By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – A historic piece of Albuquerque’s industrial past has a new purpose after state and local leaders celebrated the grand opening of a film and digital media training center at the Rail Yards Tuesday. Central New Mexico Community College (CNM), the City of Albuquerque and the New Mexico Economic Development […]
Sara Atencio-Gonzales
Sara Atencio Gonazales is a features reporter for nm.news and The Paper. She is a native of Albuquerque.
Posted inArts & Culture
3 Questions: Stacia King-Sakya with For the Love of Lymphoma
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – When Stacia King-Sakya faced treatment for follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, her community rallied around her. Now, she’s looking to return some of that support through For the Love of Lymphoma, a fundraiser she launched in 2025 to support Blood Cancer United and help connect patients and families with resources. The […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
New Michelin Guide names Frontier among the best in Southwest in one important category
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – New Mexico still doesn’t have a Michelin-star restaurant, but it’s culinary scene earned national recognition this week as the Michelin Guide announced its first-ever selections for affordability and other recognition the American Southwest, with two Albuquerque-area restaurants among those honored. Frontier, the longtime Albuquerque restaurant on Central Avenue, received […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
Mindfield Film Festival showcases high art of low-budget filmmaking
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – For nine years, the Mindfield Film Festival has worked to provide independent filmmakers a place to share their work, make connections and continue creating. This month, the Albuquerque festival returns with another lineup of films, screenplays and opportunities for creatives to showcase their work. What began as a small […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Grand re-opening: UNM Art Museum unlocks its doors after a year of organization and improvement
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – For an academic year, the galleries of the University of New Mexico Art Museum (UNMAM) looked different. Instead of exhibitions, the spaces became working areas filled with artwork, museum staff and students. Now, after a year spent behind the scenes, the galleries are open to visitors again. The UNM […]
Posted inArts & Culture
3 Questions: Eddie Tafoya at TEDxABQ
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – For writer, professor and comedian Eddie Tafoya, getting things wrong might just be part of getting somewhere worthwhile. At TEDxABQ 2026: Reframe, Tafoya will take on a lifetime of mistakes, setbacks and doing things the hard way to make the case that our imperfections might be exactly what the […]
Posted inNM.news
Santa Fe’s Teatro Paraguas brings a piece of New Mexico history to Albuquerque stages with Esperanza
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – A pivotal chapter of New Mexico labor history is taking the stage again as Santa Fe’s Teatro Paraguas brings Esperanza to Albuquerque this month. Santa Fe’s Teatro Paraguas will stage Esperanza, an original play with music by playwright Carlos Morton, at the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) from Aug. […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
3 Questions: Bryan Konefsky with Basement Films and Experiments in Cinema
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – For more than two decades, filmmaker and educator Bryan Konefsky has been bringing experimental filmmakers from around the world to Albuquerque through Experiments in Cinema, the defiantly noncompetitive experimental film festival he founded in 2005. What began as a single-night event has grown into an international gathering devoted not […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Art Battle Albuquerque pits artists against one another to crown the best in Burque
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – Paintbrushes, blank canvases and a ticking clock come together as Art Battle makes its Albuquerque debut this weekend. Art Battle Albuquerque brings 12 artists together for a live painting competition Sunday, Aug. 16, at Valle De Luna Event Center. Artists have just 20 minutes to transform blank canvases into […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
3 Questions: Nancy Arenas of Red & Green VegFest
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. — For more than a decade, Red & Green VegFest Albuquerque has brought together New Mexicans curious about plant-based living, animal advocacy and healthier ways of living. Organized by Sprouting Compassion, the festival returns for its 11th year with the theme “Get Your Groove On, Eat Plants, Love Animals!” and […]