Culture

Culture

Albuquerque nominated for ‘Best City for Street Art’

Maria Fernandez | February 9

In Albuquerque, street art covers public buildings, highway underpasses, restaurants, hotels and more, depicting New Mexico’s diverse cultures, political and social issues and history. With its diverse and stunning illustrations has come national recognition that could earn the city the title of being the nation’s very best for street art. In late January, Albuquerque was nominated for USA Today’s “Best City for Street Art” competition, vying for the most votes against cities including Atlanta, Austin, Texas and Chicago. The competition examines street art beyond its eye-catching features and colors, looking instead into the cultural significance that each city’s street art represents.

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Culture

UNM Japanese bean scattering brings Spring and good fortune

Shin Thant Hlaing | February 9

In an event bringing both spring and good luck for the upcoming year, Japanese traditions were brought to the University of New Mexico through a bean scattering event open to all. The Monday, Feb. 2, event featured a presentation, followed by an origami box making workshop, tossing soybeans at participant volunteers donning ‘oni,’ or demon masks, and eating roasted soybeans corresponding to their age. The UNM Language Learning Center event featured a presentation by Mami McCrew, UNM Department of Language, Cultures, and Literatures Professor, on the Setsubun festival itself. Setsubun, meaning “seasonal division,” is usually celebrated on the last day of winter or before the start of spring, according to Uwajimaya. 

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Culture

Alum-run local business brings international viral treats to Albuquerque

Lexis Lovato | February 9

People who consider themselves chronically online and can’t get the newest trend out of their head — such as Labubus or fruit-shaped ice cream — may find fulfillment from the exotic snack shop, Monaco Market. Monaco Market imports rare ingredients, drinks and prepackaged snacks that aren’t easy to find anywhere else.  The store is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. University of New Mexico students receive a 10% discount when they present their student ID.

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Culture

UNM Speaker advocates against superstitious killings in Africa

Addison Fulton | February 9

Even today, killings based on superstition persist in several sub-Saharan African nations. To bring attention and advocate for a stop to the killings, the founder of Advocacy for Accused Witches, Leo Igwe, spoke to an audience at the University of New Mexico Continuing Education Building on the history, causes and impacts of witch hunts in Africa. AFAW has responded to over 300 cases of witch hunts and ritual attacks in the past few years, Igwe said. Igwe said he was inspired to intervene in witch hunts after finishing his PhD in African studies in Germany and being told that he must study with distance and detachment.

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Culture

Native American students envision the future of their communities in artwork

Lexis Lovato | February 2

Native American students demonstrated their outstanding talents through different forms of art work, each detailing what they envision for their community’s future, at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center during its 45th annual student art exhibit, which ended on Sunday, Feb. 1. The event featured art work from Native American students in New Mexico between Kindergarten and 12th grade. The first Native American Student Art Show took place just shortly after the IPCC opened its doors in 1976. This year’s theme was “Planning Our Future Homes,” where students were given prompts to help guide their artwork. The prompts were meant to evoke an idea of what each student hoped to see their community look like within the future.

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Culture

UNM hosts ‘Teach-In’ to discuss, question Venezuelan intervention

Elizabeth Bolke | February 2

The University of New Mexico Latin American and Iberian Institute and Department of Political Science held a “Teach-In” event on Monday, Jan. 26, to discuss U.S. intervention in Venezuela and attacks on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean. The teach-in consisted of lectures by UNM Political Science Professors Mark Peceny and William Stanley, and closed with a Q&A. The presenters spoke on the U.S. attacks on alleged drug smuggling boats, the seizure and blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers, the U.S. military strikes on Caracas, Venezuela, and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, being taken from their home and brought to the U.S. to face criminal charges while the Trump administration seeks to assert control over the Venezuelan oil industry.

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Culture

Africana Studies Department kicks off Black History Month with brunch

Camillo Cretara | February 2

The University of New Mexico Department of Africana Studies “41st Annual Black History Month Kickoff Brunch” started Black History Month off strong, with the Student Union Building full of smells, sounds and an electrifying sense of community that could be felt as soon as one entered the ballroom. The Saturday, Jan. 31 brunch started off with attendees and speakers singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson; a hymn first written in 1900 and adopted as a rallying cry during the Civil Rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s.  The afternoon began with brief messages from UNM students and Mr. and Ms. UNM Afro, Jayden Charter and Judie Oyinatumba, as well as a quick introduction from Albuquerque’s first African American City Council member, District Six’s Nichole Rogers.

