New Years Eve Events in ABQ

What will you be doing on New Years Eve? There are tons of possibilities this year as far as events go. Whether you want a low-key, educational evening or a crazy dance party with loud music, there’s bound to be a suitable event within your price range happening.

About.com’s Aileen O’Catherine has compiled a list of some of the best New Years parties coming up in Albuquerque this year. Here are some of them - keep in mind that these parties are for adults 21 and over, with the exception of Tamaya, which offers babysitting services for the little ones:

Casino Hollywood

25 Hagen Road, San Felipe Pueblo

(505) 867-6700

The New Year's Eve party at Casino Hollywood features the "Unbreakable" Michael Jackson tribute.

Cooperage

7220 Lomas NE

(505) 255-1657

The Cooperage always offers great live music, and a dance floor. Son Como Son plays salsa beginning at 9:30 p.m. $15 at the door, $10 if you have dinner. Includes party favors and midnight champagne.

More Info

Foul Play Cafe New Year's Eve Dinner Theater

Sheraton Uptown

2600 Louisiana NE

Albuquerque, NM 87110

(505) 377-9593

The Foul Play Cafe presents an evening of theater with a special presentation of "Noir Suspicions." Enjoy a special menu in the dinner theater where the audience is part of the production. It's up to you to convince the magistrate that Rich Archer, manager of the Cafe Noir, is innocent of murder. Written in honor of the 50th anniversary of Casablanca, there will be a contest to see if you can guess the number of references to the film that are in the play. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. Dinner theater tickets are $66 per person.

The Sheraton has a special for those who want to stay after the show for the Great Gatsby New Year's Eve Affair at the hotel, $15 at the door (dinner theater patrons only).

 

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

2401 12th NW

Albuquerque, NM

(505) 724-3510

The music of Soul Kitchen and Felix y Los Gatos will get you dancing all night. Two bars and tapas are available for purchase. Seating is limited, so reserve your spot. Tickets are $30 per person, which includes party favors and champagne toast.

To see the full list of New Years Eve events in ABQ, click here.

A Posole Recipe, Not Just for Special Occasions

Some foods just have a special place in our hearts - it’s a combination of tradition, flavor, atmosphere, and yes, even the time of year, that all contribute to an unforgettable dish.

If you’ve never heard of posole, it’s s special dish traditionally served in New Mexico in the winter months. It’s a relatively simple stew made with pork and hominy. But although many traditionalists like to serve it only for weddings, parties, or special occasions, you really can make it any night of the week.

Cooking blog Barefeet in the Kitchen published a great, simple recipe for posole that we couldn’t help but pass along:

New Mexican Posole

recipe adapted from Sadie's of New Mexico

Yield: 12 servings

16 cups water

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 29 ounce cans hominy, drained or 1 lb dried hominy

1 1/2 lbs lean pork shoulder, cut into 3/4" cubes

2 tablespoons kosher salt

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon ground cumin (Jim's note: Use caution with the cumin, it can easily ruin the dish.)

1 tablespoons ground oregano

1/2 tablespoon black pepper

For serving: diced yellow or white onion and red chile sauce

DIRECTIONS for using canned hominy: Bring the water to a boil and add all ingredients. Reduce to a low simmer and allow the soup to simmer for one hour.

DIRECTIONS for using dried hominy: Bring the water to a simmer and add the hominy. Let it simmer for 45 minutes, until the kernels have softened and are bursting open. Add the meat and all of the spices. Simmer for one hour.

Ladle into bowls and add onions and red chile to taste. I added a couple tablespoons of sauce to each bowl. Enjoy!

To read the full recipe over at the Barefeet in the Kitchen blog, click here.

Warped Tour 2014 Tickets are On Sale for Albuquerque

Albuquerque is packed with great regional culture, but we don’t live in a bubble out here. More and more nationally renowned acts and festivals are stopping in town. And this coming June, one of the nation’s biggest rock festivals will be held at the Isleta Ampitheater in Albuquerque.

The Vans Warped Tour has been held on New Mexico State’s campus for the past 11 years - this year’s show will take place on June 17 at Isleta, and it will be the third stop on the 2014 tour.

You can purchase tickets here: http://concerts.livenation.com/event/1E004B82704B1D71

The Warped Tour has been one of the biggest national rock tours in the U.S. since 1995, featuring up to 100 bands per concert and extreme sports activities.

Over the years, notable bands have included:

No Doubt, Social Distortion, Joan Jett, Katy Perry, Bad Religion, Thrice, Sublime, NOFX, My Chemical Romance, MxPx, Kid Rock, Jimmy Eat World, Fall Out Boy, Dropkick Murphys.

This year’s lineup should be announced shortly.

According to NeverLost.com, here are directions to the event:

To get to the venue go East on Rio Bravo to University Blvd South on University Blvd approximately 1.5 miles and you will turn right to the entrance of Isleta Amphitheater. West on Rio Bravo to Broadway. South on Broadway to Bobby Foster Road. East on Bobby Foster, right turn at “T” in the road for 3 miles and you will turn left to the entrance of Isleta Amphitheater. Directions to the venue can be found here: http://www.neverlost.com/Plan/GetDirections?venueId=14579

To read more about the 2014 Warped Tour in Albuquerque, click here.

Winter Driving Tips for Avoiding Crashes

Driving around Albuquerque can be treacherous enough even in mild weather, but as winter heads into full gear, be aware of hazardous road and driving conditions. Winter super storms like 2011's Groundhog Day Blizzard in Chicago, in which motorists had to be rescued from closed interstates, just show how important it is to be prepared for sub-optimal road conditions. And the last thing you need during a chaotic winter is a wrecked car - so KOAT 7 recently published an article featuring 8 driving tips to help you avoid a winter crash.

1. Slow down. If conditions get wet, cold, and especially if you can't see well, dial back your speed a few notches. You don't want to be surprised by slow or stopped traffic ahead.

2. Traction is everything. You control your vehicle with steering, braking, and acceleration. When it gets slick, go easy on the accelerator, but also on the steering wheel and brakes. If you jerk the wheel in wet snow, the car will likely continue to go in a straight line even if the tires are turned all the way to one side.

3. Keep on top of the weather. Most places in the continental U.S. experience cold snaps, at least occasionally, so ice and snow can become a problem faster than you think.

4. Assume that other drivers are amateurs. This really depends upon where you live, but unless you're in some tiny town where you're acquainted with everybody and know who can drive well and who can't, don't give other drivers the benefit of the doubt. If you see another car coming, give it as much space as possible.

5. Check your tires. Not everyone needs snow tires, which are soft, have tiny slits (called siping) to aid traction, and wear out quickly on warm, dry pavement. But your tires should be in good shape when winter begins.

7. 4WD doesn't give you superpowers. On snow-covered mountain roads, it's always amazing to see how many of the vehicles that end up sliding off the road are equipped with four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. It gives a driver more control in some situations, but can also breed overconfidence.

Click here to read the full article over at KOAT.com - drive safely everyone!