Category Archives: Local events & activities

River Of Lights at the Albuquerque Botanical Gardens

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Good morning!

Last night we went to the River of Lights & I couldn’t help but think what a great event this would be for our guests! There were many, many people, young & old, families & couples, visiting the botanical gardens to view the millions of twinkling lights & hundreds of holiday displays at New Mexico’s largest walk-through light show. The entry fees were so reasonable, the ambiance was cheerful & bright; every person we saw had a smile on their face. It was just a really great time & we hope that you might enjoy it as well!

The following is copied from the City of Albuquerque website which can be found here.

Entertainment

Live Music

Local musicians bring holiday cheer with performances during River of Lights. View this year’s schedule of performers.

Dinner at the Shark Reef Cafe

The Shark Reef Cafe will be open for Supper with Santa on Dec. 10 – 23 and evening holiday dining on Dec. 26 – 30. Reservations are recommended. Please call (505) 848-7182.

Holiday Nature Crafts

BioPark Education offers free Holiday Nature Crafts in the Education building the first three Wednesdays.

G-Scale Model Railroad

Special holiday trains chug through the Garden Railroad exhibit from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays, weather and volunteer staff permitting.

History

In 1997, River of Lights began as a fundraiser for the BioPark. Today, proceeds continue to support a variety of ABQ BioPark projects through the New Mexico BioPark Society.

Each year’s show unveils ingenious new sculptures and stunning displays made by BioPark artists and craftsmen. Check back for more on what is new this year!

Accessibility

A limited number of wheelchairs are available for rent during River of Lights.

For more information or to reserve a wheelchair in advance, please call (505) 848-7182 or email biopark@cabq.gov.

Fabulous Fall Events (& Freebies Too!)

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Greetings from all of us at the Mauger Estate B&B!

Here at the B&B we sure are loving this fall weather! New Mexico is absolutely gorgeous this time of year. If you’ve never experienced the thrill of a thunderstorm in the desert we would love to have you stay with us this fall so that we can share a bit of our amazing climate with you- we promise you, you wont regret it! Book now through December 31, 2012 & mention this blog (BLOG 15) to receive dinner on us! Details located at the end of this  blog.

The incredible weather it isn’t all our state has to offer; don’t forget about all the fun, exciting, informative, world famous, & all around awesome events that occur this time of year too. We took some time to scout out some of the best things to do in Albuquerque, New Mexico this time of year & here are the top 5:

5.  The Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festivals have become a New Mexican tradition since the first one in 1989. Held three times a year in March, October and November, each fair attracts tens of thousands of buyers from almost every state, as well as New Mexico residents and collectors from around the world.

4. In our last post, we mentioned the heart & soul of our New Mexican cuisine & the chile festivals that pop up all over the state this time of year. If our unique & spicy cuisine interests you, check out any one of a number of fall harvest festivals that occur this time of year. From the beautiful Coralles Harvest Festival, held just on the outer edge of the city, only a twenty minute drive from the B&B to The 5th Annual Urban Farm and Harvest Festival or the Harvest Fest at the Albuquerque BioPark, each of which are held only minutes from the B&B; there is lots of glorious, fresh, local produce to learn about & enjoy this time of  year.

3. Find your way through the Maize Maze. Every Fall, the Maize Maze attracts thousands of visitors to Rio Grande Community Farm. The corn grown through the summer becomes 6 feet or taller – and has paths precisely cut by GPS technology to form the Maze. Proceeds from the Maze fund the special programs that support education, wildlife, and our community. What could be more fun than a corn maze this fall?!

2.  Check out New Mexico’s annual celebration of world music & culture at ¡Globalquerque! ¡Globalquerque! is a yearly event featuring musicians & performers from all around the world. Many groups performing at this year’s ¡Globalquerque! have never played in the U.S. before, giving Albuquerque residents a chance to be among the first Americans to catch some exciting new acts.

1.  The most exciting & uniquely New Mexican fall activity of them all: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta! We anticipate Balloon Fiesta all year long here in Albuqeurque & can’t wait for the colorful skies to become even more colorful as the breeze cools over the Rio Grande and the beautiful hot air balloons fill the skies.

