Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival and Highland Games are coming once again to the city for a few days of excitement and cultural celebrations of all things Celtic. This year will see the festival come to Albuquerque for the 25^th time.  Every year, it becomes more and more popular as people delight in the activities, music, dance, and much more!

There will be plenty to see and do during the Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival and Highland Games. You will be able to watch traditional dances performed by various groups, as well as listen to music that features instruments such as the harp and war pipes. People will recite poetry, speakers will tell of Celtic history, as well as how people of Celtic heritage have found their way to New Mexico and the city, and you will even be able to hear some speak in the Celtic language and tell stories that have been handed down generation after generation.

The Highland Games will showcase a variety of different games typically played across the globe in the home country. Watch the tough game of rugby, cheer on your favorite participant in hurling, and discover how Gaelic football is played. There will also be dog demonstrations and showing of Celtic dog breeds.

Head over to Balloon Fiesta Park and choose whether or not to purchase a single- or two-day pass. Tickets for adults are $15 for one day, $20 for two. Children’s passes are $7 for one day, $10 for two. For senior citizens and active military personnel, a single day pass is $10 and $15 for two.

Along the way, you can expect to get plenty of water. Keeping hydrated is important in this hot and dry climate, and the run can be quite difficult for some. Practicing ahead of time will help you tackle the 1,000 feet climb, as will a great pair of shoes. Being prepared is important for any run – especially this one!

Registration for the race is $32-$35. After May 15, the price will go up by another $5. Race day registration is accepted, and the fee then will be $45. The race will begin at 7am, so be ready to go early in the morning! This year, the monetary benefits will go toward The Storehouse, which is a local food bank in downtown Albuquerque. Food, clothes, and gently used shoes will also be collected during the event, so if you have any extras, bring them if you can.

Go old school with the Steve Miller Band on May 17^th. Created in 1967, the Steve Miller Band is well-known for songs such as “The Joker,” and “Fly Like an Eagle.” Classic rock at its finest, a visit to the Route 66 Casino will give you the chance to listen to them live.

If you’ve ever wanted to party with the princes of darkness, then now is the perfect time. The Masters of Madness: Shock Therapy Tour is coming to AlbuquerqueJune 1^st where you can rock out to the music and madness of Alice Cooper and Marilyn Manson. The Isleta Amphitheater will host the concert, and it is the perfect place for falling into hard hitting music like only Cooper and Manson can deliver.

Hoping to hear something a little more country-style? The Isleta Amphitheater will host Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley. They’ll have plenty of songs for you to sing along with, as well as some slower, sweeter melodies that fans always love to hear. If this sounds like a good time, be sure to get your tickets soon as the concert will take place May 17^th.

Herbfest is hosted by Friends of theRio GrandeNatureCenter. They are a nonprofit organization with the goal of protecting theRio Grandearea. They educate the public about the ecosystems as well as show people how to interact with them in a positive manner. From classes to guided walks to educational activities, they do everything possible to inform people about the importance of the area.

Herbfest is an excellent way to get people out to theRio Grandearea and see the different herbs that they may or may not be familiar with. You can purchase herbs to use in your own kitchen if you like, or you can peruse the crafts and various arts to see if there are any handmade goodies you’d like to take home with you. Bring the whole family for guided walks and garden tours where you can learn about both the flora and fauna of theRio Grande’s ecosystems. There will also be music, raffles, and crafts that kids can make and take home with them.

Over two days, Herbfest will also feature speakers such as New Mexico State Biologist Tess Grasswitz, George Miller and Tom Stewart of the New Mexico Native Plant Society, Landscape Designer Judith Philips, and Wes Brittenham of Plants of the Southwest. From creating a wildlife habitat to discoveringNew Mexico’s beneficial or native plants, there’s a little something for everyone.

