Heart-Pumping Valentine's Day Gifts that Won't Flatline

AS SEEN ON KASA FOX 2's "NEW MEXICO STYLE"

You can't change the past or block out all those less-than-appropriate Valentine's Day gifts that you might have received or gifted.  You know, those that died on arrival--The bathbeads that you'll never use and that less-than-aromatic fragrance that was Aunt Bessie's favorite in 1975.  How many single roses have been gifted in the name of frugality only to realize afterwards that your "I like you" was construed to mean "I love you?" 

So, the question is, why is it so hard to find the perfect Valentine?  The answer is that people, in general, expect gifts that are bigger and better these days.  Remember your childhood when getting a paper Valentine was all you wanted? Times have certainly changed.  You can avoid the common pitfalls of Valentine's Day gift giving by listening and putting a lot of thought into the process.

While giving the gift of high-tech is all the rage, I am all about promoting the arts, locally-made, one-of-a-kind gifts that go beyond the tried and true.  Anyone can buy a box of chocolates or flowers, but it takes creative courage to be original when it comes to Valentine's gift giving. Here are some heart-pumping Valentine's Day gift ideas that won't flatline.  I hope you find something that your Valentine would be thrilled to receive this year!

GIVE THE GIFT OF LIVE THEATRE:

For 82 years, the Albuquerque Little Theatre has been featuring high-quality live entertainment.  From its children's series to its main stage productions, ALT inspires both adults and children.  Nothing instills a lifelong love of the theatre than by introducing children to the magic of live theatre at an early age.   If you're a parent looking for just the right Valentine's Day gift for your child, rather than giving them candy, give them the healthy option of tickets to live theatre, including family-friendly productions from Albuquerque Little Theatre such as the classic story "Anne of Green Gables," which opens February 24 and runs through March 11. 

Another great theatrical experience will be the new hit Broadway musical 'Xanadu," based on the early 1980s musical with Olivia Newton John.  "Xanadu," which will run April 6-29, is also family-friendly fun spoof of the film.  If you love classic musicals and want to share them with your children for Valentine's Day pick up tickets to "Singin' in the Rain," which runs from May 25 to June 17.  ALT tickets are $22 (nonmusicals) and $24 (musicals) for adults and $10 (nonmusicals) and $12 (musicals) for children.  For more information go to www.albuquerquelittletheatre.com.

BE ORIGINAL...LOVE LOCALLY!

Whether you are familiar with Native American popular music or not, Northern Cheyenne recording artist Shelley Morningsong's "Full Circle" album is a wonderful gift idea for your Valentine.  It won the 2011 NAMA (Native American Music Award) for "Album of the Year" and is a healing love letter to world.  "Full Circle" is an album of growth and echoes the idea that we, all people, are related. With a mixture of pop/rock, rhythm and blues as well as tribal sounds, you can't help but be inspired. The album, which is $20, is availble at www.shelleymorningsong.com or Painted Sky Gallery in Albuquerque's Old Town.

GIVE YOUR VALENTINE FUN, AFFORDABLE ART:

While expectations for Valentine's Day gifts are high, times are tough, and many young artists are making art affordable.  The Octopus and the Fox is a women owned and operated artist cooperative in Albququerque's up-and-coming EDO (East of Downtown) district.  The shop features fabulous finds made by 70 local artists, including paintings, jewlery, accessories, and handmade household decor items.  You can also find hip vintage clothing and jewelry there.  In an effort to give back to the community, they also offer classes on sewing and printmaking.  Belita Orner, both a co-owner and artist herself, creates adorable handmade silkscreened pillows printed with eco-friendly ink.   My favorite is the "Dino in LOVE" pillow, which sports two dinosaurs and a heart on purple fabric. Orner also prints ostriches, radishes and other designs. The Dino pillow is $16, but others range in price from $16 to $23.

Orner also sews cat dolls and various accessories out of recycled sweaters.  My pick for cool Valentines  are these heart-themed mittens also made from recycled wool sweaters.  It has been a colder winter this year. Doesn't your love deserve to stay warm. These mittens are a bargain at $16!  For more information visit www.theoctopusandthefox.com.

