Tag: Los Alamos Real Estate Market (Page 5 of 12)

With the new Oppenheimer film releasing on July 20, 2023, I thought it might be interesting to take a look back at the rather large number of films that have been shot here in Los Alamos. Since the filming of Oppenheimer was so recent, most of us can recall the excitement of having movies crews, staging equipment, actors, and other film personnel hanging about town. But this isn’t the only large scale film to be shot here, nor were Matt Damon and Robert Downey Jr the “biggest” actors (of their time) who were here on location in Los Alamos.

According to IMDB stats, there are 42 films or filming projects that officially list Los Alamos in their “filming locations”. Some of these include shows like “Longmire” and half a dozen or more documentary series that were filmed here due to our connection to the Manhattan project. In 2017 most of us remember Only the Brave, which was a movie about the Granite Mountain Hotshots. But some of the other films and film projects might surprise you.

Twins

This 1988 comedy starring Arnold Schwartzenegger and Danny DeVito was wildly popular when first released. At one point in the story, the very opposite fraternal twins go in search of their “test tube” origins. They find answers in a very small building at the Los Alamos Laboratory. The building used for filming is the one once located just “beneath” the hospital that was very recently torn down to make way for the new apartments just off Trinity Dr. Residents at that time gathered to gawk at the stars. Of course, many excited fans were trying to get a look at just how “enormous” Arnold’s physique actually was in person! If you haven’t seen this film, it is a funny trip back to the late eighties. The scenes in Los Alamos are tastefully done and the scenery certainly looks genuine, even if those parts of the story were pretty minimal. And, I don’t think anyone here at LANL (or LASL) was ever involved in utilizing test tube babies to create super humans. But I suppose we’ll never know, will we?

Silkwood

This 1983 suspense drama was filmed both in Albuquerque and in Los Alamos. The plot is based on the real life story of Karen Silkwood who worked at a plutonium facility in Oklahoma and was exposed to radiation. The film starred Meryl Streep, Cher, Kurt Russell, and Craig T Nelson as well as many other well known actors. Considering the plot line, I think we can all imagine why they would use areas at LANL as sets for the plutonium facility. It’s still interesting to think that these folks were wandering around town when I was growing up here and I had no idea. But as I think back, we weren’t necessarily as up to date on films being shot on location. Our appetite for celebrity news wasn’t nearly the same in the world before social media.

The Milagro Beanfield War

Also filmed in 1988, the Milagro Beanfield War is a Robert Redford film starring heavy hitters from the time such as Richard Bradford, Christopher Walken, and Melanie Griffith. The story focuses on the difficulties with water rights in a small high desert community. A local tale from that time was that Redford’s horse wrangler was having issues with a horse being used on set up on North Mesa during filming. A local horsewoman helped out by volunteering her own gelding for filming and was thrilled to meet Robert Redford and “work” with him.

Tiger Eyes

Judy Blume’s book, Tiger Eyes, was set in Los Alamos. You can read more about that HERE. But the film adaptation made in 2012 did quite a lot of on location filming here in town. The film has quite a few deviations from the original story, but is well done and worth watching as a “coming of age” story about a teenager trying to overcome a severe family trauma. Judy Blume and her son Lawrence wrote the script together and Lawrence directed. I love this fact about the film because it means the author was able to have direct input on any changes to her original vision. Judy Blume actually lived in Los Alamos for a few years in the mid to late seventies. I wonder if it surprised her to see how much change had happened between her living here and her shooting her film here?

There are plenty more films shot here in Los Alamos. With our unique connections to history, the dramatic scenery, and in some cases the “time capsule quality” of our local flavor, it’s really no wonder we’re popular that way. The Secret City on the Hill has plenty to offer and so much character! When you’re ready to talk more about Los Alamos, give me a call! I’m your hometown real estate broker and I’d love to talk Los Alamos with you!

It’s summer, so it’s easy to think that the music scene here in Los Alamos revolves around the Gordon’s Concerts at Ashley Pond, which it does. Sort of. You can always get more info about the Summer Concert Series, but you probably have no idea just how many ways there are to get musical here in Los Alamos. And our musicality goes back a looooong way! All the way to 1944 in fact!

