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ROUTE 6 6 TRAVEL

S E P TE M B E R 2 02 6

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1Offer not available in all areas. Discount applied by retailer representative at time of contract execution and applies to purchase of 5 or more windows and/or doors. Cannot be combined with other offers. To qualify for discount offer, initial contact for a free Window and Door Diagnosis must be made and documented on or before 9/30/2026 with the appointment then occurring no more than 10 days after the initial contact. Plan 6160. Subject to credit approval. Loan term is 60 months at fixed rate of 0.00% APR. For example, assuming the full credit limit is used on loan approval date, for every $1,000 financed at 0% APR, 60 monthly payments of $16.67. This example is an estimate only. Actual payment amounts based on amount and timing of purchases. Call 866-936-0602 for financing costs and terms. GreenSky® program consumer loans are made by Synovus Bank, Member FDIC, NMLS #408043, without regard to age, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability, or familial status. GreenSky Servicing, LLC (“GSS”, NMLS #1416362, www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) is a financial technology company that manages the GreenSky® program by supporting originations and servicing the loans on behalf of banks and other financial institutions that make or hold program loans. GreenSky® is a registered trademark of GreenSky, LLC and is licensed to banks and other financial institutions for their use in connection with the GreenSky® program. GreenSky LLC and GSS are not lenders. All credit decisions and loan terms are determined by program lenders. Renewal by Andersen retailers do not assist with, counsel or negotiate financing, other than providing customers an introduction to lenders interested in financing. This Renewal by Andersen location is independently owned and operated. “Renewal by Andersen” and all other marks where denoted are trademarks of Andersen Corporation. ©2026 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved.

©2026 California Closet Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Each California Closets® franchised location is independently owned and operated. Local contractor licenses available at californiaclosets.com.

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LIFESTYLE LETTER

The Style of Albuquerque and all New Mexico

September 2026 PUBLISHER

Rich Ringrose | rich.ringrose@citylifestyle.com E D I TO R

Richard Lakin | richard.lakin@citylifestyle.com STAF F W R I T E R

Rudy Carrillo, Keri Bridgwater, Jill Robbins STAF F P H OTO G R AP H E R

Autumn Oglesby

Over the decades, the style of Albuquerque and New Mexico has shifted from historical utility to a refined blend of modern minimalism and regional heritage. In architecture, classic Pueblo Revival and Territorial styles have evolved into "Desert Contemporary"—trading heavy, dark interiors for expansive glass, sleek steel accents, and light-filled layouts while preserving the organic, rounded silhouettes of traditional adobe. Fashion has undergone a similar transformation; traditional western wear and heavy fringe have evolved into a refined "Desert Chic," where native silverwork and vintage textiles are paired seamlessly with clean linen, modern streetwear, and subtle tailoring. Despite this modern polish, the soulful core of the New Mexican aesthetic remains unchanged. The style continues to be anchored entirely in the high-desert landscape. Terracotta clay, sagebrush green, sand, and vibrant sky-blue turquoise remain the dominant color palette, directly reflecting the surrounding Sandia Mountains and dramatic desert sunsets. Crucially, the value placed on authentic craftsmanship over mass production has stayed steadfast. Hand-worked sterling silver, Zuni and Diné (Navajo) jewelry, custom tinwork, and hand-plastered walls remain the ultimate marks of luxury and personal expression in local homes and wardrobes. Rather than abandoning its rich roots, New Mexico’s evolving style has simply adapted—blending ancient tradition with sleek contemporary design to create an identity that feels both freshly modern and timelessly grounded. Please enjoy our annual "Style" issue.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Rudy Carrillo, Jill Robbins, Keri Bridgwater, Richard Lakin C O N T R I B U T I N G P H OTO G R AP H E R S

Autumn Oglesby, Red Light Cameras, Katie Johnson Photography, Tira Howard Photography, Arizona Office Tourism, Mother Road Media, An Pham, Xanterra Travel Collective, Five Ton Monkey, El Rey, Zeb Wilson, Casey Dunn, Jay Carroll, Krysta Jabczenski

Corporate Team CEO Steven Schowengerdt President Matthew Perry CRO Jamie Pentz CoS Janeane Thompson AD DESIGNER Andrew Sapad LAYOUT DESIGNER Kathy Nguyen QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Brandy Thomas

RICH RINGROSE, PUBLISHER @ABQCITYLIFESTYLE

Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com//franchise. Proverbs 3:5-6 Albuquerque City Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Albuquerque area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle

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L I F E ST Y LE LE T T E R

Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Albuquerque City Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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The World’s Most Prestigious Diamond District

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On October 5, Harris Jewelers departs for Antwerp, Belgium - the global epicenter of elite diamonds. For over 500 years, Antwerp’s master cutters have set the standard for brilliance, precision, and rarity. This October, we’ll be selecting diamonds exclusively for our clients, chosen at the source with uncompromising attention to detail.

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inside the issue SE PTE M B E R 2 02 6 | STYL E

Print Prestige Meets Digital Power.

WHY CHOOSE BETWEEN PRESTIGE AND PLACEMENT?

