than 10 percent in New Mexico and nationally as well,” says AAA-New Mexico Corporate Communications Manager Dan Ronan.

“In New Mexico, the three largest metropolitan areas are seeing gas prices fall steadily; however, in the more rural areas of the state, prices remain noticeably higher than the national and statewide average. It’s Economics 101 and the rule of the marketplace, because there are more gas stations in the cities, they have to be more competitive. Drivers have more choices. In rural areas, where there are fewer stations, there’s less competition and owners can sell gas for a higher price even when prices fall,” Ronan added.

 

Clear your calendar: from September 5 through 21, the New Mexico State Fair will celebrate its 70th anniversary, and will once again play host to a hand-picked roster of some of country music’s most popular and celebrated entertainers. From raw country talent to young television superstars and established world-class bands and solo artists, Tingley Coliseum will feature them all as part of the combined PRCA rodeo and concert lineup.

“This lineup in one of the strongest I’ve seen in terms of new horizon country stars, and we’re bringing back Ronnie Milsap, to boot,” said State Fair Commission Chairman Luke Otero, who also heads the entertainment committee for the fair. “We’ve worked hard to book and confirm our entertainers early, and at this point we’re just about ready to sell tickets,” Otero continued.

As a slight detour from the expected spate of top country music artists, two of the most popular teen TV stars in the United States – Vanessa Hudgens and Corbin Bleu, who performed together in the Disney Channel original movie “High School Musical” – will headline Tingley Coliseum on Saturday, September 6.

In keeping with The New Mexico State Fair’s long history of family-friendly pricing, this year’s rodeo/concert series and concert-only tickets are still the bestdeals in town for premier entertainment. Rodeo/concert series tickets are priced at $12, $20 and $31. Season box tickets are $28 each for all eight rodeo events. Concert-only ticket prices are $25, $36, $42 and $48.

For more information, visit the New Mexico State Fair webpage.

Get ready for the hottest festival in New Mexico! The 36th Annual Hatch Chile Festival runs from August 30-31st.

Saturday: Parade 10:00, Wreath & Arrangement Contest 11:00, Welcome 12:00, Clay Mac Band 12:30, Contests 2:30, Queen’s Auction 3:00, and Diluvio Norteno Band 8:30-12:30

Sunday: Clay Mac band 12:00, Contests 2:00, Diamante de las Cruces Mariachis 2:30. Festival Auction 4:00, Contests 4:30, Spur Ride Band 5:00. Quilt & Pillow Raffle Award.

All weekend: Chile Toss, Chile Eating, Watermelon Eating contests, . . . Chile Quilt and Pillow raffle, . . . Horseshoe Tournament (Register @ 11:00) . . Chile foods, ristra tying and ristra painting demostrations

Location: Hatch Municipal Airport – 1 mile west on Highway 26.
On the web: www.HatchChileFest.com
Call for information: 575-267-5050.

Parents: take a break! A tax break, that is. Starting today August 1 through Sunday August 3, there will be zero tax charged on purchases of clothing and shoes costing less than $100. School supplies costing less than $15 also are tax-free, as well as computers that cost less than $1,000 and computer equipment costing less than $500. And take note: the price limits are per item, not on the total amount spent for purchases. In other words, if you have three kids, you can purchase three computers tax-free as long as each individual computer doesn’t exceed the $1,000 limit.

The statewide break—the fourth such annual holiday—is expected to give parents a $4.6 million dollar relief. According to a national survey, an average family can spend up to $594 on back-to-school purchases: the breaks could save them $42.

Shop on!