Issue 173 - Jan. 3-15, 2013 by Local iQ Magazine

INside FE AT U R E PUBLISHER

Francine Maher Hopper fran@local-iQ.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/ART DIRECTOR

Snow or no snow, the time to devise a relaxing winter escape is now.

Kevin Hopper kevin@local-iQ.com EDITOR

Mike English mike@local-iQ.com LIFESTYLES EDITOR

Lisa VanDyke Brown fabu@local-iQ.com SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Chela Gurnee 505.264.6h50, chela@local-iQ.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Derek Hanley 505.709.0364 derek@local-iQ.com

FO O D

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Colleen Dugle colleen@local-iQ.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Jaime Gutierrez jaime@local-iQ.com AD PRODUCTION MANAGER

With its second location, Thai Vegan vies to be the city’s top vegan eatery.

Jessica Hicks jessica@local-iQ.com AD PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Nathan New nathan@local-iQ.com EXEC. ASSISTANT/CALENDAR COORDINATOR

Derek Hanley 505.709.0364 derek@local-iQ.com PHOTOGRAPHER

Wes Naman wes@local-iQ.com

MUSIC

PHOTO ASSISTANT

Joy Godfrey joy@local-iQ.com PROOFREADER

Kayla Sawyer EDITORIAL INTERN

Jennifer Moreland

Lucinda Williams plans intimate acoustic show at KiMo Theatre.

ON THE COVER

A R TS

PHOTO BY WES NAMAN

The vivid abstractions of ABQ artist Ian Campbell.

FI L M

Disturbing Swiss drama hits close to home.

CA L E N DA R S Arts Events ................................ 18 Community Events ................ 24 Live Music................................... 16

CO LU M N S Key Ingredient ............................ 9 Credit Corner ........................... 24

FE AT U R E S Places To Be ................................ 4 Marquee ........................................ 5 Smart Music................................17 Smart Arts...................................21 Crossword/Horoscope ..........23

CORRECTION On the cover and on page 16 of the Dec. 13 issue of Local iQ, the word “elixir” was spelled incorrectly. The error occurred in the art department, where the art director “researched” the subject of the story — hot toddies — a little too close to deadline. We apologize for the error.

LOCAL iQ | ALBUQUERQUE’S INTELLIGENT ALTERNATIVE | JANUARY 3-16, 2013

The tranquil Springs Hotel and Spa in Pagosa Springs, Colo.

CONTRIBUTORS EDITORIAL Nelle Bauer Hakim Bellamy Jeff Berg Charlie Crago T.J. English Shane Farias Justin Goodrum Jim & Linda Maher Denise Marquez Jennifer Moreland Bill Nevins Michael Ramos Justin De La Rosa Steven J Westman

DISTRIBUTION Miguel Apodaca Kristina De Santiago Sean Duran David Leeder Susan Lemme Shawn Morris Andy Otterstrom Danae Thompson Distributech

Local iQ P.O. Box 7490, ABQ., N.M. 87194 OFFICE 505.247.1343, FAX 888.520.9711 • local-iQ.com SUBSCRIPTIONS are $10 for 6 bi-weekly issues within the Continental U.S. Please send a local check or money order payable to Local iQ, attention “Subscriptions” to the address above. You may also use the number above to place a credit card order. DISTRIBUTION: Find Local iQ at more than 600 locations in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and surrounding areas. If you can’t find a copy, want to suggest a new location, or want to help deliver Local iQ, please call 505.247.1343.

PUBLISHED BY

PLACES TO BE

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PERFORMANCE

CONCERT

Maremágnum 6p, Wed., Jan. 16

Rock of Ages Show times vary, Thu.-Sun., Jan. 3-6

Tom Paxton: In Concert and Conversation 7:30p, Sun., Jan. 13

National Hispanic Cultural Center/ Instituto Cervantes 1701 4th SW, 505.724.4777

Popejoy Hall On the UNM campus, 505.277.3824

South Broadway Cultural Center 1025 Broadway SE, 505.848.1320

FREE

$25

$35-$65

Tickets: holdmyticket.com

Tickets: unmtickets.com

ampconcerts.org tompaxton.com

TRIBUTE Ultimate Elvis 7p, Tue., Jan. 8 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino 11000 Broadway SE, 505.724,3800

$5-$10 hardrockcasinoabq.com

n music, there are only a few performers whose legacy lives on in nearly every facet of pop culture. Since his death in 1977, the King, Elvis Presley, has lived on for a new generation of fans willing to carry on his tradition. A lifelong Elvis fan, Justin Shandor knew at a young age that he wanted to emulate the musical icon. At age 12 he turned into a professional impersonator of Elvis and ever since has perfected his act to eventually become the 2010 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest winner. Now Shandor has turned his passion into the top source when looking for an authentic Elvis performance. So if you’re looking to go back to 1950s rock and celebrate all things Elvis, this performance is sure to make you slick back your hair and shake your hips like the King himself. —JG

rammy Lifetime Achievement Award-winning singer/ songwriter Tom Paxton is famed for topical folk tunes, timeless love songs and many albums worth of children’s songs. He spoke to Local iQ after the shootings in Newtown, Conn. “Judy Collins is recording my song, ‘What If, No Matter (How Angry He Was, He Couldn’t Lay Hands on a Gun?),’ which I wrote in response to the Tucson shootings last year,” he said. “I wish the need for such songs would end.” On a happier note, Paxton recalled that he attended New Mexico Military Academy in Roswell in his youth, and is looking forward to a return visit here and some “good green chile,” as well as to a concert that will include a wide range of songs from his vast catalog, like “Ramblin’ Boy,” and songs for kids that he loves to write and sing. As a father and grandparent, Paxton knows his subject well. “My grandson Sean is an actor and he likes to come on stage and sing with me when I play,” Paxton said, “And that is a true joy.” —BN

JAN

LECTURE New Mexico Living Landscapes 2p, Mon., Jan. 14 Museum of Spanish Colonial Art 750 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, 505.982.2226

$10, free to members spanishcolonialblog.org

LOCAL iQ | ALBUQUERQUE’S INTELLIGENT ALTERNATIVE | JANUARY 3-16, 2013

ew Mexico is home to the third-most diverse state landscape in the nation. Comprising six different ecoregions, our state is a melting pot of geologic features, plant life and habitats. A host of soil types and substrates provide wildly varied growing conditions for ﬂora and fauna, and key to the study of both is the fact that more than 90 percent of New Mexico land is native or in near-native condition, unchanged by humans. Naturalist William W. Dunmire explores this diversity in his book New Mexico’s Living Landscapes, directing readers to some of the state’s most unique environments and detailing their natural properties. He will be presenting a lecture on his ﬁndings at the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, relating in detail the studies that compose the book and taking questions on New Mexico ecology. Nurture your love for the outdoors with a fuller knowledge of this rich and complex arena of life. —NN

panish photojournalist Jordi Socias has gained world renown for his captivating work, which spans cultural, political and social life in Spain and Europe from the 1970s to the present day. Little has escaped Socias’ lens, from the end of the Spanish dictatorship, political and social changes in Catalonia to the pomp and ceremony surrounding Spanish kings. Maremágnum is the example of a photojournalism full of humanism and intelligence. Socias’ portraits include Salvador Dalí, Jorge Luis Borges, Graham Greene, John Le Carre, Pedro Almodóvar, Francis Ford Coppola and Penelope Cruz. The 70 images that make up the exhibition are representative of his career and illustrate the intensity of a life devoted to photography. —ME

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G T UE

arly last year, an all-star Hollywood cast brought the Broadway hit Rock of Ages to the big screen. With Tom Cruise playing the lead role, reviews were mixed, with many fans and critics expressing disappointment. But if you had a bad taste from seeing the silver screen interpretation of this popular musical, the real deal is coming to Albuquerque. Unlike the movie, the stage production has gotten rave reviews and critical acclaim, with ﬁve Tony Award nominations. With a unique plot quite different than any other theatrical production, Rock of Ages also breaks the “fourth wall” by addressing the audience. Featuring music from hair metal bands like Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia and Whitesnake, among others, the show offers an enjoyable look at the culture of the ’80s and ’90s, when the hair was big and the music was loud. —JG

MON

popejoypresents.com rockofagesmusical.com

nhccnm.org albuquerque.cervantes.es

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The where to go and what to do from January 3-16

CIRCUS Cirque du Soleil: Quidam 7:30p, Wed., Jan. 16 Santa Ana Star Center 3001 Civic Center, 505.891.7300

$27-$90 santaanastarcenter.com cirquedusoleil.com

sually, traveling to Las Vegas or New York would be the only way to witness the world-renowned Cirque du Soleil. Now, however, the production is an international phenomenon, touring in cities all across the globe — and Albuquerque too. Created in Montreal by Guy Laliberté, the famed circus struggled in the mid-’80s to lay the foundation for its future success. Cirque du Soleil has earned a reputation for breathtaking acrobatics and aerial stunts, but the show could actually be described as a moving piece of art. Now the latest edition, Quidam, follows the story of a girl frustrated by her normal life who encounters mysterious ﬁgures and escapes into a world of wonder, excitement and imagination. Those willing to take the journey have been rewarded with a memorable experience. —JG

MARQUEE

One act, max impact Vortex stages three plays in one night, by a trio of Albuquerque’s up-and-coming theater directors dark. With her take on Pintauro’s tale, she brings the sensitive subject to the spotlight. reat plays usually come in a Pintauro is best known for writing the play number of acts, like William A ... My Name is Alice. Grilo is also an actor, Shakespeare’s Macbeth with its dancer and clown. ﬁve. Yet some remarkable plays Tennessee Williams is known for his awardtell their stories in just one act. They get winning plays like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The right to the point and leave audiences just as Rose Tattoo and A Streetcar inspired as those that run Named Desire. Wilding longer. In that spirit, three MARQUEE directs his not-as-famous, one-act plays will tell stories but still-as-good play The of love, grief, happiness Lady of Larkspur Lotion. This and loneliness at the Vortex I Wanna Hold memorable one-act play tells Theatre this month. Your Hand: An the story of a sidetracked The plays are directed Evening of One heroine and her dilemma by fresh, up-and-coming with her landlady, who wants Acts Albuquerque artists her thrown out. Wilding has including Stephanie Grilo, 7:30p, Fri.-Sat.; 2p, stage managed for many Sun., Jan. 4-20 Natalie Wilding and Matthew theaters around the city and THE VORTEX THEATRE McVey Lee. The show brings is currently stage managing together the three directors 2004-1/2 CENTRAL AVE SE, 505.247.8600 for Tuna Does Vegas at the to showcase their talent and Vortex Theatre. $18 present the works of some of Director, stage manager the best playwrights of our vortexabq.org and theater administrator time, creating performances McVey Lee presents his ﬁrst that will have audiences production at the Vortex, experiencing the triumphs directing The Marriage and pitfalls of life. Proposal, a play by Anton Chekhov. Chekhov Grilo, a theater student at the University is considered one of the greatest writers of New Mexico, makes her directing debut of short stories in history. Lee takes on with Joe Pintauro’s play Soft Dude. The Chekhov’s less represented comical side story follows Dude, a lonely romantic who and tells the story of a man attempting to has “male issues” which leave a call girl propose to a neighbor girl. The engagement named Doll with nothing to do. Grilo took seems to be ruined before it even begins on this particular one-act show because she through an old family argument. Lee feels that American culture puts sex in the

BY DENISE MARQUEZ

Two couples from vastly different times, 19th-century Russia and the contemporary U.S., discover the comic complexities of romance in the one-act plays The Marriage Proposal and Soft Dude. Pictured left to right are Ashley Weingardt, Benjamin Liberman, Allie Sundstrom and Kevin O’Boyle.

recently directed Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl with the UNM Student Production Company, which he is currently president for. The Vortex hosts many stage productions from local and national works to classics reinvented. The venue has been a cuttingedge theater in Albuquerque since 1977. I

Wanna Hold Your Hand: An Evening of One Acts is a program in the Vortex tradition. It will feature the works of talented playwrights brought to life by some of the Duke City’s ﬁnest and exciting new directors. Three great plays all in one night is a deal you won’t want to miss.

LOCAL iQ | ALBUQUERQUE’S INTELLIGENT ALTERNATIVE | JANUARY 3-16, 2013

RETAIL

ST UF F WE LIKE BY CHARLIE CRAGO

Jones Solution Splitboard As the cost of resort skiing continues to rise faster than the price of oil, more and more skiers have taken to the backcountry to get their snowy rocks off. If you’re a snowboarder, this creates certain problems, like, how does one hike uphill on one board? A solution presents itself: the Splitboard, which allows your outdoor experience to be limited by little more than your knowledge and respect for Mother Nature. The Splitboard is just what it sounds like; when going uphill, click into two boards and get to the top in a blazing ﬂash of gear-head fury. Then, summit reached, connect the boards to form one and a snowboard is born. The Splitboard truly does represent the next generation in back-country alpine snowriding.

$799 FIND IT AT:

Sports Systems 6915 MONTGOMERY NE, 505.837.9400

nmsportsystems.com

GoPro HERO3 Wide-Angle Helmet Cam Once you’ve dumped serious cash on your array of ski gear, FIND IT AT: why not spend a few hundred dollars more to fully document R.E.I. your exploits? GoPro has been 1550 MERCANTILE at the forefront of the outdoorNE, 505.247.1191 sports/snow-sports camera rei.com movement since it began, and has done quite well as the ﬂagship brand for personal photo appliances. The Hero3 Wide-Angle Cam Surf package comes with everything you need to record your newest trick or your gnarliest bail, including a waterproof Wi-Fi remote for timely recording of your shredding highlights. What else could you ask for in an extreme sports camera? Go get one, pray for snow and shred away.

