Tim Blair

You're on the internet while you're driving???

Nob Hill is about the best Albuquerque has to offer. It is a real nice city, the mountains are beautiful, but the nightlife is, well, not much. If I can get back in time, I'm in for a meet up for sure. No way I'd miss an opportunity to have a beer with you if I could possibly do it.

- Brian
Tomfoolery of the Highest Order

Could be off topic but I would like to know if the three year old's death, on a John Kerry mission was falsified,in his reports.Any help?Was it even real,the mission,the death.Im nearly on Earth,passing Neptune.Wow its big!

Yeah, Nob Hill and downtown all along Central ave(? it's been about 3 years since I lived there). I remember a really good blues club called Club Rythem and Blues. Burt's Tiki Lounge has been out of business sadly for a while. There was a cool bar out on Paseo, some kind of German castle theme. Can't remember the name of it, I just remember they had "bikini top Wednesday" for the waitresses during the summer.

I've got more info about eating in Santa Fe.

The best places to eat in Albuquerque are in Santa Fe. Trust me. Drive the hour or so north and have the green chile smothered New York strip. You'll drive all the way to West Texas to thank me.

***Addendum***

Should have added....."at The Pink Adobe".

O'Neills on Central Avenue. Good food, lots of beer, lively crowd.

The Blue Spruce! ..Oh,wait, the city closed it after all those murders. A Mi Gusto! oh yeah, ditto. Well, O'Niels wont get ya killed, but mebbe fernified.

"There was a cool bar out on Paseo, some kind of German castle theme. Can't remember the name of it"

Stoneface Tavern. Good bar.

O'Neill's or Kelley's in Nob Hill for reasonably swillable beer (the best beer in the state is to be found 220 miles south in Las Cruces).

Though not local to Nob Hill, decent New Mexican food can be got at Sadie's or (arguably) Garduno's. However if you are limited to Nob Hill, try Yanni's for decent sort-of Greek up-scale eats.

The only reason to go to Santa Fe is to dine on food that out-of-staters consider authentic New Mexican and to notice how there are no native New Mexicans left in Santa Fe that aren't waiting on tables or washing dishes.

Don't get me wrong, the food is pretty good in Santa Fe, but you can find more authentic stuff in 'Burque if you ask around.

Blair tells me in an email that someone of limited mobility wants to meet him in the Nob Hill area. So that's that. Hashed out, once and for all:

Kelly's it is.

I (Reese) will be there beginning about 5:00 pm MDT.
3200 (or so) Central S.E.
That's on the south side of the street about two miles east of I-25. There's a patio, a restaurant area and a bar area. On the patio you can watch UNM freaks walk by. The place is an old gas station, looks like a Texaco at first glance. Here's a picture (bottom photo):
link

O'Niel's is right across the street, if Kelly's turns out unsatisfactory. Also, a block or two away is the Monte Vista Fire Station.

But for now, command decision: Kelly's it is.

I don't know what Blair looks like, but I'm a 40 yr old 6' skinny white guy with glasses, wearing blue jeans (I may change into shorts) and a dark blue pinstriped shirt. I'll be drinking a pint of draft domestic, or an Anchor Steam, if they have it.

Reese,
I and my wife will be joining, you cant miss me 6'4"
270 pounds. We will try to meet you about 5 pm

Mark in Cruces,

There's lots of authentic New Mexican places in Santa Fe. They just aren't all on the plaza. Tia Sophias and The Shed come to mind. There used to be a Mexican chicken shack off of Cerillos but I think it got closed down by the health department :(

Sadie's has awesome chilles. You've got to eat a breakfast burrito at Dos Hermanos too. They're as big as a pit bull puppy!

I’ll be in the Waterfront Booze Pit from about 8 o’clock.

I’m 6 foot 5, with an eye patch and a duelling scar on my left cheek. I’ll be wearing an old raincoat with my penis exposed. Come and say hello.

Sorry for the change of subject, but I want to congratulate Ian Thorpe and Australia for beating Mike Phelps. This is one race that might be worth watching tonight.

If at all possible, try not to leave the state without trying the carnitas. In my general experience it's usually reliably tuned to the chile-loving locals rather than neutered for the benefit of weak-tongued imports and tourists.

