Justine Lopez - The Daily Lobo

University of New Mexico students walk toward Smith Plaza during the Hanging of the Greens on Friday, Nov. 30.

Culture

UNM celebrates Hanging of the Greens

Justine Lopez | December 3

On Friday the University of New Mexico lit up with luminarias for the annual Hanging of the Greens. Students, alumni and community members gathered outside of the UNM bookstore to start their campus stroll, but after a cup of hot chocolate first. Whether referred to as luminarias or farolitos, thousands of these little lights decorated campus. School organizations who participated created their own designs out of the glowing paper bags.

A performer in the University of New Mexico Queer Student Alliance Drag Show.

Culture

Queer Student Alliance hosts annual drag show

Justine Lopez | November 12

The 10th annual Queer Student Alliance (QSA) Drag Show took place in the Student Union Building Saturday evening. This year’s theme was dubbed “Space Glamp” and featured both amateur and professional drag performers. “It’s like glamorous camping – boujee camping ,” said QSA co-chair Jude Ripley. “Instead of a tent and a campfire you have heated tents and an RV.” Ripley said the original theme was supposed to be “extra-terrestrial” but changed it to avoid repeating the same theme as New Mexico Pride.

Culture

Native Beats Concert raises awareness

Justine Lopez | November 12

The University of New Mexico’s KIVA Club hosted the 15th Annual Native Beats Concert on Sunday in the Student Union Building. Signs were draped along the performance space with messages that read “Abolish ICE” and “Protect Chaco Canyon.” Indigenous musicians and vendors participated to benefit Native communities in the Chaco Canyon area who are affected by fracking, a drilling process that extracts natural gas and oil. Performances ranged in genre from spoken word, to hip-hop and rock. The KIVA Club encouraged performers to speak about issues that affect their own communities to offer different tribal perspectives.

A runner participates in the Duke City Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 20.

Culture

Hundreds of runners participate in Duke City Marathon

Justine Lopez | October 22

Sunday, hundreds of runners gathered downtown at Civic Plaza for the 35th annual Duke City Marathon. The marathon kicked off at 7 a.m. and was followed by a marathon relay, half marathon, 10k and 5k. Runners took their mark and dashed down 3rd Street at the sound of the starting pistol. Some participants took off clad in tutus, and others sported no shoes at all. A family of five wore different colored shirts with Pokémon characters printed on the front. Every runner wore a bib indicating which event they were in. University of New Mexico alumna, Holly Armstrong, participated in the 5K race this year alongside her husband. She said she did not train prior to the race but wanted to take part to enjoy herself.

Balloon chase crew members for the Flying Monkeys begin to disassemble their hot air balloon, High Maintenance II.

Culture

On the run: The chase crew of the Balloon Fiesta

Justine Lopez | October 9

Thousands of visitors packed into Balloon Fiesta Park last Saturday for the opening day of the 47th annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Hundreds of balloons of all shapes and sizes took to the morning sky as spectators cheered on the pilots and bid them a safe trip. The work of a balloon pilot is no easy feat. Pilots and chase crews arrive to the park well before dawn to take part in the event. Keith Lutz and his crew have been participating in the fiesta for the better part of a decade. Lutz and his wife Michelle first took an interest in ballooning as spectators. Later they became participants on a chase crew until Lutz decided he wanted to become a pilot. Now Lutz and his crew, named The Flying Monkeys, help him fly his balloon, High Maintenance II.

Culture

Mayor Keller promotes pop-up businesses in Downtown

Justine Lopez | September 19

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller unveiled a new business initiative to invite pop-up vendors to fill vacant business spaces downtown. This initiative is part of the One Albuquerque: Engage campaign and will feature a variety of local businesses and artisans to occupy spaces at 505 Central Avenue. This plan for economic development is aimed showcase the potential for these spaces and aims to encourage public safety. “We’re really looking to fill vacant spaces to affect the whole environment,” said Director of Marketing and Innovation Carlos Contreras. “More feet on the street and more eyes on the street. Just a more engaged area... we think that we can affect public safety and our local economy fairly positively in one effort.”

Culture

State Fair returns to Albuquerque

Justine Lopez | September 13

Sept. 6 marked the first day of the 80th annual New Mexico State Fair at Expo New Mexico. Visitors were immediately greeted with the sights and smells of fair foods and brightly lit carnival rides as they walked through the entrance. Vendors lined the main street of the fair as their displays enticed people to look at their homemade goods, from t-shirts to custom wood-burned signs. Some vendors even prompted people with a challenge of physical strength. UNM professor Jonathan Eldredge was in attendance on the fair’s opening day and was accompanied by his daughter Gabriela. The two have had a father-daughter tradition of attending the fair every year since Gabriela was a child.

Culture

Worries are burned away at the 2018 Zozobra

Justine Lopez | September 6

Thousands of people packed into Fort Marcy Park on Friday for Santa Fe’s annual burning of Zozobra. This 94-year-old tradition is a time for the people of Santa Fe to let go of their worries and anxieties by writing them down on pieces of paper that are then packed into the 50-foot-tall marionette to be set ablaze. “It’s like our new year,” said Kiwanis Club Press Liaison, Lisa Jaramillo. The Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe has organized this event since 1964.

Culture

UNM music professors perform in Spain

Justine Lopez | September 6

Two University of New Mexico music professors, Kevin Vigneau and Kimberly Fredenburgh, performed at the 47th annual Double Reed Conference in Granada, Spain last week. Their program was titled “Nueva Musica de Nuevo Mexico” and was comprised of three unique works including one that premiered at the conference. This annual conference welcomed over 1,300 attendees from all over the world and offered presentations, workshops and concerts. This trip was made possible by the John Donald Robb Musical Trust, the UNM College of Fine Arts and the UNM Department of Music.