In the last few years we have noticed that Galentine’s Day is getting almost as much celebration, marketing and promotion as Valentine’s Day itself. It’s really not surprising as women make approximately 70-85% of consumer purchases in the United States. With those numbers, a day celebrating single or divorced women (50-52% of U.S. women) would be quite advantageous.
We decided to dedicate this blog to ideas for Galentine’s Day celebrations with you and your besties that incorporate experiences, smaller local brands and creating new skills. All will generate moments to bond with your friends and make memories to celebrate Gal-Dom.
UPCYCLE JEWELRY PARTY
Do you have an engagement ring or wedding band that you no longer have any use of? Did you inherit a piece of jewelry that is not to your taste or you may deem too old fashion? Do you have any piece in your jewelry collection that you feel can be updated and glammed up? Well we recommend having an “Upcycle Jewelry Party”.
This requires inviting a local jewelry designer of your choice to a gathering at your home or event place of your choice. You can even host an after hours event at a jewelry boutique with the owner.
Recently I saw the collection of jewelry designer Yael Sonia at one of my favorite jewelry and objects boutique Atelier d’Emotion located in SoHo Village, NYC. The boutique is owned by Alice Sundbom and it was at one of her trunk shows when I told her I had jewelry that did not fit my taste. She recommend that a jewelry designer upcycle and redesign the piece. We thought this would make a great event for Galentine’s Day and all the women who had jewelry pieces or stones that needed a fresh new start. Also if you provide the gem stones, the price of the piece goes considerably down.
Yael Sonia’s pieces are perfect for upcycling stones from rings or necklaces for a fresh out of the box design. A piece that can be translated for your gemstones is her “Spinning Ring”. The ring has an unorthodox design in that there is a circle concave with a 6.5mm white diamond pavé ball inside rolling around in motion. This ring can be recreated to have your stone of similar size and weight roll around. It’s actually a fun ring to own as you can see from the short video below.
Another ring style from Sonia is the “Meteor Brilliant Ring” where a smooth cabochon sits at the center of planetary rings made of 18k gold and diamond pavé. Your stone can replace the stone in this design that can vary in size according to the stone.
If you have any pearl earrings or pearl rings that you feel are quite basic, Yael Sonia has a selection of rings that can breathe in new life to your pearl and transform it into a contemporary piece of art.
Yael Sonia “Tahitian Pearl surrounded by Pave Diamonds”
Have a discussion with your favorite local jewelry designer and see their capabilities and ideas for recreating jewelry pieces and gems that you would love to reinvent and how this can be the perfect Galentine’s Day event.
HAVE A CUSTOM FRAGRANCE MADE FOR YOU
A fun and creative experience to share with your friends is to invite a perfumer over to create a special scent made just for you. This can be done with your local perfumer or you can go to olfactorynyc.com in New York City where you can either go in-store where everyone leaves with their very own custom perfume – bottled fresh on-site! Olfactory provides your party wine and light refreshments (maximum capacity of 25). Olfactory also has On-Site mobile Scent Stations to make it easy to create this unforgettable experience at your home in NYC. If you are not near New York City Olfactory also offers Virtual Guided Instructions, where their scentologists guide you over Zoom in the comfort of your own home where you will be sent supplies ahead of the event. Olfactory is also located in Boston, DC, Miami, Atlanta and Dallas.
Together with your friends you can mix notes with their key 9 fragrances to find your perfect scent.
Your scentologist will help guide you in creating your scent.
You get to choose a name for your perfume, which will be stamped on your unique label, then select a custom label color.
TAKE A DESSERT CLASS TOGETHER
How about you and your friends make your own Galentine’s Day dessert with a dessert class?
You can attend a local cooking school that offers dessert making classes and create your own classic Valentine’s Day dessert. You can also hire a dessert chef to come to your home to teach you and your friends how to make a variety of desserts such as macarons, tiramisu or even Galentine’s Day cookies.
