Hey, FYI here’s some of the advice I got on Albuquerque and nearby towns, just to tantalize you further and make you wish you had more time to spend:
Care to join me in some red chili enchiladas?
Cool. Of course I will…
drool… Red chili enchiladas…drool
It’s a rather dumb Wrestling thing 
Cactus Jack was one of the characters Mick Foley wrestled as. and a suitable name for a town that a psycho like Cactus Jack would come from would be called “Truth or Consequences”.
I’ve only driven through Socorro myself, but I live about 150 miles from there (as the buzzard flies). The Desert Southwest is exactly that – desert. It can be hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk during the summer, but as they say, it’s a dry heat. It’s like standing in front of a hairdryer all day. The danger, though, is that a lot of people underestimate the effects of the heat. Since there’s no humidity and they can’t feel themselves sweating (because it evaporates quickly) they don’t take any precautions against dehydration. So bring a wide-brimmed hat (with a chin strap – it’s windy), sunglasses, and lots of sunscreen. And a sturdy water bottle.
The flora and fauna are on the prickly side. The biggest critters you’re likely to encounter will be coyotes, which are too cowardly to be much of a danger. Rattlesnakes avoid inhabited areas – I’ve lived here 19 years and have yet to see one in the wild. Cockroaches are big enough to slap a saddle on and ride into the sunset, but they’re only dangerous if you’ve got a severe heart condition. Of greater concern are the spiders and scorpions. Get to know what black widows and brown recluses look like - and when in doubt, spray first and ask questions later. Remember also that scorpions are really tough. You can stomp on them all day and they’ll just mistake your for a chiropractor. Expect to see a lot of roadrunners – they’re the NM state bird. The bats come out at sundown to feed on flying insects. Get away from the city lights and you’ll see plenty of owls at night.
So good luck, have fun, and feel free to add me to your list of semi-local dopers to contact.
Hey Angua, it just now occurs to me that when it comes to Mexican and local Southwestern food, you’ve probably never had the Real Thing and will be quite pleasantly surprised, if the commentary of various friends who have eaten such in the UK and the US holds true. For that matter, Chicago is chock-full of real Mexican food, but the Southwestern stuff here is not the Real Thing, and I haven’t had real Southwestern food since I was old enough to remember it. (Plus when I went to NM as a kid, we were pretty broke and spent most of the trip in a tent in the mountains with my mom, the hippie, which is a tale in itself, so I don’t remember whether we ever ate in a restaurant at all.)
As y’all may have guessed by now, Angua and I will be in the neighborhood at the same time by sheer coincidence, and plan to hook up and hang out to an extent to be determined by our respective schedules and logistics. (I will be renting a car and doing the schlepping for driver’s license reasons.) We are also both foodies in a pretty big way. So any further advice on Albuquerque/Socorro travel logistics, etc. will be most welcome in either thread, if I may hijack slightly.
Hijack away!
I am very much looking forward to trying “real” Southwestern food. I take it for that, I shouldn’t go to the local Taco Bell?
Ohhhhh yeah. New Mexican cuisine. My mouth is watering thinking about it.
I prefer the green chile sauce myself, but the red’s also nice.
mmmmmmmmmmm…
Whoa, you live here too? This place only has 10,000 people in it, I didn’t expect there to be Dopers, as in plural, here.
I don’t think I’ve heard of Tech night at the Loma recently, but I’m not a student anymore. Stargazing is good almost anywhere around here. Etscorn for the star parties if you want people around, or a quick drive a few miles outside of town if you don’t.
There’s plenty of places to get good New Mexican food here. Most of them are pretty small. El Camino is the standard student hangout (a plateful of chile cheese fries for $2.99, yum), but the best places are a little further from town - Manny’s in San Antonio 7 miles south of Socorro serves excellent green chile cheeseburgers, and the Coyote Moon in Lemitar about that far north of Socorro for just about anything containing green chile. Er… don’t go to the Coyote Moon if you’re in any kind of a hurry. It’s run by a chile farmer though, so he’s got pretty much the best chile. Socorro Springs is one of those wood oven pizza/microbrewery places that crop up everywhere, and Martha’s Black Dog serves interesting food, lots of desserts, but the service is definitely spotty.
There’s a chapter of the SCA, various sports clubs (the only school sport is rugby) and if you’re into tabletop role-playing, just get to know some people and someone probably knows of a game going on.
I work for a different observatory out here (there’s an awful lot of them) and I’ve been here for about 6 years now. I stayed after graduating because I like it - small enough for me to get around on a bike, and big enough to have broadband internet! (If you’re going to be living off campus and buying internet service, SDC not Socorro ISP, trust me on this one.) We are, however, half an hour from the nearest Walmart. This may or may not be a bad thing.
Has to be said guys, you’re doing a fantastic job of stopping me freaking out about this trip. In fact, I’m positively looking forward to it. Apart from the cockroaches that is - I loathe cockroaches with a passion.
I’ve supposedly got the Sunday afternoon free (20th June), so mini-Socorro Dopefest anyone?
I think being far away from the nearest Wal-Mart is definitely a Good Thing. They’re trying to take over in the UK as well, having taken over ASDA, and things aren’t good.