FOOD IS THE PATH TO THE HEART:

In most cultures, FOOD = LOVE! For those who are completely unsure of what to get a colleague or friend for Valentine's Day, a gift basket is a nice touch.  You can fill it with a variety of items that are sure to please, and should your recipient wish to regift an item it makes it easier.  Cost Plus World Market (Nationwide locations available at www.worldmarket.com; 2 locations in Albuquerque--East Side Menaul at Carlisle and West Side on Old Airport Road off of Alameda just West of Coors) is a wonderful place to create your own gift. While it's a chain, it's like a neighborhood business where they treat you just like family.   World Market also a variety of New Mexican food items that you can include in your gift basket to please the homesick New Mexican abroad or out-of-state, or the college student away from home for the semester.  The gift basket pictured costs $100, but there are a variety of price points available to you depending on the items you select.  No matter the size, it's the thought and the love that counts!

Also available exclusively at Cost Plus World Market is the Hatch Green Chile and Chimayo Red Chile 2-pack.  The mild green chile wine is sweet and smooth and would make a wonderful pairing with green chicken enchildadas.  The red chile wine is rich and finishes with a peppery taste.  It's a great pairing with chocolate--perfect for Valentine's Day!  The 2-pack is just $19.99.

GIVE YOUR VALENTINE THE GIFT OF 'WOW':

For the person who really does have it all and is expecting to be dazzled this Valentine's Day, here is a handful of gifts that reach the heights of fabulosity.  For someone with a discriminating palette, original art and jewelry really fit  the bill!

No one loves jewelry more than I do, and Native Americans create pieces with some of the most interesting designs and utilize some of the best techniques for handmade jewelry.  Mary Irene is an up-and-coming designer in the Native American jewelry scene. While she hails from the Muscogee Creek Tribe in Oklahoma, she lives and works in Santa Fe. 

With a background in pottery-making and fashion design studies, Mary brings that background to her work.  Her textured silver pieces like this inverted heart-themed pendant ($225) and heart earrings ($195) as well as this ring with Morenci Turquoise ($600) show her understanding of the fashion-forward.  The zipper effect on the pendant and earring set  is particularly cool.  You can contact Mary Irene via her Facebook page or via email at maryirene505 (at) gmail (dot) com.

Jody Naranjo is a darling of the Native American pottery world.  She is a multi-generational potter from Santa Clara Pueblo.  Her work, while traditional in the sense that it is hand-coiled, stoned polished and pit fired, has a distinct style that is easily recognizable.  It has a very whimsical quality, though her designs are directly inspired from animal and humanoid figures found in ancient petroglyphs.  This pot entitled "Love" and made especially for this gift guide, features deer and geese kissing.  As the bodies of the figures approach one another, they form hearts.  This heart motif is repeated all the way around the pot.  Naranjo, with a technique known as sgrafitto, incises the designs into the pot with an Exacto knife.  It is a piece in which the contemporary and traditional truly meet.  This pot is $1400 and available at www.jodynaranjo.com.

Wright's Indian Art has been around since the early 1900s.  It started out as a trading post on the Navajo reservation before they relocated it to Albuquerque.  Now located at San Mateo and Lomas, Wright's Indian Art carries the finest in traditional and contemporary Native American paintings, pottery and jewelry.  The owner, Mr. "B." as he is known to everyone in the industry, has relationships with some of the best Native jewelry designers in the country and is able to secure some of the best prices anywhere from the artists. He passes that on to his loyal customers.  Silver and gold prices have risen sharply, but Wright's prices have not followed suit making many pieces still very affordable. 

While he offers jewelry in a variety of price points, for Valentine's Day, Mr. "B." is offering this stunning stone and shell mosaic inlay choker by Charlene Reano of Kewa and San Felipe Pueblos.  Charlene is a master at it since she learned from a family that has created this kind of work for years.  Charlene is associated with the highest quality inlay of this style.  This reversible necklace incorporates a variety of stones, including turquoise, serpentine, as well as coral and other shell over a shell backing.  As you can imagine, this kind of jewelry is so labor intensive that it commands a hefty price.  For the woman looking to own a statement piece, this can be hers for only $3950! 

Even more beautiful and extravagant is this turquoise, coral, lapis and shell bracelet also by Charlene Reano. It is made from one piece of shell. It will only set you back $4200 to make your Valentine's dream come true!  For more information visit www.wrightsgallery.com.

So no matter what your Valentine's tastes are or your budget, shop locally and be original.  Nothing says I love you more than something thoughtful, so take the time...you won't regret it!