A great choice for dessert classes is CocuSocial where classes vary from $55 to $75 per person depending on the dessert you chose. You will learn step-by-step how to achieve the perfect dessert with your friends, all levels are welcomed and in two hours you will learn a new delicious skill that you and others will appreciate.
You have clothes you love but have not worn in ages or don’t fit you anymore. Dieting to fit into clothes you wore in your 20’s is not an option anymore. You can go on Poshmark and have your clothes ignored as it is a full time job to promote your closets there. You can go to a consignment shop and get insulted at the price they are willing to give you only to turn around and offer it at a ridiculous price. You can donate them but you love them so much and want to make sure they go to a good home where they will be loved and treasured (akin to rehoming your pet). Well may I recommend a clothes swapping party!
Swap parties are reminisce of bartering.
Invite your friends to come over and to bring pieces that they too are not using anymore but love just as much as you love your pieces and see if there are any pieces you all can swap. It’s a great way to recycle your clothes and I bet there are pieces in your wardrobe they have been eyeing for ages and vice-versa. Shoes, accessories and handbags are also great to swap especially the accessories and handbags since there is no issue with sizes. Even jewelry pieces you don’t wear or treasure can be a great addition to swap parties. Add some wine and pizza and you have not only a great evening but a great new wardrobe. Make sure everyone understands to bring worthwhile pieces not that t-shirt that has been at the bottom of your draw for ages. One other added bonus, if you ever want to borrow a piece you swapped out hopefully your friend is generous to lend it out to you.
Clothing Swap parties are a guaranteed sustainable way to celebrate Galentine’s Day.
FLOWER ARRANGING CLASS
What is a way to guarantee you will not feel sad about not receiving a floral bouquet on Valentines Day? Learn how to make a bouquet on Galentine’s Day!
Creating your own bouquet on Galentine’s Day is not only a way to walk home with some lovely flowers but it will also help you learn a skill that will always come in handy and be much appreciated especially if you love to entertain or want to give great hostess or birthday gifts.
You can Google your local florists to find classes for you and your friends to attend. In New York City, PlantShed is offering a special Galentine’s Day floral arranging class that includes “a selection of fresh seasonal plants or flowers, a demonstration, tips and tricks from our talented PlantShed floral designers or plant specialists, and all the materials you will need to build and safely transport your stunning creation.” They will also provide a beverage from their cafe and give you a 20% discount for in-store shopping.
Grocery stores like Trader Joes and Wholefoods offer flowers at affordable prices and here is your chance to pick from their selection and create beautiful bouquets for yourself to come home to everyday or give as gifts.
What’s a more productive and heartfelt way to spend Galentine’s Day than to do a volunteer project together!
Volunteering at City Harvest.
Here is a way to bond by making the world better (as women usually do). This can be volunteering for political or social campaigns, protesting (something we seem to be doing more and more these days), helping with food insecurity for organizations such as City Harvest or fundraise for them. There is an organization in New York City called New York Cares that gives you opportunities to do a wide variety of volunteer projects that fit in with your schedule. You can Google to see what organizations near by you have opportunities to volunteer in a cause you feel passionate about.
Rachel Dratch helping promote New York Cares Coat Drive.
Go on a group protest with your friends for Galentine’s Day (and copious amounts of hot chocolate after).
HOST A VISION BOARD PARTY
One of the most fun and creative ways you can spend time together with your friends for Galentine’s Day is to host a vision board party. As someone that has been hosting vision board parties for over 18 years now, it is the modern day version of the old timey quilting bees.
Helping each other make goals is a beautiful way to spend Galentine’s Day together.
Ask your friends come bringing magazines of subject matters they enjoy or are passionate about (and a bottle of wine) and you provide lots of scissors, paste sticks, large pieces of paper or pasteboards, pizza and snacks. You then flip through the magazines and tear out images that resonate to you. You start arranging your board lining it up with images that reflect the lifestyle you desire and want goals to attain (i.e. love life, career, health, travel, family, home, etc.)
