Albuquerque's Gay Scene
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The city
sprawls a bit, and you need a car to venture out to some of the worthwhile
outlying attractions. On the west side of town, visit Petroglyph National
Monument to view some 25,000 rock drawings inscribed as far back as a
thousand years ago along the 17-mile-long West Mesa escarpment. Drive east
across town into the city's lofty foothills for a chance to ride the
Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway to the crest of the 10,600-foot Sandia
Mountains. The 2.7-mile ride is the longest aerial tramway in the world.
At the top are observation decks, hiking trails, a visitor's center, and
the High Finance Restaurant.
On the north side of Albuquerque, you'll find the glamorous new Sandia
Casino resort, which in addition to extensive gaming areas contains one of
the city's best restaurants (Bien Shur, on the resort's rooftop), a
brand-new luxury hotel and spa, and a golf course of considerable acclaim.
The casino is close to Balloon Fiesta Park, home to New Mexico's most
famous festival, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. This
colorful hot-air balloon gathering - the world's largest - takes place the
first two weeks in October. At any time of year you can visit the park's
Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum, which opened in fall 2005.
There are also a number of outfitters throughout Albuquerque offering
hot-air balloon rides year-round; one of the most reliable is Rainbow
Ryders.
Albuquerque's already very good dining scene has improved dramatically
just in the past few years. In the downtown area, don't miss gay-popular
Artichoke Cafe for first-rate Continental cooking in a romantic yet casual
ambience. Thai Crystal is one of the city's top Asian restaurants, while
the cozy Gold Street Caffe serves up some of the best breakfasts around,
plus light lunch and dinner fare, designer coffees, and delicious
desserts. When in Old Town, book a table at elegant Ambrozia Cafe & Wine
Bar, known for its quirky and inventive dishes, such as duck meatloaf with
truffled cream corn, and lobster corn dogs with chipotle ketchup.
In Nob Hill, the swanky Zinc Wine Bar and Bistro serves a memorable Sunday
jazz brunch and terrific French-inspired dinner fare - try the crispy
duck-confit egg rolls or mango creme brulee. Next door, Crazy Fish serves
tasty proof that it's possible to find super-fresh and creatively rendered
sushi right in the heart of the desert.
Talented chef Jennifer James is one of the leading new culinary stars of
the Southwest, and you can sample her deftly prepared food at Graze, which
specializes in affordable tapas-style small plates (she also owns the more
formal Restaurant Jennifer James, a few miles north). Across the street,
the upscale Gruet Steak House is run by the city's acclaimed Gruet Winery,
which produces some of the nation's most respected champagne-style
sparkling wines as well as commendable pinot noirs and chardonnays.
Pre-clubbing gays and straights mix it up at sophisticated Martini Grille,
which is lauded as much for its tasty American fare as for the fancy
drinks served up in the schnazzy cocktail bar.
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