Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum: Explore the Explora to Your Mind’s Delight

As the winner of the 2010 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, there’s no question about the stellar attributes of Albuquerque's Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum. Most of Explora's exhibits are tabletop sized to suit the kids, but you don’t have to be a tot to appreciate them. You just have to have a childlike sense of wonder. Interactive exhibits will give you a hands-on experience with a wide variety of subjects. Build a dam or a maze at the water exhibit, experiment with sound, make art out of recycled materials, build a pulley system, or do a chemistry experiment. The Explora Science Center and Children's Museum is suitable for toddlers through adults. Explora is open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum
1701 Mountain Road NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
(505) 224-8300

Five Ways to Use Vinegar around the House

Vinegar's always a useful thing to have around the house. Plain white vinegar has many uses and it's very inexpensive — especially when bought in bulk! Here are five unexpected uses!

  • Unclog your drains. A combination of vinegar and baking soda produces a foaming fizz you might remember from science project volcanos. This simply chemical reaction's also great for unclogging drains and removing odorous bacteria.
  • Remove mold and mildew. White vinegar is one of the best things to use to remove mildew stains from your bathroom. Dilute vinegar with water for lighter stains; use undiluted vinegar for heavier mildew.
  • Shine silver. A bath of vinegar and baking soda can help clean tarnished or dingy silver. Rest items in the bath for two or three house. Rinse with cold water, dry with a soft cloth, and enjoy the shine!
  • Freshen closests. Mixing vinegar, ammonia, and baking soda produces a powerful cleanser that can vaporize pesky odors rapidly. Remove your clothes, wash the surfaces with the vinegar solution, and let the closet air out for 24 hours.
  • Remove stains from carpets. Vinegar can also remove stains from rugs and carpets. Mix it with salt and rub gently on light stains; mix with cornstach for heavily ground-in dirt.

5 Foods To Eat When Trying to Lose Weight

Losing weight seems like it should be so easy: Eat less calories, and you will weigh less. If you've ever tried to lose weight, you know this isn't the case. Dieting seems simple until you use up all your calories for the day and are still starving. Make sure you eat these foods while trying to lose weight; they'll fill you up while keeping you on track to your weight-loss goal.

Greens
Eat a bowl of spinach before every meal to fill up your stomach. Spinach is amazingly low in calories but will take up a lot space in your stomach. Greens also take time to eat so you'll feel more satisfied having eaten a lot, even though it was very low in calories.

Whole Grains
Start your day with a bowl of oatmeal or cream of rice. It takes a while for your body to break down whole grains, keeping you fuller, longer. Just make sure you look for oatmeal that is low in sugar, not the sugary cereal types. 

Beans
Beans contain a lot of fiber, which will keep you full. They also have low calories and are an excellent source of protein. Try mixing lentil beans with brown rice and broccoli for a wonderfully low calorie, filling meal. 

Water
It seems crazy but water does fill you up. It takes up a lot of room in your stomach to help you eat less. Don't drink water in place of actual meals, of course, but down a cup of water before you eat can help you eat less. Sometimes we confuse our bodies reaction to thirst as hunger. So if you've already had your afternoon snack and still feel hungry, try drinking a glass of water. 

Soup
Now this one can get tricky. You can't just have any kind of soup. Cream-based soups are loaded with calories. You have to look for soups with clear broths. It's best to make your own, but if you don't have the time, just look for soups with under 100 calories per serving and low sodium. Since soup is mostly liquid, it takes up a lot of space in your stomach and will fill you up with very few calories. 

Tucano’s Brazilian Grill: A Carnivore’s Delight

Following in the tradition of the Brazilian churrasco where huge skewers of meat are roasted over an open fire, Tucano’s Brazilian Grill is a carnivore’s delight not far from Broadstone Towne Center in Albuquerque. After you heap your plate at the gigantic ‘salad festival’, waiters bring an assortment of sizzling seasoned meats to your table, slicing them onto your plate. A card placed on your table allows you to signal when you’re ready for more meat –green side up means yes, red side up, no. The ‘salad festival’ can serve as a meal in itself, with beans, rice, pastas, soups, stroganoff and bread, so vegetarians can forgo the meat and still get satisfied. Tuscano's prices range from $13.95 for lunch to $20.95 for dinner.

Tucano’s Brazilian Grill
110 Central Avenue SW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 246-9900

Taqueria Mexico: Tantalizing Tacos and Much More

Taqueria Mexico in Albuquerque serves up authentic Mexican fare that’s savory and satisfying. The traditional Mexican cuisine dish, menudo (beef tripe stew) is a sure-fire remedy for a night of overindulgence. Once you feel better, you can dig into a gigantic breakfast burrito or a piping hot plate of fajitas, enchiladas or flautas. Indulge in their selection of tortas, the south of the border version of a sandwich. Oh, and don’t forget the tacos, after all, this is a taqueria, where delicious morsels of spiced meats and veggies are lovingly wrapped in a fragrant corn tortilla and served with a variety of fresh salsas.

Taqueria Mexico
415 Lomas Boulevard Northeast
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 242-3445  ‎

National Museum of Nuclear Science and History: Atomic Age

The National Museum of Nuclear Science and History is the place to find out everything there is to know about the Atomic Age, from the early research that led to the development of the atomic bomb to what’s going on today in nuclear research and development. Here you'll learn about nuclear pioneer Madame Curie, view 1950s Cold War-era kitsch, and stroll among vintage planes and missiles. The museum's many interactive exhibits make this a fun trip, even for those who aren’t particularly science-minded. It's a large space, so plan to allow yourself two to three hours to cover the whole thing. The National Museum of Nuclear Science and History is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

National Museum of Nuclear Science and History
601 Eubank Street SE
Albuquerque, NM 87123
(505) 245-2137

American International Rattlesnake Museum: Scary Fun for the Whole Family

Keep your expectations small and go for the kitsch of this funky little museum and you’ll have a good time at Albuquerque's American Internaional Rattlesnake Museum. Over 100 rattlers behind glass and some nature videos in two tiny rooms isn’t exactly the Smithsonian, but hey, what do you expect for a mere $5 admission? The small scale might be just right for kids, who can wander around looking at the scary critters in a minimal amount of time. The gift shop is the focus here, with all kinds of reptile kitsch to take home, like rattlesnake mugs, plastic tarantulas, and oddball t-shirts.

American International Rattlesnake Museum
202 San Felipe St NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
(505) 242-6569

Buffalo Wild Wings

The new Buffalo Wild Wings is scheduled to open for business on September 9th.

Labor Day

The office at Broadstone Towne Center will be closed for Labor Day.

Giovanni’s Pizzeria: New York Style Pie in Albuquerque

Local diners and visiting foodies like to praise Giovanni’s Pizzeria, insisting they’ve got the best pies the Albuquerque. It’s your basic hole-in-the-wall pizza joint, not much to look at and located in a nondescript strip mall, but walk in the door and inhale the aroma of those pies baking and you know you’re in for a treat. Once you’ve got your sizzling hot pie in hand, bite into the crispy crust layered with piquant sauce, cheese and toppings and suddenly all is good in the world. New York style super-thin crust is part of their secret, slender enough to be crunchy, with just a hint of a chewy center. Non-greasy cheese and great toppings make Giovanni's Pizzeria about as good as it gets.

Giovanni’s Pizzeria
921 San Pedro Drive SE
Albuquerque, NM 87108
(505) 255-1233

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