Albuquerque The Magazine, July 2022 by Albuquerque The Magazine

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F E AT U R E

There’s nothing quite as c0mforting as being tended to by a healthcare professional who truly cares about your health. And on the top tier of that list is a nurse who not only knows how to speak in both medical and layman terms, but who also knows you have fears and apprehensions—and is compassionate enough to put you at ease. Our city is filled with such warriors, and so it’s our honor to present our annual list of ABQ’s Top Notch Nurses, as nominated by readers, colleagues and patients.

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JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

DEPARTMENTS 27 Tapas

The Balloon Fiesta 4th of July fireworks show marks a return; a list of the city’s popular farmers markets; NM’s iconic hamburger joint turns 70; ABQ tops the list of U.S. cities with the most pet-friendly hotels.

P. 120

P. 116

38 Faces and Places 57 Datebook

109 People

110 Albuquerque the Interview The leader of Casa de Salud aims to help patients burdened by low income and lack of insurance by providing holistic healthcare.

116 Personality

Jennifer Hayden uses science experiments and a love of learning to help expand interest in the Nuclear Science Museum.

P. 110

120 Behind the Scenes

With a long history of working in courtrooms and prisons, Sharon Walton has helped shape how our law enforcers interpret the law. Her current assignment: working with police cadets.

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DEPARTMENTS

P. 136 P. 124 123 Culture 124 Creatives

As a young woman, Miriam Nelson set aside her passion for art to enroll in nursing school. Now in retirement, she’s rekindled her first love.

126 Shelflife

“Hiking Trails in Valles Caldera National Preserve,” by Coco Rae; “The Mexican Chile Pepper Cookbook: The Soul of Mexican Home Cooking,” by Dave DeWitt and José C. Marmolejo.

128 Tiempo

A monthly check-in with longtime Tiempo editor Mel Minter on the new performers—and familiar faces—making waves in ABQ’s thriving local music scene.

P. 138 138 From the Vine

The excellence of ABQ’s craft beverage scene now extends to the colorful artwork on local canned products. Here’s a few for your viewing pleasure.

P. 132

131 Dish

132 Eats Review

146 Bites

Since 1977, the team at Cervantes Restaurant and Lounge has succeeded in putting out New Mexican food that remains traditional but healthy.

Info-filled nuggets about the city’s restaurants to take with you on the go.

136 Eats, Etc.

Fan Tang; Mesa Provisions; Taaj Palace.

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JULY 2022 Volume 19 Number 3 PHOTO DIRECTOR

Don James don@abqthemag.com ART DIRECTOR

Jared Lambert jared@abqthemag.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Candice Callado candice@abqthemag.com DATEBOOK EDITOR

Lori Wilding datebook@abqthemag.com CONTRIBUTORS

Ryan Flanagan Tristen Critchfield Ashley M. Biggers Mel Minter Ashlee Olsen Heather Hunter Brad Sherman

Albuquerque The Magazine (ISSN 1936-4350) is published monthly except January by Albuquerque The Media Corporation, 1550 Mercantile Ave. NE, Top Floor, Albuquerque, NM 87107. Periodicals Postage Paid at Albuquerque, NM 87101, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Albuquerque The Magazine, 1550 Mercantile Ave. NE, Top Floor, Albuquerque, NM 87107.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR We welcome letters to the Editor. You may e-mail yours to editor@abqthemag.com, or submit it directly from our website, or via snail mail. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Our editorial calendar is available online at www.abqthemag.com/MediaKit.pdf. No phone calls, please. Unsolicited manuscripts require a SASE.

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DEPARTMENTS 169 Fun

170 ‘Til You Drop

The camping world gets hip with several items that will make your outdoor adventures a little less raw and a bit more glam; the jewels continue to sparkle (at all price ranges) at Ooh! Aah! Jewelry.

174 Paws Button

Suggestions on how to keep your furry friend cool during the 2022 ABQ summer, which is already breaking heat records.

177 Piece of the Past A towering confluence of concrete tunnels at UNM forms what the artist has lovingly dubbed the Center of the Universe.

179 Pet of the Month This month’s winner: Fey Fey.

180 Passenger Window

P. 177 P. 179

An artist’s sci-fi mural from 10 years ago continues to offer a futuristic vision that gets closer and closer: robots.

182 A Few Things

The popular TV series “Better Call Saul” begins its final episodes this month, nearly nine years after its sequel series, “Breaking Bad,” signed off. So who better to recount BCS’ most iconic scenes than Jeremiah Bitsui, a fixture on both shows?

184 Photo Contest

This month’s winner: Downtown Albuquerque, by Caroline Meuskett Mendoza.

P. 170 22

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JULY 2022 Volume 19 Number 3 PUBLISHER

Larryl Lynch larryl@abqthemag.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Gena Salazar gena@abqthemag.com

PUBLISHING DIRECTOR

Dakota-Lynn McCaffrey dakota@abqthemag.com SENIOR ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES

Philip Kjelland philip@abqthemag.com Megan Life megan@abqthemag.com BUSINESS MANAGER

Jill Morris business@abqthemag.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER EMERITUS

Scott Davis (1966–2004)

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Albuquerque The Magazine 1550 Mercantile Ave. NE, Top Floor Albuquerque, NM 87107 phone: 505-842-1110 • fax: 505-842-1119 www.abqthemag.com

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8300 Constitution Avenue NE | Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87110 Phone: (505) 291-2300 | Fax: (505) 291-2299 | nmscortho.com

Thank You to our patients for helping us celebrate a successful 2nd year! “Our mission is to care for every patient and their family as if they were our own. Each patient, each family, each and every time.” New Mexico Surgery Center Orthopaedics complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. New Mexico Surgery Center Orthopaedics is a facility in which physicians have an ownership or investment interest. The list of physician owners or investors is available to you upon request.

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TINY BITES OF EVERYTHING TO SEE, DO AND BUY IN ALBUQUERQUE

A SPARKLY RETURN Freedom 4th at Balloon Fiesta Park is back! Bring chairs, coolers, tents, umbrellas, and the family for all the fun from 3 pm until 10 pm. Live music starts at 4 p.m., with headliner Shenandoah performing at 7:45 p.m. Free activities for the kids include climbing walls, jumpers, and face painting. Vendors will be throughout the park providing delicious treats

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

and snacks. Adults can hang out at the cantina and enjoy local beer, wine, spirits and a view of the main stage. Fireworks go off at 9:15 p.m. at the park, located at 5601 Balloon Fiesta Park N.E. Admission is free, and parking is $10. —ED

FARMERS MARKET ROUND-UP SATURDAY MARKETS

SUNDAY MARKETS

Celebrating 26 years, the Downtown Growers Market is held every Saturday from 8 am until noon starting on April 16 through November 5, 2022. Located at 8th and Central Avenue in Robinson Park, this vibrant market is an integral part of the community and brings food justice together with friends and family to support growers, artists and vendors. With more than 150 vendors, you’ll find everything from fresh, locally-grown produce to pastured eggs, meat, gluten-free baked goods, French pastries and homemade pineapple jerky to Native American pottery and jewelry to dog accessories and fresh picked wild flowers. This market features live music and is one of the most popular community events and offers something for everyone and four-legged friends are welcome.

Located at 500 Jones Road, the Corrales Growers Market is held on Sundays from 9 a.m. until noon starting April 24 through November 6 with one monthly market held throughout the winter. Though this 25 vendor market does not allow dogs, it welcomes all kinds of humans with open arms. Come shop for a wide variety of local produce, as well as pastured eggs, mushrooms, beef, buffalo, herbs, starter plants, baked goods, jams, baskets, a complete line of medicinal herbs and made to order breakfast burritos, because we know it’s hard to shop for food while you’re hungry.

DOWNTOWN GROWERS MARKET

CORRALES GROWERS MARKET

downtowngrowers.org

SOUTH VALLEY GROWERS MARKET Established in the mid-70s, the South Valley Growers Market is the longest running farmers market in Albuquerque. Located at 3907 Isleta Blvd SW in the parking lot of the Camino de Vida Church, the market takes place every Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon, from June 4 and runs through October 15. This market is intentionally small, as there are spatial limitations, and Market Manager Rhonda Reinert says, “In addition to being excellent growers, our vendors have developed long relationships with our customers.” Stop by this neighborhood market for fresh fruits and produce, as well as herbs and start plants.

corralesgrowersmarket.com

RAILYARDS MARKET Located at 777 1st Street SW in the historic Barelas neighborhood, this seasonal market and tourist attraction is held indoors and outdoors encompassing 40,000 square feet. Held every Sunday from 10 a.m. until 2 pm. from May through October, there is also a two-day Holiday Market on the second weekend in December. With more than 170 weekly vendors, including artisans, food trucks and live music, this year’s opening market welcomed over than 8,000 attendees hungry for local produce and so much more. In addition, the Railyards Market offers educational opportunities and features a different theme with coordinated activities so customers can learn something new when they visit. Four-legged friends are welcome to join in the fun. railyardsmarket.org

LOS RANCHOS ART MARKET Thankfully, the Saturday Los Ranchos Art Market has been providing locals with an opportunity to stop and smell the flowers for more than 20 years. Located in the bucolic area known as Los Ranchos and nestled amongst the flowing cottonwood trees near Hartnett Park. It is here where you will find an array of over 20 juried art vendors selling handmade items from jewelry to garden art to pottery and everything in between. The wide-open spaces are welcoming more than 1,000 weekly attendees, and their four-legged friends, but it never feels crowded. In addition to art, shoppers enjoy stocking up on locally grown produce at the Los Ranchos Growers Market in this shared space where there is the allure of freshly made donuts, gourmet pizza, tacos, handmade preserves and items from two local bakeries to tempt your taste buds. In July, the Los Ranchos Art Market celebrates the Land of Enchantment’s love of lavender with a “Celebration of Lavender” on July 9 and July 16. Over the course of two Saturdays, art vendors focus on lavender offerings, so you can literally stop and smell the flowers. losranchosartmarket.com

facebook.com/SouthValleyGrowersMarket

OTHER MARKETS DOMINGO BACA PARK

Every Tuesday in the Park, 3:00-6:30 p.m. June – October 7521 Carmel Ave. NE Every Tuesday enjoy fresh bread, pastries, and produce. Plus, check out all of the art.

BACKYARD MARKET

First & Second Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Third Saturday, 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. May – October 1321 Eubank Blvd. NE Brought to you by The ABQ Collective, the Backyard Market will have over 35 local makers, food trucks, and live music.

LA FAMILIA GROWERS MARKET

Fridays, 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. June – October Dolores Huerta Gateway Park 318 Isleta Blvd. SW La Familia Growers Market strives to give the mercado experience as well as community building by providing local produce, playgrounds for kids, and arts and crafts.

BERNALILLO FARMERS MARKET

Fridays, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. June – October 300 Rotary Park Rd. Your one stop shop for jams, bread, fresh fruit and so much more for you and your family.

MILE-HI FARMERS MARKET

Sundays, 10 a.m. 1 p.m. June – September 2000 Alvarado Dr. NE. Enjoy live music while shopping for local honey, baked goods, and fresh produce.

BOSQUE FARMS

Saturdays, 8 a.m. – noon Through October 1090 N. Bosque Loop Head to Bosque Farms for fresh Valencia County home grown fruits, vegetables and even soaps.

LOS LUNAS

Tuesdays, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. May – October 3447 Lambros SE at Heritage Park Enjoy a variety of homemade products, homegrown food and more.

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

Kacey and Jenna Thunborg

AGE: 16 SCHOOL: East Mountain High School TOTALLY INTO: Jenna - Singing, Creative Writing and Baking; Kacey - Nature, Golf and Guitars NOT A FAN OF: Jenna - Allergies, Hot Weather and Mayonnaise; Kacey - Tomatoes, Math and Bad Drivers FUTURE PLANS: Jenna - Attend college to study Political Science and pursue a law degree, and continue to perform music; Kacey - Attend college to study Business and Theater Arts/Film and continue to perform music. THEIR STORY: The 16-year-old twins have been performing western music in front of audiences since they were eight years old. Out of the duo, Jenna is the main vocalist and yodeler and Kacey sings the harmonies and is the instrumental accompaniment. The twins have recently written their own songs and in 2019 released their first C.D. “Simply Western”. Since 2017, the girls have received several awards from The International Western Music Association (IWMA). In 2021, Kacey and Jenna received Liz Masterson Crescendo award from the IWMA. The duo has had several big performance opportunities and will be performing more in 2022. Kacey and Jenna are both members of the IWMA Youth chapter where Jenna is the chapter president. They are also members of the Fort Worth Cowtown Opry Buckaroos. “Kacey and Jenna can’t wait to see what the future brings as their musical journey continues,” says their mom, Kimberly Linker. —DLM

Submit your Incredible Kids at incrediblekids@abqthemag.com

STRANGER THAN FICTION The home of the Byers family on the fourth season of Stranger Things, set in the fictional town of Lenora Hills, California, is now available to rent on Airbnb right here in Albuquerque. Accommodating up to 14 people, the 1966 home has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a basement, which is an ‘80s themed gameroom with a ping-pong table, arcade games, an air hockey table and a mini bar. Just like the show, the common room has the stringed alphabet lights hanging on the wall. Fans might also recognize the stone fireplace in the living room. For a starting rate of $360 a night, Stranger Things fans can get together for a weekend of ‘80s nostalgia with a touch of Albuquerque thanks to the view of the Sandia Mountains. - DLM

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JULY 2021 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

TWO DECADES OF HELPING HORSES MEET HUMANS Twenty years and 500 horses

later, they became a non-profit organization. New Mexico Horse Rescue continues to be a special matchmaker for equines and humans. The outfit, based at Walkin’ N Circles Ranch near Edgewood, has a simple mission: provide rescued horses with a new beginning with a loving, adoptive family. “Horses come to us underweight, fearful and neglected,” says NMHR president Lauri Michael. “With us, they’re able to trust humans again, and that is lifechanging for us to see.” After a return to health and interaction with humans, the animals—there are around 50 horses at any given time—are then placed with families that will continue to provide care and a nurturing home. “We had a palomino horse named Buddy that was adopted by a 14-year-old back in 2018,” says Michael, recalling one of many stories during her five years leading the organization. “The horse and owner became so close that Buddy was in her senior class pictures. In fact, many of our former adopters are always sending us photos of where they are now with their horses from our rescue.” Even Michael caught the adoption bug: shortly after joining NMHR, she and her husband adopted one of the horses. The group relies solely on the help of volunteers (they have about 100 at any given time), gifts, grants, and the revenue generated from the on-site thrift store. Here are some other fun facts about N.M. Horse Rescue—and info for those who may want to volunteer. —MCH

Many of the NMHR horses were seized by the N.M. Livestock Board due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment.

The ranch is governed by a board of directors, with the assistance of an onsite ranch manager. The ranch Thrift Store is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

The cost to feed the horses averages $5 per day, per animal. The cost for medical and farrier (horse shoe) services is extra. WWW.ABQTHEMAG.COM | JULY 2022

Some volunteers answer phones, some drive tractors, and training is provided. Minimum age for volunteers is 8 years old, and several regulars are in their 70s and 80s. Call (505) 286-0779 for more info. The ranch is in Stanley, which is nine miles north of Edgewood.

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

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Lita Sandoval

Blogger Adelita’s Burque Ramblings “Albuquerque is full of charming personality and equally full of imperfections. It’s rough around the edges, yet authentic and interesting. I love this city because, like me, it moves to the beat of its own drum, and doesn’t try to be anything other than itself.”

ABQ is #1 For Pets!

For pet owners who insist on travelling overnight with their furry friends, no city is more accommodating than Albuquerque. ABQ has the most pet-friendly hotels in America by percentage, according to AllAboutCats.com. Two-thirds of our city’s hotels welcome cats and dogs, compared to runner-up Madison, Wisconsin at 65 percent, and third-place Portland, Oregon with 58 percent. Several large cities, like Phoenix, San Francisco and Atlanta, have less than 30 percent of their hotels designated as pet-friendly. In addition to hotels, the site ranked other categories, like number of dog-friendly restaurants, to determine the overall best pet-friendly vacation destinations. ABQ ranked 13th in the total rankings, which was topped by Portland, Austin and Seattle.

Start Bragging ABQ is a campaign to tell everyone what you love about our city. Got a brag about ABQ? Send it to us at editor@abqthemag.com.

Cats have a whopping 32 muscles in each of their ears, allowing them to swivel their ears to hone in on the exact source of a noise. Additionally, cats can rotate their ears to 180 degrees!

DOES YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN NEED A REMODEL?

LET US HELP YOU REBUILD YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN 505-892-3300 • www.nmwmg.com 2409 Manzano Loop NE Rio Rancho, NM 87144 Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Fixed insurance products and services offered through CES Insurance Agency.

We love the Lotaburger. Our parents love the Lotaburger. And, let’s face it, our grandparents love the Lotaburger, too. That’s the kind of generational depth you get when an iconic burger chain has been around for seven decades. Blake’s Lotaburger will celebrate their 70th anniversary this month with quite a bit of fanfare and something sweet to top it off To celebrate all summer long, Blake’s has created a new milkshake flavor - Chocolate Birthday Cake - available at all locations starting June 27. And, if you are wondering how close one of those locations might be to you in your time of milkshake ‘need’, check out a google map for one of their 72 locations in the Southwest. -ED

Kylee Kaiser

AGE: 13 SCHOOL: Belen Middle School TOTALLY INTO: Hanging out with her friends, playing games with her family and decorating her room NOT A FAN OF: Doing homework, waking up early, and having too much stress FUTURE PLANS: She wants to be an archeologist because she enjoys learning about old artifacts. HER STORY: Kylee has never been one to turn down a camping trip. From going hunting to spending a week at Elephant Butte, it is guaranteed Kylee will be having a good time. Being the oldest of 3 siblings, she has become someone for her younger brother and sister to look up to. “She excels at anything she puts her mind to. She’s very hardworking and responsible,” says her mom, Krystal Kaiser. Her family loves going camping, fishing and hunting. Kylee is always willing to lend a helping hand to her parents while traveling. She is eager to learn more about the community around her, fueling her goals of becoming an archeologist. She has big goals for herself in the future, and her ambitious attitude will ensure she doesn’t fall short. —ASHLEE OLSEN

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Dee Wang

Operation Coordinator Asian Business Collaborative “I love the simple weekends in Albuquerque, where I grab a Banh Mi and a cup of Vietnamese coffee in the morning, then enjoy the delicious food at North Domingo Baca Park with my husband while enjoying a view of the Sandia Mountains.” Start Bragging ABQ is a campaign to tell everyone what you love about our city. Got a brag about ABQ? Send it to us at editor@abqthemag.com.

House cats share 95.6% of their genetic makeup with tigers. You read that right, TIGERS. They also share some of the same behavior habits such as scent and urine marking, prey stalking and pouncing.

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

Wise Choice Foods Pizza Run On May 15th more than 300 runners and Albuquerque residents gathered at Mesa Del Sol to benefit the Make-A-WIsh Foundation of NM. Each particpant received a hot WIsePies Pizza once they completed a one mile, 5k, or 10k run. 1. Danielle Rodriguez, Sara Lister 2. Nick Chavez, Sydney Chavez 3. Sandra Juarez , Larry Ulmer, Ruben Torrez, Kevin Gilbert 4. Samuel Rooney, Preciliano Ortiz, John Mowrey 5. Troy Maggard, Rudy Mora, Zayah Maggard 6. Lyndsi Donner, Kimberly Lussetto 7. David Campbell, Jerome Gonzales

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Noche Azul On June 4th, All Faiths Children’s Advocacy Center hosted the first annual Noche Azul Event at Hotel Albuquerque. Noche Azul held a fundraiser dedicated to the prevention of child abuse. 1. Clair Anderson, Shane Anderson 2. Anneledi Gallegos, Corinna Yonemoto-Brown, Justin Brown 3. Tarra Toledo, DeeDee Stroud, Chelsea Pennington 4. Amy Miller, Cliff McNary, Jennifer Brower 5. Yvette Tovar, Dr. Doris Fields, Anne Frost 6. John Kelley, Christina Stanley, Erika Anderson, Joe Zohgbi 7. Sally Sacco, Tracy Sherman, Leean Kravitz, Gretchen Doyle

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NOT LONG AGO

Superhero Autism Activity Day Kids, parents, and superheroes gathered at the Jewish Community Center on June 16, 2019 for a day filled with fun, games, and crime fighting. Centria Autism pulled out all the stops to raise funds to fight autism, with Spiderman, Black Panther, and Superwoman all making appearances. 1. Desarae Torres, Siobhan Torres, Benjamin Torres, Spiderman 2. Samantha Boesiger, Aiden Boesiger, Kim Simmons, Nicholas Boesiger 3. Samantha Taylor, Olivia Gallegos, Violet (Incredibles) 4. Mikaela Gonzales, Landon De La O, Braelynn De La O, Hailey Allen 5.Alic McGrorty, Nicole Mulvihill, Ester Duran (Superman), Lisa Castillo 6. Marquese Calloway (Black Panther), Jessica Gallegos (SuperWoman), Marcy Puentes (Batgirl)

7. Dante Dillon-Allen, Alaria Dillon-Allen, Alastriana Dillon-Allen, Tetsuo Dillon-Allen, Tamerin Dillon-Allen

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NOT LONG AGO

34th Annual Erin Trujeque Memorial Gala After a day of golfing for a good cause, attendees turned out for the 34th Annual Erin Trujeque Memorial Gala in 2019. The event included a silent auction, drinks, dinner, and entertainment with proceeds going to support the Children’s Cancer Fund of NM. 1. Dee Trujeque, George Trujeque, Emma Davis, Jason Davis 2. Dee Dennis III, Jessica Dennis, Jill Sivage, Cassandra Sanchez 3. John Corvino, Marie Corvino 4. Dr. John Kuttesch, Nicole Martin, Auri Martin, Ryan Martin 5. Johnny Snyder, Diana Snyder, Mary Louise Snyder 6. Roslyn Vargas, Gabriel, Taliana, Juliana

7. Yvonne Wilson, Paula Ancona, Brent Franken, Melissa Deaver-Rivera

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JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

NOT LONG AGO

Fight for Cody Fundraiser On July 13, 2019, Albuquerqueans poured into Black Box Fitness for a fundraiser to support Cody Gentry. Cody, a student at Volcano Vista High School, was struck by an automobile and paralyzed. The proceeds from this event are going to help him pay for medical bills and work towards his goal of walking again. 1. Josh Skrondahl, Ruben Bustamante, Eric Wasson, Erik Nunez 2. Geoff Smelser, Jessica Gentry, Casey Duree 3. Kim Christian, Susan Johnson 4. Jaden Bussey, Celina Bussey 5. Jaime Romo, Carlos Contreras 6. Leanne Gonzales, Luis Vela

7. Tan Pham, Gabriella Bellissimo

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JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

PARTNER CONTENT

ABQ ER HOSPITAL Kim Valerio, Chief Nursing Officer

“I

9310 Coors Ave NW Albuquerque, NM (505) 431-1900 · abqhospital.com

feel like I was put on earth to be a nurse. It is the fabric of who I am and it doesn’t turn off when I am not at work,” says Kim Valerio, Chief Nursing Officer at Albuquerque ER & Hospital, “I care for my families, my team, their families and anyone else who needs it. I enjoy caring for people and their families.” After nearly three decades in health care and 28 years as a Registered Nurse, Kim definitely walks the talk and was recruited for this job because of her ability to build successful teams. She joined Albuquerque ER & Hospital when they opened in June 2019 and is now playing a strategic role as the company prepares to open a second location, on Montgomery and Wyoming, on the eastside of town. Being the Chief Nursing Officer, Kim oversees the facility and handles everything from hiring staff to registration to ordering equipment. She also sees patients, which is not typical for a

CNO, but Kim is not typical. She is extremely dedicated to her work, passionate about ensuring her team has everything they need to do their job and proudly says she is “wherever the need appears.” She says, “Our system is unique because we are smaller and we don’t work short-staffed here. Because of how we are set-up, we have to know various roles. I work every position so I can see what the struggles are and correct them.” One of the reasons Kim most enjoys her work at Albuquerque ER & Hospital is because “we give to our patients, we give to our staff and we take care of each other.” When Kim is not working, she enjoys spending time with her soul mate of ten years and their blended family that includes eight children, seven grandchildren, nine dogs and a “grand”cat. WWW.ABQTHEMAG.COM | JULY 2022

PARTNER CONTENT

ALBUQUERQUE ACUPUNCTURE & INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE Dr. Andrea Brogdon, DOM

10400 Academy RD. NE, UNIT 210 Albuquerque, NM (505) 355-1984 · aaim-abq.com

hen difficult health situations present and western medicine is not able to help, that’s when many people turn to eastern medicine for relief and results. Doctors of Oriental Medicine are trained in diagnostic treatments and methods—including acupuncture—that go back thousands of years, which is why more people are turning to this as a first option. “During an unexplained health obstacle of my own many years ago, I chose to dig deeper instead of just accepting treatment for my symptoms. That is how I found acupuncture and herbal medicine,” says Dr. Andrea Brogdon, a practicing acupuncturist and owner of Albuquerque Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine (AAIM). “I created AAIM to bring Albuquerque a worldclass healing environment that supports recovery and health maintenance.” Dr. Brogdon has made it her mission to “learn the best treatments for treating difficult diseases, many of which western medicine offers little relief. I have spent the last year working with some of the best doctors in the nation. I want to bring hope to cases deemed ‘hopeless’ using natural medicine.” “We use the time-tested medicine of acupuncture alongside cutting-edge technology to accomplish the positive health changes we want to see. I specialize in treating peripheral neuropathy, infertility, and complex chronic pain, including failed back surgeries,” she says. “Whether it be the tingling and burning of neuropathy, the unbearable pain from a failed surgery or the constant stiffness associated with arthritis, we are here to help you live pain-free,” she says. Dr. Brogdon stays motivated by the joy she receives when lives are changed. “I have had patients come in frustrated with their health obstacles and told they must be put on medication for the rest of their life—or that there just isn’t anything else to do. When they truly begin to see changes in my office, I can see hope returning and that keeps me going. I love what I do.” JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

PARTNER CONTENT

WESTERN DERMATOLOGY CONSULTANTS

10151 Montgomer y NE, Suite A · (505) 855-5503 4801 McMahon NW, Suite 270 · (505) 879-1313 Albuquerque, NM westerndermatology.com

stablished in 1997, Western Dermatology Consultants offers full medical and surgical services ranging from annual exams and in-patient surgeries to medical spa treatments, as well as several lines of skin care products. With two convenient locations in Albuquerque, this female-led clinic strives to provide the highest-quality care as well as cutting-edge technology to help us all feel better in our own skin. Three board-certified doctors, Dr. Leslie Glass, Dr. Barbara Einhorn and Dr. Catherine Tchanqué-Fossuo, have many years of specialized dermatology training including four years of medical school, one to three years of primary care or a surgical residency and three years of dermatology residency. Then the doctors take a specialty board exam which makes this trio of female doctors a cut above the rest. Whether you need Photodynamic Therapy to treat pre-cancerous lesions from chronic sun exposure, laser and light therapies to remove unsightly veins or Botox injections or fillers, Western Der-

matology Consultants does it all. Two of the services the doctors are most excited about, and which are exclusive to Western Dermatology Consultants, are the Excimer Laser, which treats psoriasis, eczema and vitiligo, and Isolaz which is used to treat acne. Dr. Einhorn says, “Some of our most popular treatments include the CoolSculpting Elite, a newer version of the CoolSculpting device that is more efficient and effective in working with ‘muffin tops’ and other areas of the body that our clients want to reduce. Additionally, Clear and Brilliant is like ‘micro-dermabrasion on steroids’ and the results are amazing.” The practice has a laser focus on lasers, which provide solutions to many everyday problems including facial and leg veins, brown spots as well as tattoo removal. “We have a laser that zeroes in on removing tattoos, even yellow and red ink which are typically hard to eliminate,” says Dr. Einhorn. Western Dermatology Consultants has all of the tools to keep your skin in top condition. WWW.ABQTHEMAG.COM | JULY 2022

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ALBUQUERQUE HEARING & BALANCE Dr. Carol Clifford, Doctor of Audiology & President

Eastside: 2100 Louisiana Blvd NE, Ste. 409 Westside: 10700 Corrales Rd NW, Ste. I Albuquerque, NM (505) 890-0003 · abqhearing.com

magine your life without words, noises or sounds. It’s hard to fathom, but many people suffer from untreated hearing loss. Albuquerque Hearing and Balance are experts in caring for auditory issues of children to mature adults, but they offer much more than just hearing aids. Born and raised in Albuquerque, Founder and President Dr. Carol Clifford says, “My father, a dentist here, taught me good patient care.” Though she opened her business 24 years ago, Dr. Clifford has been an audiologist for 40 years. “I love what I do; we offer a variety of unique services that go beyond hearing, including balance issues and cognitive screening. While balance problems can be related to the inner ear, they can also be impacted by stroke or traumatic brain injury. Athletes often want to work on balance issues so they can perform at their best. “We have the only Doctor of Physical Therapy who is credentialed

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

at the level in New Mexico for balance. I jokingly refer to him as the ‘balance whisperer,’” she says. “I know of few practices around the country that have a balance expert. We can diagnose and treat balance issues and this makes us distinctive.” With two locations—they opened a second location last year on the eastside, Albuquerque Hearing and Balance is also the only practice in Albuquerque and the state that is Ida Certified. Ida is person-centered care philosophy that involves listening to the patient and teaming with them on decisions. “This is a collaboration and all our staff completed coursework for us to become Ida certified,” Dr. Clifford proudly says. “Our goal is to help people discover how communication issues can and do disconnect them from the world. Together we can figure out the right solution and the patient is empowered to make their own decision.”

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BLINK

Dr. Alissa Irons

201 Slate Avenue NW · Albuquerque, NM (505) 247-3463 · blinknm.com

ith five extraordinary senses, we depend heavily on our eyes to drive, work and live our best lives. This is why annual exams are critical to maintain our sight and detect and prevent disease. Dr. Alissa Irons, an optometrist with 22 years’ experience, owns Blink, where she and her staff help patients see better every day. From full eye exams to diabetic exams, Blink can fit you for contact lenses, including specialty lenses, as well as an extensive array of frames and eye glass lenses. They also provide assorted safety glasses and non-prescription sunglasses. Blink carries standard sunglass lines including Ray-Ban and Oakley, but also eye glass lines like Dolabany, a USA-made line that features colorful and interesting patterns. Or choose from Silhouette, a high-quality Austrian brand with a very light-weight frame that “disappears on your face,” Dr. Irons says. They also carry high-end brands such as Gucci, Tumi, Prada, Cole-Haan and Chloe with fun and comfortable frames. No matter what your peepers need, with more than 80 years’ experience in the optical industry, Blink’s staff knows eyes. Dr. Irons says, “My staff and I truly enjoy sitting with our patients to talk about their eyecare needs and figuring out how to best help them.”

DR. MONICA BOEHMER, DDS, FAGD Esthetic & Restorative Dentistry

3309 Juan Tabo Blvd NE, Suite A · Albuquerque, NM (505) 271-8009 · boehmerdds.com f you love your smile and want to keep it, or if you are in need of professional help to improve your smile, lean on Dr. Monica Boehmer and her talented team. From the simplest preventive cleaning to more complex restorative dental challenges, Dr. Boehmer has been serving Albuquerque since she opened her practice more than 25 years ago. Committed to staying at the forefront of dentistry, Dr. Boehmer participates in advanced dental education. She is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry and a Faculty Club member of SPEAR. Her education and skill allows her to solve complex dental problems. For clients ranging from three years old and up, Dr. Boehmer and her team provide a complete range of services including thorough check-ups, oral cancer screening, tooth-colored fillings, crowns, dental implants, veneers, Invisalign, whitening and much more. Using the latest technology, they will ensure your experience is seamless and transparent, showing you what’s going on so that you and the team are always on the same page. All options are tailored to meet your specific needs, recognizing that the health of your teeth can impact your entire body. Call today to schedule an appointment and see why so many in Albuquerque love Dr. Boehmer.

