Lava Rock Brewing Company – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Mark Twain, who quit school at age twelve after having completed the sixth grade, would go on to be widely acknowledged as the father of American literature. Despite being largely self-taught--valedictorian of the school of hard knocks and salutatorian of street smarts--Twain acknowledged … Continue reading →

Duran’s Central Pharmacy – Albuquerque, New Mexico

In an early episode of the Andy Griffith Show, while contemplating a job offer in South America, Andy tried to assuage his son Opie's concerns about leaving Mayberry. Instead, he wound up confusing Opie by explaining that people in South America ate something called tortillas. Opie wondered … Continue reading →

Il Vicino – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Undoubtedly the most oft-quoted line on Robert Frost's poem "Mending Wall" is "good fences make good neighbors." Frost, a four-time Pulitzer Prize award winning American poet certainly didn't have Il Vicino ("the neighbor") in mind when he penned his prose. Fortunately fences are no … Continue reading →

The Grill – Albuquerque, New Mexico

“I'm not telling you, 'Never eat a hamburger.' Just eat the good ones with real beef, you know, like the ones from that mom-and-pop diner down the street, ... And it's so good that when you take a bite out of that burger, you just know somewhere in the world a vegan is crying.” - … Continue reading →

The Shop Breakfast & Lunch – Albuquerque, New Mexico

In the 60s and early 70s, movies and television programs would have you believe all spies were hard-drinking, fast-driving, woman-chasing playboys as good with their fists as they were with a gun. They were worldly, sophisticated and charming, but could just as easily use guile and … Continue reading →