Albuquerque Independent Business Alliance

I was talking to someone who's lived in Albuquerque for a year - and she's never been to the Albuquerque Art & History Museum (?!)   And, how many people do you know who have never taken the Sandia tram? Or, never visited the Petroglyphs?  Or, never gone to any of our wonderful growers markets that are opening around town just about now?  Or, never done the Nob Hill Shop n' Stroll?  etc. etc.

I'm stealing shamelessly here from Vaughn Wedeen's "Take a Santa Fe-cation!" campaign (which you've probably seen all over town) but...as much as I love Santa Fe (and being able to take the Railrunner up there for the day...) I LOVE living in the quirky Q.  However, I get so wrapped up in the daily living I sometimes forget how much fun it is to play tourist here.  I try to take a Q!-cation at least once a month, even if it's just something simple like visiting the art museum on Sunday (it's free) then hitting Slate Street for a $5 mimosa.

Our museums can hold their own with any in the world - albeit on a smaller scale (I'm a museum junkie - hit the Metropolitan Museum first on any visit to NYC). 

I can get the NYC loft/bistro (does that go together?) vibe at Zinc or Slate Street Cafe. Want a killer magarita in an old-fashioned dark "bar-bar?" I can hit Cervantes; for the price of a drink I can revisit my 70/80s era wild youth. (Although these days, my "wild" time is - who-hoo! - two drinks...)

The great thing about playing tourist right here at home is: it's low-cost (natch); far less hassle (drive, hop a bus,walk...instead of going through hours or even days of air travel hell); I get to sleep in my own bed (hey,  no packing!)..and I already know a lot of "the locals' recommendations" since, yep, I am a local (duh).  And, I'm finding new places all the time - simply take a drive around our city and you'll find something new, I guarantee it.

But the biggest advantage is that I see the city from a different perspective when I'm "vacationing."  I'm reminded all over again why I love Albuquerque - and wouldn't live anywhere else.

So - yes - buy local. shop local. STAY local. PLAY local.