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JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

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THE BUZZ AROUND ALBUQUERQUE: YOUR GUIDE TO EVERYTHING HAPPENING THIS MONTH

TOP PICK Saturday 23 5 -8 pm, Concert and Night Market, Sunday 24 Festival Market, 8 am-3 pm hances Los Ranchos’ public open space and stimulates an interest in sustainable agriculture with an emphasis on educating the public, including such matters as historic agriculture, lavender and its uses, as well as fostering community spirit. Lots of activities of interest for every age. New Mexico beer, wine, and spirits; local food and culinary treats. Info: lavenderinthevillage.org, (505) 933-8650, located in one place this year, the Agri-Nature Center of Los Ranchos, 4920 Rio Grande Blvd. NW. Tickets start at $10.

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COURTESY IMAGE

Lavender in the Village Festival. This festival preserves and en-

friday 1 5–8 pm

A Group Show of Albuquerque Recycle Artists Mitch Berg, John Bumkens, Kenny Chavez, Jill Cooper, Allison Holmes, and Lisa Zawadzki will be at Matrix Fine Art Gallery. These artists demonstrate multiple approaches in the transformation of recycled materials into art. Info: Matrix Fine Art Gallery, 3812 Central SE. Parking in back. Free.

friday 1 and saturday 2 7:30 pm sunday 3 2 pm

Unnecessary Farce by Paul Slade Smith Two bumbling cops, a romantic tryst, the Scottish mafia, and eight doors create the perfect, ridiculous farce. Info: The Adobe Theater, adobetheater. org, (505) 898-9222. Tickets: $17-20.

monday 4 3—10 pm

Freedom 4th Plan to bring the family to celebrate our country’s Independence Day. The country music group Shenandoah is set to headline. Enjoy the brightest fireworks show in the state with food and local beer in The Cantina, as well as free children’s activities. Info: Balloon Fiesta Park. Family-friendly and free admission; $10 cash per car or park-and-ride from Coronado Center. Please visit cultureabq.com.

saturday 9 12:30–2:30 pm

SouthWest Writers Live and via Zoom, multiNYTimes bestselling author Hallie Ephron explains "How to Write a Page Turner." Info: Members $20, nonmembers $30. Contact info@swwriters.com to register in advance and obtain the Zoom link.

wednesday 20 12:30–1:30pm

Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body: Tips from the Latest Research Alzheimer’s Association, NM Chapter. Free webinar explores how lifestyle habits may help keep our brains healthy as we age and possibly delay the onset of cognitive decline. Info: Contact nmprograms@alz. org or (800) 272-3900. Free.

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Trust us, these are but a few ABQ events YOU CAN'T MISS. 9

saturday 16 7–10 pm

Mariachi Spectacular de Albuquerque This spectacular concert lives up to its name by presenting worldrenowned groups showcasing a variety of styles within the mariachi tradition. Performances are passionate, heart-rending interpretations of mariachi classic songs. Attendees will experience mariachi music at its best. Info: mariachispectacular. com for more information, (505) 836-0306, presented at Sandia Resort & Casino Amphitheater. Tickets: sandicacasino.com or casino box office, $59-$100, reserved seating.

monday 18 through thursday 21 Various Times

The Basketball Tournament (TBT) New Mexico Regional In 2022, TBT will be a 64-team, single-elimination tournament for a million dollars, winnertake-all. Application is open to all. Games will take place in July & August and air on ESPN. TBT 2022 will be New Mexico’s 9th tournament. See the Enchantment which are UNM alumni including Drew Gordon, Anthony Mathis, Roman Martinez, J.R Giddens, and others. Info: The Pit, 1111 University Blvd. SE. All session tickets $45 to $150 (7 games). Visit thetournament.com.

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friday 29 6:30–8:30 pm

Keshet’s Choreographers’ Showcase Keshet Dance and Center for the Arts’ 2022 Choreographers’ Showcase includes local and national choreographers in a range of dance styles. From seasoned professionals to emerging dancemakers, these dynamic artists will come together for one night only! Info: Keshet Dance & Center for the Arts, 4121 Cutler Ave NE, (505) 224-9808 office, keshetarts.org. Open to all ages. $0-$20 sliding scale tickets.

saturday 30 8 am–4 pm

The Not-So-Muddy Grass Volleyball Tournament This year the Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation's Mudd Volleyball Tournament is taking place as a Grass Tournament at Balloon Fiesta Park. Info: Deadline to register is July 22. Please call (505) 243-6626 or visit carrietingleyhospitalfoundation. org/events.

now through august 31

friday 1 through 10

friday 8 | 3–4 pm

Planet Fitness. High school students ages 14 to 19 are invited to work out FREE at any of its local clubs as part of its High School Summer Pass to improve their mental and physical health. Info: To register, visit planetfitness.com/summerpass.

Edmund and the Astronaut. Don’t miss this exciting original sci-fi play starring Ross Kelly and a robot, the world’s first fully produced stage play to star a remote-controlled robot, Edmund and the Astronaut is a funny and moving story. Produced by JoyrKade, a collaboration between Ross Kelly and Sarah Loeppke. Info: 700-708 1st Street NW, (505) 7669412. fusionnm.org.

Free Art Class. Come explore the Amazon Rainforest through art with Sailer Fine Art and Instruction at Escape in Time, ABQ’s premier escape room venue and ice cream parlor. Info: Call to reserve your space (505) 350-5413 or (505) 836-1386, 1100 San Mateo NE, escapeintimeabq. com. Free ice cream for participants. Intergenerational, ages 6+, under 10 with an adult.

saturday 2 and 16 | 4:30 pm

friday 8| 5–6:30 pm

Weekend Family Music Event. Bluegrass and Western music shows. The first of two bands begin at 4:30 followed by an amazing falcon show and park visitation. The second band begins at 7 pm. Food trucks will be available. Info: Wildlife West Nature Park, 87 Frontage Road, Edgewood, a non-profit 501(c) 3. Advance ticket sales $20 at (505) 281-7655, directions at wildlifewest.org.

Collaboration. Placitas Community Library Art Committee challenged artists to find a colleague with whom they could collaborate to make art. Reception July 8th and the show will run until July 14. Info: PCL, 453 Hwy 165, Placitas, NM, placitaslibrary.com, (505) 867-3355.

friday 1 | 4–7 pm Land and Body Scapes. Amapola’s July Featured Artist exhibition with watercolors by Tom Cassidy and beaded jewelry by Pam Troutman will begin with a reception as noted above. The show will run through July. Info: Amapola Gallery, in Old Town at 205 Romero, NW, on the Plaza. Open 10–5 daily, (505) 242-4311, amapolagallery.com.

friday 1 | 9 pm Chatter Late Works. A late-night concert for the adventurous at Chatter's new downtown warehouse performance space. With cash bar. Info: Chatter at 912 3rd Street NW, chatterabq.org/boxoffice. Tickets: $16 general admission.

sunday 3 | 1–5 pm Feast for the Eyes. This is the Corrales Bosque Gallery Theme for the entire month of July. Utilizing a variety of mediums and styles, the gallery artists display their artful interpretations. Serving snacks and beverages; many artists available to discuss their works. Info: 4685 Corrales Road, corralesbosquegallery.com, (505) 898-7203.

friday 8 | 5 –8 pm Mariposa Gallery. Downstairs: Thomas TJ Meade presents a new body of abstract paintings in a show titled "4 sided FUTURE and distracted dreams of realization in the direction of a line". Upstairs: Collage artist Jennifer DeSantis exhibits a body of new work entitled "Garden of Earthy Delights.” Info: Through August 31st. 3500 Central Avenue SE, info@mariposa-gallery.com, (505) 268-6828.

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friday 8 and saturday 9 | 7 pm

sunday 10 | 5 pm

sunday 10 | 10:30 am

Opera Unlimited. The 20th Opera Unlimited Summer Camp will present full-staged and costumed productions by NM school children – two operettas, Hans Kràsa’s Brundibár, and Gilbert & Sullivan’s Trial by Jury. Info: Sandia Presbyterian Church, 10704 Paseo Del Norte NE, operaunlimited.org, (505) 690-5535. Admission free; donations welcome to support Opera Unlimited’s music outreach program.

Albuquerque Summer Scene. Hailing from Palenque, the first free black town in the Americas, the hip-hop group Kombilesa Mí overlays traditional Colombian rhythms and instruments with lyrics in both Spanish and the local language, Palenquero. Proud of their heritage and passionate about music, Kombilesa Mí (Palenquero for “my friends”) represents the voice of a new generation of Columbian musicians. Info: Presented by AMP Concerts, this will be at Fusion’s outdoor performance space, 700-708 1st Street NW, (505) 766-9412, fusionnm.org.

Chatter Sunday. Grammy-winning Attacca Quartet returns with a program of music by Philip Glass, Flying Lotus, and Caroline Shaw. With a reading by poet James Burbank. Info: Chatter at 912 3rd Street NW, chatterabq. org/boxoffice. Tickets: $16 adults, $9 students/under-30, $5 under-13.

saturday 9 | 10 am–noon SouthWest Writers. Live and via Zoom, BR Kingsolver, author of multiple successful book series, explains “How to Write a Series." Note: This is not the author Barbara Kingsolver. Info: Free to members. Non-Members contact info@swwriters. com for a Zoom link.

saturday 9 | 2–4 pm Pastel Society of New Mexico. Our Signature Show will run through August 13th and will open with an artist’s reception. Info: Los Lunas Museum of Heritage and Arts, 251 Main Street. SE, Los Lunas. The museum is open 10–5 Tuesday–Saturday and is closed Sundays and Mondays. Free to the public and everyone is welcome.

saturday 9 | 1–3 pm Don Bullis: Law and Order in Territorial New Mexico. Don is an author and has served in several positions within the law, including as a NM deputy sheriff. 150 years ago, the county sheriff’s office was the foundation of law enforcement within the NM territory. During this time, an onset of lawlessness encroached upon NM. Large counties, fee systems, and a lack of resources contributed to the breakdown of law and order during this period. Info: Casa San Ysidro, 973 Old Church Road, Corrales. Cabq.gov/casasanysidro, (505) 898-3915. Free.

saturday 9 | 1–4 pm Portals: Paintings by Colleen Z Gregoire. Wild Hearts Gallery presents the opening reception for this artist who will present oils and watercolors of local landscapes and architecture. The exhibit runs through July 24. Info: Wild Hearts Gallery, an artists’ collective of 16 local artists. 221 Homestead Village Hwy 165, Placitas, wildheartsgallery.com, (505) 361-2710.

saturday 9 | 6–8 pm Neighborhood Open Space Community Concert. AMP Concerts, in conjunction with a partnership with the City of Albuquerque Open Space Division, will sponsor a concert by JD Nash and the Rash of Cash at this property that is along the ephemeral Tijeras Creek and features some beautiful grassy areas surrounded by magnificent cottonwood trees and views of the Sandia foothills. This event will be the first introduction. Info: Reservations are encouraged at ampconcerts.org. Free.

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

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wednesday 13 | 4:30 pm Sunshine & Summer Nights Tour. Atmosphere, Iration, The Grouch, DJ Fresh, and Katastro will perform in Downtown Albuquerque. Info: This event will be outdoors at 6th and Central Avenue, for all ages. Tickets: $48.50 General Admission; $200 VIP with meet & greet (see website) at holdmyticket.com.

saturday 16 | 9 am–noon

friday 22 through sunday August 14 The Sweet Delilah Swim Club. Another Jones Hope Wooten comedy where a “girls” swim club meets every year to catch up, laugh, and meddle in each other’s lives, as only old friends can do. Info: The Adobe Theater, adobetheater.org, (505) 898-9222. Tickets: $17-20.

Neighborhood Nature Festival. AMP Concerts presents Lara Manzanares. This free pop-up event will provide exciting engagement opportunities for residents and explorers from around the city. Each celebration will feature paletas from Pop Fizz, bilingual nature storytelling and puppet shows, nature-themed carnivale performances, a bosque ecosystem traveling exhibit truck, hands-on science activities, nature-based games, show-ntell with urban wild animals, a bike repair clinic, on-site language interpreters, live music from Lara Manzanares, and more. Info: Alamosa Park, 1100 Bataan Drive SW. Reservations encouraged at ampconcerts. org. Free.

saturday 23 | 5–10 pm Route 66 Summerfest. The National Headliner will be Las Cafeteras, creating vibrant musical fusion with a unique East LA sound and a positive message. Multiple stages will include local bands, food trucks, a 25-foot climbing wall, and show vehicles that will take over Nob Hill. Info: Located at Central Avenue from Girard Blvd. to Washington Street. Bring the family and enjoy the fun! Info: Free to the public. Pets are welcome on leashes. Rain or shine.

ONE COMMUNITY... ONE FAMILY... THANK YOU ALBUQUERQUE!

saturday 16 | 10–11:30 am The Xeric Garden Club. Docent Mark Vaughn will speak about a ”Brief History of Medicinal Plants” and will provide a tour of Xeric’s Wildlife Habitat Garden, as well as supplying information about how to create a wildlife habitat garden in your own backyard. Albuquerque Garden Center, 10120 Lomas Boulevard NE. Free.

sunday 17 | 2 pm The Gluey Brothers. Coming onstage with hilarious, real-life characters that are both outlandish and lovable, The Gluey Brothers are not blood brothers, but rather are glued together in a tight bond on a magical level that allows for humor to flit between them in a super-fluid manner. MC Tahina and King Hummus, the twisted leaders of the group, became tight friends at Walter Reed Junior High School in Studio City, CA, where they first performed together in the jazz band. Info: Presented by AMP Concerts, this will be at Fusion’s outdoor performance space, 700-708 1st Street NW, (505) 766-9412, fusionnm.org.

sunday 17 | 10:30 am Chatter Sunday. Del Sol String Quartet performs as part of Chatter’s annual collaboration with Santa Fe Opera. Info: Chatter at 912 3rd Street NW, chatterabq. org/boxoffice. Tickets: $16 adults, $9 students/under-30, $5 under-13.

wall to wall flatscreens bold burgers STONE BAKED pizzas ice cold beer at 33° 33° 4861 Pan American Freeway NE Albuquerque,, NM 87109 Albuquerque 505.. 344 505 344.. 7427 www.. bubbas33 www bubbas33.. com

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

saturday 11 | 1–3 pm

sunday 24 | 2 pm

sunday 24 | 10:30am

Robert Martinez. “The History of Hispano Music.” State Historian Rob Martinez takes a journey through New Mexico’s rich historical past and tapestry with music, presenting song forms that date back centuries. Info: Casa San Ysidro, 973 Old Church Road, Corrales, (505) 898-3915, cabq.gov/casasanysidro. Timed entry tickets available through holdmyticket. com for museum admission.

AJ Lee and Blue Summit. Led by singer, songwriter, and mandolinist AJ Lee, this bluegrass band has performed all over the world and generally plays sans banjo. Drawing from influences such as country, soul, swing, rock, and jam music, the band uses the lens of bluegrass as a vessel through which to express and explore the thread that binds and unifies all great music. Info: Presented by AMP Concerts, this will be at Fusion’s outdoor performance space, 700-708 1st Street NW, (505) 766-9412, fusionnm.org.

Chatter Sunday. Chatter musicians premiere a major new piece by composer Sarah Hennies for violin and four cellos. Info: Chatter at 912 3rd Street NW, chatterabq. org/boxoffice. Tickets: $16 adults, $9 students/under-30, $5 under-13.

tuesday 26 | 6:30–8:30 pm Night Walk at the Botanic Garden. Bring your family and explore the wonders of nightfall as you begin a guided tour through the Garden in search of nightblooming plants, nocturnal animals, and night pollinators. Info: ABQ BioPark, 2601 Central Avenue NW, biopark@cabq.gov, (505) 848-7180, $15 adults, $10 youth and seniors. Space is limited; pre-registration online is required. Rain or shine.

wednesday 27 | 6:30–8:30 pm SouthWest Writers. Margaret Shannon of the New Mexico Genealogical Society explains how "You Can Write Your Family History." Info: Via Zoom only. Free to members and non-members (up to three free meetings). Contact info@swwriters. com for a link.

friday 29 | 5–9 pm Your Family History." Info: Via Zoom only. Free to members and non-members (up to three free meetings). Contact info@ swwriters.com for a link.

friday 29 | 5–9 pm Last Friday Market. Mariposa Music presents a monthly family-friendly market at Fusion. Join us on the last Friday of each month for live music, local artisan vendors, food, and drinks, indoors and out. Info: 700-708 1st Street NW, (505) 7669412, fusionnm.org.

friday 29 and saturday 30 9:30 pm The Mid-Nite Theatre. A late-night double feature featuring short new works from four local creators and a musical guest, The Mid-Nite Theatre is dead set on providing entertainment not for the whole family. Info: Presented by AMP Concerts, Find tickets and details on fusion.org, (505) 766-9412, 700-708 1st Street NW.

sunday 31 | 2 pm Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears. Black Joe Lewis has honed his mastery over gut bucket blues guitar and vital and distinctly American voice. Having shared countless bills with some of the most influential soul and garage bands of the last twenty-five years (including Sharon Joes, Charles Bradley, Detroit Cobras), Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears are known for propulsive and synergistic live performances. This is a show not to be missed! Info: Presented by AMP Concerts, this will be at Fusion’s outdoor performance space, 700-708 1st Street NW, (505) 766-9412, fusionnm.org.

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sunday 31 | 3–5 pm

daily |

Ride the Musical Rails with Adam Swanson. Adam is one of the world’s foremost pianists and historians of vintage American popular music, including ragtime, early jazz, and the Great American Songbook, and is also a four-time winner of the World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest with his New York debut at Carnegie Hall. Info: Unitarian Church, 3701 Carlisle NE. $26 in advance and $30 at door. Tickets at holdmyticket. com; doors open at 2:15.

Agora Crisis Center Volunteers. Are you a compassionate, non-judgmental person who wants to help others? Learn new skills, make friends, earn class credit, and be part of a rewarding organization. Info: Agora Crisis Center, agoracares.org, (505) 277-3013.

Animal Humane Free Behavioral Helpline. This service is available to all pet owners who are experiencing behavior problems with their dogs or cats. Animal Humane New Mexico’s trained behavior coaches answer questions and provide tips on everything from housetraining to living with multiple animals. Info: (505) 9387900.

sunday 31 | 10:30 am Chatter Sunday. A full string orchestra performs Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Grieg’s Elegiac Pieces. Info: Chatter at 912 3rd Street NW, chatterabq.org/boxoffice. Tickets: $16 adults, $9 students/under-30, $5 under-13.

DAILY/ONGOING various days | various times Albuquerque Visitor’s Guide. Info: Check out visitabq.org for many great ideas for exploring our city. An official printed Albuquerque Visitor’s Guide can also be obtained.

daily | various activities and times Jewish Community Center. The Ronald Gardenswartz Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque (JCC) is part of your extended family, your home away from home—providing programs and services for all ages and stages in life. Within our walls or around the world, our members gather to meet, play, learn, celebrate, and be part of the community. Everyone, regardless of age or religious affiliation, is welcome. Info: 5520 Wyoming Blvd. NE, (505) 332-0565, jccabq.org.

daily | various times and locations Al-Anon Family Groups and Alateen. This is an anonymous fellowship of relatives and friends of problem drinkers. Meetings are held on various days and times throughout Albuquerque and New Mexico. We come together to share our experience, strength and hope to recover from the effects of another person's drinking. Info: Al-Anon Information Service, aisnm.org, (505) 262-2177.

daily | various times Lovelace Silver Elite. Informative videos are offered that address health issues such as osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, cardiovascular issues, Parkinson’s disease, and treatment options for male lower UTI’s and BPH, as well as radiology imaging as we age. Presented by Lovelace doctors that are experts in the subject fields. Lovelace Silver Elite also offers free seminars and VIP benefits. Info: lovelacesilverelite.com, (505) 727-5502.

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

daily | Epilepsy Support and Education Services. For meeting time and place, call (505) 243-9119 or visit epilepsysupportnm.org.

daily |11:30 am–5:30 pm Rattlesnakes. See different species of live rattlesnakes displayed in recreated natural landscapes. We are dedicated to conservation and preservation through education. Info: American International Rattlesnake Museum, 202 San Felipe Road NW, Suite A, (505) 242-6569, rattlesnakes.com. Tickets: $6 adults; $5 seniors, military, students, teachers; $4 children.

daily | Roadrunner Food Bank. Volunteers needed to prepare food for distribution, repack and sort items, and other activities. The gift of your precious time helps solve hunger for many New Mexicans. Volunteers must register in advance. Shifts are available in two-hour increments, Mondays–Saturdays. Info: 5840 Office Blvd. NE, givetime@rrfb.org, (505) 349-5358.

daily | 10 am–5 pm A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The Corrales Bosque Gallery celebrates June with the artists displaying art that interprets this theme in their various mediums and styles for the entire month of June. Info: 4685 Corrales Rd, Corrales, NM. Open to all ages. (505) 898-7203. Free.

daily | Ronald McDonald House Charities of New Mexico. We provide a “home-awayfrom-home” for families whose children are in medical treatment. Operating the 30-guest room Yale House, 20-guest room Highlands House, and the Ronald McDonald Family Rooms at UNM and Presbyterian Hospitals, volunteers make a vital difference in the lives of the people they serve. Info: Volunteer Coordinator, volunteer@rmhc-nm.org,(505) 842-8960.

daily |10 am–4 pm The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Celebrating our 40th anniversary with “We Are of This Place: The Pueblo Story” Art Exhibit, a permanent museum exhibit that represents all 19 Pueblos and builds upon the IPCC’s 40-year history of telling the story of Pueblo people in their own voices. Hear stories in Pueblo languages from artists and elders, interact with art and artifacts, learn about the Pueblo people’s history of resilience, and experience traditions that have been passed down for generations. Info: IPCC, 2401 12th Street NW, indianpueblo.org, (505) 843-7270. Free with museum admission.

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JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

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daily | 7 am–8 pm

various days | various times

mondays | 2:30–4 pm

Free Fishing. From sun-up to sun-down, practice your basic fly-tying methods, flyrod casting techniques, fishing etiquette, effective catch-and-release practices and enhancement of advanced skills. Bring your own equipment and refreshments as the store and cafes are currently closed. Great place for a picnic with trails. Info: Tingley Beach, 1800 Tingley Drive SW, call 311 or (505) 768-2000.

ABQ Scavenger Hunt. Teams of 2-5 people solve clues, complete challenges, and work together to unravel secrets of the city. Info: (805) 603-5620, 1919 Old Town Rd. NW, urbanadventurequest.com, $49 per team, $10 off coupon at visitalbuquerque. org.

UNM and Cancer Support Now. Survivors Writing Together, a journaling support group for survivors, men and women, all cancer diagnoses. Info: Our Helpline is available seven days a week at (505) 255-0405. Hosting web meetings only at this time. Please call our helpline for an invitation to join a web support group or to connect with someone for one-to-one support.

daily | 10 am–5 pm Adopt a Pet. Find your best pet ever. Adopt a dog, cat, puppy or kitten from Animal Humane New Mexico. Adoptions include spay/neuter, vaccinations, and a microchip. Info: 615 Virginia Street SE, (505) 255-5523 and 10141 Coors Blvd. NW, (505) 323-7387, animalhumanenm.org.

daily | various times NAMI NM and NAMI Albuquerque (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill). We have many support programs available weekly through Zoom at no charge. We also offer 8-week classes on mental illness that are available at no charge to family members and people with a mental health condition or diagnosis. During trying times, stress, anxiety, depression and anger are prevalent. Info: naminewmexico. org, namialbuquerque.org, information line (505) 260-0154. Free.

various days | various times Tango Club of Albuquerque. Please visit info@abqtango.org for details about various classes, workshops, and opportunities for social dancing.

sundays | 10 am–2 pm Rail Yards Market, Traditions. Food, Art, Music. Hosting over 150 vendors of fresh produce, fine food, healing hands, and handmade art. This is the finest Growers’ Market experience for locals and tourists alike. Info: 777 First Street SW and handicap accessible. Free parking.

mondays | 5–6 pm, every second monday | 6:30–8 pm Outcomes. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. Come for discussion and support groups. Info: Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 8600 Academy Rd. NE, (505) 243-2551 to reserve a space. Free childcare and admission.

first and third mondays | 4:30–5:30 pm UNM and Cancer Support Now. Survivors and/or caregivers, all diagnoses, men and women. Info: Our Helpline is available seven days a week at (505) 255-0405. Hosting web meetings only at this time. Please call our helpline for an invitation to join a web support group or to connect with someone for one-to-one support.

daily | 10 am–8 pm Watermelon Mountain Ranch Animal Center. New Mexico’s largest no-kill animal shelter seeks loving homes for rescued dogs and cats. Adoptions are at select PetSmart locations and Watermelon Mountain Ranch. Donations, fosters, and volunteers are always welcome. Info: wmranch.org, (505) 771-0140, wmranchnm@aol.com.

daily | 10 am–5 pm Amapola Gallery. We are a group of 39 local artists and artisans who have joined together to keep quality and variety up, prices down. We are little, local, creative, and our wondrous works are always priced right. The featured artists for June are Ray Upson, carver, and Carol Sparks, painter. The show will run through June. Info: Amapola Gallery in Old Town on the Plaza at 205 Romero, NW. Open 10 to 5 daily, 505-242-4311, amapolagallery.com.

various days | various times Albuquerque Dolls. We have ongoing social events for women, including dinners, dancing, movies, volunteering, crafts, and trips, and we are having a blast. We encourage women to join together to support each other and learn more about New Mexico. meetup.com/AlbuquerqueDolls/.

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

WWW.ABQTHEMAG.COM | APRIL 2022

mondays and wednesdays 9:30 pm Online Tango Classes. Live lessons with Eva Garlez and Pablo Rodriguez. Info: Bien Milonguero Tango School, 1512 First Street NW. evaypablotango@gmail.com or (505) 313-5316 text or Whatsapp.

mondays–saturdays noon–2 pm Exquisite Turquoise in the Castle. This extraordinary German-style castle is the museum setting featuring rare turquoise specimens, lapidary demos, history and geology, a mine tunnel replica, hands-on activities for kids, and silversmithing. Info: The Turquoise Museum, 400 2nd St. SW, turquoisemuseum.com, (505) 433-3684. Tickets: $20 adults, $15 children.

every third monday 6–7:30 pm

every first tuesday 1–2:30 pm Spanish Language Alzheimer’s Support Group. This meeting is for Spanishspeaking individuals caring for a family member with dementia. Info: Alamosa Community Center, 6900 Gonzales Rd. SW, Suite C, (505) 363-8499 or (800) 272-3900.

first and third tuesdays 12–1:30 pm Cancer Support Now. Rio Rancho area breast cancer support group for patients and survivors of breast cancer. Info: Our Helpline is available 7 days a week at (505) 255-0405. Hosting web meetings only at this time. Please call our helpline for an invitation to join a web support group or to connect with someone for one-to-one support.

Outcomes. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. Attend discussion and support groups. Info: West Mesa Community Center, 5500 Glenrio NW, (505) 243-2551 to reserve a space. Free childcare and admission.

second tuesdays | 12–2 pm Cancer Support Now. How to be your Own Best Advocate for patients, survivors and/or caregivers, all cancers. Learn to identify and eliminate barriers in finding both medical and non-medical resources, information, and support during cancer diagnosis and treatment. Info: Our Helpline is available seven days a week at (505) 255-0405. Hosting web meetings only at this time. Please call our helpline for an invitation to join a web support group or to connect with someone for one-to-one support.

second tuesdays | 6–7 pm Outcomes. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. Attend for discussion and support groups. Info: Los Vecinos Community Center, 478 1/2 Old Highway 66, Tijeras, (505) 243-2551 to reserve a space. Free childcare and admission.

tuesdays–sundays 10 am–5 pm National Hispanic Cultural Center Exhibits. See our website for the current listing of exhibitions. Info: National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 Fourth St. SW, (505) 246-2261, nhccnm.org.

tuesdays 2–3 pm Caregiver Support Group. Caregiving for a loved one can be overwhelming and isolating. This group provides a compassionate space for caregivers to gain emotional support and information. Facilitated by Erin Tarica, LMSW. Info: Jewish Community Center, 5520 Wyoming Blvd. NE. Pre-registration required, (505) 348-4451, free.

tuesdays–saturdays 9 am–5 pm Art and History Exhibitions. Albuquerque Museum. See our website for the current listing of exhibitions. Info: Albuquerque Museum, 2000 Mountain Road NW, cabq. gov/artsculture/abqmuseum, (505) 2437255. General admission: $3-$6; a $5 exhibition surcharge may apply.

tuesdays–saturdays | 9:30 am, 1:30 pm tuesday–fridays; 10:30 am, noon, 1:30 pm saturdays Casa San Ysidro Tours. Take a tour of this late 19th century building filled with an excellent collection of New Mexico vernacular art. Info: Casa San Ysidro, 973 Old Church Road, Corrales, cabq.gov/ casasanysidro, (505) 898-3915, $4-$6 general admission.

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

tuesdays, thursdays, fridays, sundays | 11 am Historic Old Town Tours. Explore historic Old Town on foot with our informative docents who will provide insight into the people and places that shaped our early community. Info: Albuquerque Museum, 2000 Mountain Rd. NW, cabq.gov, 2437255. Tour included with paid museum admission, $4-$6, Sundays free.

second and fourth tuesdays | 4–5:30 pm Cancer Support Now. Santa Fe Women’s Group, Surviving Sisters. All cancers, all diagnoses, all stages, all women. Info: Our Helpline is available seven days a week at (505) 255-0405. Hosting web meetings only at this time. Please call our helpline for an invitation to join a web support group or to connect with someone for one-to-one support.

first wednesdays | 9 am–5 pm Free First Wednesday. Start your month off right with free admission to the Albuquerque Museum and Sculpture Garden tour. $5 additional special exhibit surcharge may apply. Info: Albuquerque Museum, 2000 Mountain Rd. NE, cabq. gov/artsculture, (505) 243-7255.

wednesdays | 7 pm Albuquerque Open Tango. Argentine Tango introduction class and dance. No partner needed. Info: Juno Brewery, 1501 First Street NW, abqopentango.wixsite. com. Free.

second wednesdays | 12–1 pm Cancer Support Now. Sandia Base cancer support group for survivors of all cancers, all stages, men and women. Info: Our Helpline is available seven days a week at (505) 255-0405. Hosting web meetings only at this time. Please call our helpline for an invitation to join a web support group or to connect with someone for one-to-one support.

second and fourth wednesdays | noon Rotary Club of Albuquerque. Del Norte Club Meetings. The Club welcomes visitors and community partners interested in networking, fellowship, and uplifting presentations to in-person lunches. New members are welcomed into committees which suit their interests and skills. Info and schedule: rotarydelnorte.org, email rotarydelnorteabq@gmail.com.

wednesdays–sundays | 10 am–4 pm Natural History Museum. Explore the most dynamic dinosaurs that roamed New Mexico. Learn to balance like Seismosaurus, hunt like Coelophysis, and stomp like Tyrannosaurus. Info: New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, 1801 Mountain Rd. NW, nmnaturalhistory.org, (505) 841-2848.

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

wednesdays–sundays | 11 am–5 pm, ages 8+, wednesdays–thursdays | 5–8 pm, all ages Cat adoptions. Come enjoy drinks, snacks, and spend time with adorable adoptable cats at Catopia Cat Cafe. Your visit will support their foster home and keep them company until they find their permanent homes, maybe with you. Info: catopiacatcafe.com, Paseo Village, 8001 Wyoming NE, Suite C-5, (505) 508-4278.

thursdays | 11:30 am Road Runner Business Networking Group. If you’d like to generate more business referrals, meet with us. Info: Jimmy’s Café, 7007 Jefferson NE. Contact Terry at (505) 377-6074, triddle@rmmsonline.com or roadrunnersabq.com.

first and third thursdays | 4:30–6:30 pm Cancer Support Now. Pancreatic cancer caregiver support group for caregivers of patients and survivors of pancreatic cancer, all stages, men and women. Info: Our Helpline is available seven days a week at (505) 255-0405. Hosting web meetings only at this time. Please call our helpline for an invitation to join a web support group or to connect with someone for one-to-one support.

second and fourth thursdays | 3:30–5 pm Cancer Support Now. Pancreatic cancer support group for patients and survivors, all stages of diagnosis, men and women. Info: Our Helpline is available seven days a week at (505) 255-0405. Hosting web meetings only at this time. Please call our helpline for an invitation to join a web support group or to connect with someone for one-to-one support.

first and third thursdays | 6–8 pm Cancer Support Now. Women’s North Valley cancer support group for all cancers, all women, survivors and/or caregivers. Info: Our Helpline is available seven days a week at (505) 255-0405. Hosting web meetings only at this time. Please call our helpline for an invitation to join a web support group or to connect with someone for one-to-one support.

fridays | noon–1:30 pm Grief and Loss Support Group. Grief is a natural process that can often be eased through sharing with others who have experienced the loss of a loved one or any other significant loss. Info: Jewish Care Program, (505) 821-3214, free.

fridays | 1 pm Mural Discovery Tour. The IPCC houses 19 murals by Pueblo artists. Our guided tour introduces the art, traditions, core values of Pueblo culture, and a who’s who of Pueblo artists. Reflect upon the murals and uncover layers of meaning in each, with representations of traditional Pueblo life, including dance, the seasons, and our connection to animals, as well as the contemporary vision of emerging artists. Tours can be scheduled for groups in advance by calling (505) 212-7052. Info: Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 12th Street NW, (505) 843-7270, indianpueblo. org. Free with museum admission.

thursdays | 9:30 pm Online Tango Classes. Follower’s technique with Eva. All levels. Info: Bien Milonguero Tango School, 1512 First Street NW, evaypablotango@gmail.com or (505) 313-5316 text or Whatsapp.

