In October 2019, my daughter Jill and I spent a four-day weekend in Ruidoso, New Mexico. We went sightseeing in and around the village and took day trips to Roswell and White Sand National Monument. Click HERE to read a short introduction about our awesome trip.
This story, which is part of a series, is about our day in Ruidoso.
This story, which is part of a series, is about our day in Ruidoso.
Ruidoso, New Mexico (October 19, 2019) Jill and I awoke to a beautiful morning – the mountain air was crisp, the clear sky was a deep blue, and the rising sun was radiant. It was the perfect day for us to explore the Midtown district of Ruidoso, which was lined with places to shop, eat, and drink.
We started our day with a late morning meal at Hunt & Harvest at the Mercantile, an “earth to fork” restaurant owned by Jasper Riddle. Many of the ingredients were locally sourced. About the menu, Riddle said, “Our ingredients come from organic, scratch, wild game meats and free-range foods. We are very culinary inspired.”
The dining room was interesting – wide-open space filled with low and high-top tables, a large bar to one side, and a wall near the back with packaged food for sale. The menu was varied – appetizers, salads, entrees, and craft beers – and the prices were reasonable.
Hunt & Harvest was busy, but we didn’t feel crowded. Jill and I had plenty of room at our high-top table, which was near the front window. As we waited for our food, we “watched the world go by” – well, at least some of the two million tourists who come to Ruidoso each year.
We started our day with a late morning meal at Hunt & Harvest at the Mercantile, an “earth to fork” restaurant owned by Jasper Riddle. Many of the ingredients were locally sourced. About the menu, Riddle said, “Our ingredients come from organic, scratch, wild game meats and free-range foods. We are very culinary inspired.”
The dining room was interesting – wide-open space filled with low and high-top tables, a large bar to one side, and a wall near the back with packaged food for sale. The menu was varied – appetizers, salads, entrees, and craft beers – and the prices were reasonable.
Hunt & Harvest was busy, but we didn’t feel crowded. Jill and I had plenty of room at our high-top table, which was near the front window. As we waited for our food, we “watched the world go by” – well, at least some of the two million tourists who come to Ruidoso each year.
We started with an appetizer – sriracha fried brussels sprouts – and moved on to our entrees. I had an elk burger, sweet potato fries and a craft beer. There are plenty of elk in this part of New Mexico, although a few less each day, I guess, with elk burgers on the menu! The food was delicious, and the service was great.
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A Village of Murals
Using Instagram, Jill has a knack for finding interesting things to see in places she visits. A few days ago, she searched Ruidoso on Instagram and found photos of colorful murals on buildings in the Midtown district. Most of the murals were painted earlier this year by local and national artists as part of a public arts project sponsored by the Ruidoso Midtown Association to “advance the streetscape and help create community spaces.” Jill and I were determined to find as many murals as we could.
The first mural we spotted was on the side of the 4 Seasons Mall, across the street from Hunt & Harvest. The artist is Logan Fle; the name of his mural is Enchanted Culture. The Midtown Association sponsored a contest for best mural – Enchanted Culture won first place. We, too, liked this mural the best.
Using Instagram, Jill has a knack for finding interesting things to see in places she visits. A few days ago, she searched Ruidoso on Instagram and found photos of colorful murals on buildings in the Midtown district. Most of the murals were painted earlier this year by local and national artists as part of a public arts project sponsored by the Ruidoso Midtown Association to “advance the streetscape and help create community spaces.” Jill and I were determined to find as many murals as we could.
The first mural we spotted was on the side of the 4 Seasons Mall, across the street from Hunt & Harvest. The artist is Logan Fle; the name of his mural is Enchanted Culture. The Midtown Association sponsored a contest for best mural – Enchanted Culture won first place. We, too, liked this mural the best.
Midtown is located along Suddreth Drive, the main road through Ruidoso. We walked southeast on Suddreth and quickly spotted this mural of Smokey the Bear (“Only you can prevent forest fires”) on the building that housed Unique Boutique. Smokey, an advertising icon since 1944, celebrated his 75th “birthday” in 2019. He still looks good!
Further on, near Tall Pines Beer and Wine Garden, we found the best wings in Ruidoso – a mural that features a large pair of angel wings. Free Your Soul was painted by Samantha Odom-Dodd. This may be the most popular mural on Instagram. Why? Painted on a short wall near an upward-sloping alley, one could don a pair of angel wings by standing in just the right place – just as Jill did this morning. Awww…my little angel!
