By Lisa Babincsak For years, growth here largely existed at the boutique level. Independent hotels. Independent developments. Smaller hospitality concepts. Residential expansion that, while noticeable, still felt relatively localized in scale. That is beginning to change. Today, some of the world’s most recognized luxury hospitality groups are entering — orpre paring to enter — the market. Rosewood has long maintained a presence in the region, while internationally recognized

By Carla Maria Pérez Soon the rain will return, bringing with it a particular kind of peace. After months of dust, heat, and bright skies, the air softens, the light dims, and the whole day seems to exhale. Even the familiar streets feel quieter, as though the city itself is remembering how to rest. That is one way the rainy season can teach us about vibrant living. It reminds us that wellness is not always found in doing more, moving faster, or filling every hour. Sometimes

By Meryl Truett At Estudio Mario Oliva, color becomes more than pigment. It becomes memory, atmosphere, language, and emotion. A Través del Círculo Cromático is an evolving series of exhibitions exploring the emotional and symbolic power of color through the work of contemporary artists whose practices move fluidly between abstraction, figuration, photography, and mixed media experimentation. Each exhibition inhabits a different point on the chromatic wheel—sometimes vibrant

By Doreen Cumberford What do you call yourself when you move to another country? Expat? Immigrant? Nomad? Global citizen? If you've spent any time in online forums for foreign residents, you'll know this question generates more heat than a June afternoon in the Jardín. People feel strongly. Labels matter, or do they? Here in San Miguel de Allende, the locals have already solved this problem for us. They call us extranjeros. Simple. Neutral. Done. Except it isn't simple at all

By Lisa Babincsak There are cafés in San Miguel, and then there’s City Market Café. Technically, it’s a grocery store coffee counter. But spiritually, it’s something else entirely. A social vortex. A microclimate of espresso, gossip, networking, accidental reunions, and highly strategic table selection. You don’t really go there just for coffee. You go there to see who’s there. Or who isn’t. By around 10 a.m., once the city has stretched, caffeinated, and accepted the day, th

By Aundria McMillan Humphrey When Pascual Hijuelos opened the door to his home, I expected an hour of conversation. He gave me two. What unfolded was not an interview, but an invitation into his world, his work, and the quiet interior landscape that shapes both. His home, with its clean lines and expansive light, feels like a sanctuary built with intention. Vivid paintings — one stretching more than twenty feet — pulse against white walls. Deep, vivid colors and tonal shifts

By Isabel Castrejón Pascacio The Mexican rebozo is memory, identity, craftsmanship, and fashion woven into one long piece of cloth. For centuries, the rebozo has accompanied women through everyday life, used as a shawl, baby carrier, head covering, symbol of resistance, and statement of elegance. Today, it is experiencing a remarkable revival, finding its place once again in contemporary wardrobes around the world. The story of the rebozo is also the story of México itself: a

By Catherine Marenghi Organizers of the annual San Miguel Writers’ Conference and Literary Festival announced the establishment of the San Miguel Global Literary Institute, a new umbrella organization designed to offer expanded year-round programs and a global reach for San Miguel’s bilingual and multi-cultural literary organization. Because the new Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in the U.S., contributions are now tax-deductible for U.S. donors. “This is one o

By Richard Adelman, M. A. Do you feel as though you are always in a rush? “The hurrieder I go, the behinder I get” is a common experience—even here in San Miguel. Time pressure is not inevitable and does not come from nowhere. It can come from your self-image: thinking of yourself as someone who can or ought to be able to accomplish certain things, regardless of your actual age or ability. Many try to pretend that they are younger than they are. They expect themselves to be a

By Natalie Taylor You can find the taco just about anywhere in the world, and it screams out “México!” The origins of this humble food are pre-Hispanic, going back almost three thousand years. The indigenous peoples of México used freshly made corn tortillas as vessels or utensils to hold food. There are various stories about its name, but most likely it comes from “tlahco” a Nahuatl (Aztec) word meaning “in the middle.” This perfectly describes the action of placing a fillin