Vision Board parties are a very bonding experience.
While you are creating your board you are having a nice catch up with your friends and sharing your goals in life. When done, just give a little show-and-tell and get important feed back from your friends and let them know what you think of their board to give encouragement. Get back together six months later to review your boards and you will be amazed at how much you have accomplished. Then set new goals. If you want any advice on Vision Boards email us at info@thelocalartisanguide.com and we will send you a PDF on the subject.
SPA DAY (OR evening)
Is there nothing a women loves more than a spa day (or evening) with her friends? You can gather a group of your friends to attend a spa together and do spa treatments or take a sauna or steam for rest and relaxation. Or you can host a spa evening at your home and have your friends bring a variety of beauty treatment for all to try. These can be clean products and home made beauty treatments using organic products.
The old cucumber on the eye trick never fails (and is inexpensive).
Have each friend be in charge of a beauty treatment. One can supply under eye masks, while the other gives a honey facial, while another does a manicure and another a pedicure. There are lots of clean, holistic products to use, we love and recommend products from The Alchemists Kitchen, especially their Turmeric Honey Face Mask.
Make sure you have a nice charcuterie board, a healthy mocktail and lots of candles going for this fun, relaxing evening where you can share some juicy gossip, talk about how crazy Ryan Murphy’s latest shows are and let your friends give you some advice on your love life and dating in the wild.
HAVE A POT LUCK DINNER
If there is one thing women love doing is getting together and having a good meal. Why not curate an elegant evening with a gourmet potluck? It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive (unless that’s what you gals want). Cooking for the ones you love is one of the best and more creative ways to show someone you care about them.
Set up a beautiful tablescape to show your friends how special they are to you.
Arrange what everyone will bring. Have a friend put together a colorful charcuterie board, another one make an amazing salad, another friend make some vegetarian or gluten free dishes (there is definitely going to be the gluten free girlfriend attending), another tackle a meat or fish dish, maybe someone bakes a sourdough loaf (my friend are still sourdough crazy from lockdown) and another make an amazing dessert (they took that macaron class). One can even be in charge of being a mixologist for the evening and creating yummy cocktails and mocktails for the crowd. Set a beautiful table, you can go to Global Table to make sure you have beautiful glassware for those amazing drinks. Make a floral arrangement (remember you learned in your class), have all your friends dress up for the evening (with that swap party you have new clothes to wear). Screen a romantic movie after dinner with a strong female lead and have an evening you will always remember with the women in your life that are your support group.
A toast to a special evening with your Galentines friends.
HAVE AN EVENING TO PLAN A FUTURE GIRLS TRIP WITH YOUR FRIENDS AT A CHâTEAU
Or just an Airbnb in the next town. What more bonding moment to celebrate your Galentine’s besties than with a trip to create memories together without the hassles that come with a hen weekend, destination wedding or milestone birthday? It’s just you and the gals having an adventure together in a different locale.
A dancing and bonding moment at Camp Château.
Get together on Galentine’s Day at your favorite watering hole and start planning a trip together! We were only half joking when we recommended to plan a trip to a chateau. At Camp Château in France they offer two châteaux to chose from to have the ultimate posh camp experience with your female friends. It’s an all inclusive, six day/five night experience where you get to curate your own activities by choosing what they have to offer. Some of the activities they offer are; hiking, foraging, flower pressing, candlemaking, watercolors, perfume making, wine tasting, cooking classes, exploring markets, visiting a vineyard, music concerts, swimming, board games, silent disco and so much more!! You sleep together in fancy bunk beds (remember this is bonding trip) but you will still feel like a princess. You can do an activity alone or with your friends. There is a waiting list so sign up fast for this once in a lifetime Galentine experience.
A trip with the special women in your life will always be a trip worth taking.
That said finding time to get away together doesn’t need to be so extravagant. Maybe you have availability to a weekend home or chip in together for an airbnb or vrbo? You can create your own version of a Camp Château by everyone in the group finding fun activities to do together and explore.
