One of the most prominent architects in Mexico, and one of the most imaginative, Javier Senosiain has been creating organic spaces for the last 35 years. In an exploration through the psyche, from our first home in our mother’s belly to the surroundings we occupy for the rest of our lives, he observes the effects and how we can utilize our earliest knowledge to inform our interactions with our homes, and our selves.

Don’t put Leslie Montero in a box. She won’t fit there. When she steps behind the camera, she steps into herself. Following in the footsteps of her father, it only took a glimpse into his world when she was younger to know that she wanted to be a part of it; and not just be part of it, but to help shape it.

When the pandemic started, and everything around us began to be cancelled or closed, Rob Cubero and his fellow founders of LGBT+ Sessions sought new ways to bring people together. And they did. An honest and open digital platform, LGBT+ Sessions is a place where people gather to celebrate sexuality, diversity and inclusion through stories, performance and conversation. It’s a place for people to share, to express, and to simply BE. Be themselves. One of the most basic human rights, and one that LGBT+ Sessions celebrates loudly.

Manolo González' advice for chasing your dream job? Just go for it. Whatever it is, and whatever that looks like. Or to be specific, if you’re him, throw out your industrial engineering degree, quit your job as a risk assessment consultant, and decide to pursue production design. Which he did, and now does. Because “once you do what you love, you won’t work again ever.”

Andres Herran and Elizabeth Fraser transformed a 1930s Bauhaus-style house into not just a restaurant, but an experience. One where New York and Mexico come together, and everyone else comes to meet the mingling worlds to share Mediterranean-ish meals. Have a drink (their wine list is excellent), order everything off the locally-sourced menu (honestly, everything), and until you do that, listen to what Andres and Elly have to say about who they are, what they’re doing and where they’re going.

In the Yucatán Peninsula, the vibrant state capital of Mérida bursts with color. Not just of the folklore of the region, but of the culture. Pink waters, sprawling haciendas, jungle cenotes and rich textures are just a handful of unique experiences found in the colonial city. (And Merida can't be mentioned without also bringing up Cochinita Pibil. Which if you haven't had, book the next ticket out. Even if you have... book the next ticket out.)

“Let’s just have fun and get shit done.” And they do. Working with people like Alfonso Cuarón and Alejandro González Iñárritu, the Gamboa Brothers are a group (or family, as they’ll tell you) of set designers that merge all of their individual skills to bring visions of all scale to life. One of those visions-turned-reality? Academy Award winning film Roma. Give them a challenge. They’ll take it.

As the world around us changes -- at times rapidly, sometimes slowly – what are the lessons we take from these times? At the core of it, is the power of the Earth. How we interact with it, how we use it, how we forget it. Forget its power. The Aztecs relied on it, working with the environment around them to create floating gardens called chinampas, where they would farm and harvest their crops. 2000 years later, and the chinampas can still be found today in Mexico City, their produce and products helping to feed the community and supplying the best restaurants in the city.

If you know Mexico, you probably know mezcal. If you don’t know mezcal, you should probably know Toro Sánchez. You can find him in the Riviera Maya doing mezcal tastings between Playa de Carmen, Cancun and Tulum, sharing his vast knowledge of the flavors and history from the “Tree of Wonders”. Until you meet him though, here is all you need to know for now: there are 5 main species of agave plants used for mezcal, though mezcal can be made from any of the 150 species native to Mexico. Which means, mezcal is incredibly diverse. Espadín is the most common, exposing floral and fruitier notes, with the more rare Tobalá showing up typically with earthier and smokier tones. Start there. The rest you'll learn through experience. Just don’t forget to kiss it.

Family, and tradition. Two words that immediately come to mind when talking about El Danubio. A historic Spanish restaurant in the center of Mexico City, El Danubio has been the gathering point for the community since 1939. Nothing’s changed. All the greats have eaten there. You can see their signatures on over 800 napkins. (The first is Octavio Paz’.) Hear about some of them in conversation with Rafael Armesto.

Mexico is a surrealist place. A place where magic inspires and finds us, acting as a source to communicate in new, discovered mediums for different minds around the world. A visual artist, Alvaro Urgate has been using this magic to create his art for over ten years, working with witches, tarot readers and things that have no scientific bases to explore the realm between reality and absurd.

There’s an undeniable magic the city holds, fueled by a rich culture and tradition that is deeply nourished and protected by the community.

What is the best way to get around the city? If you ask Andrés Vera from Chop Chop, he’ll tell you: by bike. He started a whole business behind it. Then he’ll help you find the perfect one for your commute. At some point he’ll probably invite you to a party, because Chop Chop often host rides and events throughout the city, gathering people together in a shared passion of community. Because that’s exactly what Chop Chop is: a community driven by passion, with a love of a culture.

For Kenji Katori, being a Director of Photography isn’t just a job, it’s a way of life. He first started going onto sets when he was a teen, working with his cinematographer father. Since then he has worked in over 30 countries, driving work that has been selected and awarded in festivals around the globe. Cannes, SXSW Film Festival, Karlovy Vary Film Festival and Festival International de Cine in Guadalajara, to name a few.