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There is an anti-business culture here in LA. I do not live in a breadwinner-type household, my wife also works at the lab, but there other reasons we do not patronize the restaurants. Rents are extremely high here so restaurants charge an arm and a leg for mediocre to decent food. I am also shocked when I get decent service. Therefore we typically eat at home.
I will say the new Thai restaurant is really nice; service, food quality, and price.
I have friends who live in Los Alamos. After living all over the State I can say that their view of this State is very narrow and distorted and ignorant. According to them, they wouldn't go to Espanola, most of ABQ, etc due to crime. I often hear complaints about the 'Espanola specials' that work in the county and at LANL. The reality is they are a mill town with demographics unlike that of the rest of the State and are frankly spoiled with Federal dollars on every level. Yes it's a nice place but they are propped up by DC money.
Espanola has their problems with drugs and juvenile gangster trash like the rest of the state. That said, despite the supposed poverty there they are within easy commuting distance of Santa Fe and Los Alamos, so jobs are not in reality hard to come by over there. They are also much cheaper than Santa Fe or Los Alamos on every level. I do know at one time they had a horrible reputation for racism, though I don't think it's as bad as it once was. I am frankly surprised that more wealthy people haven't started arriving in larger numbers; the Valley itself is very beautiful with the towering mountains on both sides.
I grew up in Los Alamos in the 1980s and 90s.Los Alamos was a great place to grow up. The town was fine, and the outdoors was fantastic. Since then the town gone a bit down hill in my opinion. The town had many small businesses and I remember going fishing at the reservoir, bowing in LA and White Rock, movies in both towns, toy stores and modeling/games, going to the butchershop/Deli, shopping for camping/hunting gear and ammo, getting firewood, playing pool and having a drink at the Canyon, and eating at real diners like Sparkys. most of these are now gone. The town was more self sustaining which it no longer is. Small businesses have been squeezed out as Realtors have welcomed the overflow offices from the Lab which have completely encroached into town. The reservoir is closed so no more fishing. The great Jeep trails (and there were many) are all closed off to vehicles now so no more offroading. Public land areas no longer allow shooting and the only place (LA Sportsmans club) closed their doors to nonmembers so now you either join their club or forget about shooting. If you are a young adult (post highschool) there is hardly anyone your age around. EVERYONE leaves town when they graduate highschool and the demographics don't really come back until around age 40. LA has a retirement community feel to it. The couple of bars that where here closed but an expensive brew house did come to town so good if you can afford it. Farmers market is on a weekday so you better be retired or a stay at home parent to go to it. EVERYONE either works for the Lab, is part of a business that is affiliated with the Lab, or is part of the very limited service industry that really just services the lab. Restaurants are few and far between. All the fast food restaurants except for McDonald's and sonic are also gone.
Some good things is that the town is still a really place for raising a family. Schools are top notch. Practically no crime and bored cops. Still some good hiking, biking, and backpacking available. Bandelier is a big bonus. Film Festival and Chile Works are still hanging on (always warms my heart). The art markets that occasionally show up are great. The town is one of the highest educated in the country, but folks here are generally conservative which isn't necessarily a good or bad thing. The town is also one of the wealthiest in the country, but you wouldn't know it from driving through town. I guess that's how you get rich is by not spending it.
LA always reminds me of a Durango that failed to happen. They are so similar in settings, town population, demographics, highly educated, and natural resources, but Durango thrives and is vibrant. I have yet to see LA described as vibrant.
Espanola- not much to say. Known as the meth capital of NM. It's a nice, albeit down to earth and unpolished town. Great NM food restaurants, bowling, and casinos but not much else. Beautiful at Christmas with all the farolitos they put out. Lots of ageless fascinating culture and customs.
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