If you are looking to attend Herbfest 2013 in Albuquerque, and are still looking for a place to stay this weekend, make sure to check out our “green” hotel rooms. Hotel Andaluz is the first historic hotel in the southwest to be Leed Gold Certified as well as being a AAA Four Diamond award winning hotel.

Those curious about the different types of cultures as well as the history behind the city can find out a great deal by simply visiting one of the many museums that Albuquerque is home to. Displays will show images of early Spanish settlers, artifacts from ancient Native American tribes, information about others who came to settle in Albuquerque, and much more. Traditions abound, and you can still find many of them alive and well when you stroll through art or culture fairs and festivals. Vendor kiosks will soon show you the myriad of arts and crafts that people continue to create even in today’s age.

It is indeed a one of a kind Southwestern culture you’ll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. It is a place where the past and present blend together in a near-seamless fashion and everyone can see all kinds of different traditions play out each and every year. Discover some of the festivals you’d like to attend during your time in Albuquerque and then enjoy the music, food, and good nature all around.

The city loves the attention as much as we love a good pint after a warm sunny day. We are lucky to have our pick of several micro-breweries in the area, some just a few blocks (what’s up Marble?) from our downtown Albuquerque hotel.  The great part about this is we at the Hotel Andaluz get to keep our emphasis on local, by featuring local brews in our rooftop terrace, Ibiza and our lobby bar.

We are even more stoked when we get to celebrate ABQ Beer Week with our fellow bars and restaurants. ABQ Beer Week is a week full of events from beer tastings, brewery tours, tap takeovers and our event Taps & Apps on Tuesday, April 30th. We’ve invited four local breweries (Marble, Il Vicino, La Cumbre & Bosque Brewing) and paired their best brew with our tantalizing appetizers. This happy hour-style event is going to rock, and you don’t want to be left out. Make your reservations with Lauren right now 505.923.9013.

Cheers boys and girls to Albuquerque and ABQ Beer Week! Don’t forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for updates on all event at the Hotel Andaluz. We hope to see you real soon…

Taste NM history in our many varieties in wine.

You may have heard that Hotel Andaluz had teamed up with local winery Milagro Vineyards and Winery located in Corrales, NM just outside Albuquerque. This was the launch of our wines dinners at Hotel Andaluz. This concept isn’t new, but it’s something wanted to bring to the heart of Downtown Albuquerque.

We were really excited to bring fans of Milagro to the hotel. Our chef prepared an exquisite menu paired with Milagro wines. Wine maker and Milagro founder Dave Hobson was on hand to tell us about each wine, it’s flavors and how to best enjoy Milagro Wines. The event was sold out and we saw lots of happy faces when the event concluded.

This was the first of many events planned for Hotel Andaluz in 2013. In the coming weeks we want to tell you all about our refreshed menus in Lucia, our revamped happy hour and the re-opening of the Ibiza rooftop patio. For our next Wine Dinner we have teamed up with another local winery, Casa Rondena. We are working on the details but mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 27^th. And if wine isn’t quite your forte, we are planning a sister event with local brewery La Cumbre. We’ll be hosting a beer happy hour with appetizer parings on February 15^th.

Keep checking hotelandaluz.com or ‘LIKE’ us on facebook  more information and how you can make your reservations to join us for some fun. Until next week.

Since we can’t go over everything, we thought we’d focus on a couple shopping destinations that are worth a visit regardless of your shopping needs. The best part about finding these great gifts to share is that 9 times out of 10 you’ll be shopping local, and as a locally owned hotel we can’t stress just how important this is, not only in Albuquerque, but every community.