Featured

Departments

16 26

Rock and Roll New Mexico Style How Red Light Cameras Turned Albuquerque Into One Big Dance Floor

Troy Tryon Interior Design Eclectic style and design excellence

Stylish Garden Sheds

Lisa Fontanarosa’s elegant outdoor spaces

Lifestyle Letter

Our Town ENTERTAINMENT

Local Limelight HOME + DESIGN

Home Update HOME + DESIGN

Travel Journal TRAVEL

Outdoor Adventure TRAVEL

Artist’s Palette ARTS + CULTURE

Must See TRAVEL

Happy Hour FOOD + BEVERAGE

Trend Setter BEAUTY

Decor Trends HOME + DESIGN

How To HOME + DESIGN

Home Update HOME + DESIGN

Curb Appeal HOME + DESIGN

On the Cover Katie Johnson shot our cover of the sophisticated designs by Troy Tryon. Photography: Katie Johnson Photography

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RO CK A N D ROL L N E W M E X IC O ST Y LE How Red Light Cameras Turned Albuquerque Into One Big Dance Floor

The room is packed before the first chord even hits. Sweat beads on the ceiling. Somewhere near the front, a stranger grabs your shoulder and screams a lyric back at you like it's a secret you both already knew. Then Amanda Machon steps up to the mic, plants her boots, and the whole building tips over into chaos. This is a Red Light Cameras show. And if you've spent any time in Albuquerque's music scene over the last fifteen years, you already know: nobody runs a room like they do.

Machon doesn't so much front the band as detonate it. She prowls the stage edge, mic cord looped around her fist, locking eyes with the crowd like she's daring them to look away. She doesn't need pyrotechnics or a light show — her voice does the work, swinging from a honeyed pop croon to a full-throated garage-rock howl within a single verse. By the second song, the whole floor is singing along, badly and joyfully, the way you only do when a band has made you feel like you're in on it with them.

ARTICLE BY RUDOLFO CARRILLO PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF RED LIGHT CAMERAS

O UR TOWN | ENTERTAI NME N T

“This is a Red Light Cameras show. And if you’ve spent any time in Albuquerque’s music scene over the last fifteen years, you already know: nobody runs a room like they do.”

CONTINUED >

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“It’s a pushpull that never quite resolves, and that tension is exactly the point. One guitar chases the vocal hook, THE SOUND: SUGAR AND STATIC

What makes Red Light Cameras so hard to shake is the collision at the center of their sound: pop songwriting engineered for maximum hook, detonated by guitars that sound like they're being played through a busted amp in someone's garage — because, in spirit, they still are. Mag Kim and Aaron Cather run the dual-guitar attack that gives the band its teeth. Where a lot of pop-leaning acts smooth their guitars into the background, Kim and Cather do the opposite — they crank the grit up front, trading fuzzed-out riffs and jagged little solos that cut against the sweetness of the melodies. It's a push-pull that never quite resolves, and that tension is exactly the point. One guitar chases the vocal hook, the other one picks a fight with it. Underneath it all, Barney Lopez's bass and Justin Salazar's drums do the unglamorous, essential work of holding the whole thing together. Lopez plays with a bounce that keeps even the loudest, sludgiest choruses danceable, while Salazar's drumming has the snap and drive of a band that grew up on both Motown records and DIY basement shows. Together they're the reason a Red Light Cameras song never just rocks — it grooves.

O UR TOWN | ENTERTAI NME N T

the other one picks a fight with it.”

THE EVOLUTION: THREE ALBUMS, ONE RELENTLESS PULSE

The band's self-titled debut, released in 2011, is where the blueprint first showed itself — scrappy, hook-hungry, and clearly the work of a band still figuring out how loud they could get away with being. It's rougher around the edges than what came later, but you can already hear Machon's magnetism cutting through the mix, and you can already hear a band that understood the dance floor was the whole point. Then came 2016 — the year Red Light Cameras proved the debut was no fluke. In the span of twelve months, they released not one but two full-length records: All Your Fault, pressed to vinyl for the purists, and Shiver, a CD release that leaned harder into the band's pop instincts without ever sanding down the garage-rock edge. Taken together, the two albums function almost like a diptych — All Your Fault is scrappier and more confrontational, while Shiver lets the hooks breathe, and the choruses swell. It was a staggering amount of output for one calendar year, and it cemented something important: this wasn't a band coasting on a good live reputation. They were writing songs built to last well past the encore.

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THE LEGACY

More than a decade after that first record dropped, Red Light Cameras haven't lost an ounce of voltage. If anything, the gap between the band on record and the band on stage has only sharpened their reputation — because seeing Amanda Machon command a room, watching Kim and Cather trade riffs like they're arguing in real time, feeling Lopez and Salazar lock the whole thing into a groove you can't sit still through, is still the best argument for why this band matters. New Mexico has produced plenty of great bands. But few have made "definitive live act" look this effortless, this consistently, for this long. Red Light Cameras don't just play shows in Albuquerque — they own the floor the second the lights go down, and nobody's leaving until the last chord rings out.

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TROY TRYON INTERIOR DESIGN ARTICLE BY RICHARD LAKIN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATIE JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY

ECLECTIC ST YLE AND DESIGN E XCELLENCE Troy Tryon, of Troy Tryon Interior Design in Santa Fe, is a highly experienced designer with over 40 years of expertise in the design business. There is a notable commitment to creativity, engaged consultation, and excellence in his work. His extensive connections give his clients access to a broad range of unique pieces to reflect their tastes and lifestyle. CONTINUED >

LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | HO ME + D E SIGN

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He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from Kansas State University's College of Human Ecology, Planning, and Design in 1987. He lived and worked in California for more than 20 years, where he was a buyer and an interior designer, and then moved to New Mexico to get away from the California traffic. He has lived here for 24 years. Troy has held multiple management positions throughout his career and is well-known and influential in the design business.

LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | HO ME + D E SIGN

Ask Troy Tryon to name his design philosophy, and he will tell you it comes down to one idea: finding harmony in diversity. After more than four decades of designing interiors, he has learned that the most memorable rooms are rarely the most matched ones. A hand-carved Spanish colonial trastero can live beautifully beside a clean-lined contemporary sofa. An inherited antique can anchor a room full of new pieces. The skill is in the balance.

ED AN TI

E C

AN ANCH

OR A ROOM FULL OF NEW PIECES. THE SKILL IS IN THE BALANCE. That balance defines his work in Santa Fe, where homes carry their own strong voices. Viga ceilings, kiva fireplaces, plaster walls, and Saltillo tile are not backdrops to be covered up. They are collaborators. Troy designs with the architecture, not against it, layering texture, color, and light so that heritage and comfort share the same room. His process begins with listening. Before a single fabric is selected, Troy wants to know how clients live, what they love,

and what stories their belongings tell. From there, he presents curated choices rather than mandates, keeping clients at the center of every decision. Troy tells us, "Santa Fe has a way of teaching designers humility. The light is unlike anywhere else in the country, intense and golden, shifting hour by hour across plaster walls and mountain views. The architecture carries centuries of tradition. And the people who live here arrive with treasures of their own, from CONTINUED >

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“ASK TROY TRYON TO NAME HIS DESIGN P HIL O S OP H Y, A ND HE W IL L TELL YOU IT COMES DOWN TO ONE IDEA: FINDING H A R MON Y IN DI V E R S I T Y.”

LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | HO ME + D E SIGN

contemporary art collections to heirlooms that have crossed generations." Troy Tryon has spent his career learning that lesson well. His interiors do not impose a style on a home. They draw one out. A window treatment is designed to frame the Sangre de Cristos, not hide them. A rug echoes the burnt orange of a desert sunset. Custom upholstery, built to his specifications, gives clients pieces made for their rooms rather than found for them. That same discipline shapes his work with Santa Fe’s real estate community, where his staged properties help buyers feel a home’s potential the moment they walk through the door. Some fall so in love they purchase the interiors exactly as staged. Whether he is designing a full residence, staging a listing, or helping a client place a single piece of art, the goal never changes. Every home should feel inevitable, as if it could not have been designed any other way. Visitors can experience his eye firsthand at the Troy Tryon Interiors Showroom and Design Center at 217 W. Water Street, where rugs, furnishings, and custom pieces reflect the same principle that guides every project: distinct elements, brought into harmony. Troy's phone number is 505.310.9401, and his website is troytryon.com. CONTINUED >

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“A WINDOW TREATMENT IS DESIGNED TO FR AME THE SANGRE DE CRISTOS, NOT HIDE THEM. A RUG ECHOES THE BURNT OR A NGE OF A DE S E R T S UN S E T. C U S T OM UP HOL S T E RY, B UILT TO HIS SPECIFICATIONS, GIVES CLIENTS PIECES MADE FOR T HEIR ROOM S R AT HER T H A N F OUND F OR T HEM.” 22

LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | HO ME + D E SIGN

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S t ylish Garden Sheds Lisa Fontanarosa’s elegant outdoor spaces

Forget stylish laundry rooms and power pantries; the latest addition to the well-appointed home is a stylish garden shed. The modern garden shed features luxury materials and custom details. They are becoming popular due to a rise in home upgrades, an emphasis on outdoor living, and a need for flexible extra space. Homeowners use them for much more than basic storage, turning them into stylish retreats and functional workspaces. Outdoor living has grown into a central component of home design, and homeowners are looking for ways to maximize the use of their yards.

ARTICLE BY RICHARD LAKIN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TIRA HOWARD PHOTOGRAPHY

H OM E U P DAT E | HO ME + D E SIGN

An outdoor shed provides both storage and functional space, freeing up patios and decks for leisure activities. Families can store bicycles, lawn equipment, or seasonal furniture without cluttering main living areas, making outdoor environments more inviting and versatile. Modern outdoor sheds are no longer solely for storage. They are evolving into versatile structures that serve multiple purposes, from hobby workshops to creative studios or quiet retreats. Homeowners are embracing sheds as spaces for painting, woodworking, yoga, or even as small offices, especially in the age of remote work.

