c/abq-locals

TIL I hit 100 client training sessions this morning without keeping count

I was just going through my calendar and realized I finished my 100th session today. It surprised me because I never set that as a goal, I just showed up every day. Has anyone else hit a random milestone that snuck up on them?

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averywilliams•1d ago

That old lady at the Flea Market who called out my fake vintage jacket

I was at the Flea Market off 2nd street last Saturday, looking at some old records. This older woman, maybe 70, walks up and taps my shoulder. She says "that jacket's a 2018 reproduction, not a 70s original like you think." I was so embarrassed but she just laughed and showed me how the stitching on the collar was wrong. She spent 15 minutes teaching me about real vintage leather jackets. Has anyone else gotten schooled by an old timer at a local spot?

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martin.felix•5d ago

PSA: South Valley corn stands are way better than the ones on the west side by the casino

Everyone I talk to keeps raving about that big corn stand off Coors near the pueblo casino, but I drove down to the one on Isleta and Rio Communities back in August and paid $4 for a dozen ears that were sweeter and way more tender. The guy running it, old dude named Carlos, even showed me his irrigation setup and talked my ear off for 10 minutes about growing. I get the convenience of the west side spot but the quality difference is pretty clear to me. Anyone else notice this or am I just lucky that day?

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hollyc92•8d ago

I don't get the fuss about that new taco place on Central

Last Saturday I tried Taqueria El Sol that everyone's been raving about on here. The line was out the door and people were saying the al pastor was the best in town. I waited 45 minutes for a plate that was fine, but not life-changing. The meat was a bit dry and the salsa was just okay. Has anyone else felt like it's overhyped compared to El Modelo?

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kelly385•9d ago

Found out the Sandia Peak tram is the third longest in the world

I was reading the little info cards at the base last weekend and it said it's 2.7 miles long, which puts it behind only the ones in Malaysia and some place in China anyone ever ride it and just feel weird about how high up you are?

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finley729•9d ago

Finally cracked the code on finding a reliable handyman in the South Valley

Been looking for someone to patch my drywall for almost two months... kept getting quotes of $400+ or people who just didn't show up. Then I asked the lady at the hardware store on Isleta and she pointed me to a retired guy who does it on the side. He did the whole job for $150 and it looks perfect. Anyone else have luck just asking random locals instead of searching online?

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daniel_lane30•9d ago

My truck's AC died on the hottest day of the year at the Four Hills light

I was sitting at that light on Tramway for what felt like 20 minutes last Thursday. Temp gauge said 103 and my AC just gave out with a sound like a dying cat. I rolled down the windows but the air was just blast furnace wind. Had to pull into the Sonic on Central and get a Route 44 just to cool my hands on the cup. Anyone else's car pick the worst possible moment to break?

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robinj29•18d ago

Hot take: Los Poblanos is way overhyped for what you actually get

I went there last Saturday for a friend's birthday brunch and paid $18 for a plate of chilaquiles that had barely any salsa. The grounds are pretty, sure, but the food felt like an afterthought. I'd rather hit up Barelas on a random Tuesday and get real flavor for half the cost. Anyone else feel like it's more about the Instagram photo than the meal?

3 comments

thomas.parker•19d ago

Rant: my sprinkler timer died right in the middle of July

I was out in the yard last Tuesday checking why my grass was turning brown and found the control box full of ants. Had to run to Lowe's and drop $80 on a new one, then spent two hours in the sun trying to wire it up. Anyone else have pests mess with their irrigation stuff around here?

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patricia_schmidt14•20d ago

That cashier at Smith's who told me I was buying my produce wrong

I was at the Juan Tabo Smith's last Tuesday grabbing some avocados for guac. This older cashier, maybe 60s, looked at my bag and said 'you're gonna eat those tonight or they'll be mush by Wednesday.' She was right, I had two rock hard ones in there. She even walked me back to the bin and showed me which ones to grab. Has anyone else had a random stranger just totally call them out like that and actually help?

3 comments

cooper.phoenix•21d ago

Wasted $80 on that fancy BBQ rub at the local market stand

I bought this high end rub from a vendor at the Downtown Growers Market a couple months back. The guy swore it was the secret to perfect ribs. Turns out it's just salt, sugar, and paprika with a fancy label. My $3 store brand works way better. Anyone else get burned by overpriced local food products?

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parkera22•21d ago

Nob Hill coffee shops feel totally different than 3 years ago

I used to hit up Zendo every morning around 8 and it was always chill, maybe 5 other people in line. Now it's packed with remote workers taking up tables with laptops and meetings on speaker. I swear the vibe shifted after that big apartment complex went in on Central around 2021. Anyone else notice the same or is it just me?

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the_robin•22d ago

Showerthought: are small local bakeries pricing themselves out?

Walked into a new place on Central last week. $8 for a single croissant. Tasted good but not $8 good. Owner said it's because their overhead is brutal with rent and ingredients. I get that. But I also saw a chain bakery two blocks over selling a decent one for $3.50. So is the local charm worth double the price? Or are they just shooting themselves in the foot? What do y'all think - pay more for local or go cheap and chain?

