Why go in spring: It's the best time for a stroll through this food lover’s neighborhood, just east of downtown (EDo, get it?).
In bloom: Everything from sycamores to Monet-like iris gardens.
Say it like: Eat-oh (after all, some of the best little eateries in town are here).
How it all started: Artichoke Cafe ($$$; 424 Central Ave. S.E.; 505/243-0200) put EDo on the map, and it’s still a hot spot.
The setting: Leafy sidewalks lined with cozy adobes, post-Victorian cottages, and artists’ homes.
Main drag: Central Avenue, which also happens to be part of Historic Route 66.
Fueling stop: Get the green-chile mac ’n’ cheese at the Standard Diner ($; 320 Central S.E.; 505/243-1440), a converted Route 66 filling station.
Local star: The 1960s-era Milton’s Family Restaurant ($; 725 Central N.E.) had cameos in Sunshine Cleaning and In the Valley of Elah.
Reason to come back: A drink on the rooftop at Hotel Parq Central, a 74-room boutique hotel due to open in October.
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