Further on, near Tall Pines Beer and Wine Garden, we found the best wings in Ruidoso – a mural that features a large pair of angel wings. Free Your Soul was painted by Samantha Odom-Dodd. This may be the most popular mural on Instagram. Why? Painted on a short wall near an upward-sloping alley, one could don a pair of angel wings by standing in just the right place – just as Jill did this morning. Awww…my little angel!
We headed back the other direction, and after we passed the 4 Seasons Mall, we spotted this mural: Local Legends by Artbyfish. I believe it depicts the semi-mythical outlaw Billy the Kid, a major figure in the Lincoln County War of 1878. (Ruidoso is located in Lincoln County.) To give you a sense of size, Jill is five-foot two – I’d guess that the mural was nearly 15 feet tall.
We wandered in and out of a few shops as we walked in search of more murals. As you might imagine, the shops had all the kitschy stuff every tourist “needs” – t-shirts, mugs, caps, magnets, ornaments, and more. There were also shops with outdoor gear and mountain clothing, as well as several antique stores (“one man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” as the saying goes). I found a "Ruidoso" cap to add to my collection and hand-crafted soap for my wife Debra. Jill found a Ruidoso magnet to add to the large collection on her refrigerator and a t-shirt for her fiancé.
We spotted three more murals as we strolled along the main drag. In the one on the lower right, Jill sat on a ski lift chair. Ruidoso, you see, is home to Ski Apache, the second largest ski area in New Mexico.
We wandered in and out of a few shops as we walked in search of more murals. As you might imagine, the shops had all the kitschy stuff every tourist “needs” – t-shirts, mugs, caps, magnets, ornaments, and more. There were also shops with outdoor gear and mountain clothing, as well as several antique stores (“one man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” as the saying goes). I found a "Ruidoso" cap to add to my collection and hand-crafted soap for my wife Debra. Jill found a Ruidoso magnet to add to the large collection on her refrigerator and a t-shirt for her fiancé.
We spotted three more murals as we strolled along the main drag. In the one on the lower right, Jill sat on a ski lift chair. Ruidoso, you see, is home to Ski Apache, the second largest ski area in New Mexico.
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Fruit of the Vine
With all this walking, we worked up a thirst. Luckily, Ruidoso’s office of tourism arranged a wine tasting for us at Noisy Water Winery. Noisy Water had two tasting rooms, both located on Suddreth Drive, and we were invited to both! Eeny, meeny, miny, moe…we started at the one with the bear out front.
It turned out to be the right choice, as we later learned that the other tasting room showcased the winery’s reserve wines. Better to step up in quality rather than to step down, we thought, as we perused the extensive wine list at this first watering hole.
With all this walking, we worked up a thirst. Luckily, Ruidoso’s office of tourism arranged a wine tasting for us at Noisy Water Winery. Noisy Water had two tasting rooms, both located on Suddreth Drive, and we were invited to both! Eeny, meeny, miny, moe…we started at the one with the bear out front.
It turned out to be the right choice, as we later learned that the other tasting room showcased the winery’s reserve wines. Better to step up in quality rather than to step down, we thought, as we perused the extensive wine list at this first watering hole.
“Wine can of their wits the wise beguile, make the sage frolic, and the serious smile.”
~ Homer
~ Homer
Here’s an interesting piece of trivia: In the early 1600s, a Franciscan monk planted grapevines in the Rio Grande Valley near the town of Socorro, New Mexico, about 100 miles northwest of Ruidoso. The monk used the grapes to produce sacrament wine, and from this humble start, New Mexico became the oldest winemaking region in the country.
Ten-year old Noisy Water Winery is owned by a family of fifth generation farmers – “New Mexico born and New Mexico true.” From 1,000 cases of wine in 2010, the winery’s production increased to more than 40,000 cases. Its wines have won many medals, including 15 that were awarded at an international competition in 2014.
The first tasting room was located behind a retail shop. Jill spoke with the manager, who seated us at a high-top table near the bar. We told her our taste in wines, and she pointed to several wines on their menu she thought we would enjoy. We chuckled at the names of some of the wines as we looked over the menu: Jo Mamma’s Mango Tango, Divine Intervention Moscato, and Bearly Legal, to name a few. Cute, huh?!
