An ABQ Year in Review

With 2014 right around the corner, it’s time for a year in review! 2013 was a big year for Albuquerque in terms of publicity, economic development, entertainment and more. Whether it’s a new movie or TV show being filmed, a new space facility, or a host of other new business openings, there always seemed to be something exciting going on.

Albuquerque Business First has dug into its web traffic to find the most important local stories from this past year and will poll local experts for their predictions for the city in 2014. But here are some of the most notable stories as chosen by Albuquerque Business First:

NMHIX gets off to a healthy start 

Why it’s important: New Mexico’s health insurance exchange for small businesses and their employees got up and running with few problems. 

 It took New Mexico a while to decide whether to run its own health insurance exchange, but once the decision was made, things moved quickly. 

 ‘Breaking Bad’ bill could lure more TV shows 

Why it’s important: The film industry was worried long-term TV show projects would bail on New Mexico without state support. First, Gov. Susana Martinez vetoed the so-called “Breaking Bad” bill. Then she signed off on its provisions as part of an 11th-hour tax reform package. 

 For the New Mexico film industry, a new set of incentives that increased rebates for television productions in the state was the most important piece of legislation proposed in the last five years. Filming recently wrapped in New Mexico on two television shows, “Breaking Bad” and “In Plain Sight,” that employed hundreds. The new incentives were designed to entice more long-term television productions to the state.
  

“The film industry has been a consistent bright spot for Albuquerque’s economy and the amount of interest is growing as seen by this uptick in activity,” said Mayor Richard J. Berry.
  

Major tax package aims to change game 

Why it’s important: The Legislature passed the first major tax package in a decade.
  

At the 11th hour — some say even later — the Legislature passed the New Mexico Jobs Package at the close of the 2013 session. It was the largest piece of tax reform passed in the state in years. The bill reduced taxes on businesses, added a single sales factor tax policy, included a “combined reporting” provision, amended the high-wage tax credit, phased out the “hold harmless” provision for local governments and included film incentives. 

 It didn’t make everyone happy. But both sides of the aisle seemed to find something in the package that they liked.  

To read the full list of top local stories from 2013, click here.

Creative Gift Wrapping Ideas for the Holidays

One of the best parts of the holiday season is giving a truly unique, special gift. Sure, what’s inside the package is probably the most important part, along with the thought that goes into your gift. But don’t discount presentation! You can turn an ordinary gift into an extraordinary one by wrapping it in unique, creative ways.

Depending on what you have on-hand in your apartment, there are lots of options. Country Living Magazine put together a very nice list of some options if you’re looking to add a flair of creativity to your holiday presents this year. Some of our favorite techniques included:

Mix Tape

Graphic designer Joy D. Cho dresses up Kraft paper with festive masking tape, alternating horizontal and vertical strips to mimic ribbon. A snowflake fashioned from frayed candy cane colored paper straws becomes the crowning glory.

Road Map

You need: Maps + cord + buttons

Freebie road maps and atlas pages serve as great graphic gift wrap. Instead of tying a bow on top, thread thin cord through a vintage button and knot tightly to secure. (Red cord, $2.99 for 20 yards; michaels.com for stores)

Artistic

Got a box of crayons? Then you can replicate printmaker/graphic designer Adrienne Wong's abstract print. The designer channeled her inner grade-schooler by sandwiching colorful wax shavings between layers of tissue paper (three on the top and three on the bottom) and ironing them until the wax melted. After wrapping, she adorned the gift with an asymmetrically placed satin ribbon and a cluster of tissue dahlias.

Tag Team
Include a cookie in your gift tag for an unexpected treat. Simply write a message on a piece of card stock cut to size, and insert the card and a cookie in the cellophane envelope. Punch two holes through the envelope with a hole puncher, and loop a ribbon through and tie.

 

To read the full post over at Country Living, click here.

Christmas Cookie Recipes

Although the cold winter weather tends to be pretty sporadic down here, we always find a way to make the Christmas holiday our own. If you’re looking to entertain guests or just relax in the comfort of your Albuquerque apartment this winter, baking Christmas cookies is one of the best ways to take in the smells of the season without leaving your kitchen.

CountryLiving.com featured a list of 27 Christmas cookie recipes - here are some of our favorites!

Sugar Cookie Buttons

Wrapped packages of these treats make thoughtful and delicious DIY holiday gifts.

Recipe

Sugar Cookie Ornaments

Simple sugar cookies go glamorous, thanks to ornament-shaped cutters and colorful icing.

Recipe

Gingerbread Animals

Retire your gingerbread man cookie cutter for a year and have some fun decorating animal shapes with different colors of rich, royal icing.

Recipe

Chocolate Snowflakes

Cocoa, added to the dough, and white-chocolate icing transform plain sugar cookies into edible place-card holders.

Recipe

Click here for the full list from CountryLiving.com!

Holiday Events in Albuquerque

Have family visiting Albuquerque this December? Or just looking to get into the holiday spirit? There are lots of great Christmas and holiday events around Albuquerque appropriate for the whole family.

Whether you’re looking for some high-speed excitement, a serene lights festival, or the lighting of the Old Town tree, there’s bound to be an activity in town you’ll enjoy. 10 Best at USA Today rounded up some of the events, including:

●    Also opening the weekend of Nov. 29 is the first-ever Cliff’s Magical Christmas. Albuquerque favorite Cliff’s Amusement Park opens for the winter through Dec. 29 with a light display, music, holiday food, Santa Claus and amusement rides.

●    The ABQ Biopark’s annual River of Lights is a beloved Albuquerque tradition that wows crowds Nov. 30-Jan. 5 (closed Dec. 24 and 25). Stroll New Mexico’s largest light display as carolers sing and hot chocolate flows nightly 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Hundreds of light displays depicting plants, animals and holiday scenes set the grounds aglow. Admission is $10 (children 3 to 13 are $5; children younger than 3 are free).

●    Old Town gets into the holiday spirit Dec. 6 with its annual Old Town Holiday Stroll and lighting of the tree at Don Luis Plaza, followed by the arrival of Santa Claus. Free concerts begin at 4 p.m., with the lighting at 6:10 p.m. and Santa Parade after. Hundreds of luminarias line the Plaza – a precursor to the thousands that will flicker on Christmas Eve. On Dec. 24, all of Old Town is outlined with luminarias as carolers sing and the hot chocolate flows.

●    The next day, Dec. 7, Nob Hill is awash in luminarias and family entertainment noon to 10 p.m. for its annual Nob Hill Shop and Stroll and Twinkle Light Parade. The parade starts at 5:15 p.m. at the corner of Central and Girard and travels west on Central.

Click here for the full list!