There is a very good, southwestern restaurant on the square in Old Town, I just can't remember the name. I either go there or Rancho de Chimayo (or both) when I go home (I have lived in CT for 20 years, but I am still from NM).

No one's going to tell Tim about Horseman's Haven in Santa Fe?

(Cerillos Road, Tim. Ask a local for directions)

Santa Fe is a traffic-clogged, tourist trap theme park; forget it. In Albuq, good cheap Mexican eats at Mi Casita, now moved to Central near Eubank. Best bet is to go to one of the bars mentioned and ask a few people where they like to eat. The stone place mentioned above is a block N of Paseo at I-25, behind Calibers shooting range; usually some Harleys parked out front. You can rent all kinds of guns in Calibers and blast away to your heart's content; with luck it might be machine gun night.

Damn Ned, the Blue Spruce? We used to go there when I was a teenager because they were known for never carding. Same with the Paloma on South Broadway.

I'm bumming right now. I've been having a chile jones for two weeks (because of the time of year)and now all this talk of New Mexico food. Also, Padilla's on Girard & Indian School is really good. They have the best rellenos. Take a giant green chile, fill it with cheese, fry it. Genius!

OK, you're going from OKC to Memphis, which means that you'll be pasing a mere stones throw from Fayetteville, AR.

We won't read your blog for a week if you don't stop and have a beer!

An aid to spotting Tim in bars on his Stateside travels: Emmanuelle has photos here: http://www.emmanuelle.net.

I can't believe all the fucking idiots posting here who write things like:

There's an awesome restaraunt you have to eat at. I don't remember the name of the place, but it's kind of like near downtown, or maybe that was Nob Hill, but it was definitely in Albuquerque. Or maybe Santa Fe, but definitely in New Mexico. Or maybe Texas.

OR

The best place to eat at is XXX. Unfortunately, it went out of business 3 years ago.

I once ate at this awesome resturant that you should look for. I can't remember what I ordered, but I do remember that they served my meal on a plate.

Definitely worth checking out.

I got a voice-mail from Mr. Blair from Moab, UT at 4:46 PM MDT. That's a good four hours from AlbuCrikey, so I estimate his arrival at something like 9:00 PM. Maybe 10:00 PM, considering all the advice he got about speeding through Indian land.

That's later than I could afford to wait, but 6'4" Rio Rancho resident Brent, his lovely wife and I tipped a couple at Kelly's ca. 5:00 PM and made fun of Blair's accent.

Tim, "mate," if you're still going to stop at Kelly's, there's a fairly decent-looking motel right next to it, The Riteway Inn or some such. You can have all the brew you want, and then stagger across the parking lot to your room. Kelly's was hopping (esp. for a Monday) as of about 6:00 tonight.

Sorry I missed you, as I have your Albuquerque souvenir-- an Isotopes hat. If you're gonna have breakfast (sounds like you're a 10:00 AM guy), maybe I can steal away from work long enough to get it to you. People will recommend highly the Frontier Restaurant about a half mile west of Kelly's/ Riteway.

Crikey! David Crawford and Sortelli are right, though Crawford’s a little rude in making his point. Look at the schedule, and realize Blair’s hightailing it across the country. No time for getting touristy. That’s a shame, because he could have seen some amazing stuff along the way. (National Atomic Museum, High Finance at the top of Sandia Crest via the tram, Santa Fe’s “unusual” waiters, etc.)

Like Lileks or someone said, “This country is huge!” (maybe in his Olive Garden Screed) with things to see and do within an hour of every economy-laden interstate. SLCABQOKCetc. This is hightailing. One should keep suggestions to something visible from the interstate at 80 mph or a stone’s throw from an overnight motel.

I hope your driving during the day, New Mexico is beautiful. Oh, and find yourself a copy of Paul Simon's Graceland and play the title track as Memphis comes into view. And I'll be disappointed if the Professor doesn't loan you the RX-8 to try out in the mountains near Knoxville. I need another review since I'm thinking of geting one.

Just got a call from the subject traveller. He's in a "toine coilled Groints." (A town called Grants). That puts him an hour or 90 min away from Kelly's. He plans to have a beer or three there before crashing at a suggested Mother Road motel.

Drap Ho: Jeez it's quiet here today.

If you're offering to leave, we cheerfully and gratefully accept the gift of your absence!

Crikey! David Crawford and Sortelli are right, though Crawford’s a little rude in making his point.

