2015 Convention

What to Do in Albuquerque: Suggestions from UNM English Majors (Part 1)

Students of
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM

¡Bienvenidos! Welcome to Albuquerque!

Greetings, Sigma Tau Delta members! As Professional Writing students at the University of New Mexico (UNM) in Albuquerque, we’re looking forward to your visit to our city for the 2015 Sigma Tau Delta Convention.

There are many great things to do in Albuquerque, and we’d like to offer some suggestions about food, shopping, and entertainment while you’re in town.

Ready? Let’s go!

“Albuquerque is rich with history, and what better place to discover it than historic Old Town? Old Town is a plaza that contains everything from old souvenir shops to high-end galleries. You’ll get your pick of beautiful turquoise jewelry and Native American pottery. Don’t forget to take pictures in the historic gazebo in the heart of Old Town or to visit the beautiful San Felipe Church, Albuquerque’s oldest building. You absolutely cannot leave Old Town without visiting a very important and unique shop: The Candy Lady. This woman has been making candy for decades here in Old Town and you’ve never seen candy like it.” (Suggested by Cassandra Baldonado)

From left to right: San Felipe de Neri Church (credit: MarbleStreetStudio.com), Old Town Plaza Gazebo (credit: MarbleStreetStudio.com), and The Candy Lady
From left to right: San Felipe de Neri Church (credit: MarbleStreetStudio.com), Old Town Plaza Gazebo (credit: MarbleStreetStudio.com), and The Candy Lady
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

“If you’re looking for some late night excitement, try Old Town’s ghost tour, held nightly at 8 p.m. You’ll learn about the many curious unexplained phenomena associated with the site. Call for reservation (505-246-8687). For an interesting daytime activity, head over to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. It’s a nice museum with a collection of artifacts related to the culture and history of the Pueblo people. Some artifacts and pottery date back more than a thousand years. The Center also has an art gallery, a restaurant, and a large gift shop, and you can watch demonstrations of Native dances. If you’re lucky to be in Albuquerque on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday evening, you can enjoy live music on the patio while you sample fresh and authentic Native American food. In addition, the courtyard offers live Native American dances every weekend.” (Suggested by Ana Cobos)

Lindy's Diner
Lindy’s Diner

“While you’re in Albuquerque, how about a trip to the library? No, not that library. I’m talking about the Library Bar and Grill, a great place for nightlife within walking distance of the convention center. When the dancing ends and you want a little something to snack on, look no farther than one street over where Lindy’s Diner is open till 3 a.m. Within easy walking distance from every club in the downtown area, Lindy’s is convenient and affordable, and the food is amazing. Serving a variety of foods including Spanish and Mediterranean, Lindy’s Diner has a lot of history. It opened in 1929, and was first known as the Coney Island Café! With a friendly staff that will be more than happy to accommodate you after a night out, Lindy’s can’t be beat!” (Suggested by Victoria Chacon)

“Looking for some outdoors action? Head over to Routes Bicycle Rental & Tours to rent a bike and take a peaceful uninterrupted bike ride through the Bosque (a forested area) along the Rio Grande. Although located inside urban territory, this trail provides a great ride with excellent scenery. For another great way to exercise in town, head over to Stone Age at 4130 Cutler St. and have a go at indoor rock climbing.” (Suggested by Isaiah Jordan)

El Patio“There are plenty of good restaurants in Albuquerque, but for the best New Mexican cuisine head to El Patio, an old house-turned-restaurant in the university area. The secret to El Patio is, of course, its lovely little patio, complete with Spanish guitarist for dinner entertainment. Everything on the menu is amazing but check out their combination plates for the full range of New Mexican food. Anything with green chile will be a life changing experience, but their chile is on the spicy side, so beware! You can’t go wrong with the green chile chicken enchiladas, an Albuquerque favorite. For dessert, go to Old Town and visit The Candy Lady, where you can choose from eighteen kinds of fudge. But since you’re in Albuquerque, you’ll really have to try the green chile chocolate fudge. Eat it slowly and marvel over the brilliant idea of bringing spicy green chile and sweet milk chocolate together.” (Suggested by Marie Dosanjh)

Be sure to also check out our recommendations in What to Do in Albuquerque (Part 2).

 

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