c/abq-locals

Ngl, I just spent 3 whole days trying to get a permit for a simple backyard shed from the city planning office because the online portal kept kicking back my property line sketch.

Honestly, has anyone else dealt with this or know a faster way to get through to the right person?

Just found out the Albuquerque BioPark is one of the oldest zoos in the Southwest

I was reading a plaque at the zoo yesterday and it said it opened in 1927. I always thought it was way newer than that! Does anyone know any other cool old spots around town like that?

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jessica_ross38•3d ago

My neighbor said my recycling bin was a mess and honestly she had a point

She told me I was mixing glass with plastic and it was making the whole block's pickup harder, so now I separate everything. Anyone else get called out on their trash habits?

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thomas.parker•3d ago

My neighbor told me my yard was a fire hazard, and he was right.

He came over last Tuesday after the wind died down. Pointed at the tumbleweeds piled against my back fence, said 'You know, with how dry it's been, that's just asking for trouble.' I'd always just seen them as a nuisance to clear out eventually. But he explained how one spark from the railroad tracks or even a cigarette butt could send it up, and it could jump to the house. I spent all Saturday morning clearing out two full truckloads of that stuff. Now I'm on a schedule to check it every other week. Anyone else have a regular routine for keeping their property safe during these dry spells?

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ray363•8d ago

Serious question, has anyone else seen the traffic change on Montgomery near the mall?

I drive that stretch every day and in the last six months it's gone from a normal flow to a total mess. The city added a new left turn lane for the shopping center, but now the main lanes back up for almost a mile every afternoon. It used to take me 10 minutes to get from San Mateo to Louisiana, now it's a solid 25. I think the new light timing is the main cause. What's the best way to get around that area now?

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emery19•9d ago

PSA: The Sandia Peak Tramway isn't the only way up the mountain

I keep hearing visitors say they're skipping the hike because the tram is the 'real' experience... but the La Luz Trail has way better views of the city. Last weekend I passed three groups who turned around halfway, thinking they missed something. The full hike takes about 4 hours if you're steady, and you end up at the top same as the tram riders. Anyone have a favorite less-crowded trail up there?

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alex_johnson•9d ago

Serious question, did you know the original Route 66 alignment through Albuquerque was on 4th Street, not Central?

I was reading a plaque at the old Alvarado Transportation Center yesterday and it said the first official path went right by where the train station is now, which seems wild since everyone pictures Central.

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caleb262•13d ago

Overheard a guy at the Frontier say he'd never been past the river.

He was telling his friend he's lived here for 15 years but never crossed the Rio Grande to see the South Valley. I just sat there with my sweet roll thinking, how do you live in a city and not even see half of it? What's the biggest part of town you've never actually been to?

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fox.derek•13d ago

Showerthought: I had to pick between the Frontier and the State Fair for a family day out

My kids were begging to go to the Frontier last month, but I heard the State Fair had a new petting zoo. I chose the Frontier, and we spent $60 on tickets and food in two hours. The whole place felt run down and the rides were closed. Anyone know if the State Fair was any better this year?

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brown.gavin•14d ago

I used to drive past the old Tingley Coliseum without a second thought

For years, I just saw it as a big, empty building on the fairgrounds. Then my dad told me about seeing Elvis there in 1976, and it hit me how much history I was ignoring. I started looking into other spots like the KiMo Theatre and realized I'd been missing the whole story of our city. What's a place in town that has a cool history most people don't know about?

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holly_walker76•15d ago

Just realized half the people I meet at the Frontier think it's the only place to get a good breakfast burrito.

I've lived here 20 years and that's just not true, but I get why they say it. Where do you think makes the best one?

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diana20•15d ago

I just realized I've lived in the same Albuquerque neighborhood for 15 years.

It hit me when I was filling out a form and had to write the date I moved in. Has anyone else been here longer than they first thought?

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jessicajackson•16d ago

Vent: I lost $150 on that 'historic' ghost tour in Old Town

My sister was in town and I thought it would be a fun local thing to do. We paid for the premium evening tour, but it was just a guy reading from a script and pointing at buildings. It felt like a total tourist trap and lasted maybe 45 minutes. Has anyone else had a bad experience with a local tour, or know a better one that's actually worth the money?

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hollyc92•17d ago

Spent $40 on that new food truck by the park and it was a total letdown

I got the 'green chile cheeseburger' last Friday and the patty was dry, the chile was barely warm, and the bun was stale. My friend said I'm too picky and that it's just cheap street food, but for that price I expect something decent. Has anyone else tried it, or am I just unlucky?

