Reasons #42 - 75 why I desparately miss ABQ!
Here are reasons #42 - #75
42. Going to restaurants and always being asked “red or green”…and knowing the answer.
>Of course, in most cases here, the correct answer is “Christmas”, although I still say items like breakfast burritos are better off with green, enchiladas or huevos rancheros better with red.
43. The monsoon season
>Is there possibly anything more enjoyable than this? You still get very warm, sunny summer weather for much the day, however, then you get to watch just hugely impressive storm-cloud build ups over the Sandias in the afternoon. Then, enjoy the fury of a monster desert monsoonal thunderstorm for a half hour, hour, etc. (and finally have the chance to get water on vegetation that doesn’t come out of a hose or sprinkler!); feel the beautiful cool down, see the almost constant rainbows that ensue, and then see the sun come right back out again! (After many months of bone dry air, getting some rains often is very welcomed!). Just stay away from the arroyos you whippersnappers!
44. The “smell” of rain in the desert
>Anyone who’s experienced rain in the desert – or in desert towns like Albuquerque or El Paso or Las Cruces know exactly what this means. And likely you love it. If you’ve never smelled it, you don’t know what this means, and it is impossible to describe. It just smells so comforting, so much like “home”.
45. The Frontier Restaurant
>You know, I could “cheat” and list about 300 different restaurants individually that I love (and miss) about Albuquerque; there are so many unique ones to die for. However, the Frontier stands alone in its brilliance. I believe any out-of-town guest I ever had in ABQ, I took to the Frontier. How can it get better? Looks like a huge barn…inside is cavernous (and the décor classically cheesy)…a “dive diner” atmosphere…semi-collegish due to proximity to UNM but you’ll see all ages, styles of dress, levels of careers/professions co-existing…mammoth lines that are processed incredibly quickly and efficiently…extremely cheap…and of course…food to absolutely kill for. Breakfast burritos and other excellent New Mexican cuisine, all slathered by your dousing of hot chile from their vats of chile. Goodness. Of course, their 12-pack bags of tortillas are an incredible take-home snack, too.
46. Green chile cheese bagels from Smith’s grocery stores
>6-pack bags for $2.50; great take home cheap snack
47. Not having to drive in snow / road salt / ice / slush / rain
>Keeps cars so much cleaner and rust-free as well.
48. Being a mile-high
>For runners, bikers, etc., the altitude provides a unique strength/cardio-building atmosphere. For others, the altitude provides such a clear, warming, powerful sunshine. Either way, it is a good conversation piece with people that assume that only Denver is a big mile-high city.
49. Dusk in Albuquerque
>I cannot completely put my finger on it, however, there is something very transfixing about ABQ at dusk-time, with a very pleasant mixture of sky colors, soft breezes most days, smells (food – yes, even some grease, pinon burning in cooler months, etc.), of course the coloring of the mountains and the Mesa, etc.; it all just blends together in harmony in ABQ.
50. The rare snows in the city
>Due to the incredibly often nature of snowfalls in the upper Midwest, one is loathe to see snow typically in this area. However, in Albuquerque, the snow is so rare (and lasts so very little quantities of time typically), it is actually pretty a) gorgeous, and b) thrilling when it actually does snow! First, the desert filled with adobe, ristras, and cacti looks gorgeous under a few inches of snow. Secondly, it is fun to have work/schools called off because you get a ½ of an inch in front of your house (and a 47 degree high) and have your kids able to make snowballs, etc.
51. In homes: Kiva fireplaces, nichos, vigas, and flat roofs
52. The unique pride and “opinion” and engaged-ness that so many Albuquerqueans seem to have
>Listening to Albuquerque talk radio or reading the letters in the Albuquerque Journal is fascinating; it seems like in Albuquerque, even though the city isn’t mammoth, everyone that lives in the city has “a take” on whatever the local hot-button issues are. Furthermore, everyone seems to really recognize that for better or for worse, Albuquerque just is so much *different* than so much of the US, and there seems to be a fairly large chunk of pride in that uniqueness – at times this is underlying and sometimes it is overtly “out there”, but people realize their unique desert town is a one-of-a-kind.