It is said one of the reasons women live longer than men is because they share a community, their lives, their feelings , their hopes and dreams with each other which translates to a healthy body and mind. Maybe that is the real reason Galentine’s Day is growing to be so popular. Women are just officially acknowledging a love and companionship like no other. Happy Galentine’s Day!
As everyone’s favorite Hallmark holiday rolls around we have been inspired by updating our neighborhood stores and finding conscious gifts that we think will score a home run for Valentines Day. We picked all sorts of categories and price ranges from very affordable to quite aspirational. We have gifts for him, her, they, us, everyone! They are artisanal, from small or heritage brands, sustainable, eco-friendly, unique, thoughtful and made for the conscious customer. Just click on the captions for a link to their online shop and more information.
We also will have a Galentines Day blog coming up with an idea we hope will catch on like wildfire. Stay tuned!
Below are our twelve picks (we had ten originally but just had to add two more gift suggestions).
THE TRIBES OF MOROCCO - MEDIUM ESSENCE OF ATLAS SERVING TAGINE
The Tribes of Morocco - Medium Essence of Atlas Serving Tagine, $65
The Tribes of Morocco, a small store in the East Village that specializes in Moroccan products made by artisans have this beautiful tagine for serving Moroccan food. It comes in a blue and white Moroccan motif inspired by the Atlas Mountains that can equally serve as home decor. It’s the perfect gift for someone who loves to cook. Perhaps a tasty Moroccan meal can be included in the Valentine’s day gift?
MELA - MAKE A BAG
Mela - One of Mela’s bag style Luna in Zest color, $350
Mela is an up and coming award winning vegan handbag brand that not only shuns animal skin but also avoids using petroleum products which can be just as harmful to the environment in creating vegan products. Mela has created a material made from apple skins, an apple leather called Melatex®. We recommend not only the stylish handbags from Mela as a Valentines Day gift but offering their “Make a Mela Bag” an exclusive opportunity to design the Mela bag of your dreams at their Soho store. During your personalized consultation, you’ll explore their range of styles, select your details, and watch your vision come to life through their made-to-order process. In two weeks, your custom creation will be ready to take home! Carefully crafted and sustainably made. If there is no access to the New York store you can always order one of their styles online. To make an appointment click here.
THE CANVAS - AZURE BEADED EARRINGS
The Canvas - Azure Beaded Earrings - $185
The Canvas is a multibrand fashion and design retailer bringing a selection of brands to New York City. The brands are emerging or established, each characterized by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We wanted to recommend a gift from The Canvas and these stunning beaded earrings are a statement piece of jewelry anyone would love for Valentines Day. Handmade by a women’s collective in Mexico, these earrings are a Gold/Silver plated earrings, composed of an assembly of colored beads woven by hand. Approx. 5.25”L x 1”W - 13.5cm x 3cm. Best is that it is a very affordable piece of jewelry.
WICKED AND POUR - CANDLE MAKING CLASSES
Wick and Pour - Candle Making Classes - From $50
A great idea for Valentines Day is to have an experience together creating a beautiful souvenir of the day and that is Wick and Pour, a candle making shop in New York City. Here you and yours can create your signature scent, use vibrant colors, and textures to craft candles that are uniquely yours. The candles are a combination of soy wax and their enticing scents are curated in-house with essential oils and phthalate-free fragrances. It’s a fun and easy experience, affordable and quite romantic.
COMMODITY - THE MINI WARDROBE SET
Commodity - The Mini Wardrobe Set - $75
Commodity is a fragrance brand created by artisans using the best ingredients to create the most innovative scents. This is a sustainable, ethical fragrance brand that believes in transparency of what is in their scents using only clean ingredients which is a growing list of ingredients flagged by global regulatory bodies for potential health or environmental harm. Commodity partners exclusively with perfume houses that prioritize both environmental and social responsibility when sourcing raw materials from around the world and their packaging is more sustainable, as Commodity is working toward fully recyclable, reduced-impact packaging. We love their gifts sets especially “The Mini Wardrobe Set” which contains each fragrance in its best-selling Scent Space version (the container has three different settings a closely-projecting Personal, a noticeably unique Expressive, and a room-filling Bold version.) so that you can rotate your scent. Perfumes are such popular Valentines Day gifts and with this gift set that is unisex and convenient you can’t go wrong.
