Around Town, Dec 08, 2006
Meetings & Lectures


Social Club’s holiday party

The Social Club of San Miguel, which welcomes everyone, has been in existence for 30 years. It is similar to a newcomers’ club, except no one seems to leave. We meet twice a month, once in a restaurant and once in someone’s home. When we meet at a home, each person brings a beverage or finger food for six people and contributes 10 pesos to help the hostess defray the cost of supplies.

The Christmas party, scheduled for December 19, will be hosted by Jean Schickel. Each person is asked to bring an unwrapped toy, valued at at least US$5, to be distributed to a school in the campo.

At the party, there will be information about the New Year’s Eve dinner party, for which each person is asked to bring a dish to share and their choice of beverage. All leftovers are taken to a local orphanage, so people are requested to bring lots of food. Also, during December, the group is collecting money to purchase socks and mittens for the underprivileged old people, who meet Wednesdays behind the Parroquia. For more information or to contribute to the projects, call Sy Stern at 152-6536.

Illegal immigrants & human rights

Attorney Ronald Ruiz will speak on “Illegal Immigrants and Human Rights” at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on Sunday, December 10.

The talk will be based on his more than 40 years of experience working with illegal Mexican immigrants, including more than five years with the California Agriculture Labor Relations Board as a lawyer and board member. During his term, the Board implemented a new law that gave California farm workers the right to vote for a collective bargaining representative.

From 1966 until 2002, he practiced criminal law as a deputy district attorney, a private practitioner, a district attorney and a deputy public defender. He was appointed to a five-year term as a member of the Labor Board by Governor Jerry Brown in 1975. Ruiz has also published three novels.

The UU Fellowship meets every Sunday at 10:30am at La Posada de la Aldea, Ancha de San Antonio 15. Visitors are invited to attend the service and then join the UUs in the hotel restaurant for brunch. For more information, visit www.portalsanmiguel.com/lifestyle/unitarians/unitarians.html  

Midday Rotary Club

On Tuesday, December 12, Bill Curra will speak at the Midday Rotary Club. Bill will describe the background and operation of Computadoras pro Jovenes (Computers for the Benefit of Youngsters). The program provides used but working computers in schools throughout the San Miguel area. The computers, which are usually donated, are refurbished and a Spanish version of Windows is installed. The computers are then loaded with educational software, a Spanish language keyboard and individual headphones. 

This allows the teacher to work with students on one subject while one or two other students can simultaneously study a different subject on the computer. More than 45 computers have been received and placed in schools during the last six months. Bill works with a team of other volunteers who help make this project a success.

The Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday meets every Tuesday at 12:30pm at the Villa Jacaranda Hotel, Aldama 53. Note that Club meetings on December 26 and January 2 have been cancelled for the holidays. Visiting Rotarians and others interested in Rotary are invited to attend this meeting. Lunch follows at 1:30pm in the hotel dining room. For more information, see www.rotarysma.org 

Jesus and the Buddha: bearers of truth

How do Christianity and Buddhism look at the deepest questions of religion and spirituality today? Join us at the Meditation Center for a series of three conversations between the Rev. Dr. Harold Weicker, a retired Episcopalian priest of 41 years, and Frank Simons, a longtime Buddhist student and practitioner. Examples of the questions we will be addressing are: What are our different views of God? What is our life’s purpose? How do we approach living responsibly on the planet? What is right living?

What is the importance of the teachings and communities of faith in each religion? Why is a Buddhist/Christian dialog important? How can Christians and Buddhists help each other?These and other questions will be addressed in the form of a conversation, not a debate. Weicker and Simons both believe that each of these two great world religions enjoy truths that complement and enhance one another. The second conversation in this series will be at 5:30pm on Tuesday, December 12, at the Meditation Center at Callejón Blanco 4; the third conversation will be held December 19. There is no charge.

For more information, call Simons at 152-0536 or Weicker at 152-6249.

Classes & Workshops

Sazón cooking classes

On Tuesday, December 12, Paco Cárdenas will lead a market tour and class at Sazón, Correo 22, from 10:30am to 12:30pm. Paco’s passion for cooking began in his grandmother’s kitchen. Shopping at the mercado was part of that delicious experience. Paco walks you through this bustling market and introduces you to the ladies from the campo who bring in all the local vegetables, fruits, cheeses and flowers. Back at Sazón, Paco will create special dishes based on seasonal fresh ingredients plucked from the market. The cost of this class is US$45.