What? I was serious. They served good food at that restaraunt with the plates. :)

Sorry, that's Hiway House, not Riteway Inn. Hey, they rhime. There are so
many motels on Central (old 66) that they all blend together. But yes it's
right next to Kelly's.

And I called them. They have rooms, and they're expecting you about 10:15 PM.

The Frontier is mentioned in "Roadfood" too, though when I mentioned as much to the husband, the former UNM student, he recoiled with the same abject horror he would if I'd told him I planned to join the Kerry campaign team. So: edible burgers served very quickly, but the place is filthy as of the last few years, at least according to him.

LabRat is right again... I said "people" would recommend the Frontier. Personally, I never cared for it, though I spent several years in its vicinity (I'm also a UNM grad, like Mr. LabRat).

And as I said, Sortelli was right. Apparently, Sortelli is also SERIOUS. Disturbing.

Serious, moi? Mais non!

Seriously disturbing, maybe, but never serious!

"What? I was serious," Sortelli says.
Then, Sortelli says, "Serious, moi? Mais non!"
("Serious, me? Puhlease!")

Disturbing. Like a certain Senator.

If cell-hell doesn't intervene, I'll have coffee with the host tomorrow. I was right, he's a 10:00 AM kind of traveller. My parents trained me to set out for OKC at 4:00 AM, if we were going points east, with a doughnut break near Tucumcari if we were lucky. He's looking forward to 80+ mph tomorrow, after snaking over the Rockies at less than breakneck speeds.

Oh, but what scenery he has seen. Wait 'til he sees the Texas panhandle.

Reese - Yeah, I even speak in high-school french! I mean, nuance!

Dude, you left laundry in the clothes dryer: socks, Cap 'n Cork t-shirt, lingerie, etc. E-mail me the NYC address if you want it shipped out tomorrow.

We just finished all that BBQ. Jeebus God, that was tasty stuff.

And as much as you hate the Olympics, yr people are Winning Big. That 200m swim race was actually exciting.

I'm the "person of limited mobility" and I got an e-mail from the man himself who had been expecting to arrive at Il Vicino between 6-8 pm. I waited (not without the consolation of food and drink) for two and a half hours but no visitor from Oz. And I owed him a drink.

[Off-topic material removed by The Management.]

Okay, I have removed every single off-topic post (those of the trolls and the people who replied to them), as well as banned the IPs of the two no-life trolls who posted here. If there is anyone who has anything to say that does NOT pertain to the topic of this post -- which is telling Tim the name of a certain bar in wherever it is he is in New Mexico, kindly restrain yourselves and DON'T post it, because it will VANISH.

You missed one, Andrea.

Troll called Gianna left one on the doorstep at 11.11 am, rang the bell and pissed off.

Don't stomp on the leavings.

Thank you, Pedro -- I missed that one. I also banned her IP, because if she's going to be childish, she can do it someplace else.

Just to repeat: if anyone here has some beef with some political figure or point, kindly insert that beef into the PROPER POST'S COMMENT THREAD. You all DO know how to scroll, don't you?

Tim,

I just drove the I-40 stretch from Oklahoma City to Albuquerque on Sunday. There is no digital cell phone service (for ATT and T-Mobile, anyway) from Albuquerque to the Texas border. There is analog service if your phone has dual mode, but it is a bit spotty.

Also, the NM Highway Patrol was out in force on Sunday, don't know if it will be today or later this week. They were the only cops I saw on I-40, so if you're a serious leadfoot, watch your speed until you get to Texas. The speed limit is 75, so I had no problem with it.

There is some construction going on by highway interchanges with a reduced speed limit of 45, so be prepared for that.

Great scenery. Good luck!

Tim,
Be sure you brush up on Oklahoma regulations for selling beer and other beverages. From what I recall it can vary from stores to restaurants. Liquor stores can't sell it cold, only 3.2, that sort of thing. Generic liquor store signs that you really have to look for.
Don't forget the Cadillac Ranch at Amarillo as you blaze past on I-40. Or get real touristy and try to eat the humongous steak meal at Big Tex (if you do, it's free). It might set you back some time as you take a nap to try to let it digest.

Sorta wierd...I will be in ABQ this week as well...has everyone left Sydney? Did they think the Olympics were in steak & kidney again this year?

