Around Town

Meetings & Lectures, May 4, 2007

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Sensei Ken Rowland speaks on “Aikido—The Moving Meditation” at this Sunday’s Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meeting. Aikido is an unconventional, subtle, and fluid martial art that shuns both violence and competition. Its method strives to deflect or immobilize, rather than hurt or kill an opponent. Its guiding philosophy is the quest for universal peace.

“It’s not about winning or being the fastest. It’s about finding your center and connecting it to the Universe,” he says. Rowland is a full-time resident of San Miguel and has been studying and teaching Aikido for 22 years. He is the founder of Aikido San Miguel, a teaching studio located at Ignacio Allende 57.

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 about Mexico’s only chartered UU Fellowship visit portalsanmiguel.com/lifestyle/unitarians/unitarians.html.

Shambhala Meditation Group

The Shambhala Meditation Group of San Miguel de Allende invites anyone interested in meditation to join us for Nyinthun, an in-depth practice session of sitting, walking and contemplative meditation on Sunday, May 6.

Nyinthun isoffered the first Sunday of every month. There is no charge (although donations are welcome) and you may enter and leave without attending the entire program. Practice materials, if needed, are provided. A meditation instructor is available to assist new practitioners. Nyinthun meets Sunday May 6, 11am to 2pm, Callejón Blanco 4 (off Quebrada). For more information, contact John Perkins (120-0767).

College missionary on Rotary agenda

Ariel Roland, a college student at Belmont Abbey, NC, shares her mission experiences with Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday and visitors on Tuesday, May 8. Ariel made her first of several trips to Jamaica during high school and helped build homes for large, impoverished families. Her first trip led to a new awareness: “I now know what life is really about!” She has spent summers at a Christian camp in Bovard, NC since age 13 and will be a counselor for her second year this summer.

Her attention has turned to the swamps of Nairobi, Kenya, where she recently adopted an orphan at the Mogra Star Orphanage in Nairobi. She tells us about the conditions in that part of Africa and how the San Miguel-Midday Rotary Club might be able to help The Midday Rotary Club of San Miguel meets every Tuesday at 12:30pm in the upstairs theater at the Villa Jacaranda Hotel (Aldama 53). Visiting Rotarians and all others are invited to attend. Lunch follows at 1:30pm. For more information, visit the website: www.rotarysma.org. 

Aging macular degeneration

The support group for people with aging macular degeneration has been meeting every first Monday of the month at the Biblioteca. Inasmuch as a dozen people have shown up at one time or another it was worth continuing this group. Recently there has been such a fall off in attendance that the sponsor, Rev. Farley W. Wheelwright, has decided to shut down the monthly meetings. If any individuals, either former attendees or not, care to consult with Rev. Wheelwright privately about the problems of living with this disease, he can be reached at 152-1861, preferably before 9am.

Tours and Excursions

Saturday Adventurers

At Honoro Sanchez’s brick factory you can jump into the ‘mezcla’ with both feet and help mix the special sand, clay and water—the first step in brick-making. After it ripens the mix is rolled out like a pie crust, carefully molded and left to dry 24 hours before being fired in a gas kiln, the factory’s only piece of modern equipment. Their bricks, floor tiles and tejas (roof tiles) are often shipped to the US, especially to Texas.

Next we come to Rancho Rinconcillos de los Remedios, a huge hacienda which dates from colonial times. Its requisite chapel is still standing at the end of a narrow country road so overhung with ancient pirul trees, that the last bit must be walked. The chapel courtyard may still be carpeted in the fallen lavender blossoms of the jacaranda trees. Our next stop is the family’s charming home which is filled with fine furniture made in their Querétaro factory The surrounding flower gardens are particularly colorful this time of year. The tour leaves from inside the Jardín, across from the Parroquia at 10:30am.

Lions Club trip to Tequisquiapan

The International Lions Club of San Miguel de Allende is sponsoring another bargain trip—an overnight stay in Tequisquiapan in the state of Querétaro. This is indeed a special trip as it coincides with the Annual National Wine and Cheese Festival, and features the products of regional vineyards along with a variety of recreational, sporting and cultural activities. The group leaves on a first class bus, Thursday, May 3l. 

Tequis is known as the fountain of eternal youth and its abundant thermal waters are touted as therapeutic. The group’s hotel has a swimming pool and private mineral baths.

An arts and crafts market offers wonderful pottery, locally crafted rush and wickerwork, as well as jewelry made from opals mined at La Trinidad, just 15 minutes from town. In the center of town stands Plaza Miguel Hidalgo which is dominated by a 19th century wrought iron pavilion surrounded by stone archways. The famous parish church, Santa Maria de la Asunción, graces one side of the square. Completed in 1874, the church boasts pink quarry stones and domes carved in the neoclassical style. 

The next day, the group heads to Bernal for lunch. This captivating town is situated at the entrance to the Sierra Gorda mountain range. Its main attraction for many visitors is the enormous stone monolith, third largest in the world and thought by some to be imbued with cosmic energy. Bernal is also known for high-quality linens, rugs, sarapes and opals.

The fee for the trip covers transportation, hotel, tips, breakfast, entrance to the festival and a donation to the Lions Eye Clinic which dispenses glasses to the needy, and gives free diabetes testing. The cost is 900 pesos each, double occupancy, and 1100 pesos for a single. It is important to make your reservations early, because only 34 participants can be accommodated on this trip. For information and reservations, call Jean Schickel 152-0934 or email her at jeanandpeter@prodigy.net.mx. 

Performances & Events

Actors and production managers needed 

Willowbend Productions announces a casting call for two upcoming productions, The Diary of Anne Frank, featuring Gwenneth Holmes as Anne and Stop the World I Want to Get Off, starring Michael Sudeer as Littlechap and Amy Chankin as Evie.

Parts still to be filled for Diary are those of Mrs. Frank, and Peter, Anne’s 16-year-old friend. Also needed in non-speaking roles are several Nazi soldiers.

On the production side, Willowbend is seeking a stage manager, a costume coordinator and a prop manager for Diary.

Rehearsals begin on June 18, and the play opens at the Teatro Santa Ana for seven performances beginning July 31 and ending August 5.

Stop the World is casting for seven female chorus singers, daughter Susan and a small boy in a non-speaking role.

Stage and prop managers are also needed for Stop the World. 

Rehearsals begin June 11, and the play opens at Teatro Santa Ana Aug. 9-12 and 16-19. Please contact Michael Whaley to schedule an audition or a production meeting at Willowprod@aol.com. 

Volunteer Opportunities

Feed the Hungry volunteers needed

The Feed the Hungry program in San Miguel has need for volunteer drivers to deliver food commodities from our warehouse located in San Miguel to Feed the Hungry kitchens attached to various schools in poor neighborhoods located in and around San Miguel. Volunteer drivers provide their own vehicles for delivery on Tuesday mornings from 8–10 am. This opportunity provides a wonderful chance for you to participate in a program providing a free hot balanced meal to over 3,000 children per school day. Please contact Duane Eriksmoen, Director Food Distribution at 154-6904 or deriksmoen@aol.com  or Al Kocourek, 152-5576 or penq1@aol.com.