1. What’s In A Name? Everything
We know Albuquerque is a bit of a mouthful. And most cities have their own nicknames, some quirkier than others, and most of the time they don’t really mean much. But here in Albuquerque, what name you choose to call the city says a lot about you.
No one calls it Albuquerque unless they’re talking to an outsider about the city. The people who consider themselves the true locals, the heart and grit of the city, say that there is no other name than Burque.
Then you have locals who have decided that they really like calling it ABQ. This nickname was first met with resistance but has gained some traction over the years and is an acceptable variation. However, don’t ever let anyone hear you call it “The Q.” The mayor did and even tried to change it, causing quite the uproar among Burqueans who refuse to watch their city succumb to gentrification nonsense. This is the ABQ. The Burque, if you’re nasty.
2. It’s Always A Little Chile
It stands to reason that if you ever make it to Albuquerque and you don’t try the green chile, then you haven’t really made it to Albuquerque. It could be the most important thing you do while you’re here.
If you’re feeling confused or would like an idea of where to get the best in town, all you have to do is ask a local. They’ll tell you where to go, what to order, and how to order it. And if they tell you to order your food Christmas style, that means with red and green.
3. They Are The Ones Who Knock
Unless you spent the past few years living under a rock, then you probably know that Breaking Bad filmed here in Albuquerque. Since it’s basically the best show in the history of television, most people automatically assume that everyone in Albuquerque loves the show. But that’s not exactly the case.
Most people do love the show. I mean, it’s Breaking Bad and we’re all only human. But others are put off by the way the show cast Albuquerque as some trashy meth heaven. And they’re right – not everyone does meth.
So, now that we have that cleared up, let’s discuss the Candy Lady’s blue meth candy, the blue meth candy donuts, and the (spoiler alert!) Walter White obituary someone actually took out after the show’s finale. Love it or hate it, there’s no doubting that Breaking Bad has a massive influence on Albuquerque.
4. How To Talk Burqueña
Now that you’ve learned to never call it “the Q,” there are a few things you have to get used to saying if you want to blend in here.
First, you have to get used to saying, “Eeee!” a lot. You’ll stress your e’s more (as in, “don’t EE-ven!”) but you’ll also use it as a word of its own. Used mainly as an exclamation in place of “wow” or “no way,” it’s a pretty versatile word that you can get as creative with as you want.
And another one you’ll have to get used to is the word “all,” but not in its normal usage. You’ll use it as an adverb in place of words like “very” or “so.” As in, “these words are getting all confusing.”
5. Dreading The Balloons Until You See Them In The Sky
In Albuquerque, October brings the International Balloon Fiesta. It also brings over 100,000 visitors into the city to check out the balloons.
…Those are 100,000 people with cars, which means traffic goes from a standard ridiculous to bang-your-head-against-the-steering-wheel maddening. That’s why knowing that the Balloon Fiesta is coming up can be a bit of a bummer. That is, until it arrives.
The balloons take to the sky and fill the Albuquerque horizon up with the most colorful sight you’ve ever seen and suddenly, you forget why you ever cared about those stupid cars on the ground. When you wake up and look out your window to see a variety of different colored and shaped balloons filling up the sky, only then could you understand.
6. The Power Of Sopapilla
Okay, you don’t have to be exclusively from Albuquerque to understand the power of sopapilla, since you can also find it in corners of the world like Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, and even parts of Colorado. But, if you don’t understand the power of sopapilla, there’s a no-percent chance that you’re from Burque.
Sopapilla is a heavenly yet simple concoction of deep fried pastry paired with honey or sugar. It might sound basic, but your taste buds will disagree. Everyone has their own opinion on where you can find the best in town, but a good start is to check out El Modelo’s or Padilla’s.
7. Going Loco For Lobos
To state the obvious, it gets pretty hot in Albuquerque. But nothing comes as close to how hot the city gets on game day. The University of New Mexico’s Lobos football team is wildly popular, so if you don’t have your obligatory red and silver on come game day, you’re going to stand out like a sore thumb.
Keep an eye out for Louie the Lobo, too. He’s the resident mascot, local hero and inspiration for the signature Lobo cheer. “Everyone’s a Lobo, Woof Woof Woof!”
8. But They’ll Always Miss Their Dukes
Once upon a time, the Albuquerque Dukes played here in the city and times were good. The triple-A baseball team was a pretty big deal here in the Burque. And then, just like that, they were gone. The team picked up and left in 2000, leaving a Duke-sized hole in the hearts of many locals.
In 2003, the Albuquerque Isotopes came to town and have tried their best to win Burqueans over. It took a while, but it has eventually worked for some. But most people still pine for the days of The Dukes.
9. When It Rains, It Snows
There’s no need for rain boots in Albuquerque since it barely ever rains. If it does start to get cloudy, don’t plan on getting anything done until it clears up. The folks here are suckers for a good thunderstorm and since storms are rare, the people of Albuquerque will stop whatever they’re doing to make sure they don’t miss one if it hits.
But, most people are surprised to learn that Albuquerque does experience all four seasons. And quite often, they experience them all in the same day, which you will quickly learn when you go from complaining of frostbite in the wee hours of the morning to getting sunburn by midafternoon.
And yes, it does snow. Not a lot, mind you. But even a little is enough to make it seem like a blizzard for a short spell. Just stay indoors. Even for a dusting. Trust me on this.
10. When It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas In ABQ
Christmas trees? Sure. Presents? Of course. But nothing quite says Christmas in Albuequerque like a walkway or yard lined with Luminarias. They’re paper bags, weighted down with sand (Albuquerque has plenty of that!) with candles placed inside.
While the rest of the country is hanging from their roofs, stringing lights, and stapling themselves to their siding, the people in Albuquerque are already done, decorated, and ready for the holiday. And, in typical Albuquerque nature, it looks awesome with minimal effort.
11. Longing For The Beach
You might assume that people from New Mexico would long for a beach since they’ve got the sand but lack the ocean. But Burqueans don’t long for the same kind of beach that you think they do.
The Beach Water Park was Albquerque’s prime waterpark slash the-stuff-childhood-memories-are-made-of. Until it closed down on them in 2005. Every year since, people in Burque have ping-ponged rumors of its reopening, discussed how it could be revitalized, and made a wish on basically every birthday that this will be the summer it comes back.
From The Black Hole to The Plunge, everyone in Burque has a story about those blazing hot days spent cooling down and having fun at The Beach.
Did we miss anything? Tell us what you think is unique about Albuquerque in the comments below!
