I am contemplating a move there and was wondering if anyone knew the area well and would be able to tell me nice parts of town to look for apartments in. All input is greatly appreciated.
Please reply here or PM.
TMB
Albuquerque
Forum rules
Be kind. No government, state, or local politics allowed. Admin has final decision for any/all removed posts.
Be kind. No government, state, or local politics allowed. Admin has final decision for any/all removed posts.
-
Thomas Maurice Booth
- 3 valves
- Posts: 433
- Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2004 6:03 pm
Albuquerque
I post because you're unable to Google.
-
Chadtuba
- pro musician
- Posts: 1005
- Joined: Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:00 pm
- Location: Minnesota
Rio Rancho is a suburb at the north end of town, this is where I'd look if it were me. I live in southern Colorado about 3 hours north of ABQ and get the news from there on the antenna (I know, I should get cable or DISH) and have taken long weekends there often and Rio Rancho is where we like to stay.
-
LoyalTubist
- 6 valves
- Posts: 2647
- Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2006 8:49 pm
- Location: Arcadia, CA
- Contact:
Albuquerque is a larger version of most of the other places in New Mexico. Most cultural events are done on a smaller scale compared to what you expect in most of the rest of the country. There are four seasons with summers being especially hot. Santa Fe isn't far away--it's the place that has the bigger cultural oppotunities (opera, symphony, etc.) Some of my friends have been grad assistants at the University of New Mexico and went onto bigger things in the tuba world.
Last edited by LoyalTubist on Tue May 29, 2007 1:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
________________________________________________________
You only have one chance to make a first impression. Don't blow it.
You only have one chance to make a first impression. Don't blow it.
-
ai698
- pro musician
- Posts: 448
- Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 11:04 pm
- Location: Shamrock, TX
Nice place to live. Still has a big town attitude with bad drivers. Growing like weeds. I went to HS and UNM there, but like living in a smaller town about 200 miles away. I have to go there at least once a week for National Guard. Forget Santa Fe- you'll need $$$$ to live there thanks to the Hollywood types that moved there. Ditto on Los Lunas just south of ABQ.
Why are you looking at ABQ?
Why are you looking at ABQ?
Steve W
Rudolf Meinl RM45 CC, Meinl-Weston 46 F, Mack-TU410L
Rudolf Meinl RM45 CC, Meinl-Weston 46 F, Mack-TU410L
-
Rick Denney
- Resident Genius
- Posts: 6650
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 1:18 am
- Contact:
Albuquerque has five basic areas, the North Valley, the South Valley, the West Mesa (including Rio Rancho), the Heights, and the East Mountain.
Downtown is really at the meeting point of the North and South Valley. These areas have the highest crime, and have had for many decades. But normal people do live there, and many believe that the Valley is the soul of the city. It depends on what you want. There are slummy pockets and there are very nice nooks at both ends of the Valley.
Belen and Los Lunas are towns further south along the Rio Grande that have been swept up into the metro area. Like most of the developments along the bosque, they are old, old neighborhoods, and really just extensions of the South Valley. I understand that they have just opened some rail trainsit down as far as Belen, though I've not seen it myself.
No matter where you live, you'll come to the Valley for culture and food. My favorite is Sadie's, which is on N. 4th.
The Valley is down along the Rio Grande. There are bluffs on both sides of that area. The bluff on the west side is hard up against the river, and when you climb that bluff you are on the West Mesa. That is the newest area of suburban development. Rio Rancho is at the north end of that development, but there are also relatively new neighborhoods south of Rio Rancho that are not quite so pricey. If you have to go into central Albuquerque every day, living on the West Mesa is a pain. The bridges are few and crowded, with no real relief in sight.
The bluff to the east of the Valley is easy to spot on the map--I-25 runs along it. East of that bluff is the newer part of Albuquerque known as the Heights. The Heights used to be the high-end neighborhood, but Rio Rancho has overtaken it in the last 15 years or so. Further north, towards Tramway, seemed to be newer and better last time I was in that neighborhood.
The East Mountain is for those who don't need to go into the city too often. This is the area east of the Sandia Crest, and the only path into town is I-40 over the Tijeras Pass. The area is unincorporated, and for many years the only reasonable map was a hand-drawn map made by a local artist. Services are spotty over there even now. It's easier to live in semi-rural conditions in the East Mountain area, but you need to be a bit more self-sufficient. Neighborhoods east of the Crest vary in quality, and you just have to make judgements on the ground.