Our first stop on the list would be Old Town Albuquerque, really a community hub since 1706. Old town is now home to dozens of shops and galleries. This is the spot to be, especially if your shopping in the evening time, as old town lights up with a large Christmas tree and luminarias (or Fajarlitos) lining the walk ways and adobe rooftops. Old Town Albuqueruqe is your best bet when looking for art and handmade Navajo and Zuni Jewelry. With dozens of decades old trading posts, you’ll find a souvenir gift for just about everyone on your list. Visit http://albuquerqueoldtown.com/

For a more contemporary take on local holiday gift giving… then head just up the street from Hotel Andaluz to Albuquerque’s hip and trendy Nob Hill. Along the famed route 66 lines dozens of shops and restaurants, making it ideal for a Saturday stroll and perhaps a lunch break during your search for gifts. On Nob Hill you’ll find contemporary and local Jewelry at big names like Gertrude Zachary. Clothing for everyone at Lilly Barrack, Elsa Ross and other local boutiques. The style of Nob Hill is undoubtedly New Mexico and Nob Hill is a must see if your visiting. Visit http://rt66central.com/

Where ever you may be doing you Holiday Shopping this year be sure and think local first. This effort not only helps a local economy, it’s really about bringing identity back to communities and keeping places like Albuquerque unique. Until next week… Happy Holiday’s from New Mexico!

New Mexico’s population is largely Hispanic, and this is a contributing reason as to why New Mexico holiday season is a celebration. Perhaps the most notable sign that the holidays are approaching is the luminaria or farjalito, a small candle set inside a paper bag with sand. As Christmas approaches thousands line the streets, staircases, walkways, fences and even roofs. Visitors can best view these luminarias at Albuquerque’s historic old town or Santa Fe and Taos’ historic plaza’s. Our facebook friend Bill, mentions the small Acoma pueblo, known as Sky City as another beautiful area lit up by luminarias for Christmas Eve. On Taos’ and Santa Fe’s plazas there is often carolers and cider to celebrate the lightings.

If the soft glowing lights of our farolito doesn’t quite lure in you in. Try checking out our local ski areas that transform into a family gathering spots to enjoy sun and snow for the holiday season. Facebook friend Marie mentions the Taos Ski Valley’s torch light parade. Every year on Christmas Eve, Taos Ski Valley comes alive with a parade of skiers carrying torches ski down from the top of the mountain to the base at dusk. When all the torches make it down the run the valley is lit up by a fireworks display rivaling major city celebrations. It brings the whole mountain of skiers and lodgers together in cheers.

Another Christmas Eve tradition in Taos or the surrounding pueblos is the traditional Native American dances that occur on Christmas Eve through Christmas morning. Large bon-fires warm spectators as dances of prayer and celebration are performed. After the different events take place the feasts begin around the state. Traditional New Mexican Christmas meals consist of tamales, red chili, posole (hominy), beans and our state cookie, the biscochito (sugar cookies baked with anice, licorice spice).

Christmas in New Mexico is focused on traditions. We like to think that our style of holiday is a small getaway from the Christmas seasons that held at hostage by the department stores. How do you spend the holiday? Will you be traveling to New Mexico? Tell us your plans this season…

A fan and staff favorite around here is our Pumpkin Cheesecake Puff Pastry and Chef Andrew was kind enough to share the recipe. So if you’re looking for a last minute dessert to make for your holiday celebrations, this is a yummy twist in case your pumpkin pie is getting a little tiresome.

The following makes 16 Pumpkin Cheesecake Puff Pastries.

Combine the following in a small bowl:
• 2/3 cup of packed brown sugar
• ¾ tsp of cinnamon
• ¼ tsp of clove
• ¼ tsp of nutmeg
• 2 – 8oz packages of cream cheese (at room temperature)
Beat all together until smooth (5 min). Then, beat the following in one at a time:
• 2 large eggs
• 2 large yolk
Add and beat in until combined
• 1 can of pumpkin

Click here for a quick recipe for puff pastry. Once you’ve got that all set: roll out 2 sheets of puff pastry. Cut each sheet into 8 squares, press each square into an oiled cupcake tin. Put about 4oz of cheesecake mix in each puff pastry. Bake at 375 until puffed and golden brown (approximately 20 min). Most importantly, share and enjoy!

Let us know if you decided to make these, and how they came out. Until next week.