Albuquerque, NM

I have a long list of things to be thankful for. You too huh? Good. I also have some upcoming blogs about concerns in our neighborhoods, non-profits, and the like.

Today I have to get ready for 2 Thanksgiving day meals. Plus I’ve given myself permission to eat anything I want! Back on the new eating plan TOMORROW! So a short list and a short story.

Yesterday, I did something new (in recent history), I went to the Food Depot, and contributed $25 in honor of my best friend. Her income has dropped this year for multiple reasons, and recently when I asked if she wanted more referrals (because she is plenty busy this time of the year), she asked for a particular type of referral so that she could direct that income to the Food Depot. Already, before the hard part of winter is here, requests are up 40%. Now $25 isn’t much, nor is my income. However I may sign up for a monthly giving plan. You could too at www.thefooddepot.org Although this comprises part of her Christmas present, I was the one who felt good. That $25 will make 100 meals! Here in the good ole USA. I gave her present early, and she was pleased too.

Short list of gratitude:
1) We have a new overflow homeless shelter in Santa Fe! Mothers and children will have more room. Anyone will have another place to go. Several faith based organizations chipped in. I like when interfaith works happen. Cuts down on some divisiveness. God at work!
2) The food depot has a fresh vegetables donation every Friday. Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s contribute some too. My friends at the senior center are eating a little healthier now.
3) God is good. People can help too.
4) Friends take care of me often!
5) Swimming.
6)My cats.
I could go on and on. I am glad that I am thinking beyond myself more. I am glad that I live in a caring community. I am glad that in every life there is good. Celebrate our abundance, and please pray for those in need.
From ABQarts….
Art in abundance … a couple of art shows:
9th Annual Rio Grande Arts & Crafts Holiday Show with more than 200 fine artists and artisans from all over the nation.
Friday, Nov. 28-Sunday, Nov. 30 until 5pm
Expo New Mexico - Manuel Lujan Exhibit Complex
(505) 292-7457
riograndefes tivals.com
Corrales Holiday Art Festival featuring 40 artisans presenting paintings, sculpture, ceramics, fabric art, pastels, iron work, and much more. Free parking and admission
Friday-Sunday Nov. 28-30 until 5pm (4 on Sunday)
Corrales Recreational Center (large heated tent)
Village of Corrales
(505) 898-9898
corralesartists.or g

Shadow Boxes and Miniatures at Mariposa
Cynthia Cook and Diana Stetson bring their masterful works to Mariposa in a show opening for Nob Hill Shop and Stroll. Mixed media artist Cynthia Cook employs wood and glass to encapsulate her mysterious world of flora, fuana and other emphera. Her shadow boxes have been compared to the master works of Joseph Cornell. Upstairs will be new works by master printmaker Diana Stetson. Part of the14th Annual Nob Hill Holiday Shop and Stroll. Central Avenue will be closed to cars and entertainment will abound. Park and Ride from Northwest corner of Central and University. Reception Thursday, Dec. 4, 5-10pm
Along Central Avenue in Nob Hill
Mariposa Gallery
3500 Central SE
(505) 268-6828
mariposa- gallery.com

Santiago Perez at 105 Studios
Santiago Perez presents The Fly on the End of Your Nose, a Christmas Miscellany. His fantastical paintings, stories and other distractions with delight you.
Reception Friday, Dec. 5, 5-8pm
105 Studios
105 Fourth Street SW
(505) 363-3868

Piedra, Papel. Lienzo y Tijeras
Seven contemporary Spanish artists collaborated on this project. They all work and live in Madrid and its influence is obvious in the exhibition. Whether in urban landscapes or imagined seascapes, the old world appeal of landlocked Madrid permeates each of the creations. Artist Andres Delgado will be flying into Albuquerque from Madrid, Spain to attend the opening reception. This is part of the First Friday Artscrawl. For information on all 25 gallery shows, visit the website.
Reception Friday, Dec. 5, 5-9pm
ArtHaus66 Gallery
6320 Linn Ave. NE #C
(505) 830-9653
arthaus66.com

Vote for Albuquerque Last year Albuquerque was ranked the #7 arts destinations among large American cities by American Style Magazine, only beat out by the likes of New York and San Francisco. To vote, go to AmericanStyle and click on the box that says Top 25 Arts Destinations. All ballots received by January 31, 2009 will be entered to win a $500 travel certificate. Help spread the word!

