The United Way Seeks Volunteers for Summer Giving Season

It may seem like summer just started, but the new school year is quickly approaching. And while the Christmas holiday season is usually the default season for giving, local children in central New Mexico are in need of basic school supplies this coming semester.

On July 27, from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm, the United Way of Central New Mexico will be hosting its “Summer is the Perfect Season for Giving” event. Those who wish to help can do so in one of two ways: bring donation items and help fill the supply bags for the students on July 26; or, those who cannot make it to the event can donate their surplus school supplies to the United Way’s office, at:

2340 Alamo Avenue SE
Training Center, 2nd Floor
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106

If you’re looking to donate items, keep an eye out for these high-need items:

● Thumb Drives
● White Copy Paper
● Pocket Folders (with brads)
● Boxes of Facial Tissue
● Scissors
● Wide Lined Spiral Notebooks
● Water-Based Markers
● Educational Software (school appropriate)

Those who wish to participate in the July 27 event must RSVP by Wednesday, July 24. Click here for more information.

A Powerful Piece, No Bones About It

Albuquerque’s artists are certainly a bold bunch. Recently, the local scene has gotten some attention for its quirkiness. But that doesn’t mean that the scope of the area’s artists is limited to our community.

Local art collective Art of Revolution brought their signature brand of grandiose, emotionally powerful artwork to the National Mall last month with a beautiful piece called One Million Bones. The piece consisted of one million replica human bones, laid out on the national lawn to call attention to ongoing mass genocide and mass atrocities in Syria, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burma, and Somalia.

On Art of Revolution’s website, you can access a 360-degree panorama of the piece, in the likely case that you couldn’t make it all the way to Washington, D.C. to check it out.

Art of Revolution continues to pursue other socially conscious projects and traditional art installations. According to their website, their mission is:

The Art of Revolution uses art to transform public opinion and inspires creative action towards social change.  We select, support and produce projects that allow us to promote social change by creating art by and for the people.  In this way, we connect new activists to their cause using an artistic approach as a point of entry.  Our One Million Bones project mission is to raise awareness of and critical funds for survivors of genocides and crises occurring today in Sudan, Burma, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in Somalia. 

Our approach to social change incorporates our deeply held belief that genuine and lasting change must occur on multiple levels at one time; we have to make the public aware of what’s happening; we must educate the next generation, we must take care of the immediate need of people, communities and the planet; and we must work to change U.S. policy.

It’s so great to see local organizations that not only create beautiful work but spread it around the world. And it doesn’t hurt that it all started in Albuquerque and its influence will hopefully extend overseas and throughout the world. To learn more about the Art of Revolution and the One Million Bones project, click here.

“Breaking Bad” Beer to Generate Buzz for Final Season

Following in the footsteps of Springfield’s famous “Duff” beer from “The Simpsons,” Albquerque brewers have decided to try their own hand at a TV-show inspired ale.

Albuquerque’s Marble Brewery will soon release Heisenberg’s Dark, to pay tribute to the most commercial successful TV show set in Albuquerque of all time. The beer itself is based on the Marble beers that have already made appearances on the show.

The announcement came by way of the ever-popular Instagram account, Breaking Bad Locations, which posts information about filming locations in the Albuquerque area:

Albuquerque based @marblebrewery will be brewing a #BreakingBad tribute beer to be featured during the run of #BreakingBad’s Final Episodes. It’s called “Heisenberg’s Dark” it’s anIndia Black Ale. Marble beer has shown up in a few scenes through the run of the series. @breakingbadlocations is also teaming with Marble to throw a watch party for one of the final episodes. More details to come.

Like many of you, we can’t wait for the new season to start. And some refreshing local beer sounds like a great accompaniment. If you’re having a premiere party on August 11, don’t forgot to take photos and post them on our Facebook timeline!

Click here to read more about Heisenberg’s Dark. 

Make the Most of the Extra Daylight, at Home

With lots of bright, New Mexico sunlight this time of year, the days might seem a little longer—this doesn’t mean you have to neglect spending time in your apartment, though!

There are several ways you can modify your décor and window treatments to maximize the natural light in your apartment. Sunlight is known to have numerous physical and psychological benefits.