BTW - I’m a hopeless Snapple addict - I hope its in plentiful supply. Oh, and where am I going to get a decent(ish) iced coffee?
Come for the physics, stay for the food.
I left Socroro about a year ago, and I’ve been pininig for green chile since. My recommendations, in no particular order:
[ul]
[li]The green chile cheeseburger at the Owl Cafe in San Antonio, just south of Socorro, is alleged to be the best burger in the world.[/li][li]Huevos rancheros at Tina’s are, IMO, the best in town.[/li][li]El Camino diner is open 24 hours a day. The food is cheap and very good, the service is fast and friendly. I’m partial to the green chile potato soup served on Sundays.[/li][li]Socorro Springs, El Sombrero (aka The Hat), and Martha’s Black Dog Cafe are not personal favorites, but are highly regarded by many others.[/li][/ul]
Opinions vary, of course, but you’ll get a good meal in just about any of the local restarants.
As of last May, the bike shop was out of business. I’ve heard a new one has opened up, but I don’t know for sure. The Chamber of Commerce used to sell a Fat Tire Fiesta trail guide, which is useful if you’d like to explore the area. The trails are graded by skill and fitness level. There’s also a single track on EMRTC property that’s near enough the AOC that you could ride it over lunch.
There’s also bouldering/climbing at Box Canyon, which is less than 10 minutes drive west of Socorro on Hwy. 60. More climbing in Datil, much farther west on Hwy. 60, past the VLA. Lot’s of hiking and biking in the Magdelena mountains, yet again off 60, this time about halfway between Socorro and the VLA. Sorry I can’t offer better directions. Ask around the AOC and you’ll probably find someone to take you (with the exception of Box Canyon, which you can get to by bike, you’ll need a car to get to any of these places).
Truth or Consequences used to be known as Hot Springs (the name was changed as a publicity stunt–something to do with a game show back in the '50s or '60s), and it lives up to its former name. There are a number of commercial hot springs where you can go for a soak at a reasonable price. Also, Elephant Butte Lake, a man-made resevoir is nearby. This is a popular place for boating and such.
Hope this helps. Have fun!
Taco Bell is to real Southwestern food what Spaghettios is to Italian cuisine. Cheap enough to feed a starving college student with no taste buds, but no substitute for the real thing.
Great. It’s lunch time and now I’m dreaming of chicken enchiladas with green chile sauce. And nothing but a Lean Cuisine entree in the freezer. Damned end of month budget crunch. 
Martha’s Black Dog is really the only coffee place in town. I don’t drink coffee myself, but my SO used to work at Martha’s and he’s a bit of a coffee connoisseur, so I’d imagine it’s pretty good. I have no idea about Snapple, as I don’t drink it myself, sorry. I also hate cockroaches, and luckily not all houses around here have them.
Eva Luna’s link has some great suggestions for Albuquerque. I haven’t been through Socorro in years, but I used to stop there frequently during my trips between home and college.
Anyhoo, I live in ABQ, so feel free to drop me an email if you need anything.
A quick note: this is only a rumor. The Owl Bar is really famous because they have the bar from the original Hilton hotel. As a bar, I don’t know how they are, but their green chile cheeseburgers are only ok. Manny’s, the place I mentioned before is almost right across the street from them.
Just noticed this bit! Oooh! Time to dig out the rock boots from the back of the closet. Yay! Bouldering/climbing. I wonder, if there’ll be others there who’d be doing similar? 
I’ve heard that Manny’s is better–as I understand it, connoisseurs regard the Owl as strictly for tourists. Still, IMO, the Owl Cafe serves a fine burger.
I wouln’t swear to it, but Snapple should be readily available in any convenience store or supermarket.
Bound to be. Here’s a link to the Tech Climbing Club, or just ask around the students at the AOC. Avid climbers go out to Box several time per week. There’s an outdoor climbing wall near the golf course, five minutes by bike from the AOC, but I suspect you’re better off getting a ride to the real thing.
Hmmm… I sense a theme for a Dopefest, perhaps. A taste-test of green chile cheeseburgers, anyone?
Breaking news – I don’t know what the heck is going on, but I went out to take a walk at lunchtime, and by the time I got back I had an e-mail from my (I thought) soon-to-be-wed friend, with courthouse wedding pictures attached. I don’t know what the heck is going on – it may have been a quickie civil ceremony for immigration purposes, but if there is to be no wedding on June 20, then I won’t go to NM at all and will save the money and vacation time for a bigger trip (probably including the UK) in the fall. Angua, stay tuned while I try to get hold of the bride…
Wow. A Dopefest within driving distance.
(looks out the window)
Nope, don’t see the moon turning as red as blood and the sky turning black as sackcloth.
Maybe that’ll only happen when everyone agrees on a date. :eek:
Phew! There was a followup e-mail, and will be a wedding after all – June 20, 5 pm, Albuquerque. So if stuff will happen anytime before whenever I have to head back to AQ for the wedding, count me in! (Knowing the bride as I do, though, the reception ought to run pretty late…she is a dancing maniac! I’m psyched!)