Penn, of Penn & Teller, discusses the duo’s endless preparation and the difficulty of performing pure magic

 

By Sarah Skenazy and Andrew Lyman
Penn & Teller have been creating magic together for over 30 years. They’ve produced the longest running and one of the highest regarded stage shows in the history of Las Vegas. On May 11, they will travel from their Vegas home to Route 66 Casino to give Albuquerque a taste of their particular brand of magic.

Warrior Dash runs thousands of New Mexicans over extreme course of mud and fire to raise money for children’s hospital

 

By Justin De La Rosa
What started as a race in Joliet, Ill., in 2009 has grown to be the world’s largest running series, with over one million participants in 65 different races worldwide. The Warrior Dash is not your typical race, with a start and finish and a few terrain challenges in between. Intensity, insanity and maybe a little bit of idiocy are just a few things you will see at the Warrior Dash.

Albuquerque’s Margaret Fitzgerald explores themes of growth and decay in large-scale abstract paintings

 

By Chloë Winegar-Garrett
Albuquerque artist Margaret Fitzgerald’s paintings are large-scale, beautiful abstractions and pristine canvas constructions, all focusing on the tension between growth and decay. She has taught art in public schools, been the focus of solo shows in San Francisco and New York City and has paintings displayed in Japan. Fitzgerald described her work and upcoming show Natura in an interview with Local iQ.

Actress makes star turn in dark, masterful family drama

 

By Jeff Berg
I will note with extreme prejudice that it is not often that I truly admire an actor or actress, but Tilda Swinton is an exception. Swinton, who is certainly one of the more unique personalities of the film world, carries that badge very well in this very dark film, which could easily be based on real life.

By Kayla Sawyer

Movie executive Bobby Gould celebrates certain success from a script that is a guaranteed moneymaker for him and longtime colleague Charlie Fox. When the head of the studio orders Gould to “courtesy read” an artsy, apocalyptic novel, Gould delegates to Karen, the office temp. After spending a night together, Karen convinces Gould to reject the easy-money script and produce a film about the doomsday book instead. Speed the Plow is a satirical dissection of the American movie business written by David Mamet, an American playwright, screenwriter and film director known for his intense, honest and challenging dialogue. 

By Justin De La Rosa

In recent years, it seems like the charm we look for in music comes less from a polished, pristine performance and more in the gritty-yet-glitzy grind of gears in the many sub-genres of indie and punk music. Dirty Ghosts definitely falls into a category of its own, with a raw release of riff-driven songs that are brought to life with the solid and sultry vocals of Allyson Baker. Dirty Ghosts’ marriage of crunchy guitar riffs, electronic instruments and drum beats results in the band’s personal groove, which varies from hip hop-infused indie rock to powerful dirty rock, as is heard on the track “19 in ‘71” off the Ghosts’ 2012 debut album, Metal Moon. 

Photo by Wes Naman

Be boys?
 B-Girls be present. 
Past and future
. Dance up a revolution of record proportions. 
Wrecking rotations.

— Hakim Bellamy, “Forty-Fives”

 

By Mike English

Poet laureates. Old white men. Robert Frost in a snowy field. Starched suits and ties. Women wordsmiths in tailored dresses, clutching podiums. Albuquerque’s new poet laureate breaks that mold — shatters it, really, then dances on the pieces.

Hakim Bellamy, 33, Philadelphia native and New Mexico resident since 2005, was recently selected to represent the Duke City as its first-ever official poet laureate. Bellamy’s two-year tenure started April 14.

Annual pow wow at The Pit draws enormous crowds to Albuquerque for celebration of all things Native American

 

By Chloë Winegar-Garrett
With each new spring there is a certain sensation that fills the air, one that suggests rejuvenation and energy and a chance to rejoice in life. Perhaps it is the flowers blooming or the warmer temperatures, but it also may have to do with the Gathering of Nations celebration, which has brought people together for the past 29 years.

Without the boundaries of walls and floors, an outdoor space allows for expression of the self

 

Story By Tish Resnik

The diversity in the look of residential landscapes can be attributed to many things — environment, budget, natural resources and more. But has it ever occurred to you that your landscape may reflect one or more of your beliefs or philosophies?  While many people don’t think about it, your gardening style is a huge factor in the type of landscape you create, and the landscape of your home is a reflection of your beliefs.

April
• Albuquerque’s average last frost is Apr. l8, and can arrive even later. Cover young plants if frost is predicted.   

• Plant fruit and shade trees, as well as shrubs.

• If planting young tomatoes, consider protection such as walls-of-water.

• Prune frost damage on roses and grapes, in preparation for spring growth.

• Plant dahlia, canna, gladiolus and lily bulbs.
• Plant strawberries, raspberries, currants, grapes, asparagus, potatoes, herbs and ornamental grasses.
• Fertilize waning spring flowering bulbs, and don’t remove green leaves until they turn brown.
• Inspect and repair drip irrigation in garden. Replace clogged emitters.
• Revitalize garden beds with compost.