Life, food, events, and community in Albuquerque, NM
Yet Another Newbie
Hi All,
My company (Sony Pictures) is relocating me from Los Angeles to Albuquerque in the fall. I'm pretty cool with idea of moving. I've lived in LA all my life and figure it's about time for a change.
I do have a few questions I was hoping some locals could help me out with (hopefully they won't be too redundant).
One, my husband and I are pretty heavily tattooed and pierced. Is the ABQ populace fairly cool with that kind of thing? Are people going to be gaping at us?
Two, I had a really bad experience with violent crime here in LA and it's important to me to try and minimize my chances of a repeat occurrence. I know that there's crime in every big city and that the most important tool in avoiding it is common sense but can someone tell me what the real deal is in ABQ? Is it more the kind of place that you have to go looking for trouble or does trouble come looking for you? Do most folks feel safe just going about their day to day business or is crime an ever present worry?
Three, just from doing a little searching on the web, we've been thinking about looking for housing in either Corrales or Nob Hill (I know they're total opposites). I guess, on the one hand, we'd like to try something the exact opposite of LA and on the other, we still want a big city, urban vibe. Any thoughts on either locale?
Four, lastly, I am a major bibliophile, any good independent booksellers in town?
Thanks so much for your help!
My company (Sony Pictures) is relocating me from Los Angeles to Albuquerque in the fall. I'm pretty cool with idea of moving. I've lived in LA all my life and figure it's about time for a change.
I do have a few questions I was hoping some locals could help me out with (hopefully they won't be too redundant).
One, my husband and I are pretty heavily tattooed and pierced. Is the ABQ populace fairly cool with that kind of thing? Are people going to be gaping at us?
Two, I had a really bad experience with violent crime here in LA and it's important to me to try and minimize my chances of a repeat occurrence. I know that there's crime in every big city and that the most important tool in avoiding it is common sense but can someone tell me what the real deal is in ABQ? Is it more the kind of place that you have to go looking for trouble or does trouble come looking for you? Do most folks feel safe just going about their day to day business or is crime an ever present worry?
Three, just from doing a little searching on the web, we've been thinking about looking for housing in either Corrales or Nob Hill (I know they're total opposites). I guess, on the one hand, we'd like to try something the exact opposite of LA and on the other, we still want a big city, urban vibe. Any thoughts on either locale?
Four, lastly, I am a major bibliophile, any good independent booksellers in town?
Thanks so much for your help!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Nikki on -
Thanks so much! The zips really help and I will consider the land issue with Corrales and North Valley. Right now we're in a one bedroom apartment and neither of us have ever had any land to speak of. Maybe going straight from 650 square feet to 1/2 an acre would be a bit much....
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Permalink Reply by Chris K. on -
After some thought I would recommend using an extended stay place for a bit and give yourself some breathing room to find the right place.
I recommend Suburban Extended stay at 2401 Wellesley Drive, Albuquerque, NM 87107. Good location, and seem to be nice places.
(505) 883-2830 - Fax
(505) 883-8888
suburbanhotels.com
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Permalink Reply by Nikki on
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Thanks Chris. Sony's going to hook us up with some corporate housing for a month or so. Hopefully, that will give me enough time to see all these places for myself and figure out where we want to end up.
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Permalink Reply by KelVick on -
I know you're likely overwhelmed by the number of replies here, yet I have to join in: my wife and I live near downtown and simply love it. Within a couple minute walking distance there are really cute homes and casitas at rental prices that will amaze you. Downtown tattoos are the norm and the music and art scene is quite good considering the size of the city. (Of course you have the art mecca of Santa fe less than an hour away.) My casita downtown is on a major thoroughfare and a "homeless" (I hate that term, yet don't know a better one) person goes by at the rate of about one or two hour. They never panhandle near my home (there is some begging downtown), and I've never felt intimidated or afraid in my casita. As far as the panhandlers, it's nothing like what I've experienced in bigger cities, like LA, Atlanta and Phoenix.
Nob Hill and Corrales are great, yet keep downtown on your radar. My wife's business caters to GBLT and folks with body mods: www.masterpiecemassage.com You will find yourself very welcome here (assuming you stay away from the suburbs).
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Permalink Reply by thorstad on -
Nikki:
Just found your posts and the subsequent, detailed responses(good job, you helpful fixers). I should note that your inquiries should be posted as a "best-of" or "how to use an online community productively" or "perfect opening gestures to a new city." Good job.
But now I am hooked...there's a gap here...how/where did you end up?
I moved here from LA (Los Feliz/Silverlake) two years ago, and love it. Lived in the ACC area(awesome) when we first moved, now Ridgecrest(even better, hipper but not overly hipstered+diverse). I spend a lot of time at Mesa del Sol (work for the project), my commute via the Gibson/Airport shortcut is about 10 minutes. Beats driving the 14 miles from LF to Brentwood everyday, easily an hour each direction.
Where, woman, where? I know the Sony deal has slowed a bit...did the move happen? Delayed? Talk!
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