About Albuquerque's North Valley

40th ANNUAL
ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL

BALLOON FIESTA

OCTOBER 1-9, 2011

SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1

Morning Session

5:45 am Dawn Patrol Show presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel

6:30 am Krispy Kreme Morning Glow

6:45 am Opening Ceremonies

7:00 am Mass Ascension

Evening Session

2:00 pm America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race Inflation

5:45 pm Twilight Twinkle Glow™

6:00 pm America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race Launch

8:00 pm AfterGlow™Fireworks Show presented by Albuquerque Journal

Sunday, October 2

Morning Session

5:45 am Dawn Patrol Show presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel

6:30 am Krispy Kreme Morning Glow

7:00 am Mass Ascension

9:00 am Fiesta of Wheels Car Show

11:00 am Balloon Fiesta Pin Trading (Group Tour Tent, north end of Main Street)

Evening Session

5:45 pm Balloon Glow, presented by Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau

8:00 pm AfterGlow™Fireworks Show presented by Albuquerque Journal

Monday, October 3

Morning Session

5:45 am Dawn Patrol

7:00 am Flying Competition – Balloon Fiesta Hold’em

7:00 am Flying Competition - Sandia Resort & Casino $100,000 Challenge

Evening Session

No Events

Tuesday, October 4

Morning Session

5:45 am Dawn Patrol

7:00 am Flying Competition - Sid Cutter Memorial

7:00 am Flying Competition - Sandia Resort & Casino $100,000 Challenge

Evening Session

No Events

Wednesday, October 5

Morning Session

5:45 am Dawn Patrol Show presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel

6:30 am Krispy Kreme Morning Glow

7:00 am Flight of the Nations Mass Ascension

Evening Session

No Events

Thursday, October 6

Morning Session

5:45 am Dawn Patrol

7:00 am Special Shape Rodeo™

8:00 am Flying Competition - Sandia Resort & Casino

$100,000 Challenge & Prize Grab

Evening Session

5:45 pm Special Shape Glowdeo™

8:00 pm AfterGlow™Fireworks Show presented by Albuquerque Journal

Friday, October 7

Morning Session

5:45 am Dawn Patrol

7:00 am Special Shape Rodeo™

8:00 am Flying Competition - Sandia Resort & Casino

$100,000 Challenge & Prize Grab

Evening Session

5:45 pm Special Shape Glowdeo™

8:00 pm AfterGlow™Fireworks Show presented by Albuquerque Journal

Saturday, October 8

Morning Session

5:45 am Dawn Patrol Show presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel

6:30 am Krispy Kreme Morning Glow

7:00 am Mass Ascension

11:00 am Balloon Fiesta Pin Trading (Group Tour Tent, north end of Main Street)

Evening Session

5:45 pm Night Magic™Glow

8:00 pm AfterGlow™Fireworks Show presented by Albuquerque Journal

Sunday, October 9

Morning Session

5:45 am Dawn Patrol Show presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel

6:30 am Krispy Kreme Morning Glow

7:00 am Farewell Mass Ascension

For More Information Call:

Toll Free 888 422-7277

Phone 505 821-1000

Fax 505 828-2887

This weekend was the 14th annual Chile Festival at Shepard of the Valley Presbyterian church.

The event which features arts and crafts, food and entertainment, is a fund raiser for one of my favorite charities, Habitat for Humanity.

The festival features arts and crafts, games for kids, food and music plus roasting green chile.

Green chile is a staple here in New Mexico. We love Chile so much that the state has an official state question: Red or Green?

This festival featured the more popular green kind which comes from downstate, from a small town called Hatch NM, the Chile Capital of the World!

Hatch NM will be having their own Chile festival this coming weekend, September 3rd and 4th.

 

When I first moved here to Albuquerque back in 1989, I had no idea what green chile was. To me chili was a hearty bowl of soup that unfortunately came from a can.

One day that fall, about a week into the fall semeter at the University of New Mexico, I was walking to the grocery store when I smelled this really weird smell. The only thing I could think of was roasting corn. But why were they roasting corn outside the grocery store???

What I was smelling was the green chili crop being roasted. I got to smell that same fabulous smell this weekend. Here's some green chile roasting action:

Couldn't you just smell that delicious green chile roasting! Must mean it's almost fall.

 

 

 

 

 

North Valley Albuquerque homes and real estate are often surrounded by an environment of peacefulness. Winding streets, long, narrow parcels, acequias, and fertile
landscapes fill the North Valley landscape. Many homes sit on lush acreage, surrounded by colorful
gardens, small orchards, and ancient cottonwood trees. Because many homes are set on one acre or
more sized lots, this is one of the few areas in Albuquerque where the city permits horses. It is also
common to see chickens, llamas, peacocks, and goats roaming in people's backyards.

Existing housing is very diverse in price, size, quality, and type. Most residential areas are marked with
custom individuality and character, as it is not uncommon to see a 800 sq. ft. 50 year adobe sitting
alongside a new, half a million estate. Communities and subdivisions located in the North Valley, Near
North Valley, and Far North Valley areas include the Village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, Mathew
Meadows, Los Duranes, Los Poblanos, Vista del Norte, Guadalupe Trail, Los Duranes and Dietz Farms.

Bordered by the Rio Grande River, near the cottonwood tree filled Bosque, and lined with acequias - or
ditch banks-, the North Valley region offers plenty of walking, biking, and running trails. Here you will
find many wildlife and botanical experiences, such as those offered by the Rio Grande Nature Center.
The Rio Grande Community Farms is 140 acres dedicated to community farming, wildlife crops, and a
school garden. Every Saturday in during summer and winter, the Los Ranchos de Albuquerque village
celebrates the earth's bounties at their growers market, providing locally grown fruit, vegetables,
flowers, and other wonders. Other places of interest include Plants of the Southwest, Los Poblanos
Organics farm, the Corn Maize, several wineries, Out of the Blue educational toy store, Flying Star,
Bookworks independent bookstore, Betty's Bath and Day Spa, Annapurna Chai House, High Desert
Yoga, and La Montanita Coop Food Market.

Please visit http://www.albuquerquerealestateandhomes.com to learn more about real estate and homes in Albuquerque's North Valley communities.

The Los Ranchos de Albuquerque farmers market was on schedule yesterday as it is on Saturdays throughout the growing season. This last weekend in August, the market happens to coincde with the California slow food celebrations. There was no hint the vendors and customers were aware of the California happenings but the market had a festive air. It was a family affair. Children and dogs were in attendance and men and women vendors were at stands selling colorful and delicious looking fruit and vegetables . The craft on the stands were attractive and everyone seemed to be having fun.

I bought 'Placitas plums' from two young women of high school age; one a senior about to leave for college on the east coast and the other a sophomore. I couldn't resist the mounds of bread at the bakery stand and also ended up buying scones and tarts.

But Albuquerque being the town it is, the North Valley being the comunity it is, and farmers markets being farmers markets, my morning would not have been complete without my meeting a friend or two, and I did. As it turned out, the farmers market was an altogether satisfying experience-wholesome home grown and home-made food, hand-made crafts, fun, friendship, and fellowship.

Eloise Gift
www.eloisegift.com