By Frank "Sugar" Hudson John Steinbeck told us that in early June every sunset is different. Well, June is here, with longer days and the promise of the coming rains, cooler weather and beautiful sunsets. Early June is still a warm month, with average temperatures fluctuating between 57 degrees and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. But late June usually brings the rains and cooler weather. The first major holiday in June is the Feast Day of Saint Anthony of Padua which is celebrated fr

By Natalie Taylor The annual Locos Parade of San Miguel de Allende seems like a local take on Mardi Gras, with people in outrageous costumes parading along the streets of the city. But Los Locos goes back to the 1700s when it began as a harvest festival honoring San Pascual Bailon, patron saint of cooks and orchard keepers. Later, St. Anthony of Padua was also added to the celebration. The hortelanos, orchard keepers, danced to honor the saints and handed out fruits and veget

By Susan Knight York There are many reasons why Chef Donnie Masterton is at the top of his game, leading San Miguel de Allende into the ranks of one of México’s favorite food cities. Eighteen years ago, nobody was booking flights to San Miguel just to eat, but a funny thing finally happened when artists arrived, writers, weekenders from México City and others travelers who were captivated by San Miguel’s mix of visual beauty and creative energy that felt somewhat inseparable

By Camie Fenton In a month defined by the Los Locos festivities, we give special thanks to People of San Miguel columnist Natalie Taylor for sharing the history of Los Locos leading up to today’s festival. Also featured on the front cover is food writer Susan Knight York. With 4.3 million followers on her blog, she graces our pages with a story about Donnie, noting, “He has done so much to promote and build the gastronomy scene in San Miguel. After 14 years of writing about h

By Linda and Charles Woollett As writers, we’ve been pondering how to express our love for this little Shangri-La, we've come to know as San Miguel de Allende, and now call home. (Voted by Travel & Leisure readers as the #1 City in the World, many times.) This is an Op-Ed of sorts, a story called: “Life…none of us are getting out alive, so Love, Eat, Drink and be Merry”. These thoughts some of you might relate to. As expats or immigrants, we flock here by the hundreds, if no

By Don Krim "The quiet community of donors and philanthropists whose work through NGO’s makes them the unsung heroes of San Miguel. These are the people who invest not only in real estate and business, but in collective well/being. They are our foundation. The readers we hope to reach. Those who know that real estate is more than building wealth, it builds community." Ulises Huerta Ortiz, Editor/Publisher Avenue It is easy, amongst the rooftop restaurants with their stunning

By Alex MacLeod A chance encounter with Stirling Dickinson seven decades ago changed the trajectory of a young Elvira Sierra Cruz’s life, which ended Easter Sunday in her peaceful death at age 85. As a teenager, seeking work to help support her large family, she saw a big building, as she recounted in an oral history three years ago, and went in to ask for a job. As it turned out, the building was the Instituto Allende and the person who greeted her was Dickinson. Despite the

By Robin Loving “This work has never really been about water,” said 2025 Citizen of the Year Award Honoree Dylan Terrell, founder and executive director of Caminos de Agua. “It’s about community. I arrived in San Miguel (with) no intention of working in water. But … it became very clear, very quickly, that water was the issue,” he continued. He went on to say that solutions do not come from outsiders but from communities understanding their challenges, organizing, and taking

By Lisa Nelligan There is a huge community of dog lovers in San Miguel, owners and fosterers who prize the companionship of our beloved pets and best friends. Nevertheless, space for dogs to run, socialize, and play off leash has been non-existent. The law states that dogs should be leashed anywhere in public in San Miguel, including in Parque Juarez and Parque Zeferino. I volunteer at Control Canino, the city’s dog shelter, helping to provide care and facilitate adoptions. A

By Doreen Cumberford This is the second of several articles on raising expat children in San Miguel. I must be honest: researching this article was an absolute joy. Having raised a kid overseas in a foreign culture, talking with parents, kids, and families about life in San Miguel de Allende reminded me how close I feel to this topic and why I love this city. Their stories were funny, surprising, and deeply human. Every family I spoke with had asked the same question before m