By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – For Hanna Lee, winning the title of Best Cheesemonger in America was not a surprise in the moment. It was the culmination of years of hard work, competition and determination. Lee is a cheesemonger at Mouse Hole Cheese Shop in Downtown Albuquerque, the city’s only cut-to-order cheese shop. While […]
Sara Atencio-Gonzales
Sara Atencio Gonazales is a features reporter for nm.news and The Paper. She is a native of Albuquerque.
Posted inAlbuquerque
Orpheum Community Hub closes its doors (for now)
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper – The Orpheum Community Hub is temporarily closed as Homewise begins a major renovation project aimed at expanding its office space while preserving one of Downtown Albuquerque’s most historic buildings. Community programming has temporarily moved to Fourth & Barelas, and the organization expects to reopen the Orpheum in 2027. Before […]
Posted inNM.news
Quelab makerspace builds itself a new home
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – After months of renovations and settling into a new home, Quelab is inviting the Albuquerque community to celebrate the grand reopening of its expanded makerspace. The nonprofit organization has spent the past year transforming its largest home yet into a collaborative space where artists, engineers, hobbyists and makers can […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
Albuquerque Museum takes a road trip along The Other Route 66
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – For many people, Route 66 conjures images of classic cars, roadside diners and the nostalgia of the open road. But a new exhibition at the Albuquerque Museum invites visitors to look beyond those familiar images and discover a more complex history. The Other Route 66: 100 Years of People, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Dr. Shelle Sanchez, longtime City arts director, leaves Albuquerque’s art scene in good hands
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – After more than 30 years of serving New Mexico through arts, culture and education, Dr. Shelle Sanchez is closing one chapter and looking forward to the next. Sanchez recently retired as director of the City of Albuquerque’s Department of Arts & Culture after leading the department for eight and […]
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Route 66 is in the frame at The Rest is Drag art show
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – As Route 66 approaches its centennial, a new exhibition at 516 ARTS invites audiences to look beyond the familiar myths of the Mother Road and consider the communities, histories and identities that have shaped it. Curated by Olivia Amaya Ortiz, The Rest Is Drag examines Route 66 as more […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
Lady Bullsnakes basketball team heads into championships on a high
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – The New Mexico Lady Bullsnakes have quickly become one of the top stories in women’s semi-professional basketball in the Southwest. While the program may not receive the same attention as some of the state’s larger sports organizations, it has quietly emerged as one of Albuquerque’s hidden gems, building a […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
Profiles in Creativity: Local horror writer Scotty Milder scares up interest in his favorite genre with “southwestern gothic” vibe
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – For Scotty Milder, horror has never been just a genre. It has been a lifelong fascination that has shaped his work as a writer, filmmaker, podcaster and educator while helping connect horror fans and creators across New Mexico. “I’ve been into horror since I can remember, since I was […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
For “death doulas”, end of life is just part of the process of being human
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – When Danielle Slupesky talks about death, she does so with a calmness that might surprise people. As the founder and executive director of the New Mexico Deathcare Network, Slupesky has made it her mission to help New Mexicans navigate one of life’s most difficult experiences, but her journey into […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
Downtown Albuquerque Roleplaying Coalition rolls for initiative
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – For the members of DARC, tabletop role-playing games are about more than rolling dice. They are about building community, sharing stories and creating opportunities for people to connect through a shared hobby. Founded in 2024, DARC is a community organization dedicated to tabletop role-playing games and collaborative storytelling in […]