Recycled Art Fair 2013

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The City of Albuquerque’s fifth annual Recycled Art Fair talks trash on April 27-28, 2013, with plenty of free family fun and the chance to browse the unique and very earth-friendly work of upcycled arts and crafts people. The event takes place over two days this year, instead of just one.

The Albuquerque Recycled Art Fair at the Open Space Visitor Center is on Saturday April 27 and Sunday April 28 from 10 am to 4 pm, and admission is free.

First off you can see recycled art – a.k.a. upcycled art – made from discarded materials, for sale in the vendors’ booths. I guess at least you know that every piece of art is unique! Then check out the exhibit in the visitor center gallery: Revived! Lost, Found and Reinvented Objects of Art show.

The event also includes live music, arts and crafts workshops and other activities. Details are sketchy at time of writing, but here’s what I know:

• Saturday April 27 features music by Juniper Hill and the Andy Moss Celtic Trio, plus a workshop on plantable stationary.
• Sunday April 28 features storyteller Rachel Carson, kids’ activities, live music, a workshop on papermaking, games and prizes, a raffle, plus info from City of Albuquerque Solid Waste Department folk who’ll be there to answer your questions about recycling in Albuquerque.

Check out the Recycled Art Fair schedule for the latest details.

• When: Saturday and Sunday April 27 and 28, 2013
• Time: 10 am – 4 pm
• Where: Open Space Visitor Center
• Price: Free

Albuquerque Open Space Visitor Center is located at 6500 Coors Boulevard NW. (East of Coors at the end of Bosque Meadows Road, between Montano Boulevard and Paseo del Norte.)

–Tania

Free Junior Ranger Day for Kids at Petroglyph

To celebrate National Junior Ranger Day and National Park Week, Petroglyph National Monument hosts a day of free activities for kids on April 20, 2013, including see a wolf!

Pack a picnic lunch and take the family to join in the free events at Petroglyph National Monument Visitor Center this Saturday April 20 from 10 am to 3 pm.  Here’s the Junior Ranger Day schedule:

• 10 am:  See a live wolf with Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary
• 11 am: Safe solar viewing – I guess that’s the solar telescopes!
• 1 pm:  See a raptor presentation
• 2 pm: String a shell necklace

Usually, all the participating children have received Junior Ranger awards too.  I’ve no idea if that will be happening this year (there’s no mention of it) but we can hope so!

No reservations are needed, and there’s no fee to enter Petroglyph National Monument or to join in the activities. Call them at (505) 899-0205 x333 for any other info.

–Tania 

Albuquerque Comic Con 2013: January 12-13

Albuquerque Comic Con on the weekend of January 12-13, 2013 packs quite a punch. Tickets are cheaper in advance and there’s free admission for our real-life heroes: police, fire fighters, and active military.

The star-studded Albuquerque Comic Con this weekend at the Hard Rock Hotel includes Verne Troyer who played Mini Me in Austin Powers and also appeared in Harry Potter, and Denise Crosby of Star Trek Next Generation and horror films including Pet Semetary.

The cheapest way to play is by buying advance tickets at this Albuquerque Comic Con ticket page. If you wait to buy tickets on the door, adult tickets will cost $5 extra although children’s ticket prices for ages 6 – 12 remain the same. Advance ticket prices are $25 for a two-day pass ($10 for children). A daily pass for either Saturday or Sunday is $15, or $5 for kids. There are also VIP ticket options. Print out your receipt to act as a ticket, and note there is a $2 flat fee on the online tickets, for any quantity ordered. (So if you want three tickets for you and a couple of friends, order them all in one go and pay the $2 only once.)

Police, fire fighters, and active military get free admission if you take your badge and ID.

Albuquerque Comic Con is held at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino (formerly the Isleta Casino & Resort) at 11000 Broadway SE. It’s about 5 miles south of Albuquerque International Sunport on I-25 exit 215.

–Tania

Free Meet A Wolf

Meet a friendly wolf (or two!) on Sunday December 16, 2012.

