AROUND TOWN

Meetings & Lectures

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship  The Rev. Jake Morrill leads a Christmas service that explores the healing power of the spirit of love in an address titled “All is Calm, All is Bright” at this week’s Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meeting. “This Christmas, let's not dissect the historical facts of the Christmas story. Instead, as we come together, let's imagine and experience a troubled world transformed by the arrival of the generous spirit of love in all hearts, in all places,” he said. Rev. Morrill has served the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, since 2003.  The UU Fellowship meets every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. 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.

Midday Rotary Club

The Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday meets every Tuesday at Hotel Real de Minas at the intersection of Calles Ancha de San Antonio and Stirling Dickinson. Check-in time is 12–12:25pm and the meeting starts promptly at 12:30. Visit www.rotarysma.org for more information.

Social and newcomers club

For 30 years the social and newcomers club meets every Tuesday night either at a local restaurant or a house and hosts a Friday rubber bridge game. Funds raised help local nonprofit organizations. They meet every Wednesday behind the church on the plaza and every Christmas they give presents to children in a selected elementary school. 

For more information about the weekly dinner, call Jean Schikel at 152-4299 or Paula Nesti, 152-4299. 



The next meeting is December 23, 7pm, at El Market Bistro, Hernández Macías 95 (free national drink). The New Year’s Eve party is Wednesday, December 31 at 9pm, at Ines Roberts’ house in Los Frailes, Lenadores 6. Bring double the ususal food; the extra goes to the casas hogares.

Bereavement Groups Available

Hospice San Miguel sponsors two free bereavement support groups for area residents who have lost loved ones. The first group, led by Hospice volunteer and an experienced counselor Pat Tirkot, is for English speakers. It meets Mondays, 2:30–4pm in Centro. Contact Pat at 152-8164 or patricia@tirkot.com 

The second group is for Spanish speakers and is led by Leticia Gonzales, a Hospice staff member and experienced psychotherapist and thanatologist. This group meets on Thursdays, 5–6:30pm at Hospice San Miguel, Manuel Rocha 35 in Col. La Lejona. Contact Leticia at 044 (415) 113-9806.

The groups are small, so reservations are necessary. For more information about the groups or any Hospice service, call our office at 154-4287, email mail@hospicesma.org  or check our website at www.hospicesma.org.
 


Classes & Workshops

Chess: patio and terrace

Chess players go on vacation over the holiday season until January 5 when meetings resume Mondays 5–6:30pm in the north portal of the Biblioteca Pública’s central patio. 



Tours & Excursions

Saturday Adventure Tours

The last Adventurers trip for 2008 visits Stelara the first-class ceramic factory of Raul and Lupe Hernández. Their high-fired ceramic or stoneware is in beautiful colors with exquisite designs. Raul will demonstrate the production process. Need ideas for Christmas shopping? There’s plenty of inspiration her!

Then back to the seventeenth century at hacienda Puerta de Sosa. Highlights include a huge stone granary built by Otomí laborers, original frescos in an old chapel and a splendid colonial estate.

The tour leaves the Jardín, across from the Parroquia, at 10:30am.

The next Adventurers tour will be Saturday, January 10. Centro de Crecimiento will be closed for the holidays and will re-open on January 5. We hope to see all of you Adventurers on January 10, for another great tour.

Instituto Allende begins winter field-trip season

Instituto Allende Tours day trips to Dolores Hidalgo and the city of Guanajuato. Dolores Hidalgo is a center for Talavera style ceramics. On Dolores’ main square, Miguel Hidalgo uttered his famous “¡Viva Mexico!,” the historical cry for freedom referred to as “El Grito.” The main square also offers ice creams with unique and unusual flavors, such as avocado, shrimp and tequila, along with other more traditional types. 

Later, the tour heads to the capital city of Guanajuato, a charming city with a great cultural tradition and home of the University of Guanajuato. Famed painter Diego Rivera’s home is on the tour, along with an easy walking tour of other sites of interest such as the Plaza de la Paz and the main square.

Other points of interest include the university and the stately governmental buildings in Centro, along with a number of museums.

