What's New in Albuquerque? Check out the New Mexico Events & Attractions
Each season, the Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau updates our visitors on renovations and new additions to our famous Albuquerque, New Mexico tourist attractions. Frequently, new exhibits will be added to museums such as the National Hispanic Cultural Center or the Balloon Museum. For up-to-date news and information on Albuquerque, New Mexico events, review the articles below.
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Albuquerque News Highlights - Summer 2009
Rail Runner extension to Santa Fe now open
The Rail Runner, which is a new light rail system running north and south through the city extending north to Bernalillo and south to Belen, now has service to Santa Fe. The trains have
bike storage areas for easy transport and will soon have WiFi for business commuters. Learn more about times and service to Santa Fe online
www.nmrailrunner.com Rapid Ride is a high-speed bus route that connects the main visitor corridors for
shopping,
dining and museums along Central Avenue from the city's west side to
Uptown. All Rapid Ride buses have bike racks.
www.nmrailrunner.com
New trolley offers much-needed city tour 
For the first time in years, ABQ has a regularly scheduled city tour. The newly established ABQ Trolley Co. provides visitors with an introduction of the must-see sites around Albuquerque. ABQ Trolley Co. is offering guided city
tours from a completely-custom, uniquely Albuquerque, open-air trolley. The trolley was designed to incorporate elements that are specific to Albuquerque-wrought iron rails with intricate scrollwork; a stucco-texture paint treatment; custom mosaic tile art pieces; and an open-air interior.
http://www.abqtrolley.com/
Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club ranked No. 3 for best public golf courses
Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club was recently ranked No. 3 in the United States for best public golf courses in a Readers Choice Poll by subscribers of Golf World. Albuquerque is home to some of the best golf courses in the country. Our forested mountains, lush river valleys and high desert plains combine to make central New Mexico a dream come true for golf course designers. In addition, Albuquerque’s
weather allows for one of the longest playing seasons, making golf enjoyable year-round.
www.paakoridge.com
Rio Grande Zoo installs solar panels
The Rio Grande Zoo recently installed six solar panels in partnership with the New Mexico Solar Energy Association. Thirty students from a PV Design & Installation Workshop helped install the Photo Voltaic (PV) solar panels on the roof of the Zoo’s gift shop, which will create a one kilowatt system that is “grid-tied” – as the panels generate electricity, the amount of power the shops utilize from the electrical utility will decrease. The solar power inverter, located at the back of the gift shop, will accommodate additional panels in the future, to upgrade to a three kilowatt system. Besides reducing energy costs, the solar panels will be used as an educational tool to inform visitors about solar energy and encourage energy conservation at home. www.cabq.gov/biopark/zoo
National Atomic Museum re-opens as the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
The National Atomic Museum has been renamed the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History. The new museum is located in southeastern Albuquerque on 12 acres of land on the north end of Sandia Science and Technology Park. It includes a 30,000 square foot building with exhibits and artifacts on the technical side of nuclear science and its historical development, plus a 12-acre outdoor park for aircraft and large artifacts formerly housed on Kirtland Air Force Base. The $10.5 million project provides visitors with a one-of-kind experience at the Smithsonian affiliated museum.
www.nuclearmuseum.org
Albuquerque Botanic Garden to add Insectarium
An insectarium is in the works at the Albuquerque Botanic Garden. The new 2,600 square foot building will be located on the south side of the
gardens. The primary lab will be a breeding and development center for the insect exhibits. There will be additional exhibit areas adjacent to the main building. The project is expected to be completed mid-2009.
www.cabq.gov/biopark
Movie Making in Albuquerque
Feature film and television show production is on the rise in the Albuquerque area and throughout New Mexico. Albuquerque Studios, a 28-acre, $74 million state-of-the-art motion picture and television production facility opened in 2007 with eight sound stages and a combined total of 168,000 sq. ft. of space. New Mexico offers outstanding incentives to production companies, which has helped generate broad interest in the state for movie and television filming. Sony Pictures Imageworks also has plans to open a new facility at the Albuquerque Studios complex on the south edge of Albuquerque.
www.abqstudios.com and
www.filmABQ.com
Recent movies and television shows produced in and around Albuquerque include:
- The Spirit Breaking Bad
- In Plain Sight
- Crash: Season One
- Terminator Salvation
- Swing Vote
- Easy Money
- Wild Hogs
- Beerfest
- Wildfire
- Hamlet 2
- Fan Boys
- The Eye
- Game
- Transformers
- Employee of the Month
- No Country for Old Men
- In the Valley of Elah
- Observe & Report
- Sunshine Cleaning
- Love Lies Bleeding
- The Lost Room
- Love Ranch
- Tennessee
- Afterwards
- Bordertown
- Linewatch
- First Snow
- 21 Grams
- Trade
The decision by one of Hollywood's major studios to establish a new facility in Albuquerque is the lastest indication of New Mexico's rapidly expanding film industry. The 100,000 square-foot satellite facility is projected to open at Albuquerque Studios in Mesa del Sol beginning with 100 jobs in digital media, animation and visual effects, eventually expanding to 300 employees. Sony pictures Imagworks has also recently welcomed
University of New Mexico as a new member in its Imageworks Professional Academic Excellence program in an effort to nurture young talent.
