Albuquerque a2k roundup, May 14-19, 2008

I uncovered a list of names of people who, for one reason or another, I thought might be worth pursuing. I don't know when I compiled it. It was before I could confidently spell Albuquerque. I do know that, and I know that those people will be hearing from me with an invitation.

There's now a rather good chance that another person can be added to the list. (More this weekend.)

eeeeeeeek, realllly???

Past my bedtime here... back domani. Or, manana.

should walter be able to make it we will traverse the gila mountains, the san carlos apache reservation and the white mountain ( ft Apache) reservation returning home via Zuni New mexico. some of my favorite places.

I'm there.

Flight(s) are booked, tickets printed.

eeks now I have to clean up the R.V., put clean towels in the guest bath and comb my hair.

there goes the neighborhood

actually all my neighbors like walter.

Great news from Walter!

My sister-in-law is from Alb. My brother sent me a few restauant ideas she had, for what it is worth: EL PINTO-atmospheric place that looks like what gringos expect of a Mexican establishment. Only adequate food though. GAURDANO'S flagship on Mongomery Blvd is a nice compromise of atmosphere and good food. Great mariachi band. VIC'S OLD WORLD CAFE for breakfast burritos. DION'S for pizza.

The best Mexican places are the small hole-in-the-wall, working class eateries. Short on atmosphere but long on food. A list of some of those will follow after Jenny talks with her parents.

Re hotels: Old Town offers one of the only real walkable environments. The adjacent modern downtown lies along Central Ave. Fringes can be a little dicey, but have improved in recent years.


I have settled on the Best Western Rio Grande Old Town.

I could imagine that the restaurant/cafe in the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (a must be seen museum, in my opinion!) offers some room for meetings, too.

However, the food on a 1 to 1 to is, at best, a 4.

I've just tried to upgrade my transatlantic flights (via miles from shopping etc) to business class: all seats booked already and even a long waiting list

The downtown area of Central and the Nob Hill area are very walkable. Well, I don't know about at 2 a.m.

Good evening. My role here as instigator is essentially done. I hope that I have left the folks in Albuquerque with no heavy lifting to do.

I do have a rather long list of folks to whom I am sending personalized invitations. That should, at the rate of 2 or 3 a day, stretch into early next week.

It appears that the Congress and the President have agreed to an idea to send everyone $600 or whatever. We are not supposed to save that money, or use it to buy necessities. We have a patriotic duty to spend it frivilously in order to stimulate our economy (no buying of overseas goods).

What better fits that mandate than everyone treating themselves to a vacation in Albuquerque sometime between 5/14-5/19? -johnboy-

Shall I give my address now?

( ha)

Things to Do in Albuquerque fall into different categories -

We've talked about some walks or rides and restaurants some of us really like in those areas.
My personal tops on these are the Rio Grande street as a whole, at least to drive, and the cafe, Flying Star;
and a drive through Corrales or some possible walks there, with the restaurant Indigo Crow.
Old Town walk, restaurants to be named later, including the ice cream parlor.
Nob Hill area, Vivace restaurant.
Downtown/Central - there is a nice hat shop for Stetson buying. Malt shop across the street...

People will differ, suggestions on other walks and restaurants most welcome.


Walks without restaurants but interesting -
The Petroglyphs
Rio Grande Nature Center


The Tram - a ride that I think is worth the admission, and there's a restaurant at the top. (I've not been in it myself, though I've taken the tram.)


Museums, Botanic Garden, Aquarium, and Zoo -

Albuquerque Museum
2000 Mountain Rd NW, PO Box 1293, Albuquerque, NM 87104-1459 · 505-243-7255

This leading educational forum for Southwestern art, culture, and history has a fascinating collection of sculptures, paintings and photographs, and also offers summer art classes and workshops for children and adults. Enjoy guided tours of the gallery, Old Town, the sculpture garden, and Casa San Ysidro. Be sure to check out the unique items at the gift shop.


American International Rattlesnake Museum
202 San Felipe St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104-1442 · 505-242-6569

An albino western diamondback is among the rare specimens at this unique museum. Educational video provides insightful information about these enigmatic creatures. For example, the snake can't hear it's own rattle, and the human fatality rate from rattlesnake bites is less than one percent.


