ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden: An Albuquerque Park

Escape to an oasis of calm and beauty at ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden. Stroll along paths that meander through a wonderland of trees, water features, shrubs and flowers right in Albuquerque, New Mexico!

The four-acre Sasebo Japanese Garden is a favorite exhibit, with a glittering waterfall, stone pagoda, wooden bridges and meditative koi pond. The kids love the Children’s Fantasy Garden with a topiary dragon, a castle and a two-story pumpkin they can explore. Other highlights include the Butterfly Pavilion, Curandera Garden, Mediterranean Conservatory, Old World Walled Garden, and Railroad Garden with a miniature train the kids adore. Annual events at the garden include the Cider Festival, River of Lights and Summer Concert Series.

Visit ABQ BioPark's website to learn more about this Albuquerque attraction.

ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden
2601 Central Avenue NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
(505) 248-8500
www.cabq.gov/culturalservices/biopark/garden
www.yelp.com/biz/rio-grande-botanic-garden-albuquerque

Find Hiking Trails Near You With These Online Resources

You usually don’t associate browsing the web with hiking outdoors, but these handy websites aim to change that. There are a number of online resources that can help outdoor adventure-seekers to find hiking trails in any city, and they provide a variety of other hiking tips as well. Here are two of the best websites for finding the closest hiking trails in your area.

Trails.com
Trails.com offers a full list of hikes that corresponds with an interactive map of the United States. Simply click on your state (or a state you’re visiting) on the map and the website will bring up a list of trails for hikers of all skill levels. The list is sorted by the most popular trails in the state, trails with recent reviews, and even trails with other outdoor activities such as biking, fishing, waterfalls, or skiing.

Trail Link
Trail Link is a bit savvier than your usual hiking website, with a simple search feature that allows avid hikers to locate trails by zip code, trail name, state, or keyword. Once you enter the search terms, a full, interactive map appears with markers for each trail in the area, as well as high-quality photos submitted by real users. You’ll even find detailed information about each trail, including the terrain, length and difficulty level to make your decision easier.

Public Domain/Public Domain

Shop Globally Sourced Gifts and Home Decor at Hey Jhonny

Globally sourced home decor items are the focus at Hey Jhonny, a unique boutique in Nob Hill that was dubbed an "oasis in the desert" by Architectural Digest.

With an eclectic inventory that changes frequently, Hey Jhonny houses everything from personal accessories (jewelry, scarves, handbags) to vases, throw pillows, candles, and art objects. You'll also find bath and body items here, including perfume. Regulars note that the customer service at this indie boutique is excellent, the prices are affordable, and the selection is unrivaled in Albuquerque.

Hey Jhonny is open 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

Hey Jhonny
3418 Central Ave SE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
(505) 256-9244
http://www.yelp.com/biz/hey-jhonny-albuquerque
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hey-Jhonny/129918990413588

Learn to Make Lasagna 3 Different Ways

Lasagna isn’t the easiest dish to prepare, but like most dinners, having a great recipe can make all the difference. These flavorful, cheesy lasagna recipes will appeal to all tastes and ages, and if you follow the steps, they’ll surely become favorites in your recipe book.

Best Lasagna Ever [Pioneer Woman]
This recipe is great for the home chef who doesn’t want to hunt down sophisticated ingredients at fancy grocers. Most of the ingredients are likely already right in your own refrigerator. Using simple ground beef, your morning breakfast sausage, cottage cheese and sliced mozzarella, you can create a decadent lasagna in under an hour.

Simply Recipes Lasagna [Simply Recipes]
This traditional lasagna recipe offers a bit of sweetness for a surprising boost of flavor. It uses the usual Italian seasonings and tomato sauces to appeal to lasagna lovers, but it also incorporates extra cheeses that just about anyone will appreciate.

The World’s Best Lasagna [Allrecipes]
If you want to make lasagna for a large group, this is the recipe to do it with. This meat and cheese-filled pasta dish takes a bit more time and effort than your usual lasagna, but it’s well worth the wait on special occasions such as dinner parties or holidays.

Happy Spring!

The sun is shining and the flowers are starting to bloom. Wishing everyone a lovely Spring!

Tucanos Brazilian Grill: Home to All-You-Can-Eat Meat and an Over-the-Top Salad Bar

Tucanos Brazilian Grill celebrates churrasco, the Brazilian tradition of grilling meat over an open fire. The atmosphere here is bright and festive, making this a good spot to jumpstart the weekend with a cocktail at the open bar.