We talked to Lisa Fontanarosa from Jo’s Farms, who has a variety of stylish outbuildings, and this past year has renovated a potting shed on her lavender farm. She says, “Over the years, I’ve come to believe the places we love shape the way we experience life. They quietly become part of who we are. My shop, greenhouse, flower shed, and potting shed are all extensions of my home and unfold like intimate rooms within a living garden—each space layered with flowers, textiles, and collected objects, many sourced from Europe, gathered with intention over time. Fresh stems mingle with dried florals, allowing beauty to move fluidly between seasons. CONTINUED >

“Over the years, I’ve come to believe the places we love shape the way we experience life.” S EP TEMB ER 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/A L BUQ UE R Q UE

Sculptural forms, antique vessels, and timeworn pieces lend a quiet French romance, while the surrounding gardens trace a gentle, looping path that invites pause, wandering, and discovery.” Outdoor sheds are also becoming design elements, contributing to the visual appeal of gardens and patios. Many homeowners select sheds that match or complement their home’s architecture, adding charm and cohesiveness to outdoor spaces. Materials, colors, and finishes can be customized to fit the overall aesthetic, making the shed both functional and attractive. Adding plants, trellises, or decorative accents around the shed can further integrate it into the landscape. A well-designed outdoor shed can become a focal point in the yard, blending practicality with style. This aesthetic consideration reflects broader trends in outdoor living where visual appeal is as important as utility, and homeowners are increasingly willing to invest in structures that elevate their property’s overall look. The demand for sheds and outdoor storage is on the rise, driven by increasing interest in backyard improvements and outdoor living. According to Research and

H OM E U P DAT E | HO ME + D E SIGN

Markets, the market for sheds and outdoor storage is expected to reach $3 billion by 2029, fueled by rising construction trends and the popularity of functional outdoor spaces. This growth reflects the evolving priorities of homeowners who value organization, functionality, and lifestyle enhancement. Real estate agents say that a well-designed outdoor shed can add to the property value. However, if it is dilapidated, it can diminish the value of the home. For sheds to add more value to your home, you need to take specific steps to ensure it'll also increase your home's marketability to potential buyers. Lisa says, “The farmer’s aesthetic has quietly become its own kind of luxury—not in the traditional sense, but in what it signals. Access to something many people feel they are missing. Over time, I’ve come to understand that the places we shape begin to shape us in return. They quietly inform how we live, gather, and feel. True beauty is not only seen—it is experienced in the warmth of a room, in the way light moves across a table, in the presence of something thoughtfully placed. The most meaningful spaces do not ask to be admired; they invite us to live more deeply within them.”

“The most meaningful spaces do not ask to be admired; they inv ite us t o l i ve m o r e d e e p l y w i t h i n t h e m .”

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Je m e z a n d Te n t Ro c k s CAPTURING NEW MEXICO’S BEAUTY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AUTUMN OGLESBY

T R AV E L J OU R N A L | TRAV E L

In our continuing photo series of our scenic state, our photographer, Autumn Oglesby, has captured images of Jemez and Tent Rocks. Breccan and Nolan Dallman hike with their dad, Jeff Dallman. Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, is famous for its scenic cone-shaped formations, composed of pumice, ash, and tuff deposits from volcanic eruptions 6–7 million years ago. The Monument includes a National Recreational Trail for hiking only. The Trail contains two segments that provide opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, geologic observation, and plant identification. Both segments of the trail begin at the designated Monument parking area. The Cave Loop Trail is 1.2 miles long,

rated as easy. The more difficult Canyon Trail is a 1.5-mile, one-way trek into a narrow, "slot" canyon with a steep (630-ft) climb to the mesa top for excellent views of the Sangre de Cristo, Jemez, and Sandia mountains and the Rio Grande Valley. The Veterans Memorial Trail is a 1-milelong loop trail, rated as very easy, and is wheelchair accessible. CONTINUED >

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T R AV E L J OU R N A L | TRAV E L

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O UT D OOR A DV E N T U R E | T RAVE L

EXPLORING ROUTE 66 ON ITS CENTENNIAL

MOTHER ROAD MEDIA, AN PHAM, XANTERRA TRAVEL COLLECTIVE

ARTICLE BY JILL ROBBINS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ARIZONA OFFICE TOURISM,

ROUTE 66 GRAND

CANYON R AILWAY As Route 66's centennial celebration rolls on, the Mother Road is enjoying a moment in the spotlight. Arizona's 385-mile stretch of Route 66 is the longest preserved section, running from Lupton near the New Mexico border to Topock on the Colorado River. Albuquerque travelers can easily pick up the route by crossing into Arizona on I-40. If you're flying in from farther away, Phoenix offers a convenient gateway to a road trip through railroad towns, neon-lit main streets and some of the Southwest's most beloved roadside attractions. These four stops— Winslow, Flagstaff, Williams, and Kingman—showcase some of the best of Arizona's stretch of the Mother Road. CONTINUED > S EP TEMB ER 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/A L BUQ UE R Q UE

WINSLOW

You really can stand on a corner in Winslow, Arizona, as the song says. Standin' on the Corner Park features a life-size bronze statue of a guitar-toting traveler. Go early in the morning for the best light and fewer people competing to get the same pictures. A two-story mural creates the illusion of a bustling street scene, making the park one of Arizona's most photographed roadside attractions. Before you leave town, drive over the new musical stretch of Route 66 that plays the opening bars of the Eagles' "Take It Easy" through your tires when you drive the posted speed limit. For a remarkable food experience, try The Turquoise Room inside La Posada Hotel. The deep-fried stuffed squash blossoms alone are worth the trip.

Seligman, AZ

O UT D OOR A DV E N T U R E | T RAVE L

“KINGMAN EMBRACES ITS ROUTE 66 HERITAGE WITH GLOWING NEON, CLASSIC DINERS AND ONE OF ROUTE 66’S BE S T MU SEUM S.”