$399

Ortovox Avalanche Rescue Kit If you have any inclination at all to spend any serious Splitboard Binding time testing the limits of Interface (required) nature’s humbling-yet-oftenunderestimated ferocity, then safety equipment should be FIND IT AT: high on the priority list when assembling gear for a trek in R.E.I. the wilderness. The Ortovox 1550 MERCANTILE NE, Avalanche Rescue Kit is a good 505.247.1191 rei.com place to start. Of all the bits and pieces included in the Ortovox kit, the avalanche beacon is by far the most important. Riding in the secluded bowls and ridges of the backcountry is easily one of the most beautiful ways to connect with nature, but it is also one of the most dangerous. And if you have the time and money, get your Wilderness First Responder certiﬁcation, which could very well save your life or that of someone you love. Check out wildmed.com for more info.

LOCAL iQ | ALBUQUERQUE’S INTELLIGENT ALTERNATIVE | JANUARY 3-16, 2013

$429 $160

LOCAL iQ | ALBUQUERQUE’S INTELLIGENT ALTERNATIVE | JANUARY 3-16, 2013

FOOD

PHOTOS BY WES NAMAN

With a second location now open in Nob Hill, Thai Vegan, with executive chef Phairat Phomnoi (above), positions itself to be the top vegan restaurant in Albuquerque, serving a variety of curry dishes and Thai standards with inventive names like Freshy Rolls (left) and Shrimp Spinach Noodle (right).

Soy good Thai Vegan creates delicious dishes with shrimp, chicken and beef substitutes, perfectly prepared and skillfully presented servings of soup were certainly more than ample, as we both left about a quarter of a bowl behind when our Freshy Rolls lbuquerque isn’t exactly the most vegan-friendly ($6.95) arrived. city. There are a few places here and there The Freshy Rolls contain vermicelli, soy chicken, carrots, that cater to the meat-and-animal-product-free lettuce and bean sprouts all wrapped in rice paper. They audience, but it can be hard to find different types come as a serving of four large rolls, and served as an of cuisines that offer a vegan choice. Thai Vegan recently enjoyable and crisp palate cleanser after the opened its second location in the Nob Hill miso soup. neighborhood and is winning over the hearts and palates of vegans and omnivorous eaters For our entrees, we decided to try the chef’s REVIEW alike. specialty, a Shrimp and Spinach Noodle dish ($10.95) and the Red Curry with Soy Pepper I thoroughly enjoy a good Thai meal, and Thai Vegan Steak ($8.95). The shrimp and spinach Nob Hill has plenty of great options. When 5505 Osuna NE, 3804 noodle dish was served on a large plate, Thai Vegan opened in the neighborhood, I Central SE, 505.884.4610 piled high and garnished with red cabbage, was looking forward to trying some familiar HOURS: 11a-2:30p, carrots, cilantro and a lime slice. It was of flavors with soy substitutes – something I 5-9p, daily mild spiciness and featured pronounced am always open to. thaivegannm.com flavors of coconut. The soy shrimp was On a recent visit, my dining companion and incredibly similar to the real thing. We could I were seated by a welcoming wait staff and only distinguish a difference in the texture. given a chance to study the menu. We each Crisp bell peppers and onions added to started the meal with a bowl of Miso Soup ($3.95), which the medley of flavors and textures, for a specialty that will was the ideal way to warm up on a cold and windy day. The certainly be something I order again on my next visit. miso was fresh, with a rich saltiness that was complemented The red curry was said to be the hottest of the Thai Vegan by tender cubes of tofu, mushrooms and green onions. The

BY JUSTIN DE LA ROSA

LOCAL iQ | ALBUQUERQUE’S INTELLIGENT ALTERNATIVE | JANUARY 3-16, 2013

curries, but I failed to be overwhelmed by any sort of heat. Luckily, the server was able to supply us with some garlic chili sauce and other spices to kick up the heat in the curry. It was served with a side of brown rice that had been shaped like a heart, showing us the love that goes into crafting each dish. Once we spiced up the curry, it quickly became my favorite part of the meal. This traditional curry has onions, red and green bell peppers and carrots in a slightly creamy red curry sauce. We wondered if the soy pepper steak would adequately pair with the sauce, and much to our delight the soy steak had a nice meaty consistency and a peppery ﬂavor that rounded out the dish in a more-than-satisfying way. Thai Vegan is one more example of just how good vegan food can be when prepared by the proper hands. Even for those who can’t imagine a meatless meal, it is a great surprise what soy substitutes can do. Thai Vegan’s menu spans salads, specialties, soups, curry, rice and wraps, so they are sure to pair a pleasure with your palate, no matter what your preferences are. When you go to Thai Vegan, make sure to bring a few friends with you, as the portion sizes seem designed for a group and the sumptuous samplings should be shared by all.

FOOD

Lentils should be a staple in every kitchen pantry

ight about now, the weight of your New Year’s resolutions has fully sunk into your consciousness and you are having some excusatory thoughts. Or, perhaps your lack of resolve is weighing on you. Like millions of Americans, you are thinking you should go wheat-free. Or you are now the proud owner of a juicer and are in week two of a liquid diet cleanse. Vegan until 6p? Dairy only on days that start with a T? I know your kind. And I appreciate the effort. I love that you have made yourself a tidy set of rules to follow until, well, you don’t, and that most of those rules involve some sort of omission that will get you thinner, healthier, happier. Power to you. But in a few weeks, or perhaps already, you will find yourself in a food rut: There are so many foods you can’t or won’t eat, that you forget the sheer pleasure in the versatility and variety of the ones that you can. Enter the gentle lentil. Members of the fabaceae family (commonly known as legumes), lentils are grain legumes. All members of the legume family are recognized for their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen and are used in crop rotations to repair nitrogen-deficient soil. Grain legumes, also known as “pulses,” are cultivated in the form of seeds for consumption. Other common grain legumes are carob, peanuts, peas and tamarind. Readily available in the bulk section of your local market, lentils are a comparatively inexpensive source of protein that should be a staple in your pantry. They keep indefinitely and are an easyto-prepare foundation to super tasty meals. Of all the available varieties, French green lentils are my go-to pulse. Unlike some of the crimson lentils or yellow lentils or even the standard brown lentils, French green lentils don’t “mush out” when cooked. They retain their shape and stay firm, so part of their appeal is the textural element they add to dishes. Puy lentils are a specific type of green lentil native to Southwest France, prized for their peppery flavor and überfirmness. For our purposes here, French green lentils, probably grown somewhere in Canada, are just fine. No matter if I buy in package or in bulk, I always

sort my lentils upon purchase. It sounds like a mind-numbing exercise and it is a mindnumbing exercise. But it isn’t worth the truly mind-numbing experience of biting down onto a pebble. I use a sheet pan and, working in batches, spreading a single layer of lentils over half the pan. Methodically, working in a well-lit area, I pick over the lentils for foreign objects, moving the lentils to the other end of the pan as I sort out the stuff that shouldn’t be there. Usually it is pebbles of the same size, shape and color as the lentils themselves. Sometimes it’s just foreign material. Then I store the picked lentils in an airtight container until I am ready to cook them. To cook lentils, start by rinsing them in a colander under cold water until the water runs clear. Lentils grow in arid, dusty regions and are often coated in ﬁne dust. Put your clean lentils in a pot at least eight times bigger by volume. Add twice as much cold water (i.e. one cup lentils = two quart pot = two cups water). I like to add a bay leaf and/or a few sprigs of fresh thyme. But no salt. Salt will keep the lentils from getting tender. Put a lid on the pot and bring the water to a rolling boil. Move the lid so it is slightly off the pot (so the lentils can breathe and the water won’t boil over) and turn down the heat to a gentle boil. They should be tender in about 45 minutes, but older lentils take longer to cook since they’ve lost moisture. Keep an eye on the pot every so often to make sure the water level stays above the lentils, and add more as necessary. When they are almost tender — they will look matte and soft, but still intact — add a generous pinch of salt, put the lid back on and turn off the heat. And wait. Let them ﬁnish

Readily available in the bulk section, lentils are a comparatively inexpensive source of protein that should be a staple in every cook’s pantry, as they keep indeﬁnitely and are easy-to-prepare. Of all the varieties, French green lentils (pictured) are likely the most popular among gourmet chefs.

tenderizing for about 15 minutes and then taste and season your lentils. You will have four times the amount of cooked lentils as you had dry (i.e. one cup dry lentils = four cups cooked lentils). You can stash your big batch of cooked lentils until you need some (they reheat with a splash of water in a saucepot in a matter of minutes) or you can try a version of mujadarra, a Jordanian dish of lentils and rice: heap lentils and their cooking juices over steamed rice. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro, burnt onions (shallow-fried until dark brown and crispy), burnt onion oil, and a dollop of yogurt. Nelle Bauer is co-chef/co-owner of Jennifer James 101. She could eat mujadarra every day for lunch. In fact, she has been known to do just that.

LOCAL iQ | ALBUQUERQUE’S INTELLIGENT ALTERNATIVE | JANUARY 3-16, 2013

WRITTEN BY

COOL-WEATHER

MIKE ENGLISH + T.J. ENGLISH + KEVIN HOPPER

Whether you embrace the winter snow or hightail it to warmer environs this season, the time to make a relaxing winter escape is now

PHOTO BY WES NAMAN

Healing waters Natural springs, luxury accommodations and spa services blend with down-home eateries for a premier aprés ski town BY KEVIN HOPPER

here was a moment during my brief but rejuvenating stay at The Springs Resort and Spa in Pagosa, Colo., where time sort of stopped. I think if you stayed in this tranquil, soothing environment long enough, it would probably happen more than once. My time-stood-still moment occurred about two-thirds of the way through a treatment I booked called Aqua Zen Therapy, an aquatic offshoot of CranioSacral Therapy. The intention of the treatment, which takes place in one of the dozens of geothermal pools that dot the steamy landscape alongside the San Juan River in the heart of this still largely undiscovered mountain town, is to release the body’s deep-set tensions and improve whole-body health. Somewhere within the 60-minute treatment ($140), as my body ﬂoated in 102 degree, mineral-rich water, and my therapist, David Dolan, stretched my spine, I sort of disappeared into what I can only call pure bliss. Time didn’t exist at that moment.

So did it work? I’m wont to think it did. But even if it didn’t, one would have a difﬁcult time not absorbing the boundless opportunities for relaxation at The Springs, which is owned by Albuquerque siblings Nerissa and Neely Whittington.

Hot water The resort centers around 23 geothermal pools of varying temperatures — from 83 F to a scorching 114 F — which makes for a good amount of “spa-hopping.” If you love to soak your bones in mineral-rich waters, there really is no better place in the country, or the world, for that matter. In fact, Guinness World Records recently named The Springs the “World’s Deepest Geothermal Hot Springs,” measuring as deep as 1,005 feet deep (but still not reaching the bottom). Along with the pools, a few of which are situated immediately adjacent to the San Juan River (allowing for an invigorating cold dip if one dares), the spa at The Springs affords visitors a number of luxurious treatments ranging from unique massages, wraps and scrubs to hair services,

LOCAL iQ | ALBUQUERQUE’S INTELLIGENT ALTERNATIVE | JANUARY 3-16, 2013

facials and even tanning. While I was watching time stop, my travel companion received the San Juan Essential full-body massage, which incorporates moist hot packs, eye pillows and organic oils ($110/hr). The look on her face after the treatment was proof enough that I should book one myself upon our return. Luxury hotel guests at The Springs are allowed access to the pools around the clock, so super late dips are allowed, as are pre-sunrise dips, which is possibly the best time to enjoy the pools. Keep in mind that there are high sulﬁte levels in the water, resulting in less-than pleasant odor. However, given the restorative qualities of the minerals in the water — and the sheer history of the place — your body will thank you for what your nose doesn’t like.

Green house effect Our stay in the “O Suite” was ultra-swank, to say the least. Located in the recently built, LEED Gold certiﬁed luxury hotel, the suite was absolutely huge, with its own bar/

WHERE TO STAY:

The Springs Resort & Spa Be warned: skiers might ﬁnd it difﬁcult to pull themselves away from the natural hot springs to make the drive up the hill. 165 Hot Springs Blvd., 970.264.4168 pagosahotsprings.com

WHERE TO PLAY:

Wolf Creek Ski Area Though Wolf Creek consistently boasts the best snow in the southwest, this is not a resort. After the lifts close, it’s a ghost town. Head to the tubs at The Springs or Kip’s for the social scene. 970.264.5639 wolfcreekski.com

WHERE TO EAT/ DRINK:

Alley House Grille Arguably the best place in town for an upscale dinner and a proper cocktail. 214 Pagosa St, 970.264.0999 alleyhousegrille.com

Backroom Wine Bar A quaint, dim spot to taste and sip wine while the snow falls. 175 Pagosa St., 970.264.9463 thebackroomwinebar. com

Farrago Market Cafe Find healthier menu items here along with a roster of imaginative pizzas. 175 Pagosa St. Unit 1 970.264.4600 farragomarketcafe.com

First Crush This artisan olive oil tasting room is conveniently connected to The Backroom Wine Bar. Foodies/winos could spend hours here. 175 Pagosa St. 970.264.9463 firstcrushpagosa.com

Kip’s Grill A must in Pagosa. This is where the aprés ski crowd settles in for drinks. Wonderful tacos and homemade hot sauce. S. Main St. & 5th St., 719-658-0220 kipsgrill.com

Nello’s Bistro & Espresso Bar 135 Country Center, Ste. A, 970-731-9899 nellosbistro.com

Pagosa Baking Company 238 Pagosa St., 970.264.9348 pagosabakingcompany. com

Pagosa Brewing Co. Currently the only brew house in town, so hop heads are sure to go. 118 N. Pagosa Blvd., 970.731.2739 pagosabrewing.com

kitchenette and dry sauna, two bathrooms, a six spigot shower and separate jet tub, a ﬁreplace, two ﬂat screen TVs and a giant balcony overlooking the pools, river and fountain. “Plush” is the key word here. Having the hotel bar located just down the staircase is a welcome bonus. An additional 50 rooms are available in separate buildings — the deluxe rooms are completely updated and very nice — but the luxury hotel is obviously the pride of the pack. The geothermal waters are used to heat the rooms at the hotel, and those waters then move on for therapeutic or recreational use at the resort and spa. What’s more, the entire property is 100 percent powered by wind.

