Evelyn Bruder’s Dream Team blog

This Weekend In Las Cruces - February 19th

: February 19th, 2010

: Evelyn Bruder

the search for the perfect margarita at the game las cruces

There’s a lot going on around town this weekend here in Las Cruces, and in our efforts to keep you up-to-date with the latest community news and events, we compiled all the newest, biggest, and latest events into one blog post. First things first, we dutifully researched our ongoing project, The Search for the Perfect Margarita, and headed out to The Game Bar & Grill to try their two most popular adult beverages. The Midori and Pomegranate Margaritas were recommended to us by our server, and of the two, the pomegranate was most certainly the better drink all around. The Midori margarita was so bold that it was nearly sour, and I had a hard time telling whether the crystals on the rim of the glass were sugar, salt, or a combination of both. The combination of the midori liquor, Jose Cuervo, and house margarita mix left a bitter aftertaste that did not mix well with our appetizers and munchies… All in all, I would not recommend this particular margarita unless you prefer sweet, sour, and extremely bold drinks. The pomegranate margarita, however, was very tasty; it was smooth and fruity without becoming too sweet and extreme.

So, in recap, The Evelyn Bruder Dream Team started out the Search for the Perfect Margarita at Si Senor Restaurant, where we tried the Sangria and Agave margaritas. The next week, we migrated to De La Vegas Restaurant and Bar, where we tried the cucumber margarita. After the Midori and pomegranate margaritas at The Game Aggie Bar and Grill, the number one margarita in Las Cruces is still the Sangria margarita at Si Senor. Will any margarita be able to top it? Stay tuned.

This weekend, the Las Cruces Community Theater opens their newest production, ‘Murder Room,’ running now until March 7th. The ‘Murder Room’ is a comical farce, highlighting the best stereotypes in the most ridiculous ways, designed to make you laugh while wondering ‘Who dunnit?’ We’ve been told the show is appropriate for all ages, and there are a few jokes thrown in that only adults will understand; all in all, it would be a great activity for the whole family. The opening gala is tonight, and features conversation time with the cast after the performance along with food and beverages (including wine). The show will run each Friday and Saturday night at 8pm as well as a 2pm matinee on Sundays. Tickets run from $6-$8 for kids and adults, and are available at the door. For more info, visit their website by CLICKING HERE.

This weekend only, the Onate High School Performing Arts Center will play host to the NMSU Senior dance exhibition, iDance. Featuring original choreography and production by more than 5 NMSU Dance students, iDance is a great way to see what the College of Arts & Sciences has to offer. The showcase is at 7pm Friday and Saturday nights (at the Onate PAC), and tickets are $10 per adult and $8 per student. Tickets can be purchased at the door. For more information call 575-646-2070.

In celebration of Black History Month, NMSU’s Black Program Department will be putting on a variety of events, beginning with “An Evening of Gospel and Jazz” featuring the NMSU Gospel Choir and special guests, 7-9pm Saturday night at the NMSU Atkinson Recital Hall. Admission is free, and donations will be accepted at the door. For more information, call 575-646-4208.

Allen Theaters of Las Cruces is opening two new movies this weekend, Shutter Island and Crazy Heart. Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Shutter Island is mind-bending thriller that takes place in an asylum on a deserted island (not for the faint of heart). Crazy Heart, starring Jeff Bridges, follows a broke country music legend as he struggles with the loss of his fame to a younger man; it is the ultimate story of finding oneself, told with great music.

We hope you see something that might interest you this weekend! Don’t forget, the Andy Warhol & Pop Art Exhibition at the Las Cruces Museum of Art is still running, but it ends in less than 2 weeks! We hope to see you out and about this weekend!

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Evelyn Bruder: CRS, GRI, ABR, E-PRO, Las Cruces Cyberstar

The Evelyn Bruder Dream Team http://www.homesforsaleinlascruces.com

For more information about what we do and how we can provide all of your real estate needs, CLICK HERE

We welcome comments and questions - CLICK HERE

Steinborn GMAC Real Estate (575)522-3698

Where is the Most Beautiful Place in Las Cruces?

: February 17th, 2010 : Evelyn Bruder : Comment (1)

Well, beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder, but this Monday, we went hiking at the Dripping Springs trail just 15 minutes outside of town and I can tell you that this oasis is certainly in the running. There was not a cloud in the sky at 10AM as we cruised down Highway 70, windows down and hair flying. The temperature was a fair 60F, and the direct rays of the sun on my skin gave me the taste of the beautiful spring to come. The birds were singing, the bugs had come out of hiding, and there was no one around us as we ascended the mountain.