This free wolf encounter event is one to note on your calendar for Sunday if you’re as fascinated as I am by these beautiful and mysterious beasts. Meet the real thing for yourself in a Wolf Meet and Greet presentation on December 16 at 12:30 pm at the Open Space Visitor Center.

Stephanie Kaylan of the Wanagi Wolf Fund will take at least two of her friendly wolves or wolf-dogs along. I know from experience that Stephanie is a very lively and interesting speaker on the subject of wolves and their relationship with humans. In fact, you can read my profile of her in a recent series I wrote of MSN.com Albuquerque Insider Profiles  for their Re:Discover Albuquerque project.

The family-friendly event is free, although donations to the non-profit Wanagi Wolf Fund are welcome as this is a holiday fundraiser.  There will also be a photo-op with Hokshila the timber wolf for a $10 donation (I think Bindi the wolf will be there too, but don’t hold me to that) and you can shop for wolf calendars, stocking stuffers and wolf-fur filled ornaments, plus buy raffle tickets, to be drawn straight after the presentation.

Arrive early to be sure of a seat at the beginning of the presentation, as late arrivals are not guaranteed admission.

Interesting note: Wanagi is Lakota for “The one who guards and protects the spirits of those who have passed onward.”

• When: Sunday December 16, 2012
• Time: 12:30 – 2 pm. Arrive promptly for the 12:30 start as late arrivals aren’t guaranteed admission.
• Where: Albuquerque Open Space Visitor Center
• Price: Admission is FREE but donations to the Wanagi Wolf Fund and Rescue are very welcome.

Albuquerque Open Space Visitor Center is located at 6500 Coors Boulevard NW. (East of Coors at the end of Bosque Meadows Road, between Montano Boulevard and Paseo del Norte.)

–Tania

Bugg Lights Christmas Display

The Bugg Lights Christmas Display twinkles on selected evenings until December 24, 2012.

Albuquerque’s traditional Christmas show of the Bugg Lights is free to visit through the holiday season, although it’s not open every evening – see the schedule below.  The intricate display featuring animals and popular characters was originally created by the Bugg family (talk about one-upmanship on your holiday lights!) but has found a home for the last several years at Menaul School. 

You can also see Santa Claus and enjoy festive entertainment with a different line-up of performers each evening including Sunset Mesa Choir, Dukes of Albuquerque, Bill Kent Brass Quintet, Holy Ghost Choir, Second Presbyterian Choir, United Methodist Church Choir, Folkorico Community Group, and more.

Although it’s free and open to all, you gotta bet your big black Santa boots that they do accept donations.

The Bugg Lights Christmas Display is on show on the evenings of:

• Friday December 7 and Saturday December 8, from sundown to 9 pm
• Thursday December 13 through Saturday December 15, from sundown to 9 pm
• Thursday December 20 through Sunday December 23, from sundown to 9 pm
• Christmas Eve, Monday December 24, from sundown to 11 pm.

The Bugg Lights Christmas Display is located at Menaul School, 301 Menaul Boulevard NE, just east of the Broadway intersection. Access the campus from the Menaul entrance.

–Tania

Return of the Sandhill Cranes Festival

The annual Return of the Sandhill Cranes celebration is back on November 17, 2012, offering plenty of free fun, including Tai Chi. (You do it with the cranes, although who knows if the cranes will join in?)

Albuquerque’s Return of the Sandhill Crane Celebration this weekend at the Open Space Visitor Center is mainly on Saturday November 17, although there are some activities on Sunday November 18 too. It’s a great opportunity to join with others to see the sandhill cranes traveling south for the winter. Whenever I see the large flocks of cranes migrating along the Rio Grande Valley I’m awed by their beauty and grace.  I often want to fly away with them but I haven’t got the hang of that bit yet.

The free family event is not just about birdwatching through the viewing scopes, however. The line up includes:

• Tai Chi with the cranes
• Make origami cranes with the Albuquerque Origami Society
• Two performances of the musical Love in the Bosque by Phil Bock, about a romance between cranes who pass through Albuquerque along the Rio Grande. (Cute! They’re requesting advance reservations on 505-897-8831 for performances at 1:30 and 3 pm.)
• Storytelling and talks
• Guided nature walk
• See Wildlife Rescue birds (I always love that!)
• See the short film Waking Up Crane by Joanne Schmidt
• A Tin Punch Workshop for families, although registration is required. (The Open Space number is 505-897-8831)
• Kids’ activities

See the full Return of the Sandhill Crane Celebration schedule as some events only happen once. (And all events are subject to change.)

