Albuquerque Restaurant Week 2014 is Here!

Sure, Albuquerque is known for its fantastic food year round. But this week, we all get a little something extra.

New Mexico restaurant week kicked off yesterday, and a number of Albuquerque restaurants are participating in the event. During Albuquerque Restaurant Week, participating restaurants offer special menus and deals to help locals like yourself get to know their fare a little bit better.

Although no tickets are required for the event, which lasts until March 2, it is encouraged that you make a reservation before your meal - things can get pretty busy, quickly at the participating restaurants. Some restaurants are even advertising lunch deals, for those of you that work nights or are otherwise occupied at dinnertime. And don’t worry - most restaurants will also be offering their regular menus in addition to their special Restaurant Week menus.

Here are the Albuquerque restaurants participating this year:

Artichoke Cafe

CoolWater Fusion

Corn Maiden at Hyatt Regency Tamaya

Elaine's

La Merienda at Los Poblanos

MÁS - Tapas y Vino

Prairie Star Restaurant and Wine Bar

Savoy Bar & Grill

Scalo (Lunch)

Seasons Rotisserie & Grill

Zacatecas Tacos + Tequila

Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro

And if you’re in the mood for a little something extra, check out these great educational tasting events:

Infused Oils and Vinegars

Wine with Altitude

Tequila Tasting and Chile Roasting

Click here for more complete information on Albuquerque Restaurant Week 2014!

On the Road, Preparation is Key

As you all well know, ABQ isn’t exactly the best traffic city in the country. And while we tend not to get terrible winter weather around here, we certainly learned from Atlanta a few weeks ago, that it doesn’t take much to cause major problems on the road.

If you tend to get stuck in a lot of traffic jams or even if you’d just like some peace of mind, putting together a car emergency kit can be cheap and simple.

ApartmentGuides.com’s blog actually compiled a very helpful guide to assembling an emergency car kit, simply using items found at the dollar store. Here are some of their suggestions:

A box of tissue: Or napkins. Or paper towels.

Sharpie or thick, dark marker: In case you need to write a “Save me!” message to display in your window.

Toothbrush and toothpaste: Because no one wants to greet their rescuer with 2-day old breath.

Bottled water: Water will come in handy not only to prevent dehydration, but also to brush your teeth or wash your face and hands.

USB charger: Having your phone go dead when you’re stranded is seriously one of the worst feelings ever. Spare yourself this nightmare and invest in a cheap car charger. Tip: If you work on a computer all day, keep a USB cord in the office to keep your phone charged throughout the day.

First aid kit: Usually complete with Band-Aids and the like, you’ll be prepared in case of any minor injuries.

●      A notebook or paper – To write notes on with the Sharpie

●      A list of important phone numbers – In case your phone dies

●      Knife – Use it as a weapon or to quickly cut your seat belt

●      An old blanket and/or large towel – To keep warm if running your car engine is not an option

●      Extra set of clothes, thick socks and comfortable walking shoes – In case you need to ditch the car and hike to your destination

●      Personal items such as chapstick, lotion and sanitary products – To maintain some sense of normalcy

Click here for the full ApartmentGuides article.

Making Your Apartment Yours

Apartment living is great - it’s convenient and cost effective. But one of the biggest challenges for renters after they’ve moved in is making the apartment feel unique, and well, yours.

ApartmentGuides.com published a great, concise guide to making your apartment feel like home. Here are some of our favorite tips:

Treat your space like you plan to stay.

Once you find the right area to live in, your next step is to take an empty apartment space and fill it with you. The art you place on the walls, even the particular way you align furniture in the rooms, for instance, should reflect a little something about you. Why not start by placing one piece of decor or a favorite belonging in a place of prominence in your new space? Laying out something that symbolizes home to you will go a long way toward moving you in, mentally.

Get to know your neighborhood.

