Lace Up for These ABQ 5K Runs

Albuquerque runners: the upcoming months are filled with opportunities for you to lace up your running shoes and get out on the trails and roads. From beer runs to running with your mother, there is something here for everyone. For more races in the area head to the Albuquerque Road Runner’s Club.

ABQ Brew Dash

When: May 9
Where: Balloon Fiesta Park
Try the 5K beer run or the 1 mile “beer mile” at the Brew Dash. After the race enjoy one complimentary beer from the brewery station of your choice. It will be a hard choice since all of Albuquerque’s best breweries will be there! Come wearing a costume and you could win your own beer growler. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the New Mexico Brewer's Guid, RunFit, and the ABBA Foundation.


Mother’s Day 5K

When: May 10
Where: Albuquerque Academy
Bring your mom to the Albuquerque Academy this Mother’s Day for a Mother’s Day 5K run. Kids run for free in the 1K kids fun run. Sign up before May 5th for $25.


Catch Me If You Can 5K

When: May 17
Where: Sandia Lakes Community
Follow dirt roads through the Rio Grande Bosque for this 5K. For the team run pair up with your mom, dad, son or daughter to run together. As soon as the race is over, head over to the lake to try your luck at fishing. If you catch something you are eligible to win a prize. There will be refreshments and a barbecue available after the race.


Cherry Garcia Run

When: June 21
Where: Valley High School - 1505 Candelaria Road Northwest, Albuquerque, NM 87107
The 12th annual Cherry Garcia run will include a 5K, a 10K and a kids run. After your run enjoy ice cream and pizza and try on your complimentary t shirt. A portion of the proceeds benefit RunFit, an after-school running program for all of New Mexico.


La Luz Trail Run

When: August 7
Where: Forest Road 333
If you want a real challenge, try this 9-mile run through the Sandia Mountains. Did we mention it’s all uphill? The race will take you upwards 4,000 feet into the mountains. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Friends of Sandia Mountains. The registration will be a lottery system beginning May 1.

Celebrate the Earth in Albuquerque

Earth Day was founded 45 years ago by Gaylord Nelson who wanted inspire an energy in the public consciousness about the importance of air and water pollution. It builds community activism and rekindles the public compassion for the earth. Albuquerque has no shortage of events and fun activities this week to celebrate Earth Day. Here are just a few:

On Earth Day head to the Aquarium to see different animals be fed and learn about their diets and habits as well as to learn about the importance of water conservation.

Civic Plaza is holding their vendor fair and Plant the Plaza events on Earth Day. There will be live music and good food to enjoy. Bring your old electronics to have them disposed of properly courtesy of BigByte.cc. Sign up here as a volunteer to plant plants around the community. You can also sign up for the new bike sharing program and receive a free helmet for registering.

On Thursday April 23rd, the zoo will teach you how your product and energy decisions impact animals in the wild. While you’re there make sure to stop by and visit the newest member of the ABQ BioPark family: a Nile Hippopotamus!

Head to Tingley Beach on Friday to learn how fishing microfilament is harmful to the water environment. Take a guided hike through the Bosque also.

The Botanic Garden will teach you how composting is good for the environment and how to control pests. There will be a children’s area with many additional events available.

There are so many fun activities for people of all ages the whole week in celebration of Earth Day. Head down and learn something at one of the many events taking place around Albuquerque. For more information on some of the events check the City of Albuquerque’s website.

New Library Opening In Albuquerque

After 17 years, Albuquerque will be getting a new library. The multimillion dollar building was brought about after the city’s council approved a $45 million dollar bond package which will be aimed at bringing more growth to the area.

Esperanza Library, was shut down in 2001, leaving many of the residents, including city councilor Ken Sanchez upset.

“I myself and a lot of the residents were devastated because it was a part of my community for so many years,” Sanchez said. “I grew up going to that library and I felt like a part of me was taken away. I think this is a way to give back to the community.”