WWW.ABQTHEMAG.COM | JULY 2022

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

fridays | 1–4 pm Tamarind Institute. See the workshop facility, learn about fine art lithography, the current programs and the history of Tamarind (a division within the College of Fine Arts at UNM), a collaborative process video, and a printing demonstration. The public is welcome, no reservation required; reservation for other times: tamarind. unm.edu. Info: Tamarind Institute, 2500 Central Ave. SE, (505) 277-3901. Free.

fridays | 7–10 pm Dance Party. Learn a new dance and meet new people each week at ABQ’s newest studio, with three beautiful ballrooms and state-of-the-art floating dance floors. Enjoy refreshments and an introductory dance class from 7–8 pm. Info: Holiday Dance Studio, 5200 Eubank Blvd. NE. Call to confirm schedule, (505) 508-4020, holidaydancestudio.com, $30.

WANT TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMUNITY EVENT FOR DATEBOOK? Please send an e-mail with the date, time, and event description to datebook@abqthemag.com. If available, include a high-resolution digital photograph or image. Listing information deadline is the 10th two months prior to publication (e.g.—all MAY events must be submitted by March 10, etc.). All events are subject to change. Please call event organization for final verification on events, times, dates, prices, and ticket availability.

A UNIQUE

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1372158-01

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Blue Portal Shop in Old Town 2107 Church St NW • ABQ NM • 505.243.6005 Online Site:https://blue-portal.myresaleweb.com Wed-Sat: 11 am - 4 pm, Sunday: 1 pm - 4 pm

Tues-Sat: 11am-3:30pm, Sun: 1pm-4:00pm

Artist Demos Every Weekend!

JUNE 2022 JULY 2022 | | ALBUQUERQUE ALBUQUERQUE THE THE MAGAZINE MAGAZINE

Registered Nurse (PACU) (Pre-Op and Recovery Nurse in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit) Presbyterian Rust Tenure: 2 Years

Pacheco made the decision to pursue a career in healthcare after her father died at a relatively young age. It’s something she believes could have been prevented, or at least better managed, if he — or anyone else in the family — had been more educated about his ailments. “My father passed away in his early 50s and this motivated me to pursue nursing. He had a lot of health problems, and at the time no one in my family was very knowledgeable about his medical conditions,” Pacheco says. “Had he been properly educated and had an advocate, he would have been able to better manage his health.”

"My patients may not always remember my name, but they do remember the care that I gave them while they were recovering. Their sincere gratitude at the end of the day is what keeps me coming back to work."

ALEAH Pacheco 80

Fast forward to the present day, and Pacheco is approaching her second full year in nursing while juggling a couple of significant duties. If she’s working in pre-op, she helps prepare patients for surgery, and if she’s in the recovery room, she’s attending to patients to ensure they safely recover from anesthesia. While she admits that working in perioperative services can be fast-paced, the people involved are what truly makes the job worthwhile. “I enjoy being able to make connections with my patients,” she says. “It is truly an honor to be able to care for all my patients when they are in such a vulnerable state. I come home feeling blessed that I can help comfort my patients by providing them with education and support throughout their surgical process.”

WWW.ABQTHEMAG.COM | JULY 2022

House Supervisor Lovelace Medical Center Downtown, Heart Hospital Tenure: 29 Years Lhupchug learned a long time ago about the importance of care and compassion at the bedside for people from all walks of life. “I was seven years old when my mom got sick,” Lhupchug recalls. “She had been in the hospital almost every three or four days and I would just tag along with her. Every time she was in that hospital, I would be at her bedside and I would see the nurses coming in and out. My mom never spoke much English. So I just watched everybody and something told me that my mom’s struggling.”

"I feel fortunate that I can make a difference by having the relationships I have with the staff and everybody else." “I decided there and then that I wanted to be a nurse and I wanted to make a difference and be an advocate for every patient and every family.” Today, Lhupchug serves as the house supervisor at Lovelace Downtown and the neighboring Heart Hospital. That means she has to be an advocate for patients, families and staff alike — at two locations. It seems as though Lhupchug has lived up to her vow as she provides a soothing presence in difficult circumstances. “I feel like I enjoy every part of my job. I see the smile and they’re like, ‘Oh my God, Bhuti’s here.’ It makes me feel that I am doing something to help everybody,” she says. “Just connecting, building relationships with everybody. The best part is them feeling comfortable reaching out to me because they feel I will listen to them."

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

BHUTI Lhupchug

Diagnostic Imaging Tech (X-Ray Tech) Lovelace Medical Center Tenure: 11 Years Like most people who are drawn to healthcare, Bloom had a natural affinity for helping others. Combine that with a love of modern technology, and the position as an X-ray tech was a natural fit. Bloom is present on any floor where an X-ray image is needed according to doctor’s orders, and he also provides patients with information about their exams while ensuring the process is completed in a safe manner. For Bloom, half the fun is producing an image with optimal results. “I love the job itself because it heavily involves critical thinking,” he says. “I need to achieve the best image possible while someone is broken somewhere, and that can be challenging if the patient cannot get into certain positions. The challenge keeps the problem solving going and that can be exciting, especially when you succeed and the patient is smiling.”

"If the patient is smiling at the end of their experience, that’s a “mission accomplished” for me in my book." Working closely with patients means making plenty of connections, and Bloom is likely to cross paths with those he assists multiple times during their stay. That took on a different meaning during the pandemic, but Bloom was able to lean on his colleagues to make it through the trying time.

DAVID Bloom

“I understand we lose patients, but working through COVID and the pandemic, I saw too many people suffer and pass away,” he says. “It can be hard to stay happy and positive around so much loss, and I know it took a toll on everyone working with me. I’m very glad I have an amazing team to work with and trust we can get through any challenge together.”

WWW.ABQTHEMAG.COM | JULY 2022

Registered Nurse in the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit Presbyterian Main Tenure: 8 Years Working among the tiniest humans in the neonatal intensive care unit is a special kind of magic. Milestones like first baby-mother interaction, first bottle or first bath become the norm, and its why Romero-Cardenas wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. “It’s kind of a sentimental thing for me,” she says. “This is what I tell the people that get hired when they ask me why I love working there so much: I just feel like the first time I ever saw a baby being born was really incredible and a special thing to witness. Somebody enters the world and takes their first breath, but the NICU is like that special moment over a long period of time. It’s a bunch of tiny moments put together that are really incredible like that.” Romero-Cardenas is well aware that those who work on the NICU are entrusted with a great responsibility, but the staff is as dedicated as they come in the healthcare field.

"Everybody plays an intricate role in our patient’s success. We work hard to keep our patients safe and provide the best care possible." “There are some nurses that have been there 20 or 30 years that still have the same passion level or commitment to our patients throughout the years. In different areas of nursing, you might not see that as much, but it’s really evident when you walk into our NICU just how serious people take their jobs and how passionate they are about the work they do,” Romero-Cardenas says. “The other part is it’s such an emotional thing, a difficult thing to walk out of the doors of the hospital and leave your baby with a complete stranger. The magnitude of that isn’t lost on any of us.”

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

FELISHA

Romero-Cardenas 83

Registered Nurse in the Emergency Room Presbyterian Rust Tenure: 3.5 Years When he was in his early years of college, Tellez found himself somewhat intimidated by the possibility of working in a medical career. “I always wanted to be a pediatric doctor, but I got kind of scared going to UNM and I got a little freaked out as a freshman in college,” Tellez recalls. “It was just too much for me. I took some time off and my parents convinced me to go back. I’m super glad that I did because I love what I do and I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else.” That mentality is a sharp contrast to the present day, when Tellez is often the calm in the storm as a registered nurse in the fast-paced world of the emergency room.

"I was watching a show on Netflix and this one line stuck with me, ‘If you save one life you’re a hero. If you save 100 lives, you’re a nurse.’ I was like, ‘Yes.’" “I didn’t know back then that I would love this so much,” he says. “Like every nurse, helping people (drew me to the job). I don’t know what drew me to the ER. But in the emergency situation, that’s what I like to be present for. I feel like I'm sometimes the first person to respond to some of these critical situations and you have to think really fast.”

JAMES Tellez 84

Tellez also finds satisfaction when things slow down, because that’s when he gets to truly interact with the patients. “One of the little moments that I’m talking about is when you find yourself super comfortable sitting down at the patient’s bedside and just talking with them — not about their care, not about what’s going on with them, not about their disease — just talking with them. You can get so much more out of them and it develops a much more genuine relationship.”

WWW.ABQTHEMAG.COM | JULY 2022

Certified Nursing Assistant for Hospice (CNA) Presbyterian Kaseman Tenure: 4 Years Working in hospice care can provide a valuable perspective on appreciating the life we have. That has been the case for Castaneda, who in those duties has spent a decent amount of time helping people in their homes with day-to-day activities.

"No matter who they are or where they come from, it’s a gift to help somebody." “We never think that we’re gonna die,” he says. “We think that we (aren’t going to) become older. Those people are at the end of their life. That makes me feel different. For some reason, I don't know how to express it, but when they know they’re gonna die, it’s hard to think about it.” Castaneda runs across many challenges in his profession, but perhaps none is more taxing than helping patients affected by dementia, a condition that can impair brain functions such as memory and judgment. Castaneda approaches these situations with the right blend of patience and compassion. “They don’t understand why you are there for them,” he says. “Sometimes they get a little aggressive and (think) they don’t need help … We need to understand them and listen to them … just listen to them and be part of the world that they’re living in now. That helps them become less aggressive. “This tells you, even with dementia sometimes…. when you come back in the next week to their house, there’s just a connection. That has been the most difficult part of my job. What can I do to help that guy? I try to make a plan for my next visit. Even if he gave me a hard time, I don’t give up. I know it’s nothing personal, because I know they’re living in a different situation.”

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

JOSE

Martinez Castaneda 85

Center Nurse Executive Genesis Healthcare, Rio Rancho Center Tenure: 9 Years Although Barry says he “kind of fell into” longterm healthcare coming out of school when a position opened up at Genesis Healthcare in Rio Rancho, the truth is that he laid the foundation for his career long before it became an occupation. “I had family members who had some severe illnesses,” Barry says. “My mom passed away with cancer, and I was taking care of her for a little bit before I became a nurse. I helped watch my grandmother for a while when I was in high school. I’ve taken care of aunts who are sick. I’ve had some family members who had some psychological issues that needed to be cared for. That’s what got me into it all.”

"Taking care of people has been part of my life even before I became a nurse. It’s where I get happiness." A little bit later, Barry was considering working as an EMT when his instructor told him, “You need to go be a nurse.” There was a good reason behind that advice. “I had a different bedside manner than most EMTs …I was thinking about not just the patient but the families of the patient that were involved in what our scenarios were,” Barry recalls. Fast forward to the present day, and Barry oversees a whole team of nurses and certified nursing assistants as they attempt to provide the best possible care to their patients.

KEVIN Barry

“The nurses and the other CNAs became people that I just came to trust. They also came to trust me,” he says. “The residents that we take care of, I kind of got to know them all. I’ve gotten to see some get better, go home. Some have made the place their home. That’s really what keeps me going, is watching people improve.”

WWW.ABQTHEMAG.COM | JULY 2022

Director of Nursing, Emergency Department Lovelace Downtown Tenure: 10 Years Wallace has been in the emergency department for more than half of her 10 years as a nurse, but she took on the director role, which she describes as “a pretty comprehensive position,” when concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic were still at or near their peak. To put that in a little bit more perspective, Wallace supervises a team of approximately 60 nurses along with EMTs and LPNs. “What I’ve found is that my team and all nurses are just really resilient, compassionate people,” Wallace says. “Working with these people and watching them work through COVID and combat all of these really complex problems that we had no idea how to deal with because they were new, and coming out on the other side has really been awesome to watch as a nurse and a leader.”

" It makes me happy to give people resources, to take care of them and practice compassion." Wallace particularly enjoys working in an area of the hospital where she can serve a segment of the city’s population that needs it most. She points out that the Duke City’s large homeless population is often especially evident in her department. “Working in the emergency department and in health care really allows me to care for our most vulnerable people at any stage of their life,” Wallace says. “Specifically, in the emergency department, we get them at their worst point. That has been the reason I’ve been in healthcare, to do that day in and day out. To give people things they don’t have, find them resources, and take care of them. And just practice compassion. I think that’s really lacking in a lot of places.”

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

KRISTAL Wallace

Registered Respiratory Therapist, Supervisor in Diagnostics Presbyterian Main Hospital Tenure: 34 Years Sanchez has been helping people breathe — whether it’s those with chronic lung disease, asthmatics, or otherwise — in some shape or form for the past 34 years, so it’s safe to say he’s seen the field evolve over time. “The procedures that we do, the technology that’s advancing — we take cameras, and we look inside people’s lungs. We target tumors,” Sanchez says. “The field is just so much more than it was when I first started. When I first started, we dealt with a lot of asthmatics and we still do. But our role has developed through the years.”

"It is rewarding to see people get well and go home, especially the last two years." “With that expansion of roles, there are just branches of respiratory therapy that have been very vital in helping find cures and treat people. It’s a broad field.” It’s also been an especially taxing field during the COVID-19 era, since the virus affects so many people with respiratory issues. Sanchez has high praise for the team at Presbyterian that has stuck through tough times. In his case especially, the ties to the hospital run deep.

LEE

Sanchez

“I think the camaraderie of the department (is the best part of the job) — people that I work with, the people that dedicated themselves as I have,” he says. “I can’t think of a better team than we have currently. We did lose a lot of people during COVID, meaning that they left our organization to go travel. The travel opportunity, they were making a lot of money. Good for them, but the people that stayed (did so) because we have our roots here. I was born at Presbyterian Hospital. It’s just something more personal to me than just monetary.”

WWW.ABQTHEMAG.COM | JULY 2022

LVAD Coordinator and Registered Nurse Lovelace Medical Center

(Heart Institute Clinic/Heart Hospital)

Tenure: 10 Years The method in which heart failure patients are treated has evolved over time, and Jackman plays a crucial role in improving the quality of life for these people and their families. Jackman is an LVAD (left ventricular assist device) coordinator and registered nurse at the Heart Institute Clinic and Heart Hospital, both of which are located at Lovelace Medical Center. She assists those patients that can’t have a heart transplant get through the process of becoming accustomed to the LVAD, which is a mechanical pump implanted into the heart that relieves heart failure symptoms. “They essentially live on batteries and a controller for the rest of their lives, so they always have to be hooked up to a power source,” Jackman says. “My job is to help the patients and their families through the workup process. It’s a pretty extensive workup.”

" I feel fortunate that I can make a difference by having the relationships I have with the staff and everybody else." Jackman says that heart failure should be regarded as more of a terminal illness, such as cancer. The LVAD program provides those patients with options they wouldn’t otherwise have had. “New Mexico is unique in that we don’t have a heart transplant program and we also have a lot of residents who don’t have a lot of money, they don’t have the resources and they don’t have the family support to move out of state (for transplants),” Jackman says. Seeing the change in the patients who make it through the program is extremely rewarding. “It’s like night and day,” Jackman says. “You go from a pale person who’s angry and often even lethargic or can’t fully wake up … to this fully different person with color in their face. Personality comes out. They stand tall again.”

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

LILY

Jackman 89

Charge Nurse on 7B Neurology, Progressive Care Unit Presbyterian Tenure: 5 Years As a charge nurse and the only clinical practice leader for her unit, Trujillo is responsible for a myriad number of duties on a daily basis. “I educate new and seasoned staff on current and safe practices, assure proper care and data is being recorded to maintain our national certifications, support staff with daily tasks, and assist in directing hospital flow on my unit,” she says. “I do this in conjunction with managing the care of my own patients. It is a busy day and I fill the gaps where necessary, but it makes the day go by fast when I have my team supporting me as well.”

"It brings me happiness to know we are appreciated when we’re just doing our job. Patients and family that are grateful make it worth the long, stressful days." Trujillo, who says she always wanted to work in the medical field, wouldn’t have it any other way. She began her career in healthcare analytics, where she worked with autistic children, before transitioning to a nursing position some five years ago. “Helping heal, learning, and being challenged are some factors of nursing that drew my interest,” she says.

MARISSA Trujillo

Not only does Trujillo have a passion for her craft, but she has a great deal of respect for everyone else who has entered the field. “I truly love my career and I come to work every day hoping to help and learn. Whether it’s with a co-worker, family, or patient, I want to make their day a little better,” she says. “I am so happy that people are able to see that. It’s truly appreciated, and I know there are plenty of striving nurses that are just as deserving.”

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Registered Nurse in the Cardiovascular Operating Room Heart Hospital of NM/Presbyterian Tenure: 26 Years Don’t be alarmed if you hear the sound of slapping palms when in Duncan’s vicinity. It’s probably just her celebrating with one of her patients. “I want to make a difference in people's lives, if even for a day. I love visiting my patients the day after surgery, seeing the progress they've made and giving them a big high five,” she says. Duncan has worked in healthcare for more than 25 years, and currently serves as a registered nurse in the cardiovascular operating room at the Heart Hospital of New Mexico and Presbyterian, so it’s safe to say she’s seen some things — including more than a few success stories. Taking care of those who undergo heart surgery requires a certain type of demeanor, as Duncan must reassure both the patients and their family members.

"It makes me happy knowing I can make an impact and help a person to better health, emotionally and physically." “I enjoy caring for the whole person, which includes the patient's family members. Patients and family are, of course, very anxious and emotional prior to surgery,” Duncan says. “I do my best to explain the process, reassure them that we are going to do our best to provide excellent care, and that they can get through this and heal with a healthier heart.” Every procedure is different, and some surgeries are more complex than others. It’s why Duncan is grateful for the collaborative effort that occurs in the operating room. That sets the stage for more high-fives. “We work as a team in the cardiovascular operating room, and it can get very intense during these cases,” she says. “I do my best to ensure the team has what they need to do their best.”

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MUNDI Duncan

Critical Care Registered Nurse in Surgical Services Department Lovelace Medical Center Downtown Tenure: 20 Years Before he began a career in nursing, Young helped patients of the furry, four-legged variety. “I spent eight years as a vet tech — aka, doggie nurse. I assisted with all procedures and surgeries for the duration,” he says. “Toward the end of that preceptorship, I returned my focus to medicine to where I could use all of the skills I had learned without the fur and claws.” Young stayed quite busy through nursing school, working in a veterinarian clinic and at a law firm until his studies were complete. Today, he spends his days helping patients prepare for and recover from surgeries.

"I’m happy to always learn something new, and that my skills can be used anywhere I’m needed." “Often patients who make it to the departments I specialize in are not at their best, and are in a lot of pain,” he says. “Many are panicked as they don't know what to expect. In these situations, it can be difficult to help patients understand what is happening to them. Something I am able to do is help them with this and try to help them understand that we are there to help them out of this.”

ROBERT Young

After a stint working in the Four Corners area that included a variety of different nursing duties, Young is happy to have settled in ABQ. “I have learned that Albuquerque has a very unique patient population and environment that I love” he says. “We have some of the best medical providers in the country, and I am proud to be a part of this community.”

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Trauma Surgical ICU Inpatient Supervisor IV at Trauma Surgical Burn Intensive Care Unit UNMH Trauma ICU Tenure: 23 Years It would be understandable if a person became numb to the constant death and suffering one is exposed to on a daily basis at the Trauma Surgical Burn Intensive Care Unit, but Vela is proud to say that she and her staff manage to maintain their humanity even in the most difficult times. “No one dies alone: A nurse, tech or even a doctor will sit at a stranger’s bedside and hold their hand as they take their last breath just so they won’t die alone,” Vela says. “We all like to claim we lost all emotions seeing what we’ve seen, but when it comes down to being there, someone will always be there to hold that stranger’s hand.”

"My amazing co-workers in ICU share a bond, working tirelessly to make sure people survive. It’s a job you cannot do alone, and your crew keeps you going." The pandemic has taken its toll on Vela’s unit, with many staff members relocating for lucrative travel nurse positions. That ultimately led to Vela’s duties increasing threefold as the only permanent inpatient supervisor for the night shift. “My duties have been endless. What three people were normally doing, I was doing by myself,” she says. “I went from working three days a week to every day, just trying to get everything done and to make sure I wasn’t failing my crew.” There’s a reason Vela is so devoted to her team. “The pandemic was really hard on most of our staff and with the increased violence our state is experiencing, it has really increased our trauma admissions,” Vela says. “You can see how tired our staff is but being the only Level 1 trauma center in the state we have to take all of these traumas. But despite how many patients we get or how tired they are, so many still give it their all, they never quit helping.”

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SARAH Vela

Charge Nurse & Clinical Practice Leader (CPL) on a Telemetry / Step Down Unit Presbyterian Downtown Hospital Tenure: 4 Years Perry keeps a quote, which was introduced to her by her father, from renowned poet Maya Angelou close to the heart as she goes about her day-today duties. It reads: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Though things can get hectic on the job, especially for Perry, who as charge nurse must ensure that each shift runs smoothly for all parties, it’s those small moments that tend to resonate the most.

"I love caring for, interacting with, and making meaningful connections with patients, many of whom are going through the scariest moments in their lives." “The most impactful moments in my nursing career have ranged from spending a moment of silence with the team at bedside after a death to discharging a patient home to be with their family after an uncertain and challenging hospital stay,” Perry says. “The community in healthcare and nursing is so powerful to me.”

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After spending many long hours together in the hospital, Perry considers many of her colleagues to be something akin to family. It’s an added bonus that in her role as Clinical Practice Leader she has the opportunity to make life easier for her unit by updating and improving the way things are run. “I get to help contribute and define the future of nursing,” Perry says. “As a charge nurse, I get to help others feel connected and valued in the profession. As a leader on my unit, I get the opportunity of practicing ‘Nurses Empower Their Young’ every shift. I find every opportunity I can to pass along the support I received as a new nurse to others.”

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Circulating Registered Nurse for UNMH Outpatient Surgery Center/On-Call RN for Nevaeh Hospice UNMH/Nevaeh Hospice Tenure: 8 Years Tays is a versatile healthcare worker. As the circulating RN at UNMH, she oversees the entire operating room while a surgery is in progress, which includes everything from sterilization to patient positioning to providing updates to the family. She also is on-call for Nevaeh Hospice, working seven days on and seven days off, which means if a patient were to fall or suffer some kind of injury in the wee hours of the morning, Tays would be on the job.

"I love teaching family members how to help their loved ones." “Nursing is hard, but it’s definitely worth it,” Tays says. Tays’ current roles are a departure from her original goal of pediatrics, which changed after she had kids of her own. “That made it very difficult to see sick children,” she admits. There are plenty of other challenges that she faces in her current role, especially when dealing with patients who are nearing the end of their lives. “Hospice definitely has many challenges, but I think for me the most challenging part is when family members are not ready to accept the fate of their loved one and I have to try to make them understand what is happening…” Tays says. These moments are often quite touching, as families do their best to learn how to make their loved ones comfortable in their last days. “I enjoy educating people when they are caring for loved ones,” Tays says. “As a hospice nurse I can see families wanting to provide the best care for their family member. They just are not sure how to do so, and I love being able to teach them how they can help their loved ones when they are in their most vulnerable state.”

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STARR Tays

Registered Nurse Supervisor ASAP at UNMH Tenure: 8 Years Duran was a single mother in her 30s with four children when she decided to abruptly shift gears in her professional career. At the time, she had a cosmetology license (with an associate degree in business administration) but work simply wasn’t fulfilling. “I wanted a career that was challenging, full of opportunities, but also compensated well and didn't take too long to complete, school-wise. After some research, nursing was on top of that list checking off all the things I wanted in a career,” she says. “I remember when I was a young girl, I always wanted to be a doctor, but nursing sounded way more like something that would fit my personality and work ethic.”

" There is no better feeling than when someone tells you from the heart that you have made a difference in their life." Today, Duran is an RN supervisor for the ASAP Clinic at UNMH, which is an outpatient substance abuse and psychiatric clinic. In addition to overseeing a team of 21 employees, Duran also has a hand in making day-to-day decisions regarding the clinic and its processes, and she also will fill in for various departments and train new staff when necessary. “Thinking outside the box or coming up with creative ideas to solve issues is the most challenging (aspect of the job) but the most rewarding because you learn, grow, and feel a sense of accomplishment,” Duran says.

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It’s safe to say that Duran found the opportunity for growth — and then some — she was looking for when she changed careers. There are so many areas that you can go into related to this field that many people don't even know about. It opens the door to so many fields,” she says. “…It is never too late to make that change for yourself if you want it.”

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Cardiology Care Manager and Registered Nurse Presbyterian Heart Group Tenure: 14 Years Garcia’s work in healthcare began long before it was a paid position, as she cared for her father during a battle with Parkinson’s Syndrome that would eventually take his life. “I didn't realize that I was performing nurse type duties at a young age, until I realized my passion (was) for helping and caring for people,” Garcia says. “They say the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others, and I am living proof that is true. Without caring for my father, I wouldn't be who or what I am today.”

"I enjoy the ongoing relationships that are built with patients and their families. I enjoy seeing how much of a difference I make in people's lives, and how they affect my life as well." As a cardiology care manager, Garcia performs myriad tasks that center around assisting cardiologists as well as patients with heart conditions. Often, it’s the day-to-day interactions that make it all worthwhile. “Listening and helping with their struggles, easing their concerns, and sometimes it turns into a conversation you would have with a friend — you might laugh or cry — but such a simple act of kindness brings you such pride and fulfillment in your day,” Garcia says. Garcia unwittingly learned long ago that she had the skill set necessary to be a nurse. Being part of that select group of people is not something she takes for granted. “It takes a special person to become a nurse,” she says. “Not only do we provide patient care, but we are our patient's confidant as they share their concerns, troubles, life stories, (and) family drama. We are the ones society turns to in a time of crisis and need. We are there for the first breath and we are there for the last breath.”

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TIFFANY Garcia

Registered Nurse/Patient Care Manager LHC Brookdale HomeHealth Tenure: 24 Years Montoya found her calling after her grandmother suffered three silent strokes, which led to dementia and the need for homecare. “…How good (the nursing staff was) with her medications, conditions and mobility issues made me really fall in love with nursing and change my major from pharmacy, which I felt was a grey area,” Montoya says. “For me, I was just behind the scenes at the computer screen or with medication building. I needed that patient interaction a little bit more because I’m a people person. I fell in love with the care she was getting at home and I knew that was for me.”

"What I enjoy most is the patient interaction. Being able to make a positive impact is what keeps me motivated." Montoya began working in home healthcare in October 2019, and shortly thereafter, her workload increased exponentially with the onset of the pandemic. While it kept her busy, it was also the chance to make a lot of connections. “All of a sudden our census just skyrocketed and I was seeing about 10 to 14 patients a day, going to their homes,” she says. “These patients stay with me long-term so I get to know them, get to know their family. It’s not like someone you see for a day and then you discharge them from the hospital.”

STEPHANIE Montoya

Montoya has since been promoted to patient care manager, so she isn’t in the field nearly as much as she was then, but the chance to have her team brighten a patient’s day remains the impetus behind her work. “Some days … the only people they’re seeing is us, and being able to make a positive impact on them on a day-to-day basis is what keeps me motivated,” she says.

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Registered Nurse in Dialectical Behavior Therapy Presbyterian Kaseman Inpatient Behavioral Health Tenure: 20 Years Harris has been working for the past seven years as a registered nurse in dialectical behavior therapy, which in layman’s terms means she tries to identify and change negative thinking patterns in her patients for the better. That can sometimes include dealing with suicidal and self-destructive tendencies. It’s a field to which Harris has always been drawn. “Mental health has been my passion and an interest I have had since childhood,” says Harris, who has worked with patients of virtually all ages during her tenure. “Being able to understand and have the patience and dedication for mental health has brought joy to my life. I take pride in serving patients in this environment.”

" I have had the honor of working with some amazing doctors, nurses and techs." The role is one that involves perpetual learning, and Harris plans to further her education in her craft by earning her nurse practitioner licenses. In a specialty that can oftentimes address difficult issues, Harris credits the people around her for making things run as smoothly as possible. “I have had the honor of working with some amazing doctors, nurses and techs who I have gained experience from,” she says. “The hardest part of my job is not being able to help everyone I work with.”

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MONIQUE Harris

Registered Nurse Supervisor PMG San Mateo (One of Presbyterian’s primary care clinics) Tenure: 23 Years When it came time to pursue a career in nursing, Peralta found it easy to follow the example set by her family. “I was always drawn to medicine and desired a profession allowing me to directly impact people’s health,” she says. “I watched my grandma go back to school in her 50s to become an LPN and my aunt went back for her RN in her 40s. Watching their love for their jobs also inspired me to pursue nursing.” Peralta laid the foundation for her current position as outpatient primary clinic manager at PMG San Mateo while working in the hospital for 14 years as a staff nurse and charge nurse specializing in cardiology. Working at the bedside helped establish “an empathetic and compassionate perspective” which goes well with her clinical knowledge. Now in an administrative role, Peralta builds relationships on two different levels.

" I absolutely love the relationships I get to make. Hearing our patient’s stories and making a connection with them is my passion." “Hearing our patients’ stories and making a connection with them is my passion,” she says. “It’s so much fun seeing our patients return to the clinic or meeting new patients along the way. As a manager I feel I win twice on this front because I also have the privilege of forming relationships with my team and co-workers. Our clinic is definitely a second family for us.”

NIKKI Peralta

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Peralta acknowledges that the pandemic took its toll on her profession, which already comes with barriers that can make it challenging to care for patients. That said, she’s never thought twice about her choice. “I’ve been asked if I would choose to be a nurse knowing what I know now, and the answer is an absolute yes. I wouldn’t change a thing,” she says.

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PARTNER CONTENT

BOSQUE AESTHETICS Eric Evans, FNP-C

1400 Jackie Road SE. Suite 105 Rio Rancho, NM (505) 349-0839 · bosqueaesthetics.com

eing a nurse and an ER nurse requires a significant skill set. Then becoming a certified Family Nurse Practitioner requires even more hard work. And making the leap to become an entrepreneur requires a person with both a deep dedication and commitment to helping people become the best they can be. This is Eric Evans’ path, owner of Bosque Aesthetics, which is the only med spa in Rio Rancho. As Bosque Aesthetics celebrates two years in business, Eric reflects on how and why he got here. “I got into the med spa business because I enjoy helping build people’s confidence, making them happy and helping them appreciate their own body and feel comfortable in their skin. I know so many people who struggle with body issues and this business really changes lives which is why I made the leap.” Bosque Aesthetics is a full-service med spa ranging from waxing, facials, eye lash extensions, full injectables including Botox and fillers, laser hair removal to the most advanced body contouring machines. He says it was his experience working for a global med spa that captivated his interest in this business. “I was the company’s first male provider and ran a clinic in Albuquerque, as well as two locations in Las Vegas, Nevada. I fell in love with body treatments and I fell in love with the people I was helping. Having been surrounded by devastating health issues, unbearable pain and death in the Emergency Room, it’s a privilege to come

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to work every day where everyone is happy and excited to be here. Changing people’s lives was the impetus for launching Bosque Aesthetics.” Clients come from Rio Rancho, Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Los Lunas and as far away as Grants and Gallup to get high-quality and high-technology treatments from Bosque Aesthetics. “We stand apart from the competition because we strive to bring our patients the highest and best technology available as well as skill set to give them the best results. Many med spas are not hip on the new trends and treatments that are available, but we are,” Eric says. Bosque Aesthetics is the only “core to floor” treatment center in New Mexico offering EmSculpt Neo and EmSella, their two most popular treatments. These two technologies are helping change lives. Eric says, “The EmSculpt Neo is like doing 30,000 sit-ups in 30 minutes. It is pain-free and there is zero down time. The EmSella treats the lower part of the core as well as the pelvic floor. The treatment is like doing approximately 15,000 Kegels in 30 minutes. These treatments are changing the face of women and incontinence. And after having babies, incontinence is a real challenge. But women come in, keep their clothes on and enjoy non-invasive, pain free and life-changing treatments.” He says the best part of his work is “seeing my client’s confidence grow and their insecurities fall away.”