On Wednesday, December 13, Paco teaches a class on Mexican cooking from 10am to noon at Sazón. Out-of-town guests arriving? Want to wow them with traditional Mexican fare? This class will do the trick. You’ll learn the subtleties of cilantro, the finesse of stuffing chiles and how to roll a perfect tortilla. And Paco will teach you how to make one of his special desserts. The menu will delight: Sopa de cilantro (cilantro soup), Chiles Anchos Rellenos de Pollo (chiles stuffed with chicken), Tortillas Hechas a Mano (handmade tortillas), and Mousse de Kahlua! Fee is US$55.

On Friday, December 15, chef Gonzalo Martinez will hold a Traditional Mexican Posada class and tasting from 5 to 7:30pm. The holidays are delicious in San Miguel. In this charming class you’ll learn about the customs of the traditional Mexican Christmas Posada and the fusion of Spanish and indigenous cultures and cuisines. There will be ceremonial singing with candles and traditional food and drinks followed by a piñata! Fee is US$65.

For more information, see the Sazón website at www.sazonsanmiguel.com 

Tours & Excursions

Saturday Adventurers

The Adventurers are visiting the tiny town with the big name, Atotonilco, where David Areingdale has a beautiful country home. The house was originally built for Padre Alfaro to live in while he was building the famous Sanctuary. 

David has retained much of the original construction, such as the old stone arches and the original stone walls. The kitchen is a modern touch, using polished concrete for countertops and whimsical decor. There is a pool with a view and an artist’s studio—so much to enjoy in this little Utopia. Crossing the street, we see the walls of this ancient Sanctuary, which has been named a World Treasure.

It was begun in 1754 as a place for the Otomí Indians to come to atone for their sins, and to this day pilgrims from all over Mexico come for purification. To aid in this, colorful rope whips are sold at stands in front. Inside, the walls and ceiling are covered with murals depicting biblical history. 

Any wall space without murals is filled with poems written by Padre Alfaro. The Sanctuary is being carefully and lovingly restored, funded by the World Treasure Committee. Flash photos are not allowed inside the church. The tour leaves from inside the Jardín, across from the Parroquia, at 10:30am.

Botanical Garden Tour

Every Tuesday morning discover the marvels of cacti and other Mexican plants as well as the history of El Charco with Martin Smith, curator of plants. An additional privilege of this visit is the opportunity to see the plants in the nursery that is not ordinarily open to the public. Many rare species and plants threatened with extinction are protected and propagated at El Charco. 

Entrance fee is 30 pesos (waived for members) and the tour is 50 pesos. All proceeds benefit the garden. The tour is in English and starts at the main entrance at 9am and lasts about 2 hours. Bring a hat and water. Space is limited, so reserve by calling Martin at 154-8838 or 154-4715 or email charco@unisono.net.mx 

Performances & Events

Sagrada Wellness opens

December 9 marks the birth of Sagrada Wellness, a new retreat center built on a beautiful, historic property just outside of San Miguel. Owners Scott Currie and Eva Inglizian invite you to join them to celebrate their grand opening with ponche and botanas, three-minute massages, walks along garden paths and tours of the treatment room, sauna, yoga pavilion and guest casitas.

Drop in and get a feel for all that Sagrada has to offer—nourishment and rejuvenation in a beautiful, natural sanctuary through massage, acupuncture (including facial rejuvenation techniques), traditional Chinese medicine and various retreats, including yoga, Pilates, art and cooking classes.

The grand opening party is December 9, from 2 to 5pm. In addition to a tour of the center, you will be able to enjoy the displayed work of local artists Karen Wight and Holly Wilmeth. A free bus from St. Paul’s Church will leave at 1:30pm. Email info@sagradawellness.com  to reserve a seat on the bus or to receive a detailed map. For more information, email or call 044-415-101-8312. Website: www.sagradawellness.com.