Albuquerque Open Space Visitor Center is located at 6500 Coors Boulevard NW. (East of Coors at the end of Bosque Meadows Road, between Montano Boulevard and Paseo del Norte.)

–Tania

Free Urban Farm and Harvest Festival: September 16

They’re making hay while the sun shines at the annual Urban Farm and Harvest Festival at the Open Space Visitor Center on September 16, 2012.  It’s a free event for all the family, and the festival at the 24-acre working farm and wildlife preserve celebrates urban farming and traditional local agriculture – and offers lots of free kids’ activities too!

The Albuquerque Urban Farm and Harvest Festival includes:

• Live music including the Tumbleweeds and Apple Mountain
• Hay bale rides
• A farm-themed kids’ costume parade (11 – 11:30 am)
• Magic, juggling, harvest games, and a kids’ art table
• Beekeepers and a presentation on beekeeping at 11:30 am and honey harvesting at 1 pm
• Live raptors from Wildlife Rescue (1:30 pm)
• The Home Farming Revolution Book signing and talk at 3 pm with authors Zoe Wilcox & Melanie Rubin
• Other workshops and demonstrations including a tin punch workshop, the history of food in New Mexico, water harvesting, and beneficial bugs!

I’ll be there with Mr Cheap, because he’s a “beneficial bug” and I’d love to find out more about him Well, also I love the Open Space Visitor Center, and I wrote about them and this event in a magazine article for Urban Farm magazine as well as for MSN.com, so I’m not going to miss this fifth annual festival!

They’ll also have green chile roasting, and local artisans and farmers will do their thang in the booths, including sales of local foods.  It should be a lovely way to spend a Sunday, celebrating Albuquerque’s food and farming heritage.

See the full Urban Farm and Harvest Festival schedule. 

• When: Sunday September 16, 2012
• Time: 10 am – 4 pm
• Where: Open Space Visitor Center
• Price: FREE!

Albuquerque Open Space Visitor Center is located at 6500 Coors Boulevard NW. (East of Coors at the end of Bosque Meadows Road, between Montano Boulevard and Paseo del Norte.)

–Tania

Lavender in the Village Festival 2012

The Los Ranchos de Albuquerque Lavender in the Village festival includes live entertainment, cooking demos, how to grow lavender, lavender crafts and activities, and plenty for the kids to do. This sweet summer festival skipped a year in 2011, so it’s great to see it back again this year!

It’ll be a fragrant weekend at the Lavender in the Village Festival in Los Ranchos on Saturday and Sunday July 14 and 15, 2012, with family fun including:

• Lavender crafts and activities
• Cooking with lavender demonstrations
• Live music including Muddy River String Band, Watermelon Mountain Jug Band, and The Todd Tijerina Band
• Kids’ activities including face painting, water play, storytelling, and a baby animals petting area
• A Pet Parade on July 14 at 9:45 am with awards (it’s free to register your own pet to the parade, from 9 am)
• Wine tours of Casa Rondeña Winery
• Author events
• Family Fun Run/Walk on July 15 at 8 am (fee required to participate)
• And of course, lots of lavender goodies to buy!

Check out the Lavender in the Village Festival schedule as there’s far too much going on to mention it all here.

Admission is a sweet deal too – $3 for adults, $2 for kids, and admission is free for children under age 10.

However, it is free to visit the Los Ranchos Growers’ Market which happens on Saturday July 14 from 7 am to 1 pm, with expert presentations on growing and cooking with lavender and garlic, and making lavender wands. (Village Hall, 6718 Rio Grande Boulevard NW.)

The Agri-Nature Center is the hub of the event, with the entertainment stage, demonstrations, author talks, and kids’ area and activities. Shuttles will be available between the Agri-Nature Center and the other major venues.