If you've got a hearty appetite, this is the place for you. For a flat rate, all-you-can-eat skewered meats (beef, chicken, pork, seafood, plus veggies and fruit) are cut tableside at your request. Each diner is given a Tucanos Cue, which you can flip to display its red or green side to signal your server that you'd like another helping. The flat rate includes access to Tucanos' salad bar, which is a bit of a misnomer considering its offering extend well beyond the scope of salads. Expect everything from hot pasta, potatoes, rice, and soups to hearts of palm and fresh cheeses. Desserts are ordered a la carte and include creme brulee, Brazilian flan, and cheesecake.

Tucanos Brazilian Grill is open Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 11 a.m.; and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Children age six and under eat free with a paying adult!

Tucanos Brazilian Grill
110 Central Ave SW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 246-9900
www.tucanos.com/albuquerque.html
www.yelp.com/biz/tucanos-brazilian-grill-albuquerque

4 Creative Waffle Recipes to Make at Home

Whether you prefer sweet or savory tastes, waffles are a versatile dish that can be prepared a number of different ways. Check out these creative waffle recipes before you break out the waffle iron at your next brunch or breakfast at home.

Cornmeal Bacon Waffles with Cheese Sauce
If you’re the type of person who steers clear of sweet breakfast dishes, these cornmeal waffles will delight your taste buds. Topped with crispy bacon and drizzled with homemade cheese sauce, this savory dish is great for a midday brunch.

Pumpkin Waffles with Apple Cider Syrup
Just about everyone loves pumpkin flavor around fall and winter seasons, and these pancakes have the warm and spicy taste that you love on cold mornings.

Chicken and Waffles
Bring the flavor of the South to your breakfast table no matter where you live on the Mason-Dixon line with this traditional Southern dish. The savory taste of fried chicken contrasts the sweet waffles for a unique flavor that’s deliciously decadent.

Whole Grain Waffles
Made with hearty whole-grain instead of regular white flour, these waffles are a nutritious breakfast treat. Top them with a drizzle of honey, fresh fruit, or simple agave syrup for a healthy alternative to sugary maple syrup.

A French Bistro Meets a Speakeasy at Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro

Part French bistro, part speakeasy, Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro is a unique dining destination in Albuquerque. Here, the focus is on French fare with an American twist; local meats, cheeses, and produce are sourced locally whenever possible. Dinner is served seven days a week, starting at 5 p.m. The baked brie and almond bruschetta are popular appetizers, especially when followed by a bite of the crispy duck confit eggrolls. If you're craving something a little heartier, go for the herb crusted pork tenderloin, the zucchini and quinoa fritter cakes, or the seared sea scallops.

Underneath the main restaurant, you'll find Zinc's "speakeasy," which boasts a lounge atmosphere and is a good place to meet friends for tapas and a post-work cocktail. You'll find over 20 wines by the glass here, complemented by a lengthy list of signature cocktails and bar bites that are served until midnight.

Don't miss Zinc's weekend brunch, which is served 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro
3009 Central Avenue
Albuquerque, NM 87106
(505) 254-9462
www.zincabq.com/
www.yelp.com/biz/zinc-wine-bar-and-bistro-albuquerque

Take a Tour at the Beautiful Broadstone Towne Center

$750 off your move in and waived security deposit on all floor plans!! Only for a limited time!

Come by Broadstone Towne Center this weekend and check out our movie theater, 24 hour fitness center, amazing floor plans, much more. We are perfectly located just east of Gibson Blvd and I-25. Please contact our office for more information at 505-243-6688 or townecenter@greystar.com.

Healthy Poultry Recipes to Keep Your Diet on Track

Poultry is such a versatile meat, you could eat it every day of the week and never have the same dish twice. If you’re looking for new and exciting ways to prepare chicken or turkey, here are some delightful recipes from the NIH:

"Fried" Rice and Chicken
Okay, so fried rice isn’t the healthiest food in the world. But in this recipe, it takes on a much healthier role with the addition of brown rice, light soy sauce, and a few assorted vegetables. By using boneless, skinless chicken breast and a low-calorie Hawaiian sauce, this dish becomes a healthy replacement for your favorite takeout food.

Crunchy Chicken Fingers With Tangy Dipping Sauce
A healthier take on the beloved children’s food, this chicken fingers recipe uses whole-wheat flour and corn cereal to achieve the same delicious crunch as the more fattening original. Make a tangy dipping sauce out of ketchup, orange juice, and a few other zesty ingredients for a light lunch that even the kids will love.

Make-Your-Own Turkey Burger
Turkey burgers are becoming increasingly popular alternatives to high-fat beef burgers, and it’s just as easy to make your own at home. This simple recipe uses 99% lean ground turkey and a few common spices to create a juicy burger with a whole 33 grams of protein.

For more healthy chicken, turkey and other poultry recipes, visit the NIH website here.

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