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PARTNER CONTENT

GREEN REED SPA AT SANDIA RESORT & CASINO 30 Rainbow Road NE Albuquerque, NM (505) 798-3980 · sandiacasino.com/spa/

n today’s busy world, self-care de-

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ated at the spectacular Sandia Mountains,

The Aroma Essential massage allows

couple’s suite.

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guests to create a custom aroma blend of

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With 14 luxurious treatment rooms, in-

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“Our highly skilled staff ensures every

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estheticians tailor facial treatments to

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ABQ THE INTERVIEW P. 110 | PERSONALITY P. 116 | BEHIND THE SCENES P. 120

FINDING THE ROAD TO HEALTH Casa de Salud and Dr. Anjali Taneja are utilizing holistic methods like massage, acupuncture, Reiki, and healing circles to a patient base that has little in the way of traditional healthcare resources. (p. 110)

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PHOTO BY DON JAMES/ATM

STORIES BEHIND INDIVIDUALS WHO MAKE ALBUQUERQUE GREAT

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UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH OUR LEADERS AND DIFFERENCE-MAKERS

From India With Love Dr. Anjali Taneja is bringing holistic and integrative healthcare to those challenged by language, race and income barriers through her work at Casa de Salud.

orn and raised in New Jersey to parents who immigrated from India, Dr. Anjali Taneja followed her mother into medicine. However, she soon found herself bucking against the institution as she was boxed into a system that didn’t provide quality and accessible care. She met her professional match at Casa de Salud, a Duke City non-profit clinic that, since 2004, has offered primary care with an integrative approach to often underserved patients, including uninsured and low-income individuals, monolingual Spanish speakers, people with addictions, and transgender and queer people. As executive director and medical director of Casa de Salud, her goal is both simple and profound: to change the health care system.

PHOTOS BY DON JAMES/ATM

ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE: Have you always looked at healthcare differently? DR. ANJALI TANEJA: I did a master’s in

public health [at Columbia University] and that got me thinking about where health care can improve. There were times in medical school [at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School] and in residency where I felt like I just wasn’t a good fit for the field. The way I believe healthcare

should be delivered and integrated feels different from what our training entailed. I thought about leaving medicine altogether. What brought me back was seeing there’s room for improvement on the ground level in communities. There’s a lot of need for innovative healthcare and ways to reimagine how we can deliver healthcare, so that got me really excited. ATM: How did you land in your current line of work?

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AT: It was a survival strategy for me to catapult into the kind of work that I’m doing now. I don't think that I could go home every day and feel good about myself working in a corporate health system. It just felt so inhumane. I experienced that during residency, and I thought, “I can’t do this to patients. I can't do this to myself. There's got to be a better way.” ATM: How does Casa de Salud disrupt the traditional healthcare model? AT: We’re working to address a lot of things in one small space. We’re really proud of that as an organization. There’s so many ways that healthcare can be innovated upon because there’s so many ways health care in America is broken. At Casa, we're a neighborhood clinic that’s really trying to reimagine what health care and healing can look like in America. We’re trying to provide an alternate model of care that could be replicated in

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many neighborhoods around the country, and trying to be really nimble and creative to try to address all the various issues. ATM: What’s are some examples? AT: We work with a lot of people deal-

ing with opioid addiction, and we have done that since the start of the clinic. Medicine has not done a great job of responding to addiction without stigma, without shame, without barriers, and really meeting people where they’re at. We work with active drug users. We have a syringe exchange on site so people will come in to exchange the needles that they've used to inject various drugs, and we will give them education, new needles, and Narcan so that they can use these tools in the community to help reverse overdoses. We also work with some of the most marginalized folks in Albuquerque to provide massage, acupuncture, Reiki, and healing circles. Body and energy work are things people may connect more to in terms of their culture and tradition. There are very few places around the country that integrate conventional,

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ABQ

Western medical care with other healing modalities. ATM: One of your goals is to provide anti-racist healthcare. What does that mean to you? AT: There's a lot of inadvertent racism

in health care. A lot of it is just kind of baked into systems of care. Again, who has access to care and who doesn’t? How people are treated, stigmatized, what assumptions are made about people of color. … We come from a place of cultural humility. There's a certain humility in approaching people of different cultures and always learning and working to figure out how we can support people. We want to lift up their strengths instead of boxing people into these certain categories. Providing anti-racist care is also understanding the structural barriers that exist for people and working to find ways to get them the care they need, while also trying to change the cultural barriers. For example, I had a Spanish-speaking patient leave the hospital yesterday where no one spoke to her in Spanish. She had no idea what her labs, imaging, or aftercare looked like when they dis-

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charged her. ATM: How does Casa de Salud’s fellowship program play a role in changing the system? AT: In the current system, most of our

health care providers do not look like the communities that they serve. There are access levels baked into becoming a health professional that inadvertently reward people who are affluent, and who have physicians in their families or have access to physician mentors. Part of what we’re doing at Casa also is trying to shift the face of medicine by shifting the balance of who gets to become a health professional. [With funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,] our program helps primarily young Latina X woman get the skills mentorship, coaching, and leadership skills to be able to pursue health professions in the future. They develop medical assistant skills, run the syringe exchange, and work with patients with dignity. We have had more than 300 apprentices graduate from our apprenticeship, and many of them have gone on to become clinicians. They’re

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ABQ

often from the communities that they're serving. ATM: You serve on the New Mexico Primary Care Council. Tell me about that work. AT: It’s an effort to really look at the infra-

structures, the capacity, and the delivery of primary care in the state, and to explore how we can improve it. Part of our goals are providing more equitable health care and ensuring that people can have access to primary care in a reasonable amount of time. We’re addressing payment systems so there’s more ability to take care of a whole person inside and outside of a clinic, instead of just an encounter-based, feefor-service care model in a clinic setting. And we’re working on workforce-related issues to ensure that more clinicians come to New Mexico or want to stay in New Mexico and provide primary care. ATM: You’re also the founder of CureThis.org. Where does that stand? AT: Back during my family medicine

residency in Los Angeles, I saw all these information silos — of doctors, of pa-

tients. A few of us were excited about what it would be like to create an online community in a more intersectional way, where healthcare providers could learn from people receiving healthcare and the feedback they give. We built a community of over 400 members around the nation who were actively involved on this online network. It lasted for six years. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I was kicking myself that CureThis.org wasn’t up and running. The pandemic really showed the fractures in the healthcare system, and it created a kind of an opening and a hunger to imagine what we can improve. A lot of healthcare providers also feel burned out, isolated, disconnected, and want to be part of a larger community. But there's a small team of us coming together to look at rebuilding it in a 2.0 version now.

to us for syringe exchange. After she had left the hospital, she had had an infection from using IV drugs from shooting up that spread into her bloodstream. She got sepsis, an overwhelming infection, was in the intensive care unit, and almost died. She came to our syringe exchange to get new needles and at least more safely inject. She was so moved by how our apprentices and staff treated her with dignity and respect in those interactions that she got interested in the treatment program. There was this feeling of, “You treat me better than I feel like I’ve treated myself, and I’m ready to explore treatment in a way that I never have before.” We get this feedback of how doing healthcare in a relational way can impact our community.

ATM: What keeps you going?

AT: I'm a DJ. I’ve DJed in clubs in New

AT: I think the fact that we continue to ex-

ist despite the forces in healthcare is really powerful. The stories from people who interact with our organization are inspiring. I’ll share an example: A woman came

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ATM: What do you like to do outside of work?

York City and other places. I love to make music. I get very “in the zone” with music. It's a place of healing for me. —ASHLEY BIGGERS

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A LOOK AT THE LIFE & WORK OF ALBUQUERQUEANS WHO DESERVE A TOAST

The Science Gal In the vein of Bill Nye, Jennifer Hayden has used her weekly TV appearances to drum up molecular interest in the Nuclear Museum with fun experiments for both kids and parents.

E PHOTO BY DON JAMES/ATM

ven while growing up in football-mad West Texas, Jennifer Hayden always had an affinity for museums and the wealth of information inside. “It didn’t matter what kind. I was just always drawn to those,” the Amarillo native says. “My grandfather, when we would travel with my grandparents, he would take my sister, myself and my cousin to museums that were on aircrafts, things such as the USS Midway. I had been to museums that were submarines, destroyers, aircraft carriers. And because he was in the Navy when he was much younger in World War II, during Pearl Harbor and everything, it was always something that was very interesting to me.” Hayden also gravitates to people, so it’s only natural that her current role as Deputy Director and Director of Communications for the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in Albuquerque has her serving as a de-facto ambassador for what is the nation’s only congressionally chartered museum. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and it shines through as she discusses the numerous talking points of the facility. “Our museum tells the story of the Atomic Age,” she says. “That is literally everything from the early developments, which is the Manhattan Project, World War II, Cold War, to even peaceful uses,

which are so exciting. Medical advances. Nuclear energy. “Truly though, when someone walks in this museum in so many aspects when they go into our exhibits and see the different collections, they walk into the past … The relevancy of this museum to where people can learn about our past to hopefully live in different ways into the future is so exciting. It just really, really is. I would say our artifacts are amazing and the stories we tell are incredibly important. I’m a big fan.” Hayden didn’t jump straight into her current position, however. After studying communications at Texas Tech Universi-

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ty (where she admittedly attended a few football games), Hayden found herself working in sales for a Fortune 500 company in Oklahoma City. The job wasn’t her passion, but it did allow her to meet her husband, Matt, who is currently the owner and president of plumbing supply company West Albuquerque Winnelson. “We are in such different worlds, but the Fortune 500 company where I worked was a different plumbing wholesaler,” Hayden says. “We met the very first day I stepped into my new job directly out of college. He was the first face I saw.” Eventually, Hayden left the Fortune 500 company for a position at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum, which she says helps to tell the story of the people who made Oklahoma what it is today. Her husband’s work subsequently brought them to the Duke City in 2008, and Hayden was able to find a job as events and facility rentals coordinator at the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History. She worked her way up the ladder over

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the years, accepting a position as director of PR and marketing while she was eightand-half months pregnant. “It was the best decision ever,” she says. During the pandemic, Hayden got her Master’s Degree in Museum Studies at the University of Oklahoma, which led to her taking on the role as deputy director. Now her responsibilities are twofold. “So, I do all of the different forms of communications, public relations, and marketing for the museum. And that is everything from advertising, to all media appearances, speaking to different groups and conferences, overseeing our social media — just pretty much any way in which we touch the public in the community, it goes through me,” she says. “As the deputy director at the museum, I have the privilege of working with all of my team members as one of their lead managers. I’m over a variety of different directors at the museum, helping with different human resources aspects — making sure we’re doing everything that we possibly should be doing to hit museum best practices.”

You might recognize Hayden from her bi-weekly appearances on KRQE, where she does regular science experiments as a guest on the morning show. She works with the education department at the museum to find engaging activities that people can do at home with supplies they either have on hand or won’t have to spend a lot to obtain. “(We) come up with some of the most fun, engaging science activities that families, children, adults — everyone can do,” she says. “Sometimes needing adult supervision. Doing (them) at home just to be a little bit more engaged with science and STEM in general.” While the museum keeps Hayden plenty busy, philanthropy is another passion of hers. She is currently on the board of directors for Cuidando Los Ninos, which has a mission to “break the cycle of homelessness for children and families.” “Homelessness is something that we definitely need to keep our eye on and work so hard to end. Cuidando Los Ninos generally focuses on the littlest ones, so we’re talking about six weeks to 5 years

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old,” Hayden says. “But it also helps to find housing for the families who come in and utilize the services of Cuidando Los Ninos. That is one of the main areas that if I’m not at the museum, if I’m not with my family, I definitely want to volunteer my time and give my support in a variety of ways to organizations such as Cuidando Los Ninos.” When she’s not occupied by any one of her numerous endeavors, Hayden and her family, which includes sons Harrison (10) and Hunter (8), enjoy making the most of the New Mexico weather on walks, bike rides, hikes and camping trips. Of course, there are also the requisite museum stops on family vacations out of the state. “I feel like sometimes I might shove it down their throats a little bit,” she says with a laugh. “Every time we travel, that is something that I focus on. Wherever we’re going, what type of opportunity can I take to have them visit a museum or science center? … I think they’ve already experienced more science centers, museums and zoos than I did by the time I was in my early 20s.” —ASHLEY M. BIGGERS

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BEHIND SCENES THE

YOUR SNEAK PEEK AT JOBS THAT FLY BELOW THE RADAR

She Taught The Law From prison warden to judge, Sharon Walton has used a lifetime of legal knowledge to help law enforcement keep to the book, including today's police cadets.

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haron Walton lights up when she talks about the law. She has every right to. The former corrections administrator, city attorney, metro court judge, and law professor has seen criminal justice from nearly every angle. In her latest role, she’s instructing Albuquerque Police Department cadets in constitutional law.

Walton’s love affair with criminal justice started in childhood. She would sneak out of her bedroom when her parents thought she was sleeping to watch Perry Mason — an older TV show when she was watching it, but a compelling one. Plus, “My granddad said I argued really well,” she says. “Law has a logic to it like math, and I loved math and algebra.” After the native Albuquerquean earned her law degree from the University of New Mexico, she spent her early career consulting with the New Mexico Corrections Department on civil rights and personnel issues. She was then tapped to become a corrections administrator and served as warden of the Penitentiary of New Mexico overseeing the maximum-security unit. At first, she felt working in corrections was pulling her away from her goal

— to become a judge. She would come to realize the detour taught her valuable lessons for her eventual judgeship. “In criminal justice, corrections doesn’t have the same prestige as other fields,” Walton says. “However, it’s an incredibly challenging job and there are real professions that treat their jobs seriously.” Walton was in college during the 1980 New Mexico State Penitentiary riot, so keeping that from happening again was top of mind for her as she stepped behind the gates — so was her safety. “As warden, I didn’t have a weapon. I saw that showing respect to people was the foundation everything else builds upon. I took that lesson with me.” Showing basic human decency got her far, like when she discovered some prisoners who sent out their laundry never

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got it back from the inmates assigned to that work detail. One Friday night, she found herself going cell to cell dispensing new pairs of boxers. “When you do the right thing for the right reason, you get it back,” she says. After a stint as a city attorney, during which time she worked with APD, Walton was eventually appointed a metro court judge. She served on the bench for nearly 20 years until her 2018 retirement. She felt an important intermediary to divert people from criminal paths before they landed in maximum security prison where she’d previously worked. Anecdotally, she saw a clear association between domestic violence and people who committed crimes. “It seemed to me if there was one causal link, it was that” she says. She became involved in a problem-solving court, a subset of metro court, that worked on holistic approaches to solve domestic violence. The hearings asked offenders and victims to work together. “It was a small population, but there were some amazing success stories,” she says. “I think it just gave them grace

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and a chance to succeed.” Nearly immediately upon joining the bench, she began teaching at then Technical Vocational Institute, now Central New Mexico Community College. At first, she was an instructor in the paralegal certificate program. Walton later became part of the criminal justice program where there’s an emphasis on recruiting instructors with hands-on experience. She teaches constitutional law and criminal procedure and evidence. “I had very good professors at UNM that furthered my interest in the law. I want to be the teacher that will listen and help. I love seeing students come alive,” she says. After she retired from the bench, she started teaching the same coursework for the APD Academy. She’s taught two classes a year since 2019, with classes varying in size from nine to two-dozen. The cadets’ classroom instruction reflects a shift in how policing is done from crime control or due-process models to a constitutional policing approach. Putting on her figurative professor’s cap, Walton says, “The crime control po-

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licing approach is, ‘How far can I go to get this confession?’ Due process is, ‘Did I check all the boxes and do everything that’s required of me?’” With a constitutional policing approach, police are asked to “embody what the constitution means. New Mexico is a forward-thinking state in this way. It’s the concept that in every interaction, police should respect people’s rights as though they had an attorney is standing next to them. You don’t step too far because there’s no one there to tell you to stop,” Walton says. An example of this in philosophy in practice is when police recite Miranda rights (i.e. the right to remain silent) informing people of their rights. She believes this approach allows future officers to go beyond memorizing policies. Instead, they appreciate the reasoning behind laws so they can apply them thoughtfully. “It provides a deeper understanding,” she says. “When you’re thinking this way, you’re not thinking, ‘This policy says x.’ You’re thinking, ‘What do I need to do to make this person feel respected and protect their rights?’”

As a judge pro tem (acting), she’ll occasionally fill in for a colleague in metro court. When she does, she brings new real-world examples into the classroom. “We spend an entire day having the cadets define probable cause and reasonable suspicion for themselves, then look at actual criminal complaints to apply their definitions,” she says. Walton’s experience earlier in her career as a city attorney advising the APD gave her a particular appreciation for officers’ jobs. “I met the men and women doing this job and got to see how difficult it is,” she says. “I’ve seen how maligned the profession has become, and I’ve also seen the problems and abuses.” Walton’s single regret from her time on the bench was not making more system-wide changes. By shaping the next generation of APD officers, she may no longer need to count that as a disappointment. —ASHLEY M. BIGGERS

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CULTURE

GOLDEN YEARS FULL OF COLOR Long after her retirement from a career as a nurse, Miriam Nelson has rekindled her childhood love of painting, resulting in a steady sale of her work at coffeehouse shows. (p. 124)

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PHOTO BY DON JAMES/ATM

A PULSE CHECK ON ALBUQUERQUE’S ART, MUSIC AND THEATER SCENE

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DIP INTO THE PERFECTLY MIXED PALETTE OF ABQ’S ART AND ARTISTS

NOT CALLING IT A DAY

Painter Miriam Nelson has found inspiration in retirement

t age 72, Miriam Nelson is selling her art in earnest for the first time in her life. The retired nurse turned her Placitas home into a gallery Mother’s Day weekend for the Placitas Studio Tour. The walls were hung with decades worth of work inspired by the landscapes of New Mexico and Wisconsin, as well as dreamscapes. She paints amid the juniper and piñon trees in a small outbuilding. She nicknamed her small studio the Taj Mahal — a name drawn from the Indian landmark a husband built for his wife, as hers did for her. The view she takes in of the Sandias is a familiar one. This stint marks her second in the Albuquerque area. The St. Louis native first moved to the Duke City 35 years ago. When she and her husband sought fitting schools for their son and daughter,

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they moved to Las Cruces, where Nelson earned her nursing degree. After living in Oregon and Wisconsin, Nelson and her husband retired to New Mexico six years ago. Painting has been part of her life since childhood when she began drawing and painting. “I got pretty decent while I was in college,” she says of her time at The College of Wooster and Bowling Green State University in Ohio. She set aside her art while in nursing school. One day, the story of a patient who was abused as a child compelled her to pick up her paint brush again. She’s been painting since. Even while working as a nurse and raising her family, she snuck in painting sessions. Even if those sessions were only Sunday afternoons spent in the garage. Art “was a place I could go that was all my own,” she says. “It’s where I had complete freedom. That was important to me.” She believes that many people are and enjoy being creative, even if they may feel

pulled into work and home lives that take them away from it. “You have to set apart a time and space to do it,” she says. “If you love it, you’ll do it. You have to spend time working, even though it’s not that much fun all the time. I’m recognizing that and trying to push myself now that I’m retired.” Nelson’s subject matter skips from landscapes to retelling of stories of Greek gods to mandalas. “I had a pact with my muse that I would paint whatever came to me. It has taken me many places,” she says. Often, whatever she’s reading inspires new works. Her reading interests range from the latest David Baldacci legal thriller to works by the founder of analytical psychology, Carl Jung. Her reading helps push her to experience new adventures and imagine new scenes. Nelson’s childhood often inspires her to read religious works. As the daughter of a minister, she was brought up in the church. “However, I became unattached WWW.ABQTHEMAG.COM | JULY 2022

from the church when I thought they couldn’t represent everyone. Everyone needs to be represented and loved,” she says. “I started reading about religion on my own.” She has incorporated Mesoamerican religious figures in paintings and been inspired by mythology. Her creative process often aligns with her personal life. For example, she painted Persephone, the queen of the underworld in Greek mythology who is connected to the changing of the seasons, when her daughter left for college and returned home only a few months of the year. Inspired by her Jungian reading, she also paints imagery from her reveries. “I kept a dream journal for many years. I enjoy illustrating images from dreams, mostly because I need to get them out of me,” she says. “I don’t immediately have an image in my mind; it develops as I paint.”

In “Dream of the Bath,” she depicts a figure getting into a bathtub as a representation of going into a dreamworld. Another work, “Poets Pool,” also depicts images of people going into a physical pool to signify diving into the unconscious. The painting displays evocative pool rules: “Be sure of what you’re here for. If you dive deep, remember how you got there.” Painting has always been a way for the self-proclaimed introvert to express herself. “I can have trouble communicating,” she says. “I can’t talk too much about the paintings. They speak for themselves.” Nature is a constant in Nelson’s work, whether she’s painting an image of juniper tree roots on her land or a mandala braided with blooming vines. “I believe nature is a reflection of creation that we need to respect completely,” she says. Wisconsin wetlands, in a painting of the same name,

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and views of the Mimbres Valley in New Mexico have equally captured her attention. Occasionally, her interests collide as they did recently in her painting of Gaia, the personification of the Earth in Greek mythology. Nelson’s paintings are often large scale. “I like to work big because I’m so short,” she says. Although she’s sold a handful of paintings at coffeeshop shows over the years, in her retirement, she finally feels ready to begin selling more. Still, she’s dedicated to her muse, not a “SOLD” sticker. “I have to paint what comes to me, rather than what I think is going to sell,” she says. With no website or studio presence at press time, she welcomes inquiries about her work via phone at (505) 404-9101. —ASHLEY M. BIGGERS

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SHELFLIFE

TURN A PAGE WITH OUR LOCAL AUTHORS

BIKER AND HIKER PARADISE longtime hiker and a volunteer at Valles Caldera National Preserve since the spring of 2018, Coco Rae wrote the first complete guide to this natural New Mexico treasure as a testament to her love of the outdoors. Originally published in 2020 to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the public acquisition of this vast preserve, Rae has updated and expanded this book that took her 18 months to meticulously document the backcountry of Valles Caldera, with detailed descriptions of the trails and topographical maps, as well as noting the terrain conditions and challenges that are distinctive to each of the more than two dozen trails. Located west of Los Alamos, Valles Caldera encompasses more than 90,000 acres that beckons hikers and mountain bike riders from all over the world. Written for outdoor adventure explorers, this hand-held guidebook is a must have for first-timers and those returning to explore the extensive biodiversity and unique landscape that is Valles Caldera, one of New Mexico’s geological, cultural and historical treasures. ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE: Let’s start by explaining what a caldera is, how old it is, and why Valle Caldera is so special. COCO RAE: A caldera is a collapsed volcano. Here’s the explanation from my book: “Caldera formation may be understood as something like a magma-filled souffle: as rifts pull apart and temperatures and pressures rise, the land is forced upward by the rising magma, until the pressure becomes so great that an eruption occurs, scattering volcanic material everywhere. When the pressure is released and the magma is spent, what material remains collapses and the center drops lower than its original surface, filling the void left behind by the erupting lava.” Our caldera is incredibly well-defined and its characteristics are used to define all calderas worldwide. It was formed over two major eruptions. The first was 1.6 million years ago, forming the smaller Toledo caldera, and then a second erup-

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HIKING TRAILS IN VALLES CALDERA NATIONAL PRESERVE By Coco Rae University of New Mexico Press 192 pages $19.95

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tion 1.25 million years ago largely obliterated the first and left the current, slightly oval shape. Many people think this was a supervolcano, but it absolutely was not— the two eruptions released 85 cubic miles of debris and 75 cubic miles, respectively, but a supervolcano requires 240 cubic miles of debris. The mountains (lava domes) within our caldera were formed by later eruptions, the most recent being around 40,000 years ago. These lava domes delineate the valles within the Preserve. The caldera is dormant, but not extinct—thus the geothermal features on the west side of the Preserve, and nearby hot springs such as San Antonio hot springs and Jemez Springs. People have recognized the special nature of the caldera since Native Americans first arrived in the region. Every valle is different and has its own character, and the caldera is filled with wildlife, medicinal and sacred plants, some of the finest obsidian in North America, and of course spectacular views and rarely-visited trails. ATM: This is an update of the 2020 book, so please tell us what is new and share the greatest lesson you learned writing this incredible trail guide resource for fellow hikers and bikers.

tion is the color photography. I tripled the number of photos, updated the maps, and updated some trail descriptions to reflect changed conditions. I learned a lot of prosaic things while working on the book, such as how to produce maps from GPX data. I don’t know if it was a lesson, exactly, but the best thing about writing the guide was seeing trails across all four seasons, revisiting them at different times of year and discovering new aspects of them as the seasons changed: discovering groves of aspen as they light up with yellow in the fall, hearing peeper frogs in the spring, hoarfrost sparkling on trees in early winter, etc. ATM: Because this land is sacred, what can visitors do to be good stewards of the land? CR: Being a good steward includes packing out any trash, sticking to designated trails, and viewing wildlife from a safe and respectful distance. “Take only pictures, leave only footprints” is always a good mantra. It’s important to remember that the caldera is sacred to nearly all the Native peoples of the southwest. Additionally, all resources in the Preserve are protected, including obsidian and any archaeological sites, so those always need to be respected. —HH

CR: The biggest update for the new edi-

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SHELFLIFE

THE HEAT LEVEL KEEPS RISING nown as the “Pope of Peppers,” Albuquerque resident Dave DeWitt is a food researcher and food historian and the preeminent authority on chile peppers, spices, and fiery foods. He has authored 23 books on chiles and spicy world cuisines and is the founder of the National Fiery Foods Show, a Duke City gastronomic food show that attracts people from all over the world. Being a native of Mexico who now lives in Mexico City, José C. Marmolejo has a long history with Mexican food including a distribution company and working with PBS on a series about fiery foods. Together, these two culinarians have created an impressive compendium of chiles that includes a rich and delicious history along with more than 150 recipes. ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE: Tell me about the 1986 Arturo Lomelí quote that opens the book...I know there is a story there worthy of sharing. DAVID DEWITT: Lomelí was one of the

THE MEXICAN CHILE PEPPER COOKBOOK: THE SOUL OF MEXICAN HOME COOKING By Dave DeWitt and José C. Marmolejo University of New Mexico Press 296 pages $24.95

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book? DD: I learned how truly different New

Mexican cooking is from Mexican.

JM: I learned about food history which is

the part that Dave wrote.

first Mexican authors to focus on chiles, and we used his quote to emphasize how important they are to the cuisine, culture, and psyche of the Mexican people.

ATM: According to your book, chiles date back to 400 B.C. Can you tell us how chiles were used back then compared to how they are used today?

JOSÉ C. MARMOLEJO: In 1994, Dave

DD: The main difference is that after Co-

and I were filming in Mexico City an episode for a PBS series on Fiery Foods and our friend Lula Bertrán (some of her recipes appear in the book) introduced us to Arturo Lomelí and his wife Lila. On that occasion Arturo gave Dave a copy of his book "El Chile y Otros Picantes" published a few years before and the quote was in that book. ATM: What brought you together to create this informational book that offers both a history of chiles and 150 recipes? DD AND JM: We are longtime friends—

more than 30 years—who long ago planned to collaborate. It just took us a few decades longer than we thought.

ATM: As a New Mexican and a Mexican who know chiles, what is something new that you each learned with this

lumbus, chiles were combined with Old World crops for the first time, including meats and vegetables. JM: Chiles were wild fruits that were collected and consumed raw and probably fire roasted to condiment meals. Nature showed us that they could be sun-dried and consumed off season, so they were probably consumed dried-ground-sprinkled in food and the Aztecs smoke-dried chiles as a method of preservation. Today, we eat chiles raw, cooked in stews, roasted and stuffed, sun-dried, smoked, in escabeche, in salsas and cooking sauces, powdered on vegetables, and in any form chefs venture to experiment with them. ATM: With more than 60 Mexican chiles, how did you narrow it to the 12 featured in the book?

varieties, the most consumed and those that make a wide range of dishes possible, as well as those most commonly available in the U.S. ATM: If you had to choose one chile, which would it be? DD: New Mexican because of its versatility. Red and green—a food as well as a spice. JM: Challenging question. I would

choose Pasilla for dried and Habanero for fresh. But it all depends on what you want to cook—a salsa, mole, guisado? A salsa with two or three different chiles is wonderful, while a mole needs several dried chiles for a sophisticated flavor.

ATM: The glossaries are wonderful additions. Why did you decide to include these sections? DD: Because it was scholarship that had

not appeared elsewhere and made our book unique.

JM: In the U.S., there is a need for reliable

information for serious cooks and cooking professionals. Confusion of terms, as well as a limited knowledge of the Spanish language needed to be addressed and we try to eliminate that confusion. —HH

DD AND JM: We picked the most popular

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by mel minter

ABQ’S THRIVING LOCAL MUSIC SCENE

HOME AT LAST A HARMONIOUS RELATIONSHIP

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inger/songwriters Anne and Kevin Worley, who perform as Worleysings, have two things in common: bicycling and music. It was bicycling that first brought them together in the Bay Area. Kevin raced on indoor tracks, often against Anne’s first husband, and he ran a children’s cycling program, to which Anne brought her kids. After Anne’s divorce, she and Kevin remet via an early online dating program, where Kevin’s bio said something to the effect of “If you’re looking for somebody in the dot.com industry, keep looking, because I’m a nurse and play music.” Kevin, who’s self-taught on guitar, had had an on-off love affair with music since his teens, and in 1998, he decided to see if he could make a go of it professionally, giving himself a five-year deadline to make it happen. He was playing out four or five times a week. “I was playing a lot more original music then,” he says. “It wasn’t any good, but I was still playing it,” he says, with a self-deprecating laugh. It was during this time that he reconnected with Anne. On their first date, Kevin brought a tape of some of his music, and when the power went off in Anne’s house, they retired to Kevin’s car to listen. Twenty-two years later, they’re still enjoying music together—at home and onstage. Initially, Anne says, “I was his roadie. I’d help carry his stuff, and I’d go to the shows with him, clap, and do stuff like that. After following him around for three years, on my birthday, I asked if I could sing a song.” As an early childhood educator, she sang to the kids all the time, but she had never sung out. That night, she delivered a Faith Hill song that changed their musical relationship. “I’m kind of a ham,” says Anne, who enjoys “yucking it up” with an audience. “That’s from working with young children, a way to keep them entertained. “Working with me is like working with

young children,” says Kevin, and Anne quickly agrees. “We started doing a lot of songs together,” says Kevin. “Anne has this incredible ear to do harmonies. The first comment that we get when people see us play, The harmonies are beautiful.” Over time, Anne has begun to sing the main melody on some songs, with Kevin adding the harmony—with the same result. When his five-year deadline expired, Kevin decided that there was no future in music professionally for him, but he and Anne continued to perform, doing a lot of open mics and occasional gigs together. Retiring to Albuquerque, where Anne had grown up—Kevin’s originally from Indianapolis—the two of them discovered a great musical community. “The music scene here in Albuquerque, in my estimation, is fabulous,” says Kevin. “It’s not just because there are so many good players, but the scene is so open. Everybody’s so welcoming.” They limit themselves to one full gig a

month but play quite a few opens mics monthly, where they do mostly covers. Anne says they enjoy the comraderie of the open mics, where they see a lot of the same people and have become good friends with many. These events tend to draw a younger crowd, and the Worleys enjoy their company. “They’re good, they’re funny, they’re supportive, and the music is different,” says Kevin. Check out worleysings.com, where you can hear a variety of music—originals, covers, and EDM. Email them at kevinworley51@gmail.com or call 408-7241885.