Lavender in the Village admission includes activities at all locations except a few special events, such as participation in the fun run.

Lavender in the Village Festival takes place:

• When: July 14 and July 15, 2012
• Time: 8 am to 4 pm both days
• Where: Various Los Ranchos locations, with The Agri-Nature Center as the focus for many events and entertainment, but also including the Growers’ Market, Casa Rondeña Winery, and some Antique Mile / 4th Street merchants.
• Price: $3 adults, $2 for kids, free for kids under 10 – cash only

The Village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque map of festival locations also shows parking and the shuttle route between venues – in case all that soothing lavender makes you too relaxed to walk or drive!

–Tania

Pork & Brew State BBQ Championship

Go hog crazy this weekend at Rio Rancho’s Ninth Annual Pork & Brew BBQ State Championship from July 6 – 8, 2012. 

Among the barbe-kudos for Pork & Brew: It’s one of the the largest events in New Mexico, with attendance over 20,000 last year, and it was voted on the 2009 and 2012 lists of Top 100 Events in North America by the American Bus Association (Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta makes the list too!).

Rio Rancho’s Ninth Annual Pork & Brew BBQ State Championship runs from Friday July 6 to Sunday July 8, 2012, and the event includes live entertainment, chain saw carving,  a magic show, and kids’ activities such as fun jumps. See the full Pork & Brew schedule in a PDF.

And then of course there’s the BBQ… this is an officially sanctioned Kansas City Barbecue Society event, and contest winners go to Kansas City, KS, to participate at the nationals.

Admission is a budget-friendly $5, or $3 for seniors (60+) and for kids aged 3-12. Tots aged 2 or under go free!  If you’re licking your lips, note that this is for entry only, you have to fork out for food.

Ticket packages including BBQ Bucks to spend at food vendors are available today, July 5, offering:

• $25 BBQ Bucks and two Pork & Brew admissions for $25
• $50 BBQ Bucks and four Pork & Brew admissions for $50
• $75 BBQ Bucks and six Pork & Brew admissions for $75

So if  you spend those BBQ Bucks, you effectively get your admission for free. Note however that there is a $5 “convenience charge” per package if you buy online, plus a $2.50 ‘will call’ charge to collect the ticket. So those packages save you more if you have a larger party going to the event, and you’re gonna eat a lot of BBQ! 

The Pork & Brew State BBQ Championship ticket packages are only available through Thursday July 5, online until 11.59 pm, or from the Santa Ana Star Center Box office (1-888-694-4849) until 5 pm.

Pork & Brew BBQ State Championship 2012 takes place at the Santa Ana Star Center:

• Friday July 6 from noon to 9 pm
• Saturday July 7 from 10 am to 8 pm
• Sunday July 8 from 11 am to 7 pm

Santa Ana Star Center is located at 3001 Civic Center, Rio Rancho.

–Tania

Free Bee & Pollinator Celebration: June 23

Free honey tasting, meet the beekeepers, and learn all about making your garden bee-friendly, or even keeping bees yourself, on June 23, 2012.

Oh yes, it’s a free bee freebie!

So no, you don’t get free bees, but when you buzz down to the bee celebration and pollinator awareness day at the Open Space Visitor Center you do get to taste honey, see a bee hive, feed a butterfly, see and learn about pollinator-friendly plants you could grow in your garden, and meet Albuquerque beekeepers to find out how you could do it yourself. We’re told there will be children’s activities, and (at 3 pm) a screening of the film Queen of the Sun about why bees are disappearing.

• When: Saturday June 23, 2012

• Time: 10 am to 5 pm

• Where: Open Space Visitor Center (see the full schedule at the link)

• Cost: Free!

This is part of New Mexico Pollinator Week, an initiative to raise awareness of pollinator species vital to our food systems and economy. We love the bees here at Albuquerque on the Cheap, so kudos to all, including the Albuquerque Beekeepers Group which is a great resource for anyone interested in urban beekeeping.

Open Space Visitor Center is located at 6500 Coors Boulevard NW (between Montano and Paseo del Norte).

–Tania

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