53. Chile ristras
>Buying a new, fresh one in the autumn
54. Christmas Eve in Albuquerque
1. The real faralitos / luminarias are out!
2. Often a warm, sunny pleasant Christmas Eve day (comparatively to the north)
3. Old Town in all of its Christmas splendor and glory
4. Of course…tamales and posole!
55. The New Mexico State Fair in September
>Normally I am not a huge fair, or State Fair, fan, however, Albuquerque / NM does theirs so right. It is so uniquely and distinctly New Mexican. The food is great, the atmosphere and weather are great. Did I mention the food?
56. New Mexican microbreweries
> While not California, Wisconsin, or Washington, for a sparsely populated desert / mountain west state, New Mexico has a shockingly high amount of tremendous microbreweries, many of which are located in or near Albuquerque. My personal favorite local brew is the Isotopes Slammin’ Amber, but there are several other good ones as well.
57. The “airplane” views of some terrific spots to have them (found all over the eastern and western portions of the city) – some breathtaking ones I love:
1. Coming down Dellyne Ave. NW from the west (heading east-bound) – Dellyne is just south of Montano – towards Coors Blvd. NW; you head over the hill and start heading down, and there is the vast open lights and beauty of ABQ spread out in its glory, with the Sandias looming behind.
2. Heading east on I-40 from well outside of the city limits, near Paseo Del Volcan – vast open view of the city; especially at sunrise breathtaking.
3. Juan Tabo – the park just south of Juan Tabo & Eubank; go to the far-eastern sidewalk along the park and look west…you’ll be looking for miles and miles and miles…
4. Tramway Blvd.: Virtually anywhere, but especially near Spain. Wow.
58. The beauty of Mount Taylor – 70 miles away – on the west horizon daily
>The view of the Manzanos from Eubank and Layton, looking south, isn’t too darn shabby either
59. The gorgeous Petroglyphs
>One of the most underrated parts of Albuquerque. It gives west siders a bit of a “mountain view” in a small scale sense as a balance to the east siders’ proximity to the Sandias, it is historically fascinating, it’s a great place for running / hiking, etc., it’s a great place to find desert animals lurking…
60. The parks – everywhere!
>People don’t realize this, but Albuquerque has (along with San Diego and Milwaukee) by far margins, the most plentiful parkland for any major city in the nation! If you have kids, or like to run / hike, etc., - it is so convenient to be able to hop over to one of the legions of very nice city parks at a drop of the hat.
61. Being able to see horses in / by the city (North Valley, Los Ranchos, Corrales, etc.)
>On one of my wife and I’s prospecting trips to Albuquerque before moving there, after flying all morning to come in, by the time we’d gotten our rental car and scarfed down our mandatory breakfast burrito from Garcia’s on San Mateo & Candelaria, we were so tired and weary. Thus, we needed to take a mandatory nap…somewhere…anywhere. Lo and behold (we still didn’t know the city THAT well), within 8 minutes’ drive from the heart of urbanism, here we are by quiet “ranch fields” on the northwest side, taking a quiet, peaceful nap under warm sun, soft winds, next to horses grazing and under large cottonwoods. In the city! Folks are amazed at how “non-desert-y” or “non-city-y” places like Corrales, Los Ranchos, or even the north of the North Valley truly are.
62. The “Paul Bunyan” cheesy huge statue by the Vietnamese restaurant near Louisiana and Lomas
63. The Boba Tea Company
>I know most cities now probably have their equivalent of the Boba Tea Company, however, Milwaukee doesn’t yet, and even if it did, it would have shoes to fill to live up to the sweet, tapioca-ball-filled-goodness that encompasses the Boba Tea Company in ABQ; I know this is a somewhat off-beat, non-ABQ-conventional entry, however, even when I finally got back in February for my first visit since leaving in 07, I had to stop a few times for boba teas!
64. The chicarrones burrito at Barelas Coffee House, the carnitas plates at Mariscos Altamar and Ruben’s Mexican Restaurant, the machaca plate at El Sabor de Juarez, the smells emanating from El Modelo
>I am currently instinctively gnawing off my elbow
65. Having a daily view – every day, anywhere outside – of the splendor of the Sandia Mountains
>Always knowing – for visitors or newcomers – which way is East as well
66. The nearly daily – and amazingly gorgeous – spectacular sunrises and sunsets
>Like the splendor of the coloring of the Sandia Mountains near sunset nearly every day, you know nearly each and every day, if you’re up for sunrise, you’ll be treated to a magic display of golden bright color over the Sandias; similarly, look west over the Mesa every night near sunset, and you’ll be treated to spectacular displays of purple, pink, and orange. Sometimes I feel like I never really lived until I got to experience sunrises over the desert and sunsets in the West Mesa.
