AROUND TOWN

Meetings & Lectures

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Miguel celebrates its Twentieth Anniversary this Sunday with an address titled “Memories & Madness” by Bob Hesdorfer, a past president and member since 1994.

Words sometimes used to describe this congregation are—(M)unique, welcoming, sharing, liberal, stubborn, outreaching, talkative, determined, growing, loyal, hopeful. Members are invited to add recollections; guests are invited to learn a little more about this different bough of a tree with its roots in Transylvania.

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.

Midday Rotary welcomes prominent surgeons

Osteoporosis, degenerative problems of the spine and joints, arthritis, pain, joint replacements—(M)these are all problems that we might be faced with as we get older. New, minimally invasive procedures are being developed and offered. Learn about these new techniques from the experts themselves.

The Midday Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende is hosting Dr. Lee Ansell and Dr. Thomas Parr from the Foundation Surgical Hospital in Houston, Texas, both of whom will be speaking to the Club on Sept 4. The trend in modern surgery is to find increasingly less invasive and traumatic ways to treat the various ailments that require operations. The surgeons and staff at Foundation Surgical Hospital in Houston, Texas are committed to developing and adopting the latest techniques for treating degenerative problems of the spine and joints.

Dr Lee Ansell earned a BA from the University of Texas in Austin before graduating from the University of Texas Health Science Center’s Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. His internship was completed at the Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center on Lackland Air Force Base and his neurosurgery residency was completed at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Ansell is licensed to practice in Texas and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Neurological Surgery. 

Thomas J. Parr graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, and earned his Medical Degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas. He completed a rotating internship and an orthopedic surgery residency at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Parr served as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Medical Corps and is certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. He is licensed the practice in the state of Texas. 

Members of the general community are invited to attend this important meeting, however, seating is limited. It is recommended that persons interested in asking questions remain for lunch at the Villa Jacaranda, as the doctors will be available at that time to answer more specific questions. Cost of the lunch is 100 pesos and includes juice, soup or salad, bread, choice of two entrees and dessert.

The Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende Midday meets every Tuesday at the Villa Jacaranda Hotel, Aldama 53. Check-in time is 12:00–(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 

Classes & Workshops

La Cocina cooking classes

Do you know the difference between mezcal and tequila? This question and many more are answered during our special mezcal tasting class on Monday, Sept 3, from 5–(N)8pm. Sergio Ynurrigarro, one of Mexico’s leading mezcal experts, will lead you through a tasting while chef Ruth Alegria prepares a delicious, creative meal featuring this centuries-old beverage.

Tuesday, Sept 4, from 4–(N)7pm is devoted to Mexican food—(M)traditional dishes, as well as a few with a modern twist. The menu includes Roasted Tomatillo Salsa, Chile Pasilla Salsa with Skirt Steak, Grilled Vegetable and Goat Cheese Chile Rellenos, Chayote Salad, and Raspberry Chipotle Brownies.

Thursday, Sept 6, from 4–(N)7pm is Mole class. 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 Black Mole Cheese Enchiladas, Green Mole with Chicken, Cactus Salad, Tres Leches cake and Café de Olla.

Fridays are now market day at La Cocina. Peruse the colorful stalls while learning about local fruits, vegetables and chiles, followed by an afternoon of making Salsas and incorporating them into a tasty lunch. The class is from 11am–(N)2pm and costs US$50.

La Cocina offers you more than a cooking class-it’s a fun evening out with dinner, margaritas and new friends. The cost is US$45 per person. For more information and registration, stop by El Buen Café, Jesus 23, between 9am and 4pm or go to www.mexicocooks.com. 

Computer obedience training

Another session of Roger Hind’s acclaimed computer classes for new users and for those who want to master the basics begins Sept 18. Hind is well known for his ability to put at ease those suffering from “computerphobia.” If your computer’s behavior frustrates you or if you feel a little intimidated, this class is for you.

The classes are held in the computer training room at the Biblioteca Pública. Over the four-week term, Hind introduces computers and Windows, the Internet and e-mail, and the basics of word processing. Please note that the classes are for PC users—(M)sorry, Mac fans.

Classes will be in plain English—(M)no computerese!. Students each have their own computers, and lots of hands-on exercises will reinforce the principles as they are presented.

Pre-enrollment is required, including payment in full of the course fee of 350 pesos. Space is limited to 10 people, who must have either temporary or full library membership. A temporary membership costs only 150 pesos, of which 100 pesos is refundable when you leave San Miguel.

To enroll, please take your membership card and 350 pesos to the front desk and ask to sign up for the computer classes in English. Note that this class will also meet on the same days and at the same times from Oct 23 to Nov 15 and from Nov 27 to Dec 20. All classes are open for enrollment right now.

