The views and people watching here were top tier. New Mexico really is the land of enchantment. We…read morehad fun driving & walking around here. You really have a good time, get your steps in & find some gems. My biggest takeaway was the traditional native touches everywhere & how friendly the natives are. ABQ has a special place in my heart. Also there's live music nightly here & it's DOPE. The performances from native blues & rock artists really blew me away.

I see two Block by Block cleaning crews cleaning the graffiti off the glass and buildings and light…read morepoles are being painted green. Doing what they can to revive the builds in the hopes the downtown comes bald alive one day. It's sad to see any downtown with boarded up windows to avoid folks breaking them down. No idea what the downtown area looked like before the pandemic or if the mass exit and vacancy occurred before Covid. Even the Jimmy John's is closed.

we had such fun playing dress up, swinging on giant swings, hanging with friends... and painting…read moreeach others boobs was the BEST!! I hope in future versions, there is a bit better lighting for the entertainers (the stilt singers were a bit lost in the darkness), a bit better layout might be good, definitely more booths would be awesome (I might even host one if I had enough notice), and more options than Skarsgard's cider, which isn't my favorite (I'm a ciderophile since I don't drink beer) would move it from good to GREAT!!! thank you all for doing something so magically delicious for us freaks.

Come one come all to the Danger Carnival! Twinkling lights at a distance will lead you to the most…read morefascinating event around, the best five (or more) of your dollars you will ever spend. I enjoyed the heck out of this event. There was just the right mix of curious booths, outsize rides, and amazing shows to make the night. Everyone was laid back, some costumed some not, and there was plenty of good cider to be had. I hope this year was a success - to improve a little for next year I suggest a few more people at the cider sales, a few more sideshows (make it easier to find out how to volunteer/set up a booth- I'd be interested), and maybe some carnival treats (we had cotton candy, and apple bobbing - how bout caramel apples or some traditional meat on a stick?) Thanks for the fascinating evening!

Well, I can't really say this was worth the effort to come and see…read more I searched a few sources looking for interesting things to see. I thought this was odd enough, so why not see it? This is located in a residential neighborhood. I have no idea what the rhyme or reason for this is or was. It just appears to be a utility pole with a bunch of shoes attached all over the surface. The creator of this odd art is Michael Veseart. The shoes are pretty weather worn now. If you have an appreciation for shoes on display, this might be right down your alley. There are pretty much only women's heels... in many colors. This could just be called a High Heel Tree. I guess you could spend as much time as you'd like since there is a bench there. It is facing the houses, not the Shoe Tree. We took a very quick look and left.

#64 for 2019 The shoe tree is hysterical to me. I have a…read morenew place to bring peeps (yeah!!) for a kool photo OP! First it was the Big Red Arrow and The Big Red Dinosaur and what used to be the little RED dinosaur at Gizmos (now hes a faded pink color) What I love about ABQ is that I can find the koolest quirkiest things while either driving around or on Yelp! (Aaahhh Yelp my most fave!) Who had a thought one day to say: Hey let me staple or nail shoes to this ugly telephone pole! Whoever it was is genius! Art is Art and everyone has their own opinions on it! There is a smaller Shoe Tree in the North Valley. So small in fact, that it doesnt have a Yelp page. Lol! Nonetheless... this show tree is Yelp Worthy! It sits in an artsy yard in a residential area not far from El Vado Motel/El Vado Taproom. So if you are in the area its worth it to not only take a look but to also snap a few shots and Yelp about it! YELP can be a fun adventurous tool to find local things in ABQ. It's like going on a scavenger hunt! I miss my YELP friend Andrea C. We used to go on these fun "let's see what we can find on YELP" adventures all the time :-) She would love this shoe tree!!!

A must see when in Albuquerque! So creative and beautiful. Especially for car lovers!read more

Driving through Albuquerque, I glanced up and did a double take--was that... a Chevy on a stick?…read moreYep. A full-sized, blue-tiled 1954 Chevrolet hoisted high on a turquoise pedestal like some kind of sacred offering to the gods of roadside Americana. I couldn't not stop. It felt like stumbling across a monument from a world where hot rods are holy and kitsch is king. Locals apparently just roll with it, casually calling it "Chevy on a Stick" like that's a normal thing to have in your neighborhood. There's no big sign, no plaque explaining why a car is levitating above the median--just this glorious piece of public art floating above the traffic like a weird dream. I took a few pics, laughed to myself, and got back on the road feeling like I'd been let in on one of Albuquerque's best little secrets.

So many cute shops, outdoor patio restaurants, hair salons, murals, all wrapped up in art deco…read morebuildings ! Def drive thru or walk thru Nob Hill. Very enjoyable area

Keep Albuquerque Quirky! This is a weird arts district for ABQ. This is where the free thinkers,…read morethe forward looking populace expresses their local flavor, their nuances of culture that makes ABQ unique. There's all kinds of great murals, public works of art, and awesome shops to check out up in here. It's right down the way on Route 66 from University of New Mexico, so it's a younger, hip crowd that goes here for local grub, shopping, and events. You're sure to find all kinds of old Route 66 memorabilia, or stuff made by local artisans. It's all small local businesses, there are no chains around here as far as I know. You're sure to find some cool foreign grub, a nice tattoo parlor, or a kitschy gift shop that focuses on Abq pride. Parking can be challenging- keep an eye out for private lots or the back streets off of Central Ave.

