Love Your Local Businesses

Downtown Albuquerque is not only a great place to stay, but also a fantastic place to shop and dine – especially if you love the thought of buying local. Opportunities abound for supporting the local community, being a more ‘green’ consumer and filling your body with fresh, seasonal, locally grown food.

By frequenting locally-owned businesses, you help to keep the community unique, with a flavor and flair all its own. You are also able to find one-of-a-kind gifts and mementos, not to mention having distinctive and intimate experiences that big businesses just can’t offer.

Another benefit to buying local is the reduction of harm to the environment. Dining, shopping and staying locally cuts down on the processing, packaging and transportation required to being non-local items to shelves and tables.

Ideas for local Albuquerque fun, shopping, dining and lodging experiences include:

• The Rail Yards Market – On a mission to preserve the legacy of a historic downtown neighborhood, this community-organized market offers food, music and art for the whole family every Sunday from May to October

• The Grower’s Market off of Route 66 in downtown Albuquerque – you can find your favorite fruits and vegetables there April through November

• Historic Nob Hill – A mile-long stretch along Central Avenue, this is an area where you can find unique stores, family-owned restaurants, and vibrant night life

• Green Jeans Farmery – Repurposed shipping containers hold a myriad of restaurants, shops, and bars in this plaza designed for both indoor and outdoor fun

• Aerial adventures – Albuquerque is the ballooning capital of the world, and hosts the largest annual balloon festival in the world each October. It is also home to the Aerial Tramway, a thrilling ride that brings you to the top of the Sandia Mountains

• Simms Fitness – A fun and full-service gym located in the heart of downtown Albuquerque, it offers both drop-in rates and a variety of membership contracts. It’s open 7 days a week, with an extensive menu of yoga, circuit and cardio classes.

• Bed & Breakfasts – Fresh, homemade breakfasts, better service, distinctive rooms, and tailored experiences are but a few of the benefits of staying at a locally owned B&B.

Food Ideas For Healthy Homemade Meals

As a mid-western farm girl from Kansas, I grew up on fresh, homemade food. So when I turned 18 and moved to the city, I discovered, after just a few restaurant meals, how much more satisfying (and cheaper!) meals could be if I made them myself. And no matter who I was cooking for, I found that when I chose the freshest and most colorful ingredients, my dishes were not only healthy and fresh, but I believe they tasted better than any restaurant meal ever could!

When I bought the Mauger Estate B&B, I went overnight from making meals for my family and friends to creating breakfasts for large groups of strangers with a variety of needs and tastes. As the owner of the B&B, it is important to me to offer both quality and value to my guests, and breakfast is no exception!  I made the decision early on that while I couldn’t afford to buy organic or locally grown food, I could buy fresh, and the freshness and flavor of these breakfasts are now a hallmark of my B&B, and it is one of the main reasons guests return for another stay.  

If you love the idea of making and eating homemade meals, start by following a simple recipe that allows you to buy whatever fresh ingredients are available to you locally.  When I’m cooking small quantities at home, I use locally grown and organic foods from the farmer’s market.  For the B&B, I usually find large quantities at Costco, and buy smaller quantities at Sprouts, both provide good quality at a reasonable price.  I also make sweet bread, muffin batters and cookie dough from scratch, and refrigerate them or freeze them so that I can make them fresh anytime in small quantities.

Other ideas for healthy, fresh and homemade meals using organic and locally grown food include homemade pizzas, homemade baked sweet potato fries, homemade quiche, and homemade tacos (use fresh soft corn tortillas), and you can delight in eating an inexpensive and TASTY meal!  Even if you have a craving for something that isn’t so healthy (like nachos!), if you make it yourself, it will be so much more flavorful and healthier than going to a bar or restaurant.  I’ve found that baked flour tortillas make a great substitute for fried corn tortilla chips, and I use chicken instead of beef. Other favorite substitutions include whole black beans instead of refried beans, and fresh jalapenos instead of canned. Once you get started, you’ll become so creative with your cooking, and you’ll always feel better about knowing exactly what you’re eating, where it came from, and how good it is for you!

Bon Appetit!

Mauger Estate B&B - Take A Step Into The Past

The year may be 2016 but you can explore a different year right now. If you are thinking of a trip to Albuquerque New Mexico, why not take a small step back in time to the Mauger Estate B & B (pronounced major). Found in downtown Albuquerque, the Mauger Estate is a Queen Anne Victorian home built in 1897, and set in a neighborhood of equally fascinating older homes.

A wide covered porch with inviting chairs greets you.  This warm, welcoming property encourages you to slow down and take a break from the hectic day to day race and put your feet up. Here, you’ll sit back, relax and sip lemonade quietly on the porch. Beautiful architectural details from the past emphasize the slower pace of that bygone era. Walk through the nearby streets lined with these historic older homes and mature trees that speak of a rich and wonderful history.

Step into the home where traditional details beckon you to relax at a slower pace. Rich woodwork, etched glass and the decor of past elegance flirt with your senses and tease you with a past romantic era. Once escorted to your room with a private bathroom, you can relax and enjoy moments of quiet restfulness yet be spoiled with modern comforts and amenities.

You can easily rejoin the modern world with a few steps to a fitness center or a nearby restaurant to taste a bit of New Mexican cuisine. The present is never more than a few steps away as you walk down Central Avenue (Route 66) to enjoy the nightlife and sample the beverages of the many breweries of New Mexico. 

After a pleasant night’s slumber, wake to the aroma of locally roasted coffee and homemade breakfast. Eat inside or if weather permits, sit outside and enjoy your breakfast in the warm New Mexican sunshine. Eggs, pastries, New Mexico green chile and fresh fruit abound to tantalize your appetite and energize you for the new day.

If you wish to indulge in culture, walk or drive to nearby Old Town Plaza experiencing a part of New Mexican history while visiting local shops, or the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History. If nature is your preference, you are also minutes from the Botanic Gardens/Aquarium and the Albuquerque Zoo. Bike or walk along the scenic Rio Grande Bosque Trail, or visit a beautiful nearby park. 

Visit the past with a stay at the Mauger Estate Bed & Breakfast while you complete your business or simply relax in Albuquerque.