67. The Albuquerque Wine Festival over Memorial Day weekend and the Bernalillo Wine Festival over Labor Day weekend
>Like microbrew, the ABQ area (and NM in general) has a shockingly high amount of extremely good local wineries. They are all on (sweet and delicious) display in these festivals. Again, typically I wouldn’t think of myself as a huge “wine festival” type of a fellow (even though I surely do derive much enjoyment with a good wine), however, these are just quite a bit of fun for a really reasonable price. And while sometimes a bit warm, overall usually the weather is stellar for outside merriment. Of course, typically I usually have to have Mrs. EnjoyEP give me a ride home.
68. Watching Packers’ games over a brew or two at the Horse N’ Angel Pub on Sundays
>As a sports / football fan, there is something quite fun about living in a town where there is no *local* team. Thus, often Sundays, if your team isn’t on at your home television (assuming you are too cheap to shell out for the League Pass), you are often given the burden-some (so, so burdensome) task of heading to the local saloon (and none for NFL football – OK, outside of maybe Coach’s or the Fox and Hound) – give the Horse N’ Angel a run for its money as a better place to grab a few pints and watch your team on one of their TVs. I’m a Packers’ guy certainly, however, it is fun to watch amongst fans of many other teams – all glued to their own games and fortunes.
It is also of course heartening to – after the game – step out into warm sunshine, instead of “back home” where they’re enduring a cloudy, chilly, windy gray day.
69. The massive saguaro cactus at 2nd and Rio Bravo
>The high desert is supposed to be too cold for overnight winter lows to support saguaros, however, then the occasional one pops up in Albuquerque and amazes the desert botanists. The one on 2nd and Rio Bravo seems to especially do this, given its aged age and size and long-time health. Any Tucson-ite or Phoenix-ite missing “home” too badly, they should go to this area on a 99 degree afternoon, stand directly in the sun, and just stare at that saguaro. If only for a minute, they might feel back “home”!
70. The Sandia Tramway
>Obviously the perfect activity for out-of-town guests, however, I never got sick of this ride no matter how many times I take it. How unique it is to go from desert mountain foothills, overlooking prickly pears and chollas and scorched earth, up in a matter of minutes to the pines and large trees of the high altitudes in the mountains! This trip…and view…never gets old.
71. The first blasts of heat in mid-May
>Typically, spring lingers gorgeously for a long time into May in Albuquerque. Then, it seems typically the 2nd or 3rd week of May, the first shot of 20-extra degrees is in store, before the monsoon is close to being in place. Those first few days of 98 scorching degrees under a boiling sun are something to look forward to. There is almost something cleansing to sit out, baking under that hot, scorching desert sun – in bone dry air – sipping a Tecate or Modelo or two. Just make sure your swamp cooler is working. Speaking of…
72. Swamp coolers
>I love ‘em. Sure, there are times where an A/C is nice, but swamps are so much cheaper, they give your skin some much, much needed moisture, and they don’t give that “extreme blast of artificial cold” that ACs do. Plus they are so unique, and a good conversation starter with those not from the Southwest. Of course, that April ritual of wrestling on the roof with the swamp cooler is always an exciting rite of passage as well!
73. The diversity of nearby road-trip opportunities
>Head north or west, and in only minutes, you are headed towards scenic cooler mountainous areas. Head south, and literally within minutes, you are getting into the vast, open desert. Head east, and quickly you are into the gorgeous, green East Mountains, and shortly thereafter off to the wide open, vast Plains.
74. Mariachis at so many restaurants
75. The culture of the residents – in general so friendly and accommodating to transplants
1. There are so many transplants in Albuquerque as it is – from all over the country – that you’ll likely quickly run into people just like you…EG: people “from somewhere else.” They know what it is like to be a transplant in Albuquerque – and very likely…they love it quite a bit like you do. (OK, not many love it *as much* as I do, but close).
2. While many of the long-time ABQeans (or native ABQeans) fear more than anything significant growth ala Phoenix or Las Vegas for ABQ (and rightfully and understandably so), to a person, they are almost always very accommodating, welcoming, and enthusiastic that you saw the great things in their town that they see…and you love it too!
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. If I had come in the summer, I am sure I would have liked it better, but I didn't.
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