By Carlos Sánchez Rangel To speak of San Miguel de Allende is to speak of tourism. Since its resurgence in the 1940s, the town has been inextricably linked to the arrival of travelers who fall in love with its narrow streets, colorful houses, and colonial atmosphere. Yet lately, the local community has been talking about fewer tourists on the streets, hotels that aren't filling up, and empty restaurants. Meanwhile, the municipal administration has announced that San Miguel—in

By Cat Silver, Interior designer One of the pleasures of furnishing a home in México is the opportunity to use beautiful woods that are grown and worked locally. Beyond their natural beauty, Mexican woods bring a sense of place into our homes, connecting us to the landscape and rich traditions of local craftsmanship. Three woods you are likely to encounter when shopping for or commissioning furniture in central México are parota, mezquite and rosa morada. Each has a distincti

By Liam Stidham Growing up in México and coming back to school in September means that Independence Day is right around the corner and everyone is ready to celebrate it. The 16th of September is a very important day in our history, culture and tradition. It reminds us that 200 years ago a group of people called Los Conspiradores started a secret plan to uprise against Spanish rule. Their names were Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest who became the leader; Ju

By Scott Simmons Scott Simmons recently interviewed Frank Gaydos to find out how a former organization development consultant retired to San Miguel and reinvented himself as a screen/TV writer. SS: How did your journey as a writer begin? FG: It started when I got a B.S. Degree in Language Arts (English, Literature and journalism) from California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly-Kellogg Campus). I was working at the Kaiser Steel Plant in Fontana California nights and goi

By Michael G. Brown After a four-year hiatus, TEDxSanMiguelDeAllende will return on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at La Casona, bringing together the community to explore one of the defining questions of our time: How do we navigate a future arriving faster than ever before? This year's theme, Umbral del Futuro - Threshold of the Future, reflects a moment unlike any other. Artificial intelligence is changing how we work. Breakthroughs in medicine are extending and improving liv

By Frank "Sugar" Hudson. On a cloudy afternoon in San Miguel de Allende, three old friends rallied after a long week of running errands and navigating the gentle rhythm of retirement. The car was filled with the quiet anticipation of adventure as we set out for Puente Josefa. Located in Candelaria, just seven minutes from Centro, the winery is cradled by rolling hills of blooming mesquite trees swaying in the breeze. Puente Josefa is a boutique vineyard spanning 7.5 acres, pr

By Felecia Ford From singing the blues alongside legends like Buddy Guy to singing on the Count Basie Orchestra’s Grammy-winning album, “Basie Swings The Blues,” Ohio native Lauren Mitchell has built a career that’s taken her to places most musicians only dream of. FF: When you were asked to record with the Count Basie Orchestra, did you realize the magnitude of what that invitation would bring? LM: I immediately understood the gravity of what I had been asked to do. It was t

By Isabel Calderón Pascacio When we think about Mexican culture, certain images may come to mind almost immediately: colorful dresses, mariachi music, tacos, and, of course, the wide-brimmed sombrero. Because these images are so familiar, it can be easy to take them for granted or reduce them to simple stereotypes. But cultural symbols are rarely as shallow as they first appear. For the people who wear them, they can represent family, history, pride, work, and a connection to

By Catherine Marenghi Of all the rich literary traditions of San Miguel, the San Miguel Poetry and Prose Cafés (P&PC) is among the most popular and enduring. Often playing to capacity crowds, this rich tradition continues with the announcement of the 2026-2027 season. Rosaleen Bertolino, a San Miguel writer and author of The Paper Demon and Other Stories, chairs the board of directors for the P&PC. She and her team recently completed their lineup for September 2026 through Ma

By Lisa Babincsak There's no exact moment you realize you've become a long-termer in San Miguel. Nobody announces it. There's no ceremony, no membership card. It just… happens. Maybe you came for six months — or a week. That was a while ago now. One day you're marveling at cobblestones, and the next you're arguing about which panadería had the best bolillos before they changed owners. So, in no particular order: You've been here too long if… You can identify locals by how con

By Colleen Sorenson The first day of August began as another perfect day in San Miguel de Allende, later transforming into a sudden monsoon-like storm of hail, wind and flooding rain. Those of us with the La Vida de Las Cachinches mural project had spent the day preparing for an outdoor celebration honoring the artists and sponsors of the 12 new murals along the mural walkway. The event setup was lovely and included delectable finger foods provided by Chef Donnie Masterton of

By Jonathan Lockwood A year and a half of these columns, and I've sent you to every mezcalería, tasting room and copita hangout I could talk my way into. This month I'm sending you somewhere different: my own backyard. Sometimes I'm asked by those who've been to tastings in centro just what Cecilia and I do differently. I respect every one of the people I've profiled in this column—most of them are friends, and I'll keep showing up to their tastings as long as I'm upright. Bu

