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

Morning Fix: NO, No, no

So... its not federally legal... but its not federally prosecuted... so... I guess everyone's happy.
Gardunos is toast. Oh wait, maybe not. Regardless, although not in Albuquerque, this restaurant is so incredible that its reopening should be celebrated by all. Eat your heart out, El Pinto! (just kidding, I love you, EP)
Not news, but still hilarious: Scientists locate Waldo in the Gulf of New Mexico! LOL.. Makes you wonder if we'll ever be found!
All Chimps Go to Heaven: RIP Bernice
As if middle school wasn't hard enough...
Bummer. If you haven't received your flu shot yet, better make it to one of these clinics.
Its on: Holm vs Hernandez Dec 4th! Get your tickets here.
After all of the street car/tolley/modern rail bashing during the campaign, I honestly, wasn't expecting this.

Comment by Tricross on October 21, 2009 at 8:06am: Berry looking at the downtown arena and plan is a good example of the difference between a business person and a politician, especially when compared to the train wreck(sorry) that is happening in the special session. When faced with hard times, a business person will look at trimming costs, but will focus more heavily on growing out of, let's say, a recession by looking for opportunity to bring in more revenue through commerce. A politician, when faced with a recession, will focus more on slashing programs and bringing in revenue through higher taxes (with no intent on ever returning either to their original state) rather than growing the economy.

Comment by Doug R on October 21, 2009 at 8:23am: Tricross - Amen! Great comments. New Mexico, take some advice from an ex-Californian, deal with the problem now when it's ONLY this million. Or look at California for what happens next! What a business person does (using a budget, trying to break even if not make a profit, trimming costs, looking at the future through a true expected revenue mindset) is what everyone (personally) should do. We're entering a new era - we'll all be contractors I predict so get used to budgeting, covering your own taxes and other new skills. I recommend this book to prepare you for our brave new world.

Comment by Masshole in Fringecrest on October 21, 2009 at 8:29am: re: downtown arena- I believe whatever the commenters at KOB.com believe... I love the arguments that the reason we shouldn't have an arena is because our kids are in portable buildings at APS. Now there's some solid cost/benefit analysis going on there. Or the commenters who say- "that's a stupid idea- nobody goes down there- it's all vagrants and hoodlums".... um, logic anyone?

Comment by mateoism on October 21, 2009 at 8:50am: For clarification, I am excited about the reopening of Rancho de Chimayo, not Gardunos.... I worded that one strangely...

Comment by slamwagon on October 21, 2009 at 8:56am: It's ok to like Gardunos, mateoism, it's ok.

Comment by Robert S. on October 21, 2009 at 10:24am: If Berry decides after the study is released that a downtown arena is worth trying for, I hope it goes to a public vote and let people decide if they also believe it is worth doing for the good of the city. I'd hate to think Berry would take a marginally beneficial arena -- if that is what the study concludes -- and ramrod it through approval channels and it becomes a money trap like Rio Rancho's arena.

Comment by once banned twice shy on October 21, 2009 at 10:38am: Or the commenters who say- "that's a stupid idea- nobody goes down there- it's all vagrants and hoodlums".... um, logic anyone?

Well, but this isn't completely off the mark. The arena will depend on people coming downtown. A LOT of people in Albq. have a very negative view of downtown and would be hesitant to come down here for a show. Personally, I am very much NOT in favor of a downtown arena. What makes people think that an arena downtown would all of a sudden attract people for a show--when shows have a hard time selling elsewhere. Indeed, look at the Rio Rancho arena. Ask any promoter: Albq. is a strange, strange venue which has a hard time selling shows that sell everywhere else. There are many other things which could make downtown more attractive and cost less than an arena moneypit.

So we like business people to run our government? Hmmmm...I seem to remember one of Bush's selling points was that he was a business person and would run government like a business. Some crappy business he left us with...

Comment by ramon t on October 21, 2009 at 10:46am: Comparing the Rio Rancho Arena to anything in Albuquerque is just silly, IMHO. The Rio Rancho arena is in the middle of freaking no where. That is its biggest problem. There is 2 ways in and out of that place and is surrounded by nothing. You cannot make a 'night' of it because of the RR location. I have been to many arena's around the country that are in a Downtown and others that are not. I love being able to go to the one's that are Downtown. Just 2 months ago I went to PNC park in downtown Pittsburgh. Had a bite to eat and a few cocktails after all within walking distance. You cannot do that at the RR arena. You will be able to do that with a Abq downtown arena.

Also, as bad as Bush was at being a conservative...good ole' Obama is just continuing our bad choices in leaders.

Comment by Masshole in Fringecrest on October 21, 2009 at 11:34am: Please, I implore people, do not take the Bush/Obama bait here... try to keep it on the topic of Mayor-elect Berry and the proposed downtown arena. Torturous debates over who was/is a worse president can be enthusiatically undertaken HERE.