Kingman Route 66 Museum

FLAGSTAFF

Route 66 runs right through downtown Flagstaff, where independent shops, restaurants and historic buildings make it an easy place to spend an afternoon on foot. The city's biggest draw is Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered in 1930 and visitors can explore historic telescopes and interactive astronomy exhibits. If time allows, make the short drive to Walnut Canyon National Monument to walk among remarkably preserved cliff dwellings built by the Sinagua people more than 800 years ago. MartAnne’s Burrito Palace is a local favorite for traditional Mexican food, known as "the house that chilaquiles built."

WILLIAMS

Williams is the departure point for the Grand Canyon Railway, one of Arizona's most iconic rail journeys. The Grand Canyon Railway departs from the restored 1908 depot for a 65-mile journey to the South Rim, complete with Western musicians, cowboy entertainment and vintage rail travel that recalls the golden age of Route 66 vacations. If you're trying to pack a lot into an Arizona road trip, the train is an easy way to experience the Grand Canyon as a day trip while making the journey every bit as memorable as the destination. The Grand Canyon Railway Hotel makes the experience remarkably seamless. After checking in, it's just a short walk across the courtyard to the depot, where you'll pick up your tickets and everything you need for the next day's journey. If you're covering a lot of ground on an Arizona road trip, letting someone else handle the driving for a day is a welcome change of pace. CONTINUED >

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Grand Canyon Railroad

Back in Williams, spend some time strolling the compact downtown, where neon signs, diners and classic Route 66 storefronts make it easy to soak up the town's nostalgic atmosphere.

KINGMAN

Kingman embraces its Route 66 heritage with glowing neon, classic diners and one of Route 66’s best museums. The Arizona Route 66 Museum traces the evolution of travel across the Mother Road through immersive exhibits and historic artifacts, making it a

O UT D OOR A DV E N T U R E | T RAVE L

Winslow, AZ

worthwhile stop even for visitors who already know Route 66's story. Afterward, stroll historic downtown before settling into one of the city's retro-inspired lodging options.

“AS ROUTE 66’S CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION ROLLS ON, THE MOTHER ROAD IS ENJOYING A MOME N T IN T HE S P O T L IGH T.” SLEEP ON ROUTE 66

While there are plenty of places to stay along Arizona's Route 66, these three stand out for their history, character and unmistakable Route 66 charm. La Posada Hotel (Winslow): Stay in the last Harvey House built, a beautifully restored railroad hotel designed by famed architect Mary Colter with an onsite museum and art gallery.

Grand Canyon Railway Hotel (Williams): Located steps from the depot, the hotel makes catching the morning train to the South Rim effortless. Tin Can Alley (Kingman): Spend the night in a restored vintage Airstream trailer within walking distance of downtown Kingman's Route 66 attractions.

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FIVE TON MONKEY CONVERTS IDEAS INTO THINGS

New Mexico’s source for design and fabrication

ARTICLE BY RUDOLFO CARRILLO PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY FIVE TON MONKEY

A RT IST ’S PA LE T T E | ARTS + CU LT U RE

Albuquerque has quietly become a hub for the people who build the worlds you see on screen, and Five Ton Monkey is one of the shops making that happen. Founded in late 2019, the design and fabrication company has spent the years since weathering a pandemic, pitching in on the COVID response, and turning out work for more than thirty feature films,

“High quality, on budget, and delivered on time.” television shows, and commercials—plus another thirty-five-plus clients who have nothing to do with Hollywood at all. The shop's mission is refreshingly plainspoken. "We convert ideas into things," reads their site. "Our ideas, yours, or the ones we develop together." That could describe half the fabrication shops in the country, but Five Ton Monkey backs it up with range: fabrication, foam carving, foam assembly and coating, mold-making and casting, and scenic finishes, all inside more than 14,000 square feet of shop space. They cut wood, foam, plastics, and aluminum on a CNC machine with a 60-by-100-inch bed, spray finishes in a commercial booth, and offer contract design services on top of it. When a job calls for something outside their walls—powder-coating, waterjet-cutting—they bring in collaborators. "While we don't do everything," the company says, "we can get it all done." Their offerings run just as deep: design and 3D modeling, fabrication, CNC routing, mold making

and casting, foam carving, scenic finishes, and small-scale lighting and controls. The work covers props and set pieces, scenery and sets, exhibits and festival builds, immersive environments, architectural elements and cabinetry, art and displays, and signage—for clients ranging from film and television to museums, festivals, conferences, designers, architects, and inventors. That range shows up in the client list. The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. The Electric Daisy Carnival. Route 66 Casino. The Center for Contemporary Arts in Santa Fe. Desert Aerospace. Meta-Facebook. Nike. Wunderkind. On the production side, credits stretch across Netflix, A24 Films, Disney, Nickelodeon, Paramount, NBC/Universal, Warner Brothers, Fox Searchlight, Amazon, and AMC—with recent titles including Pluribus, Dark Winds, Oppenheimer, and Coyote vs. Acme sitting in the shop's portfolio. Behind all of it is Adam Eisman, the founder and sole owner, who has been designing and building things CONTINUED > S EP TEMB ER 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/A L BUQ UE R Q UE

