New Mexico Symphony Orchestra Fundraiser

A small fundraiser for the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra has now become an amazing organization raising funds for art education programs for New Mexico’s children. The 4 day event includes the famous food and wine tasting that you won’t want to miss out on. For more information, head to ABQ Journal.

What began as a small fundraiser to benefit the now defunct New Mexico Symphony Orchestra has blossomed into a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting art education programs for New Mexico children.

Now in its 24th year, Vintage Albuquerque is hosting its premier food and wine event that spans four days from Wednesday, June 24, through June 27.

Proceeds benefit the ABQ Youth Symphony, National Dance Institute of New Mexico, Art in the School, New Mexico Jazz Workshop children’s programs and Lynx Inc., which has a local chapter that works with underprivileged children.

“The community comes together for great wine and great food,” said Steve Wedeen, who is on the Vintage Albuquerque board of directors. “Everyone who participates in it is really into it. We want to make it great and have fun and enjoy it.”

He said the organizers know how important art and creativity programs are for children. “One little art class or dance concert or music lesson could change a kid’s life.”

The Opening Night Gala will be held Wednesday at Zinc in Nob Hill for $150 per person. A number of wine dinners will be held at various locations in Albuquerque, Los Ranchos and Santa Ana Pueblo on Thursday, June 25. Each dinner is $95 per person. The wrap-up live auction and dinner will be held on June 27 at Los Poblanos for $220 per person.

Those looking for all Vintage Albuquerque 2015 has to offer in one location are encouraged to attend the Grand Tasting at 6 p.m. June 26 at the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum. The event is open to the general public.

There will be about 35 local restaurants and about 35 wine booths, which will be pouring about 100 wines during the tasting event, according to Wedeen. A small beer garden will feature three to four microbreweries. BounceChat, a New Mexico startup social media company, also will be on-hand. Its downloadable app allows event-goers to engage in interactive conversation within the event grounds.

Vintage Albuquerque 2015 events include wine offerings from around the world, as well as wines from around the United States including California, Oregon and Washington, according to Wedeen. New Mexico wines will be represented by Gruet, Casa Rondeña and Milagro.



The event is a tasting only event, but all the wines at the event are available for purchase or can be ordered through local retailers including Jubilation, Wedeen said. For a full schedule, list of participants and other information, visitvintagealbuquerque.org.

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Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there doing their best to be role models for their children. Thanks for everything!

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Exercise Sucks! (But It's Still Good for You In Surprising Ways)

Exercising is difficult, no ifs, ands or buts about it. But when it comes down to it, exercising can benefit you in ways you might not have even realized. There are a million reasons why you don’t want to work out but Care2 has 7 reasons that prove that you should.


Starting a new exercise routine can be daunting, and the long-term benefits can often seem too far off to motivate us to give up an extra hour of sleep in favor of hitting the gym. But luckily, there’s plenty of instant gratification to be had when you work out. Need some motivation? Keep reading for seven ways your workout will benefit you immediately.

It’ll boost creativity.

A thirty-minute aerobic workout can increase your creativity for up to two hours post-exercise, according to one study. Want to supercharge the effects? Take that workout outside—spending time in nature boosts the cognitive benefits.

It’ll improve your mood.

Runner’s high is real—and you don’t need to be fast to experience it. In a study of college students jogging at low, medium, and high intensities, all reported feeling better after exercising, regardless of intensity.

It’ll boost your metabolism.

Whether you lift weights or prefer cardio, exercise boosts your metabolism within minutes—and it keeps going even after you’ve finished your workout, helping you burn more calories long after your cool down.

It’ll improve your skin.

It may take a few weeks of exercise before you start seeing improvements to your abs, but the effects on your skin are immediate. Exercise increases your body temperature, boosting blood flow to your skin and giving you that healthy glow.

It’ll help you at work.

Big meeting? Fit a short workout into your morning. One study found that participants who completed 15 minutes of stationary cycling had faster reaction times on working memory tasks, possibly because intense bursts of cardio make make your attentional and memory resources more efficient.

It’ll boost your productivity.

Another way more time at the gym can improve your time at the office? The boost in productivity—one study found that replaced two and half work hours a week with exercise increased employees’ self-rated productivity and decreased sick days.

It’ll lower your blood pressure.

Just one workout can lower your blood pressure for up to 16 hours. And over time, exercise can be just as effective as some medications for lowering blood pressure.

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Mental Health Awareness Month

When you feel worn out and run down you need to change your habits. A few easy lifestyle changes are all that’s needed to improve your mental and physical health. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Mashable has compiled 7 simple things you can do to feel better when you’re at your worst.

Here are seven quick ways to improve your overall mental health.

1. Walk outside.

Skip the gym and head for the great outdoors. While exercising in itself is a great boost to your mental health, going for a walk or run outside has even more vital health benefits. Studies show you'll exert more effort, and will have increased signs of "vitality, enthusiasm, pleasure and self-esteem," as compared to staying indoors.

2. Take vitamin B12.

You've always known taking vitamins is important, but do you know about the benefits of B12?

Studies have shown that a severe deficiency of B12 can lead to depression, anxiety, paranoia and more harmful problems. Get your B12 dosage from pill supplements, or by eating foods such as eggs, poultry and dairy products like milk.

3. Write simple goals.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness says setting simple, well-defined goals like, "I will smoke one less cigarette, each day, for the next three weeks," is a great way to actually accomplish something. Set goals for yourself in relation to your mental health (such as, "I will take two minutes each day to focus on breathing"), and be as specific as possible.

Once you've accomplished that goal, reward yourself!

4. Listen to slow, calming music.

Plenty of studies have shown that performing tasks while listening to classical tracks such as Pachelbel's "Canon in D Major" soothes your mind and reduces anxiety. If you're not one for classical music, opt for other tracks that are slow and simple.

5. Use lavender oil.

Put a bit of lavender oil on your pillow. Studies show that the essential oil canimprove your sleep quality and help battle insomnia. If you don't want it on your pillow, try drinking a bit of lavender tea before bed to soak up its healthful benefits.

6. Spend money on someone else.

You know that victorious feeling you get when you find the perfect gift for someone? That's your happiness levels skyrocketing. Studies have shown that people who buy something for someone else feel happier throughout day. And you don't have to break the bank every time -- spending $5 for someone else is perfectly effective.

7. Meditate.

We know this is constantly touted as the mind-clearing fix-all, but it's for good reason. Mindful meditation can increase the brain's emotional regulator, and can help combat depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia and more. Start slowly by meditating for three to five minutes per day in order to get comfortable with silence.

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