Having a lot of natural light at home is also practically beneficial. It can help save energy as well!
ApartmentTherapy has provided some tips on keeping a bright home. Some of their tips include:

1. If you don't have control over you home's orientation, but do have some flexibility in the layout, locate your most used rooms on the south-side (or most daylit) of the home.
2. Choose your window shades carefully.
3. Use bright, light and reflected surfaces, especially for an otherwise dark house.
4. Use exterior elements to your advantage.
5. Lastly, don't forget to clean your windows!  

For ApartmentTherapy’s complete guide to maximizing natural light, click here.

Local Photographer Showcases Bus Stop Stories

No matter where you live, the people make the city. And if you frequent public transportation, you likely know all too well the kinds of characters and conversations one might encounter simply waiting for the bus.

A University of New Mexico graduate has started a successful photo essay blog called Albuquerque Bus Stops: An Ethnography. In the blog, its author, Ron—a resident of the area since 1999—interviews everyday Albquerquians at bus stops throughout the city.

On the about page for the site, the author explains his inspiration for the project:

Bus stops in Albuquerque, like cracks in a sidewalk, are a sort of interstitial space into which dust, muck, and grime tend to accumulate.  In this way they are different here than in many other cities—and in many other countries—where public transportation may not be a stigma of class and status.  

Taken together, bus stops in Albuquerque are far more than determined areas for buses to stop, pick up, and drop off passengers.  They are choke points of uneven human development, and microcosms of anarchy.  They are the uncovered manholes of a vast and intriguing cultural underworld. They are amphitheatres of modern tragedy and comedy. 

They are the lifeline of a city that often wishes to believe otherwise.  They are as far away as the wars of central Africa, and they are right across the street.

To read the Albuquerque Bus Stops blog, click here.

Tips For Keeping Your Apartment Allergen Free

Image courtesy of commons.wikipedia.org

The late spring and early summer months are both wonderful and brutal. There’s so many fun things to do now that the snow is gone and the days are getting longer - but the side effects of allergies can easily get in the way of anyone’s enjoyment.

The allergens in apartments can actually be more troublesome than the ones outdoors. We won’t pretend that making an apartment totally allergen free is a realistic dream, but using a few tricks will definitely make a huge difference and will make any apartment a far more enjoyable place to be for those that deal with allergies.

What tricks do we recommend? These, as suggested by apartmentguide.com:

• Dust your apartment - and do it a certain way to ensure that you don’t kick up more dust in your place. Apartmentguide.com writes that you need to “Use a wet or treated cloth that attracts dust, minimize dust-catching clutter and clean dusty surfaces, such as ceiling fan blades, regularly so that dust doesn’t have a chance to accumulate.”
• Use a vacuum that has a HEPA filter.
• Go green and use environmentally friendly cleaning products that have fewer harsh chemicals.
• If you have a pet, make some parts of your apartment pet free (or vacuum even more often).

Want more details on how these tricks work - and to see what the final two tips are? Click here to read the original article!

9 Smart Shopping Tips for Summer (Flea) Markets

Image courtesy of commons.wikipedia.org

If we haven’t already made it clear, we love a good summer market. Whether it’s the farmer’s markets, the flea markets or the one-day markets found at festivals, we’re always ready to look for everything offered by local vendors, from delicious produce to unique, hand-crafted items.

The catch, though, is that once you’re at a market, being there can be so overwhelming! With this in mind we got to wondering, what’s the best way to handle the thrilling hunt and bargain prices?

Farmer’s markets are relatively easy to handle: check over your pantry and fridge and make a list of both what you have and what you need. That way, when you’re shopping, you can stock up on some delicious food and stock up your fridge without going overboard and buying so much that half of it spoils before you even touch it.

But how to handle a flea market, you may ask? No worries: here’s a few tips that will make you a smarter, thriftier shopper:


1. Bring a tape measure

It helps to know ahead what the dimensions of your space are and what you have room for. Toss a tape measure in your bag to avoid purchasing things that won't fit your space properly. Check out Tool Box Essentials: Measuring Tools if you don't have a tape measure.


2. Check for issues

Check for torn seams, rust, and cracked or rotting wood. While a worn patina can be a great look, you want to avoid anything that is going to affect usability or break under the slightest pressure. Signs of mold or an insect infestation are important to look out for as well.


3. Look for a label

If you know your designers, a label will help you distinguish a real vintage find from a knockoff. Checking for original details will also help you make the distinction. This is where the ability to Google an item on your smartphone can be a game changer.


That’s just three tips - click here to read the full article about this topic at Apartmentherapy.com. There’s nine tips total!