Post-soak There is, of course, much more to the town of Pagosa Springs and surrounding area than The Springs. One of our favorite spots was Kip’s Grill, which serves a mean homemade hot sauce and probably the best (perhaps

only) tacos in town. We were told by locals that Kip’s is where locals hang out, as well as the aprés ski crowd that tumbles down from Wolf Creek Ski Area every day. If you’re looking for something truly original, try the “Ring of Fire,” a hot sauce tequila bomber, which a man named Wolf (jalopycabins.com) challenged us to. He lost the challenge. For a more toned-down affair, I suggest having slow, drawn out dinner at the Alley House Grille. Likely the best high-end dinner option (serving entrées from $18 to $42), the Alley House is located on the west side of town, near The Springs. Also nearby is The Backroom Wine Bar (the perfect spot for an after-dinner tasting) and First Crush, an olive oil tasting room. Both spots a great place to spend a few hours in the day if you aren’t one to ski or snowboard. For breakfast in the same area, stop by Farrago Market Cafe or Pagosa Baking Company. If you are in the mood for sugar, ask if they sell gluten-freebaked goodies made by Lisa Miranda from Sugar High.

PHOTOS BY WES NAMAN

Pagosa Springs in Southern Colorado centers around what is now ofﬁcially the deepest geothermal spring in the world, according to the Guiness Book of World Records. Surrounding the 144 F “Mother Spring” is the luxurious The Springs Resort and Spa, which features numerous spa treatments, 23 individual soaking pools and a new LEED Gold certiﬁed luxury hotel (above) that is plush to say the least. Though the town isn’t a thriving hotspot for nightlife, there are a number of great eateries, including Kip’s Grill (above left).

A town divided Here is where Pagosa Springs falls short in terms of a resort town: It is divided into two distinct areas separated by a four-mile stretch of industrial buildings. On the west side is all the aforementioned spots, while on the far east end of town, the same type of eateries, bakeries, bars and shops are clustered together. An east side highlight includes Coyote Moon, a no-frills bar and restaurant that passes out shots of Jägermeister every time the Denver Broncos score a touchdown — everyone is a Broncos fan here. Good dining spots include Plaza Grille, Nello’s Bistro and Boss Hog’s, as well as the Pagosa Brewing Co. In the summer, this area is great for golfers, as the San Juan Mountain & Golf Resort surrounds the Pinon Lake Reservoir. In fact, Pagosa Springs is just as much fun in any season, but that’s another story in another travel issue. If it’s a winter getaway you’re looking for, I suggest a dip in the riverside hot springs after either a resplendent spa treatment or an invigorating day on the slopes. Your body will thank you and your mind just might forget to keep track of time. LOCAL iQ | ALBUQUERQUE’S INTELLIGENT ALTERNATIVE | JANUARY 3-16, 2013

Border city boom El Paso’s downtown area is experiencing a surprising revitalization spearheaded by artists and musicians. The winter temperatures are nice, too BY T.J. ENGLISH

top into any drinking establishment in downtown El Paso for more than 30 minutes, and it is likely that someone will offer to buy you a shot of tequila. My ﬁrst free shot came at a legendary downtown cantina called The Tap, where a unique assortment of Chicanos, cowboys and local bohemians gather to drink, dance and listen to live music just blocks from the border with Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. “You’re not from around here,” said Odalis, the Mexican cowboy who spotted me a shot of Don Julio añejo to go with my bottle of Lone Star beer. “No, I am not,” I said. Odalis raised his glass, and we both toasted my visitor status by downing a shot of nectar from the cactus. It is not surprising that El Pasoans like Odalis view visitors as a welcome novelty. The city has received a bum rap in recent years because of its proximity to Juárez, locus for the narco war in Mexico. Even though narco violence in El Paso’s sister city across the border has diminished considerably in the past year, the lingering effect has not been good for the city’s image. This is particularly unfair given that El Paso, with a total of three homicides in 2012, is, in fact, one of the safest cities in the U.S. El Paso is an especially wonderful destination during the winter months. With a median temperature around 60 degrees during December and January, the days can be almost balmy and the nights pleasant. These days, downtown El Paso is where it’s happening. As the traditional tourist businesses of clothing and novelty stores have suffered due to the narco violence across the border, downtown El Paso has been revitalized by artists and musicians who have taken over lofts, clubs and

WHERE TO STAY:

DoubleTree by Hilton 600 N. El Paso, 915.532.8733 doubletreeelpaso hotel.com

WHERE TO PLAY:

When in El Paso, choose to hang closely to the burgeoning downtown area (top) where entertainment can be found at the Plaza Theatre (above), music can be heard around every corner and food and cocktails can be consumed at spots such as Tabla, The Tap Bar and Restaurant and Soho Cocktail Lounge among many other places.

parks. With an impressive collection of galleries, lounges and top-notch restaurants, downtown is experiencing an improbable renaissance, making it one of the most vibrant nightlife destinations in the Southwest. And outsiders are deﬁnitely welcome. My own stay in El Paso began at the DoubleTree Hotel, located off highway 10, which separates downtown El Paso from the rest of the city. Part of the Hilton hotel chain, the DoubleTree was fully renovated four years ago and is today both comfortable and chic, with an excellent restaurant off the lobby and a rooftop lounge with expansive views of the city. From my room on the

LOCAL iQ | ALBUQUERQUE’S INTELLIGENT ALTERNATIVE | JANUARY 3-16 2013

seventh ﬂoor, I could easily see across the border into Juárez. The other side of the building overlooks the Franklin Mountains, which, depending on the light and cloud formations moving through the area on any given day, provides a sometimes spectacular backdrop to downtown. A short drive to those mountains brings you to the tram, which offers panoramic views of the city and surrounding terrain. On a two- or three-day stay, most everything you would want to do downtown is within walking distance of the DoubleTree hotel. The art museum and history museum, CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Wyler Aerial Tramway Albuquerque residents are rightfully proud of the Sandia Tram, but El Paso’s version is nothing to sneeze at, with a climb up the rugged Franklin Mountains to 5,632 feet and views of the city and adjacent Mexico. Franklin Mountains State Park 1700 McKinley, 915.566.6622 tpwd.state.tx.us/ state-parks

WHERE TO EAT/ DRINK

Tabla A savory tapasstyle menu boasts everything from pork conﬁt to albondigas (ground beef ﬁlled with chorizo and manchego and stewed in a tomato broth). Aye aye aye. 115 Durango, Suite D, 915.533.8935 tabla-ep.com

L & J Cafe Classic borderland Mexican food is dished up at this El Paso institution, much as it was when the joint opened in 1927. 3622 E. Missouri, 915.566.8418 landjcafe.com

Tricky Falls The Launchpad of El Paso, it’s a ﬁne venue for live music. 209 S. El Paso, 915.351.9938 trickyfalls.com

Soho Cocktail Lounge An intimate, hip club atmosphere and a tasty food lineup of pizzas and paninis make this place a great downtown destination. 500 N. Oregon, 915.532.7646 The Tap Bar & Restaurant Classic El Paso dive bar with good (and cheap) eats. 408 E San Antonio Ave., 915.532.1848

Play all day Angel Fire is a winter playground offering a one-stop destination for snowbound fun BY MIKE ENGLISH

he 70-mile-an-hour winds at the top of the mountain put a crimp on my first skis-and-poles return to the slopes in 30 years, but the beauty of Angel Fire is that there are so many different ways to enjoy the snow, it didn’t matter. My skiing companion and I simply hopped on one of the smaller lifts for a more protected ride down a beginner-level green run. The fresh powder cushioned my falls, which thankfully became less frequent as the day wore on, making for a smooth and satisfying transition to the afternoon craft beers that awaited us in the lodge. And that’s life at Angel Fire, one of the New Mexico’s top destinations for winter fun. Everything is geared toward a good time on the slopes, and only a Grinch is able to avoid the enjoyment. The Village of Angel Fire, population 1,216, is a three-hour journey from Albuquerque (directions: drive to Taos, turn right, proceed 23 miles). Sitting on the “Enchanted Circle” loop that includes Eagle Nest, Red River and Questa, it’s nestled in a high-alpine valley surrounded by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The majesty of the setting makes it clear why bands of Ute and Apache Indians spent their summers and falls here; it was reportedly frontiersman Kit Carson who coined the phrase “angel fire,” to describe the glow of the setting sun against Agua Fria Peak. The focus of the entire town is Angel Fire Resort, and for good reason. First developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the resort has evolved into a wide-ranging, 76-run playground for skiers and snowboarders, not to mention its areas for nordic skiing and tubing. Throw in the epic zipline, a multi-station daredevil ride that’s strung across the mountaintop at an elevation of 10,600 feet — four stations, three hours, $89 per person (I rode it this summer and it’s worth every penny) — and the recreation opportunities can easily fill a stay of multiple days. My skiing companion and I stayed right in the middle of it all, in the Lodge at Angel Fire Resort, a four-story building within easy walking distance of the slopes. Rooms are expansive, not too expensive (many fall in the $100-a-night range and sleep four) and the resort’s collection of dining options — from breakfast at The Coffee House to lunch at

For winter outdoor enthusiasts, there is perhaps no bigger playground in New Mexico than Angel Fire, located just a short and winding trip east from Taos. Angel Fire Ski Resort offers much more than skiing and snowboarding, including a epic zipline, a nordic area and plenty of tubing for the little ones. Eating and drinking spots are scarce here, but a few highlights include Zeb’s, The Pub ‘n Grub and Angel Fire Pizza.

The Summit Haus (lots of “hauses” around here) to dinner at Legends Grill — make it possible to park the car for your visit and never drive during your stay. If this stay-at-home attitude is contrary to your nature and you want to soak up local culture, keep in mind that Angel Fire truly is a small village, and it doesn’t take long to exhaust the options. After my skiing companion and I tested the Angel Fire nightlife, we surmised that the zipline is way more exciting. But if you’re looking for a friendly watering hole, Zeb’s Restaurant and Bar is a worthy destination. We were able to dust off our ‘70s-era foosball skills, and while we didn’t partake in the menu, Zeb’s barbecue is reportedly the best for miles. Deﬁnitely also worth a visit is The Pub ‘n Grub (did they have to name it that?), just opened in December. With 20-some craft beers on tap, it’s Mecca for Angel Fire beer lovers, and the casual bar menu dovetails nicely with the comfortable atmosphere. And what’s a mountain town without good pizza? Thankfully Angel Fire offers a couple of worthy options. Pizza Stop has been serving pizza, sandwiches and spaghetti since 1989. Angel Fired Pizza dishes up craft pizza, calzones, pasta and salad. Keep in mind, too, that Taos and all it offers is a stone’s throw away. Angel Fire Resort is not much further from the Town of Taos than is Taos Ski Valley.

WHERE TO STAY

The Lodge at Angel Fire Resort Rooms are affordable, dining options abundant and amenities (indoor pool/hot tub, ﬁtness center) plentiful. Miller Lane, 800.633.7463 angelfireresort.com/ winter/lodge

WHERE TO PLAY

Angel Fire Resort Mountain Full-day adult lift tickets run $66, and the Chili Express quad lift ride alone is worth a good chunk of that. With skiing-andboarding alternatives like the zipline, nordic area and tubing, it’s a playground for all ages and tastes. Miller Lane, 575.377.6401 angelfireresort.com

WHERE TO EAT/ DRINK

The Pub ‘n Grub More than 20 beers on tap, which quadruples what anyone else offers in town. 52 N. Angel Fire, 505.615.5446 Zeb’s Restaurant and Bar A large menu and homey atmosphere captures the essence of Angel Fire. 3431 Mountain View, 575.377.6358 Hatcha’s Grill at Angel Fire For authentic N.M. fare, nowhere in Angel Fire compares. 3453 Mountain View, 575.377.7011 Angel Fired Pizza Wood-ﬁred pizza, calzones, beer/wine. Enough said. 3375 Mountain View, 575.377.2774

LOCAL iQ | ALBUQUERQUE’S INTELLIGENT ALTERNATIVE | JANUARY 3-16 2013

El Paso CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

which details the historical circumstances that created this uniquely bi-national border city, are one block from the hotel. The city’s downtown historic district is impressive, with a number of gorgeous art-deco buildings from early in the 20th century. The crown jewel is the Plaza Theater, a landmark historic building that is arguably the most beautiful early-20th century theater still in operation. Built in 1929 in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, the building was lavishly renovated and, on St. Patrick’s Day in 2006, re-opened to the public. With over 2,000 seats, the Plaza easily accommodates traveling Broadway shows, full symphony concerts and a classics film festival that is one of the best in the U.S. If you are visiting El Paso, get thee to the Plaza, no matter what event might be showing there. The building itself is the main draw. Once inside, make sure you wander all over the place, from the spectacular bar off the lobby to the elaborate restrooms to the balcony. Note the intricately painted ceilings, mosaictiled floors, posh carpeting and decorative wrought iron banisters that have brought this building renown as “the Showplace of the Southwest.” There are many good places to eat downtown, ranging from rustic Mexican to nouvelle cuisine. One of the best is Tabla, located in the Union Plaza area, a recently renovated area downtown that was formerly comprised of warehouses and lofts, now turned into offices, restaurants, bars and loft-style living spaces. Tabla opened in 2011 with a Spanish-European menu and ambiance. Try the paella with a pitcher of Sangria and you’ll be ready for whatever the evening might bring. For more rustic fare, try the L & J Café, an El Paso institution since 1927. The L & J is located outside of downtown, so you will need to drive, but it is not far and well worth the trip. The food is classic borderland

Mexican, and the restaurant has not been changed much since it ﬁrst opened. It is located across the street from the Concordia Cemetery, a historical landmark where many notables, including gunﬁghter John Wesley Harding, are buried. Perhaps El Paso’s most notable entertainment feature is its eclectic music scene. There are a number of great venues downtown to see live music at ridiculously affordable prices. At a club called Tricky Falls, I saw Radio la Chusma, an infectious Mexican rasta band that has became well known throughout the Southwest. Two

NEW MEXICO AND SOUTHERN COLORADO SKI AREAS THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SKIING AND BOARDING in New Mexico and Southern Colorado are plentiful, with ski areas that range from down-home to world-class. The following is a list of the possibilities when you get the itch to hit the slopes.

