Celebrate Our Independence at Freedom Fourth

There’s always lots to do in Albuquerque on July 4th. Among the area’s most prominent Independence Day events is “Freedom Fourth”—hosted by the City of Albuquerque at Balloon Fiesta Park.

Of course, you’ll get to enjoy the spectacular fireworks display the city is famous for. In addition, this year’s Freedom Fourth will also include a variety of other festivities, including a car show, free children’s activities, and a local beer garden.

Musical acts slated to take the stage include country singer John Michael Montgomery, indie pop band Summer XO, and country rockers Bartender 4 Mayor. This year, there will also be a “cultural stage,” featuring internationally themed performances:

Cultural Stage Schedule
• 4-4:30 Japanese Folk Dancing Group
• 4:45-5:15 Sadaqah
• 5:30-6 Tahitian Dancers
• 6:15-6:45 Coleman Academy of Irish Dance
• 7-8 National Institute of Flamenco

Freedom Fourth will be held at Balloon Fiesta Park on July 4, with events starting at 4 PM, lasting all the way through the fireworks display at 9:15 PM. For more information on Freedom Fourth, directly from the City of Albuquerque, click here.

Cool Music on Summer Nights at ABQ BioPark

Albuquerque’s arts scene continues to flourish—and this summer, area residents can take advantage of its ABQ BioPark Summer Concert Series.

The series consists of two lineups: its Zoo Music lineup showcases regional, national and international talent playing a variety of music on the ABQ BioPark Zoo’s lawn, with animal exhibits open until 8pm.
The current lineup for the Zoo Music series includes:

June 21 - The Dunwells
June 28 - Earl Klugh
July 12 - Mountain Heart
July 19 - Ryan McGarvy
July 26 - Locarno
August 2 - Ruthie Foster
August 9 - The Young Dubliners

The Summer Nights series, on the Botanic Garden’s Festival Green, also features a variety of local musicians, with the Garden's model train, Heritage Farm, and Sasebo Japanese Garden all available to check out throughout the evening. The lineup for the Summer nights series is:

June 27 - Incendio
July 11 - Max Gomez
July 18 - Finnders & Youngberg
July 25 - I Draw Slow
August 1 - Honey House
August 8 - The Derailers
August 15 - Barnaby Bright
August 22 – Steve Plotz
August 29 – Slaid Cleaves

For more information about the ABQ BioPark Summer Concert Series, click here.

Everyone Should Have These Photos on Their Phone

Image courtesy of commons.wikipedia,org

Phones today are the most useful and necessary tools that a lot of people have at their disposal. Forget voicemails and texting - our phones now help us navigate, find new music, calculate how much money we should leave as a tip, and a whole plethora of other things.

But are you taking full advantage of one of the simplest features on a modern day phone? It’s not a secret that many people use their phones in place of a camera. It’s also not a secret that many people use their e-mail or a Notes feature on their phone to keep track of little details. But why not combine the two into a far more useful reminder?

A picture is far more vivid and helpful than a few words that you may misspell or forget the meaning of. So what should you be taking pictures of and saving in your phone? Apartmenttherapy.com has the answer:

Here are a few things that can easily be remembered with a quick snap of your camera phone's shutter button:

• A reminder of where you parked. Parking in the city is no joke.

• Your printer cartridges. Make sure you can see the refill numbers.

• Your family members' clothing sizes.

• The measurements of your air filter.

• Travel confirmation numbers. Take a screenshot of the email your airline sends you. When you check in later and need to find confirmation numbers, your photo album will be less cluttered than your inbox.

• Pictures of current medications. Make sure you can see the prescriptions' names and dosages in the photo.

• The types of lightbulbs that fit your home fixtures.

• A recipe from a book or magazine that you want to use soon.

• Anything "borrowed" that you might want to buy later, like the brand of a smooth-writing pen at the bank or a great-smelling hotel shampoo.

• Expensive home furnishings you just know you can DIY at home. Get shots of all the important angles for when you're ready to DIY.

Read the full original article here - and tell us in the comments if you use your camera to help you remember anything else that’s not on this list!

9 Smart Shopping Tips for Summer (Flea) Markets

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

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

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

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


1. Bring a tape measure

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


2. Check for issues

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


3. Look for a label

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



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