Around New Mexico 3: Ruidoso Downs, World's Largest Pistachio

We left sunny and 70 degree Roswell Friday morning after a lovely dinner with Alien Amber Ale  at  Farley's Pub and Restaurant (it's a fun and family friendly place with giant suspended metal "spacecraft" lamps) and a drive though the old Walker Air Force Base (shout out to Grandma Jeanne and Grandpa Woody who spent active duty Air Force time there -remember when Corky had to go to the hospital across the street from your house for putting beans up her 4-year-old nose? What a corker! ...isn't that how she got her nickname?)

Corky hamming it up at the Billy The Kid Trail Visitor's Center, Ruidoso Downs, NM

We decided to drive back to Santa Fe by heading west through the Sierra Blanca mountains to  Ruidoso Downs, where there is a famous horse racing track, a breathtaking sculpture of wild horses running, and the Billy The Kid Trail Visitor's Center, then south to Alamogordo, near White Sands, because we'd heard tell of the World's Largest Pictachio! We just had to go check that out! We left with about ten pounds of beautiful pistachios for snacking and gift giving -they had nearly a dozen flavors! (If you're interested in trying some, here's the coupon code for 10% off your online order. Enter coupon code: STOREVISIT)

Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico is the birthplace the real Smokey The Bear

Billy The Kid Trail Visitor's Center hostess, Jaimie, enjoys her Art*o*mat® art samples.

Mat is trying to keep up with the wild horses at Ruidoso Downs, NM

Mat is amazed by the beauty and grace (and size!) of the wild horses at Ruidoso Downs, NM

Mat and the Big Nut!

The World's Largest Pistachio Nut at McGinn's Pistachio Tree Ranch, Alamogordo, NM

The parking lot sign said "parking for nuts only" and Mat thought he'd fit right in.

Around New Mexico 2: Roswell, UFO Museum

It was the "crashed" flying saucer sculpture yesterday at Atomic Ed's Black Hole in Los Alamos that got Mat to wondering: did a UFO really crash in Roswell back in 1947?  We thought a drive down to Roswell was in order.  About halfway there we stopped at a 50's tribute diner in the tiny town of Vaughn, called Penny's Diner, for lunch.  It was a shining chrome glory with black and white tiles and 50's and 60's rock n' roll playing as we enjoyed a buffalo burger and an order of "frings" (1/2 order fries, 1/2 order onion rings).

50's fabulousness at Penny's Diner in Vaughn, NM

When we got into Roswell we had to take Mat directly to the authority on the alien spacecraft crash incident: The International UFO Museum and Research Center.  Mat didn't get to go inside, but we took plenty of photos for him.  He got to pose proudly in front of the UFO Museum marquis and met some new friends including Beth and her museum gift shop co-workers, and Larry from Seattle, who was in town for (Mariners?) spring training and was just passing by.

Mat shines in the sun in front of The International UFO Museum and Research Center.  Roswell, NM

Larry from Seattle was passing by and posed for a photo with Mat.  Roswell, NM

Mat poses with Beth from the UFO Museum gift store.  Roswell, NM

Alien grays under their spinning saucer craft at UFO Museum. Roswell, NM

Victoria is overcome with emotion at this UFO crash painting in the Research Library

Life size diorama of the alien autopsy at UFO Museum.  Roswell, NM

Diorama of exactly how the UFO crashed in Roswell, 1947

Even the elevator floor in our hotel got in on the alien fun!

Around New Mexico: The Black Hole Atomic Surplus Store, Los Alamos, NM

Only 40 miles from Santa Fe is Los Alamos, and Corky's Roadside Attractions iPhone app told us not to miss Atomic Ed's Black Hole Surplus Store  -a junk store filled with nuclear weapons industry cast-offs.  We didn't know that during winter hours they close at 3:00pm and we rolled in only twenty minutes before.  Needless to say the management wasn't too pleased that two ladies with an arted-up cigarette machine wanted to come take photos with (and not buy anything).  Some free samples of Art*o*mat® art and a nice tip changed the vibe a bit but we were in and out of there in a flash nevertheless.

Mat at Atomic Ed's Black Hole Surplus Store.  Los Alamos, NM

Mat fits right in at the funky Black Hole Atomic Surplus Store.  Los Alamos, NM

Atomic Ed Grothus passed away a few years back and his children now run the business.  I only got to glance at the warehouse full of aisles of atomic age nostalgia and strange doo-hickies with knobs and dials and ancient looking tv screens. Hours could be spent there and anyone with a creative streak in them could acquire a fine collection of "art supplies."  I asked for a geiger counter or a gas mask but sadly, they were plumb out. The manager mentioned that they were not getting in any new inventory because they were planning on going out of business.  Sad news, but not so impossible to believe in this economy.  If anyone reading this plans on visiting, we recommend you do it soon or this gem of a weirdness warehouse might be a thing of the past.

