By Felecia Ford Our August Music Spotlight is on Doug Robinson—a piano wizard, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and musical storyteller whose fingerprints can be found all over San Miguel’s vibrant music scene. Although Doug’s journey began in sunny California, it eventually led him to the cobblestone streets of our city, where for more than two decades he has become one of its most respected and recognizable musicians. With 18 independent albums to his credit and on

By Catherine Marenghi In México it is a delicacy, as ancient as corn, consumed by native peoples for thousands of years. It’s called huitlacoche (pronounced wheat-la-COACH-ay). In the U.S., it has the inelegant name “corn smut.” For newcomers to San Miguel, it inspires curiosity in some, revulsion in others. Huitlacoche is typically a gray and black fungus that grows naturally on ears of corn, resembling swollen and misshapen kernels. Sometimes the color varies according to t

By Colleen Sorenson I believe good things are worth waiting for and sometimes that wait can take 14 years. In 2012, I took a walk along the banks of Arroyo Las Cachinches, when there was no walkway and no murals. To address the unsightly tagging found on the back sides of many houses along the arroyo, I presented to the city an idea for an outdoor gallery of street art, along with an outdoor classroom for urban nature. It was then that I learned street art was not permitted i

By Frank "Sugar" Hudson. August is one of the best months to experience San Miguel de Allende. While it falls during the rainy season, the weather is comfortable, and the landscape is bright green. August is the beginning of the cooler weather, with an average temperature around seventy degrees. It also offers several enjoyable cultural events. The San Miguel Chamber Music Festival returns for its 47 edition this August, bringing two weeks of world-class classical music to th

By Natalie Taylor There are those who settle into a community, carry out the duties of their profession, and spend their lives fulfilling the responsibilities entrusted to them. Others, however, are not content to remain within the boundaries of their calling. A passion drives them beyond those limits. Father Fernando Manríquez is a priest, charged with leading a congregation, but he stepped outside his vocation, tapping into other interests present since childhood. I asked h

By Catherine Marenghi The envelope please! The 22nd Annual San Miguel Writers’ Conference and Literary Festival has unveiled its eagerly anticipated roster of keynote speakers and distinguished faculty. The Conference will be held February 10–14, 2027, at the Hotel Real de Minas in San Miguel de Allende. The 2027 keynote speakers are: Amor Towles, an internationally bestselling novelist celebrated for elegant storytelling and unforgettable characters. Before becoming a writer

By Camie Fenton August has arrived, and this edition features the vibrant cultural tapestry, culinary traditions, and unique local experiences that define life in and around San Miguel de Allende. Catherine Marenghi gives us an exciting sneak peek at the 22nd Annual San Miguel Writers' Conference and Literary Festival coming up in February 2027, featuring a fantastic lineup of keynote authors, including Amor Towles, Kiran Desai, Michelle Good, Roxane Gay, Martha Bátiz, and Xa

By Patricia Schneider After years of organizing journeys, I’ve noticed the same pattern over and over again. During the first few days, everyone wants to see the places they’ve spotted on social media. The perfect picture, the trendy café, the colorful doorway that has already been photographed thousands of times. Quite often those places are simply not interesting. And then, almost inevitably, something else happens. The memory that stays is rarely that famous Instagram spot

By Lisa Babincsak I've stopped checking the weather in San Miguel. It's not that I don't care—it's just that I'd rather be surprised than misled. Last week, the forecast said 78 and sunny. I left the house in sandals and a smug sense of preparedness. Twenty minutes later, I was dodging hail under a jacaranda tree, questioning everything I thought I knew about microclimates and God. It's not just that the apps are wrong. It's that they're confidently wrong. They promise sunny

By Carla Maria Pérez One of the gifts of living in San Miguel is that this town keeps inviting us to learn. There is always a lecture, a concert, a language challenge, a cooking class, a gallery opening, a history talk, or simply a conversation that teaches us something new. In a place like this, learning does not have to be forced. It becomes part of daily life. We are fortunate to have that. This matters more than many of us realize. We often hear about aging as if it were

By Charles Woollett& Rick Peterson Q: Why did you decide to focus on Medicare education for Americans living here? A: I live this lifestyle myself. My wife, Susan, and I divide our time between California and San Miguel, so I understand the questions and concerns firsthand. Q: What's the biggest misconception U.S. expats have about Medicare? A: Many people assume that because they're living in Mexico, Medicare no longer matters - or that it will somehow cover them here. In re

By Dennis Taylor Kingbirds, that is… As it turns out, Mexico hosts six different kingbird species. However, the Western Kingbird only vacations here during the winter months before returning to its breeding grounds in the western half of the United States to breed and rear its young. And the Easter Kingbird is only a transient in Mexico as they head south to their South American wintering grounds. Although there is some overlap in the ranges for the remaining Mexican-based

By Don Krim “Participation in sports and art has taught me that my role in San Miguel de Allende is to serve. I am looking for the Jóvenes Adelante scholarship because I know that more than financial support, it is the opportunity to have a mentor to guide me through all the academic challenges that my family probably does not know how to guide me through.” - Male, Laboratory Sciences Finalist 2026 What started last December and January with hundreds of applicants, now comes

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 Lisa Babincsak In the previous article in this series, I wrote about the difference between building projects and building a destination — and the structural risk that emerges when growth outpaces the ecosystem supporting it. But naming the risk is only part of the conversation. The harder question is what actually prevents it. Because coherence does not maintain itself. Destinations do not stay cohesive simply because their early years were thoughtful, or because their ar

By Doreen Cumberford San Miguel de Allende has never been afraid of a contradiction. Indigenous and Spanish. Sacred and commercial. The deeply rooted and the recently arrived mingling together. For centuries this city has been a negotiation, absorbing artists and mystics, retirees and revolutionaries, the intentional and the accidentally permanent. Excellent preparation for the world we are navigating right now. Because we are, whether we realise it or not, in the middle of y

By Felecia Ford When music is truly your calling, it has a way of finding you throughout your life—and Karen Libby’s story is a wonderful example of that. It is my pleasure to introduce this month’s Music Spotlight on Karen, one of my favorite musicians in town. FF: What are your earliest memories of music? KL: I grew up in upstate New York with parents who loved music-Jazz, mostly 1920’s & 1930’s was always playing in the house. My father had a massive collection of old 7

By Staff Writer In 2016, when Chef Erick and Carmen opened the doors to Pork Belly for the first time, San Miguel's food scene was at an inflection point. The town was beginning to attract serious culinary talent tired of the grind elsewhere, looking for a place where tradition and innovation could dance together. What Erick brought to that moment was something the city was hungering for, though it didn't quite know it yet: a philosophy rooted in fire, smoke, and the belief t

By Cat Silver, Interior designer Lately I notice that my interior design clients increasingly ask how their homes can be more sustainable: making choices today that minimize environmental impact and conserve future resources. As concerns about water availability and energy use grow, many people are seeking ways to reduce their footprint while creating beautiful, comfortable homes. Environmentally responsible design does not require sacrificing style. With a few thoughtful cho

By Charles Woollett You have to go back in time for a little context to understand the motivation behind Myles Wakeham’s inspiration for his Troubled Clef Recording Studio. London, Oxford Circus, circa 1970s, and the brilliant A.I.R (Associated Independent Recording) Studios, one of the most in-demand recording studios ever. Researching this article made me reminisce about my days at Revolver Records in Tottenham Court and having coffee & cheese sandwiches with our friendly c