The library will have the largest community room (other than the main library) able to house 150 people. It will also feature an enclosed young adult section and a quiet reading room.

There are plans to offer tutoring services and resume reviewing services on top of being filled with over 75,000 books.

The printed word won’t be the only thing available in the new library according to Dean Smith, Director of Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Libraries.

“We'll have a large amount of computers in this building,” Smith said. “We’ll have state of the art Wi-Fi. We've got a very strong fiber connection in this building.”

The council is hoping that the library will bring other things to the area.

"We hope this will be an anchor and draw in other amenities like I said a small theatre or drug stores,” President of the West Mesa Neighborhood Association Louis Tafoya stated.

On top of increased literacy rates, they are hoping to see other improvements to the area such as increased property value in the surrounding neighborhood.

The Central & Unser Library is due to open Saturday April 18th. Everyone is welcome to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday the 18th at 10 AM for food, activities and performances. It’s only a 20 minute drive away from Sandia Village Apartments.


Additional sources referenced:
KOB4
Albuquerque Journal

Shipping Container Shopping Center to Open In Albuquerque

 

Living in a shipping container might not sound like a dream come true, but to some it will be reality. Brian Stark of StarkJames architecture firm is in the process of having the 10,000 pound containers moved into place in Phoenix for the commencement of the construction. The 16 containers will be transformed into 8 one-bedroom apartments. Each of the apartments will be made up with all the accoutrements of any other apartment: bathrooms, wood floors, an abundance of windows and HVAC. However, you might be waiting a while to get into the apartments.

From the Albuquerque Business Journal:

“Kathleen Santin, an investor in Containers on Grand, said there is plenty of interest in the unique development in a city not readily known for unique architecture.

“We have 135 people on the waiting list,” she said.”

Nearer to home, construction has already begun on the Green Jeans shipping container center. Located only 25 minutes away from Sandia Apartments on Carlisle and I-40, the center will be home to offices, shops and restaurants all housed in shipping containers. Built around entrepreneur Roy Solomon’s hydroponic farm, Solomon hopes that the farm will serve as an educational tool for children to learn about where their food comes from. The farm will also hopefully turn into a year-round farmer’s market.

Solomon is currently looking for tenants for his center according to Jetson Green:

“He already signed with Santa Fe Brewing Co. which could be up and running by the summer. According to his concept for the center he would like it to include an eatery, a coffee shop, a wine bar, a flower bar, a spice depot, as well as various health and nutrition-based businesses.”

If the center meets the expectations of its creator, it is going to be an exciting development for the area. Keep an eye out for the Green Jeans Shipping Container Center, due to open by Memorial Day.

Sources consulted:

Jetson Green

Albuquerque Business Journal

Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum

Albuquerque is the balloon capital of the world. In fact, the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is currently in the running for the nation's top cultural festival in a USA Today poll, and draws visitors from all over the world each year. If you're currently going through Balloon Fiesta withdrawal, there is a simple solution - visit the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum! The museum is family-friendly, making it a fun and educational way to spend an afternoon together! Plus, it's only a 15-minute drive from your home at The Resort at Sandia Village, so if you decide to take a spur of the moment trip, it's easily accessible!

What You'll Learn
History, science and recreation are all topics covered at the museum. The museum shares its focus between New Mexico ballooning history and international ballooning history, including background information on women in ballooning. The scientific principles behind what allows a hot air balloon function and specific scientists and their roles in the advancement of ballooning technology are explored, as well. While balloons were at one time used in war, today their main function is recreation and entertainment. These subjects are explained through interactive, multi-media exhibits.