There was a raucous crowd in the tasting room, including a bachelorette party, with matching T-shirts that said, “I’m with the bride.”
Ten-year old Noisy Water Winery is owned by a family of fifth generation farmers – “New Mexico born and New Mexico true.” From 1,000 cases of wine in 2010, the winery’s production increased to more than 40,000 cases. Its wines have won many medals, including 15 that were awarded at an international competition in 2014.
The first tasting room was located behind a retail shop. Jill spoke with the manager, who seated us at a high-top table near the bar. We told her our taste in wines, and she pointed to several wines on their menu she thought we would enjoy. We chuckled at the names of some of the wines as we looked over the menu: Jo Mamma’s Mango Tango, Divine Intervention Moscato, and Bearly Legal, to name a few. Cute, huh?!
There was a raucous crowd in the tasting room, including a bachelorette party, with matching T-shirts that said, “I’m with the bride.”
We tasted four wines – we chose three and the fourth was the same for everyone: Besito Caliente, a green chili wine. While I preferred reds over whites, I knew that I must try a white. I went with the manager’s recommendation – Tighty Whitey (which she is holding in the photo below), a Pinot Grigio that won a silver medal in 2019. For the reds, I selected two medal winners, Big Legs Red and Dirty.
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We sipped our wines, served one at a time, over 45 minutes or so. Besito Caliente, in my humble opinion, was an “acquired taste,” or perhaps never an acquired taste for me as I am not a fan of green chilis. But this was the purpose of a tasting room, after all – an opportunity to try a wine without having to buy the bottle. And surprise, surprise for me – I liked Tighty Whitey the best! I bought a bottle to enjoy at home, and a nightshirt for my wife in the retail shop on the way out.
The vibe at the second tasting room was different – far fewer people and much quieter. Perhaps it was the difference in cover charge - $10 here vs. $5 in the first tasting room. (Our cover charges were comped!) Or maybe it was because this tasting room didn’t serve food. Whatever the reason, Jill and I found that room to be a more relaxing experience.
After perusing the menu, and with some guidance from the manager, I chose four wines: a 2018 Sauvignon Blanc (silver medal), 2018 Chenin Blanc, 2017 Zinfandel, and 2017 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (2 silvers and a bronze). Jill and I sat at the end of a long high-top table and enjoyed our wine one tasting glass at a time. The Cab was my favorite – big and bold.
The vibe at the second tasting room was different – far fewer people and much quieter. Perhaps it was the difference in cover charge - $10 here vs. $5 in the first tasting room. (Our cover charges were comped!) Or maybe it was because this tasting room didn’t serve food. Whatever the reason, Jill and I found that room to be a more relaxing experience.
After perusing the menu, and with some guidance from the manager, I chose four wines: a 2018 Sauvignon Blanc (silver medal), 2018 Chenin Blanc, 2017 Zinfandel, and 2017 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (2 silvers and a bronze). Jill and I sat at the end of a long high-top table and enjoyed our wine one tasting glass at a time. The Cab was my favorite – big and bold.
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To paraphrase Caesar, veni, vidi, bibi – I came, I saw, I drank! If you visit Ruidoso and have time for only one tasting room, you can’t go wrong with either location for Noisy Water Winery.
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Oom-Pah-Pah
Early evening, after we rested a bit, Jill and I went to Oktoberfest, an indoor affair at Ruidoso’s Convention Center. The “beer hall” included rows and rows of tables, a stage for a music band, a large dance floor, and food stands. We quickly decided that no food better said “Oktoberfest” than a bratwurst with sauerkraut. We found a couple of seats at a table near the stage and dance floor, and with sandwiches in hand, we listened to the band play, while watching a troupe dance to traditional Bavarian folk music. Oom-pah-pah!
Early evening, after we rested a bit, Jill and I went to Oktoberfest, an indoor affair at Ruidoso’s Convention Center. The “beer hall” included rows and rows of tables, a stage for a music band, a large dance floor, and food stands. We quickly decided that no food better said “Oktoberfest” than a bratwurst with sauerkraut. We found a couple of seats at a table near the stage and dance floor, and with sandwiches in hand, we listened to the band play, while watching a troupe dance to traditional Bavarian folk music. Oom-pah-pah!
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This was the third day of our four-day weekend, and another fun day it was! The village’s tourism board had invited Jill to “Discover Ruidoso!” and we did.