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 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 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 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 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 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 Don Krim "I was back home in Zacatecas, teaching in a tiny voice academy, trying to make ends meet. One of my students brought me a mug from the Metropolitan Opera in New York. She said “you HAVE to go there!” and I thought “No way!” I had no money, no visa; I had never been on an airplane. Did I ever imagine I would sing on the MetOpera stage, in a solo role in 2022? “No way!” Thank you, San Miguel MetOpera Trust, for my Metropolitan Opera audition in 2018 and for open

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 Judith Jenya Rick Brunson’s life has been anything but ordinary. Raised on military bases across the United States and Europe, he seemed destined to follow a long family tradition of military service. Instead, his early inspiration came from an unlikely source: Mad Magazine. As a teenager stationed in Germany, Brunson began copying the work of cartoonist Paul Coker Jr., teaching himself to draw line by line. That simple act of imitation sparked a lifelong relationship with

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 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 Richard Hochberg San Miguel de Allende has long been known for its thriving arts scene, and theatre has played no small part in that story. Back in 1982, Lola Smith founded Players Workshop, planting the seeds of what would become more than four decades of quality English-language productions. Smith passed away in 2026 at the age of 100, but her influence on San Miguel's theatrical landscape remains profound — without her vision, the town's stage scene might look very diff

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 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 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 The Music Society of San Miguel (MSSM) proudly presents the 2026 Chamber Music Festival, a celebration of artistic excellence, music education, and cultural exchange in San Miguel de Allende. Bringing together internationally acclaimed artists and distinguished ensembles, the festival offers audiences a unique opportunity to experience world-class music while fostering artistic development and community engagement. The festival opens on July 10, at the histori

By Liam Stidham I grew up listening to rock thanks to my dad. He set a wide influence on me as a kid and I'm thankful for that. But my mom has made sure that I also got a good dose of classical music. She enrolled me into piano and violin lessons when I was really young and she has always dragged me to see classical music concerts, plays and ballet recitals. When we heard that San Miguel finally had an orchestra, she dragged me to that too, and I really enjoyed it! In fact,