GETTING RIGHT WITH MUSIC Whether playing a solo singer/songwriter gig or fronting the band Los Domingueros, for which he is vocalist and rhythm guitarist, Josue Urrutia knows how to connect with an audience. His infectious positivity, high energy, and fearless vulWWW.ABQTHEMAG.COM | JULY 2022

PHOTO BY DON JAMES/ATM

nerability, capped by a winning smile and a sense of humor, pull the audience in and lift them up. It’s hard to imagine that Urrutia has battled debilitating depression for years. He’s no stranger to bad thoughts of self-harm, shame, and fear, and if not for music and the love of his wife, friends, and family, things might have turned out very differently for him. A native of Ciudad Juárez, Urrutia came to the U.S. as a child with his family via the Family Unity Act. They ultimately settled

in Bernalillo, where Urrutia lived till he was about 20. “I grew up with a real melting pot of music. My mom had an amazing mariachi voice, and I grew up with a lot of Mexican mariachi music, Mexican Christian music. My dad was like a Johnny Cash guy, but he was also really religious,” says Urrutia. His brothers listened to a variety of country, R&B, hard rock, and metal. Urrutia played in bands in high school, and from the time he was 18 to 31, he was musical director/worship leader at three churches.

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

“I didn’t do music in my 20's because I was doing it at church, and I dealt with a lot of depression,” he says. He got back into it briefly, but music faded into the background in his 30's as he took care of his family, helped care for his aging parents, and worked six days a week in a high-pressure sales job. “I spent like eight years without really touching my guitar.” When his mom died, he dropped into a deep depression. Then, in June 2020, he rolled his car in the canyon between Española and Taos, and as he hung over a 100-foot drop, barely avoiding death, he realized that “somebody wants me here.” He decided to take a leave of absence from his job and assess his purpose. His friend DJ Gabriel Goza knew what it was, and told him: “Josué, you need to be involved in music.” For three months, Urrutia battled depression, seeking out therapists and doing an ayahuasca ceremony in Mexico. “The two things I determined, my purpose in life is to make music, share my music, and to help people,” he says. “If I can help others, to me that’s awesome.” Urrutia pulled together several musicians to play for a Mexican Independence Day party and had so much fun that he decided to start a band, convincing his friend bassist Victor Magallanes to join. In short order last summer, they formed Los Domingueros, which also includes Taylor Phelps (lead guitar), Louis Gallardo (keyboards), Javier Dorado (drums), and Gabe Covarrubias (percussion). The band features a very eclectic bilingual style that ranges from ska, reggae, and punk to rock en Español, salsa, cumbia, and even bachata, and they’re earning a reputation as a “kick-ass band. “It’s a frickin’ party,” says Urrutia. It’s also redemption for him. Urrutia uses the band to reach out to anyone battling depression, offering to connect them with help. His song “Run with It” describes his own battle, providing his bona fides as one who’s been there himself. “For the longest time, I had all this bitterness and all this bs in me, and now for the first time in a long time, I feel that I have people in my life, my friends, family, people that are worth me becoming a better person for,” he says. Be sure to check out Musically Speaking, Mel’s online music journal, at www.melminter.com. If you’d like to share something with “¡tiempo!” readers, e-mail tiempo@abqthemag.com.

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EATS P. 132 | EATS, ETC. P. 136 | FROM THE VINE P. 138 | SPIRIT SPOTLIGHT P. 142 | BITES P. 146

DISH

PILLOWS OF WARM COMFORT There are two camps of sopaipilla lovers: those who like the fluffy bread with the meal, and those who like it afterward as dessert. Luckily, Cervantes serves it how you want it. (p. 132).

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PHOTO BY DON JAMES/ATM

A TASTE OF WHAT’S HAPPENING IN ABQ’S WORLD OF WINE, SPIRITS, AND CULINARY DELIGHTS

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SMART OPTIONS, WITH THE GOODNESS INTACT

New Mexican food balances tradition with health at Cervantes

ervantes Restaurant and Lounge (5801 Gibson Blvd SE) originated from humble beginnings, when president and founder Roberta Finley rented out a kitchen space at the Mint Saloon in 1977. The goal back then was much the same as it is today: To provide delicious and healthy New Mexican food to customers at a reasonable price through recipes that came from both Finley and her grandmother. While “healthy” and “New Mexican food” typically don’t go handin-hand, Cervantes breaks that mold with its approach in the kitchen: Everything is fried with canola oil instead of lard, and there are no preservatives, chemical addi-

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tives, or other fillers in the products. “Back when Roberta started this restaurant, at that particular time in Albuquerque and probably all over the nation, it was going into this heart healthy stage where people were starting to pay attention to their health, their hearts,” says general manager Iris Metzgar. “When she put that menu together, you’ll notice that there are no fats, there are no lards. She uses a mozzarella cheese, which is made with skim milk, so it’s better for your heart.” Now more than four decades into its existence, it's safe to say the Cervantes brand has stood the test of time, although it quickly outgrew that original location.

“I think it’s because we serve fresh food every day,” Finley says. “It’s not something that’s been put in the freezer or refrigerator or comes already cooked. We cook our own. The only thing that we do not prepare here are our corn tortillas. We make our chips here. We use no salt in them. That’s a heart healthy thing that I started way back, making things with far less salt than most restaurants use.” Each visit to Cervantes begins with a free complimentary order of chips and salsa, the latter of which is made from scratch daily on site. From there, diners can select from a plethora of New Mexican favorites such as enchiladas, chile rellenos, carne adovada, tacos, tostadas, WWW.ABQTHEMAG.COM | JULY 2022

DISH IRISH FLAIR Cervantes prides itself on serving traditional New Mexican food, but it pays tribute to Ireland every St. Patrick’s Day. General Manager Iris Metzgar boasts that they make the best corned beef and cabbage in town. MONSTER MASH The restaurant eschews the popular — but less healthy — refried beans option for its own mash beans, which are made with no fat, no oil, and minimal salt. PARTY TIME For those holding special events attended by 80 or more people, Cervantes offers catering services with four different buffetstyle menus. The restaurant will also work to customize the menu upon request. HOLIDAY SPIRIT Thanks in large part to the efforts of Metzgar, holidays are always a big event at Cervantes. “She decorates for every holiday. People are blown away by the decorations that she does,” says owner Roberta Finley.

burritos — and more. Those who can’t choose just one entree are advised to try one of the establishment’s combination plates, which offer a varied sampling of Cervantes’ fare. “Everything is made to order,” Finley says. “Nothing is premade. You order enchiladas, they’re made at that particular time.” Carne adovada is known as the house specialty at Cervantes and is available in burritos, stuffed sopaipillas, huevos rancheros and enchiladas, to name a few options. Or, patrons can simply enjoy it as a stand alone item as part of one of the aforementioned combination plates. There’s no wrong answer, really. “What makes it outstanding is we make our own,” Finley says. “We don’t order the carne adovada (from outside). We make our own, we make our own red chile and we marinate it for 24 hours. And then we bake it, for I would say, a good four hours. It’s baked slowly to make the pork tender.” JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

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The formula keeps people coming back, including some who have been enjoying Finley’s culinary talents since she was renting out that small kitchen space. It’s a customer base currently that spans three generations. “I can say they’re very, very loyal,” Finley says. “I have customers that started at the Mint (Saloon) and some of them are still alive. The ones that are still alive are still coming in.” The Cervantes brand is well-known in the state and eventually expanded to include a Food Products Division, which sells a bevy of salsa and chile sauces by the jar. While Cervantes Food Products isn’t directly associated with the restaurant anymore, the recipes all originate from

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Cervantes Restaurant and Lounge 5801 Gibson Boulevard Southeast (505) 262-2253 cervantesabq.com

Finley and her family — a legacy that has been passed down for more than 100 years. It’s another testament to the quality that Cervantes, led by Finley, established so many years ago. The restaurant and its flavors are now well entrenched in Duke City culture. “All her foods have just been honed to perfection. We’ve just gotten bigger,” Metzgar says. “We’re more well-known. Our family has the Cervantes Products out on the shelves. They’re not part of us, but they’re part of us. So we’ve grown a lot on both ends.” “I followed my dream, that’s all,” Finley says. “It was a dream that I made come true.” —TRISTEN CRITCHFIELD

FEATURED DISHES Note: Prices are for lunch hours and may increase for dinner

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS $15.75

Three chicken enchiladas, beans, rice, sopapillas, choice of red or green chile.

CARNE ADOVADA BURRITO DINNER $14.03

Comes with beans, rice and choice of red or green chile.

COMBINATION PLATE #1 $15.40

Tamale, Taco, Enchilada, Carne Adovada.

COMBINATION PLATE #2 $16.50

Taco, Enchilada, Chile Relleno, Carne Adovada.

CHILE RELLENOS $14.30

Two rellenos, beans, rice, sopapillas, your choice of chile.

WWW.ABQTHEMAG.COM | JULY 2022

DISH

Eats, Etc.

A quick glance at three local eateries that you may or may not already know about.

an Tang, an Asian bistro located in Nob Hill, has a little something for everyone, from Chinese to Thai to Vietnamese to fusion. That was by design, according to owner Jason Zeng, who opened the restaurant as a fast-casual complement to his other business, Chow’s Asian Bistro, which is located in Santa Fe. “I actually grew up in China and came here when I was 8 … I’m the third generation to be in the restaurant business,” Zeng says. “I like other Asian cuisines as well and I figured, instead of doing just a Chinese joint, why not take a little bit of everybody’s favorites? Americans, when they go out for Asian food, they don’t just want one thing.” While there are plenty of traditional favorites at the restaurant, diners will find some out-of-the-box menu items at Fan Tang.

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“I want to do things differently because if you go and you get the same food everywhere, why would they want to come here?” Zeng says. One such example is the Coffee Chicken, which is French-ground coffee rubbed on organic chicken breast stir fried in a sweet, smokey spicy-flavored sauce. “It’s sweet, (but) not too sweet,” Zeng says. “It’s got a coffee aftertaste.”Another popular item is the Tea Smoked Beef, which is a simpler take on a traditional Chinese dish that typically requires 12 hours of preparation. “There’s a dish in China that’s teasmoked duck where they actually take tea leaves and they smoke the duck,” Zeng says. “I wanted to capture that essence without all the hassle. I take organic applewood smoked tea, (and) we do a dry rub on organic beef with cayenne, chipotle, garlic, and sea salt. So simple and easy

but really delicious.” Or there’s the Firecracker Dumplings, which aren’t as spicy as the name might suggest. “They’re a little bit more spicy but nothing on my menu really burns your mouth,” Zeng says. “It’s pork and veggie dumplings with garlic, fresh soy sauce, and infused chili oil.” If it’s Asian cuisine you crave, Fan Tang probably has something to suit your palate. It’s also a versatile spot for various social gatherings with beer, wine, and sake available with each entree. “It’s real comfortable, a good place for a date or just to hang out with friends,” Zeng says. —TRISTEN CRITCHFIELD

FAN TANG 3523 Central Ave. NE 505-266-2566 WWW.ABQTHEMAG.COM | JULY 2022

PHOTOS BY DON JAMES/ATM

Fan Tang has a menu comprised of dishes from several Asian cultures, including the Coffee Chicken, a Chinese dish featuring a coffee rub.

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veteran of multiple decades in the restaurant industry, Steve Riley has long harbored a dream to have a place of his own. That goal came to fruition this past August, when he launched Mesa Provisions, a Nob Hill eatery with a frequently-changing flavor. “It’s been my dream to own my own restaurant for the 30 years I’ve been working in the restaurant business,” says Riley, who is also the executive chef at his establishment. “It was just this goal that I had. It just kind of all fell together. It’s one of those things where if you put enough energy into it, it ends up happening.” Thanks to an emphasis on locally-sourced and seasonal ingredients in his kitchen, Riley can guarantee that his menu will never stagnate. “We’re very seasonally influenced and also locally influenced,” he says. “Those two things kind of go together pretty well because the things that grow are gonna be growing in season. I try to have a focus on buying as much local produce as I can, but also keeping everything very seasonal, so our menu does change quite often. There will be some things that you will see one

The smoked half chicken with cabbage slaw is a favorite at Mesa Provisions.

week, and you won’t see it the next week – but that’s intentional.” That’s not to say that Mesa Provisions doesn’t have a few year-round staples, notably a smoked half chicken with a red chile honey glaze accompanied by local pinto beans, duck fat flour tortillas and a cabbage slaw. Another regular item is the green chile cheddar biscuits, which are served with a red chile butter and work well as a “refined dinner biscuit,” according to Riley. With one career goal realized, Riley is working diligently to build a loyal customer base that appreciates the fluidity of his culinary offerings.

In the aftermath of COVID, Taaj Palace's lunch buffet has returned, featuring favorites like Chicken Tikka Masala.

ashpal Sandhu moved to the United States from India in 1997, and though he had worked in the restaurant industry that entire time, he always harbored dreams of running his own establishment. That became a reality when Taaj Palace (1435 Eubank Blvd. NE) opened in 2010. The restaurant’s website boasts that it has “pioneered Indian cuisine in Albuquerque,” a claim that can be difficult to quantify but is true in at least one aspect. “When I worked in other restaurants … everybody wants a dinner buffet,” Sandhu says. “No Indian restaurants offer a dinner buffet. When I opened in 2010, I started an

all-day buffet plus a dinner buffet.” That approach hit a giant roadblock during the pandemic, which obviously brought such options to a screeching halt. Fortunately, as society returns to some sense of normalcy, Sandhu has been able to get his restaurant’s trademark up and running once again. The lunch buffet runs from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., while the dinner version is available from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. “My loyal customers helped me a lot,” Sandhu says of the difficult time. Taaj Palace includes a variety of delicious Indian cuisine, from soups to tandoori to vegan to curry to biryani-rice to a variety of naan (traditional Indian bread). Some

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

“I hope to gain trust as a chef with my customers where they can trust that when they come in, it doesn’t matter what they see on the menu, they’re going to be happy and know that we’re giving them quality food at a quality price and it’s going to taste good,” he says. “You always have something different to look forward to when you come into Mesa Provisions.” —TRISTEN CRITCHFIELD

MESA PROVISIONS 3120 Central Ave. SE 505-494-5264 of the more popular items offered are Tandoori Chicken Wings, Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Chops, Lamb Seekh Kabab, and Goat Curry, to name a few. And for those with a sweet tooth, Sandhu recommends the Badamee Keer (almond and rice pudding), Mango Fruit Custard, or the Gulab Jamun (sweet balls dipped in honey syrup with coconut). Everything is homemade,” Sandhu says. “Everything starts from scratch right here.” For the uninitiated who aren’t quite sure what type of fare might suit their palate, Sandhu highly recommends the buffet. That’s the best opportunity to get a cross section of what is offered at Taaj Palace. “The buffet has so many items, you can try them. After that, they know some Indian (food) and (what) they want to order from the menu,” he says. “When they come for the first time, they don’t know Indian food well — what is good, what is not good (to them). So I suggest to a new customer to try the buffet.”—TRISTEN CRITCHFIELD

TAAJ PALACE 1435 Eubank Blvd NE (505) 296-0109

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WHAT’S HAPPENING IN ABQ’S BEER, WINE, AND SPIRITS SCENE

THE ART OF HEAVY METAL

THE COLORFUL CRAZE OF INK ON ALUMINUM

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PHOTOS BY DON JAMES/ATM

Since craft micro-brew went from a hobby to a national craze about 15 years ago, ABQ brewers have shown our local beers to be at or near the head of the class. So many U.S. and international awards have been bestowed on our brewmasters that we're hardly surprised anymore. That excellence has continued with the newest craze: canned cocktails. And beyond just the tasty local concoctions found in 4- and 6-packs, consumers have also been captivated by the eye-catching can designs. We decided to give some love to as many gorgeous local canned cocktails as we could get our hands on. You could say the art form is now both in and outside the can. —CB

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SPIRIT SPOTLIGHT frothy

earthy sour

PHOTO BY DON JAMES/ATM

The 505 Sour, found at Apothecary lounge, is just what you want to be sipping on the rooftop of Hotel Parq Central. Apothecary's food and beverage director, Jake Larragoite said that the lounge loves sours and are good at making them. They came up with the idea of the 505 Sour because they always have leftover green chile juice from all of the green chile dishes that they make. Instead of always throwing out the juice, they decided to make a green chile simple syrup. The syrup mixes well with the lemon juice and pisco (two other ingredients for the cocktail) making the cocktail not all spicy, but sour and a little sweet. To top off the cocktail, egg whites are added on top with a stencil of red chile bitters in the shape of New Mexico’s Zia symbol. “The egg whites give it body and nice separation,” says lead bartender, Stephanie Welch. With the sour flavors of green chile and lemon, and the earthy tones from Pisco, along with the frothiness from the egg whites, this cocktail is delicious in all the right ways. Also, don’t forget to snap a pic for your platform of choice before sipping down your 505 Sour. —DLM

505 Sour, $13 Apothecary Lounge at Hotel Parq Central 806 Central Ave. SE (505) 242-0040, hotelparqcentral.com/apothecary-lounge

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505 SOUR

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OUR EATS ALUMNI, CONDENSED INTO PERFECTLY SIZED SNACKS TO TAKE WITH YOU ON THE GO

POLICY: eating establishments compiled by Albuquerque The Magazine’s editorial staff. These restaurants have been featured previously in the “Eats” department of the magazine. Restaurants may or may not accept reservations or major credit cards,

CORRECTIONS: Please send corrections and suggestions to editor@abqthemag.com.

5901 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 821-1909, 5starburgers.com From bison, salmon, turkey and crab to lamb, chicken and Black Angus beef, burger addicts will love Five Star’s 100 percent natural meat. Handformed patties or vegetarian options paired with wine from St. Clair Winery or beer from Marble Brewery are a match made in heaven.

1405 Central Ave. NE (505) 247-1421, 66diner.com This blast from the past specializes in burgers, chicken fried steak, liver and onions, and blue-plate specials, including the Pile Up: a mound of pan-fried potatoes, chopped bacon, green chile, two eggs, cheddar cheese, and red or green chile sauce on top.

ABC CAKE SHOP

1830 San Pedro Dr. NE (505) 255-5080, abccakeshop.com Specializing in custom cakes and baked goods for all occasions, this bakery focuses on freshness and flavor. Everything is made from scratch, including the cupcakes, cookies, pies, Danishes, pastries, and other desserts.

THE ACRE

4410 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 299-6973, theacrerestaurant.com The Acre Restaurant specializes in comfort vegetarian cuisine with a goal to challenge meateaters and question what vegetarian food is, all while creating healthy, sustainable dishes.

ABUELITA’S NEW MEXICAN KITCHEN $

6083 Isleta Blvd. SW, (505) 877-5700 Kathy Martinez’s brother, Chris Romero, opened Abuelita’s New Mexican Kitchen in Bernalillo 26 years ago. Since then, nothing has changed. The Huevos Rancheros are a best seller, as is the Kitchen’s signature dish, the Tacopilla.

AJIACO COLOMBIAN BISTRO

3216 Silver Ave. SE (505) 266-2305, ajiacobistro.com Inside the intimate space, you’ll find combination plates, arroz con pollo, arepas, plantains, and of course, a great cup of Colombian coffee. The dishes at Ajiaco combine indigenous Colombian, Spanish, African, and Arab flavors for a truly thrilling experience.

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AL’S BIG DIPPER

501 Copper Ave. NW (505) 314-1118, alsbigdipper.com From the beginning, Al’s Big Dipper has been a family affair. Every sandwich is named after a family member, and the owners test every soup they make. Try the 505 Lunch Deal—a cup of soup, a grilled cheese sandwich and a homemade cookie for only $5.05.

so call before visiting.

66 DINER

5555 Montgomery Blvd. NE, (505) 888-2921 Owner Mohamad Abdel Jalil and his sons run this all-in-one operation—a small grocery store and Middle East restaurant—seven days a week. This family team makes fresh pita bread every day and serves platefuls of their delicious hummus. It’s a great spot for lunch on-the-go.

“Bites” is a guide to Albuquerque-area

FIVE STAR BURGERS

ALQUDS MEDITERRANEAN GRILL & GROCERY

ALDO’S NEW YORK STYLE PIZZERIA

ALICEA’S NY BAGELS & SUBS

1690 Pat D’Arco Hwy., Unit E plus 1 other metro location (505) 892-2026, aldosalbuquerque.com With handmade lasagna and pizza dough, among other items, Aldo’s New York Style Pizzeria shares family recipes with its customers. From the buttermilk ranch dressing to the Eggplant and Chicken Parmigianas, homemade cooking is not too far away. 1009 Golf Course Rd. SE, Ste 103 (505) 896-4555 This East Coast–style deli on ABQ’s Westside is serving up 20 different sandwiches to Rio Rancho’s hungriest diners, using fresh-baked New York–style bagels and meats prepared in house for the likes of its Philly Steak and Cheese or the Cuban. Come hungry, because Alicea’s portions are not for the faint of heart. Can’t get out? Delivery options in Rio Rancho and parts of ABQ are also available when that hunger pang strikes.

AMADEO’S PIZZA AND SUBS

585 Osuna Rd. NE plus 2 other metro locations (505) 344-5555, amadeospizza.com This family-run pizza place believes that there truly are a million different ways to make a pizza. Using fresh, high-quality ingredients, they specialize in pizzas, subs, pasta, and fresh salads.

AMERASIA-SUMO SUSHI

800 3rd St. NW (505) 246-1615, amerasia-sumosushi.net Dim sum—which means “small piece of your heart” in Chinese—takes on a bigger meaning at AmerAsia, where everything is made from scratch daily. Try the fried beef and garlic dumplings, pork and ginger potstickers, or scallion pancakes.

AMORE NEAPOLITAN PIZZERIA

3600 Cutler Ave. NE, #3 plus 1 other metro location (505) 554-1967, amoreabq.com After relocating to Albuquerque from Naples, Italy, Gabriel and Kimberly Amador missed Neapolitan pizza. The husband and wife team, certified by the Association of Neapolitan Pizzaiuoli (APN), opened Amore, bringing a slice of Italy to Albuquerque. A Neapolitan brick oven fires delicious pizzas, such as the Margherita and the Zia, for 60 to 90 seconds at 905 degrees Fahrenheit. Local beer and wine compliment the pies perfectly.

ANATOLIA TURKISH MEDITERRANEAN GRILL

2132 Central Ave. SE, Ste C, (505) 242-6718 The specialty is the Doner Kebab, seasoned meat in the shape of an inverted cone, slow-cooked to perfection rotisserie style, and always freshly prepared. Whether you choose the Adana Spicy Ground Lamb or the ‘Burque Kebab, try the “baklove-ah” for dessert.

AN HY QUAN VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT

1450 Juan Tabo Blvd. NE, (505) 332-8565 This vegetarian Vietnamese spot is also veganfriendly. Pho fans don’t fret; Thai and wonton soup will satisfy any meat eater.

ANNAPURNA’S WORLD VEGETARIAN CAFÉ

ANNIE’S SOUP KITCHEN

5200 Eubank NE, Ste E7 plus 2 other metro locations (505) 275-2424, chaishoppe.com Annapurna offers some of the most enlightened, health-conscious vegetarian and vegan plates in the city, with plenty of options for people suffering from food allergies or Celiac disease. And the menu is world-class, with options from virtually every continent. 3107 Eubank Blvd. NE (505) 296-8601, anniessoupkitchen.com With four homemade soups made fresh every day, and home-style favorites such as avocado and bacon omelets and piles of potatoes topped with melted cheese, chile and eggs, Annie’s specializes in comfort.

ANTIQUITY RESTAURANT

$$$$

112 Romero St. NW (505) 247-3545, antiquityrestaurant.com Antiquity Restaurant is located just off historic Old Town Plaza. Antiquity holds the distinction of being the only restaurant in Albuquerque to serve the Henry IV—a bacon-wrapped filet mignon placed on a bed of artichoke leaves, topped with an artichoke heart and covered with béarnaise sauce.

ARTICHOKE CAFE

$$$

424 Central Ave. SE (505) 243-0200, artichokecafe.com This EDo fine-dining spot boasts a Wine Spectator “Award of Excellence,” and for good reason. A veteran of the Duke City’s fine dining scene, Artichoke Café remains the best bet for a great evening out. Innovative dishes and European aperitifs served by staff that takes ownership of the experience, the location is also an ideal launchpad for downtown adventures.

ASIAN NOODLE BAR

318 Central Ave. SW (505) 224-9119, asiannoodlebar.com Every kind of noodle awaits at this Downtown eatery, from spicy sesame udon noodles to chicken pho with cilantro, jalapeños, and lime. Slurping has never been so tasty.

WWW.ABQTHEMAG.COM | JULY 2022

BITES

THE GLORY OF CHICKPEAS

Pars Cuisine 4320 The 25 Way NE, No. 100 Albuquerque, NM 87108 (505) 345-5156

AZUMA SUSHI & TEPPAN

Hummus Platter, $8

4701 San Mateo Blvd. NE plus 1 other metro location (505) 880-9800 azuma-sushi-teppan-abq. com From flame-flipped teppan grill items to a substantial sushi selection, the menus at Azuma Sushi & Teppan have something for everyone. The green chile-infused New Mexico Roll and Filet Mignon Steak please palates daily and are perfect when washed down with an imported Japanese sake, soda, or beer.

B2B BISTRONOMY

PHOTO BY DON JAMES/ATM

Hummus is, to be sure, a standard on the Pars Cuisine menu. But, assuming that means a basic dish does not do justice to the importance Mohammad Tafti places on how his hummus is prepared and served. Owner of the Persian and Mediterranean restaurant since it opened in 1984, Tafti takes pride in providing something that is elevated by fresh ingredients but does not depart from its classic roots. “It’s homemade,” he says, noting the ingredients are the quintessential chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, garlic and herbs. “It is traditional hummus, we don’t do chile, any of those other kinds of things. Just the traditional way.” At Pars, hummus can be ordered as its own appetizer, which is served with pita bread — the restaurant has put its naan preparation on hold following the pandemic, though the tandoor is ready to be fired up again when staffing allows. Hummus is also served on the side with vegetarian entrees. And, while it makes for a bright, refreshing dip as weather gets warmer, Tafti knows hummus is a food for all seasons. “It’s good for all of the time,” he says. “And so, we make it all the time.” —BRAD SHERMAN

3118 Central Ave. SE (505) 262-2222, bistronomyb2b.com Highlighting all-local ingredients (including New Mexico beef and Hatch green chile), B2B serves up a wide variety of tasty burgers—including plenty of veggie options.

BARELAS COFFEE HOUSE

BASIL LEAF VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT

1502 4th St. SW, (505) 843-7577 This legendary neighborhood restaurant serves New Mexican dishes from the Gonzales family cookbook: menudo, posole, chicharrone burritos, and huevos rancheros -- all smothered with its famous red or green chile.

1225 Eubank Blvd. NE (505) 323-2594, basilleaf.us Sure, Albuquerque offers a variety of Vietnamese eateries, but Basil Leaf elevates the everyday with healthy and fragrant versions of traditional noodle and soup selections. They’ll even modify for any dietary desire. Celiacs and vegans, rejoice!

BEN MICHAEL’S RESTAURANT

2404 Pueblo Bonito Ct. NW, (505) 267-6827 The food at Ben Michael’s is fresh, preservative-free and takes its roots from the owner’s family’s New Mexican recipes. Try the salmon or the steak served with a side of calabacitas, papas, and sautéed mushrooms.

BENNY’S MEXICAN KITCHEN

BLACK BIRD SALOON

1675 Bosque Farms Blvd. (505) 869-2210 Since 1972, Benny’s has obliged countless stomachs with delicious New Mexican treats, which include red-chile smothered enchiladas and deep-fried burritos. Don’t let the Benny Burger—a double-meat, double-cheese beauty—intimidate you. And, don’t forget to save room for that vanilla ice-cream shake. 28 Main St., Cerillos, (505) 438-1821, blackbirdsaloon.com Black Bird Saloon is not just a popular Northern New Mexico eatery, it’s also a time warp back through the building’s long and varied history. Items like the Miner’s Hand Warmer Breakfast Burrito or the Tumbleweed Salad stick out like a turquoise on a tourist.

BLACK MESA COFFEE COMPANY

$$$

221 NM Hwy. 165, Ste L, Placitas (505) 771-0695, bladesbistro.com Owner and chef Kevin Bladergroen’s restaurant offers a culinary journey from his 30-plus years of experience in restaurants across the country and Europe, serving up steak and seafood with a twist.

BLAKE’S LOTABURGER

BOCADILLOS

3806 Montgomery Blvd. NE plus 30 other metro locations (505) 883-7615, lotaburger.com Blake’s became an Albuquerque establishment more than 30 years ago, and almost immediately garnered kudos for its out-of-this-world green chile cheeseburgers (the restaurant has since scored spots on National Geographic’s “top hamburgers in the nation” list and Albuquerque The Magazine’s Best of the City list). Everything is made from scratch as soon as it’s ordered—and not a second before. 200 Lomas Blvd. NW, Suite 110 (505) 243-3995, bocadillos505.com Slow-roasted meats are the highlight of the Food Network “Chopped” winner, Marie Yniguez. Open for breakfast, lunch, or dinner on Wednesdays– Saturdays, pop in for a burrito or sandwich filled to the brim with pork, chicken, turkey or corned beef.

Albuquerque International Sunport 220 Sunport Blvd. SE, (505) 842-4305 With two Sunport locations, flight delays are easier when you’re close to Black Mesa. The house coffee and vanilla latte are sure to perk you up pre-flight. The made-to-order turkey sandwich will fill you up far more reliably than the bag of pretzels you’ll get on the plane. Baked goods, including the popular banana bread, are made in-house daily. Five menu items, including brownies and cookies, are glutenfree.

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BLADES’ BISTRO

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BITES BOSQUE BREWING CO.

106 Girard Blvd. SE, B, plus 1 other location (505) 508-5967, bosquebrewing.com Another favorite on the ever-growing ABQ brewery scene, Bosque Brewing Co. is the product of three NMSU grads’ love for brew. With 10-12 of Bosque’s own sudsy creations on tap every day, the brewery is teeming with options to pair with seasoned fries, daily specials, or an array of other appetizers, soups, salads, and sandwiches.

BRICKYARD PIZZA

2216 Central Ave. SE (505) 262-2216, brickyardpizza.com Three very important pizza points rule supreme here: quantity, quality, and value. Enjoy handtossed, homemade pizza with fresh sauce in a spicand-span, laid-back atmosphere.

BRIXENS

$$$

400 Central Ave. SW (505) 242-2400, brixens.com A creative spin on American bar fare inspired by New Mexican culture, the restaurant serves 99 bottles of beer, literally on the wall, and a range of food items. Brixens has many unique qualities, but a couple notable qualities include its all-day happy hour on Sundays and 3-6 p.m. daily.

BUDAI GOURMET CHINESE

6300 San Mateo Blvd. NE, Ste. H-1 (505) 797-7898, budaigourmet.com The menu features specialties from different regions of China and Taiwan, all painstakingly prepared by chef Hsia Fang. The Crispy Flounder Filet is sure to please diners from both the East and the West. The Mini Steamed Pork Buns shouldn’t be missed.

BURGER BOY

THE BURRITO LADY

BURRITOS ALINSTANTE

12023 New Mexico 14, (505) 281-3949, burgerboynm.com Everything in this tried-and-true staple is made from scratch: enchiladas, breakfast burritos, tacos and burgers (of course!). Fans are especially enamored with the green chile cheeseburger. 938 Eubank Blvd. NE, (505) 271-2268 The Burrito Lady—otherwise known as Consuelo Flores—cooks every one of her huge burritos herself, made-to-order. That means you should be prepared to wait (the line here can often go out the door). It’s worth it—ask for your burrito smothered if you want to really heat things up. 2101 Broadway Blvd. SE plus 5 other metro locations (505) 242-0966, burritosalinstante.com A paradise for anyone who loves wrapping tasty things (chicharrones, carne adovada, bacon, cheese, potatoes—you get the picture) up inside of locally made tortillas, this operation maintains a half dozen storefronts between Belen and Albuquerque.

C3’S BISTRO

CAFE 6855

4940 Corrales Rd. Ste. 400, Corrales (505) 398-9449 c3bistro.com Craving cajun and creole cuisine? C3’s Bistro serves up rich fiery food to satisfy that craving. They offer both casual and fine dining, so this is the place to get a cajun fried chicken sandwich for lunch and the creole braised lamb shank with asparagus over cheesy grits for dinner. 6855 4th St. NW (505) 890-9150, cafe6855.com A sister restaurant to Vernon’s Speakeasy, Café 6855 has gourmet dishes, expertly prepared and served in an elegant atmosphere. The menu is populated with gourmet sandwiches, salads, and cafe specialties that redeploy Vernon’s ingredients to thrilling effect.

