Wishing you a wonderful and safe holiday season filled with warm memories!
Greatest Country Music Artists of All Time
December 11, 2012 by
Country music first sprang up in the rural Southern United States during the 1920’s, taking its roots from Western cowboy music and southeastern American folk music. Since then it has spread around the world, ascended to great popularity, and evolved in a variety of exciting directions. Here are some of the greatest country music artists ever to take the stage:
Johnny Cash, 1932 – 2003
Johnny Cash is considered one of the most influential country music starts of all time, creating and performing unforgettable songs that spanned many other genres as well (including gospel, blues, and folk). Some of his most famous must-hear songs include “I Walk the Line,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and “Ring of Fire.” His music is known for its soulfulness and it frequently centers on themes of loss, redemption, and human struggle. He has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, won multiple Grammy’s, and has been decorated, with both a Kennedy Center Honor and a National Medal of Arts, among many other accolades.
Hank Williams, 1923 – 1953
Hank Williams was a wildly popular singer-songwriter who continually rose to the top levels of the Billboard Country & Western Best Seller chart (with 11 of his songs ranking in the number one spot). He is considered by many to be a major founding figure in the country music genre, setting the bar stylistically for many country music artists that followed him. Some of his most beloved songs include “Hey, Good Lookin’,” “Why Don’t You Love Me,” and “Cold, Cold Heart,” His accolades include a Grammy, a special citation from the Pulitzer Prize board, and induction into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Patsy Cline, 1932 – 1963
Patsy Cline was a celebrated country music singer who is considered one of the most influential female vocalists of the twentieth century. Though she died at the young age of thirty, she made her mark on the music world with her uniquely rich and striking contralto voice, and she is considered a pioneer when it comes to women appearing as headliners in the country music field. Some of her big hits as a singer include “I Fall to Pieces,” “She’s Got You,” and “Crazy.” Following her untimely death, millions of her records have been sold around the world, and she has received multiple accolades, including the distinction of being the first woman ever inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Willie Nelson, 1933 – present
Willie Nelson is a country music singer-songwriter, poet, actor, and social activist. During the 1960’s, he became a leading figure in a burgeoning genre of country music known as Outlaw Country, which emphasized breaking away from the traditional restrictions of the dominant Nashville version of county music. He is known for his distinctive singing style and for writing songs that combine country music traditions with hybrids of jazz, pop, blues, and folk. His accolades include a Kennedy Center Honor, induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and AMA Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting.
Merle Haggard, 1937 – present
Merle Haggard is an acclaimed country music singer, songwriter, guitarist, and fiddler, known for the innovative songwriting and performing style he achieved with his band “The Strangers.” Because he brought so many inventive nuances to the art of country music, he became aligned with the Outlaw Country movement during the 1970’s. He has sold millions of albums and had nearly 40 number one hits on the charts, including “I’m a Lonesome Fugitive,” “Everybody’s Had the Blues,” and “Okie from Muskogee.” He has won several Grammy Awards and multiple honors through the Academy of Country Music, and he has been decorated with a Kennedy Center Honor.
Albuquerque Aquarium: A Desert Oasis of Ocean Life
December 4, 2012 by
Get up-close and personal with jellyfish, sharks, and turtles at the the Albuquerque Aquarium. It’s especially refreshing in arid New Mexico to spend the day submerged in the shimmer and flow of aqua-life at their freshwater, riparian, and ocean exhibits. The aquarium's new South Pacific Gallery lets you experience live coral, seahorses, mollusks, and sea stars, as well as the psychedelic colors of a huge variety of tropical fish. The 285,000 gallon shark tank introduces you to the razor-toothed ocean denizens who’ve been around for 400 million years. The Albuquerque Aquarium is part of the Rio Grande BioPark, so you can purchase your admission separately or get a combo ticket for the zoo, botanical garden and aquarium. It's open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (and until 6 p.m. on weekends.)
Albuquerque Aquarium
2601 Central Avenue NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
(505) 764-6200
New Mexico Tea Company: A Shangri-la for Leaf-lovers
November 27, 2012 by
A tiny shop in Albuquerque’s Old Town, the New Mexico Tea Company a tea-lover’s haven. Here you'll find more than 150 varieties of loose-leaf tea from around the world to take home and brew. The friendly staff is a trove of knowledge about the exotic beverage, making your excursion delightful and instructive. From Earl Grey, to matte, to rooibos — if you can’t find your favorite variety here, it probably exists only in your imagination! Increase your knowledge and try new varieties at the New Mexico Tea Company's Sunday night tea tastings. Sign up for their mailing list and get a free tea sample with each order.
New Mexico Tea Company
1131 Mountain Road NW
Ste 2
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 962-2137
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 22, 2012 by
We wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving filled with delicious food and warm memories!
Jennifer James 101: Award-Winning New American Cuisine
November 20, 2012 by
Who is Jennifer James? All you really need to know is that she’s been a semi-finalist for the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef in the Southwest Award for the past two years. Add on the fact that her restaurant — Albuquerque's Jennifer James 101 — received a nod as one of Travel and Leisure’s Favorite U.S. Restaurants and you’d be crazy not to go there. It’s upscale American cooking at its best, with seasonal menu featuring entrees like Grilled Tuna with Leeks and Tomatoes and Braised Bison Short Ribs. Dishes feature mostly local ingredients. In addition to regular seating, you can reserve a place at the restaurant’s community table, which offers eight diners a three-course specialty menu for $35. Hoards of fans claim this is the best fine dining establishment in Albuquerque. Find out why.
Jennifer James 101
4615-A Menaul Boulevard NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 884-3860
ABQ Uptown: Upscale Lifestyle and Shopping Center
November 13, 2012 by
Listed as an ‘open-air lifestyle center’, ABQ Uptown is Albuquerque's latest trend in city living. ABQ Uptown has everything you need, from housing to workspaces, to shopping, all in one distinct urban village. Located in northwest Albuquerque, this upscale shopping center is a great place to spend an afternoon or evening, with 220,000 square feet of retail shops and restaurants. Forgo the mall and stroll under the blue New Mexico sky from shop to shop, with national favorites like Talbots, Eddie Bauer, Pottery Barn, and the Apple Store. There’s even a day spa for a soothing facial and massage and a Gymboree for the kids. After your shopping spree you can get refreshed at Starbucks, the Elephant Bar, or Marcello’s Chop House.
ABQ Uptown
Indian School Road & Louisiana Boulevard
Albuquerque, NM 87110
Happy Veterans Day!
November 11, 2012 by
Today we honor and pay tribute to the men and women who have bravely fought for our country and say thank you for your service.
Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum: Fly High With the First Ballooners
November 6, 2012 by
Spacious skies and gentle, cool morning updrafts have long made Albuquerque a ballooning haven and home to the world’s largest annual Balloon Fiesta. Named after two local champions of the sport, the Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum gives you the complete lowdown when it comes to the fascinating history of ballooning, from its inception in France in 1783 to the present day. Here you can view replicas of early balloons, participate in science experiments, and view videos of some famous flights. Kids will enjoy the interactive exhibits. Hands-on workshops for kids and adults are held the second Saturdays of the month. Admission is a bargain at $4 for adults and just $2 for kids and seniors. Open Tuesday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum
9201 Balloon Museum Drive NE
Albuquerque, NM 87198
Don’t Forget to Vote!
November 6, 2012 by
Today is Election Day! Don't forget to visit your local polling place to cast your vote and make your voice heard.
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