No apartment is an island; yours is undoubtedly connected to grocery stores, a post office, restaurants, and all of the services and hotspots that make up a community. To feel at home in your own apartment, you need to know the community where you reside.

Love where you live.

Why not live in a place that makes you proud to be there? We’re talking about a pride of place that is shared between landlord and renters concerning the community. Everyone who touches the community must leave a positive influence on the living experience.

Think about it: when you pick up stray litter in the parking lot, you’re adding to visual appeal. When you’re friendly with a neighbor at the mailbox, you’re making the community a more appealing place to live. Actions like these convey that you care about creating a place you love to live in, a place that feels like home.

Click here to read the full article on the ApartmentGuides.com blog.

Tractor Brewing: Now in Wells Park

More and more craft breweries keep opening up in Albuquerque every year, and one of the most renowned tap rooms in the city is Tractor Brewing. Known for their warm, friendly staff and atmosphere (and, of course, their quality beer), Tractor Brewing is a valued part of the community as well, participating in many local events and working with charitable organizations throughout the region every year.

Although their Nob Hill Tap Room gets regular praise from local media as having the best bar staff in Albuquerque, Tractor Brewing Continues to make news - this time, with the opening of their new tap room in Wells Park.

The grand opening for Tractor Brewing’s Wells Park Tap Room was this past Saturday, February 1. These folks obviously put a ton of work into their new digs, according to their most recent blog post:

Excited yet? We are. As much as you prepare yourself for an opening of this scale, it still manages to sneak up on you and blow you away with the scope of work to be done. General contractor Sheri Crider has spent the last six months coordinating electricians, plumbers, undertaking a massive amount of tile work and construction herself. Seeing it all come together has been a rewarding and at times an overwhelming experience and we are confident that you will be as smitten as we are with the results. The Tractor Brewing Co. family has taken on many projects in preparation for the opening, from building what Admin Nicole Duke calls “the most complicated tables ever” to assembling the walk-in coolers where kegs will be stored and installing the tap lines. The countless hours and generosity of our employees and friends and family has made it all possible. When you have that kind of extended family, anything is possible and the opening would not have come together without these contributions.

To learn more about the new Tractor Brewing Tap Room in Wells Park, click here!

Indoor Plants that Last

Having indoor plants in your apartment is a great way to give your home a fresh, natural look, among other benefits. From terrariums to flowers to larger plants, there are lots of options when it comes to decorating your place with beautiful botanicals.

However, not everyone has the skill or the schedule to care for indoor plants, which often require lots of natural sunlight, water, and even additional nutrients. In fact, sometimes owning indoor plants can be downright inconvenient and expensive.

If you’re one of those people who doesn’t have a green thumb, there are some plants that do in fact require very little time or commitment. iVillage.com offered up some suggestions for low maintenance indoor plants. Here are some of them:

Haworthias

“I like all Haworthias,” says Zimmerman of these succulents, which typically grow in small, solitary rosettes. “These are a good alternative to cacti and can also take slightly less light.” Sprout uses a succulent soil of crushed rock and sand that’s designed to dry out as fast as it can. (Regular potting mix acts like a sponge and can cause root rot.)

Creeping Pilea

Not the most gifted of indoor gardeners? You’ve come to the right place. Matthis Helmick and Tassy Zimmerman of urban-gardening boutique Sprout Home offer their top picks for plants that are both fun to look at and hard to kill.

While moss tends to be a popular request with customers, it’s too high maintenance for many people. Creeping Pilea, commonly known as Creeping Charlie, is a thicker, tougher alternative. “They have cute, waxy leaves that allow them not to dry out so fast,” says Helmick. Keep in low to bright light, and water about once a week (less if set in lower light).

ZZ Plant

"Definitely the best pick for people who neglect their plants for a week or more," says Zimmerman. With thick stalks and bulbous roots, ZZs have water storage systems like succulents, but can also tolerate extremely low light. “It’s our number one seller to those who claim to kill plants on a regular basis,” says Helmick.