From the minute you step out of your car, you are surrounded by breath-taking panoramic views of the both mountains and desert; I’m fairly certain that New Mexico is the only state in which you can be standing in mud and see dust blowing in the distance, and that’s what makes us so unique. As soon as we were on the trail, we saw evidence of our snowy, wet winter; small, still ponds and trickling stream were frequent along the path. Although it’s only February, we could definitely feel the heat from the sun as we wandered around the mountain, and the shade from the trees was a welcome buffer most times.

Normally, the Dripping Springs trail is a 4+ hour hike up and back down (around 5 miles). We didn’t have a whole lot of time, but we desperately wanted to take advantage of the beautiful day and spent around 3 and a half hours traipsing around the mountainside. We have hiked this particular area several times before, and after a mile and a half (or so) we veered to the side to see more of the moisture. There, we found several small waterfalls and a large assortment of streams. We walked against the flow of the water up to original trail, where we rested for a few minutes before heading back down.

By the time we got back to the car, we were famished and tired and couldn’t resist stopping at a true hidden hole-in-the-wall gem, Thai Delight. The restaurant is actually located in Organ, a tiny little town just outside of Las Cruces on the way to the trails, and the food is so good you feel like you’re eating 5 star cuisine in the heart of San Fransisco. Since it is a little out of the way, Thai Delight is often forgotten by city dwellers but the drive is worth it. There is never a wait, the food comes out fast, and the staff is friendly and helpful. We left Organ feeling full and sleepy.

We returned home to get some business accomplished, and all in all, we had a fantastic President’s Day. For Las Crucens or Las Cruces visitors, do you think the Dripping Springs area is the most beautiful place in/around Las Cruces? If no, where is your favorite breath-taking place?

Please leave us a comment and let us know what you think!

To see more about things to do in our area, CLICK HERE.

To see more information about hiking trails and camping areas in/around Las Cruces, CLICK HERE.

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Evelyn Bruder: CRS, GRI, ABR, E-PRO, Las Cruces Cyberstar

The Evelyn Bruder Dream Team http://www.homesforsaleinlascruces.com

For more information about what we do and how we can provide all of your real estate needs, CLICK HERE

We welcome comments and questions - CLICK HERE

Steinborn GMAC Real Estate (575)522-3698

Random Acts of Kindness Week

: February 15th, 2010 : Evelyn Bruder : Comment (0)

If you’re like me, you find it hard to keep up with the trending weeks and informal holidays like National Hawaiian Shirt Day and so on. Sometimes they are so silly and obtuse that all we can do in our busy lives is take a moment to chuckle about it and move on. However, this week brings with it an important message and involves no dressing up.

This week is Random Acts of Kindness Week, and we have already started making it a priority in our office and among ourselves. It’s amazing how just a brief second of being kind can change the entire mood and day of a stranger. How many times have you been in a terrible state of mind, ready to just explode, when someone you’ve never met takes an extra moment to pick up the thing you dropped or waits just a minute longer to hold the door open? For some reason, it’s almost impossible to remain angry after an encounter like that, and it often acts as the catalyst for an excellent remainder of the day.

I don’t think it’s much to ask that we all try to remember to say our “please” and “thank you’s” this week. Of course, we all should already be doing that, but no one is perfect and often times our moods and lives get in the way. Perhaps this is the week that we take just a step beyond a vocal appreciation and send someone we appreciate a “thank you” letter or e-card. Sending an e-card only takes about 2 minutes, and with great sites like 123Greetings and Care2 you can easily make individualized cards for your friends, coworkers, and family. (Another thing to keep in mind: sending a free e-card is paperless and therefore green!)

It’s easy to extend kindness beyond our computers and work places. HelpOthers.org and Squidoo both have entire lists of ideas all revolving around being unconditionally nice to one-another. While it is important to be grateful for the niceness of others, it is vital that it doesn’t stop with us; the principle of ‘paying it forward’ should be practiced this week more than ever. If you’re not familiar with the phrase, it simply means that instead of ‘paying someone back’ for a good deed, you pay it forward to someone else. If that person follows the same idea, and the next person, and the next… it creates something beautiful. (It is also a great movie, but is likely to make you cry.)

As you go about your week, please try to spread the word about Random Acts of Kindness Week. If life gets in the way and it slips your mind, the very least we can all do is remember to pay it forward.

As always, we are open to suggestions, comments, recommendations and stories about this week’s topic. Do you have a specific memory when someone did something unconditionally kind for you? Or have you ever done something that you know made another person’s day? We love to hear uplifting stories, so please feel free to drop us a comment!