Angel Fire

Pajarito

Ski Santa Fe

After a successful 2012-13 opening weekend in midDecember, boarders and skiers are hoping for a solid winter at this Taos-area ski resort. Price: $64 Full/$49 Half/$24 Night Skiing Hours: 9a-4p, 4-8p for night skiing Opened: Dec.14 Scheduled to Close: Mar. 24 Average Snowfall: 210” Lifts: 7; 2 high-speed quads, 3 doubles, 2 Sunkid, Wondercarpets Terrain Acreage: 445 Number of Trails: 74 Ski School: Yes Snowboard School: Yes Terrain Park: Yes, 2 Food/Drink: Yes; 4 on-mountain restaurants, 1 coffee house, 1 restaurant/bar Rentals: Yes Info: 800.633.7463 Website: angelﬁreresort.com Snow Report: 575.377.6401

A hidden gem among ski enthusiasts, Pajarito stacks up well with the other mountains in New Mexico and provides a classic skiing experience.

This ski destination, a favorite for residents of Santa Fe and Albuquerque, draws a huge turnout from hardcore skiers and snowboarders. A newly renovated day lodge is one of the attractions this season.

Red River The Wyler Aerial Tramway climbs up the rugged Franklin Mountains to 5,632 feet and offers spectacular views of the city and adjacent Mexico.

nights later, at an intimate club called the Soho Lounge, I saw Frontera Bugalú, a band that mixes cumbia, mambo, bachata and other Latin styles guaranteed to have the stiffest of gringos shaking their booties on the dance ﬂoor. After the bands stop playing, you can end your evening with a cocktail at any number of unique downtown establishments, none more so than the San Carlos Building, formerly an auto garage, now a multifunctional bar and lounge with both indoor and outdoor drinking space. Like many El Paso establishments, the San Carlos is decorated with cactus and potted palm trees, and if you sit outside in the mild December breeze, looking up at the star-ﬁlled sky and bright moon, you may feel as though you have stumbled upon the perfect desert oasis.

This year Red River got off to a quick start, opening before Thanksgiving. The downhill skiing and snowboarding is great, and the cross country skiing trails are extensive. Price: $63 Full/$50 half Hours: 9a-4p Opened: Nov. 21 Scheduled to Closed: Mar. 24 Average Snowfall: 214” Lifts: 5; 2 Double Chairs, 3 Triple

Chairs Terrain Acreage: 290 Number of Trails: 54 Ski School: Yes Snowboard School: Yes Terrain Park: Yes Food/Drink: 1 cafeteria, 2

restaurant/bar Rentals: Yes Info: 575.754.2223 Website: redriverskiarea.com Snow Report: redriverskiarea. com/snow-grooming-report

Sandia Peak Need a ﬁx of the slopes and don’t want to travel? Sandia Peak is just minutes from the Duke City and is the perfect place for beginners to fall in love with either a pair of skis or snowboard. Price: $50 Full/$35 Half Hours: 9a-4p Scheduled to Open: TBD Scheduled to Close: March Average Snowfall: 125” Lifts: 5; 4 doubles, 1 surface Terrain Acreage: 200 Number of Trails: 30 Ski School: Yes Snowboard School: Yes Terrain Park: Yes Food/Drink: 2 restaurants Rentals: Yes Info: 505.856,7325 Websites: sandiapeak.com Snow Report: sandiapeak.com

LOCAL iQ | ALBUQUERQUE’S INTELLIGENT ALTERNATIVE | JANUARY 3-16, 2013

Price: $59 Full/$46 Half Hours: 9a-4p Fri.-Sun. Scheduled to Open: TBD Scheduled to Close: March Average Snowfall: 160” Lifts: 1 quad, 1 triple, 3 double,

1 rope tow. Terrain Acreage: 300 Number of Trails: 40 Ski School: Yes Snowboard School: Yes Terrain Park: Yes Food/Drink: 1 restaurant/cafe Rentals: Yes Info: 505.662,5725 Website: skipajarito.com Snow Report: 505.662.5725

Sipapu Sipapu features a ski-resort feel, but without putting a hole in your wallet and with short lines at the lifts. The mountain also presents the annual cardboard derby in March. Price: $44 Full/$33 Half Hours: 9a-4p Opened: Dec. 20 Scheduled to Close: Mar. 24 Average Snowfall: 190” Lifts: 2 Platter Lifts, 2 Triple

Chair, 1 Magic Carpet Terrain Acreage: 200 Number of Trails: 41 Ski School: Yes Snowboard School: Yes Terrain Park: 3 Food/Drink: 1 restaurant Rentals: Yes. Info: 800.587.2240 Website: sipapunm.com Snow Report: 800.587,2240

Ski Apache This Ruidoso destination is an oasis for skiers looking to ﬁnd a mountain off the beaten path. Price: $55 Full/$39 Half Hours: 9a-4p Opened: Dec. 14

Scheduled to Close: March Average Snowfall: 185” Lifts: 11; 2 Surface Lifts 1 Double

Chair 5 Triple Chairs 2 Quad Chairs 1 Gondola (4 people) Terrain Acreage: 750 Number of Trails: 55 trails Ski School: Yes Snowboard School: Yes Terrain Park: Yes Food/Drink: 1 bar, 1 cafeteria, 1 coffee house, 1 pasta bar, 1 snack Rentals: Yes Info: (575) 464-3600 Website: skiapache.com Snow Report: 575.464,1234

Price: $66 Full/$40 Half Hours: 9a-4p Opened: Dec. 14 Schedule to Close: Apr.il Average Snowfall: 255” Lifts: 7; 2 Surface, 1 Beginner,1

Double Chair, 2 Triple Chair, 1 Quad Chair Terrain Acreage: 660 Number of Trails: 77 trails Ski School: Yes Snowboard School: Yes Terrain Park: 1 Food/Drink: 2; 1 restaurant,1 bar/grill Rentals: Yes Info: 505.982.4429 Website: skisantafe.com Snow Report: 505.983.9155

Taos Ski Valley The landscape at Taos Ski Valley belongs in photos and paintings. Skiers and boarders alike can carve their way across the 1,200 acres of beautiful terrain. Price: $75 Full/$62 Half Hours: 9a-4p Opened: Dec. 7 Scheduled to Close: Apr. 7 Average Snowfall: 305” Lifts: 13; 4 quad chair, 1 triple

chair, 5 double chair , 3 surface Terrain Acreage: 1,294 acres Number of Trails: 113 Ski School: Yes Snowboard School: Yes Terrain Park: Yes Food/Drink: 4 restaurants,1

cafeteria, 2 bar, 1 cafe, Rentals: Yes Info: 866.968,7386 Website: skitaos.org Snow Report: 866.968,7386,

ext. 2202 SOUTHERN COLORADO

Durango Mountain Resort Price: $75 Full/$57 Half Hours: 9a-5p Opened: Dec. 7 Info: 800.982.6103 Website:

durangomountainresort.com

Wolf Creek

Price: $56 Full/$43 Half Hours: 8:30a-4p Opened: Dec. 7 Info: 970.264.5639 Website: wolfcreekski.com

— Compiled by Justin Goodrum

MUSIC

SOUNDBOARD BY HAKIM BELLAMY

McGill embraces her vocalist vocation

athryn McGill could be the envy of every actress that is a wannabe singer. Before she became known as one of the premier vocal performers in the Southwest, she was an actress who didn’t want to be a singer. “I have to say that I struggled with being a vocalist,” said McGill. “I considered myself an actress who also sang. I hated being called out to sing, because I thought there were other people who sounded better than me. I didn’t like my singing voice because I didn’t understand that not everyone is supposed to sound the same.” As far as the ear can hear, there is no one that sounds like McGill — unless, of McGill course, you count the comparisons to Dinah Washington. A native of Muskogee, Okla., McGill’s vocal training began at age 2, as a member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church’s Sunshine Band Choir. “They made us sit up in front in the choir stand to train us to sit in a three-hour Sunday morning service,” joked McGill, as she sang the ﬁrst few lines from memory. The Sunshine Band Choir was long before McGill’s coming of age as a vocalist in the early ‘90s. As an actress, McGill generally thought there were many other singers who sang better than her. She felt comfortable singing “behind” a character in a play or a musical, because if people disliked the singing she could attribute it to the character or the song itself. “It was kind of a defense mechanism I think,” said McGill. “Conversely, if I was singing just as myself, that put me in too vulnerable a position. So all that changed when I went to visit my brother in Japan and I had to declare a vocation. I was working as a public administrator, but I wrote ‘vocalist’ as my vocation and somehow from that point forward, I became a singer who also acts.” From Julie Andrews (Sound of Music) to Aretha Franklin and Leann Rimes to the jazz waltz that just tumbled out of her brain, McGill sings and writes the gamut of music, with the exception of maybe punk rock and metal — and McGill said she’ll keep an “open mind” about those musical forms, too. Her diverse musical tastes and repertoire make her a prime candidate for what she calls “musical attention deﬁcit disorder,” or MADD. (Something McGill and I share in common!) Focusing more on concerts and touring these days, McGill is currently preparing for a show with the Gay Men’s Chorus, in a performance scheduled for the second Annual New Mexico Black History Month Festival, held in February. Find out more about McGill at cathrynmcgill.com. Hakim Bellamy, Albuquerque’s poet laureate, utilizes his MADD to write this ongoing column about the local music scene.

Uncensored songcraft Lucinda Williams celebrates freewheeling approach to music and life in intimate acoustic show at the KiMo BY BILL NEVINS

ucinda Williams, whom Time magazine named “America’s best songwriter” and who has been nominated for (and won) Grammy Awards in the categories of country, pop, folk, rock and Americana, has been writing and performing her original songs since age 13. Her father, distinguished poet Miller Williams, ﬁrst encouraged her lyrical gift, which she honed during many years singing in Bourbon Street New Orleans bars and, later, in Los Angeles recording studios in the company of Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle and other music heroes. REVIEW Recently Williams has championed the cause of a death Lucinda Williams row inmate who was eventually ACOUSTIC DUO FEATURING executed, and she also wrote DOUG PETTIBONE WITH a song about the police ofﬁcer WALTER SALAS-HUMARA whom the condemned man was 7:30p, Sun., Jan. 13 convicted of killing. KiMo Theatre Many of Williams’ songs, as 423 Central NW, on her breakthrough 1998 505.768.3544 album, Car Wheels on a Gravel $40/ $50/$60 Tickets: holdmyticket.com Road, have detailed troubled lucindawilliams.com relationships. However, after dramatically marrying her longtime manager Tom Overby on stage before an encore a few years ago, Williams has drawn on material other than love for beloved losers. In the August issue of Believer magazine, the Louisiana-born Williams, who turns 60 this month, cites her dad, alongside Bob Dylan and Neil Young, as major writing models, and told interviewer Madeleine Schwartz, “There are other things to write about besides boy meets girl, girl meets boy, boy breaks up with girl, girl is sad. What about my mother’s mental health and her whole life and my life? I carry that stuff around me like an albatross around my neck. A therapist told me one time, ‘You’re carrying her baggage; you’ve got to let go.’” Through her songs, such as the gentle anti-suicide anthem “Sweet Old World,” Williams has helped many

listeners get past troubled times, and, as she recounted in the same interview, she never hesitated to fuel her muse with her own longings and family struggles: “It never occurred to me not to ask for or want something, or not be able to have something, just because I was a woman. I was encouraged to have a career — not necessarily to get married and have kids and stuff. I was surprised when people first started hearing my songs and they were kind of like, ‘Wow! This is so sensual.’” Williams said she’s never thought twice about her dig-deeper approach to lyric writing. “It’s probably because I grew up around poets and novelists and my dad wrote poems about everything,” she said. “I learned not to censor myself: that was one of things I learned in my apprenticeship, my creative-writing apprenticeship with my dad. I didn’t study creative writing formally, but I learned as much as you could just by watching him, and sitting in on his workshops at the house, and hearing him teach, and all of that. He taught me about not censoring myself.” Williams’ 10th studio album, Blessed, produced by Don Was and featuring stunning guest guitar shredding by none other than Elvis Costello, continues her freewheeling compositional style. About her current songwriting, Williams told Aquarium Drunkard magazine, “I actually feel more prolific than I’ve ever been. I’m not sure what to attribute that to. I’ve found the person I want to be with, and I guess that’s a big change. In a way, you want to think the person you’re with is going to inspire you. That’s always been a dream of mine, to be in a relationship where I felt inspired and I was very creative and self-fulfilled that way because I’ve never had that before. You think about these couples like F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald and how they inspired each other and I feel like I have that with Tom.” Whatever the topic, Williams’ voice is unmistakable. It conveys experience without world-weariness, purity of spirit without naiveté. Williams will perform as a duo with Doug Pettibone in her performance at the KiMo. Walter Salas-Humara (of countryrock band The Silos) opens the show.

