By Carolyn Studer “Trial by fire.” That’s how violinist Alexa Torres, the first woman and first violinist to graduate from the University of North Texas’s Jazz Strings Program, describes the bebop class where she first met guitarist Mario Wellmann. “You had to play specific musical devices in all 12 keys,” she said. “Random keys would flash up on a screen and you had to improvise in them. The fact that the keys weren’t tonally related made it harder.” After the exam, they wen

By Frank "Sugar" Hudson November is a fantastic time to be in San Miguel de Allende. The rainy season has drawn to a close, blue skies return, and comfortable daytime temperatures settle over town. With Mexico’s rich cultural traditions and an exciting international music festival on the calendar, November offers plenty of reasons to celebrate. Ideal Autumn Weather November brings sunny days, crisp evenings, and very little rain. Daytime temperatures typically reach the mid-s

By Frankie Cruz-Aedo Stepping off the cobblestone streets of San Miguel de Allende, an immediate, thumping wall of sound hits you before you even clear the doorway of Flores Drum & Percussion Lessons. Inside, the visual collision of serious rock & roll and pure childhood is everywhere. Nestled beneath posters signed by national rock icons, a professional-grade drum kit sits modified—its cymbals lowered and foot pedals brought inward to accommodate young musicians. Founded to

By Staff Writer What does it take to keep the world safe, and what happens when the things we do in the name of security begin to threaten the very freedoms and values we are trying to protec Those are among the questions historian and national security expert Karen Joy Greenberg will explore when she opens i³’s 2026–27 season on Tuesday, October 13 with "Reimagining the Global Order: Peace and Security in the 21st Century". In speaking with Greenberg, one thing becomes immed

By Staff Writer Since 1990, Carlos Araya Vargas has lived and worked between Chile and France. This dual belonging is central to his painting, built from memory, territory and displacement — physical and emotional — linking urban experience to social transformation. Artist, professor and art therapist in psychiatry, Araya has worked from Santiago and Paris to remote territories, where painting meets lived experience.For eight years he has developed a series on Aleppo: over th

By Isabel Calderón Pascacio There are few things that San Miguel de Allende does quite as beautifully as bringing people together around good food, creativity, and a worthy cause. Fashion Feeds brings all three to the table, quite literally. Following the success of last year's inaugural-style runway brunch, Fashion Feeds returns with another afternoon of fashion, food, and philanthropy, this time at Hotel Live Aqua San Miguel de Allende on Sunday, November 15, from 12:00 p.m

By Catherine Marenghi The Atención Book Club is changing its name. In recognition of its core purpose – celebrating local authors – the monthly series is now Atención Presents: San Miguel Authors. “Our inspiration for the series was a commitment to supporting our local literary community,” said Camie Fenton, publisher of Atención News. “But what we’ve created is not a book club in the traditional sense, but a showcase of outstanding local authors.” The series will continue to

By Staff Writer What do global security, Mexican politics, wild salmon, a notorious art forgery, and insects have in common? More than you might think. For its eighth season, i³: ideas that inform & inspire returns with five distinguished thinkers whose work spans national security, journalism, conservation science, art history, and biology. Their subjects invite us to consider a question that connects us all: How do we preserve and sustain the people, institutions, ecosystem

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 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 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 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

By Staff Writer Why does a hammer have that proportion and not another? Why does the curve of a French curve feel so natural? Why have certain tools remained virtually unchanged for centuries? The answer lies not only in function but in the memory they embody. Each one is the result of generations of observation, testing, refinement, and accumulated experience until reaching a form that now appears inevitable. Memory of Forms, the new solo exhibition by architect and visual a

By Staff Writer When we began the Atención Book Club, we had no idea how much interest there would be. After all, there are many book clubs in this city—why create another one? Ours is unique because we feature local authors and ensure that they are present at the event. That gives the audience an opportunity to ask direct questions and explore issues that only the writer can answer. We have held four presentations, and they have been remarkably different in genre and content

By Carolyn Studer “Somebody once told me, ‘Don’t worry. Great things happen in small spaces.’” — Papacho Sirdey, jazz pianist and producer After moving to San Miguel de Allende, the only thing I missed was the small, intimate jazz clubs I frequented in Los Angeles—places like the Baked Potato and Charlie O’s, where you could hear exceptional musicians surrounded by people who truly loved listening to jazz. So I was delighted to discover the concert series at Cine Bacco—a 25-s

By John Challis, Board Member, Operísima Mexico Beyond its celebrated visual arts and cultural festivals, San Miguel de Allende has earned a reputation as one of Mexico’s leading opera destinations. The longstanding seasonal contributions of several esteemed opera organizations continue to sustain a vibrant tradition of training programs, concerts, and competitions that attract emerging artists and audiences from around the world. Since beginning its activities in San Miguel

By Frankie Cruz-Aedo Three years ago, Jo Davis decided to create a social media page where foodies could write about and share their passion for all things San Miguel gastronomy. On Tuesday, July 14, Cent'anni Live Eatertainment and Crazy Horse Promotions will host the three-year anniversary celebration of SMA Food Porn. The event will feature two DJs alongside guest chefs Max from 3.6.9. pop kitchen, Chuy from Agavia, Andrés from Amatte/Hacintto, and Toño from Garnache, alon

By Amy G. Rothlin The energy was unmistakable. Walking into Parque Benito Juárez on Sunday during the 5th edition of San Miguel y sus Sabores, it was immediately clear why this festival has become one of the city's most anticipated culinary events. Over three days (June 12–14), more than 35 restaurants, local producers, traditional cooks, and artisans transformed the park into a vibrant celebration of what makes San Miguel's food scene so special. Organized by the Municipal G

Written by Margot E. Sinclair, writer and publicist As Lady Zen’s birthday approaches over the Mother’s Day weekend—on May 9th—a heartfelt tradition will unfold. Each year, she celebrates by hosting a special Mother’s Day concert. This event is not just another performance—it is a deeply personal way to honor her own journey, which began as an orphan, and to give back to the community. This year’s concert carries extraordinary purpose: all proceeds go directly to creating a s