On Saturday, April 5, Canteen Brewhouse hosted its third annual UNO Tournament, drawing about 50 card-playing beer lovers and card sharks to their patio for an afternoon of friendly competition, drinks and community support.
The event featured a bracket-style UNO competition with winners facing winners until one emerged as the ultimate UNO champion. Meanwhile, attendees enjoyed local brews and tested their luck in a raffle for prizes including T-shirts, water bottles and gift cards.
Kenneth Kinderwater, who recently moved to Albuquerque, won both a raffle prize and a spot on the tournament bracket.
“I was looking online for events to do,” Kinderwater said. “Then I saw this, and I thought it would be a good time to spend an afternoon before the NCAA games this afternoon.”
Andy Dean, another participant, entered the tournament with confidence — but quickly found himself facing a metaphorical reverse card.
“I thought I was a world-class UNO player, but it turns out that my 11-year-old daughter is much better at UNO than I am,” Dean said.
Despite his humbling defeat, Dean won a $25 Canteen Brewhouse gift card in the raffle.
All proceeds from the event went to Mark Armijo Academy, a local charter school. Specifically, the money will go toward caps and gowns for students who cannot afford them, according to Venessa Urioste, the assistant director of Mark Armijo Academy.
“There's approximately 84 graduates this year,” Urioste said. “It'll pay for approximately 20 to 30 caps and gowns.”
Urioste competed in the event and was joined by her family and educators at the charter school.
“I would say I’m the UNO queen,” Urioste said. “Everyone knows the game. Every kid at 12 and 13 has memories of UNO with their family.”
The tournament additionally helps fund a celebratory dinner at the La Fonda del Bosque for the school’s top 10 seniors and their favorite educators, Urioste said.
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The Canteen Brewhouse’s previous two tournaments also supported Mark Armijo Academy.
According to Jamie Schwebach, the general manager of Canteen Brewhouse and the event’s organizer, the tournament raised over $1,000 for the school. Urioste was “very excited” to hear how much money the event brought in.
“We serve kids who totally need it and need our support, and they need the recognition. They need to be able to be celebrated in a beautiful way, and in a very beautiful space, for all their academic achievement,” Urioste said.
Nate Bernard is the news editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on X @natebernard14
John P. Hefti contributed reporting to this article.
Nate Bernard is the news editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on X @natebernard14
