Image courtesy of the artist

Do you like spoken word? Do you miss the days when the likes of Don McIver, Kenn Rodriguez and Damien Flores ruled Burque's poetry roost? We can't bring those halcyon days back, but we can urge you to check out a most excellent spoken word artist, Buddy Wakefield. He'll be performing at the Outpost Performance Space on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 7:30pm in a show that features a for real world champion spoken word artist. Wakefield is on his A Choir of Honest Killers World Tour and reads from his visceral, raw and intensely insouciant work. Readings by local wordsmiths begin the evening, so you can only hope for your (previously mentioned) heroes to make an appearance. Tickets for this all-ages slam cost $10 to $15, so go with the flow and let those poets know! (August March)

Image by Clarke Condé

Seeing Santa at the mall can easily be traumatic for anyone experiencing full-blown sensory overload thanks to Christmas lights, animatronic candy canes, pointy-shoed elves and tons of other kids in various conditions of excitement. If you are a child on the special needs spectrum, it can be overwhelming. Santa, long known for being as inclusive as he is jolly, doesn’t want to leave anyone out this Christmas so he is inviting children with special needs to a toned-down, sensory-friendly visit at Cottonwood Mall on Sunday, Dec. 1 from 9am to 10am. This free, all-ages event is quieter, with muted lights and alternate seating options for Santa photos. To learn more and RSVP, see cottonwoodmall.com. (Clarke Condé)

Shutterbugs gather up your best pieces and pick some to submit for hanging in the new Bernalillo County headquarters when the gov-peeps move to Alvarado Square, happening now until Monday, August 31. The selected photographs will be printed in a large scale and format. They will be used to create a welcoming environment for county customers, county employees and the general public. Some will be used on the windows of the new Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office suite. The photographs should represent the history and character of Bernalillo County and its people, places, landscapes and unique events in our county. There are some big bucks involved as chosen photographers will receive $1,500, with a limit of one photograph per artist. The chosen photos will become part of the public art program’s permanent collection. There is no fee or age limit required to submit. For more information, visit bernco.gov/community-services/current-call-for-entries.aspx. Ends August 31. (Carolyn Carlson)

City on the Edge is a breezy, smart podcast looking at the stories from Albuquerque history that have often been overlooked. Each episode takes a deep dive into a topic like the 1955 crash of TWA flight 260, Sandia Man or the 1918 quarantine. Worthwhile listening that will spur your curiosity about things you didn’t even know about in the city where you live. It’s free and available wherever you get your podcasts. (Clarke Condé)

Looking for a little chile? The 2020 Bosque Chile Festival, a celebration of food, art, and culture on the Rio Grande, is happening Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16, with times waiting to be officially announced. But due to COVID-19 and the State of New Mexico public health order, the festival will be presented virtually! There will still be entertainment, art activities, a virtual artisan market, chile-chef demonstrations, educational workshops and more. This free, all-ages event is meant to give those stuck at home a chance to see what the state has to offer. If you are a high-quality chile-inspired and authentic New Mexican business with an e-commerce website and want to be a vendor, there is still time. Applications are being accepted until Wednesday, August 5. For more information email bosquechilefestival@bernco.gov.