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perry.evan•24d ago

The Los Poblanos diner breakfast crowd changed completely since summer.

I go to the Los Poblanos diner on Central every Saturday morning for huevos rancheros. Used to be mostly old-timers and construction guys waiting on orders, but since around June I've seen way more families with strollers and folks taking photos of their plates. New apartment complex down the street brought in a different crowd, I guess. Has anyone else noticed the vibe shift, or is it just me?

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the_nina•25d ago

Tried to save on produce at the Downtown Growers Market and got burned

Last Saturday I hit up the Downtown Growers Market thinking I was being smart by buying a bulk box of tomatoes from one of the big vendors there. The guy said they were all ripe and ready, so I paid $20 for this whole crate thinking I'd can salsa for the month. Got home and about half of them were starting to rot on the bottom, like they had been sitting in moisture or something. I tried to salvage what I could but ended up tossing maybe $8 worth of bad tomatoes straight into the compost. Next time I'm just picking my own singles instead of trusting a bulk deal, even if it costs a bit more. Has anyone else had a vendor at a local market pull something like that with bulk boxes?

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daniel_lane30•27d ago

The old man at the Rio Grande bosque who showed me how to find arrowheads

Was walking my dog down by the river trail last Saturday morning. This older guy maybe 70s was just sitting on a log looking at the ground. I asked what he was doing and he held up this tiny perfect arrowhead like it was nothing. Said he's been walking that same stretch for 40 years and still finds stuff after rain. He showed me what to look for, not the shape but the way light hits the rock different. I tried for like an hour after he left and found nothing. Anybody else ever actually spot one of those out there or is that guy just really good?

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mila_flores8•27d ago

My neighbor kept telling me to water my grass at 5am back in 2019

I thought she was just being crazy until my whole block's lawns turned brown during that July heatwave and mine stayed green, guess she knew what she was talking about, anyone else have a neighbor give weird advice that actually worked?

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amy_foster79•28d ago

Just hit 200 ABQ hiking trails logged in my app

I've been living here for about 6 years now and I finally crossed the 200 mark on my AllTrails app for hikes around Albuquerque. I didn't even realize I was close until last weekend when I did the Pino Trail up in the Sandias. It made me think about all the random mornings I've spent driving out to the foothills or the west side just to find something new. Some trails I've done like 10 times, but others I only hit once and never went back because they were boring or too rocky. The coolest part is seeing how many hidden spots there are that most people don't talk about. Has anyone else here tried to count how many different trails they've done around the city?

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johnson.jason•1mo ago

PSA: Found a hole-in-the-wall tamale spot off Central that nobody talks about

I was driving down Central last Tuesday and saw this little red awning I'd never noticed before near San Mateo. Pulled over and this older lady was making tamales right there in the back of her shop. I grabbed a dozen for 15 bucks and they were still steaming in the bag. The masa was way lighter than the stuff I get at the grocery store and the red chile had actual heat to it. Has anyone else stumbled on a spot like this that stays under the radar?

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grant_allen85•1mo ago

That ABQ handyman I hired for $150 tried to fix my leaky faucet with duct tape and zip ties.

I called a guy off a local Facebook group to fix a slow drip under my kitchen sink, and he left after 20 minutes with the handle spinning loose, telling me 'that should hold for a few weeks' - has anyone else found a reliable plumber in the heights who actually shows up on time?

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kaid59•1mo ago

Which ABQ mechanic was right, the one who said replace the whole alternator or the one who said just the brushes?

Six months ago, a guy at Grease Monkey on Central told me my 2010 Civic needed a whole new alternator for $450, but my neighbor's buddy said just swap the brushes for $15. I went with the cheap fix and now the battery light is back on after my morning commute up I-25. Did I waste my time or did the first guy just want my money?

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willow114•1mo ago

Had a chat with a waitress at Frontier that stuck with me

She remembered my order from two months ago and asked if I still wanted extra green chile on the side. It made me realize how much those small moments of being seen matter, especially in a city where everyone seems to rush past each other. Has anyone else had a server or cashier do something like that that just stayed with you?

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fiona_young•1mo ago

Why does nobody talk about the parking situation at the Rail Yards Market?

Went there last Saturday around 10 AM. Spent 20 minutes circling the block and ended up parking 3 streets over. Is the market getting too popular for its own good or should they just open up more lots nearby?

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felixlee•1mo ago

Three years ago I saw a handmade tamale cart on 4th street and it's gone now

Back in 2021 there was this lady selling tamales out of a red cart near the old Frontier parking lot, best green chile chicken ones I ever had. I drove by last week and the spot was empty, and I haven't seen her anywhere else around town since. Anybody know if she moved to a different street or just stopped doing it?

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bettywood•1mo ago

Tried both Dion's and Striped Burger for lunch this week

Dion's green chile cheeseburger was fine but Striped Burger's patty melt on 4th Street blew it away. The meat had way more flavor and the bread was actually crispy instead of soggy. Has anyone else noticed the difference or is it just me?

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