Yes, we know, it’s kind of a weird-sounding change. We live in New Mexico; having a farm named “Los Poblanos,” after the dark green chile peppers, makes total sense.

But when you read Farmer Monte Skarsgard’s story about the history of farming in the Skarsgard family, that all also makes total sense. We at the Guide think it reflects the diversity of this fine town. Not everything has to have a Spanish name, you know. And there is nothing more New Mexican than being proud about your family name.

Plus, their retro-ish logo is totally hot.

We’ve got some great ideas to make your Valentine’s Day guilt-free by keeping it totally local. Whether you want to go all traditional or a bit more… creative, we’ve got you covered.

FLOWERS
If you’re a traditionalist, roses are the only way to go, and Peoples Flowers is the traditional Albuquerque way to have ‘em delivered. Peoples has been in business in Burque since World War II (1944), and they are experts at getting flowers delivered to your sweetheart, even if he’s as far off as Bernalillo, Corrales, or Rio Rancho!

CHOCOLATE
If your honey has a sweet tooth, swing by the Chocolate Cartel and grab a few truffles that will melt in her mouth (and on her skin if you wanna’ get a little bit… Self Servey). Sure, the place was started in Taos, but its factory and store are now Albuquerque-based, and they have gelato. While you’re in there, stock up on their Mexican-style hot chocolate to get an added kick for what’s left of dreary ol’ winter. We also highly recommend the Candy Lady, of course! Though be warned: if you’re headed to her on the 14th, bring a phone game, cause that line is looooong.

SEXY TIMES
We can’t get enough Self Serve, and Valentine’s Day is an excellent time to spice up your sex life. Even the single folk can appreciate the store’s wide selection of awesome toys and goodies you only need one hand to operate. Pro-tip: getting something for your partner(s)? Spring it on him/her/them the night before – then use it on V-Day, before dinner, when you still got the energy, and none of the food-coma. Voila!

LINGERIE
Ever since Seventh Goddess closed last March, we’ve had a tough time getting into the spirit of buying lingerie. But SG did the good deed of mentioning several other options in their wake, and TLC Intimate Apparel is sure a classy option. They’re so classy, they don’t even have an intimidatingly sexy website. If you’re looking a little more modern, a little more edgy, definitely check out the supply at Free Radicals. Definitely.

VINO
Take your date for an afternoon tasting at Casa Rondeña and take a bottle or two home. It’s a romantic setting, for sure. Gruet is also nice, if you didn’t get your fill of bubbly at New Year’s.

FANCY PANTS DINNER ‘N DRINKS
According to our sources, they’re already almost fully-booked for Valentine’s Day, but we can’t help but note that Vernon’s Hidden Valley Steakhouse provides a very sexy, intimate atmosphere for a fancy dinner out. They have a superb bar, and live music, too.

LESS-FANCY PANTS DINNER ‘N DRINKS
Why not buy some great bread and cheese at the Co-op, then get a bottle of something you like and don’t mind pouring into a Nalgene bottle at Jubilation, and spend a sunny hour or two strolling around the Hidden Park or Tingley Beach? Even if it’s snowing, it’ll be gorgeous, and highly memorable. Or take the night off from boozeahol altogether, and pick up a few unique, delicious teas and a box of infusion pouches at NM Tea Co.. Steep to perfection and curl up for good conversation, with sound mind and happy tummy.

CARDS
Walk right past the Hallmark holiday syndrome, and into Papers, where you can find something unique and touching for your loved one(s), unrequited or otherwise.

ROMANTIC NIGHT AWAY
The Albuquerque Visitors and Conventions Bureau has a great list of all the specials hotels are having. Our favorites? Andaluz and Hotel Parq Central, if you’ve got the cash. But you might want to just head to Madrid, or if you’re the camping sort, take a trip to the hot springs to really get out of the city. (A casino can also make an otherworldly, and swift, night away from normal.) And, if you’ve really got the will to escape, you could melt in the world-class grip of a masseuse at 10,000 Waves.

MOVIE DATE
The Guild’s screening a doc of Harry Belafonte for V-Day, but if you wanna cozy up at home with those chocolates and wine you just bought, Burning Paradise has something for everyone (and shit you’ll never find on Netflix, too).

All the animals at Lucky Paws have spent some time in the shelter, and are completely adoptable. And adorable. Yes, you’re going to have to step around and over the kids oohing and aahing over the cats and dogs, but Fido will be so worth it.

They hold special adoption events throughout the year, including with various rescue organizations, so even if you’re just stopping by to take a gander (meaning “look,” not “adopt a male goose”), you can throw a few bucks in a collection bucket and know you’re doing some good. Lucky Paws is CABQ’s attempt to make it easy for you to adopt a dog, cat or rabbit that doesn’t have any issues. You’re only going to see the most palatable animals, so if you’re a superhero that longs for lost causes, well, it’s a lost cause.

