Tough Decision - Albuquerque or Denver? (Kirtland: real estate, jobs, housing)

[yukon]

I read your Denver thread, vegaspilgrim. You really need to move to Albuquerque. We have everything you want, you just don't know it yet

[GregW]

IMHO - No brainer - Albuquerque! Nicer weather and less smog and crowding.

[Steve-o]

Id choose ABQ for more mild weather, and food. But then again Id choose Denver for better scenery, jobs, nightlife, suburbs, sports, shopping, etc.

[mdmoore77]

I was born in Denver and lived there for 22 years before moving to New Mexico for college. I've been in Albuquerque for almost 4 years now. If I had my choice I would move back to Denver in a second. Sure the air quality is worse and traffic is horrible most of the time but there is just so much more opportunity there. Also, while the crime rates are about the same between Albuquerque and Denver, crime in Albuquerque seems to be spread out over the entire city. There aren't really good parts of town and bad parts, they all flow together. In Denver its pretty obvious which parts of town are bad and which are good and its easy to avoid the bad parts. Housing in Denver can be expensive but there are plenty of surrounding areas close to the city where housing is
cheaper than Albuquerque and of much better quality. Finally, its pretty easy to run out of things to do in Albuquerque. After about a year I was pretty bored with everything. There are a lot of restaraunts here though, but that gets hard on the pocketbook. In Denver, especially during the summer, there is basically something going on every weekend that you can do for minimal cost. Taste of Colorado, the art museum, 16th street mall, Oktoberfest, etc. In all, I just think Denver is a much more eclectic, fun city with more to offer.

[liveit2day]

Originally Posted by mdmoore77

I was born in Denver and lived there for 22 years before moving to New Mexico for college. I've been in Albuquerque for almost 4 years now. If I had my choice I would move back to Denver in a second. Sure the air quality is worse and traffic is horrible most of the time but there is just so much more opportunity there. Also, while the crime rates are about the same between Albuquerque and Denver, crime in Albuquerque seems to be spread out over the entire city. There aren't really good parts of town and bad parts, they all flow together. In Denver its pretty obvious which parts of town are bad and which are good and its easy to avoid the bad parts. Housing in Denver can be expensive but there are plenty of surrounding areas close to the city where housing is
cheaper than Albuquerque and of much better quality. Finally, its pretty easy to run out of things to do in Albuquerque. After about a year I was pretty bored with everything. There are a lot of restaraunts here though, but that gets hard on the pocketbook. In Denver, especially during the summer, there is basically something going on every weekend that you can do for minimal cost. Taste of Colorado, the art museum, 16th street mall, Oktoberfest, etc. In all, I just think Denver is a much more eclectic, fun city with more to offer.

Denver is such a fun city to live in! Crime there is localized, unlike crime in ABQ. I am not an ABQ native and have lived all over the country . . . this was one of the first things I noticed about ABQ. ABQ has some charming aspects, but in terms of activities, hospitality, vivacity, and community, Denver has it all.

People actually CARE about taking care of CO in Denver! It's so great! I love that the foothills are about 30minutes west of Denver, and then there's Redrocks, lookout mountain, Dinosaur ridge . . . all provide GREAT hiking and incredible views of Denver. Then you have excellent, family-owned restaurants (Pasquini's, Las Margararitas, etc.). I could go on and on . . .

While it's true that traffic can be a burden (and sometimes, smog), the amenities far outrank anything negative. If I could, I would move back to Denver in an instant.

[abqsunport]

Originally Posted by liveit2day

Denver is such a fun city to live in! Crime there is localized, unlike crime in ABQ. I am not an ABQ native and have lived all over the country . . . this was one of the first things I noticed about ABQ. ABQ has some charming aspects, but in terms of activities, hospitality, vivacity, and community, Denver has it all.

Albuquerque's crime is pretty isolated and centered in a couple parts of town. I have no idea what you guys are talking about, but I severely doubt you ever found too much crime in the Sandia Heights, Los Ranchos, Rio Rancho, etc.

[casden]

For me - it's gotta be Albuquerque - for the food, the local wineries, the scenery, the people, the history (sense of place), the flamenco festival, the balloon fiesta...and because it's in one of the US states that can sometimes make you feel that your actually in another country.

[yukon]

HERE IS THE LINK: Albuquerque Spring featured Events

4/24/08 - 4/26/08
EXPOSITION- 25th Gathering of Nations Pow Wow

Over 3,000 indigenous / Native American / Indian dancers and singers representing more than 500 tribes from Canada and the United States come to Albuquerque annually to participate socially and competitively. The trading of intercultural traditions and crafts is an experience for all who attend. The Indian Traders Market offers a very special shopping experience and exhibition of Native American artifacts. Over 800 artists, crafters, and traders will place their wares on display and some available for purchase as well.


