By Frank "Sugar" Hudson May in San Miguel de Allende marks the transition from the dry spring season into the early buildup of summer. It’s one of the warmest months of the year, with increasingly humid conditions and the first signs of the rainy season. The month of May begins with Labor Day, May 1st, which is celebrated with a parade of Union workers. The real celebration begins two day later on May 3rd: Día de La Santa Cruz. Construction workers will show up after attend

By Carla Maria Pérez May in San Miguel brings longer days, brighter sun, and air that feels hotter and thinner all at once. Sit under the trees in El Jardín and you’ll find shade and breeze, a cool oasis in the middle of town. Step onto the surrounding streets, though, and the comfort can disappear quickly. Cobblestones bake, heat rises, and your energy can drain faster than expected. Altitude and dry climate create a onetwo punch for the body. At roughly 6,400 feet, your bod

By Natalie Taylor Daniela Méndez Vega was born in San Miguel de Allende and went to school here. She grew up in a home without books, and the only reading she learned was in school. The only books she had ever seen in a home were those owned by an aunt who kept a whole collection of “pretty books” with attractive leather covers. They were stacked on a shelf along with other knick-knacks, not for reading but simply as “decoration.” When Daniela was fifteen, she experienced a t

By Camie Fenton Our May edition offers a deep meditation on the concept of community. As Charles Woollett concludes on pages 30 & 31, “I am because we are”—a sentiment echoed by Angela Higley Ferro on page 8, who observes that life in San Miguel is less about networking and more about fostering a deep, enduring sense of belonging. Don Krim carries this thread further on page 68, arguing that the best way to break through cultural barriers is to sustain a multicultural identit

By Christina Johnson Dear San Miguel de Allende, I love you for the memories that live in my blood and body, from childhood until this day. Do you remember when I rode my horse into your canyon as a child? The chocolate scent of those sweet white ground flowers. The toothless man collecting sticks for his home fire, and how we laughed together, he and I, as if the afternoon had no intention of ending. Sometimes I didn't come home until the sun had gone to warm yolk, then to c

By Don Krim As Jóvenes Adelante’s selection team screens hundreds of 2 biographical videos, and other document submissions from eager undergraduate students, there is another quiet process under way: our own graduates seeking specialized Master’s degrees. Some of those requests I expected - one of my own mentees, for instance, applying for a Master’s in criminal law prior to a further specialization in criminal investigation; another I know seeking an advanced degree to suppo

By Doreen Cumberford This is the first of several articles on raising expat children in San Miguel. Have you noticed children laughing in multiple languages in the Jardin? Families sharing helado at sunset? Strollers navigating cobblestones like drunken sailors? Something is shifting in San Miguel de Allende. Many more expatriate families are choosing to raise their kids in this colonial hilltop town than ever before. Having raised my own daughter as a Third Culture Kid in Ja

By Lisa Babincsak At kilometer 81 on the road from San Miguel de Allende to Dolores Hidalgo, there is a vineyard development that shouldn’t work. La Santísima Trinidad sits at the furthest reach of the corridor—well past the thermal springs, past the UNESCO sanctuary at Atotonilco, past the point where most buyers would be expected to lose interest. By every rule of conventional real estate logic, this is the wrong location for a luxury destination. Too remote. Too far from

By Alan Jacobson What happens when the spotlight fades? That’s the question at the heart of Quartet , Ronald Harwood’s insightful and often very funny play about four retired opera singers sharing life in a home for musicians. But beyond its elegant setting, the play becomes a reflection on something much more universal—how we hold onto identity, relationships, and purpose as time moves forward. What makes Quartet so engaging is its honesty. These characters are accomplished,

By Staff Writer A few weeks ago, members of San Miguel de Allende’s real estate community gathered for an important occasion: the swearing-in of the 2026 Board of Directors of AMPI , the Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals. The evening began with the traditional Honors to the Mexican Flag, setting a respectful tone for the event. This was followed by the presentation of the Presidium, which included leaders from both the national AMPI organization and our local

