On Saturday, Feb. 28 at 11 a.m., the Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series returns with simultaneous talks across Albuquerque and surrounding communities, each exploring a different thread of the Mother Road’s history. This month, two presentations stand out for the way they frame Route 66 not just as a highway, but as a turning point […]
Albuquerque
Posted inAlbuquerque, Food & Drink, The Paper.
Fiery Foods Heats Back Up
Every spring, Albuquerque willingly sets its taste buds on fire. Inside the halls of Sandia Resort & Casino, rows of tables overflow with hot sauces in every shade of red and orange, jars of chile jams, spice blends, barbecue rubs and fiery sweets. Near the entrance, a towering skeleton greets attendees. Down another aisle, someone […]
Posted in+Arts & Culture, Albuquerque, The Paper.
In an age of curated feeds and filtered moments, Burque gets personal at Duke City Story Slam
On a Tuesday night at Canteen Brewhouse, the lights dim just enough to shift the mood. Conversations taper off, glasses settle onto wooden tables and all eyes turn toward a single microphone at the front of the room. There is no band warming up, no punchlines being tested. Instead, there is anticipation, the quiet kind […]
Reader-supported
Albuquerque paid $8 million in lawsuits while Council oversight went dark for a year
By Jesse Jones — For nearly 12 months, the City of Albuquerque’s legal department failed to deliver required reports detailing how much the city paid in lawsuits to the City Council. Editor’s note: In researching this story, a Council spokesperson told City Desk that the last report received by the council was “in Q1 2025.” After […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Events, The Paper.
Get Out! (Feb. 26-March 11)
Opera Southwest: Aida (Wed. 25, Performance) Opera Southwest mounts “the grandest of grand operas” with a staging of Giuseppe Verdi’s old Egypt-set masterpiece Aida. Michelle Johnson (2023’s Turandot 2023 and 2019’s Lohengrin) returns in the title role, alongside Olivia Vote (2025’s Verdi’s Requiem and 2018’s Norma) as Amneris. You can catch it Wednesday, Feb. 25 […]
Reader-supported
Can ranked choice voting save Albuquerque a fortune? Supporters will try again for next city election
The Albuquerque City Council uses ranked choice voting (RCV) for its own internal seats. Now, Councilors Tammy Fiebelkorn, Nichole Rogers and Stephanie Telles have introduced Ordinance O-26-13 to extend that same system to citywide elections by November 2027. Under RCV, voters rank candidates by preference. If no one secures a majority, the lowest vote-getter is […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Sports, The Paper.
New Mexico United Eyes Encore After Historic 2025 Season
After captivating the state with a thrilling run to the Western Conference Finals in 2025, New Mexico United enters the 2026 season with heightened expectations and a roster built for championship contention. According to United President Ron Patel, the Black & Yellow drew nearly 200,000 television viewers for last year’s playoff match, a staggering number […]
Reader-supported
Albuquerque is making a new push to create more immigrant-friendly laws. Here’s what’s planned.
Albuquerque officials are launching a comprehensive strategy this spring to protect immigrants amid growing uncertainty about federal enforcement. Mayor Tim Keller and city councilors will introduce an ordinance in early March to permanently ban federal agents from using city resources. The move is part of the city’s Defend ABQ program. Alongside the new law, the city will […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Art & Artists, The Paper.
Painter M. Certo Takes Over the Walls of His Own Gallery with Synecdoche
For the first time in several years, painter and gallerist Michael Certo is turning the walls of his own space over to himself. Synecdoche, a solo exhibition of 21 new paintings, opens Saturday, Feb. 21 at AC2 Contemporary Art and marks Certo’s first solo presentation at the gallery in four or five years. The title, […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Food & Drink, The Paper.
My Favorite Things: The Cheapest and Most Expensive Burgers in Albuquerque
Albuquerque has no shortage of options when it comes to burgers. Whether they be steakhouse or smash, green chile or plain, fast food or fine dining, burger connoisseurs will have no trouble finding what they need. I went looking for the ends of the burger universe: the cheapest burger I could find and the most […]