AROUND TOWN

Meetings & Lectures

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Longtime San Miguel resident Michele Connor addresses the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship this Sunday on CASA (Centro de Adolescentes de San Miguel de Allende), the family service organization now celebrating its 25th year in San Miguel.

Operating on grants from the Mexican government, individual donors, and organizations from three continents, CASA helps more than 50,000 Mexicans in need every year. She will talk about CASA’s signature service—(M)teams of adolescent peer counselors who provide environmental, sexual, civil-rights education, and family planning consultations and methods. She will also discuss the organization’s various youth and family programs, the maternity hospital and family health clinic, the midwifery program (Mexico’s first and only government-accredited school of midwifery), child development and day care centers, and the various programs that provide an entertaining alternative education in sexuality and other often ignored social issues.

Michele Connor, a painter, moved to San Miguel in 1989, and has been actively involved with CASA for 18 years.

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.

Library accessibility on agenda for Rotary

On Tuesday, September 11, our guest speaker is Roberto Octavio Diaz de Campo. Roberto’s talk addresses “Libraries in Mexico: Are they for everyone?” He will discuss the use of technology to allow libraries to serve the entire spectrum of the population. Roberto is a pioneer in the detection, integration, and application of technical solutions to problems that exist within Mexico and Latin America.

Roberto Octavio Diaz earned a degree in mechanical engineering in 1968, with a Masters in Administration and Industrial Technology from the Instituto Fromazione Quadri in Ivrea, Italy in 1973. After a career in various aspects of the automotive business, he founded Antarq Technosoluciones, Inc of C.V. in 1998. He has been a major innovator in bringing technology (and especially computers) to help those with special needs. Specifically, Roberto has been working on developing software for the blind for many years and has worked all over Mexico. He is a former candidate (Green Party) for Mayor and has been a SMA resident for almost 10 years.

The Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday meets every Tuesday at the Villa Jacaranda Hotel, Aldama 53, and Centro. 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 1:30pm in the hotel dining room. For more information, please go to the website: www.rotarysma.org. 

Come play Golf Croquet!

What’s the fastest growing sport in the US? The answer—Croquet! So, the Croquet Club of San Miguel wants to spread the word and the game to our community. The Club, on the Antigua Camino Real a Querétaro in Atascadero, is ready to welcome all newcomers to this enjoyable sport. One of its advantages is that women are on an even playing field (no pun intended) with men. It is not a game of strength. It requires hand-eye coordination and analytical planning. For beginners there is Golf Croquet, and the Club is inviting San Miguel to come out and give it a try. It is a much simpler way to be introduced to the game, as it demonstrates the various strikes used in playing without the complication of scoring. Coaches will include lessons before and during the game, and there will be a cocktail party after, to help you recover from all the excitement! All visitors will be guests of the club and we will furnish mallets for everyone. Oh, yes, normally white clothing is required, but will not be for this occasion. Come a
s you are.

The first of what we hope will be many golf croquet/cocktail parties is on Sunday, September 9 at 3pm at 100-1 Antigua Camino Real a Querétaro. If you are coming up the Caracol, go past the old Gigante and turn left. That is Antigua Camino Real. The Club is about three hundred yards on the right, behind a long white brick wall. If you are coming up from El Centro, come up Santo Domingo to Fuentes and turn left at Tanque and the Club will be seen on your right. There’s a map in the back of your Juarde.

“Alternatives in Health, Beauty and Spirit” Forum


A new monthly forum, “Alternatives in Health, Beauty and Spirit” takes place in the Nirvana restaurant at Casa Linda, Mesones 101 (in front of the Teatro Angela Peralta). Hosted by Vivian Blaire, founder of Espacio Luminico, the second dialogue is on Wednesday, September 12 from 10am–(N)11:30am. Denise Gelpi Aughtman, Doctor of Oriental Medicine (DOM), presents a talk on “How the Past Meets Present Needs—(M)The 8 Branches of Chinese Medicine.” The essence of this 2,000 year old 8-part list provides the guidance we need for health, longevity and vitality at any age. Come and discover how you can find help for your health concerns.

The talk and question time are free and in English. Come early and/or stay after and support Nirvana by having a delicious breakfast or coffee. To participate in a future monthly meeting, please contact Vivian at 152-6898. We look forward to seeing you!

Classes & Workshops

La Cocina cooking classes

Tuesday, Sept 11 from 4–(N)7pm is devoted to Mexican food, some 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, Raspberry Chipotle Brownies and Café de Olla.

Thursday, Sept 13 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 and Tres Leches cake.

It’s not just a cooking class, but a fun evening out with a full dinner and margaritas. The cost is US$45 per person. For more information and registration, stop by El Buen Café, Jesus 23, between 9 and 4 or go to www.mexicocooks.com.

Tours & Excursions

Saturday Adventurers

The Adventurers are off to Ana Theil’s glass foundry, where we will see what she does with the odd rusty parts of machinery; if it’s old, bent, twisted or burnt, she combines it with her molten glass and great talent to produce one-of-a-kind sculptures. We will be shown where and how this molten glass is produced at very high temperatures. In her gallery are various pieces of her original sculptures, as well as glass sculptures, in the garden, perfect for your patio. Next, we head to San Felipe, to a place very much like a movie set for a Hollywood hacienda. We arrive at a typical long, low stone wall enclosing the hacienda but as we enter through wrought iron gates, we see a garden with many flowers and shrubs, surrounded by a corridor with arches. After visiting the garden, we enter the heirloom filled home, then out to the terrace and pool house. Be sure to bring your camera! This 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 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

Special mass in support of Mexican immigration rights in the US

On Wednesday, September 12 at 6:30pm at the Templo Nuestra Senora de la Salud (next to the Oratorio), there is a special mass on behalf of Mexican immigrants’ rights in the US. The mass is sponsored by a newly created organization of American citizens residing in San Miguel in support of the new “Sanctuary” movement rally for immigrants’ rights to be held in Washington D.C. that same day. The new “Sanctuary” movement is an organization of more than 300 churches of various denominations in support of more humane immigration legislation. It also supports a moratorium on deportations until such legislation is passed. For further information, contact Joe Ershun at 152-2380 or Peggy Bell, 152-6185.

Father & Son viewing at Bordello


On Thursday, Sept 13, from 4 to 6 pm, at the Bordello Galeria, there is a casual viewing of the rare Steven and Noah Mendelson father and son art show. Both artists will be present to converse and answer any questions you may have. Their work is two-dimensional, in media ranging from photo-montage to thick oil painting. The show is outstanding. Even if you have already seen it, there is a selection of new work present within the mix. 


At the opening reception on August 16, US$1500 was raised to benefit Jovenes Adelante, a local charity that provides college scholarships for needy students. The Bordello Galeria is located in Casa de la Turca on Organos 19. From the Biblioteca, go west on Insurgentes, right on Hernandez Macías, first left on Organos, a block and a half. See you there!

The artists may be reached at 185 8129 or through their websites: www.leafgallery.com ,

www.smendelsongallery.com 

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.co m 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 Atención. 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.