Business took me to Albuquerque, New Mexico earlier this month. Energy IT Conference to be specific. This conference is held in a different city each year; last year Seattle hosted and this year the rights went to "Duke City".
If you have never visited Albuquerque, please do not shy away from this surprisingly hip city. You can find great food (of course green chile!) and great drink (a plethora of microbreweries and hip coffeeshops), along with a lot of history (Native American and Telephones!).
After spending 3 days in Albuquerque business took me 5 hours south to Carlsbad, NM where I had a customer meeting. After one night and a full productive day there I drove on to Odessa / Midland, Texas to visit some family who live in that area before embarking on the rest of the way home.
A total of about 15 hours spent in my Hertz rental car...and this was my journey...
Albuquerque, New Mexico
A must while in Albuquerque, NM is to eat green chile. You can get green chile tacos, green chile enchiladas, green chili infused cocktails, green chile candy, green chili rubbed steak or chicken, green chile...I am starting to sound like Forest Gump, but you get the picture. Outside of green chili enchiladas, my recommendation is to try a green chili burger and the best place to have this experience is at Frontier Restaurant. Frontier is located directly across from the University of New Mexico, so you can check out the campus while you are there.
This is a very trendy area where you will find several microbreweries such as La Cumbre, Marble, and Tractor (delicious ciders).
Speaking of eating and drinking...
This is a very trendy area where you will find several microbreweries such as La Cumbre, Marble, and Tractor (delicious ciders).
Speaking of eating and drinking...
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Albuquerque possesses one of the coolest 'speakeasies'. This speakeasy is a bar and a fabulous steak/seafood restaurant. You need a password to obtain entry into Vernon's, even if you make a reservation via OpenTable. They go all out here with the ambiance and feel, hiring an actor who greets you upon entry.
As you see from the first photo above, there are no signs for the restaurant/bar, a mere red light illuminating the dark pathway and door. You knock (lightly please) on the door, which prompts this person who has time-hopped from the 1920's to slide back the Judas Hole to ask 'Yes what do you want?'. You say 'Here for dinner (or drinks).'. Whereupon he asks you for the password. No fuddling here or you may not get in!.
Once you enter it will feel you have time-hopped yourself back several decades. This gentlemen will roughly (but kiddingly) go over the rules of the house and what happens to you if you don't follow said rules. One of the rules: Don't speak to any famous people you may see while in the establishment. May seem like a joke, but this one is real. Vernon's offers a membership which gets you into the many hidden rooms and bars. If there is not an event going on, you will get a grand tour (they love doing this). On this tour they will show you the wall of members, where you will see Johnny Depp and Jerry Bruckheimer, along with several other famous names.
Don't miss out on this 'hidden' gem while you are in town!
As you see from the first photo above, there are no signs for the restaurant/bar, a mere red light illuminating the dark pathway and door. You knock (lightly please) on the door, which prompts this person who has time-hopped from the 1920's to slide back the Judas Hole to ask 'Yes what do you want?'. You say 'Here for dinner (or drinks).'. Whereupon he asks you for the password. No fuddling here or you may not get in!.
Once you enter it will feel you have time-hopped yourself back several decades. This gentlemen will roughly (but kiddingly) go over the rules of the house and what happens to you if you don't follow said rules. One of the rules: Don't speak to any famous people you may see while in the establishment. May seem like a joke, but this one is real. Vernon's offers a membership which gets you into the many hidden rooms and bars. If there is not an event going on, you will get a grand tour (they love doing this). On this tour they will show you the wall of members, where you will see Johnny Depp and Jerry Bruckheimer, along with several other famous names.
Don't miss out on this 'hidden' gem while you are in town!
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There are lots of really cool things to do in New Mexico, such as Hot Air Balloon Rides and Snow Skiing. But if you are a nerd like me, you will really love the Telephone Museum of New Mexico. The exterior of this place doesn't do it justice (frankly neither does their website) but this museum is really cool and very nostalgic. This multi-story museum houses phones from every generation including the first ever public phone dating back to the 1880's. Several switchboards on display...which was especially interesting to me given that my grandmother was a switchboard operator in the 1930s and 40s. The museum is ran by a handful of sweet older ladies, all of whom worked for Big Bell in some capacity before it was broken up into smaller companies. You will get the full history of the telephone along with some personal insights. Not the typical museum you search out, but enriching all the same.
And of course I was able to find a couple great bookstores in the area. Downtown Books (pictured) and Page 1 Bookstore. I will go over my bookstore journey at the end of this blog.
Next stop: Carlsbad, NM...
And of course I was able to find a couple great bookstores in the area. Downtown Books (pictured) and Page 1 Bookstore. I will go over my bookstore journey at the end of this blog.
Next stop: Carlsbad, NM...
Carlsbad, New Mexico
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Not going to lie, not a heck of a lot to do in Carlsbad, New Mexico. But if you do find yourself in this here parts check out the Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Some of the best caverns you will witness and they are celebrating their Centennial this year. Great place for the family or a sole business traveller.
The one night I was there I did find a very nice restaurant, Yellow Brix, where I enjoyed a Tractor Apple Cider to accompany my Chicken Cordon Bleu.
After my meeting, I drove across the state-line into my home state of Texas...