Hind has written a detailed manual which he uses as an adjunct to the class. The manual is available for purchase from him at the first class for 150 pesos.

For more information about course objectives and content, you may contact him by phone at 154-6552 or by e-mail: rogerhind@hotmail.com. 

Tours & Excursions

Saturday Adventurers

The Adventurers will be completely “encantado” (charmed) by the Casa Encantada, from the moment we enter and our eye is drawn to the long corridor of arches, and to the green lawn beyond. Reluctantly, leaving this enchanted house, we go out a short distance to Los Frailes, to visit Lizzie Blanco, a well-known sculptress. We marvel at the beauty of the simple lines of her pieces and to tempt the women, there is jewelry to die for created by Lizzie’s daughter. The home is also a gem, set in an expanse of emerald green grass—(M)lots to admire here! Cameras are a necessity on this tour!

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

House & Garden Tour

On Sept 2, the House & Garden tour visits a home/B&B built on a hillside with one of the most dramatic gardens in town. Built on several levels, waterfalls cascade from the front entranceway down through lush gardens and a series of ponds until they reach the bottom. The home itself is filled with beautiful Mexican art and furnishings and vistas over the town and the distant mountains can be seen from every level. Our second house is a barrel full of fun, color and whimsy. Dominated by an enormous pepper tree in its entranceway the indoors is painted in soft, muted colors accentuated by the bold colors of the furniture, paintings, sculpture and light fixtures. Folk art and colorful art created by the owners can be seen throughout. Our last house is in Centro in a neighborhood where most of the homes were former tanneries, as was this one. Renovated in the Mexican style, the entry has a cactus garden with field rocks collected by the owners, and the furniture was made locally. The artwork has been created by o
ne of the owners, and the outside entertainment area is cozy and inviting. The home contains an impressive collection of masks, and a top patio with a studio, sun terrace and study. Tickets for the tour are 150 pesos, and the tour departs at 12 noon from the Biblioteca, Insurgentes 25. If you are interested in more detailed information, please feel free to call Jennifer Hamilton at 152-4987. Reservations for the house tour are not required, and all proceeds benefit the Biblioteca Pública’s educational charity.

Botanical Garden Tour

Every Tuesday morning, discover the marvels of cacti and other Mexican plants as well as the history of El Charco with Mario Mendoza, Vice-Director of the garden. The tour includes a visit to the nursery which 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 9:00am and lasts about 2 hours. Bring a hat and water. Space is limited, so reserve by calling 154-8838 or email charcodelingenio@gmail.com. 

In addition, Richard Cretcher, author of the book, Flores Silvestres–(N)a pocket guide to the wildflowers of San Miguel, will be offering walks in the botanical garden and Parque Landeta using this book to identify the multitude of gorgeous flowers blooming at this time of year. The dates are September 5 and 19. They start at 9:30am and last about 2 hours. Cost is 70 pesos for members and 100 for non-members of El Charco. All proceeds go to the botanical garden.

This is a popular event so please reserve a space by emailing nzerriffi@yahoo.com specifying the day you would like to attend.

Performances & Events

A dramatic presentation of voices from 9/11 and the Iraq War

On Tuesday, Sept 11, Iguana Productions, in association with Authors’ Sala, presents In Their Own Words: Survivors, Victims and Heroes of 9/11 and the Iraq War in the Santa Ana Theater, Biblioteca Pública, at 5 and 7pm, 50 pesos.

In Their Own Words strives to shine a light on catastrophic events of the past six years in dramatized staged readings of first-hand experiences selected from books, interviews, magazine articles, and Internet sources. Riveting, tragic and humorous, this collection of original voices has been edited by Kirsten Dehner, and directed by Alan Jordan. It features Billie Bremer, Lou Christine, Marshall Dackert, William Henderson, Steve Hoffman, Merle Howard, Jill Gottlieb, Michael Gottlieb, Maria Eugenia Llano, Susan Page, Philip Sheridan, and Martha Hernandez as readers, with Libby Clemens on viola.
www.theatersanmiguel.com 

Films & Videos

Series of Cuban documentaries at Biblioteca Pública

A series of documentaries are showing at Teatro Santa Ana at the Biblioteca Pública and are brought to you by the Instituto Historico de la Memoria Cubana, a non-profit organization producing Cuban historical documentaries. The Instituto’s mission is to bring factual and verifiable information to the audience to understand and perhaps not forget the Cuban reality.

The documentaries showing are—(M) The Myth of Che Guevara, Sept 3, 6:30pm; Castro’s Tortures, Sept 5, 12pm; Tribute to Dad, Sept 7, 3pm. For more information, you may also go to cubamemorial.net, cubaarchives.net, therealcuba.net or call Pierre Lepoureau at 044-415-109-8488.

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 three 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.