ONCEPT - TORONTO MEN’S RETRO SNEAKER
Oncept - Toronto Men’s Retro Sneaker in Flame - $300
What’s a quick way to a man’s heart? A smart set of stylish trainers that are also sustainable. In comes Oncept, a brand that strives to have a low carbon footprint. Oncept has a process called “re-speckled” this is a process that uses leftover rubber from other manufacturing and combines this excess material with new rubber to produce new outsoles. Re-speckled is a certified process that uses 55% discarded material which saves hundreds of tons of waste in landfills. They utilize sustainable bio based memory foam made from castor oil (plant based) and recycled rubber. They source their leather ethically and use recycled nylon (made from plastic water bottle) and other recycled materials. That said the brand does not skim on style. Toronto mixes retro style, comfortability and eco-friendly design (seen here in Flame, offered in five color ways). It’s definitely a win/win gift for everyone.
THE MEADOW - CLOUDFATHER VALENTINA DARK CHOCOLATE WITH MAPLE
The Meadow - Cloudforest - Valentina Dark Chocolate with Maple - $12
The Meadow is a much loved neighborhood shop selling pantry goods such as salts, bitters, chocolates and more (plus fresh cut flowers). Since chocolates are an iconic Valentines Day gift for your loved one we have chosen for our chocolate gift a chocolate from the chocolate brand cloudforest, a small Portland, Oregon based chocolatier that uses organic ingredients with unique flavors. Valentina is the flavor we chose that is 75% dark chocolate with a combination of Canadian maple and Ecuadorian cacao (weight: 1.2345 oz). It’s a delicious and affordable gift.
THEO HABERDASHERY - ROLEX MARCONI SPECIAL WATCH FROM THE 1940’S
Theo’s Haberdashery - Rolex Marconi Special Watch from the 1940”s - $1,250
One of the most sustainable and conscious gifts you can give your loved one are vintage pieces. Whether it’s fashion, accessories, art, home decor, objects or jewelry, to find a special piece that has been created by an artisan and was once treasured. Theo’s Haberdashery is a men’s boutique curated to showcase vintage Americana, fine watches and jewelry, and includes their very own cigar line inspired by their namesake Theodore Roosevelt. An exceptional gift for a man is a piece of jewelry and a vintage Rolex is the ultimate gift for your loved one. We love this one-of-a-kind piece for the boutique, a Rolex Marconi Special Watch from the 1940’s. It’s 28mm with a Ghost sector dial, Mechanical wind. In working condition. The watch comes with a one year mechanical warranty. It’s on the high end of spending for a gift but we feel it will be cherished and destined to become a family heirloom.
SPIRITED AWAY - RITUAL ZERO PROOF - TEQUILA ALTERNATIVE
Spirited Away - Ritual Zero Proof - Alternative Tequila - $35
Sharing a Valentines Day cocktail is a romantic way to start an evening or Valentines Day meal. However many people these days are forgoing alcohol yet miss the taste and the social bonding of having a cocktail to toast their love. That is why we highly recommend from our favorite alcohol-free wine and spirits store, Spirited Away this zero proof tequila alternative, Ritual Zero. “Crafted for margaritas, Ritual Tequila Alternative brings the heat to your favorite cocktails. Greeting you with a rich golden hue, a traditional blue agave aroma opens up on the pour. Ripe tropical guava is underscored by the mellow spice of black peppercorn as the flavor grows, going deeper with charred oak and mesquite smoke. Bright Mexican lime gives way to a clean, spicy finish, with a kiss of cracked sea salt for good measure.” Ritual’s tequila alternative has a high taste score of 94 points from the industry-standard Beverage Testing Institute. It’s all the taste and ceremony of tequila without the hangover and poor decision making tequila can incur (speaking from experience).
