Featured Article - May 2009

The Range Cafe

1. Get Off the Beaten Track

Stop: Downtown Bernalillo 

Bernalillo hardly registers on the maps of New Mexico art hounds, which makes it all the more magical a place to discover the perfect resident for your home nicho. Within a half-hour’s walk of the station are three little-known spots offering unique, high quality artwork that shares an understated whimsy rarely seen in Santa Fe: The Gathering of Artists Guild (733 S. Camino del Pueblo), Art Gallery 66 (373 N. Camino del Pueblo), and The Range Café (925 Camino del Pueblo). The Range Café has a hugely popular eclectic American menu, decadent pastries, and Lizard Lounge bar: The walls, furniture, and even fixtures serve as a kind of Sandoval County art gallery showcasing the hip taste of its chef-owners. For info: The Gathering of Artists Guild, (505) 771-3567, www.gatheringartists.com;
Art Gallery 66, (505) 867-8666, artgallery66.net;
The Range Café, (505) 867-1700,
www.rangecafe.com—Keiko Ohnuma

2. Embrace a Rail Romance

Stop: Santa Fe Depot     

Any classic movie will show you that riding the rails is romantic—from scenes of parting kisses on the platform to marriage proposals shouted over the din as the train departs. I want a little of that action. Me: A girl who would never trade living in Albuquerque for Santa Fe, but craves the Lannan Readings and Conversations Program, held September through June at the Lensic Performing Arts Center (211 W. San Francisco St., Santa Fe). You: Passionate about public transportation, able to withstand fiery red chile
from The Shed (113½ E. Palace Ave., Santa Fe), and game for a late-night glass of wine at the Hotel St. Francis (210 Don Gaspar Ave.) Let’s get together. For info: www.lannan.org; Lensic Box Office (505) 988-1234, www.lensic.com; The Shed, (505) 982-9030, www.sfshed.com; Hotel St. Francis,
(505) 983-5700; www.hotelstfrancis.com—Laura Paskus

3. Drink It Up

Stop: Downtown Bernalillo

Founded in 1933 on the day after Prohibition ended, Silva’s Saloon (955 S. Camino Del Pueblo) received the third liquor license issued by the state of New Mexico. Decorated, as the locals say, “like an upside-down landfill,” the saloon features a hodgepodge of memorabilia ranging from the hats of dead patrons on the ceiling to walls adorned with stuffed roosters, license plates, and burlesque French postcards. The unusual ambiance is best enjoyed with an ice-cold draft beer or a shot of mescal (with worm). For info: (505) 867-9976—Brandon Call

4. Make Your Mother (Earth) Happy

Stop: All

Riding the rails instead of driving the roads is a leaner, greener way to travel. On weekday mornings, a single train carries around 450 passengers from Albuquerque to Santa Fe. By riding the train instead of driving the same route, these passengers save an estimated 2,700 tons of carbon emissions annually. To offset that much carbon, you’d have to plant nearly 12,000 trees! With an average of 24,000 passengers riding the Rail Runner each week, the Earth-friendly benefits are adding up fast.—Ashley M. Biggers

5. Put the Pedal to the Metal

Stop: Belén

The New Mexico Touring Society sponsors group spins from Downtown Albuquerque to Belén, followed by railside dining and a fast track back to town; bike/train trips to Santa Fe are slated for this summer. Get on the waiting list by contacting Tom Sullivan, the ride leader, or ask him to e-mail you one of his cue sheets, including turn-by-turn directions and mileage from three starting points in Albuquerque, to try the bike/rail outing on your own. For info: (505) 299-6545, www.nmts.org—K.O.

6. Discover Why Old is New Again

Stop: Santa Fe Depot

Whether or not you’re a history buff, New Mexico’s history museums are experiences worth riding for. The 400-year-old adobe of the Palace of the Governors (105 W. Palace Ave.) is itself a walk through time. The New Mexico History Museum (120 Lincoln Ave.) hosts its grand opening on Sunday, May 24. This state-of-the-art museum, which includes a 96,000-square-foot multimedia environment, will offer compelling, immersive, interactive ways to bring history to life.
For info: Palace of the Governors, (505) 476-5100,
www.palaceofthegovernors.org;
New Mexico History Museum, (505) 476-5100,
www.nmhistorymuseum.org —Arin McKenna

7. Go Ghost Hunting

Stop: Los Lunas

The late Josefita Otero is one of several ghosts rumored to haunt the Luna-Otero Mansion (110 Main St.) in Los Lunas. Built in 1881 by the railroad for the Luna-Otero family, the Victorian abode is now a restaurant and bar. It’s a great place to grab a bite to eat and explore—if you dare. For info: (505) 865-7333, http://thelunamansion.com—B.C.

8. Sleep with the Sharks

Stop: Downtown Albuquerque 

Tired of swimming with sharks? Try sleeping next to them. For $25 per person for the Aquarium Overnight (May 15–16), you can learn about ocean fishes’ nighttime behaviors at the Albuquerque Aquarium, a facility of Albuquerque Biological Park (2601 Central Ave. NW). The park offers more fun in the sun: Spot a butterfly at the Río Grande Botanic Gardens (2601 Central Ave. NW), land a fish at Tingley Beach (1800 Tingley Dr.), or monkey around the Río Grande Zoo (903 10th St. SW) while exploring 250 species of exotic and native animals. Spend cool nights (May 23 and 30) chilling out at the Zoo to Symphony Under the Stars, with music from the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. For info: Aquarium Overnight (registration required), (505) 848-7180; Symphony tickets, (505) 881-8999; All destinations, www.cabq.gov/biopark—Wendy Gist

9. See the Grand Dame

Stop: Santa Fe Depot 

Sure, there’s lots of new stuff at the Railyard, but the coolest building has been there for centuries—and back in the day, the tracks ran right past it! At El Santuario de Guadalupe (100 S. Guadalupe St.), you can check out historic photographs of the Guadalupe Street and Railyard districts. While you’re there, be sure to step into the church and visit the prototype for that most ubiquitous of New Mexico symbols, the gorgeous altar screen depicting Our Lady of Guadalupe. For more on the Guadalupe Street district, see page 48. Santuario hours: Mon.–Sat., 9 a.m.–4 p.m. For info: (505) 988-2027—Annie Lux

10. Try a New Train of Thought

Stop: All

Compared to driving a car, the experience of riding the rails lets your mind freewheel—no traffic to navigate, no maps to consult, no worries about getting a speeding ticket. When the mind is relaxed and receptive, some of our most profound discoveries are made. After all, J. K. Rowling came up with the idea of Harry Potter on a train.—Tricia Ware