Also, because the animals at Lucky Paws are ready to go home, you can’t put any of them on hold, so don’t get attached if you’re not 100% sure about taking Fluffy or Mittens home TODAY. Of course, we advocate only responsible pet ownership, so please don’t adopt any pet unless you are ready to support ‘em.

But if you’re ready to add a little fur to your life, the folks at Lucky Paws are more than ready to find you your four-footed soul mate.

The biggest problem: the wording in the legislation is vague enough that almost any site could be put down at the government’s discretion, and without due process (aka going to court to duke it out). We’re not just talking about restrictions on those illegal downloading sites you use for your high-end porn; we’re talking Wikipedia (which is also blacked out today); we’re talking comedy site The Oatmeal; we’re talking news aggregators, even the Underground Guide, if government officials, you know, didn’t like our language.

We’re all for artists living off their work, but we’re equally committed to content sharing – it’s what the Guide is all about. And we can’t hang with censorship, nor the many having to pay for the transgressions of the few. Censoring the web is about the least effective, and dumbest, way to curb piracy. Remember the many heads that sprouted when James Hetfield appeared with the bloody neck of Napster in his mouth? Love or hate it, it was the iTunes Store that curbed so much music piracy – by giving all you (and us) pirates a legal way to get our instant fix. Did it kill off all Internet-borne music sharing? Hardly. But could anyone, ever, without actually dismantling the Internet? No.

Give the people a reasonable way to get what we’re going to take anyway, and we’ll play nice. Spotify? Last.fm? Soundcloud? Hulu? YouTube? Netflix? The list goes on. We’ll probably even pay for it.

Even more concerning is that the people who drafted these bills have no idea what they’re talking about. They’re proposing to attack the very structural, foundational elements of the offending sites, which could destabilize many more. The upshot of this is a very likely Shadow Internet, which is even less regulated (zip up your pants – think Mad Max, not Facebook stopping their draconian douchery), and consequently much more dangerous. You don’t have to believe just us: check out this excellent Democracy Now! interview with Rebecca MacKinnon from a few days back.

Let’s not forget that our very first guaranteed freedom in the Bill of Rights is that to free speech, and that separates us enormously from dictatorships around the world. What was the first thing the governments that were the targets of the Arab Spring did when their people started protesting en masse? They censored the internet. Sound familiar? It’s not a road we want any government to walk, especially not ours.

If you agree, do us all a favor – find your Representative and give ‘em a call or write ‘em a letter, and do the same for our Senators. Keep the internet free!

For more information (while you’re still allowed to get it):

• SOPA on Wikipedia
• PIPA on Wikipedia
• A great article from Forbes Magazine
• Gizmodo is covering the hell out of SOPA. A good larf always helps the anti-constitutional lunacy go down.

Have the succeeded? Failed utterly? Depends who you ask.

Jen says they can’t handle a crowded night at all. This isn’t encouraging, to say the least, because a restaurant with prices this high should be able to cater to your needs regardless of the crowd, whether you’re at a table for one or halfway across the dining room from former Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish (both these have actually happened).

Still, they’ve got the Northwest U.S. feel down pat, with a sparse, woody interior, a cool, blue vibe, and live bands on weekend nights. They’re also one of few places around serving non-Gulf Coast oysters, and their seafood is flown in fresh-as-can-be every day. Apart from the seafood, everything else tends towards the local.

If you want to assure yourself an awesome dinner, just go in the middle of week, when we’ve only found the service to be exemplary, with hot food, cold cocktails, and attentive, knowledgeable servers.

Still afraid of mixing the fruits of the sea with our landlocked climes? Okay, you chicken, they offer… chicken. And steak. And eggplant. And a full bar, including some nice wine selections. Get a cocktail and just soak it all in. Pretend you’re somewhere in downtown Seattle and you just can’t see the sea from this angle. We know that’s not possible. It’s make-believe.

There’s not really a dress code (yes, we’re still in New Mexico), although you may want to spruce it up a bit, as their entire north-facing wall looks onto Central, and there will surely be people you know driving past. And as you, yourself, drive by sometime, you’ll probably find you’re drawn inside, wondering what’s so damn cool in there.

Now,  a century later, our vote in that federal election matters quite a bit – we’re a swing state. A loose cannon. The immediate fate of the Free World rests on our voter turnout! We’re that fucking important.

We’re also an enigma wrapped in a mystery, as people across the rest of the 49 states still have no idea where we are half the time. Or that their dollars are freely exchangeable here.

But that just makes us awesomer. We are the most underground state ever.

Today is Statehood Day, and the time has come to pull all the stops. Wear your bolo tie, your squash blossom necklace, pet a black bear or a roadrunner and eat some piñon nuts after slurping down your piñon coffee. Revel in our weirdness, and how great that makes our local businesses. And go check out the New Mexico Centennial website so you can find events to celebrate the day with other New Mexicans.

