Thanks to these guys, my wallet is $20 lighter. I was just getting acclimated to the high altitude…read moreof Albuquerque, taken aback by the beauty of the Land of Enchantment, excited for green chile and sopapillas, and was so enchanted that I didn't see that there was a parking meter along the street, which I (allegedly) never fed, (supposedly) breaking some law about violating their precious parking spot, resulting in a ticket. On the ticket, there's a website where you can type in your infraction number, and get the (supposed) evidence against you, such as photos. When I clicked through to see for myself the evidence of my crimes against the people of Bernalillo County that the prosecution had brought against me, the links didn't work. 404 Error. The evidence was missing! I should've been let off right then. However, Bernalillo County doubles (Yes! Doubles!) the price of justice every two weeks, ultimately resulting in incarceration if you don't get a speedy trial or pay up. Since I was a (harshly treated) guest in the town, I was forced to pay up for my (alleged) infraction over the internet, which saved me from having to visit this beautiful building. I drove by the courthouse (in a safe and controlled manner) to shake my fist at this courthouse, and their scheme to ticket out of state drivers who are too enchanted to notice parking meters. If they'd cover them in turquoise or dress them up like a Katchina doll, I'd take notice of them. The courthouse is a nice looking building that I was thankful that I didn't have to visit.

Ok, how you feel about this place undoubtedly depends on why you're here. I was here for jury…read moreduty, so my experience was a pretty good one. If I was here as a defendant, I think I might give it a few less stars... Objectively, the building is very pretty and the security staff are amazingly nice. There is even a little cafe here. On to jury duty. I've done jury duty in several states. This one was by far, hands down, the best... No contest. The staff treat the jurors with such amazing respect. You really feel like they value our time and effort. The staff explain what's going on, even the judges will come down and address the whole group (all 150 of us or so) and let us know the schedule. They provide free drinks too. The most amazing thing was that they let you bring in your electronics! They even have free wifi. Yes, as long as you turn off your phone when you go into the courtroom, you can have it all with you. Wow, so cool and makes the time pass much more pleasantly. I got put on a trial (Judge Flores) and the good treatment continued. Sure, there was snacks and drinks. But this was the first time, ever, that everyone in the court stood up in respect when the jury entered or exited. Even the judge. Wow. And, when the case got dismissed, the judge came in to explain what happened, why, answer questions, etc. Holy crap. Then she asked the prosecution and defense lawyers to come in and explain everything to us. Finally, the judge gave us all signed certificates of appreciation, thanked us by name, and said bye. I was blown away. It may sound weird, but I will not mind at all when I am called back for jury duty.

A base in the middle of the desert. As it is mostly run by a civilian force, it is OK. The lodging…read moreaccommodations were good as well. And so was the gym. It takes a good minute to drive to maintenance area locations but other than that, it was cool.

Since I spend a fair amount of time here utilizing their services, it's only fitting I also sing…read moretheir praises. Now for full disclosure, I'm not in the Air Force, I'm an Army guy. However, speaking on behalf of Army guys across the nation; young and old; current active duty status, or better days past (that's clearly subjective), most of us will agree the Air Force has always had the better end of the deal in regards to their digs! Kirtland is no exception. It's nice! It's clean! It has a half decent BX. Aside: Air Force "Bases" refer to them as a Base Exchange (BX), while Army "Posts" refer to them as a Post Exchange (PX). Never to fall in line with the riff raff, Navy Bases refer to them as Navy Exchanges (NX). So, there's a little edumacation for you. As I digress, they also have a golf course on base, which is slowly becoming a thing of the past on posts/bases across the nation these days, and they have a nice service section for DEERS appointments that you can make online. It does the trick! Will it ever compare to Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii? Of course not, but we are in the desert, after all. What more do you want? Cheers!

I've voted early at this center twice, now, first during the 2020 General Election and just today…read morefor the Special Election to replace Deb Haaland in New Mexico's 1st Congressional District. Man, was that easy. When it comes to exercising your all-too-crucial right to vote, this state has their act together, and as a longtime member of this often do-it-mañana populace, casting my ballot today made me feel straight up proud. Every so often, New Mexico simply outshines the neighboring states, something we're also seeing in the vaccine rollout, nationwide. If you're reading this and you haven't taken literally five minutes to stop by your nearest voting center to cast a vote, hey, don't wait until June 1st, go do it NOW. This facility was well staffed with friendly people who directed me swiftly through the process, and as a complete reversal from my experience last November, there was absolutely no wait. Do your civic duty, go vote, here's a resource to locate the center nearest you: https://ballotpedia.org/New_Mexico%27s_1st_Congressional_District_special_election,_2021

