Trystan's Profile

It ain't Ojo Caliente, but even though it's located off a highway, it's not bad. Actually, all I can really remember is how good my girlfriend looked naked in the private tub. She felt really good, too... Private is private!

The signature Albuquerque coffee shop/restaurant with cafes in Nob Hill, Downtown, North Valley, Corrales and more. Distinctive interior and graphic design and an impressive menu with an array of stellar coffee drinks make the Flying Star Cafe chain a must-visit destination. Albuquerque boasts many coffee shops but none can compete with the offerings here. Free internet, a wide selection of magazines, and a dozen outstanding desserts keep the Flying Star locations brewing with activity---take a business lunch or meet friends over coffee.

Kelly's is a super gay friendly pub with the best urban patio in ABQ. Attractive sunbrellas, a waterfall and beautiful plantings accent the space which provides the setting for the friendliest crowds in town. Great menu choices, mainly a mix of Irish, Italian and American dishes at reasonable prices offer something for everyone. Kelly's hosts a variety of events, many for the LGBT community, and the atmosphere is always welcoming unlike O'Neill's which is several blocks west of Kelly's on Central.

Page 1 has no peers! The shelves here are stocked with a vast selection of used books on almost all subjects. By far the best independent book shop in Albuquerque with unique collections that include ephemera, Southwest authors and rare literary journals. The number and diversity of titles rival and exceed those of behemoths B&N and Borders. Page 1 still pays out cash for books, but you might as well take the trade credit because the cash rate is pennies on the dollar.

Bird Song has a great drama collection and interesting books in most other categories at decent prices. Located on Central Avenue just west of Nob Hill, the shop has a funky vibe that reflects the neighborhood. One of only 4 or 5 book stores that still pay cash for books and at a fair rate.

The Social Club is the exact center of the Q's gay scene. Exhale, its closest competition, is a far distant second. With the demise of numerous lesbian and gay clubs in ABQ during 2008/09, the ASC is the only national grade, undeniably fabulous venue we can still call our own. The music, the entertainment and the crowds are consistently the best. BTW: The Dolls are the heart of the Queer scene here, especially Patti Roxx.

Describing this club as glamorous is ridiculous. Exhale has no real interior design, needs a new back deck, the bar is too small and is certainly not stylish or sophisticated in any sense of that word, and the whole place smells like mold. The food is horrible, like a high school cafeteria menu, and the DJs seem to enjoy crappy, outdated music. I hope someone is planning to open a REAL upscale, not necessarily pricey, lesbian club, that caters to women who enjoy good food, good conversation and attractive, tasteful design.