professionally since 1991. He's been an IATSE member since 2011, working as a prop-maker and construction foreman, with screen credits on more than twenty-five productions— The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Independence Day: Resurgence, and El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie among them. He cut his teeth at the legendary Stiegelbauer Scenic Shop in Brooklyn on Saturday Night Live before eventually landing in New Mexico, where he's now lived for more than thirty years. The team around him rounds out the shop's skill set. Juan Suarez, the production manager, is a third-generation craftsman from Roswell who grew up working alongside his grandfather, father, and younger brother. Certified in fine woodworking from Santa Fe Community College, he runs his own furniture line, J.R.S. Fine Furniture, on the side—pieces that now anchor local spots like Zendo Coffee and Slowburn Coffee. Cypher Galbreath serves as digital fabrication lead, running the shop's CNC machinist duties while—in their words—"deep in the adventure of learning the other crafts of a prop shop." Clients keep coming back, and their words say why. Nan Masland, director of the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum, called working with the shop "a dream," praising a team of "highly skilled designers, fabricators and finishers" who delivered museum-quality work on demand. Thomas Tomlinson, an exhibit designer who has worked with the shop on zoo, aquarium, and museum exhibits, pointed to their responsiveness and flexibility as what sets them apart—work that arrives "high quality,

A RT IST ’S PA LE T T E | ARTS + CU LT U RE

“Museum-quality work on demand.”

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yoursonconstruction.com 505-298-3871 S EP TEMB ER 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/A L BUQ UE R Q UE

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FROM A 1930S ADOBE MOTOR COURT TO O N E O F S A N TA F E ’ S M O S T S T Y L I S H S TAY S

EL REY

COURT ARTICLE BY KERI BRIDGWATER | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY EL REY, ZEB WILSON, CASEY DUNN, JAY CARROLL, KRYSTA JABCZENSKI

M UST SE E | TRAVEL

“WE’VE TRIED TO PRESERVE THAT FEELING OF ARRIVING IN YOUR OWN LITTLE WORLD OFF ROUTE 66.”

The first thing you notice about El Rey Court isn't the pool or the lowslung casitas—it's the bones. Tucked along a historic stretch of old Route 66 just south of downtown Santa Fe, El Rey remains unmistakably rooted in its origins as an adobe motor court, even after nearly nine decades of change. Outside, its restored vintage neon sign continues to glow above Cerrillos Road—an enduring landmark from the heyday of the American road trip. CONTINUED >

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“TAKE TIME TO LINGER, AND IT’S THE QUIETER DETAILS THAT REVEAL THEMSELVES: THE KIVA FIREPLACE ANCHORING THE LOBBY LIVING ROOM, THE TREE-SHADED ALAMO COURT LAWN.”

Originally opened in 1936 as the El Rey Inn, it evolved from motor court to modest motel before Bullwhip Capital acquired the property in 2018—a purchase years in the making after its founder had long admired the place. Working with designer Jay Carroll, co-founder of California-based lifestyle brand Wonder Valley, the team preserved the adobe Pueblo Revival exteriors while introducing a contemporary Southwestern aesthetic. Marketing Director Cecilia Doria describes El Rey's style as “desert meets mid-century modern,” layered over the property's original adobe bones. That history reveals itself in small but telling ways. “We kept a lot of the original details. The painted trim around the doors and the Spanish ceramic tile paintings throughout the property all came from the previous owners,” Doria says. “You'll find these little vignettes in different rooms where the history really shines through.” Its architecture tells the same story. Adobe buildings define Santa Fe, but purpose-built adobe motor lodges are surprisingly rare. The original heart of El Rey—now home to the lobby, front desk, La Reina mezcal bar, and surrounding guest rooms—remains

the same thick-walled adobe structure that first welcomed motorists. “We've tried to preserve that feeling of arriving in your own little world off Route 66, where guests could pull right into the carport outside their room,” Doria says. Like many roadside motels, El Rey grew alongside the popularity of automobile travel. Across the five-acre site, decades of architecture styles coexist. The once separate Alamo Court and its swimming pool— now home to the seasonal Swim Club—date to the 1950s, while the two-story Spanish Courtyard at the rear of the property was built in the 1970s. When Bullwhip Capital took ownership in 2018, both became part of the reimagined El Rey Court. “It's a real conglomeration of eras that we've tied together,” Doria says. No two guest rooms are exactly alike. Chimayó-woven headboards, Saltillo tile, and vintage 1960s furnishings are layered with contemporary pieces, giving every space its own character. “We have 86 rooms, and they're all a bit different,” Doria says. “Each one is a little surprise.” That same layered approach extends to the artwork. Photography, graphic illustration, Navajo textiles, and works by regional and out-of-state artists reflect the same CONTINUED >

M UST SE E | TRAVEL

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thoughtful mix of old and new. Photographer Lisa Eisner's Rodeo Girl series hangs in one suite, while another features a striking black-and-white portrait of Georgia O'Keeffe. Behind the lobby's front desk, Los Angeles painter Logan Maxwell Hagege's portrait of Apache artist Chesley Goseyun Wilson greets arriving guests. Fellow Angeleno John Zabawa also left his mark, creating El Rey's nowiconic smoking cactus emblem and La Reina's horse motif. Take time to linger, and it's the quieter details that reveal themselves: the kiva fireplace anchoring the lobby living room, the tree-shaded Alamo Court Lawn, and a vintage greenhouse repurposed as a satellite retail space for Santa Fe plant shop Sage Botanical. Live music drifts from La Reina most evenings; the property has become a coveted setting for weddings, and each May hosts its annual High Road Music Festival. Perhaps that’s El Rey Court's greatest design achievement. Rather than restoring the motel to one idealized moment in history, its owners have allowed every chapter— from the original 1936 adobe motor court to later additions—to remain visible. The result isn't a nostalgia play, but a property whose style comes from nearly a century of thoughtful evolution rather than reinvention. CONTINUED >