A sale with soul

ALMA, the home for the elderly here in San Miguel, will be having a very large pre-Christmas sale on Saturday, December 16, from 10am to 1pm. For the first time the new, large bodega will be open and filled with a fantastic variety of Christmas ornaments, party clothes, warm coats, sweaters, jackets, kitchen and decorative items, paintings, furniture, and much more. The Lions Club will be there doing free diabetes testing. The bodega is at Callejon La Lejona, about three blocks behind the new Mega store. A free van leaves across from Espino on Ancha de San Antonio about every half-hour. 

Uno de los milagros: The oil lasted eight days

Latkes and candles, the two essentials for Hanukah celebration, will be waiting at the Cantina de los Milagros, Relox 17, on Sunday, December 17, at 6pm. Shalom San Miguel invites anyone in the community to share the lighting of the third candle of Hanukah, singing a few rounds of traditional songs and joining in the most Jewish custom of all: sharing food. Tickets are 100 pesos, which include latkes, a variety of botanas and your first beer, wine or soft drink. Bring your own candles and menorahs if you can, but there will be candles for community lighting. 

Hanukah is a celebration of light. It is the Jewish holiday set around the winter solstice, the darkest time of the year, when even we sophisticates might wonder whether the light is coming back or it is going to get darker and darker from now on.

“Every day is like another spin of the dreidel—a game of Jewish roulette,” comments Rabbi Joshua Hammerman, spiritual leader of Temple Beth El in Stamford, Connecticut. “Just when things seem darkest and most chaotic, we can manufacture light. And as we begin to increase the light artificially day by day, miraculously so does nature and the world around us, the moon returns by holiday’s end, followed by the gradual increase of daylight following the solstice.”

For those of us who celebrate Hanukah in Mexico, diversity is all around us in our welcoming Mexican hosts as well as the community of foreigners of which we are a part. The miracle of light, the blessing of diversity, and the savoring of food in community: good reasons to celebrate Hanukah in San Miguel. Get your tickets by emailing Pat at mexicanpat@yahoo.com or calling Francine at 154-7963, mornings or evenings. Reservations are needed so we can be sure everyone gets plenty of latkes.

Films & Videos

Shalom SMA film

On Monday, December 11, Shalom SMA Forum presents Liev Schreiber’s film Everything Is Illuminated. The movie is based on a novel by Jonathan Safran Foer. The story is about a journey undertaken by three men and a dog into the secrets of the past. The movie is narrated by Alex (Eugene Hutz), a Ukranian whose family specializes in “tours of dead Jews.” 

But to ferry Foer to the mysterious village of Trachimbrod, Alex needs a chauffeur, in the form of his cantankerous and mad grandfather (Boris Leskin), who drives a beat-up Trabant while claiming to be blind. Despite the business he’s in, he appears to have an attitude of glowering contempt for Jews in general, and Jonathan in particular. Did Grandfather participate in Ukraine’s notorious anti-Semitism during the war? It is a question that is turned on its head as Jonathan, Alex and Grandfather go on their road trip. 

The movie’s hero is Jonathan (Elijah Wood), a solemn, goggle-eyed American known as “The Collector” because he accumulates bits and pieces of his life and stores them in Ziploc bags, carefully labeled. He has come to the Ukraine to find the woman who saved his grandfather’s life. 

Everything Is Illuminated lives in the present, except for memories and enigmatic flashbacks to the Second World War. The gift that Schreiber brings to the material is his ability to move us from the broad satire of the early scenes to the solemnity of the final ones. The comedy of misunderstanding, semi-understanding and good old-fashioned Americans-finding-themselves-in-uncivilized-Europe segues into something much more forthright and emotional as Foer makes personal discoveries about the Holocaust.

The film will be shown at 4:30 pm in the TV room of the Quinta Loreto Hotel. Loreto 15. A discussion follows the film. A 50-pesos donation is requested. 

Volunteer Opportunities

Pípila Prep seeks photography teacher

Although many of the 650 students at our one public high school, Pípila Preparatory, have demonstrated great interest in and talent for photography, the school system cannot afford to hire a teacher.

If you are interested in teaching photography to eager high school students, contact the school administrator, Gonzalo Martínez, at 152-1836 or 154-8368.

Biblioteca holiday hours

The Biblioteca will be closed Dec. 12 and 25, 2006, and January 1, 2007.

The Biblioteca will be open from 10am to 2pm from December 22 to December 30. 

The Atención office will be closed the following days: December 25 and 26 and January 1 and 2.

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