Upcoming Events
The Great New Mexico Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival
April 11 | 11 AM - 4 PM

While ABQ is known for ballooning, it is also known for its love of the green chile and New Mexican cuisine! On April 11, the two combine for an ABQ first:

Get excited for the first ever food truck festival in Albuquerque! Come check out a delicious array of cuisine from 20 food trucks from the area. Featuring everything from Latin American Street food with a New Mexican flair, to Green Chile Bacon doughnut burger, to there will be something for everyone, not to mention beer! -City of Albuquerque

Albuquerque Renaissance Faire
May 12 | 11 AM - 7 PM

When you think of a Renaissance Faire, turkey legs, jousting and knights in shining armor probably come to mind. Visitors can find all of these at the Albuquerque Renaissance Fair, in addition to a kids area, archery demonstration and adults only tavern!

When was the last time you paid a visit to one of our city's most treasured attractions, the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum? If you love the museum as much as we do, make sure you give it a vote in the aforementioned USA Today poll!



Sources consulted:
Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau
City of Albuquerque

Fiestas de Albuquerque

Can you believe March is nearly over and Spring is here? The spring is bringing some exciting events to the ABQ, including a celebration of Albuquerque itself - Fiestas de Albuquerque! On April 18, you can explore the eras of Albuquerque's history through music, dance and other fun activities! See below for more event information, courtesy of ABQ 365:

Event Details

April 18, 2015
Time: 12-5pm
Admission: Free

Location:Historic Old Town

Rio Grande Blvd. N.W. & Central Ave. N.W., Albuquerque, NM 87104
Phone: 505-768-3556

Featuring food, live music, dance, activities and more from five major eras of Albuquerque’s history, this event will have something for everyone! As you walk through different areas of Historic Old Town you will be able to experience the awesome history of the Native American Era, learn about the founders from the Spanish Era, enjoy mouth watering delicacies and learn how to craft piñatas from the Mexican Era, and listen to live, historic music and see blacksmith demonstrations from the Territorial Era.

Join the ABQ Burger Tour

If you love a good burger, you need to make time to attend Yelp Albuquerque's "burger binge" next week! The event covers 7 burger venues in 7 days, with $5 burger specials at each venue. The burger binge starts Sunday, March 22 at Nexus. All of the details, including how to register and participating venues, are below, courtesy of Albuquerque Business First:

A burger bonanza is happening at some Albuquerque-area venues — some familiar, some off the beaten path.

Howie Kaibel told Business First that YelpAlbuquerque is organizing a "Burger Binge" that runs next week. Kaibel is the uber-connected and active community manager and marketing director for Yelp's local presence.

"I chose the burger concept because it's such a versatile food in our region of the country; it's popular and can be prepared for virtually all palates, including vegans," Kaibel said. "I asked the Yelp community for business suggestions, that's where I got most of our partners, and I sought out two new businesses."

The event features burgers at seven locations in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho from March 22-28 — one venue each day. Attendees can expect $5 burger specials with craft brews and a party atmosphere at some locations too, he said.

The seven venues offering special burgers are Nexus Brewery, The Grill on Menaul, Bistronomy B2B, Delish of Albuquerque, Fat Squirrel Pub & Grille, Flamez Burgers & More and Fork & Fig.

There's one catch — customers will be asked to check in at the venues on the Yelp mobile app to claim the special offers, said Kaibel.

Each partner is crafting something fun for the event. Nob Hill's Bistronomy, for example, is offering their Mini Menage — slider versions of popular offerings. Festivities start March 22 at Nexus, located at 4730 Pan American Freeway E. NW from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. To register for the free events and for more information, click here.

Yelp (NYSE: YELP), founded in San Francisco in 2004, hosts and markets yelp.com and a mobile app which publishes crowd-sourced reviews about local businesses.

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Golf Destinations in ABQ

Now that spring is rolling around, it's the perfect time to get back out onto Albuquerque's golf courses and enjoy the beautiful surrounding scenery. Albuquerque is even home to four of the top 10 golf courses in New Mexico! No matter what your skill level is, there is a course in our city for everyone. Here are several golfing highlights, according to Visit Albuquerque:

Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club was one of only 17 courses in America to be awarded a five-star rating by readers of Golf Digest (April 2006). This dramatic course was also voted No. 4 on "America's 100 Best Courses for $100 or Less" by Travel & Leisure Golf Magazine. Paa-Ko Ridge sits on the eastern side of the Sandia Mountains at elevations ranging from 6,500 to 7,000 feet. The club takes its name from nearby ruins which date from the 14th century.