(*Paul Niemi is a compensated spokesperson for all the products, businesses and services contained within this gift guide)

ALT Delivers Delicious Piece of 'Chicago' Pie to Albuquerque Theatre Audiences

It's no secret that while the Albuquerque theatre community possesses a robust talent pool, shows can be hit or miss. Lately, it's been hit after hit, and the Albuquerque Little Theatre, with Artistic Director Henry Avery at its helm, has been thriving. Last season at ALT was particularly stellar, and on the musical front, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas was superb. ALT's 81st season kicks off with the Kander and Ebb musical Chicago and Avery has hit paydirt by assembling a powehouse cast comprised of some of the best talent Albuquerque has to offer, including some seasoned veterans along with some up-and-coming young talent who will blow your socks off.


For all three of you who haven't seen either the Broadway production or the film version or a community theatre production of Chicago, I'll explain the plot. The show opens with with Roxie Hart, a seemingly dainty flower, shooting her lover who dumps her. She tells her husband Amos to take responsibility because he's sure to get off. Of course, the truth is revealed and fast forward to the Cook County Jail, where Roxie is one of several of the "merry maidens" to be put in the slammer for murder. There she meets Velma Kelly, a circuit performer, who, so far, is the most famous "chicky" in Matron "Mama" Morton's coop. Roxie arrives with all her ambition to become a celebrity, and through enlisting the help of the slick, silver-tongued lawyer Billy Flynn, manages to outshine a much dismayed Velma. Knowing that her days in the limelight are limited because "that's Chicago," Velma tries to woo Roxie into joining forces for a vaudeville act. Roxie, who is now fully obsessed with her fame and has gotten too big for her britches declines the offer. In a back and forth with Billy about her defense, Roxie concedes to let Billy run the show to help get her off of the murder charges. Roxie quickly learns that fame is an all too fleeting thing when an heiress attracts the media's attention for shooting her lover caught in an act of sexual deviation. In a last-minute effort to regain her newfound fame, Roxie fakes a pregnancy. This, of course, rekindles Billy's interest in her case and the puppet act of her defense ensues. In the end, Roxie finds herself acquitted of murder, only to be upstaged by a bloody murder down the hall. Roxie is left to contemplate life's possibilities, and in her own effort to stay in the public eye, joins forces with Velma for a hit act which closes the show with the fabulous and hopeful ditty "Nowaways."


I had the opportunity to attend Thursday evening's preview performance at ALT. In spite of the "museum piece" staging and choreography, which were almost carbon copies of the 1990s Broadway revival production, which starred Bebe Neuwirth and Ann Reinking as Velma and Roxie, this production, indeed is "great and grand" and will no doubt woo Albuquerque audiences. It was by far the best musical I have seen here in the last two years, and some of the performances were professional house quality. Stephanie Burch as Velma proves why she is easily Albuquerque's best musical theatre performer. She is a true triple threat and her portrayal never lost its luster. Her voice was by far the strongest and her dancing and acting superb. Speaking of voices, one of the biggest delights of the evening was Tahirih Koller who plays Matron "Mama" Morton. Koller has a smooth stage demeanor and sexiness that combined with her rich robust voice made her the perfect Mama. Rebecca Turiciano has a cutesy yet slightly diva-esque way about her onstage, which made her portrayal enjoyable. As Roxie, she proves that she is a very adept actress. Michael Finnegan makes a believably smarmy Billy Flynn and he uses humor to win the audience's admiration. His renditions of "All I Care About" and "We Both Reached for the Gun" were both quite good. Dehron Foster, a permanent installation on the boards at ALT gives a spot-on performance of Amos Hart, a man who always seems to get lost in the shuffle. His sensitivity as an actor makes him soar in any role he plays. O. Benenati Tenorio as Mary Sunshine makes a very interesting addition to the cast. While we're always aware that "she" is a man, Tenorio makes for good comic relief.


The ensemble is an amalgamation of different levels of hot--from the boys to the girls. Lisette Herrera, a ABQ stage veteran looks hot, dances hot and sets the bar for the ensemble, as does Jonathan Ragsdale, who brings the perfect amount of le jazz hot to the production, which is reminiscent of most of the dancers I have seen in the Broadway production at various times. It is also obvious that he is a very capable actor and singer as well and we'll, no doubt, see him on Broadway very soon. Nicole Dozier, just a high school senior, brings a sophistication and sex appeal to her chorus role and cameo during the "Cell Block Tango" that reminds me of a young Lauren Hutton...minus the tooth gap!


From start to finish, Chicago is paced very well. And, while some group musical number endings were, at times, less than precise with both vocals and choreography, undoubtedly, they will be tightened up by the end of the first week of the run. Highlights of the show were "All That Jazz," "The Cell Block Tango," and I especially enjoyed "Class," which gives Stephanie Burch a chance to show the more vulnerable side of Velma Kelly.