Happy Statehood day, Amigos Burqueños! And happy 100, New Mexico. You look hotter than ever.

Regardless of location (and they are all over), the feel inside is always one of responsibility and affability. All employees are perpetually polite, even when you forget your manners. Their rates are great and they are well-loved around town. The Community Rewards debit card gives you a cash back bonus and NMEFCU matches that amount as a donation to a local charity. Their coin machines, free to members, will make you feel like a child again, a wizard – or a child wizard.

Uptown is Rachael’s preferred spot, as it is pretty and never too crowded. Beware the Lomas parking lot; it can get full of o’er-hasty drivers in a rush to get in an accident.

You may remember back when the Range Café was housed somewhat obscurely behind Eye Glass World, off Montgomery and Wyoming. Funny enough, Matt DiGregory, mastermind behind the Range, also started Gregorio’s. They’re giving that patio another try, we guess. But don’t expect this place to be a clone of the Range by any means. Once you get past the recognizable light fixtures, remnants of cowboy art and the old timey oven that nods to the founder’s great success as a restaurateur, Gregorio’s has a life of its own.

Now when you walk in, count the mustaches on the family photo in the entryway, then go on to admire how they’ve decked this place up into a cozy, homey joint (we particularly like the upside-down standing floor lamps hung as chandeliers). The bar serves up sports TV if you need it, but we recommend a big table and a few of your favorite friends and family members.

Of course they’ve got pasta, and options galore: gluten-free, whole-wheat, whatever. Pick from their list of noodles and sauces and make your own dish to suit your fancy. The entrées are delicious as well, especially the lemon basil salmon. Get the roasted garlic dressing for your mista side salad – just do it. Portions are kinda perfect; not over-generous, but spiced to make you think you ate a truck. Oh, and there’s pizza, of course. And wine and beer, natch.

Believe it or not, Gregorio’s serves brunch on weekends, too. They’ve got about a dozen frittata options served with fresh fruit and a potato pancake that’ll send your hash browns running in shame, plus other egg dishes and “regular” breakfast choices. They’ve got breakfast pizza, too, for you pie fans. And they serve the Range’s signature coffee, so you already know it’s good.

Perhaps the most interesting place Gregorio’s shines is their take on dessert. You can probably get plain ol’ tiramisu at a gazillion different places in ABQ. Gregorio’s has made their own citrus version, served like a parfait in a glass. Other Italian treats await, and a whole bunch of ice cream choices (Spumoni, anyone?).

When summer sets in, grab one of their hand-dipped milkshakes and head to the patio. In the middle of winter, the cozy interior and a bowl of carbonara will keep you warm. You can’t go wrong either way, really, and all the while, you can pretend your nonna’s bustling the kitchen, coming up with new and delicious ways to make you fat. Awesome.

Where Dr. Levenson really shines is with exotics. He’s one of the few vets in town that the House Rabbit Society trusts with their lagomorphs, and he’s got pictures of the prairie dogs and squirrels he’s helped all over his office (plus thank you cards from their happy humans). But he’s not just good with the furry friends — the man is great with iguanas and other reptiles, too.

Dr. L understands animals beyond just their anatomy — he knows that animals go through different emotional states, and their wellness depends on that as much as their physical issues. He thoroughly explains what he’s willing to do for an animal, and will talk you through the balance between your companion animal being “better” and his or her quality of life. Plus, Dr. L is fair with his payment plans and clearly cares more about the animal than the paycheck that accompanies it.

When you talk to those aforementioned clients of Dr. L’s who proclaim their love for him openly, don’t be surprised if there are tears in their eyes when they tell you what a kind, generous soul he is. After you hear a few of his clients’ stories about the lost cause he brought back when no other vet would take it on, you’ll probably be tearing up, too.

Still at a loss about what to get and where? Here are a few of our favorite things to give and get this holiday season in ‘Burque!

• Tamales from El Modelo
• Christmas cookies from Golden Crown Panaderia
• A pound of piñon nut coffee from Moon's Coffee & Tea
• Chocolate truffles from Torino's @ Home
• Something gaudy and turquoise from Gertrude Zachary
• The latest signed copy of George R. R. Martin short stories from Page One
• A David Bowie record (vinyl, natch) from Charley's
• A sick pair of cowboy boots from Masks y Más
• The facial + massage deal from Betty's Bath & Day Spa
• "Glassware" from Birdland
• Lavender soap, body wash  and body lotion from Los Poblanos
• A bottle of the 2003 Grande Reserve from Gruet Winery
• Piñon brittle from Señor Murphy's
• The Jimmy Jane Form 3 from Self Serve
• Col. Conk Bay Rum Shaving Soap from Model Pharmacy
• A portrait session with Daniel Hulsbos Photography (we are convinced he can make anyone look good)

And you can stuff it all into one of our Al Hurricane Sugar Skull by Wenchkin Tote Bags for only $9!