Next to the Hyatt Tamaya Resort and Spa on Santa Ana Pueblo,Twin Warriors Golf Club was also ranked in the top 50 U.S. courses by Golf Digest (May 2005). Twin Warriors offers a unique high-desert golfing experience to players of all skill levels. This classic New Mexico state golf course is carefully routed in and around ancient cultural sites, and provides a stunning view of the Sandia Mountains.

Also located on Santa Ana Pueblo, the 27-hole Santa Ana Golf Club was called "one of America's three best true links-style golf courses" by The New York Times. This course features native grasses, subtle mounding and eight crystal- clear lakes in a peaceful setting along the Rio Grande, with majestic views in every direction.

Sandia Golf Club, which opened in June 2005, lies on the northern edge of Albuquerque across the road from pastures occupied by a herd of bison. Sandia is a world-class golf experience offering a visually stunning and strategic 18-hole golf course that was listed as one of the "Top 10 New Courses You Can Play" by Golf Magazine (December 2005). In addition, its pro shop has already earned the distinction as one of America's "100 Best Golf Shops" from Golf World Business.

Just south of Albuquerque, the Isleta Eagle Golf Course is set between the cottonwood-lined Rio Grande and the foot of a dormant volcano. The three nine-hole tracts incorporate the distinct high-desert topography of the area. Nearby is the Championship Golf Course at the University of New Mexico, an 18-hole course that has been ranked among the top 25 public courses by Golf Digest and offers a contrasting view of the Rio Grande Valley and downtown Albuquerque.

Bike Trails in ABQ

Even though it's not officially spring yet, we do turn the clocks ahead an hour this weekend, and that has us in a spring mindset. If you love to take advantage of the great outdoors and Albuquerque's beautiful scenery, get out your bike and tackle these top 10 trails, courtesy of Newscastic. Which trails do you prefer on your outdoor adventures?

Sandia Peak
Climbing to the top of Sandia Peak is a serious challenge for any rider, but one of the most scenic rides around Albuquerque. If you start in the 4 Hills neighborhood, the climb to the top is 56 miles. It’s a great ride in the summer too, because the trees provide cooler temperatures. Take a little pit stop at the quirky little Tinkertown Museum at the base of the mountain on your way back down, it’s worth the extra 20 minutes.

La Luz Trail
La Luz is great for hikers, runners and bikers alike. It can get steep at times, and is a narrow trail, so this is definitely not for beginners. The La Luz Trail is located just off of Tramway before you hit the Sandia Casino. If you hit the trail late spring and make it to the top, you'll see a fabulous waterfall from melted snow off the Sandias.  

Riverside Bike Trail
The Riverside Bike Trail is a great weekend ride. It's roughly 16 miles long, and meanders through the Bosque passing the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park, Tingley Beach and the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden. This trail is great for families, as a large part of it is flat and paved.  

Tramway Bike Path
Tramway is great for beginners or even advanced riders who just want to take a nice scenic tour on a paved path. You can start on Tramway Blvd. near Central Ave and bike all the way down to I-25. If you want a little bit of a challenge, bike the reverse up from I-25 to Central.

Embudo Canyon Open Space
Open Space trails are great for the mountain biking enthusiasts. Embudo Canyon is no exception. There are a great network of trails that range from easy to moderately difficult.  

Elena Gallegos Open Space
Elena Gallegos Open Space also has a great network of trails on a 64-acre park, and you can’t beat the view. It’s at the base of the Sandias, and you can see Mount Taylor near Grants on a good day.  