New Mexico is gorgeous & vibrant this time of year & we would love you to come visit & share in our culture, climate, & joyous fall festivities. Here at the inn we absolutely adore our state, city, & other local businesses. To encourage you to  visit & explore small businesses here in our lovely city, we’re including vouchers for dinner at Slate Street Cafe & Wine Bar, only a few minutes walk from the B&B (& absolutely delicious!). Call us to book your reservation before December 31, 2012 & mention this blog (BLOG 15) & receive a $20 voucher to Slate Street Cafe.

Fall in Beautiful Albuquerque, NM

Viva New Mexico Chile Festival

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Here in the Land of Enchantment we LOVE our spicy food & especially our New Mexican chile! It’s unlike chile found anywhere else in the world. It’s a staple in our local cuisine & has become a symbol of our state’s cultural heritage. As you explore our state you’ll notice the delicious aroma of roasted green chile wafting through the air or decorative ristras of rich red chiles strung from adobe buildings, just about everywhere you go.

If you have never experienced New Mexican red or green chile, fall is the perfect time of year to get better acquainted with the delectable spice. Here at the B&B we encourage you to learn more about our rich culture, heritage, & cuisine (& of course, have a ton of fun!) by visiting Wagner’s Farmland Experience for the Viva New Mexico Chile Festival.

Viva New Mexico Chile Festival will be held on September 8 & 9 in Los Lunas, NM at their 288-acre farm.  Just a short drive from Albuquerque, the farm is conveniently located for visitors from the city; & Viva New Mexico Chile Festival is an official event of the statewide centennial celebration.

The Wagner’s, along with other  participating chile farmers, will be prepared with loads of freshly picked chile ready for sale and sampling. A mini-growers market will offer other produce grown in the valley. Food vendors will feature this delightful delicacy in their dishes, and chile products in every possible configuration will be available (have you ever eaten red chile fudge?! Yum!).

The celebration will offer variety of chile themed contests, live entertainment,
arts and crafts, and countless chile products. Other family-friendly activities include: hay ride tours through the farmland, a corn maze, a petting zoo, u-pick flower gardens, cow milking demonstrations, pony rides, face painting, and speakers projecting information on a number of fascinating subjects.

I’m very excited to visit Wagner’s Farm for Viva New Mexico Chile Festival; will you be there too? As always, it is our pleasure to help our guests find fun & interesting things to do as they visit our lovely state; please ask any of our staff about events & activities during your stay!

Bicycling in Beautiful Albuquerque, NM

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Did you know that Albuquerque offers over 400 miles of on-street bicycle facilities & multi-use trails? With dozens of convenient & diverse bicycle trails that crisscross the entire city, whatever your biking style our city has a trail to suit you. Many of our major bike paths are multiple use trails, which are paved & completely closed off to motor vehicles; these trails are perfect for taking your time & enjoying all the beautiful Albuquerque scenery. If your goal is to get from point A to point B & you don’t mind sharing the road with other vehicles, the city’s bicycle lanes & bicycle routes are a great option for you; these are routes with either designated bike lanes or linking streets where bikes & vehicles share the road. For those of you with a desire for adventure, grab a mountain bike & hit the Foothills Open Space mountain bike trails. No matter what your fitness level or bicycling proficiency our beautiful city offers a trail that will fit your needs.

If you aren’t travelling with your own bike don’t worry, there are a number of bike rental locations. The most convenient location for bicycle rentals to the B&B is Routes Rentals & Tours. Located on Mountain Road between 11th & 12th, Routes is only about half a mile & a 10 minute walk away from us. Routes rentals include city bikes & mountain bikes at hourly, half-day, & full-day rates; & bike reservations can be made online any time.

Pedal your way through historic neighborhoods around the B&B, visit museums & avoid the parking crunch in historic Old Town, feel the wind beneath Cottonwood trees along the Rio Grande River Bike Path, enjoy a picnic at the nearby biological park, zoo, or in one of the area’s many parks – the breathtaking New Mexico sky is the limit! As summer begins to wind down & with fall right around the corner, this is the ideal time of year to get outside & enjoy our city’s bike trails. Remember to stay hydrated in our gorgeous New Mexican desert & enjoy the trails!

For information on our city’s bike trails & for route maps click here!