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

Image courtesy of commons.wikipedia.org

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

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

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

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


1. Bring a tape measure

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


2. Check for issues

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


3. Look for a label

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



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

Save The Dates: Things To Do In Albuquerque This Summer

Image courtesy of commons.wikipedia.org

Summer is one of the most enjoyable times of the year, assuming that you know how to pass the time and ignore the hotter weather. Swimming pools, picnics, and weekend road and beach trips are all great ideas, but sometimes we’re looking for something a little different - whether it be more exciting, closer to home, or just cheaper

With this in mind, we’ve put together this list of things you can do during the summer of 2013:


● June, July and August see a great number of special events here. From Festival Flamenco International de Alburquerque to comic expos to the Route 66 Summerfest, there’s something here for everyone. More information about all of these events can be found here, but to help you out, here’s a quick list of special summer events and the dates they’ll be up and running:

○ Blues at the Blueseum - June 02

○ The Albuquerque Film & Media Experience - June 3 - 9

○ Festival Flamenco International de Alburquerque - June 10-15

○ The Albuquerque Comic Expo - June 21 - 23

○ Route 66 Summerfest - July 20

○ 2013 USA Roller Sports Speed Figure and Rink hockey National Championships - July 13 - August 4

○ 7th Annual Ballet Pro Musica Festival - August 9 - 11

○ Albuquerque Latin Dance Festival - August 22 - 25



● Go to a concert. From acoustic artists to pop stars like Ke$ha, Albuquerque has a surprising variety of performers coming through down. You can review concert dates and times here.

● Ball game, anyone? You can always head to an Isotopes game in your free time!

● If it’s not a game day, hit up one of the area’s multiple museums. Anthropology. Biblical history. Rattlesnake. Turquoise. All of these things and more have a museum dedicated to them! Don’t believe us? Here’s the full list of nearby museums you can explore. (Feel free to visit the local zoo if you’re the type that prefers to see some adorable living creatures rather than items in a museum.)

● If you’re on a budget, bookmark Albuquerque on the Cheap. They offer a number of daily promotions in addition to their weekly freebies and half-off deals. This is a great way to explore your city while on a budget!

What do you think of these? Let us know in the comments if these helped you or if we forgot any major summer events!

Live Green: Here’s 22 Easy Ways To Save Water and Energy

Image courtesy of commons.wikipedia.org

Earth Day may have come and gone, but that’s no reason to stop your efforts to “greenify” your living space. Believe it or not, even apartment dwellers can find ways to live a green lifestyle without making major modifications to their living space.

Don’t believe us? Here’s three simple tricks to use around your apartment, courtesy of TLC Home, that help save water and energy:


● Displace water in your toilet tank by getting a plastic bottle, filling it with gravel, and placing it in your toilet tank. That’s it! You can leave this for the next tenant so they can continue saving water as well.

● Use CFL Bulbs, which save a lot of energy, whenever possible. (Also, turn off lights when you are not in the room. It’s simple but effective!)

● Pay attention to your fridge. Keep its compressor coils clean to ensure your energy bill stays low and that you’re using as little electricity as possible. Another thing you can do is line your fridge with water jugs to keep it full and colder. It sounds silly, but it can save a lot of energy!


That’s just three simple, easy tricks that save water and energy. You can get more tips like this by clicking here: the original article listed 22 ideas for saving water and energy!

Top 10 Reasons To Rent

Image courtesy of commons.wikipedia.org

To rent or to own? It seems like a big question, but really, the answer is simple: renting is better. Homeowners, please don’t hate us for saying so, but it’s true.

Renting has so many more benefits than owning a home. Renters have a much more flexible lifestyle and can relocate much sooner than a homeowner, without the hassle of selling their house. Renters don’t need to deal with mowing lawns or shoveling snow. Renters aren’t slapped with property taxes, either.

But don’t take our word for it - check out this great article that lists not three, but ten reasons renting an apartment is the way to go:

1. There’s more get up and go freedom with renting an apartment. Whether you want to relocate for a job, a love interest or simply want to see what life is like on the opposite coast, renting provides more flexibility.
2. Attempting to sell a house, especially in a down market, can be complicated and time consuming. Whether you have a year lease or a month-to-month, the logistics of renting are less confusing.
3. Are you the type of person who hates mowing the lawn or shoveling snow? A landlord often provides these types of services. While homeowners are digging out from a snowstorm or battling crab grass, you can be skiing or relaxing in a deck chair.
4. As a homeowner, you’re not only responsible for snow removal and lawn care. You’re responsible for everything. Whether it’s a broken hot water heater or a malfunctioning dishwasher, things are going to need to be upgraded or replaced. When you rent, you’re not responsible for maintenance costs. All you need to do is call the landlord when something goes wrong.
5. Many apartment complexes have so many amenities the place resembles an all-inclusive resort. From tennis courts and swimming pools to fitness centers and children’s playgrounds, many renters have these amenities on location. It’s safe to say that most affordable homes don’t come with a tennis court.
6. If the monthly mortgage and maintenance costs weren’t enough, homeowners are also saddled with property taxes. These taxes fluctuate depending on where you live. No property tax means more money in the bank, or at least more money in your pocket to do the things you want to do.
7. Do you want to live in a luxurious neighborhood? You have a better chance of affording rent in a posh neighborhood than you do of buying a house.
8. Some apartment complexes offer referral bonuses. Is there anything better than referring a friend, then getting a check in the mail. You get a cool neighbor and free money.
9. There are often numerous apartments in an apartment building, and this increases your chances of meeting new people and making friends.
10. Many apartment complexes are gated and have their own security and video surveillance. This will not only give you peace of mind, but save you from having to buy a high-end security system for your home.

Original article can be viewed here.