CAFÉ BELLA COFFEE

2115 Golf Course Rd. SE (505) 306-6974, cafebellacoffee.com With made-to-order panini and tasty salads filled with the freshest seasonal ingredients, this restaurant’s farm-to-table concept is a smart—and delicious—one.

CAFÉ CUBANO

At Laru Ni Hati Salon 3413 Central Ave. NE (505) 255-1575, larunihati.com Who would guess that an upscale hair salon such as Laru Ni Hati would also be home to delicious Cuban food—platanos, Cuban sandwiches, dirty rice, and even espresso and hand-rolled cigars?

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your next yourevent! next event!

CAFÉ LUSH

LA BAREN RESTAURANT

700 Tijeras Ave. NW (505) 508-0164, cafelushabq.com Located on a quiet neighborhood corner, this café is perfect for a nice brunch or lunch and your wallet will not be hurt after your visit. The menu is glutenconscious, vegetarian-friendly and has some of the best gluten-free red chile in town. 230 Louisiana Blvd. SE, Ste A (505) 232-6764, labarenrestaurant.com The pho and spring rolls have a die-hard following of Kirtland Airforce Base employees. Located across the parking lot from Talin Market, experience an extensive menu of traditional Vietnamese cuisine inside this dine-in and takeout eatery.

CAKE FETISH

Let us cater your next event!

BREAKFAST SERVED ALL DAY! OPEN DAILY

7AM - 2PM

2665 Louisiana Blvd. NE (505) 883-0670, cakefetish.com Cake Fetish specializes in baker’s cups filled with heaven, such as the Sleepless in Albuquerque (chocolate cake with mocha French buttercream frosting) and the Inside-Out German Chocolate Cake (coconut and pecans and crowned with chocolate French buttercream).

CAMPO AT LOS POBLANOS

$$$

4803 Rio Grande Blvd. NW (505) 344-9297, lospoblanos.com Beautifully situated in the heart of Los Ranchos, Campo is the newly renovated and reimagined fine dining establishment at Los Poblanos. A top-of-theline menu mixes with fresh ingredients from the Los Poblanos Farm and a quiet, rustic atmosphere to make for one of the city’s best dining experiences.

CANVAS ARTISTRY

1 Central Ave. NW (505) 639-5214, canvas-artistry.com Specializing in international street food with a local twist, expect seasonally rotating artsy fare made with local produce, daily and weekly specials, and art to boot. A great late-night spot with live spinning DJs featuring different genres each night.

CASA TACO

WINNER

2056 Central Ave SW, Albuquerque (Across from Old Town) 505.554.1424 | centralgrillandcoffeehouse.com

Thank You! $$

5801 Academy Rd. NE plus 1 other metro location (505) 821-8226, casa-taco.com Both Casa Taco locations offer a window into owner James Pecherski’s signature take on the U.S. Southwest—a strange place where you could picture a classic John Wayne character lingering over a plate of Jamaican jerk chicken and Yucatan pork tacos. Casa Taco defies expectations.

CECILIA’S CAFÉ

CENTRAL GRILL & COFFEE HOUSE

230 6th St. SW, (505) 243-7070 Recognized on the Food Network’s “Diners, DriveIns & Dives,” and ranked No. 45 on the Travel Channel’s “101 Tastiest Places to Chow Down,” Cecilia’s Café offers tasty New Mexican treats, such as their Fireman’s Burrito or homemade chicharrones in a cozy atmosphere. 2056 Central Ave. SW (505) 554-1424, centralgrillandcoffeehouse.com This local favorite on Route 66, adjacent to Old Town, offers a bevy of breakfast and lunch options that will comfort your belly and your wallet. Here, you’ll find traditional New Mexican favorites, serious sammies, and solid caffeine with a staff famous for their classic Southwestern hospitality.

CERVANTES NEW MEXICAN RESTAURANT

5801 Gibson Blvd. SE (505) 262-2253, cervantesabq.com Old-world style meets traditional New Mexican fare at this family-owned restaurant. Go for the madefrom-scratch chile rellenos, tamales, and carne adovada.

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STRETCHING THE GOODNESS

The Grove Cafe & Market 600 Central Ave. SE, Suite A (505) 248-9800, thegrovecafemarket.com

CESAR’S MEXICAN & GREEK

5300 Lomas Blvd. NE (505) 256-8017 cesarsmexicanandgreek.com Both the drive-thru and the dining room at Cesar’s are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. On the Mexican menu, try the No. 15, a chile rellenos plate. Popular Greek items include the No. 64 Gyros sandwich and the No. 78 Chicken pita sandwich.

Mozzarella sandwich, $12.95

CHEZ AXEL

$$$

6209 Montgomery Blvd. NE (505) 881-8104, chezaxelrestaurant.com At Chez Axel, classical music is played at dinner Tuesday through Saturday, and the food has a decidedly French twist: cassoulet, trout amandine, chocolate mousse, and authentic French onion soup. Reservations are recommended.

CHILI HILLS RESTAURANT

115 Harvard Dr. SE plus 1 other metro location (505) 232-2432, chebahut.com Located next to UNM, Cheba Hut serves up toasted subs made from quality ingredients. Try sandwiches loaded with everything from guacamole, olives, mushrooms, cheeses, meats and much more.

5 State Rd. 344 Edgewood plus one other location (505) 220-6263, chilihillsedgewood.com Breakfast, lunch or dinner, Chili Hills is the place to be. Specializing in homemade comfort food, you’re guaranteed to leave full. From burgers, sandwiches, desert, barbeque, breakfast and more; this mom and pop’s restaurant is not one you want to miss.

CHEESE AND COFFEE

CHOCGLITZ & CREAM

CHEBA HUT

2679 Louisiana Blvd. NE plus 1 other metro location (505) 883-1226, cheeseandcoffee.com There’s more than just cheese and coffee here—think homemade soups, sandwiches, salads and specials. At lunch, the line often goes out the door, so it’s worth getting there early.

CHELLO GRILL

5010 Cutler Ave. NE, Ste. A 505-881-2299 Chellogrill.com The chicken and beef used for their variety of kabobs get their savory flavor from being marinated overnight. Enjoy them with Persian-style steamed rice, chelow. Chello Grill also offers a specialty tea bar offering different flavors.

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Fresh is better. Good ingredients make good dishes. Proper technique matters. Those cooking axioms are rarely more true than when the subject is mozzarella cheese, and The Grove Cafe & Market knows it. The mozzarella sandwich on The Grove’s lunch menu features cheese made in-house, and chef de cuisine Yolanda Torres thinks it makes a world of difference. “Good food comes from quality products,” she says. “That’s what the restaurant is built on. … So, nice, fresh mozzarella starts with good curds. Then it’s a simple technique. The ratio of salt to water is the secret. Filtered water, and then Diamond kosher salt.” The actual forming of the mozzarella ball comes next. “You have to have the hands,” Torres says. “You don’t want to overstretch it, because you don’t want to make string cheese.” Quality control also goes beyond ingredients and methods — Torres always asks co-workers to taste what she’s prepared, and “if it’s not up to our standards, we don’t use it. We want to eat what we serve.” In the case of the mozzarella sandwich — served on toasted olive bread with tomato, basil, marinated olives and tomato vinaigrette — that approach is about delivering a light sandwich ideal for warmer weather. —BRAD SHERMAN

10660 Unser Blvd. NW (505) 898-4589, chocglitzandcream.com Certified fair-trade chocolate and a chocolatier with 45 years of experience means you’ll find some of the best sweet-tooth satisfying offerings (including ice cream flavors such as raspberry red chile and Mexican coffee).

CHRISTY MAE’S RESTAURANT

1400 San Pedro Dr. NE (505) 255-4740, christymaes.com “Hearty” and “homestyle” are the key words here, a hands-down favorite of early-dinner lovers. Oldfashioned staples are the standards, so look for chicken salad, potpies, country-fried steak with homemade mashed potatoes, and beef stew.

CHURCH STREET CAFÉ

2111 Church St. NW (505) 247-8522, churchstreetcafe.com Calling the oldest residence in Albuquerque its home, this café serves up favorites ranging from natillas to margaritas. They also sell their own bottled salsa and cookbooks with recipes from the restaurant.

CINNAMON SUGAR & SPICE CAFÉ

COCINA AZUL

CODA BAKERY

5809 Juan Tabo Blvd. NE plus 1 other metro location (505) 492-2119, cinnamoncafeabq.com Featuring breakfast and lunch options, endless baked goodies, friendly staff and regular cooking classes, this place puts the “everything nice” in the well-worn phrase. 4243 Montgomery Blvd. NE plus 2 other metro locations (505) 831-2600, cocinaazul.com The newest location of the Old Town favorite serves up the same tried and true home-cooked recipes you’ve come to love. Don’t miss location specific specials and local brews amid New Mexican staples. 230 Louisiana Blvd. SE, Ste C (505) 232-0085 Wrap your hands around one of Coda Bakery’s unique, Vietnamese-inspired sandwiches. Beyond its popular lineup of sammies, Coda Bakery also puts a distinctive twist on Vietnamese street food, using from-scratch recipes, including the bread, its deli meats, and its desserts.

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ONCHITA’S CAFÉ

400 Gold Ave. SW, Ste 119 (505) 339-6774, conchitascafe.com What began as the food truck, Conchita’s Creations became a downtown café with breakfast, sandwiches, and salads. New Mexican favorites shine here, just like abuela made them—including tacos, Frito pie, and burritos.

CORN MAIDEN

$$$

CRACKIN’ CRAB

1300 Tuyuna Trail, (505) 771-6060, tamaya.hyatt.com For a special dinner or celebration, look no further. Boasting a view of the Sandia Mountains, this restaurant will leave you breathless as you enjoy three-course meals with sweet potato Granny Smith apple soup, lavender salted shrimp or the classic crème brulee.

CRAVIN’ COOKIES AND MORE

CORRALES BISTRO BREWERY

CRAZY FISH SUSHI BAR AND RESTAURANT

4908 Corrales Rd. NW (505) 897-1036, cbbistro.com Brews from all over the region make this Corrales bistro a must-visit for the affordable fare, killer atmosphere, and music seven days a week.

THE COUNTY LINE BBQ

9600 Tramway Blvd. NE (505) 856-7477, countyline.com It doesn’t take long for the barbecue to arrive at your dinner table, whether it’s wood-burning oven cooked and slow-roasted brisket, ribs, or sausage. Throw in the Rib King Platter, green-chile stuffed pork loin, live music, and two stepping, and at The County Line, everybody wins.

2100 Louisiana Blvd. NE plus 2 other metro locations (505) 433-4611, crackincrababq.com Their headline seafood boils are super customizable, allowing you to choose from a trio of house combinations or mix and match your own selection of crab, lobster, mussels, scallops, clams, or shrimp by the pound.

10420 4th St. NW (505) 298-2597, cravincookiesandmore.com Serving up specialty cookies, muffins, breads, pies, and pretty much any dessert you can dream of, Cravin’ Cookies and More offers dine-in and to go orders to satisfy any sweet tooth, with coffee and hot tea to match.

3015 Central Ave. NE (505) 232-3474, crazyfishabq.com Tasty, fresh sushi and sashimi await you in this sleek Central Avenue restaurant, along with kitchen-made favorites such as tempura and crispy chicken.

THE CROWN ROOM

$$$$

145 Louisiana Blvd. NE (505) 767-7171, abqdowns.com/crown-room Perhaps Albuquerque’s best-kept fine dining secret, this gem is tucked away in the newly remodeled Downs Casino. With an incredible selection of liquors and wines, gourmet dishes, tableside Bananas Foster, and Dom Pérignon palate cleansers, this special occasion hideout is hard to beat, anywhere in the 505.

CURRY LEAF

THE DAILY GRIND

DELICIAS CAFÉ

DG’S DELI

6910-C Montgomery Blvd. NE (505) 881-3663, curryleafrestaurant.us Curry Leaf is the only restaurant in New Mexico to offer both North and South India cuisine. This means that, while you can get familiar favorites like tandoori chicken, you can also explore the world of chicken chettinad and dosas—a type of crepe made with fermented lentil and rice flour, filled with stuffing like potato, spiced vegetables, or ground lamb. 4360a Cutler Ave. NE (505) 883-8310, dailygrindabq.net This family-friendly restaurant serves breakfast and lunch, including huevos rancheros and a huge assortment of baked goods. On Friday and Saturday, look for spontaneous specials, such as stuffed French toast or steak and eggs. 6001 San Mateo Blvd. NE, (505) 830-6561 Named after the city in Chihuahua, Mexico, Delicias delivers traditional fare of the region, like caldo de res (beef stew), gorditas, carnitas, flautas, and horchata. 1418 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Ave. NE (505) 247-3354, dgsdeli.com With 31 cold sandwich options and a wide variety of grilled hot sandwiches—ranging in size from mini to jumbo—there’s something for everyone here. Try the Green Chile Philly or the Lobo Club.

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BITES D.H. LESCOMBES WINERY & BISTRO

$$$

901 Rio Grande Blvd. NW (505) 243-9916, lescombeswinery.com With generations of experience in winemaking coursing through this North Valley staple’s doors, D.H. Lescombes Winery & Bistro specializes in pairing wine with its expertly crafted and entirely house-made menu, with a local twist. Themed events and giving back to its community are big parts of this eatery’s success, not to mention popular dishes such as its Chicken Picado, Mac and Cheese Bites, and Ghirardelli Port Brownie.

DION’S

6308 Fourth St. NW plus 14 other metro locations (505) 345-4900, dionspizza.com Launched in 1978, Dion’s aims to keep your wallet and tummy full with build-your-own pizzas, gourmet pizzas, slices, salads, and subs. The ranch and Greek dressings are homemade from secret recipes, and everything on the menu is tried and true.

DOG HOUSE DRIVE IN

1216 Central Ave. SW, (505) 243-1019 An ABQ landmark since the 1940s, the eat-in-yourcar Dog House serves grilled footlongs and halflongs topped with red chile, cheese, onions, and more. Enjoy your dog with a side of chili-cheese fries and a thick shake.

DONUT MART

4501 Montgomery Blvd. NE plus 2 other metro location (505) 292-6278, donutmartusa.com Multiple locations sprinkled around town means a donut lover can always get a sweet fix. Find apple strudels, piñon coffee, green chile bialys, croissants, muffins, and even a Peanut Butter and Jelly donut.

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DOWN N DIRTY SEAFOOD BOIL

6100 4th St. NW, (505) 345-0595 Southern transplants who make their way to ABQ have a new spot for traditional seafood boil. From dry rub to a spicy, buttery fusion sauce, your tastebuds will dance with delight when you feast on this eatery’s collection of crawfish, rock shrimp, crab legs, and more.

DUGGAN’S

EL BRUNO’S RESTAURANTE Y CANTINA

8806 4th St. NW (505) 897-0444, elbrunos.com El Bruno’s got its start in Cuba, NM, in 1975. At the Albuquerque location, the tried-and-true family recipes are still the focus of the menu. The Ceviche, Pollo Adovo, and the Deep Fried Spinach are a few items guests can look forward to.

227 Lead Ave. SE (505) 312-7257, dugganscoffeeshop.com This breakfast and lunch spot serves up newsthemed entrees like the Journalist Salad and Fact Checker Green Chile Chicken Soup in an intimate setting. Cups are filled with locally roasted Trifecta coffee.

EL CAMINO DINING ROOM

DURAN’S CENTRAL PHARMACY

EL COTORRO

EAST OCEAN CHINESE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

1815 Central Ave. NW (505) 247-4141, duransrx.com Where in the city can you get amazing huevos, kitschy printed dish towels, an emergency rubber chicken in a box, and a flu shot? There is only one answer, Duran’s Central Pharmacy.

6800 4th St. NW, (505) 344-0448 Those with a bottomless appetite might meet their match with any of El Camino’s breakfast burrito options. These plate-sized behemoths are filled with eggs, hashbrowns or home-fries, and your choice of meat, then smothered in red or green chile. 111 Carlisle Blvd. NE (505) 503-6202, elcotorroabq.com Made to order gourmet tacos are on full display among classic Mexican street food like elotes and ceviche. A full salsa bar lets you spice up your meat, fish, vegetarian, or vegan tacos. Taco Tuesdays feature $2 tacos and bottled Mexican beers.

3601 Carlisle Blvd. NE (505) 889-9315, eastoceanalbq.com East Ocean Chinese Seafood Restaurant was the first of its kind in Albuquerque. Most dishes are served family style and are made fresh to order. Those looking for traditional Chinese dishes should try the Roast Duck. Seafood eaters will enjoy the Honey Crispy Walnut Shrimp.

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EL PATIO DE ALBUQUERQUE

142 Harvard Dr. SE plus 1 other metro location (505) 268-4245, elpatioabq.com A UNM favorite since 1977, this family-owned restaurant uses local ingredients and makes everything fresh daily in small batches. The No. 10 Green Chicken Enchiladas have won rave reviews for years, as have the tasty salsa and pillow-soft sopaipillas.

EL PATRON

10551 Montgomery Blvd. NE plus 1 other metro location (505) 275-0223, elpatronabq.com A customer favorite, El Patron’s menu includes dishes such as mouthwatering tacos, enchiladas, chile rellenos, and housemade chips. Wash them down with a tasty margarita.

EL PINTO

$$$

10500 4th St. NW (505) 898-1771, elpinto.com Food and atmosphere go hand-in-hand at this Duke City staple, ensuring an unforgettable experience. Enjoy fresh salsa, enchiladas, burritos, carne adovada, and many more New Mexican dishes while sipping a margarita on one of the many beautiful patios. Reservations are recommended.

EL SABOR DE JUAREZ

3527 Gibson Blvd. SE, (505) 265-3338 Its name means “the flavor of Juarez,” and since 1980, this restaurant has served just that. Try the family recipes for menudo and carne desebrada (shredded roast beef sautéed with jalapeño, tomato, and onions).

EL SARAPE

3248 Isleta Blvd. SW, (505) 877-8871, elsarapeabq.com Specializing in authentic food from all regions of Mexico, you can count on dishes such as nopalitos (cactus sautéed with onions, tomatoes, and garlic), fresh salsa, burritos, chile rellenos, and seafood specials with shrimp, oysters, calamari, and fish.

ELOY’S NEW MEXICAN RESTAURANT $

1508 Wyoming Blvd. NE, (505) 293-6018 Opening 47 years ago, Eloy’s New Mexican Restaurant’s claim to fame is its consistent food and service, offering the same recipes that made it famous all those years ago. Try the No. 1 Eloy’s Deluxe Dinner, with a little bit of everything.

EMBERS STEAK & SEAFOOD

$$$

11000 Broadway Blvd. SE (505) 244-8288, isleta.com Whether you are dining inside or al fresco on the rooftop patio, Ember’s boasts some of Albuquerque’s most beautiful 180-degree views of the Bosque, making for the perfect setting to catch the sunset next to the warmth of the glowing fire pits.

FANO BREAD COMPANY

4605 McLeod Rd, NE (505) 884-5555, fanobread.com For more than 16 years, Fano has made the freshest bread in the city. Whether it’s the rustic loaf, the green chile cheese bread or raisin cinnamon bread, you’ll think you’re touring the streets of Italy with each bite.

FAN TANG

FAREAST FUZION SUSHI BAR & LOUNGE

3523 Central Ave. NE (505) 266-3566, fan-tang.com With authentic family recipes that include coffee chicken (rubbed in Satellite coffee, then stir-fried with flavorful sauce) and creative additions like soul dumplings (made with tofu, kimchi, and cashew pesto), this spot is sure to satisfy.

5901 Central Ave. NE, (505) 255-2910 The sushi is served aplenty, but those who shy from raw fish can flirt with some Thai or Chinese cuisine. This might be one of the only places where a “HeartAttack”—a sushi roll with deep-fried spicy tuna, jalapeños, mushrooms, and cream cheese—is a good thing.

FARINA ALTO PIZZERIA & WINE BAR $$

10721 Montgomery Blvd. NE (505) 298-0035, farinaalto.com The Northeast Heights version of Farina offers the same urban atmosphere as the East Downtown (EDo) Farina, minus the elbow-to-elbow seating. Alto offers every pizza on the EDo menu, such as the Formaggio di Capra and the Carne, but includes unique dishes—Eggplant Parmesan Napoleon and Oven-Roasted Chicken Wings. Alto’s wine room is stocked with more than 300 bottles of wine.

FARINA PIZZERIA

510 Central Ave. SE (505) 243-0130, farinapizzeria.com Whether you like yours bianco or covered in carne, you’ll get a pie cooked to perfection at this relaxedbut-hip urban eatery.

FARM & TABLE

$$$

8917 4th St. NW (505) 503-7124, farmandtablenm.com This North Valley eatery’s ever-changing menu features seasonal produce, which often comes from the restaurant’s own farm. If the produce doesn’t come from the farm, it’s sourced from a slew of local vendors. Enjoy grass-and-alfalfa-fed steaks and produce-focused dishes that use local kale, chard, okra, chile, and tomatoes.

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THE TOASTY TREND CONTINUES

Mercantile Café at Sawmill Market 1909 Bellamah Ave. NW (505) 563-4473, sawmillmarket.com

THE FARMACY

Avocado Toast, $12

3718 Central Ave. SE, (505) 227-0330 The Farmacy takes the idea of organic and local ingredients, and presents them in a way that tastes like comfort. The Farmacy provides a tasty menu of eight breakfast items, as well as eight sandwiches for lunch.

FIESTA’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT & CANTINA

PHOTO BY DON JAMES/ATM

Ever since it became a trendy menu item in the past decade or so, it can be difficult for a restaurant to make its avocado toast offering stand out in a crowd. Mercantile Cafe at Sawmill Market seems to have nonetheless accomplished the feat thanks to a different take on the popular dish. “One, we use really thick-cut brioche bread. It’s really light and fluffy,” says chef Yasushi Kobayashi. “We do house made ricotta, with herbs and garlic oil. And that’s accompanied with however you’d like your eggs, a mixture of nuts, which is gonna be hemp seeds, pistachios, almonds, pumpkin seeds. That comes with arugula tossed in extra virgin olive oil and watermelon radishes.” This avocado toast ($12) is almost plentiful enough to feed two, and the presentation only serves to add to the overall appeal. The dish is currently available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the expectation that it will eventually become available all day. “Because of the way we plate it, it’s very beautiful with watermelon radishes. It’s vibrant, colorful and it’s quite the portion,” Kobayashi says. “What a lot of people do is get an extra egg and they share it so they can each have a slice.” —TRISTEN CRITCHFIELD

FRENCHISH

$$$

3509 Central Ave. NE (505) 433-5911, frenchish.com Envisioned as a casual neighborhood restaurant, frenchish’s menu draws inspiration from an eclectic mix of French and Midwestern U.S. cuisines, with an active focus on clean, simple foods.

FRIENDS COFFEE & SANDWICH SHOP $

4400 Carlisle Blvd. NE, (505) 881-0478 Fiesta’s Restaurant & Cantina has been familyowned and operated since 1986, making it an Albuquerque go-to for quality New Mexican cuisine. With its family dining area, outdoor patio, lively bar and banquet room, Fiesta’s has something for everyone.

200 3rd St. NW (505) 243-4801, fcass.com Every cup of coffee served at Friends Coffee & Sandwich Shop is from New Mexico Coffee Company, and a different flavor is showcased each day of the week. Local favorites such as the quesadilla and the Taco Burger are dependable lunch choices.

FLIX BREWHOUSE

FRONTIER RESTAURANT

FLYING STAR CAFE

3258 La Orilla Rd. NW, B-1 (505) 445-8500, flixbrewhouse.com Flix is a one-of-a-kind concept; a movie theater that serves full meals and an in-house brewed beer menu in its stadium-seating “dining rooms.” The dream is real, Albuquerque–you can catch the latest blockbuster in theaters while knocking back a pint and having dinner brought to you. 8001 Menaul Blvd. NE plus 5 other metro locations (505) 293-6911, flyingstarcafe.com With menu options ranging from breakfast served all day to flavor-packed salads and sandwiches, handmade desserts to die for, and beautiful patio dining, Flying Star is the place to treat yourself to good vibes and great food.

GARDUÑO’S OF MEXICO RESTAURANT AND CANTINA $$ 10031 Coors Blvd. NW plus 1 other metro locations (505) 880-0055, gardunosrestaurants.com

Garduño’s consistently earns enthusiastic kudos for its mouthwatering enchiladas, burritos, salsa, and knockyour-socks-off margaritas. And, with three locations around town, you’re always near a fiesta.

GECKO’S BAR AND TAPAS

5801 Academy Rd. NE (505) 821-8291, geckosbar.com Plenty of tasty tapas—including Southwestern Krab Taquitos and Red Molé Grilled Sirloin Tacos—and hearty salads and sandwiches, too.

GINO’S NEW YORK STYLE PIZZA

2400 Central Ave. SE (505) 266-0550, frontierrestaurant.com Famous for its legendary Frontier Rolls, hot-off-theiron tortillas, burgers, New Mexican favorites, hash browns, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and more, the Frontier is Albuquerque’s melting pot—it’s a guarantee you’ll see someone you know there.

3908 San Mateo Blvd. NE (505) 883-6000, ginosnystylepizza.com With handmade lasagna and pizza dough, among other items, Gino’s New York Style Pizza shares family recipes with its customers. From the buttermilk ranch dressing to the Eggplant and Chicken Parmigianas, homemade cooking is not too far away.

GARCIA’S KITCHEN

GIOVANNI’S PIZZERIA

2924 San Mateo NE plus 5 other metro locations (505) 888-3488, garciaskitchen.com This Albuquerque institution serves up classic New Mexican dishes, from freshly made tortillas to an extensive burrito list. You’ll leave one of the multiple locations with a full belly and content heart.

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921 San Pedro Dr. SE, (505) 255-1233 giovannispizzaalbuquerque.com Giovanni’s isn’t easy to spot at first, but once you’ve had a big slice of fold-in-half New York-style pie, you’ll never miss it again. Whether you like it covered in spinach, pesto and tomatoes, cheeseonly, no cheese at all, or plain pepperoni, you’re sure to find your pizza match.

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GOLDEN CROWN PANADERIA

1103 Mountain Rd. NW, (505) 243-2424, goldencrown.biz Golden Crown Panaderia is known for taking creativity in baking to the next level. Try the original biscochitos or cappuccino, chocolate and sugar-free versions. Don’t miss out on homemade green chile bread, pizza, and creative bread sculptures.

GOBBLE THIS

308 San Felipe St. NW, 87104 505-975-3969 Gobblethis.biz Due to the success of starting out as a food truck, Gobble This opened up a location in Old Town. Gobble This has different plates inspired by El Salvador, Los Angeles and New Mexican. One of the more popular items on the menu are the pupusas made with roasted garlic, spinach and cheese.

GRASSBURGER

5600 Coors Blvd. NW, Ste C3 plus 1 other metro location (505) 361-2368, eatgrassburger.com There’s a lot that sets the burger joint apart— including its community involvement, its vegan and gluten-free burger options, and its commitment to a no-corn syrup menu.

GREENSIDE CAFÉ

$$$

12165 NM-14, Cedar Crest (505) 286-2684, greenside.cafe This Cedar Crest café offers a casual family atmosphere with large portions of gourmet-quality food: French toast made with orange and vanilla batter, Turquoise Trail Trout, rich homemade ice cream, and a Monte Cristo sandwich with green chile.

THE GRILL ON SAN MATEO

3300 San Mateo Blvd. NE, (505) 872-9772 A choice of mesquite-grilled chicken, rib eye, hot dogs, and burgers (beef and garden) accompany bottomless house-made chips and salsa, complete with sides like classic fries and fried zucchini, and fresh fixings are on a build-your-own basis offering a completely customizable burger.

THE GROVE CAFÉ AND MARKET

600 Central Ave. SE, Ste A (505) 248-9800, thegrovecafemarket.com The brunch and lunch favorite is well-known for its exceptional dishes made from local and organic ingredients, and it now offers a newly expanded menu, with additions such as the French Ham & Cheese with d’affinois cheese, mostarda, and caper mustard sauce.

GYROS MEDITERRANEAN

HANNAH & NATE’S MARKET CAFÉ

106 Cornell Dr. SE, (505) 255-4401, egyros.com Tried-and-true Greek recipes, such as traditional Kota Reganato (oven-roasted chicken with oregano, garlic and lemon), fresh Greek salads, Patates, and, of course, sweet baklava, served in a friendly, laid-back collegial atmosphere. 4512 Corrales Rd, plus 1 other metro location (505) 898-2370 Offering breakfast and lunch, Hannah & Nate’s is all about flavor—whether it’s the flavor of traditional New Mexican cuisine, cuisines from throughout the world or the family recipes served.

HIGH POINT GRILL

9780 Coors Blvd. NW (505) 312-8519, highpointgrill.com Those perpetually on the hunt for the perfect burger will find plenty to love at High Point. With a foundation of 100-percent Akaushi, American Prime Wagyu beef, the burgers at High Point Grill are some of the city’s most popular. Its Southwest burger, for instance, features a red chile crusted patty, extra hot local green chile and cheddar cheese.

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BITES

LEANING TOWER OF POKI

PHOTO BY DON JAMES/ATM

A recent menu update at Nick and Jimmy’s introduced the Tuna Poki Tower ($16), a bright and health conscious addition to the restaurant’s appetizer fare. “We wanted to add more fresh, healthy options,” says owner Nicole Kapnison “The tuna tower was just that: fresh, healthy, colorful and delicious.” The dish is hearty enough to feed three, but a single person can also consume it all depending on their appetite and dinner plans. It includes fresh ahi tuna, cucumber, mango and avocado, with a sriracha aioli to tie everything together. The overall presentation tends to be a crowd pleaser. “It’s quite literally a tuna tower — a rainbow of colors all stacked on top of each other,” Kapnison says. Though it’s listed as an appetizer, Kapnison says the tower doubles as an ideal lunch entree due to its light and refreshing nature. And don’t worry, prolonged periods of staring are quite common. “It’s almost too pretty to eat,” Kapnison says. —TRISTEN CRITCHFIELD Nick and Jimmy's 5021 Pan American Fwy NE (505) 344-9169, nickandjimmysrestaurant.com Tuna Poki Tower, $16

HIGH NOON RESTAURANT AND SALOON

HOT TAMALES

425 San Felipe St. NW (505) 765-1455, highnoonrestaurant.com Located in a 300-year-old house in the heart of Old Town, High Noon has a menu stocked with New Mexican fare such as burritos and enchiladas, but you can also find baked brie and buffalo burgers here. Reservations are recommended.

1520 Rio Rancho Blvd. SE. Rio Rancho (505) 962-0123, hottamalesnmrestaurant.com This Rio Rancho restaurant serves bona fide New Mexican with hand-blended red chile and fireroasted green chile: Green Chile Stew Omelet, Hot Tamale Bowl, and Fajitas are just a few of the spicy dishes.

HOLY BURGER

HURRICANE’S CAFE

I SCREAM ICE CREAM

$$$

700 Central Ave. SE (505) 242-2991, holyburgernm.com Originally a Route 66 diner with a carport, and later Bob’s Fish and Chips, Holy Burger now boasts some of the juiciest burgers in town, as well as one of the breeziest and most boppin’ patios in the city.

HORSE AND ANGEL TAVERN

5809 Juan Tabo Blvd. NE, (505) 299-0225 Whether you want a simple sandwich for lunch, appetizers and a beer in the afternoon, or steak and enchiladas at midnight, this Heights tavern is the place to be any time of the day.

HOT PINK THAI

2626 San Pedro Dr. NE, (505) 872-2296 For dine in or takeout at lunchtime, you’ll get $1.50 off dishes over $10 and a free vegetable egg roll. Favorites include pumpkin curry, pad thai, and drunken noodles. Most dishes are customized with your choice of protein and spice level, from no chili at all to Thai hot.

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4330 Lomas Blvd. NE, (505) 255-4248 With Route 66 serving as the city’s heart, it’s always good to hop over to a good ol’ fashioned diner. Pick out a classic dish, such as pancakes or omelets from the lengthy breakfast menu, or chow down on a burger, enchilada, or chicken fried steak. Of course, you can take a stab at the hearty Disaster Burrito, but you’d better make plenty of room if that’s on your agenda.