Lucinda Williams, who turns 60 this month, just released her 10th album, Blessed and said she feels more proliﬁc than ever. She attributes this to her 2009 marriage to her manager, Tom Overby. “That’s always been a dream of mine, to be in a relationship where I felt inspired,” she said. “I feel like I have that with Tom.”

MUSIC Cowgirl Pollo Frito FUNK/SOUL 2-5p, FREE Anthony Leon & the Chain

L I V E M USIC

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FRI 4

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Blackbird Buvette No Fun Dance Party 10p, FREE Cheena Lounge-Santa Ana Star JAGG 9p-1a, FREE

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MON

Blackbird Buvette Karaoke 9p, FREE Cowgirl Karaoke 9p, FREE Launchpad Impending Doom, The Browning, Hearts and Hands, This or the Apocalypse, Fit for a King, Tyrants 6:30p, $13

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Scalo Il Bar Keith Sanchez SONGWRITER 8:30p,

SUN 6

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WED

FREE

Russell Sharf’s Jazz Explosian 8p, FREE

Launchpad Fayuca, Weird is the New Cool, Con Razon, Jah Branch 7:30p, $8 Low Spirits The Growlers, The Vacant Lots, Canyonlands 8p, $10 Mine Shaft Tavern Gene Corbin AMERICANA 3-7p, FREE O’Niell’s-Central Rye Creek FOLK/IRISH 4-7p, FREE O’Niell’s-Juan Tabo Iscuma 4-7p, FREE

Blackbird Buvette Downtime w/ DJ Chach 10p, FREE Cowgirl 2-Bit Shotgun COUNTRY/ROCK/POP 8p, FREE

Launchpad Mondo Generator, Saviours, Wino 9p, $10

Molly’s Bar Adam Stokes 5:30p-Close, FREE St. Clair Winery & Bistro The Gruve 6-9p, FREE Sunshine Theater Slightly Stoopid, Marion Asher, Mondo Vibrations 8p, $25

THU

Blackbird Buvette Songwriters Showcase 7p, FREE Cowgirl Sean Healen SONGWRITER 8p, FREE Launchpad Caustic Lye, Distances, The Scarlet Ruse, Tractor Trailer, 9p, $5 Low Spirits Cali Shaw, Paul Salazar, Marsh, Felix Peralta, Stephanie Hatﬁeld 9p, $4

Malarky’s The Rudy Boy Experiment 9p-1a,

La Cumbre Brewery The Rudy Boy Experiment 7-11p,

FREE

Molly’s Bar Jimmy Jones 5:30p-Close, FREE O’Niell’s-Juan Tabo Reviva! 7-10p, FREE Scalo Il Bar Chris Dracup ACOUSTIC BLUES 8p, FREE St. Clair Winery & Bistro The Casuals 6-9p, FREE St. Francis Auditorium Greg Brown 7:30p, $29-$39

Mine Shaft Tavern Jim & Tim BLUES 3-7p, FREE No Man Sober 8p-Midnight, FREE Molly’s Bar Rock Bottom 1:30-5p, FREE Dangerous Curvz 5:30p, FREE Monte Vista Fire Station Tabularasa 9:30p, FREE Scalo Il Bar Wildewood AMERICANA 8:30p, FREE St. Clair Winery & Bistro Chris Page Trio 6:30-9:30p, FREE

FRI

Blackbird Buvette Carlos the Tall 6p, FREE Planet Rock Funky Dance Party 10p, FREE

Cheena Lounge-Santa Ana Star Chicano Groove 9p-1a, FREE Cowgirl Eryn Bent INDIE FOLK 5-7:30p, FREE Jono Manson ROOTS 8:30p, FREE Launchpad Seven Deadly Sins 8p, $10-$15 Mine Shaft Tavern Open Mic Night 7-11p, FREE Molly’s Bar Memphis P-Tails 5:30p-Close, FREE Monte Vista Fire Station Tabularasa 9:30p, FREE Scalo Il Bar Stu MacAskie Trio JAZZ 8:30p, FREE

South Broadway Cultural Center Carolyn Martin Trio WESTERN SWING 7p, $15

St. Clair Winery & Bistro Soul Sanctuary 6:30-9:30p, FREE Village Haus-Angel Fire The Rudy Boy Experiment 5-8p,

SUN

Cowgirl Zenobia R&B Noon-3p, FREE Ruchell Alexander JAZZ 8p, FREE KiMo Theatre Lucinda Williams & Doug Pettibone 7:30p, $40-$60 The Kosmos Sunday Chatter-Schnittke String Trio & Mozart Quintet 10:30a, $5-$15

Malarky’s The Rudy Boy Experiment 3-7p, FREE Mine Shaft Tavern The Rhubarbs BLUES 3-7p, FREE O’Niell’s-Central Los Radiators FOLK/ROCK 4-7p, FREE

O’Niell’s-Juan Tabo Mar Ata 4-7p, FREE South Broadway Cultural Center Tom Paxton 7:30p, $25

MON

FREE

SAT

Blackbird Buvette The Local Spin 7p, FREE Live, Local Music Showcase 10p, FREE Cheena Lounge-Santa Ana Star Simon Balkey & His Honkey Tonk Crew 9p-1a, FREE Cooperage En-Joy CUBAN/SALSA 9:30p, $10 Cowgirl The Santa Fe Chiles DIXIELAND JAZZ 2-5p, FREE

The Alex Maryol Trio ROCK/BLUES 8:30p, FREE

Blackbird Buvette Karaoke 9p, FREE Cowgirl Karaoke 9p, FREE Low Spirits Glossary, Telegraph Canyon, Albuquerque Boys Choir 9p, $5

TUE

Blackbird Buvette Groove the Dig 10p, FREE Cowgirl Halleyanna AMERICANA 8p, FREE Esther Bone Memorial Library The Casulz 6:30p, FREE Launchpad God Module, Blind.Torture.Kill, Diverje, Alchemical Burn 9p, $8 Molly’s Bar Friends Forever 5:30p-Close, FREE Scalo Il Bar Liquid Cheese, Dusty Low INDIE/ SKA 8:30p, FREE

Sunshine Theater Emmure, Whitechapel, Unearth, Obey the Brave 7p, $17

WED

Blackbird Buvette Too Good for Radio Wednesday 10p, FREE

Cowgirl Street Circus ROCK 8p, FREE Launchpad Strike, Gigantic Hawk, Vintage Roulette, Lindy Vision 9p, $4 Loma Colorado Library Mariachi Tradicional Concert 6:457:45p, FREE

Molly’s Bar Swamp Deville 5:30p-Close, FREE Scalo Il Bar Cali Shaw Acoustic Showcase 8:30p, FREE

St. Clair Winery & Bistro Sally Townes Duo 6-9p, FREE

LOCAL iQ | ALBUQUERQUE’S INTELLIGENT ALTERNATIVE | JANUARY 3-16, 2013

smart MUSIC Slightly Stoopid

Mondo Generator

hether or not you remember the early years of Mondo Generator’s front man, Nick Oliveri, along 9p, Wed., Jan. 9 with rock heavyweight Josh Homme, in the Launchpad acclaimed acts Kyuss and Queens of the 618 Central SW, Stone Age, he’s still been as musically active 505.764.8887 as ever. Since his ﬁring from Queens in 2004, Oliveri has taken over Mondo Generator $10 as his full-time project, toured as a solo Tickets: holdmyticket.com artist and has reunited Kyuss (without Josh launchpadrocks.com myspace.com/ Homme) under the name Kyuss Lives! Since mondogenerator 2000, Mondo Generator has released nearly a dozen recordings including 2012’s Hell Comes To Your Heart, a follow-up to last year’s EP of the same title. The new record contains Oliveri’s signature scream-based vocals, complemented with grueling guitars, giving depth to the overall punk-metal sound. The track “Like The Sky” showcases Oliveri’s raspy voice followed by a chorus with melodic guitars and harmonious backing vocals, while the opening song “Dead Silence” provides a heavy-rock feel to begin the record. The derangement of the act’s sound shows that Oliveri might just be the modern-day G.G. Allin, with perhaps more conservative stage antics but a similar writing style. You may even see Oliveri play his tribute cover of Allin’s “Outlaw Scumfuc,” from his solo release Death Acoustic, at the Launchpad. It’s just one good reason to go. —Shane Farias WITH SAVIOURS AND WINO

he reggae/rock/hip hop that Sublime helped popularize during the late ‘90s lives on in the beats and soulful vocals of Slightly Stoopid. It doesn’t take 8p, Wed., Jan. 9 a huge leap to ﬁgure that out — Slightly Sunshine Theater Stoopid was signed as a high-school duo 120 Central act by Sublime’s Brad Nowell himself back SW, 505.764.0249 in 1996, months before he and many other $31 last-hopes-for-the-music-industry were Tickets: holdmyticket.com brought to tragic, early ends (see: Shannon sunshinetheaterlive.com Hoon, Kurt Cobain, Chris “Notorious slightlystoopid.com BIG” Wallace, Tupac Shakur, Big Pun and the list goes on). Over the last 15 years or so, Slightly Stoopid has grown from a duo comprised of high school friends Miles Doughty and Kyle McDonald into a full-ﬂedged band, occasionally including horn and brass sections. While Sublime continues to tour, something about it feels contrived and without soul, and I hate to say something like that about a band that in my youth I thought was the coolest thing around. It lacks the soul delivered by the great Nowell. I’m not saying Slightly Stoopid is the next Sublime, and I don’t think they’d want me to say that either, but they come from the same era, and they were genuinely part of the scene that Nowell made legendary. So if you liked Sublime back in the day, or you like dancehall-ska rock ‘n’ roll, go see Slightly Stoopid at the Sunshine — it’ll be a smokin’ good time (pun-intended). —Charlie Crago WITH KARL DENSON, MARLON ASHER AND MONDO VIBRATIONS

Greg Brown 7:30p, Thu., Jan. 10 St. Francis Auditorium 107 W. Palace, Santa Fe, 505.988.1234

$29-39 ticketssantafe.org gregbrownmusic.org

t’s not often that you find a folk musician without a subgenre attached to his or her name. Straight-ahead folkies are not necessarily a dying breed, but they’ve certainly become a rarity. Bob Dylan came to be known as a folk-rock musician. Joni Mitchell was noted for her evolution from folk to jazz. And whatever the genre, there aren’t many artists who have consistently released albums over three decades. But Greg Brown is one man who has done both, with a career running 30 years and with unyielding roots as a folk musician. Brown’s name comes up more than you would realize in the set lists of other musicians. His songs have been covered by artists like Willie Nelson, Jack Johnson and Joan Baez, establishing him as a legend among legends. His signature is a growling voice accompanied by proficient picking, and his lyrics are just as likely to paint a dark and angry portrait as they are a tender and sweet scene. Married to singer-songwriter Iris Dement, Brown traces his roots to the backwoods of Iowa and Missouri, and his music, raw as a shot of moonshine, reflects it. Brown’s mother lives in Silver City, and he performs often in the state. A Brown concert is an intimate affair, with rambling stories and jokes between songs. It’s a fine way to spend an evening. —Justin De La Rosa

LOCAL iQ | ALBUQUERQUE’S INTELLIGENT ALTERNATIVE | JANUARY 3-16, 2013

ARTS

ART S E V E NT S

SUBMIT TO LOC A L i Q The next deadline is Jan. 9 for the Jan. 17 issue. SEND ENTRIES TO: calendar@local-iQ.com f: 888.520.9711 a: PO Box 7490 ABQ., N.M. 87194 Name of Exhibit/Event Description of exhibit/event VENUE/GALLERY ADDRESS website List events any time @ local-iQ.com

Events are always subject to change, check with individual venues before heading out

Among the many things that inform the work of Albuquerque artist Ian Campbell, perhaps the most visual is the abstract paintings and theories of artist Wassily Kandinsky. Kandinsky’s impact can be seen in Campbell’s electrifying and rhythmic “Landscape III” (left) and “Composure Rules” (above). Campbell’s work can be seen in January at Harwood Art Center, of which an opening will be held on Jan. 4

THU 3

‘Knowing when to stop’

