Once again, that time of year when I become intensely jealous of Albuquerqueans (or whatever they call themselves) has come around. The Globalquerque pre-season is kicking off this weekend, with a visit from the Monks of the Gaden Shartse, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. The monks will begin creating a sand mandala on September 8, host a chanting demonstration on September 9, and perform A Journey to the Roof of the World: Sacred Dance and Chants of Tibet on September 10. It's a beautiful and meditative way to kick off what promises to be a really top-notch year for Globalquerque.

On the roster for the main goings-on of Globalquerque, which officially takes place September 16 and 17, are a wildly diverse and meticulously chosen slate of artists from around the world, including Burkina Electric (Burkina Faso), Frigg (Finland), Sergent Garcia (Spain/France), Luisa Maita (Brazil), Nawal (Comoros), Buffy Sainte-Marie (First Nations), Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole (Louisiana), and many more. It all takes place at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, and tickets are still available (and surprisingly cheap!) -- if you're still flexible on next weekend's plans and live anywhere within driving distance, don't hesitate!