What's going on, Albuquerque?

Consider me a convert

I've been meaning to do this for a long time, but I finally went to the Church of Beethoven.

Needless to say, I loved it. The one-hour concert (complete with a poetry break and two minutes of silence) provided everything I've always wanted from church (time to feel contemplative, feeling like part of a community, a break from the everyday and a visit with the sublime) without any of the other things that freak me out (judgement, punishment, my furious rage over the terrible things some priests have done to children that makes me want to stand up in church and yell, "what the hell is wrong here, people?", etc).

And because I was too hot to engage in my favorite Sunday afternoon activity (hiking), I also went over to the National Hispanic Cultural Center, which was hosting Arte es Vida. As part of that there were 10 different acts performing 30-minute sets. Aside from music, there was also a spoken word performance by Hakim Bellamy; Lisa Gill read a few poems, too. The whole event was the perfect thing to enjoy on a hot Sunday afternoon. (You can go here to check out more events that are also a part of Savor Abq.)

Also lovely? Leaving the cultural center at around six, I walked outside to clouds and wind--and on the wind, the smell of rain hitting the desert.

Have I already said today how much I love Albuquerque?

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Comment by chantal on June 7, 2010 at 10:49am: Oh the Church of Beethoven rocks. Such an asset to the city's creative culture.

Sounds like you had an amazing day! Thanks for sharing it with us.

Comment by Lauren on June 7, 2010 at 7:08pm: Got one even better for you....1420 San Pedro on Sundays at 0830. The most beautiful thing on earth this side of heaven.

Comment by cc on June 10, 2010 at 2:38pm: How did you like Poet Larry Goodell, Laura? He's my fave performance poet - an imagination that won't quit.