Around Town

Meetings & Lectures

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Retired Baptist pastor and acting Unitarian Universalist minister Dennis Hale addresses “Fundamentalism's Challenge to a Liberal Faith” at this week's Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Service.

Why do thinking people throw reason to the winds and embrace the irrational tenants of fundamentalism and recklessly pursue its goals? Why does liberalism, with all the scientific truth on its side, fail to answer the challenge, especially in the USA? This lecture explores the nature of fundamentalism and how to meet the challenge.

Hale, a regular summer visitor to San Miguel, is a graduate of Samford University and the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He served 25 years in Europe as fraternal representative to Spain's Baptist Evangelical Union and is now a freelance Spanish interpreter/translator.

The UU Fellowship meets every Sunday at 10:30am at La Posada de la Aldea, Ancha de San Antonio 15, and welcomes people of all ages, races, religions, sexual orientation and gender identity. Visitors are invited to attend the service and then join the UUs in the hotel restaurant for brunch. For more information about Mexico’s only chartered UU Fellowship visit portalsanmiguel.com/lifestyle/unitarians/unitarians.html.

Midday Rotary Club

Local writer Lou Christine who just returned from a series of visits to Cuba is the next guest speaker at the Midday Rotary club meeting on Tuesday, August 14. His talk will be One Man’s View of Cuba.

Christine has penned five fiction novels and a number of screenplays and essays. He has authored a reference work, incorporating his 20 year study of Chinese astrology. Since 1995 he’s been a steady contributor to Atención. During 2005, Christine wrote and produced his original stage play Loose Ends in San Miguel. Currently, Christine manages San Miguel VIP (a discount card) and is Sales Manager and Field Editor for Show Daily, a Central Texan biannual dedicated to antiques. His piece, San Miguel Writers: Prolific and Notorious, chronicles famous writers who have resided here. It will be published as the forward for the San Miguel’s Authors’ Sala The San Miguel Anthology (slated to be released this October).

The Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday meets every Tuesday at the Villa Jacaranda Hotel, Aldama 53, Centro. Check-in time is 12–(N)12:25 and the meeting starts promptly at 12:30. Visiting Rotarians and others interested in Rotary are invited to attend this meeting. Rotary is an organization of business and professional persons united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Lunch follows at 1:30 in the hotel dining room. For more information, please go to the website www.rotarysma.org. 

“Alternatives in Health, Beauty and Spirit” Forum

A new monthly forum, “Alternatives in Health, Beauty and Spirit”, will occur in the restaurant Nirvana at Casa Linda, Mesones 101( in front of Teatro Angela Peralta). The first meeting, Wednesday, August 15 from 10am to 11:30am features Vivian Blair, founder of Espacio Luminico, speaking on the Bioluminis Natural Light treatments for rejuvenation and relief from stress, pain, and insomnia. Alison Bastien , from La Victoriana will speak about the evolution of her work with women and plants in San Miguel. All sessions are free and in English. Come early and/or stay after and support Nirvana by having a delicious breakfast or coffee with them. To participate in a future monthly meeting, please contact Vivian at 152-6898. Each speaker will have a half hour, with time for questions. We look forward to seeing you!

Classes & Workshops

La Cocina cooking classes

Tuesday, August 14th, from 4–(N)7pm is devoted to naturally healthy Mexican food, some of which dates back to pre-Hispanic times. The menu includes guacamole made with a molcajete, chicken with roasted tomato salsa, shrimp in pumpkin seed sauce, cactus salad and mango mousse.

On Thursday, August 16th, from 4–(N)7pm the class features traditional Mexican fare. After snacking on freshly made sopes con tinga, you'll learn the secrets of making homemade mole, one of Mexico's most festive dishes. The menu features mole poblano, cheese chile rellenos and tres leches cake.

La Cocina offers you more than a cooking class—(M)it's a fun evening out with dinner, margaritas and new friends. The cost is $US45 per person. For more information and registration, stop by El Buen Café, Jesus 23, between 9am and 4pm or go to www.mexicocooks.com. 

Mindfulness meditation retreat

Under the auspices of the Meditation Center of San Miguel, Steve Shealy, a clinical psychologist in practice in Tampa, Florida, offers a provocative workshop Aug 11–(N)12, Mindfulness and Emotional Healing, at LifePath Center. 

Mindfulness is bringing compassionate, non-judgmental awareness to what is happening to us or within us in the present moment. With mindfulness, thoughts, emotions and physical sensations move endlessly through the mind and body without reactivity or resistance. Without mindfulness, uncomfortable experiences, like pain or fear, may activate unresolved emotional conflicts that can, in turn, trigger a regression into old reactive patterns or “schemas.” Through mindfulness meditation practice, one sees that there is no need to suppress or to unskillfully express these energies. The resulting spaciousness and freedom is the basis for true and lasting happiness.

The workshop includes basic instruction and practice in mindfulness meditation and the cultivation of non-judgmental awareness. Three training CDs and a light vegetarian lunch each day are also included. No prior meditation or yoga experience is necessary to benefit from this workshop. To register visit LifePath at lifepathretreats.com.