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Culture

Sukoon Coffeehouse offers late night study space

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | February 2

Inspired by his wish for a late-night cafe study spot, 22-year old University of New Mexico graduate student, Taha Raad, along with two of his friends, opened Sukoon Coffeehouse over winter break 2025-2026, on the corner of Monte Vista Boulevard and Central Avenue — walking distance from Main Campus. Sukoon Coffeehouse serves a variety of espresso and matcha barista drinks, including traditional options such as the Yemeni latte, Adeni tea and Mofawar, along with a selection of traditional food items such as Honeycomb bread, Baklava and Za’atar Manakeesh. The Coffeehouse opens at 7 a.m. everyday; it closes at 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 12 a.m. the rest of the week.

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Culture

100 years of the historic Route 66

Maria Fernandez | February 2

Coined the “Mother Road” by John Steinbeck in his 1939 “The Grapes of Wrath” novel, the U.S. Route 66 has been a beloved part of New Mexico’s history since its opening in 1926 as an official highway. Route 66 is a landmark of American development and urbanization of the West, connecting Michigan Avenue in Chicago to the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, California — a total of 2,238 miles in its final form, according to The Route 66 website. Though travel on Route 66 lessened as the larger U.S. highway system was built, the magic of the “Mother Road” can still be seen in the cities and towns along its original route and through the oral histories of locals.

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Culture

UNM receives donation of works by filmmaker Brian Levant

Addison Fulton | February 2

Early scripts, storyboards and creative process materials of filmmaker Brian Levant will find a new home in the University of New Mexico’s Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections.  On Jan. 19, UNM announced that Levant, the mind behind the “Leave it to Beaver” series and the films “The Flintstones” and “The Spy Next Door,” starring Jackie Chan, has donated his work to the CSWR in Zimmerman Library. Suzanne Schadl, director of the CSWR, said Levant worked in many aspects of the Hollywood creative world. 

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Culture

UNM alum, songwriter and artist Hataaliinez Wheeler makes Indie Rock his own

Camillo Cretara | January 26

Staying in one place is never good for an artist and University of New Mexico alum Hataaliinez Wheeler, who performs under the name “Hataałii,” recently realized that when he moved to New York City, New York, to continue writing music and painting.  A 23-year-old singer, songwriter and painter, Wheeler is known for creating a psychedelic fusion of indie-rock and melancholic pop. Wheeler, who recently attended UNM, first started writing songs and painting in his dorm room, he said. Art can come from a lot of different places, and for Wheeler, his music and paintings often come from similar places, described as “Ntł’iz and Yódí,” he said.

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Culture

Albuquerque to become ‘Community Edition’ Monopoly board

Addison Fulton | January 26

In November, 2026, the city of Albuquerque will join the proud ranks of San Diego, Memphis, Tenn. and Star Wars in receiving its very own Monopoly board.  Monopoly’s publisher, Hasbro, selects cities to be made into “Community Edition” releases where iconic local landmarks and institutions replace the traditional properties on the game board. Daniel Mayfield, the public information officer for the City of Albuquerque, said the board will be split into parks, restaurants, cultural destinations, tourism spots and other locations. 

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Culture

Immersive show encourages Popejoy to sing

Leila Chapa | January 22

“Sing-A- Long Broadway” is a unique show which invites audience members to an opportunity to celebrate Broadway music, from a variety of shows, through a guided sing-along stage experience on Sunday, Jan. 25. According to a Popejoy press release, the show is designed to include attendees of all ages and levels of experience to participate in the show. “Hosted by a two-person emcee team, the duo will lead the audience through musical highlights, thematic medleys, and interactive moments,” the press release reads.

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Culture

REVIEW: ‘Marty Supreme’ is an instant cult classic

Addison Fulton | January 19

For a film about table tennis, Josh Safdie’s “Marty Supreme” includes remarkably little table tennis. It’s a dizzying, disorienting and fast-paced film about fictional table tennis star Marty Mauser, a Jewish man living in New York in the 1950s. Mauser is an irresponsible, womanizing jerk. At the beginning of the movie, he impregnates another man’s wife, and mocks a fellow player who survived a concentration camp — not the kind of guy you usually root for in a sports film. But “Marty Supreme” is no ordinary sports feature, and that’s the root of its artistry and charm.

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Culture

Spyglass Festival features spies, secrets at nuclear museum

Elizabeth Bolke | January 19

The National Museum of Nuclear Science and History hosted its inaugural Spyglass Festival from Jan. 15-17. This three-day event combined science and history through a range of activities celebrating the work of spies during World War II and the Cold War, as well as featured retired Central Intelligence Agency officer David Kitchen. On Thursday, Jan. 15, Science on Tap featured specialty brews from Bombs Away Beer Company, a veteran-owned brewery and taproom in Albuquerque’s Skyline Heights neighborhood. 

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Culture

REVIEW: ‘We feel that’ Vince Gilligan’s ‘Pluribus’ is a masterpiece

Addison Fulton | January 19

Creator of “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul,” Vince Gilligan’s newest series “Pluribus” reinvents the alien bodysnatcher subgenre and brings Albuquerque to centerstage once again.  Largely filmed in New Mexico, “Pluribus” features an alien, virus-like entity that comes to Earth through a mysterious radio transmission, with almost everyone on Earth assimilated into a pacifistic hivemind, except for just 13 people worldwide, who are — for an unknown reason — immune. 

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Culture

Mariachi Christmas celebrates over 25 years of tradition through Mexican song and dance

Leila Chapa | December 16

On Friday, Dec. 19, the sights and sounds of Christmas in Mexico come back to the Popejoy Hall stage, with colorful mariachi music and traditional ballet folklórico. This year marks Popejoy’s 25th celebration of New Mexico holiday traditions through Mariachi Christmas. Through music and dance, the show highlights the faith and traditions found across Mexico in a cheerful holiday performance for the whole family. Founded by Noberta Fresquez in Albuquerque, Mariachi Christmas tells the story of Christmas with regional and traditional folklore from several regions in Mexico.

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Culture

Inside the wonderful tradition, hanging of the greens

Alex Joe | December 8

As the calendar turns to December and the temperature drops,  it’s officially time to decorate for the holidays and for Christmas songs and carols — the reasons as to why Hanging of the Greens is one of the University of New Mexico’s best traditions.  After a long week of work and studying, on Dec. 5, people were able to unwind and bring their holiday cheer with Hanging of the Greens. The festivities started with some cocoa and biscochitos served at the UNM bookstore.

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Culture

‘Build-a-Bo’ builds community (and plushes)

Addison Fulton | December 8

During a chilly but bright New Mexican afternoon, cuddly plush animals spread holiday cheer as students lined up through the University of New Mexico Student Union Building to take part in this year’s “Build-a-Bo” event. A pun on “Build-a-Bear,” the “Build-a-Bo” event provided free empty plushies, cotton stuffing and an animal sized New Mexico themed t-shirt to students, turning the SUB into a whimsical workshop. To design their plush, students picked from snow leopards, reindeer, snow men, arctic foxes, penguins, snowy owls and, of course, the titular wolf: “Bo.” Participation was free while supplies lasted for those with student ID. The Dec. 2 event is the second year the event has been hosted by the SUB.

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Culture

Maxwell Museum hosts events celebrating free speech

Addison Fulton | November 24

On Friday, Nov. 21, the University of New Mexico Maxwell Museum of Anthropology hosted two events highlighting the importance of freedom of expression and the role of museums in protecting the exchange of ideas.  The first event was “Lexicon of Liberty,” a celebration of banned and threatened books. Maxwell Museum Preparator Chris Albert and Curator of Education and Public Programs Julián Antonio Carrillo led the event, sharing statistics on who bans books, why and how. The second event, “Designed to Disrupt,” was a round table event where attendees were invited to play “Designing to Disrupt,” a card game by museum worker Chaya Arabia, designed to teach what can be achieved with activism.