TORU + NAOKO - CARMIN BODYSUIT
Toru + Naoko - Carmin Bodysuit - $164
It wouldn’t be a Valentines Day gift guide without recommending lingerie. We have chosen a gorgeous piece from the sustainable lingerie brand Toru + Naoko. Toru + Naoko is “dedicated to crafting beautiful lingerie with a conscience. Their 100% female artisan team ensures ethical production, while they source sustainable materials and operate in small batches to eliminate waste. Eco-friendly packaging and carbon offsetting initiatives further our commitment to a greener future.” The Carmin Bodysuit features a high waist bottom thong, attached in the front center with a bralette, with adjustable back and shoulder straps. Also includes a pair of detachable straps that can be attached to the front center. It’s beautiful, sexy, stylish and just keeps on giving and giving. She’ll love this lingerie and will want to wear it daily, you know for the sustainability. ;)
IRVING GREEN - FOXFORD MAEVE CASHMERE & wool THROW
If your perfect idea of celebrating Valentines Day is staying in with your bo having a Netflix and chill kinda evening then may we recommend this exquisite cashmere and wool throw. Just imaging cuddling under this ultra soft cashmere and wool throw from Irving Green, a boutique that curates home decor and gifts from around the world. This cashmere and wool throw, the Maeve, comes from Foxford Mill, a mill that sits on the banks of the River Moy in County Mayo, Ireland. They have been manufacturing the finest wool throws and blankets for over 130 years. The Maeve is woven in a classic herringbone design, and crafted from a soft blend of lambswool and cashmere with a traditional roll fringe. Material: 95% Lambswool 5% Cashmere. Size : 140 x 180cm. Perfect for a cozy night in celebrating Valentines Day.
SANTA MARIA NOVELLA - EMULSIONE ANALCOLICA NON-ALCOHOLIC AFTER SHAVE EMULSION
Santa Maria Novella - Emulsione Analcolica Non-Alcoholic After Shave Emulsion - $65
A gift he is bound to love and appreciate is from the Florence heritage brand Santa Maria Novella, the Emulsione Analcolica Non-Alcoholic After Shave Emulsion. It’s not only women that should have a skin routine, help guide him to the amazing products from Santa Maria Novella, the after shave emulsion has no alcohol and is an “innovative and gentle formula with citrus notes, designed for those seeking an effective post-shave treatment that is also kind to the skin. This milky fluid emulsion boasts astringent, emollient, and refreshing properties, offering an immediate sensation of freshness after both electric and razor.” This emulsion will get the skin hydrated, healthy and smelling light and clean. A skin care routine is a sign of self care and self love and isn’t that what Valentines Day is all about, Hallmark holiday and all?
Well that is our selection for conscious gift giving on Valentines Day. We hope the selection helps you out or at the very least gives you a guideline to find conscious gifts that are local from a small, artisanal business. If you are going to celebrate Valentine's Day remember it really is the thought that counts. Happy Valentines Day!
The Local Artisan Guide had the pleasure to travel to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico late February and the beautiful Mexican town did not disappoint on any level!
San Miguel de Allende is a colonial-era town in Mexico founded in 1541 by 16th century friar, Juan de San Miguel and Ignacio Allende, a martyr for Mexican independence. San Miguel de Allende is located in the far eastern part of the state of Guanajuato and is about a three hour drive north of Mexico City. San Miguel de Allende has been chosen continuously as one of the most beautiful towns in the world as it is home to baroque architecture, stone lined streets, top notch boutique hotels, world class Mexican and international cuisines and multiple shops and markets that display and sell the artisanal crafts, foods and spirits from all over Mexico.
A view down Calle Aldama of the Parroquia De San Miguel Arcangel.