La Llorona Loop
If you're from northern New Mexico, chances are you know the La Llorona tale. Aptly named, this looped trail follows the river and is roughly 32 miles. The loop starts and ends at the UNM Observatory on Yale Blvd.

Paseo del Mesa Trail
The new Paseo del Mesa Trail is a short ride of only eight miles. For those who love to avoid urban trails, this is a great one. This trail starts on the westside, and continues west on Unser as you ride through the Petroglyph National Monument.  

Sedillo Hill
Unlike many states around the country, riding on the highway is legal in New Mexico. The ride to Sedillo Hill is all highway, and it’s a long trek. Since you’ll be riding half way to Santa Fe, you could challenge yourself further and ride all the way and get a nice cold beer at the Santa Fe Railyards, and then hop on the Railrunner back to Albuquerque.  

Albuquerque Volcanoes Mountain Trail
These popular trails are out among the volanos of the westside of Albuquerque. This network of trails are easy to moderate as they wind through the Petroglyph National Monument. The best time to ride these trails is spring or fall because summertime can be brutal with such a lack of water and trees. 

"Only in Albuquerque" Exhibit at Albuquerque Museum

You've probably said it many times, "Only in Albuquerque..." and now you can see all of these uniquely ABQ things in one place, the Albuquerque Museum. The new, interactive exhibit opens to the public this Tuesday, March 3 and highlights the culture of the Rio Grande Valley. Buy tickets for the whole family before they sell out! For more information, visit the Albuquerque Museum website or see the details posted below:

Interactive & Fun
The Only in Albuquerque history gallery has been highly anticipated during many years of redesign, construction, story development and fabrication.

Only in Albuquerque is an interactive, engaging, fun-filled presentation of the history and culture of the central Rio Grande Valley.

Explorers, Postcards, Quilts & More!

• Make your own family Coat of Arms
• Electronically send a Route 66 postcard to a friend
• Create a personal "quilt" of images from the Museum’s collections
• Record your story to share in the Museum and with friends
• Vibrant theatres
• Virtual reality storybooks
• State of the art App, developed especially for our visitors.

Four Galleries of Local History
Only in Albuquerque features a greatly  expanded story of our city from before written history to the present, set in an  engaging, fun, and interactive atmosphere.

Our story is told through four galleries:

• Spirited
• Courageous
• Resourceful
• Innovative

All galleries connect to a central gallery entitled Our Land.

From the Rio Grande Valley
This ingenious design gives our guests with an experience related to our central theme:

• Different cultures
• Interacting with each other in a unique geographic setting
• Shared characteristics found only in Albuquerque and the middle Río Grande Valley

Hundreds of our city's most beloved artifacts are featured, with additional objects recently acquired yet to be unveiled.

ABQ Restaurants You May Not Have Heard Of

Albuquerque is a city known for its amazing food, among other things. Chiles aside, we love to cook and eat many different types of cuisine. It's probably impossible to eat at every single ABQ restaurant, but you can't blame anyone for trying! These restaurants, courtesy of ABQ Newscastic, are among some hidden gems in the ABQ restaurant world. Give them a try this weekend!

Bocadillos
Food Network's Guy Fieri drooled watching chef Marie Yniguez prepare the slow roasted sandwiches at her little shop in the North Valley. It can be a bit tricky to find, but if you set your navigator of choice to 1609 Indian School Rd NW you should find it.

(Hint: Look for the converted garage space.) If you're like me, you might end up circling the nearby roundabout once or twice but once you've found it, order the Reuben. If there's a seat, take it. If not, order it to go. You won't regret it either way.

K&I Diner
Head down south on Broadway, all the way south to the South Valley, for a diner where the waitresses will call you mijo or mija and the food is muy delicioso.

Grandma Warner's K&I Diner is home to the Travis on a Silver Platter challenge. If you can finish off the gigantic burrito topped with an enormous montaña of fries, it's free. Or you can play it safe and order the half, quarter, or "wimp" sizes.

