So a few weeks ago I started a new photography project that is going to be a series of photos of…read morethe oddities here in Albuquerque. I found it fascinating how we have so many little things here that don't get the recognition they deserve. It's kind of like going on scavenger hunt for the hidden treasure. These gems have their own beauty and what's more surprising is not many people know about them. I had to go online to search for some of these gems and let me tell you this one does not disappoint. It's a unique sculpture made of different automobile doors and it's very tall. Unfortunately it was sprinkling when I arrived but the clouds did even out the light everywhere so I was able to capture a few snaps decently. I recommend if your going down 1st street by the Century theater on central, turn on the side the theaters on and keep going down. It will be on the right at the bridge just before you hit the rail yards in downtown. You won't be disappointed.

The Occidental Life Building is a beautifully sculptured work of art in downtown Albuquerque…read more Each morning I park my car, walk to work and on the way I see this amazing piece of architecture. I wonder about it quite frequently as its design is so different from anything you'll see in this area. It was built in 1917 and is on the National Register of Historic Places as well as the NM State Register of Cultural Places. I'm writing this review today because its Halloween and this building has such a Gothic feel to it. I can imagine this building being used as a haunted house on this chilly night. Spooks jumping out from every corner. Cobwebs hanging from the lighting fixtures. Adventures poking out from every bend of the hallways. In some rooms the floor boards are twisted and warped and make a creaking sound with each step sending chills down your spine. Whats missing though is the gargoyles that would be on the 2nd floor corners overlooking the crowd as they shuffle in this eerie ghostly edifice. Back to Reality: Currently it houses an array of businesses including Legal Aid and Animal Protection of NM. If you have a moment drive by or walk around take pictures enjoy thinking about what life must've been like in 1917 when this building first opened its doors. I can imagine all the Ooh's and Aah's from the crowd as they've never seen anything quite like it.

12/19/21: As a military veteran I am proud to have visited this powerful and sacred place to honor…read morethose who have served before and after me. Outstanding customer service from the volunteers who staff the Visitor's Center and Museum. From the moment you enter the parking lot you know you're entering a sacred place. It was very quiet and I didn't hear any traffic or noise while walking the grounds.. If you know of anyone or business with a torn or tattered flag. please kindly ask that they remove the flag. place it in the flag mailbox here and replace with a new flag. THANK YOU.. I learned more about service and sacrifice to country. Bless each of you and please make an effort to visit.

It's a cool and neat place, however there is nothing for the war on terror, desert storm, desert…read moreshield, the war in Iraq or Afghanistan. I went there for the Veterans Day celebration, first time and nothing in the modern area. I asked a couple of the volunteers about it they simply said we don't have anything like that sweetheart. I know honoring history is important, but a 20 year war doesn't have a memorial? No place for us to go and remember what we went through, the people that didn't and did make it back. I'm sorry that just seems a little wrong to me. Kind of makes me feel as though the city, the state, this country in large doesn't care much about our modern-day veterans. That sentiment is carried over to the staff that showed a general disdain for my A simple question. it made a huge impact on my Veterans Day going there to remember, and honor my late friends and Saud nothing, no plaques, no awards, no decorations in the visitor center, nothing after The Cold War. You get more remembrance of modern day veterans at the nuclear science museum. I think that's kind of messed up myself.

This was a great place to go hiking. The trails are nice and clear. There are always lots of people…read morehiking. The foliage is beautiful and love the quiet.

We really just stopped to see the chainsaw Art. We probably would have done a walk if the winds…read moreweren't crazy on the day we went. The chainsaw art was a quick stop off and it's located right in the parking lot. If it's windy, I'd avoid coming here, lots of dust blowing around and very little protection from it. The art is pretty cool and fun to see. If you are nearby, it's kinda a fun and quick stop.

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!

This isn't a pretty park moment or Instagram postcard. The Center of the Universe is an…read moreexperience--a blend of surprise, sound, and space that forces you into the present. It's abstract, a little mysterious, and at times perfect raw concrete taking you straight to sky. Whether you're intrigued by modern art or just curious, it delivers.Worth a walk‑through on a breezy Albuquerque morning.

It was cool but lasted about 5 mins. They charge $8 per person, not by car. Staff is super rude.read more

I'm a big fan of infrastructure. Pretty much all of it. I figure it's gotta be important to…read moremaintain our roads and bridges, improve public transportation, make the city a bike-friendly town. During the construction of this pedestrian and cycle-friendly bridge that connects Albuquerque's Westside with the Paseo del Bosque via I-40, there were plenty of whiners around here, bitching about the $6.9 million price tag. (Correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe this project was approved by voters, yes?) They're the same folks who continue to rail about the Rail Runner, and claim that incentives and rebates for filmmakers are breaking the state bank. I look at it the other way around: How many people, the world over, are seeing our gorgeous state on their movie and television screens and, intrigued, come visit, biking our extensive system of trails, investing in our economy, riding the train to Santa Fe? We can't measure that impact. When I see this bridge, or simply think about it, my calves instantaneously ache. For good reason. When my kid was a toddler, for one solid year, I took advantage of our access to the trail by the river by popping her in a bike trailer and pulling her all over town. We avoided our car at all costs, riding to the zoo, aquarium, parks and open spaces. We also shopped via bike trailer, and that's where this bridge comes in. I was so thrilled when it was finished, and my first ride absolutely tore my calves to shreds. My little girl had the time of her life. I could barely walk the next day. But we sho'nuff got ourselves some toilet paper at Walmart, dammit. A little research told me the basics about this bridge. Its namesake, Gail Ryba, was a PhD fuel cell researcher at Sandia National Labs and a Seattle transplant, who strongly advocated for local cyclists and founded Bike ABQ. Tragically, she died of cancer while this bridge was under construction. I've heard cyclists complain about the uneven spots that interrupt the arc of this bridge, level overlooks that allow us to marvel at the majesty of the Rio Grande -- the murky brown waters and discarded shoreline tires, not to mention the delightful ambient melodies of traffic and choking exhaust fumes. I actually like these spots, they help me keep my sanity when I'm flying downhill eastward, with my clueless kiddo in the sidecar, howling with joy. I love the cement engravings and colorful art along the ground and walls, trout and cottonwood leaves, coyote paws. Evenings, I like the soft lights that halo these overlooks. It's a fitting and unique memorial to a terrific person. I'd love to leave this world with a bridge. Can't put a price on that.

This is located inside the park but can be accessed through the streets surrounding it…read more I spent a couple of hours here sitting on top of the structures watching the balloon glow from there. There are cactus at the edge of both structures so if you jump up to get to the top be careful not to fall down the 4-foot wall down to the prickliest haha. The two structures are pokestops so if you need items drop a lure and you are set to go! There is no lighting in this part of the park so be cautious, there is a trail that goes through it but it is a dirt road, not bathrooms nearby either. I did encounter some photographers who were there to take photos of the balloons down below and had a nice talk with them about their time here in ABQ.

I've passed through this place years ago and was quite the sight and wanted to see all of what was…read morethere but the people I rode with didnt feel like stopping to visit. I'm hoping to come back here someday.