Performing Arts
Theater, Dance, Lectures, Poetry and more …

The Q: An Improvised Soap Opera at the Box
Some of Albuquerque’s best improvisers come together to bring you love triangles, deception, evil twins and insidious murder plots.
Performance Friday, Nov. 28, 9pm
Box Performance Space
1025 Lomas Blvd. NW
(505) 404-1578
theboxabq.com

Miracle on 34th Street at ALT
In 1936 ALT moved into its present home just south of the historic Old Town section of Albuquerque.The original building designed by famed southwestern architect, John Gaw Meem, was the first structure in Albuquerque to be built by the Works Progress Administration as part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s “New Deal.” Bringing theater to Albuquerque ever since, ALT brings this holiday favorite that the whole family can enjoy. Runs through December 21.
Opening Performance Friday, Nov. 28, 8pm
Albuquerque Little Theater
224 San Pasquale SW
(505) 242-4750
albuque rquelittletheatre.org

Night Magic, Light Magic with the Twinkle Light Parade
The annual Twinkle Light parade takes place in downtown Albuquerque Saturday. Parade entries will be all decked out in festive holiday lighting. View the parade along Central Avenue for about two miles between Third Street and San Pasquale on both sides of Central. From San Pasquale west it is best to view on the south side of Central.Following the parade, spectators and parade participants may enter the Rio Grande Botanic Garden and enjoy the magic of hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights and dazzling holiday displays at the River of Lights. (There is a fee to enter the River of Lights). Free parking for the parade is available at 5th and Copper, 2nd and Gold and 3rd and Copper. You can ride Rapid Ride for FREE until 10pm. Call 243-7433 for route information.
Special Event Saturday, Nov. 29, beginning at 5:15pm
Downtown Albuquerque
cabq.gov

Fresh Starts at the Vortex
A staged reading of Fresh Starts, a new play by Dianne Lewis, directed by Lee Kitts, will be held at the Vortex on Sunday. FREE and open to the public
Reading Sunday, Nov. 30, 1pm
The Vortex Theater
3 blocks east of University on Central (across from UNM)
(505) 247-8600
vortexabq.org

The Helicab comes to the Filling Station
A 70 minute collection of scenes, by Will Kern, from a day in the life of a Chicago cabbie. Beginning with a 6:30am trip by a born-again couple … the cabbie’s long day’s journey proceeds with fares from many questionable characters. Runs through December 21.
Opening Performance Thursday, Dec. 4, 8pm
The Filling Station
1024 Fourth St. SW
(505) 890-6593
fillingstationab q.com

ABQ WOW (Women of the World)
ABQslams presents ten of the best female performance poets in Albuquerque, competing to claim the title of Best Woman Slammer in ABQ. The winner will represent the Duke city at the International Women of the World Poetry Slam in Detroit in March 2009.
Performance Saturday, Dec. 6, 7:30pm
Outpost Performance Space
210 Yale SE
(505) 268-0044
ABQSlams.org

For more about on-going performances not being highlighted in undergroundARTS, visit the albuquerqueARTS website.
abqarts.com

Music
musical performances, workshops and festivals

My Brightest Diamond at The Cooperage
My Brightest Diamond is spearheaded by Shara Worden, granddaughter of an Opiphone-playing traveling evangelist, fathered by a National Accordian Champion, and mothered by a classical organist. By age eight she was studying piano and performing in community musical productions. Having a family of musical wanderers who migrated across the US, the landscape and musical influences were diverse to say the least. She topped her experiences off with an opera degree at the University of North Texas and opera studies in NYC. Expect an unequaled amalgamation of style and color. Opening for Diamond is Clare Muldaur, daughter of music innovator Geoff Muldaur. Clare studied jazz arranging and composition at Berklee College of Music. This is a 21+ event presented by AMP Productions.
Performance Sunday, Nov. 30, 8pm
The Cooperage
7220 Lomas NE (just east of Louisiana)
(505) 232-9868
abqmusic.com

