Breaking Bad



 

I’m going to preface this by saying that it took me moving to New Mexico to start watching Breaking Bad. So, almost 10 years after the finale is when I was first introduced to Walter White and Jesse Pinkman. Like a lot of other people, I was instantly hooked, and a little sad when I finished the series. But the great thing about living in New Mexico is that I can live Breaking Bad every day. The legacy of this show in Albuquerque is still alive today, and this show is still just as relevant today as it was a decade ago. 

On top of the fact that people visiting Albuquerque will visit the filming locations there are also businesses in Old Town that keep the spirit of Walter White alive. Most fans of the show are familiar with the Candy Lady who made the blue meth during the series. But did you know that as soon as you walk into her shop there is a tray of blue candy along with cutouts of Walter and Jesse making for a great photo op? In addition, they still sell that famous blue candy in Breaking Bad glassware. On the other side of the plaza is the Breaking Bad store which features not only great merchandise about the series, but also a fun little museum full of great selfie moments. This place is great as it allows guests to sit on the bench advertising Saul, walk up to the counter at Los Pollos Hermanos, sit in the wheelchair with the Salamanca twins, plus much more. Also, depending on the day you can still see the RV driving around the city taking fans on the official Breaking Bad Tour. 

But if there is one thing that shows the impact that Breaking Bad has had on Albuquerque it lies in the Convention Center in the form of bronze statues. Show creator Vince Gilligan purchased them and gifted them to the city, and now Walter and Jesse are forever immortalized. While it was a controversial issue due to the nature of this show, the positives of it are great, and I was lucky enough to be able to see these statues in person. They are great, and if possible, I would highly recommend trying to see them, although it can be difficult to get into the Convention Center. While shops, merchandise, and statues are one thing I was amazed earlier this year when Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul made an appearance at an Isotopes game to promote their new mezcal. It was the largest crowd in all Minor League Baseball this past season, and the standing ovation that these two actors got was loud, long, and just crazy to experience. It truly shows that even though the show is no longer on the air, the memory and love of these characters is still going strong. Also, let’s not forget the plaque memorializing Walter White in Los Ranchos.

As I said in the introduction to this piece it took me moving down here to truly understand the show and get why it was such a big deal. But now I can say that I totally get it. I have visited some and will visit more of the filming locations. I went out of my way to see the statues, I went to the shop, the Candy Lady, and went to the baseball game to see the actors in person. For me the love of Walter and Jesse is the equivalent to other cities loving and memorializing their iconic professional athletes and wanting to remember their legacy. Albuquerque doesn’t have major professional sports, but it has and always will have Breaking Bad and that means a lot to this city. I’m glad I now get it and have gotten to experience it myself. 

To see photos of my adventures check out my Instagram @the_nm_tx
To support my adventures and see exclusive content check out www.patreon.com/thenmtx

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tap N Taco

Image
  When I first made the decision to move down here there were several things I was excited about. But near the top of the list was food, and to be more specific the great Mexican food. So how lucky was I to discover a place in Rio Rancho that not only serves great tacos, but also quesadillas, and has a great bar on the inside serving specialty cocktails, and craft beer? The answer is very lucky, and with a great variety to choose from at very affordable prices one of the great taco places I’ve tried is Tap N Taco. Located on Highway 528 in an old fast-food restaurant this place is worth seeking out. There is ample seating on the inside, as well as a beautiful outdoor patio with picnic tables for those beautiful New Mexico days. All the food is prepared right in front of you as you order, and the prices are all the same. $2.00 tacos, $6.00 quesadillas, and $7.00 baked potatoes/French fries. There are also five different proteins to choose from including al pastor, barbacoa, carne ...
Read more

Steel Bender Brewyard

Image
  New Mexico is a state that like many others loves their craft beer, and the variety of places to go continues to grow. Not only do a lot of these breweries produce a variety of high-quality beers, but also high-quality foods. One of the first places I discovered in Albuquerque was actually in Los Ranchos where if you blink you will drive right by it. But keep an eye out because it is totally worth the visit for a bite or pint. Of course, the I am talking about Steel Bender Brewyard, a brewery that embodies a strong sense of the community around them. When you first drive up you find yourself in disbelief of how large this building is. With the massive branded silo that lets you know you found the right place. The inside is just as big with its large bar, and ample seating, but the place to sit is on its patio. With small tables for intimate groups, or large picnic tables for big groups the patio is far enough back that the traffic isn’t a bother, and guests can relax with a pin...
Read more

New Food Trucks

Image
  The past few weeks have been a great time to be a food lover in and around Albuquerque. We have been lucky enough to have 2 great new food trucks open, and both are unique with what they are offering. Even more lucky for me is that I have been able to try both and was very impressed by both. Love at First Slice: If there is one food I have been missing since I moved down here it is a good pizza. While I have had some good ones, there is always room for another good one. Thankfully Love at First Slice makes a great pizza, that is also wood fired. While the menu is extensive, and in addition to pizza they also offer wood-fired sandwiches, I opted for pizza. I went simple, but also ordered one of my favorites and ordered the Margherita. It was a delicious pizza that had so many great flavors going on. The crust was slightly charred, the cheese melted perfectly, and the tomatoes and basil added a great bite of freshness. I was very happy with my order and can’t wait to explore mor...
Read more