Instituto Allende tours are all-inclusive trips lead by bilingual guides. A free preview lecture occurs every Wednesday at 4 pm. Ex-San Miguel mayor Jaime Fernandez, often leads tours. Reservations and prepayment are a must. For more information, visit or call 152-0226. Instituto Allende, Ancha de San Antonio 20.



Botanical Garden tour

End the year exploring the natural delights of the El Charco del Ingenio (Jardín Botánico) on a two-hour tour Tuesdays at 10am sharp. Bring a hat, water and good walking shoes. Fees are 50 pesos for members and 80 pesos for nonmembers. Private tours are 150 pesos per person (minimum five). 

The easiest way to Jardín Botánico is by taxi. Staff will call a taxi for the return trip to town.

Reservations are not necessary. If you have any questions, email nzerriffi@yahoo.com.  
 

Performances & Events

Pastorela

Sunday, December 21, the children of Centro Infantil San Pablo present a Pastorela at the 10:30 Eucharist, St Paul’s Church, Cardo 6. The Eucharist will be somewhat abbreviated in order to accommodate the time for the. Invite your friends to this fun and moving event. A special comida/fundraiser follows with Chef and Deacon Ernie Townsend preparing his inimitable pasta for all, Longhorn Smokehouse, Salida a Celaya 6.


Iguana Festival de Artes ‘09

Participate in the month-long “Festival de Artes ‘09,”spnosored by Iguana Productions Organizers seek participants, vendors and entertainers for their February fair. Contact Sharon Conklin at sharon@theatersanmiguel.com  with requests for information.



Films & Videos

New Year’s Day Sit—A Time for Reflection

Many people think of New Year's Day as a time to sleep off the night before and then watch football. Others think of it as a fresh start, a time for reflection and contemplation. For the latter, the Meditation Center of San Miguel de Allende offers a half-day retreat on New Year’s Day, 2009. The day begins at 8am with a 40 minute sitting and 10 minutes walking meditation, followed by alternate sitting and walking periods until noon. Participants may come and go quietly at any time, and cushions or chairs are provided. Instruction is available upon request. Everyone is welcome at no charge. 

For more information about the New Year’s Day Sit, call 152-2854 or drop by the center at Callejón Blanco 4, near Quebrada



Volunteer Opportunities

The Community Connections section of the Atención provides descriptions, contacts and information for donors or volunteers.

Does your nonprofit need some extra help, perhaps for an upcoming event? Send short requests for volunteers to edit@atencionsanmiguel.org  with “Volunteer Opportunities” in the subject line. 



Pro Musica

Pro Música seeks an intelligent person with sense of humor with experience or interest in writing to help write articles about their concerts. Contact Pro Música President Michael Pearl at MPearl5493@aol.com.



Leading with English

FINO (Fundación de Niños Olvidados) is looking for volunteers who love elementary-age children to help teach its unique dual curriculum of English and leadership skills called “Leading with English” on Wednesdays, 11:45am–3pm in the village of Jalpa, located 20km from San Miguel. Transportation provided. Contact Elizabeth at finoac@gmail.com if you’re interested in serving once a week for a minimum of four to six weeks, or go to our website at www.finomex.org.



Children’s books in English to nonprofits

Occasionally, the Biblioteca Pública on Insurgentes receives donations of books it already has, and if they are not sold at the Bodega de Sorpresas, they become available for nonprofits to take. If you are interested in what might be available, see Kathleen in the Librarian’s Office, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10am–6pm.



Public Library seeks office bearers

The Biblioteca seeks a candidate for Vice-president of the Board of Directors. This is an extremely important position and highly gratifying in that it offers the opportunity to participate in policy decisions that determine the future of the entire operation.

The institution also needs someone to coordinate volunteer inquiries with available positions, do orientations and cultivate a network of full- and part-time residents who want to process books; teach art, English or computer classes; publicize events; work in a bookstore or help with displays. 

If you are interested in either of these positions, please contact Gregory Diamant, President of the Board of Directors, Biblioteca Pública, at gdiam@aol.com.