This Chicago is a show not to missed. I'm guessing it will sell out, so book early and often to support local theatre. The production runs from September 17 to October 10 at Albuquerque Little Theatre. For more information about the show or to buy tickets, visit http://www.albuquerquelittletheatre.org/.


Watch a promo video HERE!

Dial 'M' if You're Nasty

Murder and mayhem have made their way to the Albuquerque Little Theatre! This time it’s Dial M for Murder, ALT’s latest production, which is sure to send chills up the spines of la gente de la Duke City. You might remember the 1954 film thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It starred Grace Kelly, Ray Milland and Robert Cummings, and featured one of the most manipulative villains around. The story premiered in 1952 as a BBC television play, and was then performed on a West End stage in June of the same year, moving to Broadway in October.

Written by Frederick Knott (of Wait Until Dark fame), Dial M for Murder features just one setting, the living room of Margo and Tony Wendice. A faded love affair, greed, deception, and a reversal of deadly misfortune come into play. The audience discovers that murder, indeed, has its consequences, but not until the absolute truth is revealed in a stunning climax.

Here’s what you need to know: Tickets are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors, and $18 for students. Tickets for children 12 and under cost just $10.00. Group discounts are available. To purchase tickets or get more information, call the box office at 505-242-4750 or visit ALT online at http://www.albuquerquelittletheatre.org/. Student Rush tickets are available one-half hour before curtain—all available seats are released to students and faculty for $10.00 with appropriate identification required.

When the Show Absolutely Must Go On!

(PHOTO: Alan Mitchell/Sarah Borkowski & Paul D. Niemi in Shakespeare in Hollywood)

We live our lives from day to day, quietly pushing thoughts of bad things happening to the back of our minds. They seem improbable--almost the stuff of which television shows or films are made. Then they suddenly happen, only to bring us back to the reality of the improbable. Sometimes, it's incredible just how prepared we are for these occurences.

I lived in New York City for twelve years, and I was faced with the improbable only twice--September 11, 2001, and the time I walked head on into a mugging. A young woman had attacked an elderly Asian woman at Flushing Main Street in a small park between two buildings. I turned the corner mid-attack, only to see numerous onlookers who, at that moment, suffered from big eyes, drooling mouths and a lack of emotional strength to do anything about what they were witnessing. Immediately disgusted by these peoples' lack of involvement in putting a stop to the attack, I approached the picture window of the McDonald's to my left. After getting the attention of an employee mopping the floor, I formed the words, in Spanish, as if I were lip-syncing, "Llame la policia" ( Call the police). She signaled that she would call them immediately. Shortly after, adrenaline kicked-in and I walked right up to the attacker, grabbed her arms and tried to free the victim's purse from her. In the interim, a large Black man, came up behind her and grabbed her as well, ensuring that she would hold still. I finally won control of the purse and handed it to the stunned elderly woman who muttered something to me in Korean. Once she had it back, I began to walk away--heart pounding outside my chest--knowing that I had done the right thing, risking my own well-being for someone else. I had always wondered what I would do in just that situation, and I found the answer without delay--fascinating! That really tested my metal.

It's been no secret that I have been getting fully involved in the theatre world of Albuquerque, New Mexico--most recently in a production of Ken Ludwig's Shakespeare in Hollywood at the Albuquerque Little Theatre. This past Saturday evening, my metal was tested, yet again, and, with all humility, I am so proud of myself for how I handled myself.

It was the second to the last scene--just before I had a quick change to finish out the show. With about two minutes to spare, I raced from the stage through the wings heading for my changing area behind the scenes. While I noticed some cast members lingering to the side of the stage, I decided that I would navigate around them. The moment I began to sprint, one cast member, who is responsible for bringing his prop onstage with him, decided at the last minute to relocate to the wings. In the darkness of a scene change, he lifted the sharp-edged prop and struck my face just below the eyebrow. I could feel wetness in the dark and was stunned to discover, when I got to a mirror, that I was profusely bleeding. We were having difficultly getting it to stop. By this time, it was all over my white shirt, my hands and face. I ran to one of the stage crew and told her they needed to stop the show because without me, the play could not end. Thanks to some quick thinking on the part of my castmates, lines were given that helped to delay the end. After we got the blood contained, the wound bandaged, I insisted on finishing the show, to the dismay of the stage manager, who wanted to have me taken away in an ambulance. I was fine, and was concerned that the audience wouldn't get its money's worth if we didn't finish the play. Without changing, I threw on my cape over my bloody shirt, and with streams of dried blood on my face and hands, found myself back onstage with my co-star with whom I resumed the show. As I was speaking, I could hear murmurs from the audience as they tried to sort out in which part of the play my character got injured. We all made it work, and, in the end, many audience members thought it was all part of the show. The theatrical credo "the show must go on" was instilled in me when I was just a teen and has stuck with me since. In twenty years of performing, I've never had an accident, but always wondered how I would react in such a situation. The experience was very calming, and I was so proud and impressed by by castmates' ability to improvise and stay in control as well. It was at that moment when this community theatre production became a professional show!

