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Hey Albuquerque, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Aerospace expansion creating 450 jobs, an inclusive youth soccer program needs volunteers, and Chef Nephi Craig on Indigenous foodways + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Albuquerque protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.

📰 In the news

Aerospace manufacturing gains momentum: AeroVironment plans to invest over $30 million expanding in Albuquerque, creating 450-plus jobs, with $5 million from New Mexico and $1 million from Albuquerque backing defense and space growth — see the projected impact.

Inclusive youth soccer effort: New Mexico United’s free TOPSoccer program is growing in Albuquerque and needs volunteers. Training begins March 15, with a six-week spring season expected to reach 115 children with special needs — see how to get involved.

Sunport adds new airline partner: Contour Airlines now flies daily nonstop between Albuquerque International Sunport and Carlsbad after signing a four-year contract. Service began March 1, adding another option for southeastern New Mexico travelers — check out the full lineup.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

Highlights this week:

• Celebrate spring with art, music, food
• Honor diverse women shaping our community
• Celebrate Abitha’s 38th Anniversary Spiritual Fair

🫶 We got your back

Your sandwich plan, solved: ABQ favorite since 2001, Cheese & Coffee crafts craveable specialty sandwiches and scratch-made soups on New Mexico baked bread. Perfect for the midday slump, with Uptown and Downtown spots and classics like the Chelsea and Sicilian that make lunch feel like a small win.

Foothills reset, anyone? Head to Elena Gallegos Open Space for Sandia views, mellow-to-spicy trails, and a picnic perch that makes your phone feel optional. This Albuquerque breather suits sunrise loyalists, sunset lingerers, and mid-errand sanity seekers… a quick escape that feels bigger than its footprint.

Imagination hits Old Town: Whether you’re hunting a birthday win, a brain break, or a just-because spark, Bugzby’s ToyShop stocks open-ended toys, puzzles, and arty bits that invite play. Consider it a friendly nudge to close the feed and help your tiny humans, and you, make something real.

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

📆 Free events worth checking out

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🐾 Animal Tales @ The Public Library Albuquerque Bernalillo County | Wednesday (3/11) at 10:30 AM – ABQ BioPark pops into local libraries with Animal Tales, a free storytime where the book comes with animals. Kids listen, meet scaly and furry guests, and handle biofacts, think skulls and skins, while you sip coffee and call it science. Better than more screen time.

🌳 Siempre Creativo: Genealogy Workshops @ National Hispanic Cultural Center | Thursday (3/12) at 1:30 PM – Dig into your family tree at NHCC’s free genealogy workshop, part of Siempre Creativo, with the Hispanic Genealogical Research Center of New Mexico. Bring your juiciest family legends, leave with records, sharper questions, and maybe a new cousin. Seniors, this one’s for you.

💃 West Coast Swing @ Lloyd Shaw Dance Center | Thursday (3/12) at 7:00 PM – Thursday nights call for West Coast Swing at Lloyd Shaw, with a beginner lesson before a laid-back social. No partner needed, just friendly locals and music. First-timers are free, everyone else pays three bucks, or snag seven nights for twenty, which beats therapy and treadmill.

🔬 Hands-On Soil Microscopy Exploration @ Open Space visitors center | Friday (3/13) at 1:00 PM – Curious what is actually living in your soil or compost? This free, hands-on microscopy workshop in ABQ lets you spy on the soil food web, then sort the good guys from the freeloaders, and tune up the garden. Yes, your dirt has roommates.

🌽 Indigenous Foodways @ Indian Pueblo Entrepreneur Complex | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – Chef Nephi Craig breaks down how Indigenous foodways heal communities at the Indian Pueblo Entrepreneur Complex, followed by a sharp panel of local pros. It is free, lunch is provided, and no, not another sad conference sandwich. Space is limited, reserve a spot.

🖼 All Abilities Art Show @ Orpheum Community Hub | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Pop into The Orpheum downtown for ADAC’s All Abilities Art Show, a showcase of art and crafts from 15+ artists in the disability community. It is free, inside the Homewise building, parking in back, so even your curmudgeon runs out of excuses to skip it.

☘ Lucky to be Local St. Patrick’s Day Market @ El Vado Motel | Saturday (3/14) at 12:00 PM – Whether you’re actually Irish or just Irish-adjacent, El Vado’s St. Patrick’s Day market is a free, family-friendly spree with 20+ local vendors, live tunes from Burque Bombadillos, Irish dance, and bites and drinks from the pods. Wear green, shop small, feel smugly local.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Albuquerque report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 70°F – Low: 42°F – Precip: 25%

Scattered rain showers after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. West wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Northwest wind 10 to 20 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 74°F – Low: 37°F – Precip: 0%

Sunny, with a high near 74. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Later: Clear, with a low around 37. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across New Mexico but most folks won’t notice until they’re hit with a higher bill when it’s time to renew.

That’s exactly what happened to me. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, it was out of sight and out of mind. Turns out I was blindly paying way more than everyone else I knew.

If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too – here’s the comparison tool I used.

This house is wild

This custom 3-bed retreat pairs architectural sophistication with a quiet cul-de-sac bordering Cibola National Forest, with sweeping Sandia vistas, glowing sunsets, and sparkling city lights. A privacy-forward layout separates bedrooms for calm and connection. The luxe primary suite shines, while a generous ensuite guest suite lives like a second primary, ideal for hosting with independence.

Take a peek inside →