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Evelyn Bruder: CRS, GRI, ABR, E-PRO, Las Cruces Cyberstar

The Evelyn Bruder Dream Team http://www.homesforsaleinlascruces.com

For more information about what we do and how we can provide all of your real estate needs, CLICK HERE

We welcome comments and questions - CLICK HERE

Steinborn GMAC Real Estate (575)522-3698

Valentine’s Weekend in LC: Margaritas, Warhol, Jazz, & More

: February 12th, 2010 : Evelyn Bruder : Comment (0)

The Cucumber Margarita at De La Vegas.

As promised, the Evelyn Bruder Dream Team has been diligently working hard to find the perfect margarita in Las Cruces. The scoop this week is a specialty margarita at De La Vegas Restaurant, the newest addition to locally owned eateries in our city. A higher-end ‘pecan grill’ and bar, De La Vegas blends two of southwest New Mexico’s biggest exports, parlaying it into an entire menu more or less. Pecans and green chile are a-plenty at this Napa Valley-esque restaurant, used in everything from the butter to the pecan-and-bacon-chocolate dinner mints (no, really).

After debating between the three margaritas on the menu - the Silver Buck, Cucumber, and Don Deigo De La Vega Margarita - we opted to forgo the the more traditional Silver Buck, which was infused with agave like our past experience at Si Senor, and perhaps try something a little different. Since the Don Deigo De La Vega Margarita is made with Patron Gran Platinum tequila, 150 Year Anniversary Grand Marnier, hand pressed limes, agave nectar, comes in a light-up glass, and costs $90 per cocktail, we went with the Cucumber margarita, which turned out to be quite delicious. Crisp, clean, and refreshing, the cucumber does a great job of mellowing out the sometimes sharp taste of a margarita; this drink would be perfect for a warm summer’s evening sitting out on the back patio of the restaurant, watching the glorious New Mexico sunset.

So, of the three we have reviewed, which is the reigning favorite? This is a tough call, because they have all been so good (and fairly different), but I think the strongest contender is still the Sangria Margarita from Si Senor. Smooth, succulent, and just sweet enough, the Sangria Margarita manages to incorporate to two community and cultural favorites. Next week, we will have another update on our Search for the Perfect Margarita, highlighting two of the three different kinds at The Game - Aggie Sports Bar and Grill.

If you’re looking to take your significant other out on the town this weekend to celebrate Valentine’s Day, you might want to look into taking them to one of the locally owned restaurants we have mentioned in the past. We compiled a small list for our readers with name, location, contact, cuisine ($-$$$), and price range so that you can pick the perfect place to enjoy a special dinner.

De La Vegas
(575) 521-2656
500 South Telshor Blvd
$$ - American/Southwest fusion (burgers, salads, steaks, seafood, pastas, etc)

Lorenzo’s de Mesilla
(575) 525-3170
1750 Calle de Mercado (Mesilla)
$$ - Italian with southwestern flare (traditional pizzas, pastas, salads, etc)

The Mix & Katana Grill
(575) 532-2042
1001 East University Ave
$$ - Pacific rim cuisine (sushi, tepannyaki grilling, seafood, etc.)

St. Clair Bistro
(575) 524-2408
1800 Avenida De Mesilla
$$-$$$ - European/Italian (pastas, salads, seafood, etc.)

Aqua Reef
The Double Eagle.

(575) 522-7333
900 South Telshor Blvd
$$-$$$ - Euro/Asian (sushi, stir fry, seafood, etc.)

Brigid’s Cross
(575) 647-1455
1338 Picacho Hills Dr
$$ - Traditional Irish/English (stews, seafood, soups, salads, etc.)

Double Eagle
(575) 523-6700
2355 Calle De Guadalupe (Mesilla)
$$-$$$ - American/Southwest fusion (steaks, seafood, New Mexican foods, etc.)

Sunset Grill
(575) 521-1818
1274 Golf Club Rd.
$$-$$$ - American (steaks, pastas, salads, etc.)

If you’re wondering what is going to be happening around town this weekend, the Las Cruces Museum of Art is proudly hosting an “Andy Warhol & Pop Art” exhibit, running now until April 3rd. The Museum is located at 491 N. Main Street on the Downtown Mall, and is open from 10-4pm Mon.-Fri. and 9-1 on Saturday.

In the Old Mesilla District, the “For the Love of Art” artist showcase and concert will be happening from 11-4 on Saturday in the Mesilla Plaza. Music will be provided by the Border Jazz Trio from 2-3. If you’re in Old Mesilla and are in the mood for a hopeful, romantic movie full of great music and cross-cultural references, you might want to hop over to the Fountain Theater, which will be showing the Academy-award winning film ‘Once’ as their Saturday matinee.