The most inspiring part of the experience is that I gained the respect of my fellow actors. On top of that, the wound is healing nicely in spite of not having medical attention. I'm even looking forward to four more performances as we round-out our run this weekend. If you're in Albuquerque or Santa Fe this week, please stop by to see this hilarious play. I can almost guarantee there won't be blood. After all, this is a comedy and I think we all have had enough drama for one week!

1930s Hollywood Gets Turned Upside Down with a Shakespearean Twist in Albuquerque

So you say that your teacher forced you to read Shakespeare in high school? If you’re like me, you had to flip to the glossary of terms to tell you what the heck the characters were saying. It’s an utter tragedy that more people haven’t grown up with a healthy appreciation for the Bard’s writings. Unfortunately, not every city has a well-trained company of actors performing Shakespeare’s repertoire in the park every summer. I grew up regularly going to see productions in the midst of urban nature, but it wasn’t until my 30s that I really learned to appreciate the language and the brilliance of Shakespeare’s works.

While I did numerous scenes and monologues in college, I’ve never actually appeared in a full production of a Shakespearean work. Lucky for me, I’m having the opportunity to take on the role of “Oberon”--not in Mr. Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream--but in Ken Ludwig’s recent comedy Shakespeare in Hollywood at Albuquerque Little Theatre.

Like fish out of water, Oberon and his sidekick Puck are unexpectedly transported to 1930s Hollywood and the “Magic Woods Near Athens” on the set of Max Reinhardt’s film version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The two find themselves getting all wrapped-up in the hubbub of the film industry when they are selected by Reinhardt to play themselves in the film. Of course, Oberon falls in love with one of his co-stars, tries to secure his fate as her lover by seeking out a magic flower whose juice, "streaked" in her eyes, will guarantee that his affection is returned. As expected in this comedy of errors where nothing goes as planned, the flower falls into the wrong hands, which causes mayhem of the most hilarious variety: Bimbos fall for junior “Yes Men,” handsome young matinee idols fall for actors in drag, and magic leads everyone awry. Of course, in the end--like the best-written comedies--all is made right, lovers are reunited, and life lessons are learned as everyone leaves the woods.

Albuquerque Little Theatre Executive and Creative Director Henry Avery has assembled a stellar cast of actors, who bring this gut-busting comedy to life. Shakespeare in Hollywood opens on September 25 and runs every consecutive Friday, Saturday and Sunday through October 11. To learn more and get ticket information, visit www.albuquerquelittletheatre.org.

Watch a teaser video to get to know the cast of Shakespeare in Hollywood here!

New Works By Wire Screen & Maché Artist Paul Niemi at Desert Intarsia Gallery

Sometimes life creates the perfect storm. Sometimes the perfect storm can be stressful too, but the craziness usually pays off in the end. For me, I thrive being up to my head in busy!

If my month has not already been hectic enough--between closing in a fabulous 80s musical and opening as the lead in the Ken Ludwig comedy "Shakespeare in Hollywood" at the Albuquerque Little Theatre on September 25--I'm also madly preparing for my very own art show and reception on September 18 at the Desert Intarsia Gallery as part of the Downtown Albuquerque ArtsCrawl.

Desert Intarsia Gallery,located at 317 Gold Avenue will feature a variety of my pieces, including some very large masks. You may have already seen one of them hanging in the gallery's window!

Please feel free to stop by between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. to say hello, meet other art lovers, and buy some funky and unusual masks from the alternative universe that I have created.

"Paul Niemi brings his unique perspective on mask-making and a twist on traditional folk art to the gallery. "For as long as I can remember, I have had a fascination with faces, masks, and folk art," he says. A transplant from New York City, Niemi is drawn to bright and beautiful colors and is influenced by the mythology of indigenous art. Working in wire screen and paper maché, Niemi creates a world of characters who exist in an alternative universe where anything is possible."

Watch a preview in which I talk about what influences my art the most: