Transplants to Albuquerque -- What do you love about your new city? (Las Cruces: 2009, to rent)

[Wisteria]

I have read many negative posts about Albuquerque, however, it is a large city with many people, so there has to be something that appeals to people there. I am going there in August (I have only spent minimal time there before), however, I'd like some information from those who relocated to there and still live there -- I'd love to find some great things and places to check out.

I am interested in hearing from those who relocated to Albuquerque from some other place, (no offense natives) because you have the contrast of where you were from and where you are now.

What is special about living in Albuquerque? What are the cute cafes, or great bookstores, special shops, festivals, hiking areas, parks, restaurants, neighborhoods, or entertainment venues that make living in Albuquerque great for you?

Thanks!

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by Wisteria

I have read many negative posts about Albuquerque, however, it is a large city with many people, so there has to be something that appeals to people there. I am going there in August (I have only spent minimal time there before), however, I'd like some information from those who relocated to there and still live there -- I'd love to find some great things and places to check out.

I am interested in hearing from those who relocated to Albuquerque from some other place, (no offense natives) because you have the contrast of where you were from and where you are now.

What is special about living in Albuquerque? What are the cute cafes, or great bookstores, special shops, festivals, hiking areas, parks, restaurants, neighborhoods, or entertainment venues that make living in Albuquerque great for you?

Thanks!

I am a young-30s year old male who relocated to Albuquerque from Milwaukee, WI approximately 4-years ago. We are moving back to Wisconsin now (NOTHING to do with a dislike of anything of this area / Albuquerque - I love it here! - just family reasons).

But in 4 years, I have learned to greatly, greatly love Albuquerque. I frankly do not understand people that would dislike such a fine, beautiful city. With Albuquerque one of the fastest growing cities in the nation, I think many other people love it too!

Here are some reasons:

a) The weather; mild, temperate, but not many extremes (of severe hot ala Phoenix or Tucson or severe cold ala the Midwest or Denver). You get 4 distinct seasons. Average high in winter is 50, spring/fall is 75, and summer is 95. Lows average about 20 or 25 degrees cooler (so warmish winter days and cold nights). In the winter you can ski in the morning and golf in the afternoon. About 10 inches of snow annually...usually sticks around only long enough to see it.

b) The unique to ONLY New Mexico New Mexican culture.

c) The food! New Mexican cuisine is cheap and everywhere and delicious! Chile, breakfast burritos, sopapillas, enchiladas,...the list goes on. There is also plentiful cheap and delcious authentic Mexican cuisine as well.

d) The mountains and their beauty (and close proximity to the city).

e) The river running through the middle of the city with its adjoining lush, green bosque. This all provides such a stark, cool beautiful contrast to the desert.

f) The sunrises and sunsets are almost a daily occurrence, and they are some of the most beautiful and breathtaking of anywhere in the U.S.

g) The dry air (eg: low humidites) and sunny skies (eg: low rainfall, which, at times can be a curse, but for outdoor activities is great) - both equal very few pesky insects and bugs like mosquitoes.

h) The size of the city. Metro is 816,000 - big enough to offer most necessities by far, but small enough to not be a giant, souless, sprawling hunk of concrete.

i) The vast, wide open, magnificant blue skies

j) October: The Balloon Fiesta goes on for two glorious weeks which you can watch from anywhere in the city every AM, chiles are roasting on streetcorners which fill the air with their wonderful smell everywhere, the mornings and late evenings are crisp and cool (sweater weather) and the daytimes are warm and sunny with temps in the 70s and 80s.

k) The Balloon Fiesta. Just about the most fun 2-week festival and so distinctly-Albuquerque. Definitely head to a mass launch in the wee early AM in the chilly morning desert air and warm up with hot chocolate and a breakfast burrito!

l) Due to the elevation differences between the Heights and the Valleys, the ability to see thousands and thousands of lights at night of the city

m) Seeing star-filled skies nearly every day

o) The Sandia Peak Tram (the longest ariel tram in the world including restaurants at the peak and the base of the Sandias)

p) Old Town - a very unique, distinct, shopping experience in the oldest part of ABQ (think the Santa Fe plaza but without the pretention)

q) The ABQ International Sunport - it is a perfect airport...busy enough to offer most needed flights multi times daily, but small enough to really be able to get around so easily. Plus the name - Sunport - sums it up about ABQ's climate

r) The perfect climate - complete with outdoor vistas - for running / biking / hiking, etc.

