Life, food, events, and community in Albuquerque, NM
Stop whining, go downtown
Yeah yeah, "downtown scary", I know. Put on your big boy hat and give these places a shot:
Nicks-This is a damn good gyro. Better than you'll get in any of the University district. Downside is they close fairly early.
Blackbird Buvette - Hands down my favorite pub-ish type spot. The food is great with a large selection of vegetarian stuff. The beer is cold and cheap. If you're a fan of the pot-grad, post-punk look, this is the place to gawk. A place this good should be slammed every night. If it goes out of business, it's your own fault.
516 Gallery - This place can throw an opening. Don't be scared by the lack of kokopellis and coyotoes wearing bandannas. This is challenging art for real fans. Still unsure? There's food.
(There are a ton of small galleries, and each one deserves to be visited. I won't try to list them all)
Carom Club - Another place that's perfectly put-together, but is withering because of your anti-downtown bias. Sorry Nob Hill-ers, this out Nob Hills anything you've got. Swanky as hell, big windows to look out on the little people, and more lounge space than pool tables. A bigger, better food menu is promised for the new year.
Thai Crystal (Crystal Thai?) - Sure, Orchid makes food, but the place is a closet...and a creepy closet at that. Try this place. It's got plenty of room, a subdued decor, and a friendly staff.
The way I look at it, you can fill the comments with negative crap, or you can post some places I missed. Your call, darling.
Nicks-This is a damn good gyro. Better than you'll get in any of the University district. Downside is they close fairly early.
Blackbird Buvette - Hands down my favorite pub-ish type spot. The food is great with a large selection of vegetarian stuff. The beer is cold and cheap. If you're a fan of the pot-grad, post-punk look, this is the place to gawk. A place this good should be slammed every night. If it goes out of business, it's your own fault.
516 Gallery - This place can throw an opening. Don't be scared by the lack of kokopellis and coyotoes wearing bandannas. This is challenging art for real fans. Still unsure? There's food.
(There are a ton of small galleries, and each one deserves to be visited. I won't try to list them all)
Carom Club - Another place that's perfectly put-together, but is withering because of your anti-downtown bias. Sorry Nob Hill-ers, this out Nob Hills anything you've got. Swanky as hell, big windows to look out on the little people, and more lounge space than pool tables. A bigger, better food menu is promised for the new year.
Thai Crystal (Crystal Thai?) - Sure, Orchid makes food, but the place is a closet...and a creepy closet at that. Try this place. It's got plenty of room, a subdued decor, and a friendly staff.
The way I look at it, you can fill the comments with negative crap, or you can post some places I missed. Your call, darling.
46 Comments
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Comment by Cyberquerque on January 1, 2008 at 1:20pm - Yeah those are good choices! And don't forget places like the Asian Noodle Bar (great place to go for a quick lunch) and (Chantal called this one already) Slate Street.
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Comment by jonnyblujeans on January 1, 2008 at 1:25pm - All very good and worth pointing out. Maps and Websites are for the unadventurous. Stand on Central and 1st, drink a fifth of gin and start stumbling. You'll find them.
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Comment by Dan on January 1, 2008 at 1:30pm - Blackbird is an overlooked gem, I think. I like the blackened salmon sandwich, and they have a broad selection of beer on tap, including Anchorsteam. The staff are way cooler than I am, but they don't make me feel like a dork.
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Comment by chantal on January 1, 2008 at 1:49pm -
Maps are for places you want people to check out.
Nicks Crossroads Cafe
Blackbird Buvette
516 Arts
Carom Club
Thai Crystal
And my favorites:
La Quiche Bakery
Slate Street
Amerasia & Sumo Sushi
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Comment by SoyJames on January 1, 2008 at 1:51pm - The food at Thai Crystal has been average in my experience. And the last time we went (probably over a year ago now) we stood there for 10 minutes waiting for a table, 3 people said "We'll be right with you" but nobody sat us, even though there was PLENTY of clear tables. So... screw them. Sushi King is right around the block. Skip Tucano's unless you are a T. Rex... That pizza joint is pretty good. Where's that noodle bar? Somebody told me that I "need" to go there.
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Comment by chantal on January 1, 2008 at 2:08pm
- You know, I hear the parking complaint a lot about downtown: "There's no parking." Ack, it kills me! Like people can't walk 1 block to their destination.
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Comment by Cap'n Crunches on January 1, 2008 at 2:10pm -
The Asian Noodle Bar was written up in a national Gourmet Mag recently - wasn't there a post here on DCF? Definitely a MUST!
And "that pizza joint" is called NYPD - also a great place, and they are opened late.
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Comment by neal copperman on January 1, 2008 at 3:25pm -
In the latest New Mexico Business Journal, there is an article entitled "Is Uptown the New Downtown?". Curiously, half of the article is devoted to downtown development plans.
According to Brian Morris of the Downtown Action Team, "We've got plenty of parking downtown. There are about 17,500 parking spaces in the core. But paying for parking is a new concept for Albuquerque's citizens, even though it is considerably cheaper than almost any other metropolitan city in the U.S."
Nice to see all the positive endorsements of Blackbird. I have only heard mediocre things about it, but now I'm more open to checking it out.
Now I'm hungry! Anyone for an early dinner?
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Comment by bonnie on January 1, 2008 at 4:09pm - Blackbird has excellent food, and good beer on tap indeed. Reasonable prices as well. If there aren't any parking places, just ride your bike or take the bus. Then you can have even more delicious, affordable beer on tap!
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© 2009 Created by chantal
Can you do us a favor and add links to a map or website for each of the places you mention?