The one night I was there I did find a very nice restaurant, Yellow Brix, where I enjoyed a Tractor Apple Cider to accompany my Chicken Cordon Bleu.
After my meeting, I drove across the state-line into my home state of Texas...
Odessa, Texas
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Good ol' Odessa and Midland, Texas. Home of Friday Night Lights (football) and Oil. Not much else around here...but of course some family who I visited while in town.
It was a pristine day and I was able to get a wonderful photo of a great mural that sits in downtown Odessa. Odessa and Midland are only about 20 minutes apart, yet subtly different. Midland does have bigger buildings - a minute skyline - whereas Odessa is mostly flat and country-like. We did enjoy a great salt-of-the-earth dinner at the historic The Barn Door, where they offer you a 5 pound block of cheese as an appetizer!
After a short visit with some family and to get some shut-eye I embarked on the last leg of my trip back home...
It was a pristine day and I was able to get a wonderful photo of a great mural that sits in downtown Odessa. Odessa and Midland are only about 20 minutes apart, yet subtly different. Midland does have bigger buildings - a minute skyline - whereas Odessa is mostly flat and country-like. We did enjoy a great salt-of-the-earth dinner at the historic The Barn Door, where they offer you a 5 pound block of cheese as an appetizer!
After a short visit with some family and to get some shut-eye I embarked on the last leg of my trip back home...
On the road...
 | On Highway 285 between Albuquerque and Carlsbad you will drive through the eccentric small town of Roswell, New Mexico. The town is filled with Alien folklore and you will find aliens (albeit statues) on almost every block. Very fascinating place to visit. Make sure to visit one of the many stores on Main Street to pick up some UFO and Alien trinkets and ware. And of course, make time to visit The International UFO Museum and Research Center. |
 | Staying on Highway 285, crossing the New Mexico / Texas state-line you will come across the historic one-horse town of Pecos, Texas. The Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame is located here, which is very dear to me given that I used to rodeo when I was younger (I may blog about this sometime). You can also see a replica of Judge Roy Bean's place (pictured). |
 | If you find yourself east of San Angelo, Texas on the intersection of Highway 87 and Highway 83 in the itty-bitty town of Eden, Texas make sure to stop at the world famous Venison World for a great road snack. It is close to the Dairy Queen, you can't miss it. I picked me up some Elk Jerky for the drive home |
 | Want to check out something odd? The Deer Horn Tree in Junction, Texas...where Highway 83 meets Interstate 10. This tree has been standing since 1968...very odd indeed. |
 | Last stop I made (well before the great bookstore in Kerrville, Texas) was at Stonehenge II in Ingram, Texas. Ingram is a little ways off Interstate 10 west of Kerrville, Texas. You will find a replica of the famous Stonehenge as well as Easter Island heads. Amazing to say the least. What was started as an 'accident' in 1989 has grown into a sight to see. Oddly serene and very well done. Ingram is in the heart of the Hill Country and is quiet a beautiful town to visit...only about 1.5 hours west of San Antonio. |
Now onto the books, of course:
I stopped at 4 independent used bookstores on this trip. 2 in the Albuquerque area, 1 in Odessa and 1 in Kerrville.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Page 1 Bookstore: Signed first printing paperback of Tobias Wolff's In the Garden of The North American Martyrs. Very apropos given that May is Short Story Month.
Downtown Books: First printing of The Stonemason by Cormac McCarthy. A wonderful play by the impeccable author of All The Pretty Horses.
Odessa, Texas
Ye Old Bookworm: First printing of Tinsel by William Goldman, author of Marathon Man. And a first printing of The Stallion by the incredible Harold Robbins...this is the sequel to The Betsy.
Kerrville, Texas
Wolfmueller's books: Wow what a bookstore! I could have spent some real money here but I held back somehow. Signed books by Cormac McCarthy, Larry McMurtry, David Foster Wallace, you name it they have it. A beautiful store with amazing service. This trip I managed to walk out of there with just one book: First printing of More Gilt-Edged Bonds, an anthology of 3 James Bond books from the original Ian Fleming...Live and Let Die, Moonraker, and Diamond Are Forever.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Page 1 Bookstore: Signed first printing paperback of Tobias Wolff's In the Garden of The North American Martyrs. Very apropos given that May is Short Story Month.
Downtown Books: First printing of The Stonemason by Cormac McCarthy. A wonderful play by the impeccable author of All The Pretty Horses.
Odessa, Texas
Ye Old Bookworm: First printing of Tinsel by William Goldman, author of Marathon Man. And a first printing of The Stallion by the incredible Harold Robbins...this is the sequel to The Betsy.
Kerrville, Texas
Wolfmueller's books: Wow what a bookstore! I could have spent some real money here but I held back somehow. Signed books by Cormac McCarthy, Larry McMurtry, David Foster Wallace, you name it they have it. A beautiful store with amazing service. This trip I managed to walk out of there with just one book: First printing of More Gilt-Edged Bonds, an anthology of 3 James Bond books from the original Ian Fleming...Live and Let Die, Moonraker, and Diamond Are Forever.
Hope you enjoyed re-living this trip of mine.
Please let me know some of your recommendations for New Mexico or West Texas!
Thank you!
Please let me know some of your recommendations for New Mexico or West Texas!
Thank you!
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