INDIAN PUEBLO KITCHEN

$$$

INDIGO CROW CAFÉ

$$$

2401 12th St. NW (505) 724-3510, indianpueblo.org The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is the perfect backdrop for the Native American-inspired cuisine prepared in the café, serving traditional and innovative dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Reservations are recommended. 4515 Corrales Rd. (505) 585-3061, indigocrowcafe.net This café is cozy, thanks to the fact that it’s housed in an old adobe building. When it’s cold, patrons warm up by the indoor fireplace; when it’s warm, they enjoy meals such as lobster ravioli, tarragon chicken salad, and New Mexico chicken fried steak under the stars on the outdoor patio. Reservations are recommended.

IRONWOOD KITCHEN

2000 Carlisle Blvd. NE, (505) 268-0139 The cozy dessert shop is filled with toys, gadgets, board games, and—oh yeah—34 flavors of ice cream and 28 different toppings. Each scoop comes with a free mix-in, and there are fresh mini doughnuts available on weekends.

5740 Night Whisper Rd. NW, Ste 250 (505) 890-4488, ironwoodkitchen.com This family operation’s goal: to serve meals made with whole foods at affordable prices. Try the green chile cheeseburger, with freshly-ground chuck, topped with fresh vegetables and roasted green chile.

IL VICINO

JAPANESE KITCHEN

3403 Central Ave. NE plus 2 other metro locations (505) 266-7855, ilvicino.com Using wood ovens to bake its thin-crust pizzas, Il Vicino (which means “The Neighbor”) also offers hearty calzones and award-winning brews from its own brewery.

$$$

6521 America’s Parkway (505) 884-8937, japanesekitchen.com Entertainment is the main course at this teppanyaki grill restaurant. The cooks, who are at your table, can be caught tossing shrimp into their pockets and creating to-die-for dishes from the classic teriyaki chicken, to seafood or steak, and everything in between.

WWW.ABQTHEMAG.COM | JULY 2022

JAVA JOE’S

JC’S NEW YORK PIZZA DEPARTMENT

906 Park Ave. SW (505) 765-1514, downtownjavajoes.com You’ll find all walks of life at this relaxing Downtown joint, enjoying freshly made sandwiches, breakfast burritos, green chile chicken melts, coffee drinks and more.

215 Central Ave. NW, Ste B (505) 766-6973, jcnypd.com New York-style pizza, pasta, salads, and fully-loaded pasta and calzone dishes, all in a laid-back lounge. During lunch hour, the line goes out the door.

JIMMY’S CAFÉ ON JEFFERSON

7007 Jefferson St. NE (505) 341-2546, jimmyscafeonjefferson.com The menu here lists more than 100 items, most of them mouthwatering comfort foods: sandwiches, burgers, New Mexican dishes, handmade pizza, and breakfast served all day long.

JINJA BAR AND BISTRO

JOE’S PASTA HOUSE

8900 Holly Ave. NE, Ste. B plus 1 other metro location (505) 856-1413, jinjabistro.com Evoking a vintage ambiance, Jinja serves inspired and mouthwatering pan-Asian cuisine, such as Kung Pow Chicken (a Thai version of the Chinese favorite) and Home-Style Chicken Udon Wok Bowl. 3201 Southern Blvd. SE (505) 892-3333, joespastahouse.com A neighborhood Italian-American joint with an incredible dose of warmth and personality, Joe’s offers a terrific lunch buffet and an expansive dinner menu to please every palate in la mia famiglia: steaks, pasta, and some of the best cannelloni and tiramisu anywhere.

KABAB HOUSE: AUTHENTIC PERSIAN CUISINE $

8104 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Ste. A (505) 312-8949 Authentic, made-to-order Persian food is constantly sizzling on the grill here. The koobideh kabab is made with minced ground beef or ground chicken, onion, and house spices. Each dish is a healthy size and comes with soup, salad, and rice. Top everything off with a glass of delicious banana milk, or majoun, which is banana milk with almonds, walnuts, pistachios, and honey.

KOLACHE FACTORY

LA QUICHE PARISIENNE BISTRO

8001 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Ste B3 (505) 856-3430, locations.kolachefactory.com The Kolache Factory franchise out of Texas focuses on Czech style Kolaches that were traditionally a warm, semi-sweet pastry filled with sausage, cheese, or fruit and originated in Eastern Europe dating as far back as the 1700s. 5850 Eubank Blvd. NE, Ste 17 (505) 242-2808, laquicheparisiennebistro.com Long considered an authentic French staple of downtown ABQ, La Quiche has comfortably settled into the Heights and the baked goods will comfort your lazy weekend brunch cravings with true Parisian cuisine from the mainland.

LA REFORMA

8900 San Mateo Blvd. NE, Ste I (505) 717-1361, lareformabrewery.com On the taco front, La Reforma is virtually unimpeachable, offering options like braised pork shoulder carnitas, tempura-battered white fish pescado, and rotisserie-broiled al pastor for carnivores, along with tempura-battered avocado (aguacate) for those looking for something plantbased.

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BITES LA SALITA

LAZY LIZARD GRILL

LAGUNA BURGER

LE BISTRO VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT

1950 Juan Tabo Blvd. NE (505) 299-9968, lasalita.com The name may mean “little room,” but this New Mexican restaurant always has a full house. The chile rellenos, chile con queso, sopaipillas, and shredded beef burrito (a Wednesday special) have earned loyal customers for 37 years. 2400 12th St. NW plus 2 other metro locations (505) 352-8282, thelagunaburger.com Every half-pound burger is made fresh upon ordering, topped with Hatch green chile, and slipped on a butter-toasted bun made specifically for Laguna Burger by Sara Lee. Also on the menu: freshlycut fries, foot-long chile cheese dogs, and zingy breakfast burritos.

THE LAST CALL

6261 Riverside Plaza Ln. NW, Ste A1 (505) 717-1207, lastcallabq.com This late-night eatery specializes in freshly-made Baja Mexican street cuisine (think: carne asada fries). If you’re lucky, you just might run into the “Taco Box” while out on the town: a mobile extension of the restaurant that brings the food to you.

LAVA ROCK BREWING COMPANY

2220 Unser Blvd. NE (505) 836-1022, lavarockbrewpub.com

The casual brewpub on Unser currently has 7 of their own beers available on tap, with several other local guest taps as well. Standard bar fare gets gussied up here, like the housemade hot sauces on the wings and the fries loaded with green chile and queso.

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LEVEL 5 AT HOTEL CHACO

$$$

THE LIBRARY BAR & GRILL

1313 San Pedro Dr. NE, (505) 266-6118 Le Bistro Vietnamese Restaurant is just as much a bakery as it is a restaurant, specializing in traditional Vietnamese cuisine.

312 Central Ave. SW (505) 242-2992, library-abq.com Featuring more than a great party, the Library offers drink specials and half-priced appetizers during happy hour, as well as salads, hamburgers, sandwiches, wraps, and specialty items.

LE CHANTILLY FINE PASTRIES

LIMONATA ITALIAN STREET CAFÉ

LINDY’S DINER

12480 North Hwy. 14, Sandia Park (505) 281-9122, lazylizardgrill.com From the King Cobra Pizza and made-fromscratch Jalapeño Poppers to their impressive selection of microbrews, the Lazy Lizard Grill has customers always coming back for more—and has the food and atmosphere to back it up.

8216 Menaul Blvd. NE (505) 293-7057, lechantillybakery.com This French-style bakery features breakfast pastries, muffins, strudel, cookies, and tarts—not to mention delicious quiche, croissants, sandwiches and cakes. Try homemade soups such as creamy chicken and artichoke, then satisfy your sweet tooth with a tower of chocolate decadence.

LE TROQUET

228 Gold Ave. SW (505) 508-1166, abqfrenchrestaurant.com The Parisian bistro, open for lunch or dinner, offers classically simple French dishes made by Chef Jean Pierre Gozard. From Boeuf Bourguignon to quiche and delectable desserts, expect a tres bien atmosphere with a comprehensive wine list.

2000 Bellamah Ave. NW (505) 318-3998, hotelchaco.com The food here needs be good, because first and foremost, it competes with the view. Like the name implies, Level 5 sits on the 5th floor of Hotel Chaco and offers a near-360 degree view of the city.

3222 Silver Ave. SE (505) 266-0607, limonatanobhill.com Channel your inner Italian at this street foodinspired café, where the breakfast and lunch menus feature perfect pastries, craveable cappuccino and trattoria-inspired lunches. The chef makes every dish from scratch and insists that everything about the restaurant, from the menu to the atmosphere, be done just as it would in Italy. 500 Central Ave. SW (505) 242-2582, lindysdinerabq.com Lindy’s is a neighborhood joint, through and through. The sort of place where, even if they don’t know your name, you’ll feel like they do anyway. The owners recommend the Ultimate Burger for that classic American diner experience.

WWW.ABQTHEMAG.COM | JULY 2022

BITES LITTLE BEAR COFFEE

2632 Pennsylvania St. NE (505) 917-8902, littlebearcoffeeco.com Located near Uptown, Little Bear is not just serving up quality brew, but also providing an outpost for the neighborhood and coffee community.

LOS COMPADRES RESTAURANT

2437 Central Ave. NW (505) 452-8091, compadresabq.com Family recipes like the No. 16 Taco Plate, tacos with carne y papas (beef and potatoes) and the restaurant’s Menudo, have kept locals coming back for more than 15 years.

LOS CUATES

8700 Menual Blvd. NE plus 2 other metro locations (505) 237-2800, loscuatesrestaurants.com Popular since it opened over 25 years ago, Los Cuates serves its own ancho-chile salsa and tons of delicious New Mexican dishes in humongous portions.

LOYOLA’S FAMILY RESTAURANT

4500 Central Ave. SE, (505) 268-6478 loyolasfamilyrestaurant.com You’ll find both American and New Mexican goodies here, from fried chicken, roast beef and sandwiches to tasty local favorites such as burritos and posole.

LUIGI’S RISTORANTE AND PIZZERIA $$

6225 4th St. NW (505) 343-0466, luigisitalianfood.com Enjoy more than 250 made-from-scratch Italian dishes, including pizza, chicken Florentine, spaghetti and meatballs, and green chile chicken lasagna.

M’TUCCI’S ITALIAN

6001 Winter Haven Rd. NW plus 2 other metro locations (505) 503-7327, mtuccis.com The menu at the Westside’s authentic Italian staple features refined comfort food classics, from meatball marinara to pot roast. Other menu items are crafted from choice Berkshire pigs that the eatery imports from northern Iowa and southern Minnesota farms. In fact, a unique pork dish is incorporated into a featured dinner special every night. Wash down your pasta, pizza, or salad with a carefully crafted cocktail from the bar.

MS. GENNIE’S HOUSE OF CHICKEN

1520 Lomas Blvd. NW 505-242-4503 Msgennies.com Love is the special ingredient that goes into each and every dish at Ms. Gennies. The restaurant offers a variety of proteins including fried chicken, roasted chicken, chicken fried steak, fried catfish and smoked sausage.

MAC’S STEAK IN THE ROUGH

4515 Menaul Blvd. NE plus 1 other metro location, (505) 888-3611, macsnm.com Taquitos, onion rings, guacamole salad, and an original “steak in the rough”—slivers of beef served with French fries, coleslaw, a roll, catsup, and a fresh green scallion… these are just a few of the reasons Mac’s has been in business for so many years.

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

MICHAEL THOMAS COFFEE ROASTERS

MICK’S CHILE FIX

MILLY’S

MONICA’S EL PORTAL RESTAURANT

(505) 504-7078, michaelthomascoffee.com Michael Thomas’ fresh-roasted coffees can be purchased in bulk or by the cup. Favorites include the Banda Bear Blend and the Duke’s Runners’ Blend. If you prefer to let them make your cup of Joe, try an espresso-based drink such as a Double Espresso, a Macchiato, or a Cubano. 3351 Candelaria Rd. NE, Ste A (505) 881-2233, mickschilefix.com One of the city’s true spots for getting something hot: try The Shocker (an eight-pound breakfast burrito), huevos rancheros, or the Frito pie, all with homemade red or green chile. 2100 Candelaria Rd. NE plus 1 other metro location (505) 884-0707, millysrestaurants.com If you’re not sure what to eat, have a little of everything with an American-New Mexican–Greek menu. This breakfast and lunch spot melds salads and sandwiches with traditional New Mexican and Greek entrees. 321 Rio Grande Blvd. NW, (505) 247-9625 Traditional New Mexican favorites make up the menu at this Old Town staple that has been around for 34 years. Monica’s roasts its own green chile, makes biscochitos from scratch and offers red chile straight from the pod.

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BITES MONROE’S RESTAURANT

6051 Osuna Rd. NE plus 1 other metro location (505) 881-4224, monroeschile.com More than 50 years after opening its doors south of Old Town, Monroe’s continues to serve reliable New Mexican favorites to a local fan base, and service around here is a team effort, so no glass goes unfilled.

MONTE CARLO STEAKHOUSE

$$$

3916 Central Ave. SW, (505) 836-9886 The iconic steakhouse meets liquor store has been featured on the Food Network and boasts some of the best steaks in the city. Since 1971, locals always come back for hand-cut steaks, house-made Greek salad dressing, freshly cut fries, and a mean green chile cheeseburger.

MONTE VISTA FIRE STATION

3201 Central Ave. NE, (505) 255-2424

Once an actual working fire station, this second-floor restaurant now offers traditional bar food, wings, and nightly specials. Choose from tasty chicken wings and burgers, or order from the restaurant downstairs—they’ll bring your steak to you.

NAMASTE

1580 Deborah Rd. SE plus 1 other metro location (505) 896-3126, namastenm.net Offering authentic Nepalese and Indian dishes— including chicken tikka masala and lamb curry— Namaste also serves traditional food with a New Mexico twist, such as the green chile chicken curry.

NARUTO

2110 Central Ave. SE (505) 369-1039, narutonoodle.com Who knew Ramen noodles could be so creative, so diverse, and so darn good. Naruto is reinventing the Ramen noodle with specialized dishes that can’t be found anywhere else in the city.

NEXUS BREWERY

4730 Pan American Fwy NE, Ste D plus 1 other metro location (505) 242-4100, nexusbrewery.com If the made-to-order fried chicken and waffles and mac and cheese has you drooling, reach for one of Nexus’ brewed in-house beers.

NICK AND JIMMY’S RESTAURANT AND BAR

5021 Pan American Freeway NE (505) 344-9169 nickandjimmysrestaurant.com Nick and Jimmy’s vision was a comfortable atmosphere with comfortable food. They blend traditional foods with new twists and serve everything from enchiladas to green chile meatloaf.

THE OWL CAFÉ

800 Eubank Blvd. NE (505) 291-4900, owlcafealbuquerque.com World-famous green chile cheeseburgers, milkshakes, fajitas, quesadillas, meatloaf, burritos, fries… the list of great drool-worthy dishes goes on and on.

PACIFIC PARADISE TROPICAL GRILL AND SUSHI BAR $$

3000 San Pedro Dr. NE, (505) 881-0999 pacific-paradise-restaurant-abq.com Faux palms and tiki huts frame a menu filled with more than 100 options: salads, soups, stir-fry, seafood, fried rice, noodles, sushi, and dessert menu. Try the Seafood Rice Pizza or Rock ‘n’ Roll Sushi.

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PADILLA’S MEXICAN KITCHEN

1510 Girard Blvd. NE, (505) 262-0115 It might not get any more New Mexican than it does at Padilla’s—from huevos rancheros and tamales to chile rellenos and egg-topped blue corn enchiladas. You may have to shake your head after a taste of the chile just to remind yourself you’re not in your grandmother’s kitchen. A sopaipilla dripping with honey will seal the deal for your traditional meal.

PAISANO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

1935 Eubank Blvd. NE (505) 298-7541, paisanosabq.com Family recipes have kept Paisano’s going for more than 35 years, but the hand-rolled pasta, handstuffed ravioli, homemade sausage and marinara haven’t hurt business, either. It’s also the only place in town to get wheat-free pizza and pasta.

THE PALETA BAR

2325 San Pedro Dr. NE plus 12 other metro locations (505) 884-0049, thepaletabar.com A hidden Albuquerque gem, The Paleta Bar has taken a tried-and-true, frozen Mexican dessert to new heights. Since 2017, this paleta wonderland has been slinging refreshing Mexican popsicles in endless combinations of flavors.

PAPA FELIPE’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT

9800 Menaul Blvd. NE (505) 292-8877, papafelipes.com Papa Felipe’s exceeds expectations by offering traditional New Mexican cuisine (enchiladas, stuffed sopaipillas, tacos) as well as simple twists on favorite dishes (green chile carne adovada, Tampico Tacos, Green Tamale Pie).

PIATANZI

PIZZA 9

PIZZERIA LUCA

PLANTY SWEET

POLLITO CON PAPAS

1403 Girard Blvd. NE (505) 792-1700, piatanzi.com A neighborhood Italian eatery with artisan flair, Piatanzi serves up big bites on smallish plates that please families and adventurous foodies alike, in a venue that scores big points. 4000 Louisiana Blvd. NE plus 12 other metro locations (505) 883-6463, pizzanine.com Chicago-style pizza at 10 locations around the city, along with the option of gluten-free crust—that’s what Pizza 9 brings to the, er, table. Don’t forget the wings, salads, breadsticks and calzones to complement any meal. 8850 Holly Ave. NE (505) 797-8086, pizzerialuca.com With imported Italian flour, cheese, and pepperoni, Pizzeria Luca offers authentic Italian cuisine. The restaurant has a subway-inspired interior and features delicious and affordable lunch specials. 2506 Washington St. NE (505) 433-7111, plantysweet.weebly.com Planty Sweet is the city’s first 100% vegan and gluten-free bakery and dessert shop, and the quality of the products available is hard to deny. Not only do their artisanal baked goods taste fantastic, they are impeccably presented, each crafted to please the eye as much as the taste buds.

PAPA NACHOS

7648 Louisiana Blvd. NE (505) 821-4900, papanachosfood.com Great homemade Mexican food based on tried-andtrue family recipes is the specialty here: burritos, fish tacos, and the namesake nachos will all make your panza happy.

6105 Gibson Blvd. SE (505) 765-5486, pollitoconpapas.com Get ready for a punch of Peruvian cuisine. The menu is dotted with combinations of chicken, potatoes, and cilantro rice. The chicken is brined in vinegar and cumin for about 10 hours, then fired on a spit. The traditional drink, chicha, makes the perfect complement to any dish. The southeast part of town just inched a bit closer to South America.

PARS CUISINE

PONDEROSA BREWING CO.

4320 The 25 Way NE, Ste 100 (505) 345-5156, parscuisine.us For more than 20 years, Pars has served Persian and Mediterranean menu items in a unique atmosphere. Choose to sit on the floor under a large tent, and enjoy the talents of belly dancers, and enjoy tasty kebabs, gyros and more.

PELICAN’S RESTAURANT

$$$

9800 Montgomery Blvd. NE plus 1 other metro location (505) 298-7678, pelicansabq.com For 30 years, customers have fallen for Pelican’s— hook, line and sinker. Favorite entrées include Alaskan king crab, Australian lobster tail, and their delicious prime rib.

PERICO’S

10401 Golf Course Rd. NW plus 3 other metro locations (505) 792-5255 pericosmexicanrestaurant.com Serving delicious New Mexican food at affordable prices made Perico’s instantly popular, and the “home of the ½ lb burrito” is now an Albuquerque institution with three locations, catering services, and 22 different burritos.

PHO LINH

9100 Central Ave. SE (505) 266-3368, pholinhabq.com Authentic Vietnamese cuisine is the name of the game at this restaurant. Look for pad thai, special noodles (with grilled barbecue shrimp), spring rolls, curry, and papaya salad.

1761 Bellamah Ave. NW (505) 639-5941, ponderosabrewing.net A sister brew pub to Pints Brewing in Portland, Oregon, Ponderosa features a wide selection of American and German standard beers, with a classic menu of burgers, salads, and innovative appetizers.

RANCHERS CLUB OF NEW MEXICO $$$

1901 University Blvd. NE (505) 889-8071, theranchersclubofnm.com With more fine dining awards on their wall than years they’re been in business, the Ranchers Club of New Mexico inside the Crowne Plaza Albuquerque is a meat lovers’ paradise and wine connoisseurs’ promised land. Reservations are recommended.

THE RANGE CAFÉ

320 Central SE plus 5 other metro locations (505) 243-1440, rangecafe.com Locals flock to The Range Café when they’re in search of good, made-from-scratch comfort food, including meatloaf sandwiches, huevos rancheros, enchiladas, ice cream, and the gooey Life by Chocolate dessert.

REBEL DONUT

2435 Wyoming Blvd. NE plus 1 other metro location (505) 293-0553, rebeldonut.com Not only can you find their set flavors, including their raised glazed, chocolate cake glazed, rebel red velvet, birthday cake, and toasted coconut, but you can also order custom-made donuts or choose to experiment with their daily creations.

WWW.ABQTHEMAG.COM | JULY 2022

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JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

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BITES RELISH GOURMET SANDWICHES

8019 Menaul Blvd. NE (505) 299-0001, relishsandwichesabq.com It’s no wonder this sandwich shop has been voted “best” by publications throughout Albuquerque—it serves only the best Boar’s Head meats and all of their dishes are accompanied by homemade sides or soups. Try the Cubano. You won’t be disappointed.

RESTORATION PIZZA

5161 Lang Ave. NE, Ste A (505) 582-2720, restorationpizza.com Here, good food and positive works—delivered simultaneously—is in the very nature of the business. The idea is to provide patrons with top-notch pies and first-rate beers while giving traditionally underemployed individuals work opportunities they would otherwise miss.

RICHIE B’S PIZZA

7200 Montgomery Blvd. NE, Ste A-2 (505) 312-8579, richiebsabq.com New York-style pizza has come home to roost in Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights. Whether by the slice or by the pie—some of which measure 25 inches in diameter—you’ll need every bit of your appetite when you visit Richie B’s. Not in the mood for pizza? Wrap your hands around a turkey, cheesesteak, or Italian sandwich, topped with its signature Viper sauce, or tempt your sweet tooth with traditional cannoli or New York-style cheesecake.

RIO BRAVO BREWING COMPANY

1912 2nd St. NW (505) 900-3909, riobravobrewing.com The pub and grill is bright and airy with high ceilings and a modern industrial style, mixed with the cozy rustic feel of a neighborhood bar, with 32 taps, including their award winning La Luz Lager.

ROCKIN’ TACO

2904 Indian School Rd NE, LS (505) 401-1000, greenjeansfarmery.org Rockin’ Taco is housed inside of Albuquerque’s premier indoor/outdoor gathering place, Green Jeans Farmery. With a food truck vibe and an East Coast flare, this hidden gem is elevating the street taco.

ROMA BAKERY & DELI

501 Roma Ave. NW (505) 843-9418, romabakeryanddeli.com You’ll find more than fresh-baked cookies and pastries at this bakery—feast your eyes (and taste buds) on grilled sandwiches and eight fresh deli salads and soups.

ROSE GARDEN

10401 Golf Course Rd. plus one other location (505) 897-8889, rosegardenabq.com Over 100 menu items and the great customer service ensures locals always return. Rose Garden never disappoints with a wide range of appetizers, soups and entrees. Owner, Mieng Lu, says the Kung Pao chicken, orange chicken and beef lo mein are just a few of his favorites.

RUDY’S COUNTRY STORE AND BAR-B-Q

2321 Carlisle NE plus 1 other metro location (505) 884-4000, rudys.com Texas-style slow cooking over oak is what makes Rudy’s brisket, ribs and sausage so mouth-watering— not to mention the “sause.” Every serving comes with paper towels, unlimited sliced onions and pickles, and bread to mop up the leftover BBQ.

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RUSTIC ON THE GREEN

3600 Cutler Ave. NE (505) 315-1148, rusticburger505.com Rustic simplicity is the key for this burger joint at Green Jeans Farmery, serving up five equallycraveable burger options and two different kinds of fries from its minimalist menu. Don’t let the simplicity fool you: this unique eatery does gourmet burgers that has fans coming back for more, including its Day of the Dead burger with a secret “Diablo” puree and the Divine Intervention, topped with bleu cheese and caramelized onions.

RUTILIO’S NEW MEXICAN FOODS

455 N. Main St., Belen (505) 864-0093 Belen Mayor Rudy Jaramillo’s carne adovada is what put Rutilio’s on the map. This hangout serves their perfect pork with rice and beans, stuffed inside burritos and sopaipillas, and layered inside enchiladas and quesadillas. Add Rutilio’s breakfast burritos and classic New Mexican combos, and guests are sure to find something worth campaigning for.

RUTILIO’S NEW MEXICAN FOODS

1605 Juan Tabo Blvd. NE (505) 503-8629 With a menu packed with 50-year-old traditional New Mexican recipes, it can be hard to know where to begin. It is recommended for first timers to order the carne adovada which is perfectly “lean, savory, and fiery”.

SADIE’S OF NEW MEXICO

15 Hotel Circle NE plus 2 other metro locations (505) 296-6940, sadiesofnewmexico.com A staple in New Mexican cuisine, Sadie’s features enchiladas, carne adovada ribs, tacos, burritos, and of course, world-famous chips and salsa. Reservations are recommended.

SALATHAI

3619 Copper Ave. NE, (505) 265-9330 Made-from-scratch, fresh, ingredients and keeping it simple are owner Pitak Pitakkan’s rules to cook by. Pitakkan cooks every menu item himself so don’t go to Salathai in a hurry. Pitakkan’s grandmother taught him to make curry and his curries are a longtime customer favorite.

SALT AND BOARD

115 Harvard SE, Ste. 9 (505) 219-2001 saltandboard.com Salt and Board offers a tailored selection of wines to go along with different charcuterie boards, pressed sandwiches and salads. For those who aren’t wine drinkers, Salt and Board offers a variety of local New Mexico beers on tap.

THE SALT YARD

6001 Osuna Rd. NE plus 1 other metro location (505) 750-9273, thesaltyardnm.com A multi-concept bar and restaurant, The Salt Yard is

equipped with games, dozens of televisions, great food, drinks, and plenty of space to stretch your legs. This unique location is a great place for parties, trying the newest beer and tequila (Blue Agave Republic is now a part of it), or just watching the game.

SAMURAI GRILL AND SUSHI BAR

$$$

9500 Montgomery Blvd. NE (505) 275-6601, abqsamurai.com What’s your pleasure, sushi or teppan? Here, you can have either expertly crafted right in front of you. It’s also where you can get fresh sushi favorites such as the California roll, the dragon roll, and a veggies-andsushi “Viagra salad” special.

SANTA FE BITE-ABQ

3407 Central Ave. NE (505) 369-1621, santafebite-abq.com

At Santa Fe Bite-ABQ, the green chile cheeseburger is treated with the reverence it deserves, presenting a precision crafted recipe. The details, in fact, are so carefully crafted that even the grilling surface needs to meet certain criteria. Absent a turn on the surface of a custom cast iron grill, it’s just not a Santa Fe Bite burger.

SANTIAGO’S NEW MEXICAN GRILL

1911 Eubank Blvd. NE, (505) 292-8226 It’s in the sauce—Papa Jim’s Taco Sauce, at least— which comes with items such as burritos, tacos, and salsa. This Santiago Scramble—a pile of scrambled eggs, cheese, corn tortillas, chorizo, and hash browns—is great morning fuel. The tamale and enchilada take-and-bake casseroles will please any partygoer. And take a jar of that taco sauce home— after all, you can.

SAVOY BAR & GRILL

$$$

10601 Montgomery Blvd. NE (505) 294-9463, savoyabq.com Resembling a California wine-country bistro, Savoy Bar & Grill is one of Albuquerque’s premier finedining establishments. Specializing in food and wine pairing, Savoy’s menu is a toast to the art of balance of food and wine.

SCARPAS BRICK OVEN PIZZA

SEARED

5500 Academy Rd. NE (505) 821-1885, scarpaspizza.com That brick oven is cornerstone to this neighborhood favorite, producing pizzas such as the shrimp pesto, the Greek, and the chipotle chicken. But Scarpas also knows pasta, including red chile cream pasta and pasta sorento with oak-roasted chicken. 119 San Pasquale Ave. SW (505) 999-8414, searedabq.com During the day, the space is Cheese & Coffee, but at night, it gets a makeover and becomes Seared, a fine dining establishment serving up steak, pork loin, and Atlantic Salmon among other things.

SEASONS ROTISSERIE AND GRILL

$$$

2031 Mountain Rd. NW (505) 766-5100, seasonsabq.com As the name suggests, Seasons varies its menu in accordance with what’s going on throughout the year, using the finest, freshest ingredients. Depending on what time of year you venture in, you’ll find butternut squash ravioli, grilled Atlantic salmon, and bleu cheese-crusted beef filet. Reservations are recommended.

SERGIO’S LA DOLCE VITA

SHARKY’S FISH & SHRIMP

2740 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Ste 8 (505) 554-2602 Fresh, made-from-scratch cookies, donuts, breads, pastries, cakes, and cannoli are on the mouthwatering menu at this Italian bakery. 5420 Central Ave. SW, (505) 831-8905 Slip on your flip-flops and enjoy some Baja–inspired seafood, tacos, and carefree beach house ambiance in this roadside outdoor eatery. Sharky’s won acclaim as the little food truck that could, and this brick-andmortar locale delivers the goods.

SIXTY-SIX ACRES

2400 12th St. NW (505) 243-2230, sixtysixacres.com If you had to boil Sixty-Six Acres down to two words, they would be “casual” and “classy.” Featuring craft cocktails and a wealth of locally sourced, globallyinspired dishes, Sixty-Six Acres is the ideal spot to grab a relaxed, refined meal.

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BITES SLAPFISH

6400 Holly Ave. NE plus 1 other metro location (505) 503-1645, slapfishrestaurant.com Have you ever had fish so fresh that it jumped up and tail slapped you in the face? Well, that’s the joke behind the very popular eatery, Slapfish, located in Holly Square. This fast casual gem has gained a great reputation for efficiency, service, flavor combos, and the freshness of their seafood.

SPINN’S BURGER & BEER

SQUEEZED JUICE BAR

4411 Montaño Rd. NW (505) 899-6180, spinnsrestaurant.com Every burger served at Spinn’s is made with neverfrozen, fresh-ground Angus beef. Try the restaurant’s signature Armadillo Burger. Spinn’s fries are cut and fried when you order them.

2003 Southern Blvd., Ste 139 (505) 994-0363, slatestreetbilliards.com Come for the pool, stay for the nachos, and the burgers, and the wings. Rio Rancho’s favorite pool hall also offers has great Happy Hour pricing and plenty of special events.

7900 San Pedro NE, Ste A-12 plus 2 other metro locations (505) 821-1437, squeezedjuicebars.com Incredibly innovative, modern mixed juices, smoothies, and other healthy delights for people on the move and looking for exercise recovery. Three to five pounds of fruit are squeezed into every drink, and it’s all extract, no fillers, and sure to brighten your day.

SLATE STREET CAFÉ

STEEL BENDER BREWYARD

SLATE STREET BILLIARDS

515 Slate Ave. NW, (505) 243-2210 slatestreetcafe.com Slate Street Cafe is a sleek, contemporary eatery that combines big city ambience with inspired, modern cuisine. From the smoked salmon frittata to build-your-own bruschetta to mouthwatering Ahi tuna, their culinary flair will tantalize and delight from breakfast through dinner.

SOBREMESA

3421 Coors Blvd. NW (505) 444-5555, sobremesanm.com A plethora of comforting foods can be found on the menu including tacos, fish and chips, and a guest favorite, green chile cheeseburgers. Wash down one of these delicious plates with a signature beer.

8305 2nd St. NW (505) 433-3537, steelbenderbrewyard.com The 275-seat brewery has an industrial vibe with cozy undertones. But the Los Ranchos brewery stands apart from competitors based on its wide selection of house made beers and its gourmet menu.

STICKY RICE

7600 Jefferson St. SE, Ste 5, (505) 797-1288 Likely the only authentic Laotian sticky rice to be found anywhere in ABQ, this simple menu offers moist, slow roasted chicken and a few frills at prices you can’t beat with a chopstick. The family meal is a steal.

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STORMING CRAB

5001 San Mateo Blvd. NE (505) 407-2032 albuquerque.stormingcrab.us Specializing in large, customizable seafood boils rich in Cajun and Atlantic coast flavor, Storming Crab’s selection of dinner combos are encouraged to build their own. Black and green mussels, shrimp, crawfish, white clams, and crab legs can be ordered by the pound.