Explora
1701 Mountain Road NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104 · 505-224-8300

Loads of hands-on exhibits encourage interactive learning at this 50,000 square foot facility. Discover how science, the arts, and culture interrelate by enjoying the Creation Station and exhibits about animals and biology, water and the Rio Grande, light and optics, and energy and technology. A full schedule of workshops, discussions, and special events keep Explora busy year-round.


Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
2401 12th St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104-2397 · 505-843-7270

A vast collection of exhibits, performances, and information on Native American culture in general and the Pueblo Indians in particular. Weekend performances of Native American dances, arts and crafts demonstrations, and many year-round special events are free to the public. The gift shop features an excellent selection of fine pottery, painting, sculpture, and weaving. A children's museum, bookstore and a restaurant are also on-site.


Maxwell Museum of Anthropology
University Blvd, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001 · 505-277-4405

More than 10 million individual items from all parts of the world. Items include archaeological, ethnological, archival, photo and skeletal materials. Exhibits feature topics from the contemporary Southwest, the Americas and beyond. Research collections are accessible by appointment, which should be made by calling well in advance.


National Atomic Museum
Kirtland Air Force Base, Wyoming Gate, Albuquerque, NM 87123-2569 · 505-245-2137

America's only official atomic museum touts an impressive, wide-ranging collection of de-classified educational materials regarding nuclear technology. Outstanding documentary chronicles the Manhattan Project, which was designed, constructed, and tested in New Mexico during World War II. Other exhibits feature nuclear weapons systems, rockets, and missiles, including the jet bomber that dropped the US's last air burst H-bomb in 1962. Many documents available for in-library research.


New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
1801 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104-1375 · 505-841-2800

OLD TOWN. The city's most popular museum features a first-rate dinosaur exhibit, an arctic Ice Age cave, and a replicated volcano with a river of lava flowing underneath an opaque glass floor. Be sure to check out the equally engaging film in the Dynamax Theater. Visitors entering through the front doorway will be welcomed by life-size bronze sculptures of a 30-foot-long carnivorous albertosaur and a 21-foot-long horned pentaceratops.


Tinkertown Museum
121 Sandia Crest Rd, PO Box 303, Albuquerque, NM 87047 · 505-281-5233

Over 40 years of carving and collecting have produced Ross J. Ward's Tinkertown. The folk art museum began with two main attractions: a carved wooden miniature three-ring circus that Ward created as a teenager, and a diminutive turn-of-the-century Western town he created in the 1960s. Today, those original animated displays are housed in a 22-room building, the walls of which are constructed with over 50,000 glass bottles. A variety of Ward's other collections are also on display - from wedding cake couples to Western memorabilia to a 35-foot antique sailboat. Don't miss the gift shop - it's jam-packed with all sorts of wacky, wonderful stuff, and they ship worldwide!


Turquoise Museum (also known as Zach-Low)
2107 Central Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104-1605 · 505-247-8650

Displays relate the formation process of this gemstone and also chronicle its many uses by Native Americans during prehistoric times. Among the highlights are a simulated mine shaft that features numerous specimens from four continents. Stop by the education center to learn how to discern authentic turquoise from mere plastic.


University of New Mexico Art Museum
Cornell Dr and Central Ave, Center for the Arts, Albuquerque, NM 87123-2569 · 505-277-4001

New Mexico's largest collection of fine art includes works from seminal artists such as Rembrandt, Picasso and O'Keeffe. Other exhibits include photographs and prints. Regularly scheduled guided tours, lectures, and symposia.


Source - http://www.10best.com/Albuquerque/Sights_&_Activities/Museums/index.html


The zoo, botanic garden, aquarium --
http://www.cabq.gov/biopark/



Miscellaneous coffee shops that are kind of fun

Duran Pharmacy (& cafe)
The Model Drug Store (& cafe)
Cafe 66
There's a curandera on staff at Duran Pharmacy, a neat perfume counter, and a good basic new mexican cafe.
The Model Drug store has a terrific small gift shop and very good sandwiches (very hard to choose) and old fashioned sundaes, etc.
Cafe 66 is a 40's-50's place from the old days.



Will think of more, naturally.

Dys and others would be better at describing things to see outside of the city of Albuquerque.

The zoo and aquarium are a great spot as well.

We want to take little Bean over there so she can be under the fish.

I haven't been to the Zoo, have been meaning to check it out (thinking of a song) but have been to the Botanic Garden and Aquarium (link for the group of them above).
There's a not bad cafe at the Aquarium, with large glass view of lots of fishies.