4/19/08 - 4/27/08
FAIR- American Indian Week “Pueblo Days” & Spring Indian Art Market

Daily traditional dances, art demonstrations, special presentations celebrating Native American culture with an emphasis on New Nexico’s Pueblo Indians. Buy direct from Native American artisans during the Spring Indian Art Market April 19 & 20.

5/3/08
FESTIVAL- Cinco de Mayo Celebration: Antología de Un Charro

Internationally renowned singer Armando Mora performs a medley of traditional and popular songs portraying the history and emotions of the charro, the dashing, virile figure who has become a symbol of Mexican manhood. Accompanied by ballet folklórico and mariachi performers.
Date: 5/3/08
Time: 8 pm


5/24/08 - 5/26/08
FESTIVAL- Albuquerque Wine Festival

Memorial Day Weekend. Come to the famous Balloon Fiesta grounds in Albuquerque for a wine festival extraordinaire. You can browse through handcrafted art, listen to upbeat music and taste all the great wines of New Mexico.

Join the party at Balloon Fiesta Park for a wine festival extraordinaire. Browse through handcrafted art, listen to upbeat music and sample wines form around the Land of Enchantment. Don't miss out on all of the great summer foods. Find out what the New Mexico wine industry has to offer during this three-day festival.


4/12/08 - 5/31/08
EXHIBITION- Alchemy: Collage & Assemblage
Alchemy celebrates the mediums of collage and assemblage, featuring artists from around the country. The exhibition looks at the historic development of these mediums and showcases contemporary artists who work with cutting, gluing and assembling disparate and often appropriated images and objects to create something entirely new and original. A process akin to alchemy unifies the elements these artists mix together.



Acoma Pueblo 1/20/08 - 6/14/08
EXHIBITION- Timeless Beauty: Pueblo Women Artists of the 20th Century

This exhibit highlights the works of famed Pueblo women artists, Helen Cordero (Cochiti), Maria Martinez (San Ildefonso), Pablita Velarde (Santa Clara), Tonita Pena (Cochiti), and Margaret Tafoya (Santa Clara). An auction of this artwork will take place on June 14, 2008 to benefit the Institute of Pueblo Indian Studies housed within the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.

This exhibit in collaboration with the Adobe Gallery and School for Advanced Research and Human Experience highlights the works of famed Pueblo women artists, Blue Corn (San Ildefonso), Tonita Pena (Cochiti) Margaret Tafoya (Santa Clara), Helen Cordero (Cochiti), Helen Hardin (Santa Clara), Lucy Lewis (Acoma), Maria Martinez (San Ildefonso), Pablita Velarde (Santa Clara).


USBC Open Campionships
2/16/08 - 7/7/08
SPORTS- 2008 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships

The 2008 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships in Albuquerque, N.M. marks the 105th running of the event and the tournament’s second trip to Albuquerque (2000). The 2008 USBC Open Championships will be conducted every day from Feb. 16 until June 29 (135 consecutive days). The Open Championships is the world’s largest annual participatory sporting event, attracting between 12,000 and 16,000 five-player teams (60,000-80,000 participants).
Date: 2/16/08 - 7/7/08
Time: Daily from 7 am-2 pm


And that's just from the tourism website.

[aggiewalk]

[quote=yukon;1430427]Traffic isn't an issue with me. I'm used to driving in Houston, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta and New Orleans (pre-Katrina) Driving in Denver & Phoenix this summer was pure bliss. Seriously. I'm thinking of staying in FL now a few months longer than originally planned, so I can have more in savings when I move. Then, the immediate job market won't matter. But geez, 4 more months of mold and humidity? Ack!

I must admit, rentals in ABQ are affordable enough that a pay cut wouldn't be a problem. I just looked at rental rates here and they aren't going down, despite the housing market.[/quote]

There are stricter lending regulations in NM...

I would say Denver. While it is more expensive, it is more of a "Big City" than ABQ in terms of amenities... You didn't specify what line of business you are in but the city is def a service based industry... So hopefully you are an engineer or else job prospects won't be as prominent as Denver...

[abqsunport]

Originally Posted by aggiewalk

I would say Denver. While it is more expensive, it is more of a "Big City" than ABQ in terms of amenities... You didn't specify what line of business you are in but the city is def a service based industry... So hopefully you are an engineer or else job prospects won't be as prominent as Denver...

Denver is more of a big city in every way:

Denver Metro 2.8 Million
Albuquerque Metro 850K