From Rosemary O’Connor’s history of the Los Alamos Symphony Orchestra:

During the war years Los Alamos had no organized instrumental group. The residents satisfied their musical hunger with many string quartets, piano quintets, and other such chamber groups. There was also, at that time, a very fine Jazz band which entertained the community weekly.

From January 1945 through 1946, there was a group formed under the direction of Robert Dike, a french hornist. He also wrote special scores for the instrumentation available. The group was comprised of military and civilian personnel. The funding came from the “Special Services” of the Army and was administered by Captain Hugh Martin. Some of the people who performed in this group under Bob Dike were Al and Diz Graves, Moll Flanders, Eric Jette, Robert Richtmyer, Frank Osvath, Frank Bice, Ken Jeusen, Harold Fishbein, Hermond Lacey and Don Lovelace.

Isn’t is amazing to think of the amount of trouble folks went to back then for entertainment? I sometimes feel as if they’d laugh to hear us complain about a lack of “things to do” nowadays! At one point, the Los Alamos and Santa Fe Symphony groups tried to combine to form a larger orchestra. Unfortunately, the transportation up and down “the hill” available in the fifties made that impossible. But the relationship is still strong. And the original spirit of musicians playing for the love of music as a way to share in community has continued forward into more musical organizations than you might imagine!

Los Alamos Symphony Orchestra

These days the Symphony Orchestra includes musicians that are both local and also from Santa Fe. Many of our players belong to the Santa Fe Community Orchestra as well as LASO. LASO welcomes student involvement and hosts guests conductors and soloists from all over. Each year, the Symphony Orchestra awards a scholarship to young musicians graduating from LAHS in an effort to promote music and help the community.

LASO also has a strong connection to the Los Alamos Choral Society, which has been a musical voice locally since 1944. The groups perform a joint concert at least once a year. Whether you like to play or enjoy listening, it might be time to check out the LASO schedule.

Coro de Cámara

Technically a “spin off” of the Los Alamos Choral Society, Coro de Cámara is a premier chamber chorus that performs music from a multitude of eras, styles, and conductors. Singers are from Northern New Mexico, but the group began in Los Alamos and showcases a wealth of local talent. Spots in the chorus are open to auditions and the group performs regularly throughout Santa Fe and Los Alamos.

One exciting bonus of the Santa Fe/Los Alamos relationship is the availability of Santa Fe Opera apprentices for some of the performances. The opportunity to hear and to perform with such talent is usually hard to come by in out of the way places like Los Alamos, but culture is something we do rather well in the Secret City and if you’d like to see Coro de Cámara perform, check out their website for the latest schedule.

The Hill Stompers

Did you play a band instrument for a semester or two in school? Are you looking for an awesome group of folks who just like to play music and enjoy life? Would you be surprised if I told you those two things are all that’s required for you to join the Hill Stompers?

This award winning jazz band ensemble formed in October 2000 just to have fun. They play public venues like bars and parties, participate in parades, and provide music for local events too! Even if you’re just learning an instrument for the first time, you can find a spot in the Hill Stompers.

Los Alamos Community Winds

As I mentioned above, there is a long history of musical ensemble groups here in Los Alamos. As Rosemary O’Connor’s history of the Symphony Orchestra reminds us, many of those original groups were blends of military and civilian musicians who just wanted to play! The Los Alamos Community Winds dates back to those groups from the 1940’s as well!

For those of you who grew up playing in the elementary, middle school, and high school bands, you probably remember Mr. McDonald. Jan McDonald was a conductor in the 70s, 80s, & 90s who often invited students to join the Los Alamos Concert Band. Under his direction, the group played civic concerts during the summer, especially at the Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration. The Community Winds group is the continuation of that tradition. Musicians and music lovers from our local area are invited to join the Community Winds as a player or as an enthusiast! Check their news page for the latest concert information or to find out how to be involved!

I hope you’ve been bookmarking websites and planning your social calendar for the next several months as I run through the amazing list of things to do, see, and experience here in Los Alamos. Whether you’re buying or selling real estate or just chatting about this amazing place we call home, give me a call! I’d love to talk to you!

Summer is here. School is done this week. Graduation is upon us. And the best part of summer is beginning! The Los Alamos Free Concert Series opens on May 26, with Billy Bob Thornton & the Boxmasters.

Why You Should Go

I suppose it’s possible to live here in Los Alamos and be unaware of the Los Alamos Concert Series going on at Ashley Pond each Friday. However, for many of you, knowing the concerts are available isn’t necessarily incentive to go. I get that. The crowd is sometimes enormous and it could easily seem overwhelming. But as we kick off this summer’s series, I’d like to give you a few things to consider.

Our concert series has been lauded as the best free concert series in New Mexico. It runs from Friday May 26 until Friday September 1 and there are artists to fit any taste in music. Some are local and well known, some are local and unknown. Several are well known all over the world! But because this is a free concert, you don’t have to feel compelled to stick around for the whole thing. You can make your concert experience pretty much whatever you’d like.

Even If You Don’t Like Crowds

Don’t want to squeeze yourself onto the lawn in front of the pavilion? No problem! Utilize the free shuttle service and eliminate the need to park at all. Or park several blocks away or more and walk to the pond. Wave to your friends and neighbors, get a crazy awesome view of the crowd at twilight from the steps in front of the Justice Center. Listen to the music as you wander through the garden behind Fuller Lodge. Find a slice of the concert atmosphere pretty much anywhere in the downtown area on Friday nights. Part of the charm here in Los Alamos is the option to enjoy the entertainment in a way that works for you.

A Snack For Everyone

Food trucks are a novelty that has resonated with plenty of us these days. And there’s no doubt that the amount and variety of food trucks is almost incentive enough to pop by the pond on a Friday night. Local favorite Senor Tortas got their start in a food truck and they often still make an appearance on Friday nights. Snow cones, slushies, cotton candy, and other carnival style faves are available too. Whether you want dinner or just dessert, you can find something amazing. And that while your kids bounce themselves silly in the bouncy houses and run wild across the lawn like kids are supposed to do!

Something you may not realize is that the Youth Activity Center located in the Community Center basement is open during the concerts. The YAC will be in their parking lot offering treats like popcorn, candy, sodas, slushies, and even cotton candy. The proceeds all go back into free community programs for the YAC and the inside snack bar is available for taquitos, personal pizzas, and other regular menu items. The YAC even offers the opportunity to whip out the credit card for Square payments and their menu is priced significantly lower than many other available options.

On a semi-related side note, the YAC staff would like to remind the local public that if you’re enjoying a jaunt around the pond anytime during operating hours, they’d be happy to sell you a beverage at the snack bar. You don’t have to be a 3rd-8th grader to head inside and purchase a snack or a drink. So stop by during the summer to say hello!

Get Involved

Sometimes it’s easy to feel isolated up here in Los Alamos. I hear from folks all the time that there’s nothing to do and that they have difficulty finding social groups. The truth is that there are things to do all around us here in Los Alamos, but we have to get out and find those things. The summer concert series is an amazing example of that. It’s a huge local event and even if you went every week for the whole season you’d probably not run out of things to do and see!

If you’d like to step it up a notch, check out the concert’s website for job opportunities! They’re hiring everything from opening acts to social media coordinators. It could be a fantastic way to get involved with one of our amazing local traditions.

A Local Legend

A lot of folks might not realize that the Los Alamos Concert Series began as one local businessman’s attempt to bring music to Los Alamos. Russ Gordon and his family opened a record store (that sold ice cream!) in White Rock in 1988. The store eventually moved to the MariMac center in Los Alamos and the first “Gordon’s Stage” was a slapped together wood platform in the parking lot where the entire town gathered on Friday nights for a free concert. Gordon’s Concert series hosted over 500 music acts from all genres and Russ was an incredible influence on so many young people who wandered in and out of his record store over the years. With Russ’s retirement in 2017, the Los Alamos Summer Concert series became a thing, but many of us still call these events “Gordon’s Concerts” and there is a plaque on the pavilion at Ashley Pond celebrating Gordon’s contribution to the fabric of Los Alamos.

We are a tight community with tons of history and so much local flavor it might seem slightly crazy to outsiders. But we are also welcoming and eager to share our history and our amazing amenities and opportunities with everyone. So get out and enjoy the concert series this summer! And when you’re ready to join our community here in Los Alamos, give me a call! I’d love to chat Los Alamos Real Estate with you.

One of the things I love most about being in the real estate business might surprise you. Sure, the flexible hours are great. I love being able to meet new people and talk about (or brag on) a community that I really enjoy being part of. But truthfully, getting the opportunity to take a peek into other people’s living space is fascinating to me. I suppose you might call me voyeuristic, but I’m not being creepy. I’m just interested! And sometimes, being interested pays off. For example, I recently purchased two beautiful works of art a client had inherited from his grandparents. It was a crazy amazing opportunity for me and a welcome way for this client to find a new home for something he didn’t have a use for.

It might surprise you to realize that Los Alamos homes are full of unusual and often valuable trinkets and works of art. You might scoff, but I promise you it’s true. Art in particular is something we don’t necessarily realize Los Alamos does well. At the end of last year I did a post on galleries and art classes here in Los Alamos. This week I’d like to talk about two artists in particular who are famous for their love of Northern New Mexico and their artistic renderings of Southwestern culture.

Donald “Keith” Kelley

When you plan your next (or first) visit to the Smithsonian, don’t forget to seek out a photograph by the nationally and internationally acclaimed artist, Keith Kelley. I have fond memories of Keith as he lived not far from my grandmother when I was young. He was a kind man and I own several of his paintings, which I love!

Born in Illinois in 1928, Kelley moved with his wife to Los Alamos in 1949 to work at the Safeway store. He worked at the Piggly Wiggly, later Mesa Market, until he was 46 years old. It might seem so very odd that anyone would move to Los Alamos in order to manage a grocery store, but Kelley loved the Southwest. He studied Archaeology at NMSU as a young man, but when he retired, he decided to dedicate his time to painting. He’d always had a talent for oils, but was an avid photographer as well.

Kelley was the same sort of artist as he was a man: an individual. He used a combination of oils and razor blades to achieve the gorgeous works of art which reflected life in the southwest. In 2015, after Kelley’s death in September of 2011, his family donated five of his paintings to the Los Alamos Medical Center to hang in the front lobby. He often gave works of art to friends all over town, some painted during the time he was still working at the grocery store. For that reason, many of his paintings can still be found in homes all over Los Alamos.

Kelley was 82 when he passed away, but he still has family living here in Los Alamos and in other places in the United States to carry on the memory of this talented man. Kelley’s art hangs in American Embassies in Moscow, Russia and Pretoria, and South Africa. Every painting by Kelley includes a “hidden bunny”, something Kelley did deliberately to encourage viewers to enjoy his art in new and unique ways.

Secundino “Sec” Sandoval

A story folks use to tell about Sec Sandoval is that he once took a painting class and was asked to paint a nude model. When the model disrobed, Sec reportedly left the classroom and went outdoors to paint birds. The talented artist was mostly self taught and though he often sought to improve his technique, he didn’t enjoy being told what to paint.

Sandoval began drawing at the age of five, struggled in school as a young man, but ended on a high note as the captain of the football team before graduating 7th in his class at LAHS. He graduated with a BA from Adams State in Alamosa, CO and went on to be a technical illustrator for the US Army Aggressor Center in the late forties and fifties. Sandoval returned to Los Alamos and worked for the Lab for 15 yrs before retiring and devoting his time to his love of painting.

Sandoval is known for paintings of the Southwest that are so true to life that they resonate with other lovers of Southwestern culture and landscapes. Sandoval never painted while outdoors. He reportedly didn’t like the unpredictability of the weather. Instead, he took pictures and painted from those. Or, he was fond of making a sketch of a rock or a tree and then creating a painting based upon his own ideas. In the end, most of his paintings were of fictional places inspired by places and animals he saw throughout his daily life. He is best known for oils and watercolors of the aspen trees and wildlife of the Pajarito Plateau. He reportedly told one a friend that he could never get the aspens “quite right”, but that he intended to keep on trying until he did. If you’ve ever seen any of Sandoval’s paintings, you probably agree with me that he certainly got that right and so much more!

If you’d like to acquire some of these works for yourself, you might try contacting the Karen Wray Gallery. Or, you might be surprised what you find by contacting the Cricket Window and checking out some of their estate sales around town. And when you’re ready to buy or sell real estate in Los Alamos, give me a call. I’d love to talk about Los Alamos with you!

Spring is finally here and whether you’re looking to shop for some fun spring items, find a place to donate your old spring items, or swap one for the other, Los Alamos has you covered!

Casa Mesita

Casa Mesita has been here in Los Alamos for a lot longer than you might think. The thrift store is an entirely volunteer managed and run organization that supports several charitable projects. Projects range from a group home for at risk girls to providing household goods, clothing, and other goods to those in our county displaced by fire or other personal disaster. The group home first began in 1972 and the thrift store began soon after.

Casa Mesita has been located in more than one spot here in Los Alamos. In the seventies and eighties it shared space with the Performing Arts Center and the home of the Los Alamos Little Theater. Later the store moved to MariMac Plaza where we’d once had a pet store. Since September of 2020, Casa Mesita has been located at 1370-B Central Avenue just down from Subway.

The store really has a lot of interesting items to catch the eye. Even better, they welcome your donations around the back of the building. The staff asks that you call 505-662-7235 and make an appointment to drop off items.

Boomerang

In November of 2022, Boomerang celebrated it’s eighth year here in Los Alamos. The Consignment and Resale shop is located at 1247-A Central Avenue in the same building as the Los Alamos Daily Post and the Karen Wray Gallery. If you’re looking to trade your stuff for something new and exciting, Boomerang is the place to go. Because so many of us are eager to trade the old for the new, Boomerang has a fantastic selection of designer and vintage clothing you might not find elsewhere. In addition, they offer furniture, books, DVDs, and even VHS tapes (for that classic feel!).

In 2021, Boomerang added the Gaia Gift Shop to their space. The gift shop has a variety of new items that appeal to tourists looking for snarky, science themed souvenirs and fun tie dye merchandise. Owner Anna Dillane is great at helping folks find a comfortable price for their consignment items and the knowledgable staff can assist anyone in putting together the perfect outfit for their next social event. Call the store at (505) 662-1479 for more information on hours and consignment.

The Shop on the Corner

Located in the church basement just across Canyon Road from the Griffith Gymnasium parking lot entrance, the Shop on the Corner is a thrift store selling gently used clothing and household items to benefit community members in need. Not only do they have a handy donation box outside the shop, they donate their proceeds to multiple charitable community organizations in and around Los Alamos. For a better idea of the shop’s mission, check out the website here. The hours are also on the website, but the shop is most frequently open on Wednesday mornings. They also offer hours on the second Saturday and the third Tuesday of every month in an effort to accommodate work schedules that don’t permit Wednesday shopping. If you’re looking for a new place to browse, you should definitely try this local shop.

The United Church Thrift Shop

The United Church Thrift Shop is operated by the Women’s Christian Service Society (WCSS). Located at 2525 Canyon Road at the United Church, the shop’s limited hours mean the early bird often catches the worm. They have quite a large selection of items and the shop operates off of mostly local donations. They accept donations of gently used and clean clothes, linens, housewares, jewelry, shoes, toys and children’s books. Donations may be dropped off any time at the bins near the door at the lower level of Craig Hall. Proceeds from the shop go to mission projects supported by the WCSS. You can find more information on the church website.

Are you surprised yet by the number of thrift stores we have here in Los Alamos? Or maybe you’re a savvy thrift shopper and you’re thinking to yourself that I’ve missed a few. I have missed a few important thrift shops here in Los Alamos. So check the blog next time for info on a few places that lean more toward vintage and shabby chic while offering some unexpectedly awesome services. And if you’re ready to buy or sell real estate here in Los Alamos, then give me a call! I’m your hometown real estate broker and I’d love to chat with you about living in Los Alamos!

Most of us know of Ashley Pond. And no. Douglas isn’t his lesser known brother. If I asked you to meet me at the Los Alamos Ice Rink, you’d probably know exactly where I meant. But have you ever wondered why the Ice Rink is located in the bottom of Los Alamos Canyon?