Remember to stop by a place like Jericho Nursery or Osuna Nursery for your indoor plant needs!

Heart Healthy Parenting Tips

We know we have lots of parents here at Sandia Village, and we’re always looking for ways to make your lives easier.

While there are lots of stressful jobs out there, parenting has got to be the hardest. But it can be surprisingly easy to let the chaos and stress of parenting to take a toll on your physical health and well being.

If you’re a busy parent with little time to focus on yourself or your child’s health, there are things that you can do to minimize the impact on your family’s well-being and stay focused on your responsibilities as a parent. The American Heart Association has published a very helpful guide for parents in your situation. Here are some of our favorite tips:

Start With A Plan

Not surprisingly, the best time to make a meal plan isn’t when you’re hungry and need to eat right away. Make a list — and check it twice.

“We try to plan at least a few days ahead which meals we are going to make based on the days we have time to cook,” he said. “We always shop with a grocery list based on that menu, we don’t shop hungry and we make enough to have leftovers.”

Invest a couple of hours on the weekend to save anxiety as well as time on extra trips to the grocery store. Make large batches and freeze leftovers in individual portions for healthy, homemade microwaveable convenience meals. 

Get Your Kids In The Kitchen

Holly DuBois, who lives in San Antonio, gets her kids in the kitchen every chance she gets.

DuBois and her husband, Josh, both work in the healthcare profession. With a family history of obesity, they make sure their kids eat a healthy, balanced diet, but they don’t forbid treats. “Cooking for me personally has been a fun, stress-relieving activity that I’ve grown to love,” DuBois said. “I want them to share in it and enjoy it so it’s not a burden.”

My child is home alone. How can I help her eat healthy?

If you plan ahead, it’s pretty easy to help your child make good choices without any difficulty or dangerous prep work. Feest suggests:

●       Peanut butter and jelly with no-sugar added jelly on whole-wheat bread

●       Grilled fish sandwich. Keep spinach and tomatoes (sliced ahead of time) handy to add flavor and nutrients

●       Turkey sandwich. Don’t forget your favorite veggies

●       Whole-grain crackers and hummus

●       Fresh fruit

●       Healthy leftovers — microwave them for a quick, easy meal

Click here to read the full guide on Heart.org.

Veteran’s Creative Arts Festival 2014 in Albuquerque

Typically, Albuquerque’s art scene is associated with the young and hip generation. And that’s fine! But let’s not count out the older folks.

Albuquerque has a relatively large veteran community and no doubt, some of them have great creative gifts to share, whether it’s singing, dancing, sculpting, painting, poetry, or anything else.

The 12th Annual Veterans Creative Arts Fair will be held from February 26 to February 28 at the Raymond G. Murphy Veterans Affairs Medical Center at 1501 San Pedro Dr. SE right here in Albuquerque.

There will be several main divisions for any veterans who would like to share their talents in the following categories: Music, Art, Creative Writing, Drama, and Dance. The Visual Arts entries will be available to view on Feb. 26 and 27 in the Recreation Hall (Building 2), with the Performing Arts competition taking place on February 27 in the Education Auditorium (Building 39). Winners from the Albuquerque contests may be entered into the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, October 22 to November 2 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin!

Here’s some additional info, courtesy of the Silver City Sun News:

The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, presented by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the American Legion Auxiliary, is the culmination of a yearlong, fine arts talent competition involving more than 3,000 participants nationwide. The festival is open to all veterans receiving care at VA medical facilities, including NMVAHCS veteran employees.

For applications or more information about the festival, please call Barb Tremmel at 505-265-1711 ext. 4208. Veterans needing information about the Performance Arts can call Liz Apperson at 505-265-1711 ext. 2487. Veterans calling from outside of Albuquerque may call toll free at 1-800-465-8262 ext. 4208. Visit the Creative Arts Festival Website at creativeartsfestival.va.gov/ for more information.