www.imageworks.com/press/expansion
New Sky Lounge At Balloon Museum
The Balloon Museum now has a brand new feature, the Sky Lounge. The loungs offers visitors a great place to gather, relax, read, play games and bring lunch or a snack to enjoy. Free WiFi is available for those who bring computers and want to surf the web. A children’s area features fun games and more. To top things off, the Sky Lounge offers one of the most magnificent views of the Sandia Mountains around! www.balloonmuseum.com
Hotel News
La Posada de Albuquerque broke ground on a $30 million renovation in October 2007 and will now be called the Andaluz. The project includes a complete renovation of guest rooms, construction of a new cultural center, a new restaurant including roof-top cantina and a focus on environmentally friendly construction. The hotel is expected to re-open in fall 2009. www.hotelandaluz.com
- Just south of Albuquerque the Isleta Casino & Resort opened a hotel complex on July 1, 2008. The resort hotel features 200 luxurious rooms and suites, an aquatic themed spa, a 24-hour café, an Asian bistro, a new nightclub and a family activity center. Already existing, the Isleta Casino has more than 1,600 slots, table games and poker rooms. Next door, the Isleta Eagle 27-hole golf course is a challenging course designed around three lakes near the Rio Grande. www.isletacasinoresort.com
- The Sheraton Uptown’s $25 million renovation is complete. The project included renovation of the 17,000 square feet of meeting space and upgrades to the 295 rooms and suites. Upgrades were also made to the ventilation, heating and air condition systems and the indoor swimming pool, as well as new additions including an Internet lounge and a media center. www.sheratonuptown.com
- The Albuquerque Hilton Hotel, a landmark in the city’s midtown area for nearly 40 years, is undergoing a comprehensive $14 million “greenovation” that will incorporate energy and water conservation and feature a fresh, contemporary Western style inside and out. See entire release. www.hiltonalbuquerque.com
- Heritage Hotels creates Going Green Program
Heritage Hotels & Resorts is doing its part to help the environment and has developed a Going Green environmental program within its hotels and among its employees. This group of independent hotels located in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces, New Mexico and Rio Rico, Arizona is collectively participating in several levels of environmentally safe practices. View the entire media release for more information. www.hhandr.com
Albuquerque in the national spotlight
- Among the Top 10 Cities to Live In by U.S. News & World Report, June 2009
- 2nd Best City of 2009 according to the Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Top 10 Cities, July 2009
- Albuquerque ranks as the second most affordable destination in North America, AAA's Annual Vacation Costs Survey for 2008
- 5th Fittest City in the Unites States by Men's Fitness magazine, January 2009
- 5th best city in the U.S. to ride it out as an independent movie maker by Movie Maker Magazine, February 2009
- Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club ranked No. 3 in the U.S. for best public golf courses in a Readers Choice Poll by Golf World, October 2008
- 5th Best Big City Art Destination in AmericanStyle magazine, April 2009
- Outdoor recreation opportunities made Albuquerque the 3rd best mid-sized city for cycling in Bicycling magazine
More Top Albuquerque Rankings
Coming Events & Attractions:
June - November, 2009
LAND/ART
In the summer and fall of 2009 a group of New Mexico arts organizations will join together to present LAND/ART, which will explore relationships of land, art, and community through exhibitions, site-specific art works, lectures, and a culminating book. www.landartnm.org
August 7-9, 2009
2009 Ballet Pro Musica Festival
A new festival category, Chamber Music Ballet, which is a partnership between virtuoso musicians and virtuoso dancers from celebrated national companies, marrying live chamber music to classical dance presentations. www.balletpromusica.org
September 25-26, 2009
¡Globalquerque! World Music Festival
The 5th annual event features a myriad of international and local performers, plus food and crafts from around the world, educational workshops, free family fun, dance classes and more at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. www.globalquerque.com
October 3-11, 2009
38th Annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
600+ hot air balloons will take to the skies in the 38th annual festival www.balloonfiesta.com
October 25, 2009
Day of the Tread
If you like bicycling, dressing up in costumes, putting on the face paint and wigs, then come and join us as your favorite ghost or goblin for a fun Halloween bike ride or run. The route will be full of musical entertainment and contests along the way. www.dayofthetread.com
November 13-15, 2009
Weems International Artfest 2009
Weems International Artfest is a major multicultural art event displaying 270 + top artisans in every medium and price range. According to Art Fair Source Book, Weems Artfest was ranked #12 in fine art and # 15 in fine crafts in the nation. www.weemsgallery.com
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