Duke City Fix

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

Adelita

Where in 'Burque is Adelita? (numero cinco, the final installment)

My daughter made me cry the other day, and not because she was being unkind or for being an insensitive teenager. As we were snapping pictures for this series, she exclaimed, “This has been the best summer ever!” I asked her why and she said that she loved going to work with me as a junior docent at the museum. She also said it was a great summer because she had so much fun discovering “her” city. She said even though we didn’t go on a vacation this year, it felt like it was a trip out of town because she saw so many things she didn’t know existed in her own backyard. Wow!

I have to tell you, this little series of posts has really made me realize how little we travel around Burque. You get so used to your routine that you forget there is a whole giant city out there with places and things just waiting to be found. And it also made me realize that my daughter has seen so very little of it.

So I asked her what her impressions are of Burque and what she likes and dislikes. Here are some of her thoughts:

1. She likes that there is art everywhere around us - public art, art in people’s yards, murals, mosaics, art along the freeway, art in the parks and libraries and even schools.

2. There are a lot of people with crazy mailboxes! We saw tiled mailboxes, animal mailboxes, truck mailboxes, hand painted floral mailboxes, etc.

3. She said she doesn’t like the neighborhoods that look like they don’t they belong in Albuquerque.

4. It’s really, really big!

5. She wondered why so many streets in the heights are named after California cities – San Bernardino, Anaheim, San Diego, Ventura, etc. I told her to think about that one for a while.

6. And while on the subject of street names she realized that many streets are named after states, universities, Generals, saints, old New Mexican families, and lots and lots of streets with “sage” and “oso” in the name.

7. She realized that it’s one thing to go to your neighborhood Dion’s or Lotaburger and see classmates, neighbors, and cousins, but it’s very different to go to one in a neighborhood far from your own and not recognize anyone. Sometimes you can feel like a stranger in your own city.

I asked my daughter where in the city she would like to live when she’s older. I was shocked at the answer, assuming that of course she would say the North Valley. Her answer was…drum roll please…Nob Hill. Yup, my valley girl wants to live where all the groovy shops and restaurants are and be close to the University and Downtown. Maybe when she’s older she’ll appreciate the little piece of land she was raised on. And hopefully she’ll see the beauty of our funky Los Griegos neighborhood and value the long and enduring history that is all around her. Maybe she’ll understand that the roots we’ve planted have grown very deep.

So what do we both want everyone to get from these fun posts? Step out of your comfort zone and make a point to go somewhere in the city you normally don’t go and maybe have lunch at a place you’ve never tried. Check out the surroundings and see what cool things make that neighborhood so unique. And by the same token, check out your own neighborhood! Its funny how you take certain things for granted.

Here are a whole bunch of pictures we wanted to share with you. We’ve had many DCFers make great recommendations and given us great ideas for pictures. Hopefully you’ll see yours here. If not, well, we’ve already decided that we must do a couple more “Where in Burque” posts in the next few months. There is one last prize.* The person that guesses the most correctly will win a set of Albuquerque Trivia Cards.

*If you have won any contest on Duke City Fix in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win this contest.

Have at it folks!

#1


#2


#3


#4


#5


#6


#7


#8


#9


#10

27 Comments

Bluegoo Comment by Bluegoo on August 20, 2008 at 12:42pm
# 1 the cowboy boot. It is near 5400 Menual N.E near the honey baked ham company or about 100 yards east of Baillios. Not sure about the rest.
FactWino Comment by FactWino on August 20, 2008 at 12:46pm
Let's see I think #1 is on Menaul just east of San Mateo, Dan's Boots and Saddles?
#2
#3 Near Rio Grande and the Freeway, don't know the shop
#4 Old Town, the restaurant that has all the wild game, something Saloon, High Noon?
#6 Looks like something on the base
#10 On Lomas near 4th, a Jewelry Store?
RiRiSynCyr Comment by RiRiSynCyr on August 20, 2008 at 12:51pm
I have no clue where ANY of these things are. Haven't lived here long enough, or explored enough, I guess.

BUT, I just have to say Lita....that you and your beautiful daughter are amazing. You are both so smart, creative, intelligent, and thoughtful. Burque is blessed to have the two of you in its community.
Sarah Comment by Sarah on August 20, 2008 at 1:06pm
# 3 is a hair salon on Central--east of Louisiana I think. That is the only one I know for sure...
But, this post is lovely---thank you!!
Martini Mike Comment by Martini Mike on August 20, 2008 at 1:29pm
Great post! Some pics are definitely recognizable.. but from where I don't know!
#3 on Central? Near the undercover hooker? haha
Margaret Comment by Margaret on August 20, 2008 at 1:38pm
#4 wall at the house on 12th and Bellamah!
Patricia Comment by Patricia on August 20, 2008 at 1:41pm
Methinks #8 is the side wall of the Frontier...
Gemini Goddess Comment by Gemini Goddess on August 20, 2008 at 1:49pm
I want to say that #5 is at the Zimmerman Library at UNM, but not sure. The rest are really cool and I know I have seen them, but I can't place them!
Grumpy Comment by Grumpy on August 20, 2008 at 1:52pm
I can tell you the Leo Romero painted #4 - it's in front of his house @ 12th & Bellamah.
Adelita Comment by Adelita on August 20, 2008 at 2:05pm
Hey everyone, I'm going to be away from my computer until this evening. There are only a couple of right answers... Try to guess as many as possible so you can win the trivia cards. You can do it!

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