Other movies opening this weekend at the Allen Theaters around town include The Wolfman, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Valentine’s Day, and the local documentary about a sad day in Las Cruces history, A Nightmare in Las Cruces.

The weather is going to be BEAUTIFUL this holiday weekend (a warm and sunny 65), and the town will be booming with things to do, see, eat, experience, and enjoy! We hope to see you out there!

As usual, we are taking suggestions for restaurants to review, margaritas to try, and things to see in Las Cruces! Feel free to leave a comment!

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Evelyn Bruder: CRS, GRI, ABR, E-PRO, Las Cruces Cyberstar

The Evelyn Bruder Dream Team http://www.homesforsaleinlascruces.com

For more information about what we do and how we can provide all of your real estate needs, CLICK HERE

We welcome comments and questions - CLICK HERE

Steinborn GMAC Real Estate (575)522-3698

Valentine Gifts For Your Home

: February 10th, 2010 : Evelyn Bruder : Comment (1)

To keep you informed about the Las Cruces Real Estate market and other important area information and happenings, we are providing you with informative articles and information that our team thinks will be of interest to you. If you have any questions, feel free to call or email us.

From the Las Cruces Sun News:

‘Home Is Where the Heart Art Is: Valentine Gifts for Your Home’
By S. Derrickson Moore / Sun-News reporter

Add romance without breaking the budget, maybe even using items you already have.

Kitchen: Red mugs, place mats, a tablecloth, heart-spangled oven mitts or dish towels.

Bedroom: Red or heart-shaped accent pillows, lace trimmed pillowcases, favorite Valentine’s Day cards in frames.

Bath: Fluffy red or burgundy bath sheets, wash cloths or hand towels with heart appliqués, heart-shaped bath mat.

All around the house: Red, pink and purple silk flower arrangements, red cinnamon or rose scented candles, paint a red accent wall or window trim, group floral prints in red frames.

The Sun News also has great Valentine’s Weekend ideas for couples, singles, friends, families, whomever!

LAS CRUCES - Art has a lot of heart in the Borderlands.

If you’re looking for a way to warm up your home for Valentine’s Day and maybe all year around, you live in just the right place.

As February For the Love of Art month continues, it’s prime time for hearts and art. A round of galleries, shops and markets in Las Cruces and Mesilla turned up a wealth of possibilities.

Folk art fans can add romance to their collections.

Casa Decor, 250 N. Telshor Blvd., has metal hearts in imaginative shape and colors, including some with wings and flames. One striking wall hanging has both, along with a heart-shaped mirror with shutters.

Galeria Azul on the Mesilla Plaza offers metal hands with red palm hearts and matching heart bracelets, just the thing to hang on her bedroom wall to let her know you’ll always want to hold her hand.

Both folk art emporiums have items that combine crosses, hearts and Guadalupe images for those who want to express the spiritual side of love on Feb. 14.

And when it comes to heirloom-worthy home heart art, consider Nambé on the Mesilla Plaza, where the offerings include gleaming metal “love plates” and a heart-shaped glass bowl perfect for contemporary or classic decor.

Cutting-edge Valentine’s Day treats at Lulu, 1800 Avenida de Mesilla, include Pop Art-inspired “Love” pillows. Or transform a white table setting with a few touches of red and one special centerpiece objet d’art, like Lulu’s feather trimmed “love shot glass” or a martini glass painted with lipstick prints and a frog prince ready for a smooch.

J.C. Krynitz of Lulu suggests borrowing some display ideas for sprucing up your own goodies: He ties red velvet ribbons around sculptures, vases and other home accessories for a romantic touch.

In a year when many couples are reportedly cutting back on Valentine’s Day spending, giving each other and the family a little heart art for the home might be the perfect solution: a gift that can linger on as a year-around reminder of the love you share.

S. Derrickson Moore can be reached at dmoore@lcsun-news.com, (575) 541-5450.

I hope you enjoyed reading these informative articles about Valentine’s Day activities and decorating ideas here in Las Cruces. On Friday, I will be posting about our latest update on the search for the perfect margarita, as well as giving you some ideas for romantic and delicious restaurants in the area for our special Valentine’s Weekend. Be sure to check back!

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Evelyn Bruder: CRS, GRI, ABR, E-PRO, Las Cruces Cyberstar

The Evelyn Bruder Dream Team http://www.homesforsaleinlascruces.com

For more information about what we do and how we can provide all of your real estate needs, CLICK HERE

We welcome comments and questions - CLICK HERE

Steinborn GMAC Real Estate (575)522-3698

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