Dan’s Boots & Saddles has been the North Valley’s authentic family Western wear and ranch store for nearly 70 years. They’ve established themselves as the go-to spot in Albuquerque for clothing and equipment that represents a traditional culture laced with accouterments of the past—as well as a vision of a new rural future in the American West. Whether you’re looking to feed your flock, buy a new saddle, get your hands—and feet—on some finely crafted boots or just need some fencing and livestock handling tools, Dan’s Boots & Saddles is the place. Moreover, it’s a great place to find holiday gifts. At Dan’s, customers can purchase cowboy boots from trusted manufacturers like Tony Lama, Justin and Double-H. They also have an awesome selection of tack: saddles, halters, bridles, reins and bits. Dan’s also stocks heaps of Western wear; if it’s got pearl snaps or a feather on it, they probably have just what you’re looking for, partner.
Shumakolowa Native Arts
Here is a shop owned by the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico and housed onsite at Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. This cultural facility is at the Southern entrance to Burque’s North Valley. It’s where the interstate crosses 12th Street, an ancient city thoroughfare—and it’s also where the works of skilled Indigenous craftspeople of the Rio Grande Valley and beyond have been gathered together for a collection of some the most amazing artifacts available. Of course, it’s all available for the purposes of gifting, including such rarified items as bolo ties by Navajo artisan Ernest Rangel and Laguna-Yaqui jeweler Stanton Lance. They also have necklaces by Lita Atencio of Santo Domingo Pueblo and “black” pottery by Milda Tafoya of Santa Clara and Erik Fender of San Ildefonso. Besides Indigenous jewelry and pottery, Shumakolowa also features textile art by Navajo artisans Sheryl Miller and Leroy Yazzie and a wide selection of books, videos and educational materials about native life in New Mexico.
Valley Pawn
Valley Pawn should be considered among the best in terms of providing an outlet for last minute gift-buying. Don’t be like August March when he was an undergrad and wait until the last moment. You don’t want to end up with an Edwardian smoking jacket (with pinholes caused by small drops of opium spilling on it) or a painting he got a B- on in Advanced Painting. This holly-jolly joint has holiday hours for sure—you’ll have to to call ahead to find out more about that, this is a pawn shop, for chrissakes! The prizes offered at Valley Pawn are incomparable. Their selection includes guitars that are sure to make any musician’s Merry Christmas mouth water. If you’re down for tools as gifts—and who isn’t?!—then Valley Pawn has your Skilsaw or Black & Decker drill. As for firearms, don’t even ask. They’ve also got a heap of old jewelry. This place is perfect at the last minute.
Back in the day in Burque, small family owned businesses that highlighted the arts, crafts, produce, furniture, garden sculpture and wrought iron work, et cetera of Latin America—from Paraguay to Santa Fe—were quite popular. Weekly Alibi can think of more than a few that came and went over the years, including Casa Talamantes and Jackalope—but there’s one in the North Valley that is still quite cool. La Parada is run by Albuquerque’s Montoya family and features all sorts of items from Latin America and beyond. They also have arts and crafts from Morocco, the Indian subcontinent and Northern Europe and Asia, as well. Additionally the shop stocks cards and paper, vintage clothing and accessories, folk music instruments, Dia de Los Muertos items, metal milagros, tin-framed mirrors and handcrafted Italian-made leather journals. La Parada is situated on an old North Valley farm that also houses Farm & Table, a restaurant that features locally sourced foodstuffs. La Parada means “the stop.”