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masonm70•17d ago

I used to think the green chile at Garcia's was the best in town, but I was wrong.

My buddy from work kept telling me to try the hatch chile stew at Mary & Tito's Cafe on 4th Street. I finally went last Friday and got a bowl for $8. It was way more flavorful and had a better heat that built up slowly. I've been going to Garcia's for like 10 years, but this stuff changed my whole view. What's a local spot that totally surprised you with how good their food was?

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wilson.sam•18d ago

Shoutout to the crew that fixed up the old lot on 4th and Coal

That empty spot was just dirt and trash for like two years, but over the last three months it's totally different. They cleared everything out, put in fresh gravel, and planted a bunch of those desert-friendly bushes. I think the city finally gave a grant to a local group to clean it up. Now it's actually a nice little pocket park instead of an eyesore. Has anyone seen other spots around town that got a similar makeover recently?

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kaid59•22d ago

Rant: I used to get my green chile from the same spot on Central for 15 years

They'd roast it right there in the parking lot, and you could smell it from San Mateo. Now they just sell those pre-bagged frozen ones from some factory in Texas. The change happened about two years ago when the original owners retired. I had to start asking around at the growers' markets to find a decent local roast. Anyone know a good, consistent roadside stand that's still doing it the old way?

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john_cooper•23d ago

My neighbor's old elm tree finally came down after the storm last month

It was leaning over my shed on San Mateo for years, and I always worried about it. The city crew showed up with a crane and had it cleared in about three hours, which was a huge relief. Has anyone else had a close call with a tree on their property around here?

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noah_hill79•24d ago

PSA: I used to think the new lights on Central were a waste of money

I mean, I drove through there at night for the first time in maybe six months, and the whole stretch by UNM is actually way brighter and feels safer now. The city must have finally finished that project. Anyone else notice a real difference in that area lately?

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sage_perry77•26d ago

Warning: The old spot on Central near UNM is a whole new thing now

I drove past that empty lot by the Frontier for years, just weeds and a busted fence. Then about six months ago, they put up a big fence and started moving dirt. Now it's a little park with benches and some native plants, and I saw three people eating lunch there yesterday. It's wild how fast that happened. Has anyone heard if the city did it or was it a private thing?

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chen.casey•26d ago

My truck's radiator blew on the way to a job near Old Town last Friday.

I was driving down Central when I saw steam pouring from the hood. Pulled over by the Frontier and found a crack along the plastic tank. I had to call a buddy with a flatbed to get it to the shop on Lomas, which cost me $150 for the tow. Anyone know a good, honest mechanic around here who won't charge an arm and a leg for a radiator swap?

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ninaramirez•29d ago

I've been pronouncing 'Sandia' wrong for decades and a cashier at the Frontier finally corrected me.

I said 'San-dee-uh' and she just smiled and said, 'Honey, it's 'Sahn-dee-ah,' like the Spanish word for watermelon,' and I felt my whole ABQ identity shift.

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caleb_thomas85•29d ago

So I've been saying 'Albuquerque' wrong for like... my whole life.

I was at the Frontier getting a breakfast burrito last week, and this older guy in line behind me asked if I was from out of town. I said no, I've lived here for three years. He just smiled and said, 'You say it like there's a 'k' in it... it's 'Al-buh-ker-kee', not 'Al-buh-kwer-kee'.' My mind was blown. I had been putting this weird extra 'r' sound in the middle the entire time, and nobody ever corrected me until now. I guess I just heard it wrong on TV or something and never thought about it. I must have sounded like such a tourist to everyone I've met here. It's a small thing, but it really makes you wonder what else you're messing up without knowing. Has anyone else had a local word or name they were totally butchering?

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patricia_grant40•1mo ago

My new home security system cost $800 and I'm not sure it was worth it

I got a full camera and alarm setup installed about six months ago after a neighbor had a break-in. The company charged me $800 for the equipment and basic install. On one hand, it gives me peace of mind and I can check things from my phone, which is nice. On the other hand, I've had two false alarms that scared the dog and annoyed the folks next door. The monitoring fee is another $30 a month on top of the initial cost. For other Albuquerque homeowners, have you found these systems to be a real help, or more trouble than they're worth?

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skyler631•1mo ago

My neighbor's green chile plant hit 27 peppers this year

He's been growing the same plant in his yard for five years and it never gave more than 15. This season, with all the rain we got in July, it just exploded. He gave me a bag of them and they were the hottest I've ever had from a backyard crop. Anyone else have a local plant that went crazy this year?

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