If I was trying to find a spot sight unseen, I'd be looking in the northern Heights area, as the best balance between risk and cost.
Rick "a frequent visitor" Denney
Downtown is really at the meeting point of the North and South Valley. These areas have the highest crime, and have had for many decades. But normal people do live there, and many believe that the Valley is the soul of the city. It depends on what you want. There are slummy pockets and there are very nice nooks at both ends of the Valley.
Belen and Los Lunas are towns further south along the Rio Grande that have been swept up into the metro area. Like most of the developments along the bosque, they are old, old neighborhoods, and really just extensions of the South Valley. I understand that they have just opened some rail trainsit down as far as Belen, though I've not seen it myself.
No matter where you live, you'll come to the Valley for culture and food. My favorite is Sadie's, which is on N. 4th.
The Valley is down along the Rio Grande. There are bluffs on both sides of that area. The bluff on the west side is hard up against the river, and when you climb that bluff you are on the West Mesa. That is the newest area of suburban development. Rio Rancho is at the north end of that development, but there are also relatively new neighborhoods south of Rio Rancho that are not quite so pricey. If you have to go into central Albuquerque every day, living on the West Mesa is a pain. The bridges are few and crowded, with no real relief in sight.
The bluff to the east of the Valley is easy to spot on the map--I-25 runs along it. East of that bluff is the newer part of Albuquerque known as the Heights. The Heights used to be the high-end neighborhood, but Rio Rancho has overtaken it in the last 15 years or so. Further north, towards Tramway, seemed to be newer and better last time I was in that neighborhood.
The East Mountain is for those who don't need to go into the city too often. This is the area east of the Sandia Crest, and the only path into town is I-40 over the Tijeras Pass. The area is unincorporated, and for many years the only reasonable map was a hand-drawn map made by a local artist. Services are spotty over there even now. It's easier to live in semi-rural conditions in the East Mountain area, but you need to be a bit more self-sufficient. Neighborhoods east of the Crest vary in quality, and you just have to make judgements on the ground.
If I was trying to find a spot sight unseen, I'd be looking in the northern Heights area, as the best balance between risk and cost.
Rick "a frequent visitor" Denney
-
kegmcnabb
- 3 valves
- Posts: 432
- Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2004 10:33 pm
- Location: Moving back to WI from NM! What am I thinking?
Having lived in the Heights, the North Valley, and the East Mountian, I would have to say the East Mountain is my favorite. Yeah, you have to drive to get into the city, but as commutes go, it isn't too bad (although winter weather can make the pass treacherous). I lived just east of Tijeras off of Old 66. My house was surrounded by the juniper forest and had a great view of the Sandias. Fresh air, low crime, low noise, great mountain biking and friendly (but widely spaced) neighbors. Yeah, I still miss it.
We had a nice house on Candelaria, adjacent to the Rio Grande Nature Center for several years. If I had to live in town I really prefer the North Valley. It is kind of funky, pig farms next to beautiful, expensive homes and all in the heart of the city. There's no place like it.
That said, Rick is probably correct in his assessment...
Food is tremendous. Sadie's is great, as is the Garduno's on 4th Street, which seems to have escaped the corporate clone syndrome that has affected the other Garduno's around. Or if you feel like braving the South Valley, Barella's on South Broadway will knock your socks off with a bowl of red chile. Or better yet, a chicarrone burrito from the first sleazy roach coach you can find.
"Mmmm.....chicarrones..."
We had a nice house on Candelaria, adjacent to the Rio Grande Nature Center for several years. If I had to live in town I really prefer the North Valley. It is kind of funky, pig farms next to beautiful, expensive homes and all in the heart of the city. There's no place like it.
That said, Rick is probably correct in his assessment...
...but my personal vote is still the East Mountain.Rick Denney wrote:If I was trying to find a spot sight unseen, I'd be looking in the northern Heights area, as the best balance between risk and cost.