Just Go (#12) As a…read morevisitor of the State of New Mexico we've enjoyed our short stay during one summer in July 2016. We spent 4 days enjoying sightseeing at some historical buildings and landmarks, we signed up for tours... plus Howie (ABQ CM) was gracious enough to include us in two of his Yelp events in Albuquerque. New Mexico is part of the quadripoint where the boundaries of the four states meet at the Four Corners Monument. I once had a coworker who was raised by the Navajo tribe and he suggested we visit the Aztec Ruins National Monument, these were architectural remains once home to the Pueblo people. Visiting historic ruins always fascinated me so we stopped by and went on a self-guided tour. There is a trail guide which was only about 1/2 mile. It started with the Great Kiva, a building used for ceremonies. While walking through the ruins please keep in mind to keep noise level down out of respect to the ancestors of the Pueblo people. We rode the Sandia Peak Tramway in Albuquerque. At 10,378 feet, this tops the other two aerial trams I've experienced at Heavenly Valley in Lake Tahoe at 10,067 feet and Squaw Valley in the North Shore of Lake Tahoe at 9,050 feet. Once we reached the top we enjoyed beautiful panoramic views of ABQ and the New Mexico countryside! The Sandia Peak Tramway is the 3rd longest tramway in the world! The Carlsbad Caverns National Park was a popular spot... we took The Big Room Tour that was about 1.3 miles from start to finish. The cave was a huge natural limestone chamber that was decorated with different types of large calcite formations and cool stalactites. It took us about 1.0 to 1-1/2 hours to complete. You know me... I love my pictures. LoL! Arrive early... dress in layers, it was summertime but it gets cold below at the cavern. We signed up with ABQ Trolley Co for a tour of Albuquerque. This was a fun and educational experience. It took us from Old Town to the Historic Route 66 and everywhere else in between. This is not a hop-on, hop-off service. You hop off the trolley and that's it for you LoL! Our tour guide was great! Thanks to ABQ Yelp CM, Howie K, for allowing us to join cool Albuquerque Yelpers at their events! It was nice seeing Jeanie M (relocated from Reno NV): Yelp Pigs Out @ Pork & Brew (Rio Rancho) Yelp Makes Whoopee at the The Joint (WisePies Pizza) Had some yummy chicken & waffles at Frank's Famous Chicken & Waffles in Albuquerque... also, try fresh, delicious donuts from Whoo's Donuts in Santa Fe! There are more places to see but... Thank you, Great State of New Mexico! Have yet to experience the ghosts of these famous (or infamous) figures in New Mexico history -- Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett, John Chisum, and Pancho Villa. Review #2430

New Mexico is a beautiful state. A lot of seniors are retiring to New Mexico. I spent some time…read morehere when I went on my cross country road trip. I found it too desolate. I like peace and quiet at times but I found New Mexico too too quiet. It was worrisome that I may get stranded on the highway and die of thirst. Sounds like a Twilight Zone episode, right. I carried extra supplies and gallons of water to be safe. I do like to decorate my apartment in Southwest Decor. It's been a while since I did any decorating. The pottery is absolutely my favorite. The oldest church is in New Mexico. You may want to do some research if you visit. I enjoyed my visit and I decided I wouldn't want to make New Mexico my home. You may feel different.

Community space is so important!…read more The city did a really good job renovating the Wilson Swimming Pool located in the heart of the International District. I can't wait to see how the community uses the space, especially for events like National Night Out. The pool is really clean and a perfect place to bring the kids. Everything is well fenced in and the grass is nice and green. The mural on the restroom area is super colorful. Huge congrats to the community leaders who pulled this off and invested in the space.

Nice modern sub-station in an old South Valley neighborhood. Some great, hardworking Deputies work…read moreout of here. South Valley is the hardest working and most hazardous duty assignment in the area.

Out on a morning Atlas Obscura hunt to find Albuquircky. A roadside collection of art from an…read moreimaginative human being lurking behind the walls. Your car pull up right outside off the road and do your pose. The Tin Man was my favorite. The aforementioned telephone box had gone. It's a 5 minute stop.

I saw this on the list of oddities here in Albuquerque. I few weeks ago I started a photography…read moreproject creating a series of photos of these unique beauties. This one is in Los Ranchos but I still consider Los Ranchos to be part of Albuquerque cuz it's part of our city whether they agree or not it's my opinion take it with a grain of salt. Anyways I was so fascinated by the Tin man online that when I arrived the other art just felt like bonuses! Oh it was a treat. I made sure to be respectful to the owners property by not trespassing but staying on the other side of the fence. Above it was not only the tin man but also an person in a telephone booth beside him. Across the driveway on the other side there was a soldier sitting in a booth with a weapon it kind of reminded of the Eddie from the band Iron Maiden. Sides that was a lovely train with a crossroads sign. It was a such a spectacle to see from El Pueblo. It definitely deserves some recognition!

Sheesh, you should'a seen the place before the remodel. What an upgrade!…read more I lived nearly a stone's throw from this Community Center for a good decade, so I have a take on the neighborhood that influences my rating. First, the obvious accolades: This enormous, modern-ish facility offers plenty of the communal goods it was rebuilt to offer. Senior citizens own mornings and early afternoons, and men of all ages crowd the basketball courts later in the day -- when we're not in the midst of a pandemic, that is. There's a game room, lots of meeting rooms, and a good exercise room... which is where they can do better. When our oldest was 16 years of age, she attempted to use the exercise equipment and was told the policy was 18+. The Duranes neighborhood, nearly every block, is classic old Albuquerque planning: very agrarian, incredibly narrow streets, and no sidewalks. Running and even walking anywhere is dangerous. This Community Center offers an exception to that rule, and it should expand its age restrictions.

The Los Duranes Community Center is tucked away directly between the river and the IPCC. It is…read moredescribed as a hidden gem, and that is accurate! Typical of our Community Centers, Los Duranes is open Mon-Sat and offers after-school programs, senior meals, a variety of fitness classes, and an open gym for 18+. My company recently used the community center for an all-day event, and the kids working the desk were attentive and helpful to both our organization and the public. I recommend locals check out what their community center has to offer!