s) The friendly, accepting, and open nature in general of Albuquerqueans and New Mexicans

t) Albuquerque is an easy city to travel around / navigate

u) The history of ABQ (city was founded in 1706)

v) Low property taxes

w) Lowish cost of housing / cost of living

x) Good, central proximity to Denver, Phoenix, Santa Fe, Tucson, Las Cruces, Flagstaff, and El Paso

y) The historic Pit for historic UNM Lobos' basketball

z) Isotopes Stadium (probably the nicest baseball stadium to watch a Triple A baseball game in the country)...and you can do it in nearly perfect weather with gorgeous mountain vistas in the backdrop

Well, I could go on...but I guess I filled up the alphabet! Oh, can I add z-2? I would say March and early April when all of the fruit trees blossom and the leaves / flowers grow in. It comes so much earlier than I am used to in the Midwest.

Albuquerque is the most underrated place in the Southwest and is one of the great American cities people could chose to live in.

[Wisteria]

EnjoyEP: October: The Balloon Fiesta goes on for two glorious weeks which you can watch from anywhere in the city every AM, chiles are roasting on streetcorners which fill the air with their wonderful smell everywhere, the mornings and late evenings are crisp and cool (sweater weather) and the daytimes are warm and sunny with temps in the 70s and 80s.

The Balloon Fiesta. Just about the most fun 2-week festival and so distinctly-Albuquerque. Definitely head to a mass launch in the wee early AM in the chilly morning desert air and warm up with hot chocolate and a breakfast burrito!

Thanks so much. The Balloon Fiesta sounds like fun. You described the sights and smells so well -- I hadn't thought of that part before. I'd love to hear more from other people, too.

Any favorite spots anyone has that they like to frequent? Special cafes, bookstores, coffee shops, etc.

The more tips, the better, as I am making note of these for my trip! Thanks so much!

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by Wisteria

Any favorite spots anyone has that they like to frequent? Special cafes, bookstores, coffee shops, etc.

There are very nice cafes and bookstores here, but honestly - and maybe it is just my particular interests - I pay little attention to them here. To me, Albuquerque is all about is NATURAL environment largely - being OUTDOORS is what I just love about here.

I do know for bookstores there is a great one by the Flying Star Cafe on Rio Grande and I know there are some great ones down in the UNM area / Nob Hill area as well.

Coffee shops - I would check out a Satellite Coffee - it is a local chain run by the same people that run the Flying Stars (which are more full-service casual restaurants that are to DIE for). Satellites are just great - great, great java at 'em.

As for restaurants, there are too many to count. I would suggest highly:

-Range Cafe (several in the ABQ area)
-Sadies (in the North Valley - great New Mexican cuisine)
-El Pinto (the best ambiance in Albuquerque - New Mexican cuisine)
-El Sabor de Juarez (a little hole in the wall on Gibson...tremendous hard core authentic Mexican [not New Mexican] cuisine)
-Mariscos Altimar (on I-40 and Coors...again, not New Mexican, but true, geniune Mexican cooking)
-Frontier (on Central near UNM; very casual...open 24-hours a day; a very diverse group of folks...tremendously cheap and good food)
-Barelas Coffee Shop (unlike its name implies...it is NOT a coffee shop really - although they do have coffe - it is a morning and lunch spot with unbelievable New Mexican cuisine)
-Flying Star restaurants (about 5 or 6 in ABQ metro; all sorts of cuisine...all great...casual and hip)

I could go on here. Just so much great food in this town, especially if you like Mexican and/or New Mexican!

Have a blast here!

[nmguy]

I am 63 years old and moved to the Abq area four years ago. Here's a short list of places where I like to go . . . .
• Jemez Springs
• The Range (in Bernalillo) for good grub and live music
• Calico Cafe (on 4th) for Sunday breakfast
• Isotopes Park for baseball
• The Rio Grande (Coronado Monument) for inspiration
• Century 24 for a good movie
• National Hispanic Cultural Center for art, music, culture
• El Modelo for a good lunch burrito
• Twister's for a savory breakfast burrito
• Rockin' R Gallery (in Placitas) for art & occasional live concert
• Growers Market (in Los Ranchos de Abq & in Corrales) for fresh food

Hope this helps.

[Wisteria]

NMguy, thanks. That is helpful. As I said, I am taking notes and will check out some of these places there.

Since I am also looking for a retirement area, how do you find it for us "climbing up but not yet over the hill" oldsters ? (I'm not quite retiring yet, but this is my "check it out" trip.) I also have a daughter entering college, so I'm interested in both young and older people type places to go to. My target date is around August 208 or January 2009.