THROUGH MAR. 3: EXHIBITION

Working-class Scotland, world travel, music and Wassily Kandinsky all contribute to the abstract work of Albuquerque artist Ian Campbell painted intermittently during this period when he found the opportunity. “At one point, I locks of brilliant color, overlapping was given a place to stay and a small stipend geometric shapes and intersecting to paint a psychedelic pattern on the walls of lines unite the lively paintings a household bathroom. This allowed me a by Albuquerque-based artist Ian place to settle, a place to relax. I couldn’t paint Campbell. Campbell’s abstractions are unique though. I needed consistency in my life in order and energetic — a vibrant swatch of color to paint,” he said. here, a couple of ripple lines there, a teetering Well into adulthood, Campbell started to geometric square — each one punctuated by discover the kind of consistency he had been abstract patterns and texture. searching for. “I was living in a commune in Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Campbell India and found steady work. I grew up to working-class began designing and working parents int the unsettling E X H I B I T in an applied way. It was a very decades of the ’50s and ’60s. good thing. The commune “From the time I was 8 or 9 is also where I met my wife Ian Campbell years old, I knew I was planning Gopa and everything changed,” to leave Scotland,” said Exhibition noted Campbell. “We eventually Campbell in a recent interview OPENING RECEPTION: moved to America and I really with Local iQ. “I was a working6-8p, Fri., Jan. 4 started to paint more seriously. class kid and striving to become Harwood Art Center Before, I always wanted to a good artist.” 1114 7th NW, 505. paint complexity – quantum 242.6367 One could argue that Campbell physics – but wasn’t capable began as a muralist. “I started FREE intellectually. I was interested painting on the walls of my harwoodartcenter.org in philosophy and art and I gopated2inc.com bedroom with inexpensive began reading the theories by watercolors. I painted all philosophers like Karl Marx, through the night and didn’t go Werner Heisenberg and the late to school,” he remarked. “The abstract painter and art theorist emotional connection to painting, when you’re Wassily Kandinsky.” an adolescent, that’s all you have.” Kandinsky — a pioneer in the theoretical As a young adult, Campbell found himself underpinnings to abstraction — was also traveling the streets of Europe, working laborprogressive concerning artistic synesthesia intensive jobs and surviving — most days — and its relationship to music. Kandinsky’s on cheese and bread. “I never thought I was work, among many other things, expressed the homeless. It was the ’70s and I thought I was a intercourse between artist and viewer, form gentleman of the road,” joked Campbell. and color, the mind and the senses. “Kandinsky As a result of such circumstances, Campbell and the visual arts, he linked the language

BY JENNIFER MORELAND

LOCAL iQ | ALBUQUERQUE’S INTELLIGENT ALTERNATIVE | JANUARY 3-16, 2013

** CALENDAR LISTINGS ARE A FREE SERVICE AND MAY BE CUT DUE TO SPACE. PREFERENCE IS GIVEN TO FREE EVENTS.

of music,” remarked Campbell. “He was the only painter I could read about and become inspired.” In viewing Campbell’s paintings, one cannot help but notice their electrifying and rhythmic quality – bearing resemblance to the visual and compositional components of Kandinsky’s abstractions as well as to the late Albuquerquebased-artist Raymond Jonson. “I frequently listen to Jazz when I paint. It allows me to be free and spontaneous like Kandinsky and Jackson Pollack,” he said. “Although, I find myself working away from that and listening to more ambient and meditative music like (Robert) Fripp and (Brian) Eno.” During a concentrated viewing session with the artist, I noticed that several of his paintings exhibit elements of variable depth perception that tend to play on the senses — they appear to comprise of optical illusions. Certain shapes and colors, such as bright yellow circles, diagonal black lines and brilliant white squares, appear to become isolated in space and float off the canvas. Campbell’s abstractions are aesthetically dense and rarely allow one’s eyes to rest on any particular spot. “The part that’s hard is finding that balance and knowing the next note. Knowing when to stop,” admits Campbell. We laughed. Without question, Campbell’s paintings encompass a quality of movement, rhythm, intensity and an overall flair for vibrant shapes and unpredictability – a successful combination for modern-day abstraction. “A painting should speak to your whole being – it should sustain you. There’s an essence of meditation in the process.”

Dimensional Baroque This solo exhibition by New York artist Mary Ann Strandell explores the collision of postmodern and the Baroque in a hyperspace installation. The use of an expansive sumi ink drawing with Lenticular prints brings together high and low cultural memes, in her continued exploration of East meets West. SNAPP PRICE PROJECTS GALLERY-THE ALBUQUERQUE PLAZA 301 3RD SUITE J

designstudionm.com

FRI 4 RECEPTION

Darryl Willison Featuring the artwork of Albuquerque balloon artist and Route 66 promoter Darryl Willison. Willison will be doing quick draws for the evening. 4-8p, FREE JOHNS’ WESTERN GALLERY 411 ROMERO NW STE. B, 505.928.205.9119

johnswesterngallery.com THROUGH JAN. 30: RECEPTION/ EXHIBITION

C.A. Klimek: Orogenesis These works are C.A. Klimek’s seismic upheavals. Orogenesis, a geologic term, speaks to a metamorphosis at the earth’s crust. Leich Lathrop Gallery also represents Laurie Alpert, Aaron Bass, Donna Dodson, Eason Eige, Evey Jones, Chuck Lathrop, Stephanie Lerma, Andy Moerlein, Krittika Ramanujan., Stephanie Roberts-Camello, Carol Sanchez, Jan. et Yagoda Shagam and Harriette Tsosie. 5-7:30p, FREE LEICH LATHROP GALLERY 323 ROMERO NW SUITE 1 505.243.3059

leichlathropgallery.blogspot.com THROUGH JAN. 15: RECEPTION/ EXHIBITION

Michael McCullogh: Feature Michael McCullough’s large an colorful painted New Mexico pots will be featured through Jan. 15. McCullough was one of Weems’ ﬁrst artists and his work was on both the ﬁrst Artfest poster in 1985 and this year’s Artfest poster. 5p, FREE WEEMS GALLERY 303 ROMERO NW, 505.764.0302

weemsgallery.com CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

LOCAL iQ | ALBUQUERQUE’S INTELLIGENT ALTERNATIVE | JANUARY 3-16, 2013

ARTS

OP E N I N G S/ P E R F O R M A NC E S CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

Native American Contemporary Modernists Reception Old Town’s most unique and fun gallery will feature incredible new work from Native American contemporary modernist Farrell Cockrum of the Blackfeet Nation of Montana. Cockrum has turned up the color in these amazing new pieces. Reception from 5-8p, FREE BLACKBIRD GALLERY 323 ROMERO NW STE.16, 505.243.9525

blackbirdgallery.biz Group Show Reception Yucca Art Gallery, the oldest co-op gallery in Old Town, is featuring the work of watercolor painter Fran Krukar, wire weaver Beverly Tjarks and jeweler Linda Reyes-Alicea. Also featured are water media and oil paintings, ceramics, and jewelry. 4:30-8:30p, FREE YUCCA ART GALLERY 206 1/2 SAN FELIPE NW, 505.247.8931

Moveable Masterpiece This is a public participation event so prepare to get your hands dirty. Participants move from piece to piece progressively painting each work. Anyone can make an offer on a piece at any stage in the work.

RECEPTION

ISEA2012 Albuquerque: Machine Wilderness This conference, exhibition and season-long series of events explore the discourse of global proportions on the subject of art, technology and nature. 5-8p, FREE 516 ARTS 516 CENTRAL SW, 505.242.1445

5-8p, FREE

516arts.org

OFFCENTER COMMUNITY ARTS PROJECT 808 PARK SW, 505.247.1172

THROUGH JAN. 24: RECEPTION/ EXHIBITION

offcenterarts.org RECEPTION

New Year New Work Annual Group Show This year’s annual group show at Sumner and Dene features new work from Angus Macpherson, Frank McCulloch, Bill Tondreau, Jeannie Sellmer, Dan Garrett, Mark Horst, David Snow and the entire stable of Sumner and Dene artists. 5-9p, FREE SUMNER & DENE 517 CENTRAL NW, 505.842.1400

sumnerdene.com

Paintings by Ian Campbell Ian Campbell says the essence of Wassily Kandinsky’s writings was “a road map of artistic survival.” The paintings Campbell exhibits at Harwood in January are an attempt to portray, in the most honest and uninhibited way, this essence of artistic emotion. From Glasgow, Scotland, Campbell comes from a long tradition of self-educated working class men. He began painting in 1972. 6-8p,

THROUGH JAN. 24: RECEPTION/ EXHIBITION

THROUGH JAN. 31: RECEPTION/ EXHIBITION

Chemistry: A Remix of Change Elaine Roy views her work with the encaustic medium as very process-intensive. Roy utilizes molten beeswax mixed with damar resin and uses a torch like most painter’s use their brush to maneuver and manipulate different colors of wax. 6-8p, FREE

Jon Garcia’s ‘Curios’ Over the past few months, Palette Contemporary challenged Garcia to create value-oriented woodturned objects from his inventory of exotic woods. Jon came through and made several timeless objects with new twists from his turns: spinning tops, baseball bats, bottle openers, bowls and tree creations are some of the curios that he met the challenge with. Reception from

HARWOOD ART CENTER 1114 7TH NW, 505.242.6367

harwoodartcenter.org THROUGH FEB. 22: RECEPTION/ EXHIBITION

HARWOOD ART CENTER 1114 7TH NW, 505.242.6367

The Happiness Project: New Work by John Phillip Abbott Through his use of text, the work of John Phillip Abbott creates narratives and representations that are economical and direct. Throughout the last ﬁve years working predominantly as an abstract painter, he has been interested in developing a language that ﬂickers between what is read and what is seen, between solidarity and dissolution.

harwoodartcenter.org

Reception from 5-8p, FREE

FREE

yuccaartgallery.com

INPOST ARTSPACE AT OUTPOST 210 YALE SE, 505.268.0044

outpostspace.org THROUGH JAN. 25: EXHIBITION/ RECEPTION

New Work by Matrix Artists To start the New Year off, Matrix invited its artists to bring their newest, freshest pieces of art. This exhibit is a collector’s chance to get a sneak preview of what is up and coming from artists such as Laura Wacha, Deborah Donelson, Laura Robbins, Julia Lambright, Jacklyn St. Aubyn, Matthew Lutz, Sarah Hartshorne, Susan Evans, Russell Hamilton, David Koch and Raul Dorn. Reception from 5-8p, FREE MATRIX FINE ART 3812 CENTRAL SE, SUITE 100 A, 505.268.8952

matrixﬁneart.com New work by New Grounds Members This exhibition will include a broad range of styles and printmaking techniques and will include pieces by artists Diane Alire, Mary Sundstrom, Adabel Allen, Nick Hudak, Sarah Anderson, Tanya Landin, Robert Katz and Ray Maseman. There will be a demonstration during the reception from 6:30-7pm. Reception from 5-8p, FREE NEW GROUNDS PRINT WORKSHOP & GALLERY 3812 CENTRAL SE, STE. 100 B, 505.268.8952

newgroundsgallery.com RECEPTION

New Beginnings This exhibit will be featuring works in oil by Frank Marich. Marich utilizes abstraction and vibrant color to create dynamic paintings that express his unique perspective on Mother Nature. 5-8:30p, FREE THE GALLERY ABQ 8210 MENAUL NE, 505.292.9333

RECEPTION AND ARTIST’S TALK

Karen Simmons’ Fiber Arts & Jas Simmons’ Jewelry Karen Simmons gathers dry plant ﬁbers from around New Mexico and creates delicate vessels reminiscent of creature habitats. Jas Simmons’ jewelry explores texture and pattern with beautiful results. This exciting collaboration between the two artists makes for an organic and engaging show. Artist’s Reception and talk from 5-8:30p, FREE WEYRICH GALLERY 2935 D LOUISIANA NE, 505.883.7410

weyrichgallery.com

LOCAL iQ | ALBUQUERQUE’S INTELLIGENT ALTERNATIVE | JANUARY 3-16, 2013

5-8p, FREE PALETTE CONTEMPORARY ART & CRAFT 7400 MONTGOMERY NE, STE. 22, 505.855.7777

palettecontemporary.com Sara Kelley Kreations Kelley’s artistic career began as a floral designer. Upon discovering kiln-fired glass & mosaics, she began beading with bells, charms & treasures creating the “Jingle Mingle”. Lately, her focus is waterbased oil painting. Sara says, “I’m inspired by the heart energy, animals, mighty mother nature, & peaceful moments with family and friends. It’s a daily challenge to find balance in responsibility & fun.” Reception from 5-8p, FREE HIGH DESERT ART & FRAME 12611 MONTGOMERY NE SUITE A-4, 505.265.4066

highdesertartandframe.com

SAT 5

emerge. SPOILER ALERT: the murderer is “Ken in the Living Room with a Pepper Mill!” But since everyone, including the audience, knows that, the real mystery is how and why Al had to die. Fri. & Sat. 8p, Sun 2p, $13-$15 THE ADOBE THEATER 505.898.9222

adobetheater.org THROUGH APR.. 6: RECEPTION/ EXHIBITION

Someone to Find: Self Portraits Sharon Schwartzmann’s rich and bold self-portraits encompass a wide range of moods — from somber to happy — reﬂecting the artist’s ongoing efforts to delve into the deepest recesses of her mind to unearth the many aspects of her self. The images verge on the abstract but still are very rooted in the ﬁgurative. Reception from 5-7p, FREE PAGE COLEMAN GALLERY 6320-B LINN NE, 505.238.5071

pagecolemangallery.com

SAT 12 THROUGH JAN. 13: WORKSHOP

Songwriting from the Inside Out with Jono Manson This intensive two-day workshop with Jono Manson explores the art, craft and business of songwriting. Sat. & Sun. Noon-4p, $100 GIG PERFORMANCE SPACE 1808 2ND STE. H, SANTA FE, 505.6909480

gigsantafe.com THROUGH JAN. 29: RECEPTION/ EXHIBITION

Wearables & Wallables This group show features ﬁber works by members of Silk Painter Guild, New Mexico Studio Art Quilters Association, Los Aranas Spinners & Weavers Guild and the artists of the Johnsons of Madrid Galleries. Reception: 2-5p, FREE JOHNSONS OF MADRID GALLERIES 2843 HWY 14 N, MADRID, 505.471.1054

visitmadridnm.com

THROUGH JAN. 27: WORKSHOP

Intro To Pueblo Weaving with Louie Garcia The art of weaving, an ancient tradition among the Pueblos of the Southwest, pre-dates pottery by several centuries. In this workshop, Garcia will teach students the history and the ever evolving aspects of Pueblo textile weaving. Students will be able to integrate what they have learned into future works of their own under the guidance of this truly gifted Pueblo weaver. Class dates: Jan. 12, 19,