Food is tremendous. Sadie's is great, as is the Garduno's on 4th Street, which seems to have escaped the corporate clone syndrome that has affected the other Garduno's around. Or if you feel like braving the South Valley, Barella's on South Broadway will knock your socks off with a bowl of red chile. Or better yet, a chicarrone burrito from the first sleazy roach coach you can find.
"Mmmm.....chicarrones..."
Craig McClelland
-
LoyalTubist
- 6 valves
- Posts: 2647
- Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2006 8:49 pm
- Location: Arcadia, CA
- Contact:
I think you mean chicharrones:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicharrones
Believe it or not, there is a version of chicharrón which is popular in Vietnam. I have it for lunch two or three times a week. It's a good thing I have to walk six blocks from the school to the restaurant to get there!
I grew up eating them and I have my own recipe.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicharrones
Believe it or not, there is a version of chicharrón which is popular in Vietnam. I have it for lunch two or three times a week. It's a good thing I have to walk six blocks from the school to the restaurant to get there!
I grew up eating them and I have my own recipe.
________________________________________________________
You only have one chance to make a first impression. Don't blow it.
You only have one chance to make a first impression. Don't blow it.
-
Dylan King
- YouTube Tubist
- Posts: 1602
- Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2004 1:56 am
- Location: Weddington, NC, USA.
- Contact:
-
kegmcnabb
- 3 valves
- Posts: 432
- Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2004 10:33 pm
- Location: Moving back to WI from NM! What am I thinking?
Everybody say "Eeewww!"
Yes, that is indeed what I meant! Mmmmm....LoyalTubist wrote:I think you mean chicharrones:
I actually know that legendary young lady (er, maybe not so young anymore) from that song! Jazz discharge party hats, indeed! What a freaky world.Dylan King wrote:While in New Mexico, it's best to stay away from the jazz discharge party hats.
Last edited by kegmcnabb on Wed May 30, 2007 2:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Craig McClelland
-
kegmcnabb
- 3 valves
- Posts: 432
- Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2004 10:33 pm
- Location: Moving back to WI from NM! What am I thinking?
Pfft...Donald Giovanni wrote:Stay away from the Rio Grande. The cops use air boats to fish murder victims from the water where it flows through Albuquerque.
I lived where Candelaria dead ends at the river. It is a wonderful place to live if you like the Valley's unique ambiance. I spent many hours hiking and cycling along the Rio Grande. If you like that area go for it. The only caveat I would issue is the North Valley is good, South Valley...not so much.
As for Rio Rancho, there is no way I would live there. Row after row of souless, cardboard cut-out houses and absolutely none of the personality that makes New Mexico what it is.
My $.02. YMMV.
Craig McClelland
-
Rick Denney
- Resident Genius
- Posts: 6650
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 1:18 am
- Contact:
Agreed. The casinos are nowhere near the North Valley. Murder victims are usually further south. But you can have murder victims in the East Mountain and Rio Rancho, too. I would extend your Rio Rancho comments to the entire West Mesa.kegmcnabb wrote:Pfft...Donald Giovanni wrote:Stay away from the Rio Grande. The cops use air boats to fish murder victims from the water where it flows through Albuquerque.
I lived where Candelaria dead ends at the river. It is a wonderful place to live if you like the Valley's unique ambiance. I spent many hours hiking and cycling along the Rio Grande. If you like that area go for it. The only caveat I would issue is the North Valley is good, South Valley...not so much.
As for Rio Rancho, there is no f-ing way I would live there. Row after row of souless, cardboard cut-out houses and absolutely none of the personality that makes New Mexico what it is.
My $.02. YMMV.
And, yes, the original Garduno's is excellent, though I still prefer Sadie's. My favorite was the now-closed Mexican Carry-Out Kitchen, which I seem to recall was on 12th. They had stuffed sopaipillas to die for. We thought Sadie's would lose their quality when they moved out of the bowling alley, but they seem as good as ever in their new location, and the line is shorter.
The best I can do here in Virginia is Anita's, which seems to be distantly related to Little Anita's in Old Town. Little Anita's isn't my favorite when in Albuquerque, but it glows in the dark in Virginia. I just had a bowl of posole with carne adovada two nights ago at Anita's. Not bad. But they only occasionally have proper sopaipillas. I had to make do with flour tortillas.
Rick "who has spent considerable time with close friends who live in Duranes" Denney