Ongoing
The NM Alliance for Retired Americans builds a Progressive Senior movement in New Mexico. Meetings are held every second Thursday of the month from 1-3 PM at the AFSCME Council Hall, 1202 Pennsylvania NE, just North of Lomas. Call 266.2505 for more information, or e-mail NMSeniors@gmail.com.

The Breast Cancer Resource Center, a nonprofit, is looking for volunteers to help New Mexicans connect to resources and information about breast and other cancers. Call Deborah Openden, 554.3625, 316 Central Avenue SE, open Monday-Friday, 9 AM-4:30 PM, or e-mail dopenden@nmcrc.org

Albuquerque Newcomers Club Welcome Coffee held the first Tuesday of every month, at 10 AM, welcoming the recently divorced, retired or bereaved an opportunity to learn of the Newcomers Club’s support systems and events. Sandia Presbyterian Church, 10704 Paseo del Norte. Call 321.6970 or visit albuquerquenewcomersclub.org

Through March 16
Seeing Beyond Our Problems by Kadampa Meditation Center New Mexico, in the East Mountains, Los Lunas and Rio Rancho, Tuesdays (check web site for dates and locations). Identify our problems and learn ways to solve them. Call, 292.5293, meditationinnewmexico.org

Through March 20
The Albuquerque International Folk Dance Foundation announces Beginner’s Folk Dance classes on Saturday evenings from 7-8 PM, followed by recreational dance. $5 per evening. Choose from a wide variety of dances including the mazurka, meringue, polka, salsa, tango, waltz, and more. Lloyd Shaw Dance Center, 5506 Coal Ave SE. Call 299.0332 or visit abqfolkdance.org

Throughout March
Bulbs in Bloom In the Rio Grande Botanic Garden’s Mediterranean Conservatory, 9 AM-5 PM. Regardless of outside temperatures, thousands of colorful bulbs will bloom in the Mediterranean Conservatory throughout March. These blooms are included with admission. Located at 2601 Central Ave. NW. Aquarium/Botanic Garden only prices: $7/adult; $3/seniors and children; Zoo, Aquarium, Botanic Garden and train ride: $12/adult; $5/senior and children. Phone 311 locally or 768.2000.

Opens March 7
Exhibition: Sky Sailing at the Balloon Museum. Sail planes, Parawing craft, and hang gliders will fill the air at the Balloon Museum for this three-dimensional exhibition that features parallels between soaring and ballooning, the principles of lift and soaring. Free admission. Located at 9201 Balloon Museum Drive NE. Call 768.6020 or visit balloonmuseum.com

March 11
Seeds: The Spirit of Women Writers at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, Salon Ortega, 6 PM, free. A lively discussion of what inspires us, what keeps us going and how we make our art fit into our lives, with poet Kathleen Driskell of Spalding University, award-winning author Lisa Lenard-Cook, author-journalist and Spalding MFA candidate Carolyn Flynn, writer and artist Roma Arellano of RedRavine.com. 1701 Fourth St. SW. Call 246.2261.

March 13
Pueblo Arts Road Show. The Friends of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center will hold a one-day information day to inform the public about rules & regulations, pitfalls and pleasures, with speakers and resources about buying and selling Indian Arts & Crafts. Chaco Rooms at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 12th St. NW, from 10 AM-3 PM. Call Clare Canfield or Kay Ortega at 843-7270

March 13
Tingley Beach Free Fishing Derby 7 AM-4 PM. Open to all ages. The Fishing Derby will be held at the Tingley Beach Central Pond. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish will stock 5,000 rainbow trout, some of which will be tagged for Derby prizes. New Mexico fishing license is all that is required.

March 16
Rio Grande Zoo Spring Wildlife Safari 10 AM-3:30 PM. Take your children and grandchildren, ages 9-11, to learn about wildlife around the world, meet animals, make a safari journal and create animal art at this fun Spring Break event. $15 per person. Pre-registration required, 764.6214.

March 17
Spring Break Family Day at Balloon Museum 10 AM-2 PM. Bring your family to explore the museum during spring break. Balloon Explorium will provide hands-on ballooning fun with a climb-in balloon gondola, flight simulators, along with ballooning crafts. Activities included with admission: $3/adults with NM ID; $2/seniors; $1/children 4-12. Located at 9201 Balloon Museum Drive NE. Call 768.6020 or visit balloonmuseum.com

March 19-April 3
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, directed by Robb A. Sisneros, presented by Musical Theatre Southwest. Performances will be at the African American Performing Arts Center at Expo New Mexico Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 PM, Sunday matinees at 2 PM, with a special matinee on Saturday, April 3 at 2 PM. Adults $20, students & seniors $18, group rates available. Call 265.9119 or visit musicaltheatresw.com

March 20
Casa Esperanza Art For Hope Auction, at the Embassy Suites, Lomas at I-25. Registration begins 5 PM; silent auction, 5-7 PM; live auction, 7:15-8:30 PM. Chris Turri is among many talented New Mexico artists who have donated their time and art to a great cause. If you are interested in supporting families in New Mexico facing cancer, purchase tickets online at CasaEsperanzaNM.org. $50 each; sponsor & artist host tables are $500 each (8 tickets plus 2 more seats at your table for a participating artist and their guest).

March 24
Founders Day Fiestas in Old Town, 12-5 PM. The City of Albuquerque will celebrate its birthday with an event that includes an outdoor market featuring Old Town merchants, live music and dance performances, and an assortment of activities for children.

March 25
Pianist David Erskine will perform at the Loma Colorado Main Library Auditorium, 755 Loma Colorado Drive NE, Rio Rancho, 6:30-7:45 PM. Erskine will play original compositions having a romantic-impressionistic flavor, many inspired by themes of nature, from his CDs, Expressions, Self-Portrait, and Sierra Passage. Free tickets available at the Adult Information Desk. Call 891.5013, ext. 3033 or visit pineshadow.com

March 19-20
The Vagina Monologues at South Broadway Cultural Center, 7 PM. Las Meganenas & Friends and the UNM Women’s Resource Center present a bilingual production of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues” to benefit Enlace Comunitario as part of the Women in Creativity series in March. This presentation is in honor of women to celebrate their lives, struggles and dreams as they push forward and fight for equality and respect in daily life. $15 at South Broadway Cultural Center & Enlace Comunitario. Contact Alicia Lueras Maldonado at 710.1994, alicialueras@gmail.com

March 27

The Seminar “Everything Your Daughter Needs to Know About Guys & Sex But Didn’t Know to Ask” will be given in Albuquerque on March 27th from 9:30 – 11:30 AM at the UNM Student Union, Lobo Room A & B, 2nd Floor, and in Santa Fe on March 27 from 2:30 – 4:30 PM at the Santa Fe Community College, Jemez Rooms, in the

Conference Center.

Early registration $49.50 through March 24. E-mail GiftingSeminars@aol.com or visit www. relationshipgifting.com.

March 28

Dr. Jerry Oziel’s seminar on relationship success will be held on March 28 from 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM at the UNM Student Union, Lobo Room A & B, 2nd Floor. Register online through March 24 at www. relationshipgifting.com. Full-day seminar single, $325; $595 couple

March 20-28
Carmen presented by Opera Southwest at KiMo Theatre. March 20, 23, and 26, 7:30 PM; and March 28, 2 PM. Consistently one of the most performed and loved operas of all time, Bizet’s Carmen is full of passion, betrayal and murder. Sung in French with English supertitles. Reserved seating: $20-$65; senior, student and group discounts are available. Advance tickets available at the KiMo, 768.3544; or through Ticketmaster. Ticket sales on day of show.