The Local Artisan Guide was here both for business and pleasure staying in a charming villa owned by one of the many American ex-pats who now make San Miguel their home. We stayed about a five minute walk from the Rosewood Hotel, which is one of the most prestigious and beautiful hotels in San Miguel de Allende. From the Rosewood Hotel is about a eight minute walk into the center of the town and its magnificent churches, plazas and manicured parks.
Sunset on my balcony on Calle Grillo.
A night view of San Miguel de Allende from the rooftop of the Rosewood Hotel.
After a few days of walking around you learn to get around town by using the churches as your landmarks. The villas and dwellings all have impressive and unique handmade doors that lead to magical homes with courtyards and gardens decorated with the crafts of the artisans who all throughout the towns of Mexico. The Catholic Church sought out to organize the towns and villages throughout Mexico to specialize in their own craft and skills, that way they would not be competitive with each other. From textiles, to ceramics, pottery and furniture, San Miguel de Allende is a haven for the aesthetic eye. Every corner is an Instragramer’s dream, a place where artists come to paint. As a matter of fact San Miguel de Allende has long attracted artists from all over the world, thanks to the Instituto Allende, a renowned art school where many of their students including many expats chose not to return home as San Miguel de Allende is first and foremost a community known for its art, beauty and charm.
The magnificent doors of the Museo Casa del Mayorazgo de al Canal.
The streets and homes of San Miguel de Allende are an artist’s dream.
I started first walking around February 13th and thought all the hearts I saw around town were in occasion of Valentine’s Day. However I found out the sacred heart was declared to be the symbol of San Miguel de Allende as San Miguel de Allende is considered to be the heart of Mexico. So if you are looking for a romantic place to be for Valentine’s Day you can’t go wrong with this city of hearts.
Hearts are everywhere in San Miguel de Allende.
Most of the roads are made with stones, so flat comfortable walking shoes are imperative. The workmanship to make this beautiful town centuries ago does not go unnoticed as the indigenous Mexicans were the main builders of all the churches, buildings and roads through hard physical labor and craftsmanship.
The stones of Calle Aldama are typical of the streets of San Miguel de Allende.
Although San Miguel is mostly affordable for Americans (thus why many retire there) it is an expensive city for Mexico. I found it pricey until I found the more affordable food markets and artisan mercados. Since it is such a destination for expats, wealthy Mexicans and tourists many shops thrive in San Miguel de Allende. It is also home to many galleries as the overhead to run a gallery is far less than in other art cities around the world.
A colorful selection of produce at the Mercado Ignacio Ramirez.
Shopping at the Mercado Ignacio Ramirez is a feast for all the senses.
I thoughly enjoyed myself in San Miguel de Allende as a tourist and an arts and craft lover. The town is very safe (although when traveling please exercise caution everywhere) and there wasn’t a great amount of harassment by vendors. There are some beggars in along the streets so I always have some spare local currency to give out. Most of the town is gainfully employed as there are so many shops, restaurants, hotels and private homes to work at so the population is a mostly friendly and respectful one. If you are following a Google Map watch out because the town suddenly becomes very hilly as half of it seems to be located on a steep incline. I didn’t need the gym during my visit at San Miguel de Allende as between walking and climbing the steep streets I met my Apple Watch’s exercise quota.
One of San Miguel de Allende’s many hills on the way to the San Miguel Mask Museum.
The entrance to the San Miguel Museum of Masks.
Visting in the winter during February makes dressing for San Miguel de Allende a little tricky as in the morning and evening it gets chilly. It can go from the high 30’s to 50’s in the morning/late evening to 70’s and 80’s with a strong Mexican sun shining on you. I had odd cool weather when I first arrived with some rare rain followed by very sunny days going into the high 70’s. So dress in layers if you are planning to visit San Miguel de Allende. I was advised to wear cashmere as its a great way to keep warm in the early part of the day and not be impossibly hot as the sun comes out.
Cashmere sweater for a slightly chilly start of the day.