MON 7

26, 27 from 9a-3p, $200

THROUGH JAN. 25: GALLERY TALK/ EXHIBITION

indianpueblo.org/workshops

Shifting Baselines “Shifting baseline” is a scientiﬁc term used to describe the way changes in the environment can be measured against previous reference points (baselines) that represent signiﬁcant changes from the original state. This term has become widely used to describe the shift over time in the expectation of what a healthy ecosystem baseline looks like. For the residency and exhibition titled Shifting Baselines, Hugh Pocock and Cynthia Hooper have each been invited by guest curator Patricia Watts to present both existing and new work at the Santa Fe Art Institute. Gallery talk at 6p. $5-$10 SANTA FE ART INSTITUTE 1600 S. MICHAEL’S, SANTA FE, 505.424.5050

sfai.org

FRI 11 THROUGH FEB. 3: PERFORMANCE

Cahoots Written by Rick Johnston, Cahoots has been called “a diverting comedy with murder” by the New York Times. It shows the dangers of a simple dinner party among four friends when long-suppressed secrets and hatreds suddenly

INDIAN PUEBLO CULTURAL CENTER 2401 12TH NW, 505.212.7052

Grow Up Crafternoons Do you enjoy knitting, crocheting, beading, card making, drawing or another portable craft? Would you like to meet other crafty folks and share your experiences? Bring your project and join this drop-in crafting group! Arrive when you can and leave as needed. Adults only please. The group is selfmonitored with no instructor. Please bring your own crafts. 2-3:30p, FREE LOMA COLORADO LIBRARY 755 LOMA COLORADO NE, RIO RANCHO, 505.891.5013

WED 16 Abstract Art and Image Making Discussion Artist C.A. Klimek, master printmaker and owner of Crow Press, Aaron Bass and artist and owner of Leich Lathrop Gallery, Chuck Lathrop will talk about how they develop images and what inspires them and what their process is and answer questions. 7-8:30p, FREE LEICH LATHROP GALLERY 323 ROMERO NW SUITE 1, 505.243.3059

leichlathropegallery.blogspot.com

smart ARTS

he new year is time for new beginnings, and in that spirit both Matrix Fine Art and New Grounds Print Workshop and Gallery, adjacent art shops in Nob Hill, will feature the newest, freshest pieces of art by an impressive roster of painters and printmakers. In a show designed to give collectors a sneak peak of what’s up and coming, artist exhibiting work at Matrix Fine Art are Laura Wacha, Deborah Donelson, Laura Robbins, Julia Lambright, Jacklyn St. Aubyn, Matthew Lutz, Sarah Hartshorne, Susan Evans, Russell Hamilton, David Koch and Raul Dorn. In the New Grounds print shop next door, the goal is to show a broad range of styles and printmaking techniques. Featured artists include Diane Alire, Mary Sundstrom, Adabel Allen, Nick Hudak, Sarah Anderson, Tanya Landin, Robert Katz, Ray Maseman and others. Whether it’s the often surreal, muted sketch-style paintings of Donelson, Hartshorne’s oil-on-canvas renderings of objects from nature or the detailed and precise prints created by Allen, the exhibits are sure to offer a smorgasbord of high-quality art by top local artists. —Mike English

he figurative and the abstract come together in the striking paintings by artist Sharon Schwartzmann. Schwartzmann — a noteworthy and successful artist — has been creating art for the majority of her life and has been producing art in New Mexico for the past two decades. Someone to Find: Self Portraits embodies the relationship(s) between self and a collective human experience. Her paintings are rich in content and always express who she is as a person, a female, a mother, a professional and an artist. All of Schwartzmann’s work Someone to Find: Self reveals her inner being in a series of self Portraits portraits, some somber and melancholy Opening reception: 5-7p, while others express unbridled happiness Fri., Jan. 11 and joy. Her paintings exhibit vivid colors, Page Coleman Gallery heavy outlines and deep contrasts, which 6320-B Linn NE, create habitual, confident, emotional and 505.238.5071 oftentimes bold gestures of the female figure. In her artist’s statement she said, FREE “The pieces represent feelings of strength, pagecolemangallery.com sharonschwartzmann.com more specifically, of freedom. My whole life has been an effort to fly free and to expand what I seem to know … I am the answer and the question. It all becomes the reason to try, to achieve, to see and to be.” Quite clearly, her paintings command a certain presence. They require a greater understanding into the self that is Schwartzmann and they demand a deeper meditation for inner growth and self-awareness. —Jennifer Moreland

New Work 5-8p, Fri., Jan. 4 Matrix Fine Art and New Grounds Gallery 3812 Central SE, 505.268.8952

FREE matrixfineart.com newgroundsprintshop.com

ocal iQ is made up of some pretty creative individuals, but none are quite as creative as photographer Wes Naman, who recently blew up in the world press for his latest photographic series — “The Scotch Tape Series.” What started as a goof last Christmas when Naman’s assistant, Joy Godfrey, placed taped her nose and stretched it to deform her face, blossomed into an entire series of images by friends and acquaintances who were more than willing to have their faces contorted into what the press has been calling monster or zombie faces. The ﬁrst media outlet to report on the series was Wired magazine, which Naman was The Scotch Tape Series quoted as saying, “I thought it would BY WES NAMAN wesnamanphotography.com just be a fun side project, but as it started to progress people really started to get into character and go over the top.” From there, the story was picked up by Hufﬁngton Post, British newspapers The Metro and The Telegraph and dozens of online outlets as far away as Israel, Dubai and Japan. “Deep down it’s always nice when people have a strong reaction to my images,” Naman told Wired. “I’ve had fun with this series but I’ve gotten it out of my system and I’m ready to move onto the next one.” Judging from past series that include shrunken or detached heads or people covered in white and red house paint, there is no telling what Naman will come up with next. —Kevin Hopper

LOCAL iQ | ALBUQUERQUE’S INTELLIGENT ALTERNATIVE | JANUARY 3-16, 2013

FILM

FILM SHORTS BY JEFF BERG

he title of this Tchoupitoulas appealing DIRECTED BY TURNER AND BILL ROSS documentary Opens Jan. 11 refers to a street that runs along Call for show times the Mississippi CCA River in New 1050 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe, 505.982.1338 Orleans. There ccasantafe.org is no narrator, rossbros.net/ but rather, the tchoupitoulas.html ﬁlm follows the adventures of three young brothers: William, Bryan and Kentrell. The trio has a soft “R-rated” Huck Finn-type all-night adventure while encountering many of the events and people that make New Orleans what it is. Smart and interesting.

Léa Seydoux (above) plays a young woman who lives off of the generosity of her younger, petty-thief brother (played by Kacey Mottet Klein, below) during peak tourist season in the Swiss Alps in Sister, directed by Ursula Meier and also starring Gillian Anderson (X Files, below) as a vacationing single mother of two.

Familial bonds Relationship between young thief and older sibling forms the core of this ﬁne, dark drama JEFF BERG

few months ago, The Kid with A Bike played hereabouts. It was a most interesting and realistic film about a boy who has been abandoned by his father and will not give up the search. During his hunt for his Papa, the kid encounters all manner of people, good and bad, who either help or hinder his search. Sister could almost be a continuation REVIEW of that excellent picture, and a much Sister better one as well. DIRECTED BY This beautifully URSULA MEIER filmed movie 4:30, 8:30p, takes place at a Jan. 11-14 Swiss ski resort Guild Cinema (this is the Swiss 3405 Central NE, 505.255.1848 submission for guildcinema.com Oscar consideration adoptfilms.com for “Best Foreign Language Film,” by the way) and tells the story of a young boy of 12 or so, named Simon, who makes his living by stealing from the wealthy resort patrons, and sometimes from the staff. He is quite good at his craft, and does a pretty fair job of selling the stuff, mostly to resort employees who sometimes kite the stuff themselves after they buy it. He also fools a few people into thinking he is on their level and one of the rich and carefree folks who are

at the resort for good reason. Simon has a much different home life, however. He lives in an ugly tower-type building, far away from the resort, which serves as the home to many of those who serve the gentry that frequents the resort. It is a tiny place, ﬁlled with odds and ends and his older sister Louise. As Simon makes money, she spends it, whiling away her days with a selection of abusive beaus who may or may not be paying her for “services.” Simon is something of a baby sugar daddy for the dowdy-looking Louise. He doesn’t seem to be too concerned about her lack of initiative or the fact that she doesn’t seem to have a real job. The one time she does get a job, cleaning homes of the wealthy, Simon’s thieving practices cause her to be ﬁred. It’s never really clear as to the whereabouts of Louise’s and Simon’s parents, until an

LOCAL iQ | ALBUQUERQUE’S INTELLIGENT ALTERNATIVE | JANUARY 3-16, 2013

alarming scene in which they are riding with her boyfriend of the moment and receive some startling information. This causes the film to take a hugely dark and dramatic turn. Even the louse boyfriend is uncomfortable with this news and drops the pair alongside the road. This makes it clear that Simon wants much more — or more accurately, just something from Louise. Cold and withdrawn, she seems to find Simon a huge inconvenience rather than a family member. After a while, Simon’s business at the resort becomes suspect and Louise has to take over the job. She does pretty well, but with such a short attention span, it is not long before Simon has to take bigger risks. He even takes on a younger and rather immature assistant, who leads to more problems, but not until after Simon makes one big haul at the resort. It is at this point where the entire film takes another big and dark turn. Wanting to keep Louise close and knowing the only way he can do so is with money, he makes Louise an unusual and rather disturbing proposition. The movie is directed by Ursula Maier, who spoke after the screening I attended at last year’s Denver Film Festival. She noted the strong performances of the cast, which she said made the story feel much stronger, and rightly so. Sister is a dark and real drama that may seem all too realistic at times.

Chasing Ice ot that it would help DIRECTED BY JEFF ORLOWSKI those who still 2:45, 6:45p, Jan. 11-14 think there is no Guild Cinema such thing as 3405 Central NE, global warming, 505.255.1848 but a viewing guildcinema.com of this ﬁlm is chasingice.com required for anyone with an open mind or who is already aware of the problem; just maybe it will open some eyes. James Balog worked for four years, placing several cameras at strategic places in northern climes, to verify the huge loss of ice that is taking place on our fragile planet. Remarkable and saddening.

agner and Wagner and Me Me, which DIRECTED BY PATRICK traces the life and MCGRADY work of the famed 2:30, 6:30p, Jan. composer who 15-18 was a favorite of Guild Cinema Adolf Hitler, is 3405 Central NE, hard to categorize. 505.255.1848 Narrated by actor guildcinema.com Stephen Fry, who wagnerandme.com is Jewish and lost family members in the Holocaust, it is mostly a fawning tribute to the great composer, sometimes lent interest by Fry’s efforts to balance his heritage with his own passion for Wagner’s work. Arid but unique.

PLANET WAVES Breaking News: The world did not end on Dec. 21, 2012. Mars, the planet of drive and desire, will square Saturn, the planet of structure, in early January. This looks like some kind of group consensus building that where emotional and erotic energy is involved, there is only so far stuffing things down can go; eventually the container fills up. Group opinion, described by Mars in Aquarius, is saying that it’s time to break free against the constraints of Saturn in Scorpio. Beware of emotional frustration, or conforming without careful thought, to what you think others want. The Sun is now in Capricorn, where we’ll experience a New Moon on Jan. 11. The corresponding Leo Full Moon occurs Jan. 26. All of the inner planets are moving in direct motion. Jupiter is currently retrograde in Gemini, and stations direct on Jan. 30, where it will sail clear across that sign in one final go, and ingress Cancer (one of its home signs) on Jun. 25. ARIES (MAR. 20-APR. 19) You don’t need validation from others to renegotiate a relationship arrangement; this is between you and the person you’re involved with. Yet you may be influenced by the opinions of your friends, or what you perceive as public opinion. Monitor this factor carefully, even if you think that it doesn’t apply. Much of what people do in their one-on-one relationships is influenced or even dictated by presumed norms of their social circle, or what they read in magazines. The kinds of relationships we have, why we have them and who we have them with are all under this influence. In the best-case scenario, you may be about to break free of both the views of others and the constraints of an intimate partnership. Make sure that your intentions are what actually guides your life. TAURUS (APR. 19-MAY 20) There is no suppressing passion, though many have tried to harness its energy for purposes other than enjoyment and creativity. Have you noticed that there’s not one religion that suggests that the love of humans for one another is more important than God? Given that the existence of other humans is a proven part of daily life, we have reason to question this kind of philosophical dictate — but only if we notice it. Speaking of the relationship between love, passion and religion, you seem to be ready to ignite the karma of very old patterns that has held you down for so long. You’ve certainly done plenty of questioning what you’ve been told, though now you’re in a position to directly challenge these instructions and patterns with your actual feelings, your body and your soul. Forget the theory; go into the experience directly. GEMINI (MAY 20-JUN. 21) If you want depth, you don’t have to dig or blast. The way is open, and you’re being invited in. This is a different kind of intimacy than what you may have known before. The one-on-one concept of closeness still exists, though in the context of other forms of contact. I suggest you take a gentle and exploratory approach to the events of the next few weeks, placing emphasis on opening up the possibilities rather than closing them off. If you remain open to experience, and stay alert, this journey will reveal how much potential there is in the realm of relationships. I would remind you that it’s easy for old patterns to have an undue influence on new opportunities that you’ve never experienced — and that’s the very pattern this experience can take you beyond. CANCER (JUN. 21-JUL. 22) Plenty seems to be changing in your life, but is it really happening to you? It would seem that most of what is