By Camie Fenton, Publisher Located just a short downhill walk to the town square, Atascadero provides close proximity to the heart of the city. It’s a Neighborhood with deep roots and creative spirit: Originally a sprawling hacienda with orchards and grazing land, Atascadero has long been a peaceful escape. Today, it offers larger lots and more privacy than many other upscale neighborhoods. At the neighborhood’s entrance stands the historic Suites Santo Domingo, born of Germ

By Catherine Marenghi There’s something about San Miguel that seems to nurture book clubs. At any given moment, dozens of books may be under discussion in homes or cafes, over food or coffee or wine. Book clubs are part of the fabric of San Miguel. On February 24 th , Atención News launched the Atención Book Club at the historic Casa Nigromante . Author Rosaleen Bertolino read from her award-winning book, The Paper Demon and Other Stories . The event drew a substantial and

By Colleen Sorenson An ancient stream runs through our city. For centuries, its waters sustained people and wildlife, enabling settlement, nourishing orchards and livelihoods, and shaping daily life. To celebrate this ancient stream and our local artists, La Vida de Las Cachinches is a captivating new mural project along the arroyo , promoting respect and the beauty of our urban nature. Twelve San Miguel artists are coming together in April 19 th through 22 nd , partnering wi

By Patricia Schneider As the plane descends into the 2-to-5-million-year-old Valley of México, the city appears all at once, stretching across the high plateau. In the distance, Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl rise majestically, volcanoes that have watched over this valley for hundreds of thousands of years. The mexica founded Tenochtitlan around 1325, on an island in Lake Texcoco , once a vast shimmering blue expanse encircled by mountains. Long before the Spanish arrived, t

Join us as we celebrate outstanding local authors. No signup required, no fees. Just read the book and come meet the author for a lively presentation and book discussion. See you at Casa Nigromante, Umarán #38 on April 28. Catherine Marenghi will talk about Walking With Beth: Conversations With My 100-Year-Old Friend with author Merilyn Simonds. Books are available at Aurora Books, Tesoros Bookstore at the Biblioteca, and online booksellers.

By Lisa Babincsak In San Miguel, people rarely ask what you do. The real question is: "Do you walk… or do you drive?" It tells you almost everything you need to know. Where they live. Who they know. Whether they're in orthopedic shoes or still pretending cobblestones are charming. People who live in Centro walk. Proudly. Almost religiously. Even uphill, in the rain, carrying produce, a folding chair, and a small dog in a sling. They believe walking is a lifestyle. And honestl

By Carolyn Studer “When oppressed communities sing, they are doing more than making music. They are declaring that the present reality does not get the last word.” — Rev. Dr. Brian Blount For centuries, music has given voice to hope in times of hardship. From spirituals sung in the face of slavery to the improvisational freedom of jazz and the bold, defiant energy of rap, African American music has carried a message of resistance and hope. That tradition will come to San Mig

By Amy G. Rothlin There are places in San Miguel de Allende that become more than restaurants, they become part of the rhythm of our lives. Ten Ten Pie has been one of those places. This April, as the beloved Ten Ten Pie prepares to close its doors for the final time this coming May, it feels less like the end of a business and more like the closing of a chapter in San Miguel’s collective story. Thirty-three years ago, when Ten Ten Pie first opened on Cuna de Allende, San

By Staff Writer On April 1 st , 2025, Mitigare’s Hospice and Palliative Care Center opened its doors in San Miguel de Allende, marking a significant milestone for compassionate care in our community. Just days earlier, on March 29 th , friends, supporters, and partners gathered to celebrate the grand opening—an occasion made even more meaningful by the journey that began on November 27, 2023, when the first stone was laid in the presence of Mayor Mauricio Trejo. In the year s

By Carolina de la Cajiga “I left France twenty-one years ago in search of an adventure,” recalls Marie Moebius , director of San Miguel’s Biblioteca Pública and co-founder of YAM Gallery . “It now feels as if México carried me along a rushing current.” When Marie landed in México City, she enrolled in intensive Spanish lessons for four months at UNAM—five hours a day. “I am grateful for the opportunity to study at this historic institution.” With a wink, she says, “I learned