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
Locals share their passions to encourage travel to ABQ In an effort to engage potential visitors to discover all of Albuquerque’s unique offerings, the Albuquerque CVB has recruited 11 locals to help tell the city’s story. The campaign is aimed at encouraging interaction with the ACVB website in order to find information tailored to individual visitors’ interests. The experts were chosen based on knowledge of their subject area and their passion for Albuquerque. The “ABQ Experts” website incorporates videos, stories,
photos and
maps to provide customized information for travelers considering a trip to Albuquerque.
www.itsatrip.org/ABQExperts
The New Mexico Rail Runner Express, a light rail system running north and south through the metro area now extends north to Santa Fe and south to Belen. The trains have
bike storage areas for easy transport and are expected to have WiFi very soon. The Rail Runner makes for an easy day-trip to Santa Fe from Albuquerque at an inexpensive daily rate. Connections to the trains are continually expanding to service visitors to both Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
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. The trolley is a completely-custom, uniquely
Albuquerque, open-air vehicle. 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.
www.abqtrolley.comPaa-Ko Ridge Golf Club ranked No. 3 for best public golf coursesPaa-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
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. The museum is also celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2009 and will kick off the celebration with a new exhibit in October.
www.nuclearmuseum.org
Albuquerque Botanic Garden to add InsectariumAn 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 has been recognized as a Top 10 Movie City by Movie Maker Magazine for three years in a row. Albuquerque Studios, a 28-acre, $74 million state-of-the-art motion picture and television production facility opened in 2007. 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. Recent film and TV projects include Terminator Salvation, Transformers, Sunshine Cleaning, Observe and Report, Breaking Bad, The Spirit and In Plain Site among others.
www.abqstudios.com and
www.filmABQ.com
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 MuseumThe 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
National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) Tower to be Transformed
At the entrance to the NHCC, the Torreón Fresco is being transformed into a massive painting depicting the cultural development of Hispanic heritage from prehistory to present day. The painting is being created by internationally renowned artist Frederico Vigil in the ancient “fresco” technique in which paint is applied to wet plaster creating a permanent chemical bond that create images that should last for thousands of years. The fresco painting will cover more than 4,000 square feet including the ceiling and 45-foot tall interior walls of the Torreón. It is expected to be completed in 2010.
www.nhccnm.orgGolf: Diverse offerings provide great value
Golf Digest and Golf Magazine have ranked several Albuquerque golf courses among the best in the country. Most recently, Golf World readers recognized Paa-Ko Golf Ridge as No. 3 in the U.S. for best public golf courses. The forested mountains, lush river valleys and high desert plains combine to make central New Mexico a dream come true for golf course designers. From desert links to parkland to mountain courses, Albuquerque offers arguably the most diverse golf experience available in one area. Albuquerque has some of the most reliable weather conditions in the country, with 310 days of sunshine and an average annual high temperature of 70 degrees. Unique scenery combined with affordability provides unbeatable cost-to-quality value.
www.itsatrip.org/golf Albuquerque in the national spotlight
- No. 6 on Outside magazine's Best Cities in America 2009 list
- 2nd Best City of 2009 according to the Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Top 10 Cities, July 2009
- Among the Top 10 Cities to Live In by U.S. News & World Report, June 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
- Following a $30 million multiple-year renovation the former La Posada de Albuquerque reopened October 1, 2009 as the Hotel Andaluz. The renovated hotel has an environmentally responsible design incorporated into the historic building, a new Mediterranean-influenced restaurant, a roof-top lounge and a cultural center showcasing the arts and culture of the area. www.hotelandaluz.com
- The new Hotel Parq Central will be a fusion of art deco and modern elements. This new addition to the many hotels in downtown Albuquerque will bring a new air of elegance and charm, with several styles of guest rooms, a rooftop patio, and beautiful gardens to accent the outdoor experience of this boutique hotel. Opening Fall of 2010, the Hotel Parq Central is sure to turn heads with its mix of modern and classical themes.
Event Highlights
September 13, 2009 – May 16, 2010
Confluencias II: Inside Arte Cubano Contemporáneo
The National Hispanic Cultural Center Art Museum brings a major exhibition on Contemporary Cuban Art to New Mexico. Confluencias II: Inside Arte Cubano Contemporáneo provides an exciting overview of what’s happening now with significant Cuban artists and various media. The exhibition includes approximately 100 works by 40 artists working inside Cuba. www.nhccnm.org
GO! Downtown Arts Festival
The GO! Arts Festival is outdoors in beautiful downtown Albuquerque on Gold Avenue. Along with the outdoor art exhibits, the festival has live musical and dance performances, a children's activity area, a scrumptious food court, and beer garden. New in 2009, a shuttle will provide transportation between Globalquerque and the GO! Festival. www.downtownabq.com
March 5-7, 2010
22nd Annual Fiery Foods and BBQ Show
The National Fiery Foods & BBQ Show is the largest and most visited show in the world relating to spicy foods and barbecue with more than 200 exhibitor booths filled with more than 1,000 different products. The show attracts more than 14,000 trade and general public attendees from all over the world. www.fiery-foods.com/ffshow
April 22-24, 2010
27th Gathering of Nations Pow Wow
North America's largest pow wow featuring aisles of shopping throughout the Indian Traders Market with 800 artists and traders, plus native foods, traditional dancing and music. www.gatheringofnations.com