There are always more than a few urban legends here in Los Alamos about where things are and how they got their names. I’ve talked about things like Peggy Sue Bridge and the Denver Steels neighborhood. In fact, I recall speculating with friends that the canyon bottom location of the Ice Rink is perfect because it’s so much colder and shadier down there than other places in town. Everyone knows if you want to cool off in summer you head down to a canyon bottom to take advantage of the lower temperatures. Why wouldn’t that indicate a great place to stash a slab of frozen water?

Where Did it Come From, Where Did it Go?

The search for ready water sources has always been part of life on the Pajarito Plateau. Prior to the Cerro Grande Fire, back to when I was growing up here in Los Alamos, we took the Los Alamos Reservoir for granted. We would hike or drive up the rocky road with friends. Once at the reservoir we could fish or swim and enjoy the beautiful atmosphere. For a long while post fire, the reservoir was closed to the public. Even now, it’s open to foot traffic, but driving up isn’t an option. There have been clean up efforts going on to bring the reservoir back to its former status.

What you might not know is that the reservoir was developed by the occupants of the ranch school. To be fair, they were only continuing the work of settlers who had long been in the area. Homesteaders on the plateau had built a series of low dams throughout the canyon to create ponds large enough to supply nearby cabins. The ranch school boys worked to enlarge the reservoir and eventually used a huge pipeline to run water to a holding tank down by the Big House. The overflow from the tank went into the nearby depression that had been a traditional spot for water to collect. The depression became Ashley Pond. But Ashley Pond wasn’t the only pond created by the dams in Los Alamos Canyon.

Back to Douglas Pond…

We remember stories of ranch school boys skating on Ashley Pond. You’ve probably even seen old black and white photos of the boys skating in their camp shorts! But Ashley Pond wouldn’t be useable all that often for skating thanks to its location.

In 1937, boys from the ranch school did some digging on the deepest of the small ponds created by the dams in Los Alamos Canyon. Nearby homesteaders had always used this particular pond for ice skating, but the ranch school boys really put in some extra effort. A couple of the boys even asked their folks to help out. The parents of Donald and William Douglas donated funds toward the skating pond project and that got the boys calling their new skating venue “Douglas Pond” in remembrance of the people whose cash helped buy supplies.

Over the years, Project Y improved the reservoir to help provide for a steady water supply to the Manhattan Project, but they weren’t about to overlook Douglas Pond. The original Manhattan Project staff needed diversions like golf courses, ski hills, theaters, and of course ice rinks!

Throughout the Years

The original Douglas Pond was actually about 100 yards from its current location. The rink was really popular with residents of Los Alamos in the 1940s, who created a Los Alamos Skating Club. The club operated the rink for over 40 years before Los Alamos County stepped in to run the operation. The rink is currently the only land in Los Alamos Canyon not owned by the Laboratory

The rink’s first Zamboni was a rather historic piece. It toured with the Ice Capades in 1952 before being purchased from the Iceland Skating Arena of Albuquerque in 1961. The old Zamboni survived a garage fire in 1971. Popular legend has it that Zamboni operator Ted Dunn actually ran into the burning building to save his precious machine. A machine that now resides in the US Hockey Hall of Fame.

The Outdoor Life

Here in Los Alamos we have hockey teams of all ages competing in the regional hockey league. The ice is set upon a concrete pad with refrigerated piping allows the ice to remain consistent and frozen even when the outside temps soar into the 70’s during our variable winters. The availability of ice allows hockey season to thrive for families participating in the league. And during the warm months when the ice is gone, the rink is used for our local Roller Derby League. Yes. In case you didn’t realize, Los Alamos has a crazy awesome group of roller derby players from all age and skill levels.

Kids and adults alike enjoy the public skate sessions regardless of skill level. The rink offers skate aids for those who need a little help getting used to the ice. It’s a fun place to gather in an atmosphere unlike anything else you’ll see here in New Mexico. The Los Alamos Ice Skating Rink is the only outdoor ice rink in the state of New Mexico. Not really a surprise if you stop and think about it, but how awesome is that? Just one more totally unique thing about Los Alamos!

In fact, if you’re looking for something cool to do, check out the county Parks & Recreation website for the latest goings on at the Ice Rink. And when you’re ready to join the community on the hill, give me a call! I’d love to chat real estate in Los Alamos with you!