sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

I'll be there for work and I'm looking for suggestions on what to see/do all day Sunday and in the evenings through Wednesday. I think I'll be near the university and the airport area. Has anyone been there?

The area to the east of town looks hilly. Are there any good roads/scenic views I shouldn't miss?

Bad parts of town to avoid?

I assume there will be good libations to be had near the university; any recommendations for food/drink/athmosphere?

hustler

iTrader: (6)

Drive to Los Alamos, climb a cliff.

I know some good spots in Santa Fe which are worth the drive for Dinner.

revlimiter

iTrader: (1)

If you go up I-40 East just into the mountains and take HWY 14 to Santa Fe, you'll have a nice drive. It should be a decent time of year for it too. It'll be cool, but not freezing.

Near UNM: Go slightly east to *** Hill. There's a few good drinkeries there. 2 Fools Tavern is good. Kelly's does great microbrew (oatmeal stout FTW). Flying Star is a restaurant with some great desserts.

Around UNM is The Frountier. The Frontier Bun is not to be missed. Also, Saggio's has great pizza. Pepperoni with green chile. Yum yum.

I'd offer to get together, but I'll be out of town when you get here. =(

revlimiter

iTrader: (1)

Parts of town to avoid: the east. Yuppy scum up there. We have a walking mall called "The Q" with the Apple store. It's one of the circles of hell. Stay away. Seriously, you won't have your car stolen or get mugged (probably) but it's a very soulless part of town. It's like any crappy American city.

Pretty parts of town: Downtown and the area around the railroad tracks. There are some nice old buildings. The west mesa (west of Unser, maybe go as far west as Paseo Del Volcan) is pretty damn picturesque. Sunsets are great out there. Old Town is very pretty (it's slightly west of downtown which is west of UNM). The open space along the river is very pretty (take Rio Grande north to Alameda).

Not sure what you're into. I look for **** that's nice to take pix of, so that's what I'm recommending.

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Update. We'll be staying at one of the airport hotels and the daytime work location will be near 2nd st. SW and Bridge Blvd.

I'm interested in the drive to Santa Fe that was mentioned and Hustler's recommendation for a restaurant there. Looking at the map, what about I-40 to 14 as mentioned, but then taking Sandia Crest/536/165 through the forest to Placitas, then I-25 up toward Santa Fe?

hustler

iTrader: (6)

http://goo.gl/maps/ngFi
"B" is a cool little coffee shop that pales in the comparison to the view and piny air. then, about 30-minutes north of there you'll come up to parking for a park on the left side of the road. Get out, stand in the snowmelt fed streams, rock climb with the locals (I did), and realize where you are. Then, eat at Harry's Road House, get the flank steak + Colorado Mole enchilada and the coconut cream pie, this pie is a legend in the culinary world.

There's more to do on that trip, you should fill in the blanks. I LOVE New Mexico.

Faeflora

iTrader: (2)

Yes what hustler said-ish: drive to los alamos and see some of the most beautiful land in the country. There are also good ski resorts around there.

revlimiter

iTrader: (1)

Los Alamos is a good drive. The mountain roads are extremely pleasant. Hustler has a great route. But the part before "C" on his map (the roads in Santa Fe themselves) are incredibly annoying. Packed with slow moving locals on 6 lane roads with a 40 mph limit. Just be ready for it and the joy that comes after.

Oh yeah, I always go backwards of that route. Go up to Santa Fe somehow and then take the Los Alamos circle around and back to ABQ.


As for where you're working, 2nd and Bridge might be considered "rough" by some folks. It's a bit more downscale than some Albuquerque neighborhoods. It's right along the railroad tracks and very near our abandoned AT&SF railyard. Don't be discouraged, it's a pretty decent area.

BTW, I love taking photos of that railyard. http://www.flickr.com/photos/revlimi...7604079087056/

trickyrix

If you want a good steak in ABQ, head up north to Vernon's in Los Ranchos. Some family friends from Dallas moved back out there and opened it up a few years ago, along with a little cafe and a liquor store. The steakhouse is hidden behind their liquor store, and you enter through what looks like a stockroom door in the back. Great steaks, strong drinks, good people.

Beyond that, I'm with Hustler - go to Santa Fe for the really good eats.
Pasqual's - famous for breakfast, but they serve a really nice dinner too, wait in line for breakfast, dinner reservations required
Pink Adobe - a Santa Fe institution
Upper Crust - bad *** pizza if you're in the mood
Bobcat Bite - one of the best green chile cheeseburgers anywhere, expect to wait a while
El Farol - great spot for tapas on Canyon Road

If you can make time, head north of Santa Fe for some nice mountain roads. The High Road to Taos has some really nice vistas. From there, take a spin around the Enchanted Circle - it's not as gay as it sounds. And it's a really fun road if you're driving something decent. But it's probably a 6-hour round trip from ABQ, not including meal stops. Sorry...

Wish I knew more about ABQ, but I love me some northern New Mexico...

hustler

iTrader: (6)

I'm a ***** to Pasqual and I posted-up at El Farol frequently when I lived out there. I live on St. Francis in downtown for about 9-months, it was great. I was sooooooooooo close to moving there too. If they had a better track I would have.

BenR

iTrader: (2)

Vernon's is good but expensive. You want a good steak at a reasonable price try the monte carlo. Yanni's or Nick and Jimmy's. Or go to the quarters and get the steak tampico.

As Adam mentioned the Frontier is an institution and the best remedy for a hangover. Go for the orange juice, and sweet roll, stay for the show.

The local food blog.
http://www.nmgastronome.com/

By the university I recommended el patio for lunch.

I'm biased but I think ABQ has better food than Santa Fe.

Your options increase for good food a lot of you speak spanish.

If you take hustlers route through the Jemez to Los Alamos, you need to return from Santa Fe on 14.

If you're into wine you should try some of the local flavors. We have the oldest vines in the US, and our soil is really good for making reds.


I'll probably be at the track on sunday testing if the cars are running.

revlimiter

iTrader: (1)

+1 to all of this, especially the last one.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

I really miss New Mexico.

BenR

iTrader: (2)

There's plenty of time to move here when you're retired.

trickyrix

I've never spent much time in ABQ... in fact, I don't think I've even spent a night there. So excuse my ignorance, but is the crime really as bad as The News would have one believe? Seriously, whenever I'm out there it seems like Action 7 leads with the latest murder/domestic beating/robbery, etc etc etc. Plus, it seems like all my NM relatives (from such far-flung locales as Silver City and Farmington) like to bash it...

Please edjamacate me, because it seems like the only place in the state with some semblance of modern industry.

In the meantime, I'll continue to stroke my Santa Fe hard-on while I count down the days till my summer vacation there...

BenR

iTrader: (2)

These two go hand in hand. Personally there is no place in town I don't feel safe. Sure anything north of central is typically higher rent, but you're fine even in the south valley. As long as you don't cruize around in a lowrider decked in your hoods colors and stare at random people you'll be fine. Gangsters typically only hurt each other, and I think they've learned to not pick fights with strangers around central and san mateo.

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

If you are up for the trip, check out Taos. ******* beautiful up here right now.

Someone mentioned the ski resorts, just a heads up that the season is over for us =(.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

There are two problems with NM...no good tracks and scary, draconian DUI ****.

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

The saving grace is that we have amazing canyons and the dankest buds.

BenR

iTrader: (2)

1. It's no laguna seca, but it's also priced accordingly. It has it's problems, though you didn't get a very good ride along. Also all the CO tracks are as close to us as hallett is to you.

2. Don't drink and drive?