Duke City Fix

Life, food, events, and community in Albuquerque, NM

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Most of us are not from around here Johnny, maybe you aren't either, don't know. But it occurred to me after reading this that a lot of your posts are historical, and though they are all well written and interesting, they really serve another purp...
7 hours ago
really sweet story about Nob Hill history! Thanks for writing.
8 hours ago
Hey Johnny Mango! Great Job. Thanks for keeping the stories of the old Albuquerque--before it became Burque in the groovy NuCity sense-- alive.
9 hours ago
I happened to walk by this weekend and peek in the windows, they look nice and modern inside. I was wondering how they would make contemporary space out of the tiny original rooms. Well written!
11 hours ago
Another wonderful post. Thanks for the great read.
15 hours ago
Excellent post.
23 hours ago
I love this place.. and love what they have done to it. A few months back, I did some photos when it was in it's derelict state. Would love to go back and see it now.... You did an awesome job with the story... can't wait for more :)
yesterday
Thanks everyone for your extremely generous comments. I really appreciate your interest. Albuquerque is so full of wonderful adventures, and I do try to take you with me. Thanks again.
yesterday

Profile Information

Where I Live:
Nob Hill
About Me:
My real name is Jon Knudsen. Unfortunately "Jon Knudsen" is both hard to pronounce and to remember. Also, Johnny _Mango seems to be a braver person than Jon Knudsen. And better looking. Maybe that's why Jon's GF MaryAnn calls him "Johnny" most of the time.
Relationship Status:
In a Relationship
My Website:
http://www.albloggerque.blogspot.com
What I'm Reading:
American Jesus
What I'm Listening To:
Van Cliburn, Lee Morgan, Django

Johnny_Mango's Blog

Johnny_Mango

The Life, Death, & Rebirth of the Nob Hill Motel


NOB HILL--So many of the old motels on East Central have been torn down that it is a pleasure to watch the rebirth of one of them. The Nob Hill Motel opened for business in 1937, the same year U.S Rte. 66 first came through Tijeras Canyon and headed west straight out Albuquerque's Central Ave. When that motel… Continue

Posted on November 10, 2009 at 10:00am — 23 Comments

Johnny_Mango

Hiking the Zipper


NOB HILL--One of the benefits of having a good public transportation system is the ability to do 'point to point' urban hikes on the weekend. A five mile hike down old Route 66 is possible, and then using the Rapid-Ride bus to get back home. This might be called Destination Hiking and it is in contrast to maki… Continue

Posted on October 27, 2009 at 8:00am — 12 Comments

Johnny_Mango

Ernest Blumenthal & the WPA (Part 2): The Old Airport Terminal


THE ALBUQUERQUE SUNPORT--Imagine the emotions running through Ernest Blumenthal when he found out that he was to be the architect for Albuquerque's New Airport Terminal. He must have started working on it in 1936 or 1937 for it was completed in 1939. The U.S. was still in the depths of the Great Depression… Continue

Posted on October 20, 2009 at 11:00am — 8 Comments

Johnny_Mango

Ernest Blumenthal & the WPA: Still Showing What a Stimulus Should Look Like (Part One)


NOB HILL--And then came the stimulus money. I watched as workers quickly assembled ready-made bus stops up and down Central Ave. The mayor had said he didn't want to spend stimulus funds on anything that would increase the number of city employees. I listened as an APS supervisor told me how classroom assi… Continue

Posted on October 13, 2009 at 10:00am — 15 Comments

Johnny_Mango

With Robby in the Weeds


TINGLEY BEACH--Last Friday my grandson got a day off from school because of an inservice. "Let's go down to The Ponds," he said while cutting up his sausages at Mannie's. I knew which ones he meant--the ones in the bosque west of Tingley Beach. They aren't part of Tingley Beach proper; they kind of… Continue

Posted on September 29, 2009 at 12:27pm — 11 Comments

Comment Wall (39 comments)

At 11:18am on November 3, 2007, Diluted said…
Morning Jon! ;)
At 7:08am on November 21, 2007, Adelita said…
Johnny, I should be getting ready for work...I wanted to let you know that on my page I will be leaving clues for the following week's story. Check it out and have a great Thanksgiving!!
At 11:09am on November 21, 2007, bonnie said…
RAGBRAI would be a dream ride. But my morning ride to work is pretty good too.
At 2:53pm on November 21, 2007, Ned said…
Yes, but I've got real equipment. I meet guys like Frank C on the road and just shake my head wondering what they could do and if they would be happier if they had a down sleeping bag, a light weight tent, an msr stove, and a reasonable bike. I used to think that this stuff cost real money, but these days I find all of this and more for peanuts at garage sales.

My first tour was at the end of the summer of '84. A high school friend was at Carlton College in Northfield, I was a summer intern in Minneapolis about 45 miles north. We rode back and forth a bunch of times that summer and learned about bike tools, racks, bags, and a bit later found that clothing and shoes made a big difference when riding all day. With a garage sale tent and some free Wisconsin bike maps, we headed east to lake michigan, crossed the ferry to Luddington Michigan, and then on to visit our families in Indiana.

It was outside of Luddington that we met Ray, who was heading to Fort Wayne to take a job as a martial arts instructor. We all had come from Minneapolis, but we had taken the back roads, Ray followed the US highway routes. We had a tent, Ray just had a bedroll (and it had been raining). We were eating real food, Ray was eating field corn. About 15 miles out of Luddington, Ray said he was having a hard time keeping up with us. We then looked at his bike--turned out to have been borrowed from someone. The shift cables had long ago broken at the ball and small screws were used to wedge the ends in the shift levers. Only a couple of gears worked. The rest of the bike was in sad shape too. We pointed him back towards the (actually very good) bike shop in Luddington and continued on without him.

The topic of conversation for the next dozen or two miles was: How did he get so far?
At 11:43am on November 24, 2007, SAS said…
I've always enjoyed your DCF blogs, so I'm adding you. Reciprocate if you like, eh?
At 7:47am on November 26, 2007, Soo-yon Pyun said…
Thanks for adding me to your friends list! I'll try to post interesting things about my life in Seoul. I can't say for sure when, but as soon as possible.
At 2:08pm on November 28, 2007, Stephanie said…
I grew up in St. Charles, but I lived in Roger's Park for 6 or 7 years. I graduated from UIC... just after they stopped calling it "Circle Campus."
At 6:38pm on November 28, 2007, Rudolfo Carrillo said…
my mom's people were from the trujillo and the soto families...the mesilla valley is pretty beautiful, eh?
At 2:03pm on December 2, 2007, bleve said…
Thanks brother. Your posts have been a pleasure to read... keep up the good writing. On that note... I'll be starting a website in a couple of months covering news and opinion throughout New Mexico...'Local Dialogue... New Mexico'. Would love for you to contribute. I'll keep you posted.
At 11:42am on December 4, 2007, slm said…
Right on Jonny_M. I really dig your pieces. Keep up the strong work!

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