“THE TEAM PRESERVED THE ADOBE PUEBLO REVIVAL EXTERIORS WHILE INTRODUCING A CONTEMPORARY SOUTHWESTERN AESTHETIC.” 56

M UST SE E | TRAVEL

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A LATE SUMMER/EARLY FALL TREAT

APPLE CIDER

sangria

H AP PY H OU R | FO O D + BE VE RAGE

As the season transitions into fall, it still features the warm, sunny days of summer but nights start to drop into the crisp temperatures. That leaves us in the limbo of wanting cool, refreshing drinks part of the time but also craving the deeper, spice-infused flavors of autumn. This recipe for apple cider sangria is the perfect blending of the seasons, leaving you feeling both refreshed and warmed through the deep flavors and interesting hints of spice. It’s a great drink to add to any dinner party, cocktail gathering, back deck after-hours get-together, or birthday bash. Here’s what you need to make the perfect mid-season cocktail to enhance whatever event you have planned.

ARTICLE BY ALLISON BANKSTON | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

• • • • • •

Combine all ingredients together and stir. Refrigerate for an hour or so (or longer) before serving. The drink can be enjoyed immediately, if desired, but the longer you let the ingredients sit and mix, the deeper the flavors will be. Giving it time to develop will make the drink more captivating and interesting.

1 bottle, standard size, of pinot grigio 2 1/2 cups fresh apple cider 1 cup club soda 1/2 cup ginger brandy 3 honey crisp apples, chopped 3 pears, chopped

NOTE: Regular brandy can be used, but ginger brandy gives it an extra kick of flavor.

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Wear Colors That Truly

LOVE YOU A quick guide to finding flattering shades for life.

KNOW YOUR UNDERTONE Your undertone doesn’t change with the seasons. Check your wrist veins: blue means cool, green means warm, and unclear may be neutral. Cool tones love jewel colors; warm tones glow in earthy, rich shades.

CONSIDER CONTRAST Do you have high contrast between your hair, skin, and eyes (like dark hair and light skin)? High contrast looks great in bold, clear colors. Low contrast (like blonde hair and fair skin)? Softer, blended tones often suit you best.

THE WHITE VS. CREAM TEST Hold a white and ivory shirt near your face. If white flatters, you're likely cooltoned. If ivory glows against your skin, you're likely warm-toned. This quick test reveals your undertone with ease.

BUILD AROUND YOUR “WOW” COLORS Once you identify a few colors that make you look and feel amazing, use those as the base of your palette. These are your power colors—build your wardrobe and makeup around them!

PRO TIP You don’t have to follow rules perfectly. Your color palette is a guide, not a limit. Mix, match, and most importantly—wear what makes you feel beautiful.

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WOVEN + KNOTTED

LIVING BOHO-CHIC WITH WOVEN TEXTURES AND MACRAMÉ

Decorate your space with handmade textures such as the modern, maker revival of 1970s macramé and year-round tropical feel of wicker. MACRAMÉ Made through knotting instead of weaving, macramé can add a unique touch in many various ways. Houzz contributor Laura Gaskill suggests incorporating it as nursery decor, plant hangers, wall hangings and modern fiber arts. WICKER According to Houzz contributor Yanic Simard, “the best way to really embrace the luxury-cottage appeal of wicker and rattan is to combine different forms of the two in one space... Look for other unexpected places to add a natural twist to your home with a new material woven into your palette.”

AGAINST THE GRAIN

TIPS FOR DECORATING WITH NATURAL MATERIALS

Houzz contributor Katie Treggiden offers many ways to incorporate natural materials and natural-state timber into your home, including using wood to cover one wall in a home for a pleasing accent wall; featuring your firewood as a striking, stacked display; and mixing different types of wood and different finishes in the same space. “A simple way to incorporate the wood trend is to expose structural wooden beams already present in your home,” Katie says. “Instead of painting them or boxing them in, leave them raw or give them a coat of wax to enrich the tones.”

BRIGHTS + WHITES

ADDING TASTEFUL POPS OF COLOR TO YOUR WHITE ROOM

Do you feel like your all-white room is missing something? Houzz contributor Kelly Porter bets what’s missing is energy. “The best way to add a spark to any space,” she says, “is with bright color.” Kelly says green is one of the easiest colors to live with, looking organic even in its more vivid tones. “When searching for the perfect bright green, think springtime—fresh green grass and newly sprouted leaves,” she says. “These greens have lively undertones that will look comfortable and warm in your white space. Other colors Kelly recommends adding as accents are yellow, royal blue, orange, blue-purple, red-purple and sky blue. S EP TEMB ER 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/A L BUQ UE R Q UE

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E L E VA T E YO U R CLOSET 4

WAY S

ORGANIZE

AND

INJECT

STYLE

I NTO YOU R SPACE

Every woman dreams of an organized and beautiful closet space, but it often comes last on the list of places that get their time and attention. Follow our four tips for transforming and elevating your closet. How you organize your closet will of course differ based on the size of your space, the size of your wardrobe, and the kind of life you lead. But applying these guidelines will result in a much more organized and aesthetically pleasing space.