Cindy Blackman Quartet at the Outpost
Cindy Blackman began her musical career as a New York street performer and later spent three semesters at Berklee College of Music in Boston where she also studied with the legendary percussion guru, Alan Dawson. Touted as “one of the hottest drummers in the business” by the Star-Gazette, Blackman is a powerhouse who is solid, dependable, and inventive, easily moving from straight-ahead jazz to rock to funk and back. She has accompanied a veritable “Who’s Who” in jazz including Jackie McLean, Joe Henderson, Wallace Roney, Hugh Masekela, Pharaoh Sanders, Sam Rivers, Cassandra Wilson, Angela Bofill and Ron Carter. She also performed with rock & funk greats like James Brown, Led Zeppelin’s Jon-Paul Jones, Iggy Pop, Prince and Mick Jagger. Blackman has released several highly acclaimed solo albums including Works on Canvas (2000), Someday (2004) and Music For The New Millennium which she released herself in 2005. Talking Drum said, “You can be assured that Ms. Blackman will be around for a long time to come … She is thunder. She is fire. She is energy. She is passion. She is Cindy Blackman.” She returns to The Space with her quartet featuring J.D. Allen, tenor saxophone; Carlton Holmes, piano and Fender Rhodes; and George Mitchell, bass.
Performance Thursday, Dec. 4, 8pm
Outpost Performance Space
210 Yale SE
(505) 268-0044
outpostspace.org

Albuquerque Songwriter Series
The last Albuquerque Songwriter Series of theyear takes place at the Slate Street Cafe in the Wine Loft on December 4th. Admission is FREE.
Performance Thursday, Dec. 4, 7-9pm
Slate Street Cafe
515 Slate NW
(505) 243-2210

For more about on-going performances not being highlighted in undergroundARTS, visit the albuquerqueARTS website.
abqarts.com

Film Arts
art films, films about art, and news from the Film Industry

Monthly Movie and Music Festival at the El Rey
Put on your leather jackets, cuff your jeans and lace up your dancing shoes as the El Rey presents the black and white drive-in classic “The Ghost of Dragstrip Hollow Meets The Hot Rod Gang,” immediately followed by performances by Le Chat Lunatique, Swinging Meat and the Hydromatics. The film showing will include classic drive-in commercials and a Betty Boop cartoon.Everything you need to know about this film is here.
Special Event Friday, Nov. 28, 7:30pm
El Rey Theater
620 Central Ave SW
(505) 242-2343
elreytheater.com

Free Panel presented by Santa Fe Film Festival
A discussion of the art and business of composing for film, television and all media as well as sound editing and design, this event is FREE and open to the public. Learn how music makes or breaks a film. Moderated by Gordon Schaefer of Soulfood and featuring Howard Shore, Oscar-winning composer of Return of the King; John Kurzweg, pop/rock producer and composer of independent film soundtracks; Michael Stearns, and licensing attorney Giovanni Martin.
Panel discussion Thursday, Dec. 4, 2- 4pm
Warehouse 21
1614 Paseo de Paralta in Santa Fe
(505) 989-4423
warehouse21.org

Take a Road Trip
You have asked for some out of town coverage too

Head North to Santa Fe this weekend

35th Annual La Cienega Studio Tour
Visit more than 30 artists in their studios working in both contemporary and traditional styles with pottery, glass, fiber, painting, photography, jewelry and more. The La Cienega tour was one of the first studio tours in northern New Mexico and many of the participating artists are descendants of the original Hispanic settlers. To get there, take I-25 north to exit 271, then drive west to Los Pinos Road and watch for signs.
Studio Tour Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 29-30, 10- 5
La Cienega NM (south of Santa Fe)
lacienegas tudiotour.com

3rd Annual Santa Fe Indian Market Winter Showcase
Tickets available at the door ($5 per day).
Art showcase Sat. Nov. 29, 10-4, Sun. Nov. 30, 10-3
Santa Fe Community Convention Center
201 West Marcy Street
(505) 983-5220
swaia.org

8th Annual Contemporary Hispanic Winter Market
Over 50 artists will exhibit.
Artists’ Market Sat. Nov. 29, 9-5, Sun. Nov. 30, 9- 4
El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe
1615-B Paseo de Peralta
(505) 992-0591