The diner may be out of the way for most but you can't miss the bold red and white striped exterior at 2500 Broadway Blvd SE.

Tia B's La Waffleria
Did you know Albuquerque has a restaurant entirely dedicated to waffles? It's true. Even though it's in the Nob Hill area, many don't come across it's off-Central location. It's worth tracking down the quaint residential space turned waffle house at 3710 Campus Blvd NE to order among the selection of both sweet and savory waffle concoctions. I personally can't get over the carne adovada-topped blue corn waffles.

In what clearly was a convenience store in a past life, San Pedro Mart now offers both a place to buy Middle Eastern spices and groceries as well as sit and enjoy a prepared meal. If you're in the San Pedro and Montgomery area, you're within sniffing distance.

Just hone in to 4001 San Pedro Dr NE for some of the best Middle Eastern food in Albuquerque. If you're new to this particular cuisine, start with either beef or lamb shawarma and hummus. Definitely try the hummus.

Charles Place
Charles Place is about as exclusive as fine dining gets in Albuquerque. Open on Friday and Saturday with only a handful of tables and limited seating, reservations are required to dine at chef Charles Banzaquen's house. That's right, it's his house.

He converted his three-bedroom home into a place where he could share prix-fixe meals of his own creation. The chef invites you to his home at 1223 Tijeras NW. Call 505-244-0830 for reservations.

Nosh
I can count the number of Jewish delicatessens in Albuquerque that I know of on one finger. And since it isn't the easiest place to find, I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't know about it. At 116 Amherst Dr SE, Nosh in Nob Hill serves up all the Jewish specialties you'd expect.

Matzo ball soup, noodle kugel, corned beef sandwiches, latkes, and other nasheral that would make your bubba kvell. Order up some rugelach and take a seat under a framed portrait of Barbra Streisand while you practice your Yiddish.

The Last Call
The weekend warriors who invade Nob Hill Friday and Saturday nights know all about The Last Call. But with it's hole-in-the-wall location off the main stretch of Central, many others may not know about the authentic SoCal cuisine cooking up inside 102 Richmond Dr NE. 

The other thing you might know about? Dollar fish tacos on Tuesdays. So whether you're ordering the carne asada fries after a night of heavy drinking or a dozen fish tacos to take home on a Tuesday, you're in good hands at The Last Call.

Create a Magazine-Worthy Apartment Home

"Luxury living room with a fireplace." by TNS Sofres is licensed under CC BY 2.0

You don’t have to have an eye for design or watch HGTV 24/7 to create and decorate a beautiful home. Most importantly, your space should reflect you and your personal taste! If you are feeling overwhelmed and in need of guidance, remember these decorating principles from Apartment Therapy and you’ll have a space worthy of a magazine cover in no time!

1. Cut the clutter.

The number one thing that sets blog-worthy interiors apartment from just plain old interiors is the lack of clutter. Over time, it's easy to let things accumulate in your home without thinking about it — and after a while, you can get to the point where you don't really 'see' clutter. Taking a photo of your space is a good trick for helping you see a room with new eyes. Once you've identified the trouble spots, check out our 10 Commandments of a Clutter-Free Life for some game-changing advice.

2. Leave a little space.

It can be tempting, especially when you keep finding pieces you love on the internet or at a flea market or in your neighbor's trash, to fill your space as full of furniture as possible. But often the secret to a more pleasing interior isn't more stuff, but less stuff. If you look at interiors in magazines, you'll notice that a lot of them have quite a bit of negative space. This lets each piece shine, and also makes the room feel more spacious. Try it out at home by removing one or two big pieces from a room — you may be surprised at how much it opens up the space.

3. Add a little texture.

A space without a variety of textures can feel dull and lifeless. This is an easy one to correct — a fluffy throw, an interesting rug, or even an old antique piece can all add a little interest to a room. Check out our advice for transforming your space with texture.