By Frank "Sugar" Hudson. September arrives like a celebration already in motion. The air is warm but softened by summer rains, and the skies frequently break into late-day showers that wash the historic cobblestone streets clean. It is the kind of weather that settles over the city like a welcome embrace. While the climate is enchanting, September is defined by a deep, rhythmic fervor. Known throughout México as the Mes de la Patria (Month of the Homeland), the city transform

By Natalie Taylor Francois Yohalem has been living in San Miguel de Allende for twelve years and certainly has not been idle. She was born in a little town in the Dordogne Valley in France, but soon embarked on a life that took her far from her birth town. She went to London, then to Washington, D.C., where she found a position with the French Embassy, married and settled down. She then returned to university to study art, and earned a Master’s degree in studio painting. Work

By Natalie Taylor You see it everywhere—on posters, on social media, and on buses that declare “200 años de logros”—“200 years: Accomplishments.” And you wonder what it refers to: What happened in 1826 that is being celebrated in 2026? It is not the founding of the city; that happened nearly three centuries earlier. This is a different celebration: it commemorates the moment when the city formerly known as San Miguel el Grande became San Miguel de Allende. The addition to the

By Camie Fenton Happy one-year anniversary to Atención News! We are so excited to celebrate a full year of bringing you the stories, faces, and rich traditions that make San Miguel de Allende such a special place to live and visit. None of this would be possible without our wonderful community, and we extend a special, heartfelt thank you to our local advertisers for their continued support, alongside our passionate volunteer writers who lend their pens and voices, and our ha

By Aundria McMillan Humphrey Fourteen years ago, a small group of Deaf children in San Miguel de Allende walked into a new school with their heads down, their worlds quiet, and their futures uncertain. Most had no language, no access to meaningful education, and no place where they could fully belong. Today, those same children — and many who have followed — are fluent signers, confident learners, and young adults stepping into jobs, higher education, and leadership. Some hav

By Pauline Kiely I was first introduced to Jean at an equestrian horse show in Los López. When she learned that my husband and I were interested in horses, she graciously invited us to visit her facility, EquinoTerapia SMA, at Rancho Ortega, conveniently located near La Luciérnaga, a few kilometers beyond MAC Hospital. What an afternoon well spent as this tranquil setting turned out to be sincerely heartwarming. It all starts with a spark — an idea that develops into a dream

By Erwit Reichert, President of AMPI San Miguel de Allende The real estate market in San Miguel de Allende is entering a new stage. During the past year, the number of resale properties available has nearly doubled. This significant increase has naturally raised questions among homeowners, buyers, investors and real estate professionals. Does more inventory mean that property prices are collapsing? Not necessarily. It means that the market is becoming more competitive, balanc

By Carolyn Studer In a large, brightly lit room in a London hospital, a jazz ensemble—a drummer, bassist, keyboard player, and several singers, including a young vocalist from México named Federico Azuz—performed for patients undergoing treatment for various degrees of paralysis. As the band launched into the upbeat swing tune Sweet Lorraine, Federico noticed one patient who was so severely paralyzed he could not even move his eyes. Almost immediately, the musicians began to

By Doreen Cumberford In summer, a familiar conversation ripples through San Miguel's expat community: where will the children go to school next year? Parents compare curricula, fees, class sizes and commutes. What we discuss less often is the truth underneath: choosing a school here is not simply choosing an education. We are consciously or unconsciously choosing a culture, and not only for our children. For the whole family. The options around San Miguel are remarkably varie

By Patricia Schneider Why do we travel? To admire beautiful landscapes? Certainly. To enjoy exceptional food? Of course. To stay in exquisite hotels? That is definitely a great part of the pleasure. I believe that the most meaningful journeys begin the moment we stop being visitors. The true soul of a place is not found only in guidebooks. It lives in its people, its artisans, its markets, its traditions, its stories, and around the tables where generations have gathered. Be

By Catherine Marenghi Atención Book Club proudly presents Martin Fletcher, journalist, author, and retired NBC News Middle East correspondent best known for nearly four decades of frontline reporting from conflict zones as Tel Aviv bureau chief. Fletcher will present his book Teachers: The Ones I Can’t Forget, on August 25th at 3:00 p.m. at the historic Casa Nigromante, Umarán #38, Centro. Fletcher's career encompassed reporting on pivotal events including the Israeli-Palesti

By Meryl Truett San Miguel de Allende has long had a gift for influencing and shaping artists. The Instituto Allende drew spirits from across México and the world, becoming a crucible for serious artistic formation. It was here, in 1972, that a young painter from Guadalajara arrived on scholarship — and the city left its mark on her permanently. That year, Lucía Maya received a scholarship to study sculpture, painting, and lithography at the Instituto Allende. Born in 1953 on