AN UNDERGROUND GUIDE TO ALBURQUERQUE

If you're in the ABQ-area, you might have seen An Underground Guide to Alburquerque. It's an annual publication dedicated to helping people visiting, moving to, and living in Albuquerque. The reviews are often hilariously honest, and written by anyone who's patronized a given business 3+ times. The book, while hard to come by (we did say it's underground), is often an experimental production, using unusual papers and materials as relevant. ABQ team members Adam and Daniel act as publisher/designer/editor and house photographer, respectively.


The Guide relaunched their website last month, dramatically increasing access to reviews and offering new photography to help consumers find and bond with local establishments. The staff were beyond excited to involve Daniel, as he brings high production values with his contagious enthusiasm, and it was easy to see how great photography would benefit business and consumer alike. Says co-founder Eric Bodwell, "Daniel captures the sense of a place, which is what we try to do with every review. We want you to feel like you've already eaten there by the time you go in." There's no denying reviews aided by Daniel's lens.


Adam, meanwhile, has had a hand in every review since co-founding the Guide in 2005. He finds it keeps his editing skills sharp, stripping the unnecessary to find precisely the flavors and details in other people's words. He thinks the site is raising the bar – not just for the book, but for all offerings in the genre: "Our writers (you could be one!) and photographer bring astonishing depth to more hole-in-the-walls than anything I've ever seen in a city guide, be it print or online."

New reviews are added weekly.