It's love at first sight! Mat meets Betty Buttons (or was it Debby Dials?) at The Black Hole

Mat and "girlfriend," Betty Buttons cuddle close in front of a "missile" and pile of bowling balls.

Mat gets a kick out of the inventory at Atomic Ed's Black Hole Surplus Store

The "First Church of High Technology" (closed) next door to the store was sequestered behind a chain link fence out of Mat's reach, but we had to take a few photos. It's just...well...we don't quite have words for it. It's so cool! I wish I'd got to meet Atomic Ed.  The Black Hole website mentions an HBO documentary special about him and his store so that's something that we'll have to seek out when we get home. Peace, man!

"No one is secure unless everyone is secure" First Church of High Technology at Atomic Ed's  Los Alamos, NM

Memorial sign at the First Church of High Technology Los Alamos, NM

There's even a crashed flying saucer next to the church! Reminds us of Roswell....but that's another trip.

Around Santa Fe 2: Camel Rock, Dino Family

Another gorgeous day in Santa Fe coaxed Mat out of the minivan and to two more fabulous roadside attractions: the all-natural Camel Rock Monument in Pojoaque and the charming polyurethane foam Brontosaurus Family. But first we need to give a shout out to neighbor, Dave Duchane, who lovingly donated his collection of AAA maps of southern states for our navigating ease when we head east towards Winston-Salem next week. Thank you so much, Dave!

Mat thanks Dave Duchane for the road map collection

Camel Rock Monument looks like a camel sitting down for a rest and when you drive by at just the right angle it looks as though it's closing its eyes in a satisfied smize (smiling with your eyes). It also makes an impressive silhouette at sunset.  It sits just off the road, but far enough away that rolling Mat through the dusty grounds was not an option. And you can't get up close and personal since a chain link fence keeps visitors (and tasteless teenagers with spray paint cans) at a safe distance.  Mat thinks this would be a delightful spot for a picnic!

Mat points to Camel Rock Monument. Pojoaque, NM

Camel Rock sits safely behind its chain link fence. Pojoaque, NM

Closer to Santa Fe just off 1-25 on Dinosaur Trail is the Brontosaurus Family which guards the office building of a roofing company.  The polyurethane foam used in roofing has been lovingly sculpted with plenty of re-bar into a mommy, a daddy, and a baby brontosaurus by the late Larry Wilson.  His son now runs the roofing company and they love it when curious passersby visit and take photos.  A neighboring building has a T-Rex head busting out of it and in 2001 Wilson made quite a splash when he placed a dummy with a likeness to Osama Bin Laden in the T-Rex's mouth!

It's Dino-tastic! Brontosaurus family sculpture in Santa Fe, NM

Mat thinks this nuclear dino family is just precious.......sigh! Santa fe, NM

Around Santa Fe: Indians at El Dorado

Just outside of Santa Fe is a newly created community called El Dorado that has its own shopping center: La Tienda.  They allow artist installations in their outdoor La Tienda Exhibit Space and what is there today is a special treat: giant wood cutouts of Indians riding up on horseback!

Mat can sense the Indians riding up behind him at El Dorado's La Tienda. Santa Fe, NM

Seattle artist, Thom Ross, created these intricate paintings with 3 dimensional detail (note the fringe on the horses) because of an old photo he once came across: a 1902 Buffalo Bill Cody and the Wild West Show from Ocean Beach in San Francisco depicting 108 cowboys and indians.  He recreated every figure and installed them on that same beach in 2008.  La Tienda is proud to have about 70 of those figures (all Indians and no cowboys) on display for an indeterminate amount of time (read: if you plan on visiting, do it ASAP). Mat was blown away by the installation even if we couldn't get him any closer than the parking lot.

Don't be concerned, Raccoon! Those Indians are friendly.  El Dorado's La Tienda, Santa Fe, NM

Wouldn't it be a little intimidating having this audience watch you play horseshoes? El Dorado's La Tienda, Santa Fe

Artist Thom Ross' gorgeous wood cutouts

Three dimensional fringe detail on the horses

Mat's Santa Fe Gig: ARTfeast

Last night's ARTfeast Edible Art Tour was such a blast! We set up Mat in the hallway of El Centro de Santa Fe (a really cool art gallery mall) and sold tokens to ARTfeasters passing by, headed for art-viewing and treats like creamy green chile chicken soup from The Pantry Restaurant (one of our must-stop-in eateries in town) and curry chicken salad from another yummy restaurant, El Farol. We sold a bunch of tokens and donated all of the proceeds to ARTfeast.  Mat was thrilled!