My meals were exceptional in San Miguel de Allende with many Mexican dishes I had not heard of that were rich in moles and tortillas (the town smells like fresh tortillas which is lovely), however I have to say my favorite meals were from the housekeepers of the American homeowners that I visited in San Miguel de Allende. One can get very spoiled living in San Miguel de Allende.
Rustica is a local favorite especially for breakfast in San Miguel de Allende.
Having Molletes for breakfast at Rustica.
Panio was my favorite bakery in San Miguel de Allende.
The following is a photo diary of some of my highlights of visiting San Miguel de Allende featuring some of my favorite shops, boutiques, hotels, mercados and arts & crafts.
Antique shopping on Calle Ancha de San Antonio.
Skulls and tin art are commonly found in the shops of San Miguel de Allende.
Calle Pila Seca is great shopping street for clothing and home decor. La Modernista is a boutique I highly recommend.
La Modernista clothing boutique.
The colorful selection at La Modernista.
Mixta is another beautiful boutique on Calle Pila Seca I highly recommend for clothing, craft and home decor.
The magnificent entrance to Mixta.
Miata’s courtyard is common to the many beautiful courtyards in private homes and hotels in San Miguel de Allende.
Mixta has many rooms throughout their store with a mix of clothing, textiles, home decor, furniture and crafts.
The bells of the Parroquia De San Miguel Arcangel are hand rung by two men to a tune.
These puppets are a permanent fixture near the church.
Marquesa de Mancera was my favorite store for home decor.
The entrance to Marquesa de Mancera.
Marquesa de Mancera has beautiful arts and crafts from all over Mexico.
Olinala Boxes
Arte Huichol
The painted gourds of Marquesa de Mancera.
More objects at Marquesa De Mancera.
Trinitate Galeres de Artes is store to go to for your beautiful Mexican gardens and courtyards.
An example of their exemplary pottery.
The courtyard of Trinitate Galeres de Artes.
More amazing crafts at Trinitate Galeres de Artes.
Heading out Sabina Curandera for an art openings and posing by one of the majestic doors of San Miguel de Allende.
Inside Sabina Curandera and testing out the mezcal.
La Fabrica la Aurora is a large market just outside the center of San Miguel de Allende for antiques, art, clothing boutiques, textiles and home decor.
Here with textile artist Nelly Lorenzo at La Fabrica la Aurora.
Nelly’s loom for creating her textile art.
Nelly Lorenzo’s textile art.
Cantadora Antigrasavedades Antique Store
Alligator Candelabras
The selection at Cantadora Antigrasavedades.
A new spin on the iconic skulls of Mexico at Galeria Vandiver.
The Mercado de Artesanias is a fabulous artisan market with affordable crafts, textiles, pottery, ceramics and more.
The many shops of The Mercado de Artesanias.
Affordable textiles from Oaxaca.
Mexican Barbieland?
Mexican toy store.
Affordable pottery and ceramics galore.
Enjoying the company of Avocado the mule.
I caught a Big Fat Mexican Wedding with a horse and carriage, a mariachi band and ten caballeros on horses.
And a smaller wedding. San Miguel de Allende is a popular wedding destination.
Had an evening cocktail at a friend’s home watching the sunset on their beautiful house on the hill.
Having another evening cocktail at another amazing home on the hill the next day.
La Parada had great Peruvian food. Here is a gigantic amethyst at the table.
Casa Dragones is an incredible place for mezcal, but lots of $$$.
Just a few of the doors of San Miguel de Allende.
The door knockers were quite unique too.
San Miguel De Allende I will be back! Actually I will be back next year as I was invited to speak at a seminar next year at the El Instituto Allende on a talk on artisans and the lost arts which I will let you know when I have dates.
I hope you enjoyed my photo album of San Miguel de Allende. I had such a lovely time I took over 800 pictures so doing this edit wasn’t easy. I will have this week a video on our YouTube channel on an artisan walk through town. I do encourage you to visit if you appreciate artisan craftsmanship, beautiful architecture, good food, mezcal, amazing weather and friendly people.
