The idea for The Next Best Thing to Being There came to me (Sidney Mallard) many years ago.

Originally I wanted to have a puppet shop. The Next Best Thing to Being There has puppets, imports from all over the world, a few Asian and European vintage pieces, jewelry, maps, patio accessories, and many other fun gifts for yourself or your friends.

The Next Best Thing to Being There is a shop that is intended to be a destination for people interested in people, places, and things.

The Next Best Thing To Being There shop is located on the southeast border of the Sawmill area of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Once a predominately industrial neighborhood, this area is one of the oldest pockets of the city and is just north of Old Town.