By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – Book lovers and aspiring writers will have an opportunity to connect with local authors, explore different literary genres and celebrate the art of storytelling as SouthWest Writers hosts its first-ever Libros of Enchantment: 2026 SouthWest Writers Book Fiesta on Saturday, Oct. 31. The event aims to bring readers and […]
Sara Atencio-Gonzales
Sara Atencio Gonazales is a features reporter for nm.news and The Paper. She is a native of Albuquerque.
Posted inThe Paper.
3 Questions: LuisContreras on his new take on Mexican traditions, now showing in Old Town
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – For artist Luis Contreras, Mexican traditions are a source of inspiration and discovery. Known for his Día de los Muertos imagery and Catrina sculptures, Contreras draws on family memories and cultural traditions to create artwork that reflects his heritage. His latest exhibition, Tradición, opened Oct. 15 at Lapis Room […]
The Paper.
“This is a Haunted House*” is part haunted house, part play, part escape room
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – A haunted house where visitors aren’t just spectators but become part of the story is bringing a different kind of Halloween experience to Albuquerque this October. “This is a Haunted House*,” an immersive horror-comedy presented by ShortTerror Productions at North Fourth Theatre, combines traditional haunted house scares with live […]
The Paper.
3 Questions: Jimmy Wagner of Big Jim Farms
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – For Jimmy Wagner, farming is more than a livelihood. It’s a family tradition that stretches back five generations in New Mexico’s Rio Grande Valley. Wagner grew up working the fields alongside his father and now carries on that legacy through Big Jim Farms, a family-run farm in Albuquerque’s North […]
The Paper.
KUNM celebrate 60 years of community-centric radio
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – For 60 years, KUNM has been more than a radio station. It has been a place where New Mexicans discover new music, hear familiar voices, stay informed and connect with communities beyond their own. From Native American songs and Sunday morning gospel to local journalism and national news, the […]
The Paper.
X Marks the Spot: City residents can help balloon pilots by offering safe landing spots
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – Bernalillo County and the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta are once again asking local landowners to help hot air balloon pilots find safe places to land during this year’s event. The county and Balloon Fiesta announced the 2026 “X Marks the Spot” program, which allows property owners to signal that […]
The Paper.
3 Questions: Suzanne Fricke, owner/director of Gallery Hózhó
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – For Suzanne Fricke, art is as much about understanding place, history and culture as it is about what hangs on a gallery wall. An art historian, curator and educator, Fricke has spent much of her career studying and championing contemporary art from the Southwest, with a particular focus on […]
The Paper.
Japanese Fall Festival returns to EXPO New Mexico with Asian art, food, music and culture
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – Japanese culture, food, art and live performances will come together in Albuquerque this September as the Aki Matsuri Japanese Fall Festival returns to EXPO New Mexico. Presented by the New Mexico Japanese American Citizens League, Aki Matsuri is an annual celebration that gives New Mexicans an opportunity to experience […]
The Paper.
New Mexico Comic Expo returns to Albuquerque with a bang and a pow
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – After a five-year break, the New Mexico Comic Expo is returning to Albuquerque with an emphasis on the people whose artwork, stories and merchandise help build comic book culture. The New Mexico Comic Expo will take place Sept. 26 and 27, bringing comic creators, local vendors and celebrity guests […]
The Paper.
3 Questions: Leba Freed at the WHEELS Museum
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – For more than three decades, Leba Freed has worked to preserve a piece of Albuquerque history that helped shape the city itself. As president of WHEELS Museum, Freed has helped transform a preservation effort at the Albuquerque Rail Yards into a museum dedicated to telling the story of transportation […]