Down Town Albuquerque came into existence when the railroad bypassed Old Town. The town formed near the tracks in the 1880s, and was called New Town at the time. When I was a kid in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Down Town was business/shopping center of the town, and the place where all the actions was. In the 1970s and early 1980s Down Town was busy with people working in various city, county and federal offices located there. I would often drive through Down Town at night on my way home and find it deserted, except for few homeless folks. In the 90s, clubs and restaurants opened, and now as I drive through Down Town at night it is full of young people. During the weekend in the summer, the downtown area comes alive with concerts & Albuquerque's Summerfests.

Down Town is another favorite area of mine for strolling. This photo is taken at 3RD Street & Central Avenue. Central Avenue is part of the original Route 66.

The Kimo Theater (above) and the Sunshine Theater (below) originally were movie theaters built in the 1920s. I use to come to Albuquerque from my home in Santa Fe to see movies at these theaters when I was a kid. These days the Kimo is a Theater/Music Hall and the Sunshine is a Club. I've heard folks like Arlo Gutherie, Canned Heat, Bo Diddley, Leon Redbone among others at these theaters.

This is a parking lot across from the Sunshine Theater at 2ND Street and Central Avenue