01 ARTICLE BY HALEY WILLIAMS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CASSANDRA CASTANEDA

H OW TO | HO ME + DES I GN

M AKE A STATEMENT

ORGA NIZE BY KIND A ND COLOR

Why use an armchair when you have room for a sofa? Slide up a stool and colorful area rug to complete the look. If you have excessive wall space, consider a mini gallery wall or a statement wall with wallpaper to polish things off.

Group clothes first by kind and color second. Group like with like and decide the best place to store each item as a group (e.g., hang pants in the closet, fold and stack sweaters in a bureau). Working with groupings will help you figure out how much space you need and the best way to store each type of item.

UPGR ADED HA NGERS The simplest and fastest way to make a BIG difference in your closet organization is to get matching hangers that go beyond the traditional plastic or wire hangers. And for sure ditch any with paper from the dry cleaner!

FACE CLOTHES THE SA ME DIRECTION It may seem silly, but when dealing with a small space, little things count. Hanging all clothes the same direction is a no-brainer for continuity in your closet.

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OLD WALL, NEW TRICKS ARTICLE BY PAM REID

HANG UP THE OLD WAY AND TRY A GALLERY WALL HANGING SYSTEM IN YOUR HOME.

One of my happy places is sitting in front of a museum wall gallery. I can admire art for hours, and if I’m with a friend, there’s no telling how long we’ll sit, reflect, and share our individual perspectives. If you’ve admired gallery wall displays in magazines, catalogs, or on social media and would like to create one in your home, it’s much easier than you might think.

MATERIALS YOU WILL NEED:

DESIGNING YOUR GALLERY WALL

CREATIVE ARRANGEMENTS

The first step in creating a gallery wall is planning. Start by selecting a theme or color scheme that complements your space. Themes can be as varied as black-and-white photographs, abstract paintings, or a mix of personal and artistic prints.

The arrangement of your gallery wall can follow several patterns, depending on your taste: • Linear: Artworks are hung in a straight line at eye level, creating a clean and orderly appearance. • Grid: Perfect for a collection of similarly sized frames, this layout emphasizes structure and uniformity. • Salon Style: This more traditional arrangement involves layering pieces closely together, often extending across the wall. It’s ideal for creating a rich, filled look.

• A gallery wall hanging system, which typically includes mounting rails, cables or rods, and hooks. You can find them pretty much anywhere, online or at your local home improvement store. • A collection of frames and artwork. • A level, measuring tape, and perhaps a laser pointer for precision.

INSTALL ATION TIPS: 01 MEASURE YOUR SPACE: Carefully measure the wall space where you want to install the gallery. Consider the height and width available, keeping in mind furniture and other room features.

02 LAY IT OUT: Arrange your artwork on the floor to finalize your layout. This “dry run” is crucial to get a feel for how the pieces will interact with one another. I like to use painter’s tape to create a visual of what my display will look like on the walls.

03 INSTALL THE RAILS AND HANG YOUR ART: Following the manufacturer’s instructions, mount the rails at the top of your wall. Ensure they are level and securely attached. Attach cables or rods to the rails, then use hooks to hang your frames. The beauty of the system is that you can adjust the height and position easily.

04 BALANCE AND SYMMETRY: Step back to view your layout from different angles. Adjust the spacing and alignment as needed to achieve visual balance.

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S N A K E P L A N T: The Snake Plant is for anyone from a green thumb to a black thumb because anyone can grow it. These hardy plants can adapt to any environment and can live in both high light and low light.

ARTICLE BY ANGELA BROOCKERD PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

INDOOR PLANT GUIDE Investing in indoor plants can not only spruce up your living space, but also bring numerous health and well-being benefits

Bringing the outdoors in with the use of house plants is a great way to add color and dimension to your space. We sat down with Jesse Nelson at Family Tree Nursery, based in Kansas, and discussed the benefits of incorporating plant life into your home. “There are plenty of studies on the health benefits of plants, and the evidence suggests that being around plants and caring for plant life increases overall wellness,” explains Nelson. “Anytime you bring a plant into a home or work environment, it’s going to make you feel better. It is going to beautify the space in a way that art cannot, and they also have the added benefit of purifying the air.” There are a wide variety of indoor plants that work for any space and light situation that you may have. Regardless if you have a green thumb or a black thumb, there are plant varieties that fit your lifestyle. Here are a few of our favorite indoor plants to incorporate into your home.

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HOPE PEPEROMIA: The Hope Peperomia likes medium to bright direct sunlight. It does well as a tabletop plant or a hanging plant. Watering is only needed one time a month regardless of plant size.

Z Z P L A N T: The ZZ plant, which its formal name is Zamioculcas zamiifolia, is a very easy plant to care for. They like anything from low light to bright light. These plants are hard to kill and can go a long time without being watered.

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Our Work For

SHADES THAT BLOOM. ARTISTRY THAT LASTS. At Tesuque Stucco, Co., we’ve been turning New Mexico homes into works of art for more than 25 years. Our craftsmen take the time to stucco every home to perfection. And with a palette of blooming hues to choose from, we’ll turn your home into a masterpiece.

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