Tours & Excursions

Instituto Allende trip to Guanajuato

Instituto Allende Tours heads to the City of Guanajuato Saturday, August 18, 9am. During the heyday of Spanish colonialism this silver mining city was recognized as one of the wealthiest in the world. Special attention will be given to the preserved architecture of the colonial period in residential areas. 

Guanajuato’s lively plazas, beautiful theater and other points of interest lie above an underground tunnel system that enables traffic to move beneath the busy city. The city’s center offers a good place to stroll and shop, and time will be allotted for this. 

Other points of interest on the tour include the university and the stately governmental buildings in Centro, along with a number of museums, including the home of native son and famous painter Diego Rivera. The cost is US$55, which includes all fees and a restaurant meal. 

Bilingual guides lead Instituto Allende tours in a secure environment. Every Wednesday at 4pm, a free preview of the tour is given at the Instituto. Reservations are required. For more information call Instituto Allende, 152-0226, or visit at Ancha de San Antonio 20.



Botanical Garden tour

Discover the marvels of cacti and other Mexican plants as well as the history of El Charco every Tuesday morning with Mario Mendoza, Assistant Director of the garden. The tour includes a visit to the nursery that contains many rare species and is not usually open to the public.


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, lasting about two hours. Bring a hat and water. Space is limited, so reserve by calling 154-8838 or email charcodelingenio@gmail.com. 

Saturday Adventurers

Female Adventurers, if you like jewelry, don't miss this opportunity to visit the work-shop of William Harris and Luis Pantoja; their prices are right and the precious and semi-precious stones are beautiful. Their home and garden is in itself an enchanting jewel. After a ride through the beautiful green country-side, currently sprinkled with little wild flowers, we arrive at La Laguna, country home of the Madrazo family, owners of the cannery that produces their product under brand name of “San Miguel”. You will find white asparagus, artichoke hearts, peaches and, of course, chilis on the grocery shelf. Their home built around the traditional bugambilia-filled patio has many rooms and a huge dining room to accommodate a huge family. When in the dining room, look up to admire the stunning boveda ceiling. Take your camera today!

This tour leaves from inside the Jardin, across from the Parroquia at 10:30am.

Mexico City Tour with 

Patrice Wynne takes in the top highlights of Mexico City on Monday and Tuesday, August 13 and14; the ruins and museum of the Templo Mayor at the Zocalo, murals by Diego Rivera and the Centennial Exhibition of Frida Kahlo at the Palacio de Bellas Artes. The exhibit is the largest retrospective of Frida's work ever displayed and will include a private lecture by Suzannah Glusker, a specialist in Mexican women's art history who knew Frida as a child. The tour also features a visit to the Casa Museo Luis Barragan, one of the most influential architects of the 20th century as well as the Museo de Arte Popular.

Price is US$250 including first class bus transportation, private hotel room, museum fees, lecturer and guide fees, shuttle transportation in Mexico City, maps and orientation packet. Meals and tips are not included.

To reserve, send an email to sanmiguelpatrice@mac.com  or call150-0058.

Performances & Events

St. Paul’s Church to celebrate Taize worship service

A Taize service will be held at St Paul’s on Thursday, August 16, at 7:30pm. The order of worship includes meditative prayer, chanting, music, candlelight and silence.

The Taize Community, which takes its name from the small city in France where it is located, is an ecumenical movement devoted to peace and unity. The inspiration for starting Taize came to Brother Roger, the founder, during a long illness in 1940. When WW II started in Europe, he had the conviction that he should do something to help refugees fleeing the war. With the help of a sister and at great risk to their own safety, Brother Roger provided hospitality and a safe haven for orphans and refugees of all faiths.

Today, the Taize Community is made up of over a hundred brothers, both from Catholic and various Protestant backgrounds, from all over the world. The Community is a place where simplicity and kind-heartedness are lived out as essential Gospel realities.

During the service at St Paul’s, a prayer wall, designed by Rebecca Peterson and crafted by members of the congregation, will be dedicated. All are welcome to join in this ecumenical meditative service. To learn more about Taize please visit their website at taize.fr

St. Paul’s Anglican Church is located at Cardo 6. For more information please call Father Michael Long at 152-0387.





Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteering at the Biblioteca

If you would like to volunteer to assist in any of the following departments, please see Elia in the Sala Infantil, Monday-Friday, 4–(N)5pm, or send an email to volunteers@bibliotecasma.com and Judy Boston will get back to you. The departments with the most need are La Tienda, the English Book Committee (which needs shelf readers at the moment), English classes and conversation with students, the computer room, the Sala Infantil with literacy programs and painting, administration, the Café, the Sunday House and Garden Tour and Atencíon. A minimum commitment of 3 months is requested for most of these positions.

See you in the funny papers

Mark Saunders, creator of Atención’s “Más o Menos” cartoon, invites suggestions from readers for funny material about living in San Miguel that would lend itself to a cartoon. Selected ideas will be drawn by the cartoonist, and authors will be given credit as well as a signed copy of their cartoon. Please send your “expat” cartoon ideas to edit@atencionsanmiguel.org.