San Felipe de Neri is the visual, geographical and spiritual heart of Old Town. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the original Pueblo-style building was constructed in 1793; the distinctive Gothic wooden steeples were added in 1861. Rose gardens welcome the visitor to the church's front courtyard. Stepping into the cool interior you will discover beautiful tin work, vigas (wooden beams) and five feet thick adobe walls.
Take a walk through time from the big bang through the ice ages in one of the premier natural history museums in the country. Also, discover a great collection of massive dinosaurs while you watch technicians work on actual fossils. You can also experience the Dynamax Theater with its multi-story screen and super sound system. Step into the Time Machine and stop by the Lode Star Center that includes a high-tech, 175-seat theater, telescope and planetarium. The STARTUP Gallery tells the story of Albuquerque's role in the development of the computer. The Nature Works store in the museum features a unique inventory of items related to dinosaurs, birds, and various species of animals and scientific gadgets.
This non-profit community theater company combines a staff of professionals and local talent who volunteer their time to produce comedies, musicals, dramas and mysteries. The 1000-plus seat building was designed by famed Southwestern architect John Gaw Meen and built in 1936, giving this theater a rich historical feel, but modern acoustics and lighting provide a quality night of entertainment. The theater is easy to find on the historic Route 66 in the Old Town area.
The historic Nob Hill area along Central Avenue (Route 66) in Albuquerque's university area is home to a recently revitalized community of local boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, and bars. Some local favorites include Papers!, a stationary and art supply store, Beeps, a novelty gift store, and the Flying Saucer, one of the city's best coffee shop cafes. Visitors to the area will also find plenty of antique shopping, bookstores, and specialty shops selling everything from yarn to groceries. Many of the local restaurants and bars host live music events, and each year in December, the district puts on a Shop & Stroll holiday entertainment event.
This one of its kind museum features exhibits chronicling the history of ballooning, with a special focus on Albuquerque's contribution (as "Balloon Capital of the World") to this lighter-than-air art form. Famous history-making balloons are on display, as well as other intriguing exhibits like nineteenth-century Japanese ballooning outfits, German war-balloons used for bombing operations, and artifacts from the very beginning of hot-air ballooning in the late eighteenth century. The museum facility overlooks the field from which balloons take off during the world-renowned annual Balloon Fiesta.
With a rich historical background, the Guild Cinema is an old theater that was first opened in 1966 as a store. It underwent several changes and was passed down to many owners until 2004. Today, it is one of the only theaters in the city that showcases art films. The cinema calls itself the only independent theater in the city and takes pride in screening multiple-genre movies. It is also available for private hire for parties and other events. Fun for movie buffs doesn't end here- Guild Cinema plays host to popular film festivals like the Troma Dance, International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, and Summer in the Dark Festival of Film Noir among others.
Housed in the first public school building in Albuquerque (1881) this co-op gallery in Old Town is an outlet for some exceptional local talent. Joy Easton creates watercolors of almost touchable terrain. Mary Madsen uses oil and watercolor to take Southwestern scenery a step beyond the usual. It is well worth a visit to Yucca Art Gallery, just to view the colorful stoneware of Pat Stolgren or the oil miniatures of New Mexico's ancient churches by George Hight.
A team of the finest actors in town joined forces to found the Mother Road Theatre Company, which opened its doors in 2007. It is housed a" The Filling Station, a 1930's gas station in Barelas that has been renovated as an arts space. In addition to producing four major pieces a season, Mother Road hosts touring productions and conducts workshops and community education programs ("InRoads" for adults and the literacy-based "Avenues" for schoolchildren). The participation of Academy Award-winning actor Alan Arkin, who serves on their Artistic Advisory Council and conducts workshops and fundraisers, attests to the quality of the work you will see from this innovative Company. Admission is USD15-20 for adults, and USD10-15 for students and seniors.
Salón Ortega is a banquet facility in the National Hispanic Cultural Center, located within the History and Literary Arts building. It's perfectly suitable for buffets, receptions, lectures and parties. During spring and summer months, the room can be extended to the central courtyard as well. Wooden-columned ceiling and wooden floor with chandeliers make the space spectacularly different from the other venues in the Center.
Spanning 1200 square feet, Small Engine offers an cozy little space for hosting art exhibitions and concerts. Housed inside a repair workshop, the venue is easily accessible from downtown Albuquerque, thus, allowing the art lovers to catch up on the works of local artists and musicians. Apart from local talents, the center also hosts concerts of musician on tour.
Routes Bicycle Rentals & Tours offers fun, easy and safe bike rentals and tours throughout Albuquerque. See the sites, learn the history, take photos, and make memories. Enjoy your ride; let Routes be your guide! Routes Rentals & Tours is a family-owned boutique in the historic core of Albuquerque, New Mexico USA with a focus on providing unique, sustainable experiences and products for our patrons. Routes features full-service bicycle and snowshoe rentals accompanied by custom maps, accessories, gifts, and concierge-level service. Whether you are a visitor to Albuquerque or a local, the goal of our staff is to serve as an invaluable resource for all events, locations, secret gems, and things Albuquerque / New Mexico. We love and support our unique community, and are excited to share the best of Albuquerque with you. In need of bike repair or maintenance? We do that too! Stop on down today.
Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe is tucked away in historic Old Town Albuquerque. The chapel along with a shrine was built in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe for the students of Sagrada Art Studios to pray. The chapel has impressive work on the window that was especially created for the Sagrada. There are six wooden benches with hand carved verse of scripture. The sacred space of the Chapel has often been used as a venue for weddings and receptions. For more information, please visit their website.