Updated more than ten years after its initial publication, this impassioned book is more relevant than ever to Albuquerque's future. "Illuminating, provocative. . . . a complex, intelligent study of urbanization through an intimate examination of Albuquerque. . . . an insightful, absorbing book."--El Palacio

From its humble beginning in 1972 when 13 hot-air balloons ascended from an Albuquerque shopping center parking lot to a stunning annual gathering of 500-plus aeronauts, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta lives on as the most-photographed air show on the planet. As you page through this book, imagine yourself going along for the ride and soaring to new heights. Or if you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, imagine yourself strolling among hundreds of swaying giants, seemingly lost in a dizzying kaleidoscope of color. Join in the camaraderie that draws pilots and fans to Albuquerque from all over the world. You will find yourself mesmerized by the Balloon Fiesta s signature events and its spirited competition among hot-air balloon pilots. As an added attraction, step back in time to when hydrogen-gas balloons once graced Albuquerque skies and enjoy the fascinating world of silent flight, the America s Challenge Gas Balloon Race."

Another Way Forward profiles innovative organizations and inspiring local leaders who are changing the world in New Mexico, one neighborhood, one clinic, one classroom at a time. Award winning author and former senator shows what they have in common and how we can make a difference from the bottom up. 248 pages, 63 color photos, resources, tips

A hardboiled valentine to the Golden State, That Left Turn at Albuquerque marks the return of noir master Scott Phillips. Douglas Rigby, attorney-at-law, is bankrupt. He’s just sunk his last $200,000—a clandestine “loan” from his last remaining client, former bigshot TV exec Glenn Haskill—into a cocaine deal gone wrong. The lesson? Never trust anyone else with the dirty work. Desperate to get back on top, Rigby formulates an art forgery scheme involving one of Glenn’s priceless paintings, a victimless crime. But for Rigby to pull this one off, he’ll need to negotiate a whole cast of players with their own agendas, including his wife, his girlfriend, an embittered art forger, Glenn’s resentful nurse, and the man’s money-hungry nephew. One misstep, and it all falls apart—will he be able to save his skin? Written with hard-knock sensibility and wicked humor, Scott Phillips’s newest novel will cement him as one of the great crime writers of the 21st century.

A powerful memoir from Natalie Goldberg—the woman who changed the way writing is taught in this country—sharing her experience with cancer grounded in her practice of writing and Zen Let the Whole Thundering World Come Home begins at the grave of Katagiri Roshi, Natalie’s Zen teacher, in Japan. Twenty years after Katagiri’s death and Natalie’s return to New Mexico, she is permanently settled in Santa Fe with her partner, Yukwan. Except that, as Buddhism teaches us, nothing is permanent. Natalie learns that she has CLL, a potentially fatal form of blood cancer. For two years, Natalie dances with her cancer—visiting doctor after doctor, attempting treatment after treatment. Nothing helps; in fact, one of the treatments only feeds the cancer and encourages its growth. Then Natalie’s partner, Yukwan discovers that she, too, has cancer—breast cancer—as well as an off-the-charts oncotype score that requires her to have surgery immediately. The cancer twins, as Natalie calls herself and Yukwan, now must each navigate her own illness, carve out her own cancer territory. Each can provide only limited emotional and physical energy for the other. And, somehow, they both need to find a way to stay together, to stay in love—and to heal. As the title expresses, Let the Whole Thundering World Come Home is so much more than a cancer memoir. Through a direct and grounded narrative, Natalie illuminates a path through illness: that we need to be in love with the lives we have, to embrace the dark and the light in our lives. For Natalie, writing and painting represent the light, and her cancer takes her deeper into her art practices. Balanced with a Zen practice that helps to her face death, this book is a moving meditation on living life in full bloom.

Explore the most interesting, scenic, and historic places in Albuquerque, New Mexico, via 30 self-guided walking tours. Basking in an average of 310 days of sunshine per year, Albuquerque is a welcoming environment that offers walkable landscapes ranging from its wilderness edge to its industrial core. Yet, given Burque’s history and massive sprawl, navigating it on foot requires some guidance from an expert. That’s where Walking Albuquerque by local author and explorer Stephen Ausherman comes in handy. With 30 routes mapped out in the valley, the heights, and beyond, this first-of-its-kind comprehensive guidebook covers the entire city and surrounding areas. Whether strolling down neon-bedazzled avenues, promenading through Victorian neighborhoods, exploring volcanic vistas, or wandering the wooded banks of the Rio Grande, each trek is an enlightening excursion into Albuquerque’s deep history and richly diverse culture. You can experience the local art scene, indulge in exotic cuisine, visit sacred places, and enjoy more open space than any other city in America—nearly 3,000 square feet of parkland per person. Inside you’ll find: 30 self-guided walking tours of the city National landmarks and famous filming locations Hidden treasures that even locals don’t often know about Architecture, trivia, and more If you’re looking for a quick workout, a full day’s entertainment, or something in between, Walking Albuquerque will get you there. You’ll feel as if you’re being led by your closest friend. So find a route that appeals to you, and walk Albuquerque!

Here at last is a book that thoroughly chronicles the city's distinctive mix of landscape, climate, architecture, cultural tradition, and history. Through an engaging text and striking illustrations, Simmons presents the major events and personalities in Albuquerque's past. Albuquerque traces the history of the city from ancient times to the present. The account begins with an overview of the geology and geography of the Middle Rio Grande Valley and then describes the successive waves of settlement by Indians, Spaniards, and post-1846 immigrants. Since its founding in 1706, the city has faced conflict, turmoil, and natural disasters that have challenged but not impeded its steady civic progress. In a compelling blend of the dramatic and the ordinary, Simmons brings to life the characters and incidents that have shaped Albuquerque, capturing for the modern reader what its people have thought, felt, and done throughout the generations. Albuquerque is the product of three centuries of continuous settlement, yet it is one of the West's new boom towns, owing to an eightfold increase in population since 1945 and its location in the mineral-rich Southwest. Thus this book has significance as more than a model of study of a city's growth. By placing Albuquerque in historical and cultural context, it gives residents a valuable perspective on their heritage that will help shape their response to contemporary and future challenges -- Book jacket.