La Sala Grande - Albuquerque, NM

The area's growth over the last 40 years was augmented by Montgomery and Wyoming Boulevards' increasing status as a major cross-town route, and much of the modern housing was built to accommodate workers at Sandia National Laboratories and Kirtland Air Force Base. Area retail grew with the influx of residents and passers-by: Major chains started locating in the area and it became one of the major shopping destinations in Albuquerque's Northeast Heights.

A collection dedicated to the history of Albuquerque is displayed downtown at the Albuquerque Museum, and includes artwork and artifacts going back to the early history of Albuquerque in the 1700s.

Broadway-style shows are performed in town by award-winning community theatre Musical Theatre Southwest. They put on productions of a wide range of box-office hits like the Rocky Horror Picture Show and Shrek the Musical.

Opportunities for local dining concentrate along Wyoming Boulevard, and include Annie’s Soup Kitchen. Its big breakfasts and back room make a great morning meeting combination, and staff cook omelets to order with your choice of ingredients. Try the Gonzo which comes with a huge pile of home-fried potatoes and tons of toppings, including bacon and cheddar cheese. Its quiche is cooked daily and has been named best in the city at this eatery open for breakfast and lunch. Entrees cost less than $9 and come out fast.

New Mexican cuisine and the family atmosphere at Ortega’s Mexican Restaurant keep patrons coming back to fill up on tacos and enchiladas for less than $8 an entrée. Sopaipillas persist as a popular option — get them stuffed with beef and cheese for lunch or drizzled in honey for dessert.

The smell of smoking meats beckons the hungry to the lounge and dining room at Quarter’s Barbecue. Its ribs remain one of the many reasons that this Albuquerque original has been around for so many years, and the lounge serves a variety of margaritas and hosts a happy hour with $2.50 domestic beers.

The Wyoming area is also home to La Sala Grande’s active nightlife scene, and the margaritas and live music are on hand at El Patron Restaurant and Cantina. The revival Spanish colonial interior hosts dozens of types of tequilas and even serves gluten-free versions of New Mexican specialties like tacos and enchiladas. Dinner is around $10 and Patron margaritas start at $7, and specials continue all night.

Head northwest to Cinemark Movies 8 and see Hollywood movies on their second run during its daily matinee — tickets cost as little as $2. Regal Winrock 16 a few blocks to the southwest features stadium seating and 16 screens of IMAX and 3-D.

Albuquerque’s streets and freeways generally remain uncongested, and free parking exists in abundance. Wyoming Boulevard in the heart of the area conveys residents from north to south through the center of town, and nearby Interstates 40 and 25 provide a quick conduit to the rest of the city and beyond. Limited through traffic makes streets safe in La Sala Grande, and the area suffers little crime. Uber drivers are easy to find in Albuquerque, as well as other car services. Taxis in Albuquerque generally don’t look for fares outside of the airport and downtown areas, so residents generally call ahead. The public transit system in Albuquerque is inexpensive, and residents usually hop on from Wyoming Boulevard — a one-way ticket anywhere in town costs only $2. Albuquerque’s extensive system of bicycle trails allows for safe commuting, and dedicated lanes also exist on city streets.

A half-dozen free parks in the area of La Sala all host grassy fields and have plenty of parking on-site. Snow Park to the south has space for dogs and basketball courts, and straddles one of Albuquerque’s most popular bike routes. The path rises 2,000 feet over about 9 miles from the Rio Grande in the west to the foothills in the east. It takes about 45 minutes of uphill pedaling to get to the top of the trail, but cyclists reap a restful reward with an easy coast home. Fall remains one of the best times for an early-morning ride along this route, and in early October hundreds of hot-air balloons can be seen taking part in the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta to the northwest.

Averaging around $564, rent for a one-bedroom residence in La Sala Grande sits slightly below average for Albuquerque. More upscale accommodations exist, including modest town houses and semi-luxury condominiums towards Uptown. A decent meal runs around $8, and a beer to go with it, $6 — both also slightly below the Albuquerque average. The cost-of-living is also below average, and Albuquerque drivers take advantage of 9 percent lower gas prices than the national average. A one-way bus ticket anywhere in town costs $2.

Most shopping in La Sala Grande exists along Wyoming Boulevard, and includes Rebel Donut. Drop by before you hit the aisles and grab one of its unbelievably original cake or glazed creations like Irish coffee donuts. Other favorites include watermelon donuts, easy to pick out by their pink glaze and chocolate bits.

Hoffmantown shopping center just south of the area is home to Pen & Pad, a collection of unusual and high-quality writing instruments. Its funky selection of writing utensils ranges from mundane to high-end, and can help you stand out at your next meeting.

Bella Diamonds and Watches specializes in unique pre-owned estate jewelry and watches, including one-of-a-kind retro wristpieces and jewel-encrusted chronometers by Cartier.

Residents of La Sala Grande stock up on groceries and other home items at the Walmart just north of the area, and Albertsons is a short drive east. Keller’s Farm Stores holds a high-quality selection of organic meat and free-range poultry in addition to its many aisles of seasonings and specialty cooking equipment. During the summer, ABQ Uptown hosts a grower’s market on Saturdays and Tuesdays, and the year-round Farmers Market a few miles to the southeast sells produce that comes from local farms.