Breakfast burritos -- gotta love 'em!

[mortimer]

Enjoy EP expounded:

> Here are some reasons:
>
> a) ... z)

OK mister alphabet; I think you were stretching it a bit with
a) The weather ----- and then ----- r) The ... climate.
Those really only count as one. I'm also thinking g) is cutting
it kinda close also.

j) and k) are just (totally) the same thing.

You have a short attention span when you get excited eh?

I like that you appreciate the Sunport though. I think that's
a big plus to come home to.

To the thread, I'd like to add that Albuquerque is a real
"Breakfast-eating-town" I love breakfast and have lived
in places where you can't get a good one to save your life.

Restaurant that I didn't see mentioned was Casa De Benevides.
and Garcia's. -- Huevos Rancheros red/green/flour/corn/
refried/whole/etc. You need this to go hiking.

You can find alpine tundra hikes just by going to the outskirts
of town.

Drive an hour and you have, perhaps, two dozen.

Drive two hours and you have, perhaps, 100 or more.

Ever hike the aspen zone during balloon fiesta weeks (and a
little before and after)?

There are three hikes on the west face of the Sandias
that take you to the crest (six if you count Embudo, Embudito,
and 3-Gun as separate trails). On the back side, there are
three more plus one at the N and S end. There is also a paved
road for wussies.

The Manzanos - even bigger in extent than the Sandias have
four W-side trails and six E-side as well as a S-side trail plus
there is a road you can drive up to the top.

You can climb Mt Taylor to the West and see the streets of
ABQ from 11,301 ft and look over the ancient devastation of
a much larger volcano than Mt St Helens (but very similar in
configuration, rebound cone, blasted out side).
I'm done for now

[LLD]

I'm 48, single white professional female and there are many things I like about Albuquerque even though I will be moving away in the next year. It's mostly because I don't want to be a long distance grandmother in the near future. :-) This is tough town for singles in my age group but I've still dated a bit and also made some good friends in my time here. The other major drawback is the secondary airport -- I like to travel and damn it always costs much more to go places from here than any major airport and getting connections is crazy at times too. But even with those "difficulties" lots of good things here.

1. the weather
2. the beautiful moutain and high desert views and flora and fauna
3. the architecture is gorgeous IMNSHO
4. welcoming and open people and atmosphere
5. much more laid back than say the East Coast
6. you can play golf almost all year round
7. pretty much a "live and let live" kind of mentality
8. affordable housing... believe me if you have lived anywhere on the East Coast or the West Coast you appreciate the fantastic buys in Albuquerque. I have a 1/4 acre, beautiful mountain view, semi custom home with tons of upgrades for $240K! That would be at least $650-750K in the DC area where I will be moving back to -- and it is gonna kill me to give up my house and pay $300K for a friggin 25 year old townhouse! LOL
9. so many local arts and crafts
10. I love the eclectic nature of Knob Hill

[veggggies]

I'm actually moving away from the DC area (actually Northern VA, Loudoun County) to Rio Rancho. We leave in 2 weeks! Want to buy my townhouse? I'm kidding. We're actually going to rent it out until the market improves!

What part are you moving back to?

Originally Posted by LLD

I'm 48, single white professional female and there are many things I like about Albuquerque even though I will be moving away in the next year. It's mostly because I don't want to be a long distance grandmother in the near future. :-) This is tough town for singles in my age group but I've still dated a bit and also made some good friends in my time here. The other major drawback is the secondary airport -- I like to travel and damn it always costs much more to go places from here than any major airport and getting connections is crazy at times too. But even with those "difficulties" lots of good things here.

1. the weather
2. the beautiful moutain and high desert views and flora and fauna
3. the architecture is gorgeous IMNSHO
4. welcoming and open people and atmosphere
5. much more laid back than say the East Coast
6. you can play golf almost all year round
7. pretty much a "live and let live" kind of mentality
8. affordable housing... believe me if you have lived anywhere on the East Coast or the West Coast you appreciate the fantastic buys in Albuquerque. I have a 1/4 acre, beautiful mountain view, semi custom home with tons of upgrades for $240K! That would be at least $650-750K in the DC area where I will be moving back to -- and it is gonna kill me to give up my house and pay $300K for a friggin 25 year old townhouse! LOL
9. so many local arts and crafts
10. I love the eclectic nature of Knob Hill

[yukon]

-El Pinto (the best ambiance in Albuquerque - New Mexican cuisine)

AWESOME food and gorgeous decor - plants & flowers everywhere!