At first glance, it's just a series of bright red arches along a sidewalk in Albuquerque--but walk…read moreunder them, and suddenly you're part of something sculptural, almost sacred. The repeating serpent-like shapes cast shifting shadows, and the further you go, the more it feels like a portal or procession. It's oddly immersive for a piece of public art that doesn't say much--because it doesn't have to. You feel it. The name "Kolowisi" refers to the Zuni water serpent, and once you know that, the entire piece ripples with deeper meaning. A tribute to movement, spirit, and story. Definitely worth a stop, even if it's just for a short walk that feels strangely important.

Kolowisi! This giant steel serpentine sculpture sits along…read moreLomas in Albuquerque. It straddles the sidewalk, making the pedestrian walk along inside the coils of the snake. It's reminiscent of Quetzalcoatl, the Mayan water god. Kolowisi is the water sperpent god of the Zuni Indians. The god Kolowisi saved the Zuni Indians from the giant flood and led them to the top of their sacred mountain. When the Indians were on top of the mountain, the water serpent god gave them gifts of food and water and seeds. The water god lives in lakes, reservoirs, wells, puddles and any body of water. He's kind of like the Loch Ness Monster that lives in Cochiti Lake or the Rio Grande. The water snake can change forms, like water into any shape it wants to. The City of Albuquerque relies heavily upon the water spirits, so it's an appropriate sculpture. This snake is painted what I would call 'enchilada red,' it matches the red sauce that makes Albuquerque food so great. You can't miss it. The artist is Andrew Shows. The city does a grand job of keeping it in good condition, free of graffiti and grime.

A quick 5 minute stop. Come here after House of Homemade Art, its on the Quirky route for the day…read more Good to see Walter's face. A sponsored plaque from some local businesses.

Perfect spot to get a good picture with no crowds! Easy to hop out of car and walk right up to…read moreplace on the wall.

We were just wandering through Albuquerque, no particular plan, when we turned the corner onto Coal…read moreAvenue and stumbled across it--Mario, Princess Peach, and Donkey Kong, all pixelated and proud, stretched across the side of a building like they had punched their way straight out of 1985. At first, I thought maybe my childhood was hallucinating. But no, there was Mario mid-jump, fists in the air. Peach standing tall like the 8-bit queen she is. And Donkey Kong looming off to the side, barrels and all. The colors popped against the weathered brick, and even though you could tell the wall had seen better days, that just made it cooler--like the mural had leveled up after a few boss fights with graffiti and sun damage. Turns out it used to be a Pac-Man wall, but somebody tagged it, and the original artist came back to give it a Nintendo makeover. Respect. The vibe is pure throwback joy. Cars zipped past without noticing, but we stood there for a while, grinning like we'd just found a secret warp pipe in real life. We snapped a few pics, and some random guy yelled, "It's-a me, Mario!" from across the street. I don't know if he was drunk or just having a good time--but honestly, same. In a city full of hidden gems, this mural felt like a one-up mushroom: small, unexpected, and absolutely worth finding.

Soooo no more is Donkey Kong but Mushroom. Looks pretty new. Sucks tagging F's it all up. Like,…read morecome on, respect the art ! It's a cute surprise for the family. We pulled over & it was cool. I am soooo in love with New Mexico. We are full time RV peeps & have traveled 8 states now & New Mexico has my heart.

You will find this mural in downtown Albuquerque. It is simple, but still demands your attention…read more It overlooks a small private parking lot and there is metered street parking available so, parking to get a quick closer look is relatively easy. This mural is the work of Ben Johnson who painted the piece in 2018. It is still in great shape and looks awesome. It is a basic mural with simply the words "STAY GOLD" in tall thin letter. The words are set against a two-tone blue background. The mural is painted on the side of the Wing It Up restaurant and you will find a retaining wall that is painted on the opposite side of the parking lot. It is not park of the mural, but comlliments the mural well. I am not sure of the mural's meaning, but I am assuming that it has something to do with that it is on Gold Street. I personally think that it would have been cool if the mural featured gold paint. Anyway, as with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 10 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

The red arrow is in the parking lot across the road from Whole Foods. A great photo op while you…read morepick up your costume from Spirit Halloween. be nice if there was a little step so you could sit on the platform and hug the arrow. Another fun pop culture stop to mix in with your history and nature stops.

You will find this gigantic red arrow, with its tip to the ground in a busy Whole Foods Parking…read morelot. It is an Albuquerque staple and a part of the city's culture. It could maybe use a fresh coat of paint, but it is still considerably in great shape since it has been there since 1961. Back then the shopping plaza was named Indiana Plaza. The arrow stands about 20 feet tall and looks like it was shoot into the stone base on which its sits. If the arrow does not already draw enough attention, it use to have neon lighting. However, it was too expensive to maintain so they scrapped it. Another interesting note is that in 1980, some of the plaza's tenants looked to add a few parking spots, which is premium in that location, by ripping out the arrow. The arrow was given landmark status though and it remains in it location today. There is an urban legend that the arrow ended up there by Lil' Beaver, the Indian sidekick of Red Ryder, the cowboy of TV, movie and comic strip fame, using a giant bow to shoot the arrow into an awaiting patch of soft concrete. I love the story and the hype, but I seriously doubt that it is true. I was able to pull into that same parking lot, park, get out and take a closer look. It was very easy. Anyway, as with most attractions that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, such as the space ship house or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.