I hear the Tortilla Factory is the place to be...not open for lunch

Just met Blair at an Albuquerque Kinko's where he is filing a story. I'm afraid he'll finish his all too brief visit with a bad impression of this town, based on hideous experiences at his motel and Sonny's Bar and Grill.

He's probably still there, so gods know when he'll get to OKC.

Yeah, like so many people get a good impression of Albuquerque.

Too bad we can't delete the trolls along with their posts.

"More Carpism" has rhymed his moan and a bitch
but, still, there's no cred in his poetic kitsch
Says, if you're pro US you're a damn traitor
when all he is is an American hater
Thinks, going with France and Russia is better
that it makes Aussies "true", down to the letter
John Howard has a different version of Aussie
his countrymen have grit, decency and moxie
His Australia has fought to free people of color
giving them hope from torture and squalor
It's fighting the good fight, against fascist forces
in another world-war against apocalypse horses
Still, we'll always have shirkers, Leftists and loonies
be they Aussies or Yanks, Euros or Sunnis
Tim Blair has a duty to poke fun at your kind
on paper and blog, over lunch and fine wine
His writing is brilliant, insightful and droll
(he's paying me to say that to his bard troll)
In closing and conclusion you need to pay heed
the moral to know will be in caps and a screed:
Ditties like this are loathsome and corny
so, DON'T TRY AGAIN WRITING POLITICAL PORNY!

My poem was awesome and I worked on it REALLY hard!!! Can't someone respond to it? HAH! NO! YOU can't argue with its FACTS. But I would like the people I've named to respond to me, please, because I'm kinda lonely and you've put me down in the past. I really just want to be friends.

CAN'T YOU SEE THIS IS A CRY FOR HELP?

DAMN! It's like those poor Palestinians, they blow up buses because they need HELP, dammit and what do those evil Likudniks do in response? BUILD A FREAKING WALL.

Tear down the walls, people!

Whoah, what the hell happened to this thread? Trolls galore.

Here, look, I will even get the debate started for you people! Let's outline:

1) I am a fucking nitwit desperate for attention.
2) DESPERATE.
3) Years ago Howard said something about some stuff. Those of us on the other side of the political spectrum were all like "COME ON! FUCKER! FUCK YOU!"
4) Now, with an election pending, and Labor unable to find any traction on current issues, this guy comes out and says "Oh, fuck yeah! You know it! You know it!" and we're all like "FUCK YEAH!"
5) We might be able to use this baldly political ploy to unseat Jim Howard!!!
6) Even better, I might be able to embarass Tim Blair with it while he is busy enjoying life in ways I am unable to! I AM SO AWESOME!

Can I get a Hell Yeah, Jeremy?

Jeremy: "Hell yeah, Darp! You are so awesome!"

Now that was pretty good! You made a few tiny mistakes, though, for example, I did not actually call for the death of all Jews... just Zionists. And not even that. I just think the Palestinians should have a state, and that state should be where Israel used to be.

But furthermore, I thought this up in 10 minutes, not 15, because 20 minutes would have been too much time to spend on a post like this for a guy who is as smart as me.

And I am totally not checking this thread every two minutes to see if people are paying attention to me yet.

PS Ha ha ha! I fooled you, it's JOHN Howard not JIM. Stupid USA people.

But whoever Jim Howard is, he needs to be unseated, and his seat returned to the Palestinians.

When a child starts chucking fits demanding a lollypop your only encouraging them by giving in.

Who'd have thought it would take a freakin' roadtrip by Tim to really drive the likes of Jeremy and Darp over the edge. I guess it got a bit lonely over on their unviewed-by-most blogs now that Tim isn't posting anything here for them to be perpetually indignant over.

I'll point it out again - everý time you losers go all lookatmetrollthisforumain'tIgreat, you're driving another five lurkers toward voting for Bush or Howard when they next get the chance. Great going guys, the rest of the Left must be so proud to have you kids on the team.

I'll point it out again - everý time you losers go all lookatmetrollthisforumain'tIgreat, you're driving another five lurkers toward voting for Bush or Howard when they next get the chance.

Yes, but the far more crucial question is: Will he convince people to shave their balls? Obviously an important facet of the political process.

I love tim. I want to bear his children.

[This comment has been translated into its true meaning by The Management.]

No lollypop for you Jeremy.