STRIPES BISCUITS & BURRITOS

STUFYS

TACO SAL

8050 Academy Rd. NE plus 4 other metro locations for burritos (505) 835-5214, stripesco.com A place where two American breakfast staples come together. Stripes serves up a variety of delicious breakfast burritos which range from carne adovada or chicharron. If you aren’t in the mood for a burrito, enjoy a hearty plate of homestyle biscuits and sausage. 1107 Candelaria Rd. NW plus 2 other metro locations (505) 344-1207, stufys.com Tasty stuffed sopaipillas are on the menu of this customer favorite, which has been around since 1968. Each sopaipilla is made with a custom machine invented by the owners, then stuffed with savory fillings. 9621 Menaul Blvd. NE, (505) 298-2210 This family-owned and operated restaurant offers tasty, traditional New Mexican (burritos, chile rellenos, enchiladas, tacos, huevos rancheros and more) with its very own chunky salsa, made with real green chile.

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BITES TAJ MAHAL CUISINE OF INDIA

1430 Carlisle Blvd. NE (505) 255-1994, tajmahalabq.com Taj Mahal is filled with all of your Indian favorites, from fresh naan (try the garlic version) to tasty saag paneer. The line goes out the door for the popular lunch buffet.

TAKO TEN

1250 Candelaria Rd. NE, Ste B (505) 508-3518 Chef and owner Dominic Valenzuela takes a creative spin on tacos, or takos if you will, by curating a unique menu, which includes a Vegan Sweet Potato Tako.

THAI KITCHEN

UPTOWN SPORTS BAR

URBAN HOTDOG COMPANY

6601 Uptown Blvd. NE (505) 884-4714, uptown-sportsbar.com A huge sports venue with wall-to-wall televisions and all the extras—solid American fare alongside a wide selection of local and national beers. 10250 Cottonwood Park NW, Ste. 440 (505) 898-5671, urbanhotdogcompany.com With about 20 choices—and even a vegetarian option—this restaurant has become a dog-lover’s go-to. Look for Chicago and NYC classics, plus adventurous temptations like the Crafty Dog (topped with mac ‘n’ cheese and bacon).

10701 Corrales Rd. NW (505) 890-0059, thaikitchenabq.com Art Xaiyasiha is one of two siblings who crafted one of the Duke City’s first great Thai restaurants, Siam Café. Thai Kitchen is his very own venture, featuring his takes on authentic dishes that taste “just like they do back home.”

VIC’S DAILY CAFÉ

THAI SPICE

VICK’S VITTLES COUNTRY KITCHEN

7441 Paseo Del Norte NE (505) 503-1521, thaispiceabq.com An extensive menu features authentic Thai favorites like Pad Thai or Thai fried rice. Lunch special includes an egg roll, entrée, and coconut milk tapioca pudding punctuated with an origami rose–topped straw.

THAI VEGAN

3600 Osuna Rd. NE (505) 341-9710, vicsdailycafe.com With a full range of breakfast items, New Mexican favorites, and comfort food, this is a one-stop shop for tasty options like breakfast burritos, meatloaf, and coconut cream pie.

8810 Central Ave. SE (505) 298-5143, vicksvittles.com Rustle up your posse and head to Vick’s for heaping helpings of Texas-New Mexico fusion and breakfast served all day. Country comfort meets southwestern flair in an environment that welcomes suits and cowboys alike. Prepare to be stuffed.

5505 Osuna Rd. NE plus 1 other metro location (505) 884-4610, thaivegannm.com Utilizing local organic produce, you’ll get some of the healthiest food around, all without sacrificing taste. This non-vegan favorite has hearty offerings and a soy chicken that satisfies even the pickiest of meat eaters.

VIET TASTE

TOMASITA’S

4208 Menaul Blvd. NE, (505) 717-2359 This Vietnamese-based cuisine restaurant offers a homey feel and Southeast Asian comfort food. Try the popular Beef Pho Soup or go for a lighter dish like the Shrimp Spring Rolls.

4949 Pan American Fwy. NE (505) 344-1204, tomasitas.com Serving family recipes and making traditional dishes with local ingredients, Tomasita’s has been one of the state’s most popular local spots since Georgia Maryol opened it in Santa Fe in 1974.

TULLY’S ITALIAN DELI

1425 San Mateo Blvd. NE (505) 255-5370, tullysdeli.com This Italian deli serves two dozen subs for dine-in or pick-up lunch. A fully stocked market features Italian pantry goods from pasta to olive oil. Don’t forget a box of pastries, cookies, biscotti, cake, or a famous cannoli on your way out.

TURTLE MOUNTAIN BREWING COMPANY

905 36th Pl. SE, Rio Rancho plus 1 other metro location (505) 994-9497, turtlemountainbrewing.com turtlemountainbrewing.com Known for its handcrafted ales and lagers, which are brewed on the premises, this is more than just a place to enjoy a few drinks. It’s also a great place to enjoy wood-fired pizzas and calzones in a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere.

UNCLE T’S SANGWICHES

1520 Deborah Rd. SE, Ste O, Rio Rancho (505) 404-9345, allthesangwiches.com Inspired by their grandmother, Uncle T’s has a menu filled with unbeatable sandwiches. Try out their Havana Press which is their version of the Cuban Sandwich. They also have an assortment of fresh pies to end your meal with.

5721 Menaul Blvd. NE (505) 888-0101, pwbportal.us/viet-taste-abq With more than 100 menu options—noodle and rice dishes, eight varieties of Pho, coconut shakes, and many more—this restaurant is true to its name, offering a real taste of Vietnamese cuisine.

VIET PHO

VILLAGE PIZZA

3200 La Orilla Rd. NW, E-2 plus 1 other metro location (505) 219-3766, villagepizzanm.com Family owned and operated, Village Pizza offers salads, nachos, calzones, pasta, and of course, signature pizzas, along with an all-you-can-eat buffet.

VINAIGRETTE

1828 Central Ave. SW (505) 842-5507, vinaigretteonline.com

Getting in touch with your “green” side has never been as hip as it is at Albuquerque’s newest go-to salad bistro. Vinaigrette offers a menu full of unique salads made with fresh produce from owner Erin Wade’s farm in Nambè. Items like The Nutty Pear-Fessor and the Asian Chopped Salad don’t sacrifice deliciousness just because they’re healthy. Expect one of 17 vinaigrette dressings to be perfectly paired with your salad.

VINTAGE 423

8000 Paseo Del Norte Blvd. NE (505) 821-1918, vintage-423.com

Decorated with plush booths, black and white photos of vintage cars, a glass wine cellar wall, and an outdoor patio with couches and fireplaces, Vintage 423 is a go-to location for good eats and happy hour—all year long.

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

WECK’S

WESTERN VIEW

4500 Osuna Rd. NE, #100 plus 9 other metro locations (505) 344-1472, wecksinc.com For nearly 20 years, Weck’s has served up huge, tasty portions of breakfast and lunch. Examples: The Original comes with one pound of potatoes mixed with eggs, cheese, and chile; the “Scratch Made” Buttermilk Pancakes are more than seven inches wide. 6411 Central Ave. NW, (505) 836-2200 With a cozy diner feel and a long history, Western View is turning out plates of diner classics and New Mexican staples—finely seasoned with a sprinkling of Greek options—for diners hungry for both hearty home cooked meals and classic countertop service.

WHICH WICH

WHOLE HOG CAFÉ

8110 Louisiana Blvd. NE plus 2 other metro locations (505) 856-1617, whichwich.com A national brand with local twists, list your favorites on the bag and await a sammie that edges the competition. The UNM location is a student mainstay. 9880 Montgomery Blvd. plus 1 other metro location (505) 323-1688, wholehogcafenm.com Get award-winning Memphis-style barbecue in a family-friendly atmosphere. Can’t-miss items include the pulled pork, potato salad, and the homemade banana pudding.

YANNI’S MODERN MEDITERRANEAN $$

3109 Central Ave. SE (505) 268-9250, yannisabq.com Impeccable Mediterranean cuisine paired with a fresh atmosphere that whisks you away to Grecian shores, you can always count on Yanni’s for savory spanakopita, perfect pasta, and other delicious treats. Reservations are recommended.

YASMINE’S CAFÉ

THE YELLER SUB

1600 Central Ave. SE, (505) 242-1980 Yasmine’s is one of the few places in Albuquerque with shawarma—pitas filled with marinated chicken or beef that’s been pressed, stacked and cooked slowly on a rotisserie. Also try lamb and beef shish kababs, baba ghanoush, fatah, and four varieties of baklava. 7200 Montgomery Blvd. NE (505) 888-9784, yellersub.com Owner Mark Roerick has been perfecting his sandwiches since 1979 and the customer favorite, Steak & Grilled Onions Sub proves it. The potato chips, fries, and onion rings made from scratch the old-fashioned way sure won’t let you down.

ZINC WINE BAR AND BISTRO

$$$

3009 Central Ave. NE (505) 254-9462, zincabq.com Imaginative, gourmet cuisine (think: duck confit eggrolls, chicken skewer salad, and pine nut spanakopita) and an out-of-this-world wine list meets a friendly, laid-back atmosphere at this Nob Hill favorite. Reservations are recommended.

ZORBA’S FINE GREEK CUISINE

11225 Montgomery Blvd. NE (505) 323-2695, zorbasabq.com The family behind University area favorite, Olympia Café, have relocated their tasty homemade Greek food to the Northeast Heights. Try the Southwestern Gyros or the enduring customer favorite, the pork, chicken, or lamb kebob.

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‘TIL YOU DROP P. 170 | THE PAWS BUTTON P. 174 | PASSENGER WINDOW P. 180 | A FEW THINGS P. 182 | PHOTO CONTEST P. 184

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER The shallow waters and shady banks of the Rio Grande provide splashy fun for your pets along the Bosque trail, one of several ways to keep your pet cool during the city's already record-breaking hot summer. (p. 174)

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COURTESY IMAGE

OUT & ABOUT: YOUR GUIDE TO THE LIGHTER SIDE OF OUR CITY

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We Find It FOR YOU QUESTION

ANSWER

I don't go camping often because it seems like the same old, same old. Are there any new gadgets that can glam up my camping trip?

Roughing it is no longer necessary in the great outdoors. Here are a few ways to take modern life with you into the wilderness.

Camping chairs are typically either robust but heavy, or lightweight but flimsy. But the times, they are a changin' with this rugged aluminum and polyester seat, which fits the perfect bill for both size and strength: it folds down to the size of a water jug and weighs under two pounds, yet can support up to 250 pounds with an updated design that makes for a wider seat. —ZWL REI Co-Op Flexlite Camp Chair, $70 REI 1550 Mercantile Ave. NE (505) 247-1191 rei.com/stores/albuquerque

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TAKE A LOAD OFF YOUR FANNY

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SUN = LIGHT, POWER, COMFORT Besides a good cooler, this little gizmo is likely to become your favorite camping accessory. The wallet-size solar panel captures energy to power the inflatable soft-glow lantern, and has enough juice left over to charge up your smartphone—up to 100 percent battery boost in just four hours. The cube is smaller than a toaster, lighter than two slices of thick toast, can be hung via the rugged snap strap, and provides up to 50 hours of light on low mode. —ZWL LuminAID PackLite Max 2-in-1 power lantern, $50 REI 1550 Mercantile Ave. NE (505) 247-1191 rei.com/stores/albuquerque

JOE TO GO ILLUMINATE YOUR THOUGHTS Keep your hands free to tend to after-dark camping chores with this LED headband lamp. The light intensity is adjustable from 6 to 400 lumens, so you won't light up the whole campsite when you step outside the tent to sneak a midnight bite to eat. Recharges via USB port, and is fully submersible and dustproof. —ZWL

Take drive-thru style coffee into the back country with the AeroPress Go, which allows you to quickly make gourmet coffee drinks like espresso and cold-brew java using just hot water. The nifty design fits all inside a regular size cup, including the French press, measuring scoop, filters and cap. Includes 350 paper micro-filters. —ZWL

Black Diamond Spot 400-R headlamp, $65

AeroPress Go Travel coffee press, $40

REI 1550 Mercantile Ave. NE (505) 247-1191 rei.com/stores/albuquerque

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Ooh! Aah! Jewelry 110 Amherst Dr SE (505) 265-7170 oohaahjewelry.com

he name is synonymous with the sound a carefully customized piece of jewelry might elicit from an appreciative customer. Indeed, there are plenty of oohs and aahs to go around within the confines of the Nob Hill shop founded in 1988 by Mary Vigil, a former high school business teacher in Albuquerque with a keen eye for all things shiny and sparkly. “Originally when Ooh! Aah! Jewelry started, she wanted to show people that you could wear really beautiful things and it didn’t have to be really expensive,” says store manager Dallas Ulibarri. “Her original tagline was ‘Affordable (Luxury).’ She wanted people to feel like they could wear something lovely without it costing an arm and a leg. “She just had this amazing eye and she

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The wide-reaching legacy — purchases range from thrifty buys to engagement splurges — continues at this beloved Nob Hill mainstay. wanted to be able to share it with the world.” Ooh! Aah! jewelry Initially made its name for its collection of silver jewelry — from rings to necklaces to earrings — and while that is still very much a part of the inventory, the store adapts to the style of the times, which has included a transition to more gold pieces in recent years. “We’re finding that when women want to splurge and treat themselves, they’re going to purchase something of a higher value,” Ulibarri says. “ … The silver part, we still see a ton of gift giving and people splurging on that for themselves. But as far as the gold … we’re really seeing a surge in women who are purchasing for themselves or for their female friends and want them to have something that’s sort of like a modern heirloom.”

Regardless of the material involved, customers can walk away with a purchase knowing they have something they aren’t likely to see being worn by anyone else. Ooh! Aah! Jewelry partners with local, national and international artists alike — more than 100 designers in total, according to Ulibarri — to offer a product line unlike anywhere else in the Duke City. “We like unique designs that feel one of a kind. We don’t do a lot of repeat designs,” Ulibarri says. “... We want to feel like we offer something for everyone. So whether you’re coming in and you have $50 to spend on a gift, or you’re coming in and you want to spend $6,000 to $10,000 on an engagement ring, we can accommodate you.” Custom wedding designs are another integral component of the business, and it WWW.ABQTHEMAG.COM | JULY 2022

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‘TIL YOU DROP

became even more of a focus during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was a time when everybody had to sort of scramble and figure out how they were going to stay afloat. Our custom engagement ring and wedding band design is sort of what we dug our nails into and decided to become experts at,” Ulibarri says. “We have people who have shopped with Mary since 1988 and now their kids are shopping with us and they’re getting married and buying engagement rings and wedding bands. We pride ourselves on doing one-of-a-kind engagement rings and wedding bands for customers.” In addition providing access to the shop’s own collection of unusually shaped gemstones, diamonds, and sapphires to help build a piece from scratch, Ooh! Aah! Jewelry will work with a customer if they’d prefer to use an heirloom stone instead. Once a stone is selected, a designer will sketch some ideas to provide a visual. The next step is to move to a CAD (computer aided design), which offers a more three-dimensional look at the ring or piece. All told, the customization process takes six to eight weeks, depending on how quickly a customer makes a selection. “It’s super rewarding to have an idea and help someone navigate what that looks like in their head,” says Aisha Sedillo, a designer at Ooh! Aah! Jewelry. “They’re imagining what they want and the feeling they want to have when they design a piece of custom jewelry. “It’s often engagement rings, and they’re using family stones so there’s a lot of sentimentality and love in the piece already. It’s quite an honor to be able to help people produce such sentimental and important pieces of jewelry. They’re talismans for love stories and relationships.” It’s a close-knit staff at the store, one that Ulibarri says is like “family.” It’s a team that not only excels at finding and creating memorable pieces of jewelry, but at making people feel at ease. “We really pride ourselves on letting people be themselves when they come in. I know people can be really intimidated,” Ulibarri says. “We want them to feel like they are connected to us and know us as well. We like to spend time getting to know who you are shopping for. I feel like it feels really personal when they come shop with us.” — TRISTEN CRITCHFIELD

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

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PAWS BUTTON

KEEPING TABS ON ABQ’S FURRY FRIENDS

PET DOS AND DON’TS DURING ALBUQUERQUE SUMMERS

s the days get warmer here in the Duke City, we all need to be a little more cautious about keeping our sweet furry friends safe and happy. We have compiled a few of the most important dos and don’ts when it comes to animals and the summer heat.

degrees in just 20 minutes when it is 73 degrees out. Bring a leash and take them with you. Dogs can’t cool down quite as easily as us. They will typically find a shady spot to lay down or dig a hole to find cooler ground when getting overheated. Try investing in a small wading pool! Fill it with just a small amount of water and leave it outside for your pup to take a dip. With the temperatures rising, our pooches need as much water as they can get! Consider getting an extra water bowl to add outside on those extra hot days. Better yet, fill a bowl with water and throw it in the freezer the night before to give your pets cold water all day long! The coats of dogs can help protect their skin from the sun and can help insulate to keep them cool. The City of Albuquerque informed us to keep their coat trimmed but don’t opt for shaving it all! You may notice your pets becoming a little less active through the summer and eating smaller amounts than normal. Don’t fret! This is completely normal through the hotter months. Dogs and cats will often exert less energy to help keep them cool, and using less energy calls for a smaller appetite. When heading out the door with your pet alongside you, make sure to test the temperature of the ground before leaving. If the surface is too hot for your palm, then it's too hot for their paws! When taking pets for outings, bring extra water for them too. Take a break in a shady area to let them cool down and rehydrate periodically. Chances are, if you’re hot, then your pets are hot too.

The City of Albuquerque website has given a few pointers to guide us through the summer as pet owners. When taking animals along with you, make sure they are never left behind in the car. The interior of a car will heat up much more quickly than expected, reaching nearly 100

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PET FRIENDLY OUTINGS IN ALBUQUERQUE

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Family outings aren’t complete without our pets. Albuquerque offers many different hiking trails, parks, and activities that welcome animals! ABQ Trolley Company takes groups on a narrated tour to explore all of the hidden gems of Albu-

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querque’s Old Town. Grab the family and a leash to get aboard the 85-minute tour that gives passengers a taste of Albuquerque. If the trolley tour doesn’t suit your fancy, you and your pet can walk through the guided History and Ghost Tour of Old Town. Hiking Petroglyph National Monument alongside your dog can make it that much more exciting. Take your furry friend with you to see the Rinconada Canyon, Piedras Marcadas Canyon, and the ancient petroglyphs that cover the rocks along various hiking trails in the national monument. While you’re at it, hit up the Paseo del Bosque Trail and the Rio del Norte Bosque Trail with your four-legged friend. Across the city, there are a number of dog parks where you can take your pets to play with others. With both on-leash and off-leash dog parks, you are bound to find one that your pets will love. USS Bullhead Park is located in Southwest Albuquerque and features several different areas for dogs to play, as well as a water supply, and benches for pet owners to take a seat. When you want to head out for a night on the town but don’t want to leave your dogs at home, head to Casa Vieja Brewery—located off of Alameda Blvd. and Corrales Rd. on the Westside of Albuquerque. Casa Vieja is a boutique brewery with a pet-friendly patio, often featuring live music and unbeatable scenery. Stop by to enjoy a drink with friends and family and have your dog tag along. If you and your family are looking for something a little more fast-paced or competitive, then the Quirky Burque Scavenger Hunt is for you. This pet-friendly adventure takes you through the city, following a set of carefully curated directions, finding clues, solving puzzles, and uncovering local secrets along the way. If a staycation is more your speed, Hotel Albuquerque is happy to host you and your VIP (very important pet) this summer, offering a number of luxurious amenities for the whole family, including pets. Hotel Albuquerque offers a VIP Pet Package that includes pet beds and bowls, as well as a special sampling of the Chef ’s signature pet treats. —AO

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PIECE OF T H E PAST

THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE

id you know Albuquerque is the center of the universe? In 1983, Bruce Nauman was funded $100,000 by the University of New Mexico to create some sort of structure between Mitchell and Ortega Halls. He originally wanted to build Abstract Stadium, a structure that was going to be concrete bleachers that were 60 feet long and 15 feet high. However, his idea was denied by UNM in fear that it would be too dangerous for students. Nauman pivoted and that's how “The Center of the Universe” was born. The large concrete structure has tunnels that point in five directions - up to the sky, north, south, east and west. Directly in the center of the structure is a bronze plaque that sits on a storm grate to prevent flooding and it reads “The Center of

PHOTO BY DON JAMES/ATM

The confluence of five concrete tunnels towers over UNM

the Universe”. Naumen has stated that he didn’t even come up with the name of the structure until he was half way through the building process. When Nauman completed his work in 1988, he received nothing but negative comments. People said it was ugly, didn't sit right on campus, and was a good place for criminals to hide out. There were even acts of vandalization and the vandalizers argued that the graffiti “improved” the structure. But, the negative comments didn't bother Nauman. In an interview with the Albuquerque Journal in 1988, he mentioned that he built the structure to challenge people. “It's much better to get a strong reaction than no reaction,” he stated. Nauman added that “people want things to be pretty and relaxing - and in some situations that may be appropriate.

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

But this is a university campus. People should be willing to be emotionally and intellectually challenged.” Eventually, the negative comments stopped and the graffiti wasn't as excessive. There have been several other structures built around The Center of the Universe that tie everything together. Now, students walk through the tunnels on their daily routes to class and some even skateboard or bicycle through the sculpture. There is no real reason why Nauman named the structure The Center of the Universe. Maybe because the structure is actually coordinates that lead to the center of the universe? Maybe it was important to Nuaman and it was, in fact, the center of his universe. Or maybe Albuquerque really is the center of the universe. —DLM

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PET OF T H E MONTH

PET OF THE MONTH

ATM readers’ furry, fuzzy, feathered, or scaly best friends. This month's winner: Fey Fey.

bout 12 years ago, Dominic Baldonado’s girlfriend Delilah adopted Fey Fey when she was just a puppy. They aren’t quite sure what breed she is, but they do love her. When asked how they came up with the name Fey Fey, Baldonado said that in Spanish Feya means ugly, and so the family joked that she was their ugly pup. “Fey Fey was her nickname that sort of stuck,” says Baldonado. For the past four years, Fey Fey has lived with Baldonado and his girlfriend, making their lives that much better. Fey Fey doesn’t go on hikes too often, but any time they get the chance to go out, she absolutely loves it. When Fey Fey isn’t out hiking, she likes to dig holes and snack on Pup-Peroni treats. Even though Fey Fey is 13 years old, she has the energy of a puppy. She is always running around and wanting to play like you would expect a puppy to do. “I call her my Spinderella because when she’s happy, she spins in circles!” says Baldonado. —DLM

Is your pet ATM’s next Pet of the Month? Send a photo and short story about why you think your pet belongs in these pages to petofthemonth@abqthemag.com.

JULY 2022 | ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE

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THE

PASSENGER WINDOW

MIRRORED ROBOTS

echnology has evolved so much in the past decade since “Mirrored Robots” was created that its originally intended meaning may now be obsolete. That doesn’t make the mural itself any less interesting. It took David Leigh a little more than a week in July 2012 to paint the piece as part of the Wells Park Corridor project, which was intended to “beautify and improve the Rail Runner corridor between Mountain Road and I-40.” The project was completed in conjunction with the 18th International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA), a creative gathering that touched down in the Duke City after being held in locations such as Istanbul, Singapore, Belfast and Munich over the years. The theme of the symposium was “Machine Wilderness,” an examination “of the complex relationships between existing and emerging technologies and wilderness through the intersection of contemporary art, science, culture, and society.” “A lot of work that I had been making at the time and most of the work that I make is, I guess, kind of funny,” Leigh says. “A little grotesque but mostly a little funny.”

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A future vision marks 10 years in Wells Park

The mural depicts a pair of robots — which Leigh admits were unwittingly inspired by the animated film The Iron Giant — one in traditional gray and the other in a camouflage blend of pink, yellow and purple, as reflective images of one another. Both appear to be waving melted arms at each other, which fits into the artist’s desired theme of humorous melded with grotesque. “At the very least, I think it’s just funny. It’s just kind of goofy to think about a robot looking at itself,” he says. “There’s a white robot and one that’s actually camouflaged. This idea of a machine looking at itself and kind of melting away … It goes into maybe the adventure time, kind of just cartoon space of the goofiness watching something like this as you’re riding on the train and seeing two robots with their arms melting.” The original meaning behind the mural was outlined as follows: This mural, ‘Mirrored Robots’, touches on ideas of camouflage, self-recognition and adaptive mimicry as they relate to machines, conveying the understanding that technology infiltrates life to such a degree that it becomes necessary for survival and identity. Leigh admits that times have changed,

as has interpretation of the piece. “I think that if we were to look at all the technology that was being spoken about at that symposium, it probably would look so dated,” he says. “Trying to make a design that felt forward thinking, something that actually captured what the future of technology would look like seems so daunting because it seems like what that looks like changes every five minutes.” While Leigh has participated in a number of collaborative artistic projects for museums and galleries in the ensuing years, “Mirrored Robots” remains the largest scale outdoor piece to his name. Today, he teaches painting and drawing courses at Albuquerque High, where he’s also served as the driving force behind the school’s recently founded Artisan in Residence Program and helped put together a once-monthly offering where students are able to sell their artistic wares to peers on campus. “So when they leave that space they get more of a sense of what’s possible,” Leigh says. “Even if they don’t become artists, (they see) what’s possible in terms of problem solving and thinking about creativity outside of a school environment.” —TRISTEN CRITCHFIELD

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JEREMIAH BITSUI Actor, “Better Call Saul”

Shortly after it premiered in 2008, viewers of “Breaking Bad” discovered something unique: it’s fun to root for the criminal. The show successfully flipped an old script, which helped it become arguably the most iconic TV series of all time, even in today’s golden age of streaming and binge-watching. It even produced a darkly humorous and popular spin-off, “Better Call Saul”—both of which were filmed entirely in ABQ. But few saw the success coming. “One day my agent called and said, ‘There’s this little weird TV show they’re making, it’s about a teacher who makes meth. It’s called Breaking Bad and it probably won’t make a second season, but it’s worth checking out,’” recalls Jeremiah Bitsui, an actor with deep ABQ ties. Bitsui auditioned for another part, but the

casting director thought he would be perfect as Victor, the impassive henchman to drug kingpin Gus Fring on BrBa (yes, the shows have monikers). Bitsui, 41, is one of a handful of actors with regular roles in both series, which have become synonymous with filmmaking in Albuquerque. “It’s an honor to be part of something so game-changing. The writing, the actors, the producers…it’s like a well-oiled machine,” he says, referring to the team assembled by series’ creator Vince Gilligan. Bitsui also has a role in a new show with New Mexico ties, the drama series “Dark Winds,” based on the Tony Hillerman novels set on the Navajo Nation. The show debuted June 12 on AMC. With the final episodes of BCS set to kick off on July 11, we

10. Namaste (S5)

9. 50% Off (S5)

8. Sabrosito (S3)

DEA agents Hank and Steve from BrBa are back making their second cameo at this point. A chance for amends in the odd relationship which continues between Howard and Saul. We play cat & mouse with the FBI, ultimately evading them. Lastly, Mike gets jumped by a bunch of young thugs and of course ends up on top.

In this episode we raise the stakes on Nacho, ripping him from bed and threatening his father (that was a tough one—the actor Juan Carlos Cantu is such a sweet man in real life and in character). The audience gets to ride shotgun with a couple of Saul’s regular clients, Sticky and Ron, on their drug binge— great comic relief. Easter egg: we find out how Krazy 8 got his nickname (afraid to win, he folded three 8s to concede a hand to Lalo in poker). Also, we establish Saul further along with his Bluetooth headset.

This was a fun episode as we look into the beef between Hector and Gus. We begin to question Mike’s motivation, which is not just money. In real life I’m a big fan of Jonathan Banks (who plays Mike), he’s a great actor and amazing guy. Note: Victor pays Mike in a similar fashion as he pays Pinkman & Mr. White in season 3 of BrBa (cash wadded up inside a brown paper bag).

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decided it was the perfect excuse to ask Bitsui to relive some of his most memorable scenes and episodes from the first 5+ seasons of “Better Call Saul” (no spoilers allowed). Fair warning, however: the following contains loads of insider info and references, so if you find yourself confused, better watch Saul first. — CB

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7. Bad Choice Road (S5)

6. Winner (S4)

5. Breathe (S4)

Aside from critical acclaim and at one point a 100 score on RottenTomatoes.com, I’m picking this episode because of the 3+ weeks the cast & crew spent in the hot New Mexico desert in the dead of the summer (from Episode 8 into Episode 9). They braved the harsh heat in real life. Cast & crew spent blood, sweat & tears.

One of the highest rated episodes, for many reasons, with so much going on (but oddly I can’t remember if I was in this one). We realize how bad-ass Mike truly is, evading Lalo and tracking Werner. However, Lalo’s genius is also noted in this cat & mouse episode, as we see him kill a store clerk in true ninja fashion. But Mike stays one step ahead, and takes out Werner.

This scene was another showdown, but in true Gus fashion, it wasn’t exactly what it seems. Victor had to practice restraint after being challenged by Nacho & goaded by Arturo, but to their detriment. This was the payoff and continuation to the previous episode, when Nacho switched Hector’s pills. The scene ends with Arturo on the ground, hogtied, trying to suck air through a plastic bag, flopping like a fish out of water, headed to BrBa/BCS pasture. In the aftermath, Nacho belongs to Gus, who knows about the pill swap.

4. Off-brand (S3)

3. Something Beautiful (S4)

2. Wexler vs Goodman (S5)

The Salamancas do a deal with Pollos Hermanos, and Nacho insists on six kilos instead of five, as arranged. This was an intense showdown, and the start of beef between Victor & Nacho. On the day of shooting, I remember the blocking (where actors move during a scene) was a challenge. We were all fumbling at first, then after a few takes, we were dancing. It played well, and I remember watching it at a viewing party at Tractor Brewery with friends.

Features the faux ambush of Arturo & Nacho, AKA the episode where Victor shot Nacho to make it look real. The aesthetics and build-up of the scene is straight up out of the BrBa/BCS playbook. But as always, shooting action is fun, and the scene (as the episode title suggests) was truly beautiful!

This episode is one of my favorites because the producers called and asked to use the name of my daughter, Olivia Bitsui (on the show, she’s a 90-some-year-old artist). We were in Chicago at the time, I still remember the call. For an Easter egg, look for something Olivia Bitsui-related in Season 6.

1. Witness (S3) The cat & mouse setup we do on Mike in this episode was masterful. Plus, this was my intro back to the BrBa universe, and by the mastermind creator himself, Vince Gilligan. Fun fact: on the first take I flicked the cigarette at the camera (on accident), but Vince loved it, so we tried 12 more times to get it just right. But the episode is my favorite one because it was my welcome back and into the BCS world. Jeremiah Bitsui Photo courtesy of Jeremy Ray Valdez and Better Call Saul scene images courtesy of AMC.

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PHOTO CONTEST

DOWNTOWN ALBUQUERQUE By Caroline Meuskett Mendoza

aroline Meuskett Mendoza has been taking photos since she was a freshman in high school. She started off by taking a photoshop class then her sophomore year of high school she was introduced to film photography and darkroom work. “I went to college for the medical field and wasn’t happy. I opened my business in 2016 doing digital photography,” says Mendoza. Even though she didn't start taking pho-

tography classes for photography until she was in high school, Mendoza started taking photos when she was six years old, “I was the family photographer,” she said. She has been living in Los Lunas and Albuquerque for about 18 years now and loves the city views. “I’ve never been a city girl, but urban landscapes are by far some of my favorite shots to see,” said Mendoza. She just so happened to be in the downtown Albuquerque

area when she snapped the beautiful view. “The second I saw the view, I just had to take a photo!” she exclaimed. The photo was taken late evening right before the sun was setting, making all of the colors breathtaking. Mendoza used a mirrorless Nikon z6 with a 24-70 lens to take the perfect shot of downtown Albuquerque. —DLM

Enter ATM’s photo contest and see your photo featured in our PHOTO OF THE MONTH! Submissions should include one high-resolution digital file sent by email. All photos sent to ATM will be property of the magazine and will not be mailed back to sender. All entries should include your name and phone number. Please include a bio and a brief description of how the photo was taken. Email entries to: photocontest@abqthemag.com

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