4. Use color judiciously.

Not every space needs to have a 'color' (as in, "what color is your living room?") or have everything match to be lively or interesting. A lot of beautiful spaces get interest from a variety of proportions and textures, and have very little in the way of color at all. Others manage to feel very colorful with just a few colorful pieces. When adding color to your space, try adding one or two pieces at a time and then judging their impact before adding more to the mix. You may find that a little goes a long way.

5. Pay attention to balance and proportion.

The same things that make a lovely, interesting photo make a lovely, interesting home — a mix of pieces of different sizes and proportions. Balancing heavy pieces with more delicate ones makes a space dynamic. Too many small items, without any larges ones to break them up, can feel chaotic and cluttered. This is another area where taking pictures of your own home can help. Pay attention to how your furniture and accessories relate to your space, and how they relate to each other.

Bedroom Styling

"IMG_1208" by Matthew Piatt is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Your bedroom should be the oasis in your apartment, so you want that space to feel as large as possible, whether it is actually large or not. You can use the decor and furniture pieces in your bedroom to manipulate the size of the space. So how do you make a room feel larger than it is? Try these tricks from Apartment Therapy:

1. Bed drawers and multi-tier nightstands

It's not within every budget to buy a bed that has built-in storage, but in this small and closet-less space, it appears to have been a vital element to ensure this small space actually functioned the way they needed it. Another fun storage feature? Not just one nightstand, but three, on each side! Floating nightstands have long been a smart choice for small spaces, but here, the addition of even more wall-mounted (or in this case, headboard-mounted) ledges means more room for both needed and decorative objects.

2. A large, horizontal wall-mounted mirror

We all know that wall-mounted reflective surfaces like mirrors work magic in small spaces, and in here it's no different. They chose to add the mirror to the wall opposite the door, which is a smart move since it'll reflect an image of the other room, making it feel a little more open than it actually is.

3. A sliding door

For privacy, you can't beat a door. For saving space and adding privacy, you can't beat a sliding door, which they made here themselves using mostly items found at Home Depot.

DIY Home Decor: How To Make a Sliding Door for Under $40

4. Light-colored black-out drapes that blend

For those who need a lot of darkness to sleep peacefully, black-out drapes (lined with dark, light-blocking fabric) are a must. But keep the side of the drapes that face the bedroom a light color, preferably a similar color to the wall. This will help them blend in and expand the look of the space visually.

5. A minimal style

It just makes sense — small spaces need less stuff, and keeping the decorative elements to a minimum will help keep a small space from feeling cluttered. But, that doesn't mean you have to keep everything out. As this small bedroom proves, you can find a good balance between art, decorative elements and more and still have a room that feels spacious for its size.

Football Party Beer & Cheddar Dip

Image courtesy Nealey Dozier, The Kitchn

When you think of football, food also probably comes to mind. From pizza to wings to beer, the unhealthier the food, the better it tastes on game day! Whether you're hosting a party or attending someone else's on Sunday, this beer & cheddar dip (courtesy of The Kitchn) is sure to please! After all, it's the best of both football food worlds--beer and melted cheese!

Beer & Cheddar Dip

Serves 4-6

1 cup (8 ounces) evaporated milk

2 eggs

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

10 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

1 cup amber beer

2 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Bacon crumbles and green onions, for garnish (optional)

Pretzels, pretzel bread, or crudités, for serving

In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, whisk together evaporated milk, eggs, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and half of the shredded cheese. Once the cheese sauce begins to warm, add the beer and cornstarch-water mixture (aka the slurry). Whisking frequently, gradually add the remaining cheese and cook until the sauce reaches desired thickness, about 10 - 12 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper. Keep warm over lowest heat setting, stirring frequently, until ready to serve. Garnish with bacon crumbles and green onions and serve with pretzels, pretzel bread, or crudités.

What are your favorite Super Bowl snacks and recipes?