Mat and Victoria are looking very professional and ready for the ARTfeasters

Mat met tons of new friends and fans, several of whom had heard or read about the Art*o*mat® program and were absolutely delighted to finally see a machine in Santa Fe. Corky and I are very proud to be able to bring the first machine to New Mexico. The tenants of El Centro were eagerly anticipating Mat's arrival and we hear tell that there was some strong competition as to in front of whose gallery Mat should be placed.  We ended up front and center, between The Signature Gallery and the JW Fine Art gallery. No one could miss us if they tried!

El Centro Manager, James Bottorff, thinks Mat is the coolest! He loved the origami art his token redeemed.

ARTfeast Managing Director, Diane Deane, delights in showing a customer the painting she got from Mat

Mat was very inspiring to some of the teachers that attended ARTfeast (whose students benefit from the money raised for their art programs) and their eyes lit up when I told them that, yes, artwork from student groups can be submitted to Art*o*mat® and ultimately placed in machines all over the country.  I bet Clark Whittington will get several Santa Fe art submissions based on the amount of creative juices flowing that night!

Rachel and Leah came from Denver to enjoy ARTfeast.  They had a hard time choosing which art to buy...

Mat met a really nice teacher named Gretel from Cerrillos, NM who allowed us to take her photo with the art she bought and she wanted to say "hi" to her daughter, Anastacia, who is studying abroad in India and may log on to this blog.  If she does, Mat says "hi" too and hopes she enjoys the fine art silk screened hankies that her mom bought for her as an ARTfeast souvenir.

Gretel from Cerrillos, NM loves the "fine art silk screened hankies" she bought from Mat

It was a great event overall and we were happily exhausted after a full day of volunteering, selling ARTfeast tickets in the office, and taking turns standing by Mat and telling the Art*o*mat® story to all of the feasters.

Saturday night was the ARTfeast Gala Gourmet Dinner and Auction, and we were proud to be at Director James Bottorff's beautiful table (Mat is not all that into gourmet food so he decided to stay home). The school kids made all of the place mats (120 of which eventually became "I Made It" plates to bid on at the auction) which we got to take home as a souvenir, and they also made 12"x 12" paintings for the centerpieces (that were also available for silent auction).

Table setting at ARTfeast Gala Dinner and Auction. Centerpiece paintings and place mats created by the students.

Victoria with ARTsmart Director, James Bottorff at the Gala.

The "I Made It" plates in the silent auction sold for big bucks and Corky and I were lucky to have "won" three of them (not pictured). All of which have been given to and will be on permanent display at The Pantry Restaurant.  We hope that our plates' student artists, Jasmine, Aryanna, and Alex, will bring their friends and family to "visit" their plates at the restaurant for years to come!

"I Made It" plates silent auction at ARTfeast's Gala Dinner

Silent auction of "I Made It" plates -got very competitive!

A themed set of 12 student made "Postcards from New Mexico" plates sold at ARTfeast for thousands at the Gala.

The individual "I Made It" plates sold for hundreds of dollars and the sets of 12 sold for thousands.  It is going to be a very successful year for ARTfeast indeed! The next morning was the ARTfeast Artists' Brunch where there was another set of 12 plates up for live auction. We were delighted to find out that the teacher whose students created the "Butterfly" plate collection was none other than our good friend Gretel!

Gretel stands proudly by her students' set of 12 butterfly "I Made It" plates for live auction at ARTfeast's Artist Brunch.

Close up of the butterfly set of ARTfeast "I Made It" plates

Wow, that was a busy and fun-filled weekend of fundraising. Now that our gig is over, we will be spending some quality relaxation time in Santa Fe before packing up the minivan and driving Mat ever eastward, towards Winston-Salem!

Day 5, At ARTfeast in Santa Fe

Mat is set up at El Centro de Santa Fe and ready for tonight's event, the ARTfeast Edible Art Tour. Hundreds of hungry gallery-walkers will travel through El Centro and 50 other galleries to see art and enjoy gourmet catered tastes at each venue. We hope Mat makes lots of new friends tonight!

Mat is set up at ready for the ARTfeast event tonight in Santa Fe, NM