"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?

Non-Destructive Wall Decor

"Great wall" by Sal Taylor Kydd is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Do you have a vision for how your apartment should look, but can’t achieve that vision because of restrictions by your landlord or property manager? Where there is a will, there is a way! You don’t have to worry about destroying the walls in your apartment with these ideas, courtesy of Apartment Guide, because they don’t require nails and won’t damage the surfaces you attach them to! Let these ideas inspire you and make your vision a reality!

Frameless Wall Gallery

Not all pictures require a classic, ornate frame to provide an impressive appearance. You can take all of your favorite artistic landscapes, and even your cherished selfies, and hang a montage or collage of images that tell a story about who you are and what you love, all without chipping the paint.

No nails are required for this wall gallery–simply print out your images on reusable, adhesive-backed paper and decorate to your heart’s content. Websites likeWeMontage can provide this service for you or you can order the specialty paper and DIY. Another, even more affordable option is using poster putty or painter’s tape.

Washi Tape Design Series

One of the most popular ways to add color and pattern to just about anything–including walls, notebooks and furniture–is with washi tape, which is a pretty, lightweight masking tape that originated in Japan. This adhesive tape comes in a stunning assortment of colors, prints, patterns and sayings from the basic to the bold. Think leopard prints, polka dots and mini mustaches.

Washi tape is available at craft stores and online, and is inexpensive. Scoop up the styles that appeal to you, and use the tape to make a faux frame around a picture, “draw” a shape on the wall or add colorful edging to bookshelves. The best part about washi tape is that it’s washable and removes easily–perfect for that no-nails stipulation in your apartment lease.

Vinyl Decals

Vinyl decals are a relatively new way to add elegance to walls without painting or using framed artwork, and they’re available in every shape and style imaginable. Vinyl decals, sometimes called cut outs, are removable adhesive images that can be stuck and replaced as many times as desired with no harm done to the wall, furniture or other item on which they are applied.

These decals come in a variety of designs, including trees, woodland creatures, monograms, heart-warming sayings, chandeliers, or just about anything else that you can conceive. Vinyl decals can be a bit pricier than some other options, but they are long lasting, don’t require nails and won’t violate your apartment lease terms.

Temporary Wallpaper

Though paint may not be an option for most renters and removable wallpaper can be pricey, adding color to the walls is still possible if you get a little creative with fabric. By using a simple combination of starch and water, you can quickly and easily “glue” your favorite bolt of fabric to the walls for an instant wallpaper or paint-type effect.

Best yet, you’re only limited by the selection of prints and patterns of available cloth. Make sure you measure your wall carefully to get the right amount of fabric. You’ll also want to get a bit more than you think, as the starch can cause some shrinkage. When moving day arrives, simply pull the fabric away from the wall and wash off the starch with a sponge and warm water.

Repurposed Decor

Not all decor ideas have to involve attaching anything to the actual walls. Some renters can bypass strict lease restrictions by repurposing unexpected items in fun, playful ways.

For instance, an old, beat-up ladder may not be safe for climbing, but it can lean against the wall and provide a shabby chic accent that also holds blankets, magazines, small potted plants and other trinkets. You can even paint the ladder a bright color for a statement piece.

Another example is old shutters, which can be turned into letter holders, or you can add hooks to the slats and hang a variety of items, from cooking utensils to accessories such as jewelry or purses.

Tiny Decor Updates

"MINT GREEN COLORBLOCK CHEVRON Throw Pillow by nataliesales | Society6" by Wicker Paradise
is licensed under CC BY 2.0 

After the holidays can be a very “blah” time of the year. Chances are you’re itching to be outdoors more, you’re working full work weeks again and, overall, you’re bored. Take this time to make some decor updates to your apartment! No matter what your expendable income is, you can update each room in your apartment for less than $50. Apartment Guide offers these suggestions for each room:

The Living Room

Dress up your windows: Bright curtains can liven up a space in no time, and they don’t have to cost a lot of money either. Look online or at discount department stores for some pretty patterned curtains that will jazz up the windows and add some color to the white walls.

Switch out your throw pillows: A couple of throw pillows won’t break the bank, and your plain couch will look super spiffy. Make the room look even more put together by matching the colors in your pillows to those in your curtains.

Prettify your coffee table: Use a pretty tray to keep your coffee table organized and stylish. Place some magazines or a coffee table book on the tray next to a small vase or scented candle.

The Bedroom

Change your lamp shades: New lamp shades can completely alter the look of a room in an instant. Not only will they add a new style to your bedside tables, but they can also change the quality of light in the room – use them to make the bright light in your bedroom a little softer.

Stack some baskets: Tackle clutter and add some decor at the same time by picking up a couple of stackable baskets to keep in one corner of the room. Throw in some blankets or clothes you don’t wear often, or anything cluttering up your shelves.

Make your own headboard: A quick search on Pinterest will show you just how many DIY headboard ideas there are out there, and some of them can be created pretty cheaply. Even simply hanging a curtain on the wall at the head of your bed can pull the room together.

The Kitchen

Change the hardware: As long as your landlord gives the OK, a great way to change the look of a small apartment kitchen is to switch out the cabinet hardware. For apartments that don’t have very many cabinets and drawers, this can be a super cheap and easy project.

Add a rug: Replace your old rug by the sink with something new, colorful and fun. Over time kitchen rugs can become dirty and discolored. You can feel free to clean it thoroughly, but splurging on a new one shouldn’t break the bank either.

The Bathroom

Add a coat rack: If you have some extra wall space, hang up a decorative coat rack for your robes and extra towels. The colorful array of towels will add some brightness to your walls.

Frame some photos: Almost anything looks great in a beautiful frame, so you don’t have to be a professional photographer to make some hangable artwork. Spend an afternoon walking around a park or neighborhood and take some colorful pictures. Print them out at a drugstore, frame them, and hang them on your bathroom wall.

Choose a fun shower curtain: The most obvious big change you can make in a bathroom for $50 or less is replacing the shower curtain. Something new and colorful will update the room’s overall style immediately.