Martineztown

A complicated neighborhood with a fascinating history, Martineztown was once an agricultural area farmed by settlers who made Old Town Albuquerque’s first city center. Over many years it has seen a variety of developments and zoning changes, making it a mixture of businesses, residential and government structures. A few highlights, in my limited experience, include the Santa Barbara-​Martinez Park, which features an incredible sculpture and always seems to be brimming with local kids playing soccer and the like; Taqueria Mexico, some of the absolute best Mexican bites in town (good luck finding a seat); and the Vietnam veterans memorial park, a nice space for a mid-​day picnic.
I expect this ‘hood to be one of the soon-​to-​be-​gentrified, but still-​undiscovered-​by-​yuppies places in town. It’s got everything a modern day metrosexual could want as far as location goes, and the land plots are really fascinating, with views of downtown and the mountains. And let’s hope that doesn’t happen anytime soon, because the families living here are really established, old blood, which provides a character and personality to the very air you breathe.
A few new restaurants/​businesses/​brew pubs wouldn’t hurt, though. New beer. I’m always an advocate of new beer. That sounds about right.