Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
262
Vortex Theatre
A 35-year-old community theater known for its innovative pro-
ductions, the Vortex is Albuquerque's “Off-Broadway” theater, presenting a range of plays
from classics to originals. You'll see such plays as
I Hate Hamlet,
by Paul Rudnik, and
Death & the Maiden,
by Ariel Dorfman. Performances take place on Friday and Saturday
at 8pm and on Sunday at 6pm. The black-box theater seats 90.
2004
1
/
2
Central Ave. SE.
&
505/247-8600.
www.vortexabq.org. All tickets $12.
THE CLUB & MUSIC SCENE
Comedy Clubs/Dinner Theater
Laffs Comedy Cafe
This club offers top acts from each coast, including comedians
who have appeared on
The Late Show with David Letterman
and HBO. Shows Wednes-
day through Sunday nights.
San Mateo Blvd. and Osuna Rd., in the Fiesta del Norte Shopping
Center.
&
505/296-5653.
www.laffscomedy.com. $8 per person, with a 2-item minimum pur-
chase. Call for showtimes.
Mystery Cafe
Finds
If you're in the mood for a little interactive dinner theater,
the Mystery Cafe might be just the ticket. You'll help the characters in this ever-popular,
delightfully funny show solve the mystery as they serve you a four-course meal. Reserva-
tions are a must. Performances Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30pm; doors open at
7pm.
P.O. Box 11433. Performances held at Sheraton Uptown (at Menaul Blvd. and Louisiana
Blvd.).
&
505/237-1385.
www.abqmystery.com. Approximately $38, plus tip.
Rock/Jazz
Burt's Tiki Lounge
This club won the weekly paper
Alibi's
award for the best variety
of drinks. The club offers live music Thursday to Sunday and charges no cover.
313 Gold
Ave.
&
505/247-2878.
www.burtstikilounge.com.
Kelly's BYOB
Near the university, Kelly's is a local brewpub, set in a renovated auto-
body shop. The place has tasty pub fare, excellent brew specials, and live music for special
events.
3222 Central SE.
&
505/262-2739.
www.kellysbrewpub.com.
Martini Grille
On the eastern side of the Nob Hill district, this is the place for
young professionals and the gay crowd, who lush out on more than 30 flavors of martinis
within a seductive Batman cave atmosphere. Live entertainment plays most weekends
and some weeknights.
4200 Central SE.
&
505/255-4111.
Q Bar
With sophisticated decor—lots of plush couches and comfy chairs in muted
tones—this lounge in the Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town offers innovative cuisine, jazz
piano entertainment, and media and billiards rooms.
800 Rio Grande Blvd. NW.
&
505/843-
6300.
MORE ENTERTAINMENT
Albuquerque's best nighttime attraction is the
Sandia Peak Tramway,
from which you
can enjoy a view nonpareil of the Rio Grande Valley and the city lights.
Many travelers like to include a little dice-throw and slot-machine play in their trip to
New Mexico. Those who do are in luck, with the expansive
Sandia Resort & Casino,
north of I-25 and a quarter-mile east on Tramway Boulevard (
&
800/526-9366;
www.
sandiacasino.com). The $80-million structure sits on Sandia Pueblo land and has out-
standing views of the Sandia Mountains. Built in pueblo architectural style, the graceful
casino has a 3,650-seat outdoor amphitheater, three restaurants (one,
Bien Shur,
has
excellent food), a lounge, more than 1,800 slot and video poker machines, the largest
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