by Eric Francis • planetwaves. net

moving is focused on the lives and situations of others, and being the sensitive person you are, you need to exercise choice over your involvement. There will be situations involving intimate partners where you will have a direct role, and even there, it’s important that you recognize your limited involvement. This will help matters rather than hinder them. Part of your value in the situation is expressing empathy and holding space, while not being too wrapped up in it. Learning this skill may be one of the central “lessons” of this lifetime. To safely assist and facilitate the processes of others, a measure of objectivity is required, and as you know, that is easier said than done. LEO (JUL. 22-AUG. 23) Building your foundations is directly related to your healing process. This in turn is directly related to your ability to structure your work and accomplish what you set out to do every day. These are practical matters, not merely emotional or intellectual notions. Your mode of development and expression is as much in physical space and time as it is an “inner reality,” to which healing is so often relegated. You’re at the beginning of this particular process; what you’re doing now is building the foundation for much that will follow. There is a relationship between your physical space, your emotional space and your growth process. One theme is how you define security, and this is rapidly evolving. That at the moment it involves the space you occupy conceals a deeper truth — the one about the roots of your soul. VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEP. 22) It sometimes takes a push for you to break free from your cautious or retreating nature and take a chance. I’m not even talking about a very big chance; I mean breaking free of a familiar pattern long enough for something new to happen. Well, you’re in a heck of a moment to establish something strong, solid, original and genuinely creative. It’s as if your life cracks open and is revealed to be an egg, from which something truly beautiful hatches. That something would be you, with newborn passion for your presence on the planet and what you came here to do. Who needs enlightenment when you can devote yourself to having fun, in connection to a useful purpose? I recognize you have too many memories of living ways other than this, though they seem to be fading fast. LIBRA (SEP. 22-OCT. 23) Those who strive for security tend to create false security rather than establish the conditions that would support actual confidence. Skip the externals, for now; work making peace with the mixed-up, antiquated ideas that you got from your family as a kid and young adult. Some of those people had no idea what it means to be secure on the planet, though fair to say, few people really do. You seem determined to find out; and you’re in the perfect position to do so. One thing you may learn is that feeling grounded involves accepting the fact that the Earth is moving, that it is a work in progress and that you are a work in progress. But there is such a thing as relatively solid ground — and as the next few weeks progress you are likely to discover a few places that match this description. SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 22) You have a lot of options open, including making some big moves with relative ease. There is a flow between the most personal aspects of your psyche and some of the most worldly, professional ones. There is a blend of the evolutionary impulse, deep instinct and a kind of freemason-like ability to structure the physical world. This is to

UNIVERSAL CROSSWORD

say, you can make the decisions you’ve been wanting to make for a while, and you don’t need to worry if they are too big. Once you make these particular choices, and address the changes that are involved in following through with them, you will see that in fact they were relatively minor and mainly served to improve your life and build your confidence, so that you can make even more significant adjustments over the course of the next year. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 22) You now get to focus on money — perhaps in the most meaningful way ever. You get to make up for a lot of past mistakes this month, and do something with the whole “if I only knew then what I know now” thing. And it’s true, this is about what you do with knowledge, in particular, knowledge of your priorities. If you have conscious priorities, you’re so far ahead of the game, you would be shocked. If you develop them over time (which you do) you are at a significant advantage, and if you put your knowledge into action, you have what it takes to do this thing called succeed. Yet the name of the tune is succeeding at what is the most meaningful to you. And to do that, you have to be aware what that thing is. CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 20) You have incredible strength to draw on now. It’s coming from a diversity of sources, though one of the most powerful is from devotion. We’ve all heard that the reward of patience is more patience, which is not exactly encouraging, since that perhaps implies some shade of not getting what you want, or delaying gratification (which would be a brilliant thing, in modern Western society). Your devotion, however, is the source of your potency, and that devotion is driven by genuine affection. What the charts are suggesting is that you will be changed by this process, and so too will the people you are close to. There is something here about breaking through the facade of existence and opening yourself up to the core of what it means to be alive in a fully committed way. AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 19) We all have secrets, and yours are pretty interesting. The ones that you would think are likely to make you feel the most guilty for revealing are actually those most likely to stir up your passion. They are the most nourishing and (dare I suggest) empowering. Don’t keep this stuff to yourself. Find people to share your most intimate thoughts with, and keep letting it out, engaging in an actual dialog with those who want to know you and, for that matter, those who express any interest. The release of pressure will remind you that you’re a whole person with nothing to hide. That, in turn, will help you feel more comfortable in your skin, which will increase your sense of presence and stature. In other words, keeping secrets is not good for success. Feeling good is excellent for it, though. PISCES (FEB. 19-MAR. 20) It’s time to start focusing your energy. I suggest you begin that focusing project at home, as New Year’s cleaning and organizing. For good luck, collect everything you don’t need and give it away or throw it out. The next step is focusing your social energy. You are in high-visibility, open-access season right now as the Sun transits through Capricorn, so you may be a little overwhelmed. I suggest that everyone in your life have their specific purpose, even if that purpose is ‘good company’. I know that that functionality is not high on most people’s social agenda, but it is on yours. One other thing: The line between lovers and friends is as permeable as it will ever be right now. There is a space open for deep exchange. Keep an open mind and an open heart.

SOLUTION ON PAGE 24

LOCAL iQ | ALBUQUERQUE’S INTELLIGENT ALTERNATIVE | JANUARY 3-16, 2013

Take care of your credit while renting

eople know what a major financial step home ownership represents, but we often overlook the financial and credit implications of renting an apartment or home. There are important things to consider. When renting a home or apartment, one of the first things to do is investigate the area and call the local police and find out the crime level in the area. If you are thinking of renting an apartment, be sure to ask how many times the police have been called out to that apartment complex. Many consumers have walked out on their contract due to unexpected crime at the apartment complex or surrounding areas. Also, be sure to get a lease that properly fits your future. Don’t take sign a oneyear lease if there is a possibility of a job

change. It is best to do six months at a time if possible. Before signing a contract, walk through the apartment or home with the manager and document all imperfections in the dwelling and have the manager or owner sign it. Follow up with photos of every room. Put this documentation in a ﬁle and don’t lose it, because we have seen management change hands and the new person will have no documentation of the imperfections you found. This will save you from being charged excess fees, and

C OM M U N I T Y E VE N T S THU 3 Story Time Celebrate Festival of Sleep Day with bedtime stories, bring a teddy bear and join. 10:30a, FREE BOOKWORKS 4022 RIO GRANDE NW, 505.344.8139

bkwrks.com

FRI 4 Community Meditation Learn an ancient sound to access the higher power within, and to experience more love in daily life. 6:30p, FREE ECKANKAR CENTER 2501 SAN PEDRO NE, SUITE 113, 505.265.7388

SUN 6 BOOK SIGNING

Bob Julyan, Sweeney This quixotic tale of Sweeney’s journey of survival and selfdiscovery offers a wry glimpse of the oddities and opportunities of small-town life, featuring aliens, nudists, naked bull riders, and above all, Sweeney’s crazy citizens. 3p, FREE BOOKWORKS 4022 RIO GRANDE NW, 505.344.8139

bkwrks.com

TUE

Gentle Yoga With Susan Gordon Improve ﬂexibility, strength, balance and range of motion. Many yoga poses may be done with a chair. Ms. Gordon is a certiﬁed yoga teacher. No experience is necessary. 7-7:45p, FREE LOMA COLORADO LIBRARY 755 LOMA COLORADO NE, RIO RANCHO, 505.891.5013

ci.rio-rancho.nm.us Story Time Eat a bowl of soup in recognition of National Soup Month as a version of Stone Soup is read. 10:30a, FREE BOOKWORKS 4022 RIO GRANDE NW, 505.344.8139

bkwrks.com

FRI

ABQ Newcomers’ Club Welcome Coffee Monthly luncheons and speakers, dining out, visits to area attractions, etc. Men’s group. Membership open to residents who have lived in the ABQ area (including Sandoval County) for ﬁve years or less. 10a, FREE

Community Meditation Learn an ancient sound to access the higher power within you, and to experience more love in your daily life. 10-10:30a, FREE

meditationinnewmexico.org

SANDIA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 10704 PASEO DEL NORTE NE, 505.321.6970

SAT

BOOK SIGNING

albuquerquenewcomersclub.org

Winter Bird & Bat Festival 2013 This event will include slide shows and talks. The festival also will offer guided bird and nature walks, crafts for kids, live birds with Wildlife Rescue, live bats with Laurie Wearne, and bird ID with The Audubon Society. 10a-4p, FREE ($3

miraclesinyourlife.org Meditation For Beginners Take a break from busy days and enjoy a quick and easy guided meditation that can immediately provide a peaceful state of mind. Noon-1p, $5 KADAMPA MEDITATION CENTER NM 8701 COMANCHE NE, 505.292.5293

Caleb Kelchner Kelchner, a resident of ABQ, will be available to sign copies of his book The Glass Shadow. 6-8p, FREE HASTINGS 6501 WINTER HAVEN NW, 888.361.9473

gohastings.com

SAT

BOOK SIGNING

Carrie Blaisdell, Gus Blaisdell Collected From the moment he arrived in NM in 1964, Gus Blaisdell (19352003) was a legendary presence. Famous in ABQ as a writer, teacher, publisher, editor and as the proprietor of the Living Batch bookstore, Blaisdell was also a critic. This collection of Blaisdell’s critical writings includes essays on literature, art and ﬁlm, along with moving tributes by some of the writers who numbered Blaisdell among their friends. 3p, FREE BOOKWORKS 4022 RIO GRANDE NW, 505.344.8139

bkwrks.com

Tales & Cocoa Adults who are young at heart are invited to “The Glory of Story,” an evening of tales and songs. 6:30p, FREE ESTHER BONE MEMORIAL LIBRARY 950 PINETREE SE, RIO RANCHO, 505.891.5012 ci.rio-rancho.nm.us

PRESENTATION/MEDITATION

Kathryn Ravenwood, “How to Create Sacred Water: A Guide to Rituals and Practices” Ravenwood explains how to create crystal homeopathic elixirs using a sacred water altar and attuned crystals. 7p, FREE BOOKWORKS 4022 RIO GRANDE NW, 505.344.8139

bkwrks.com

WED 9 Bookworks Book Club This book club reads a thoughtprovoking selection of ﬁction and nonﬁction. 7p, FREE BOOKWORKS 4022 RIO GRANDE NW, 505.344.8139

bkwrks.com

THU

you will cut down on many problems when moving out. Now, if you have a judgment on your credit report for a rental that you had early termination on, go back to that house or apartment you lived in and ask the new tenant when they moved in. Because if they moved in right after you moved out, the judgment can be dismissed because management cannot charge the same rent twice. Protect your family and rent wisely. And until next time, good credit to you. Michael Ramos is the owner of Credit Rescue Now (creditrescuenow.com, 505.899.1448), where free educational classes are offered the second Saturday of every month.

LOCAL iQ | ALBUQUERQUE’S INTELLIGENT ALTERNATIVE | JANUARY 3-16, 2013

HIGHLAND SENIOR CENTER 131 MONROE NE, 505.265.7388

miraclesinyourlife.org

day-use vehicle fee) THE FRIENDS OF THE RIO GRANDE NATURE CENTER, 2901 CANDELARIA NW, 505.344.7240 rgnc.org

BOOK TALK

Terri Giron-Gordon, It Takes Work to Be Happy: Tips, Tales and Testimonies It Takes Work to be Happy offers a fun, innovative, and effective approach to creating and maintaining a happy and productive workplace. 3p, FREE BOOKWORKS 4022 RIO GRANDE NW, 505.344.8139

bkwrks.com

SUN

BOOK EVENT

Roberta Haldane, Gold-Mining Boomtown: People of White Oaks, Lincoln County, New

Mexico Territory In Gold-Mining Boomtown, Roberta Key Haldane offers an intimate portrait of White Oaks, NM Territory by proﬁling more than forty families and individuals who made their homes there during its heyday. 3p, FREE BOOKWORKS 4022 RIO GRANDE NW, 505.344.8139

bkwrks.com

TUE

BOOK EVENT

Alisa Valdes, The Feminist and the Cowboy The bestselling author of The Dirty Girls Social Club returns with an engrossing memoir about how falling in love with a sexy cowboy turned her feminist beliefs upside down. 7p, FREE BOOKWORKS 4022 RIO GRANDE NW, 505.344.8139

bkwrks.com

WED

BOOK EVENT

Eric Herm, Son of a Farmer, Child of the Earth This book examines commercial agriculture’s strain on our natural resources, ecosystems and the farmer. 7p, FREE BOOKWORKS 4022 RIO GRANDE NW, 505.344.8139

bkwrks.com

ONGOING EVERY THURSDAY THROUGH APR.. 25: KNITTING CLUB

Knit Clique This group is for knitters in grades 5 and up. Learn some stitches and simple techniques. Beginners must bring US size 7 needle, the longer length, and a skein of 4 ply 3 ox. acrylic yarn. Every Thu., 4:305:30p, FREE ESTHER BONE MEMORIAL LIBRARY 950 PINETREE SE, RIO RANCHO, 505.891.5012

ci.rio-rancho.nm.us FIRST SAT. OF EVERY MONTH

Self-Published/Local Author Book Fair Authors are invited to bring their books to promote independently and sell at Page One Bookstore’s self-publishing fair. First Sat, of every month. 3-5p, FREE PAGE ONE BOOKSTORE 11018 MONTGOMERY NE, 505.294.2026

page1book.com