Paradise Hills Civic - Albuquerque, NM

The area now called Paradise Hills Civic was originally founded by Spain in 1706 and named in honor of the Duke of Albuquerque. Over time, this area grew into a farming and sheep-herding community.

As railroads connected Paradise Hills Civic to the rest of Albuquerque, it began to attract tourists healing from tuberculosis. Paradise Hills Civic became one of many northwest neighborhoods for the city’s growing population.

Though Paradise Hills Civic has no museums of its own, nearby Albuquerque has a thriving art scene, hosting the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, as well as galleries like Hispaniae and Santisima.

The closest annual event happens at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History. Every Friday during the summer, the museum hosts Salsa, Jazz & Blues Under the Stars with reasonably priced outdoor concerts in a relaxed and inviting atmosphere.

Paradise Hills Civic lies in a very small area, so most of the neighboring restaurants fall outside its borders. Though there's no central restaurant location here, you'll find it easy to discover pizza and Italian nearby, as well as Mexican, barbecue, Japanese and Chinese.

If you're in the mood for serious American comfort food, check out Ironwood Kitchen, serving a wide selection of sandwiches, burritos and breakfast items in a casual setting. Locals love the pastrami sandwich and the breakfast burrito stuffed with eggs, cheese and green chili, but most patrons come back for the quick, friendly service and the large menu.

Spinn's Burgers & Beer earns high marks for its kicked-back vibe and service with a smile. Locals come back for the green chili burgers and fresh cut fries, which they love to share with friends in this busy establishment that always seems on top of its game. Grab a beer and a booth, and you may find yourself making another friend before you leave this local haunt.

If you love generous portions, visit Rose Garden for Chinese food classics from orange chicken and beef and broccoli to lo mein and fried rice. The prices are extremely reasonable, so feel free to try something new. Perfect for a quick picnic or eating with a group of friends, these large portions allow you to share what you order.

Since Paradise Hills Civic comprises a very small area and has a distinctly residential feel, nightlife here can be quiet. You'll need to travel outside its boundaries to check out local bars.

Desert Greens Bar and Grill can be found on a golf course, providing the perfect place to hang out and watch the sun set over the greens while grabbing a drink or watching a game on the large screen TVs.

If you're into live music, you'll need to head into Albuquerque where Launchpad Nightclub features local bands in a dive-bar atmosphere. This area also hosts dance clubs such as Effex Nightclub and Casa Esencia where you can expect loud music and tons of space to spread out and dance.

Paradise Hills Civic, as an outlying suburb of Albuquerque, requires a car for doing errands, and most locals prefer to get around this way. The most accessible highways are the I-25, situated to the east, and the I-40, located to the south of this neighborhood. In Paradise Hills Civic, you’ll find parking easy to come by and very inexpensive or even free.

Though Albuquerque doesn’t have a subway, its rail system New Mexico Rail Runner Express serves many commuting into the city each day. ABQ RIDE also has various bus lines operating in or near this area, but locals find that they need to transfer bus lines, sometimes more than once.

Cabs are not easy to hail on the street. However, you’ll find it easy to arrange a pickup with a local cab company or via Uber. This is considered a car-dependent neighborhood, and isn’t particularly walkable. There are some bikes lanes, though, making it safe for bikers.

Montecito Park provides the area’s closest park. With a small play structure and some green space for running, playing or picnicking, it lies at the edge of a housing development, adjacent to a community pool. This makes it perfect place for families with kids and exercisers.

Nearby Mariposa Basin Park has a volleyball court, baseball diamond, horseshoes and lots of green space for exercising or walking the dog. It’s a popular stop for families, who love to hold barbecues and birthday parties here, using the park’s picnic tables and grills.

Though Paradise Hills Civic doesn’t have any annual events of its own, downtown Albuquerque hosts the annual Grecian Festival in October. From dance lessons to food tastings, fine art and craft items, this is a great outdoor event sure to bring a smile.

The cost of living in Paradise Hills Civic lies slightly higher than the Albuquerque average as well as the national average. An average 1-bedroom dwelling rents for approximately $787 per month.

It costs $1 to get from Paradise Hills Civic to Albuquerque via bus. A beer in a local pub will run you around $4 to $5, and gas prices sit around 16 percent lower than the national average.

Paradise Hills Civic doesn't support much in the way of shopping and has no high-end or luxury shopping. The nearest stores are closer to neighboring Rio Rancho and include a Wal-Mart, Target, Costco and various others within the Cottonwood Mall.

If you're a hobbyist searching for the latest in remote control cars, planes and helicopters, travel just beyond the neighborhood to find Hobby Proz. Located on Wyoming Avenue in the uptown area, Hobby Proz offers everything from small-scale model kits to crafting and stamping supplies. Locals rave over the wide selection of inventory, and the friendly and knowledgeable staff is available to answer questions and make recommendations.

In Albuquerque, check out Mix for women's clothing, accessories, shoes and plenty of pretty jewelry to make any outfit a little more special. Residents say it's worth the drive into the city to find something unique to wear on a date, or for a special occasion.

Nearby 2 Time Couture carries all kinds of famous brand-name clothing items for women, in gently used condition. Regulars drop by to see what new items have been brought in for sale or to sell their own items for store credit. Renewing your wardrobe has never been so inexpensive.

Paradise Hills Civic's grocery options are somewhat limited by its outlying location. Most of your choices in this area are convenience stores, such as Allsup's. However, you'll also find Smith's, a regional chain grocer with produce, baked goods, a deli section, movie rentals and prescription renewals. Natural Grocers also has a store nearby with produce, healthy groceries and supplements.

The Los Ranchos Growers Market provides the neighborhood's closest farmers market. Residents travel here for the seasonal fresh produce, as well as the jams and jellies, honey, dried flowers, and herbs, along with plenty of prepared foods, such as burritos, pastries and coffee.