AROUND TOWN

Meetings & Lectures

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship program this Sunday focuses on the achievements of Jovenes Adelante, A.C., which has seen 10 local students complete their university programs and embark on professional careers since its inception in 2001.

Following a few words from past President Virginia Wheelwright, three current scholarship recipients will speak about their university experiences: Christian Negrete Cisneros is in his third year studying tourism in Guanajuato; Emanuel Macias Yanez is in his second year studying to be an electrician in Dolores Hidalgo; Remedios Hernandez Mancilla is in her fourth year studying law in San Miguel. They will talk about how the financial as well as mentoring and tutoring assistance they received has helped them achieve their dreams of a university education.

The program begins at 10:30am on Sunday, February 17, at the Hotel Posada de La Aldea located at Ancha de San Antonio 15, second floor. The public is invited to attend and to meet afterwards for lunch in the hotel restaurant, where there will be an opportunity to meet and visit with these talented students. 



Midday Rotary Club

Fabiola Garcia, International Affairs Coordinator for the Municipality, is the guest speaker at the Midday Rotary Club meeting on Tuesday, February 19.

As a consultant to the foreign community, Garcia will explain how her office helps with expediting transactions across the border, providing a link between local government and the nonprofit organizations, coordinating the Sister Cities program and working closely in support of all major San Miguel conferences. In her latter role, Garcia has been a key player in planning the forthcoming April Diabetes Conference sponsored by Rotary Clubs of San Miguel de Allende.

The Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday meets every Tuesday at their new location, the 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 12:30pm. 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. For more information, please go to the website: www.rotarysma.org. 

Behind the doors of San Miguel

San Miguel-based photographer and writer Robert de Gast again presents the popular slide show and lecture based on one of his books, Behind the Doors of San Miguel. De Gast photographed hundreds of private scenes—sun-struck, shade-dappled courtyards, seldom-seen roof gardens, little sanctuaries of peace and beauty—in all parts of town. Many of these photographs are featured in his book. This time he shows hundreds of other images: not only the gardens of rich and famous expatriates, but also the delightful patios of our Mexican neighbors, sometimes bizarre, but always interesting and often beautiful. In these photographs, we glimpse the lives and traditions of a unique and magical place.

De Gast, born in the Netherlands and a long-time resident of San Miguel, is the author of nine books, lectures frequently and runs small photography workshops.

The one-hour presentation is on Tuesday, February 19, at 5pm, at the Teatro Santa Ana in the Biblioteca Pública, Insurgentes 25. Admission is 50 pesos, which benefits the many programs of the library. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the theater entrance, any weekday after 11am. The talk will end in sufficient time for those planning to attend the PEN lecture at nearby Bellas Artes.

Discover Galapagos, Ecuador & Peru

Attend an informative meeting to discover why the Galapagos Islands, Quito, Lima, Cuzco and Machu Picchu are on the “must see” lists of so many travelers and why all are UNESCO World Heritage sites. The seminar will take place in the Sala Quetzal at the Biblioteca Pública on Tuesday, February 19 at 3pm. This free event is sponsored by Perfect Journeys, which will be showcasing the upcoming tour “Discover Galapagos, Ecuador & Peru.”

Economic class war in the US

Ever suspect that some people, but not anyone you know, are raking in a lot of money? Well, you’re right! And Jack Rasmus, in a recent book entitled The War at Home: The Corporate Offensive from Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush, tells us all about it.

Rasmus details this annual trillion dollar theft. No doubt many of us enjoying life and retirement in San Miguel are trying to get by on our monthly Social Security checks. And we all have friends who are headed this way because after a lifetime of working they don’t have enough retirement savings to stay at home.

This lecture is sponsored by the Center for Global Justice and will take place Wednesday, February 20, 10:30am, Sala Quetzal, Biblioteca Pública.

Get your copy of La Linea signed

Join Beldon Butterfield on Thursday, February 21 from 5–8pm for a book signing at Casa Mision. He will be signing copies of La Linea/The Line. Casa Mision is located at 3rd Cerrada de Pila Seca (thru the La Aldea arch, 1st callejon on the right). The event benefits Cruz Roja, 50 pesos.

How to age well, stay fit and be happy

Expert on successful aging, Harriet Vines, Ph.D., is an experienced author, lecturer and retired college professor who has appeared on radio and TV. Intrinsically motivated to research aging, Dr. Vines quickly discovered most of us do not exercise the power we have over the process. Now she is sharing results from 15 years of consultation, workshops and lectures at Leisure World, Canyon Ranch, Independent Retirement Communities and Adult Education Programs in her new book and animated PowerPoint resentation.

Join Dr Vines for a lecture, February 22, 5pm, Sala Quetzal, Biblioteca Pública.

Classes & Workshops

Chess workshops

Free chess workshops meet Mondays—children 8 to 12 years old at 4–5pm in the Sala Infantil, and adults at 5–6:30pm in the central patio of the Biblioteca Pública. The Biblioteca has chess sets, but bring your own if you’re fond of it. Last week, 14 players kept at it briskly until closing time. Some players meet in the patio informally around 5pm on other days of the week. About eight players gather at Mama Mia, Umaran 8, on Wednesdays, 5–7pm. The restaurant has tournament-class sets and with the warmer weather, assistant manager Martín has said we could move to the rooftop terraces to play chess in the grand style.

Hatha Yoga class

Hatha yoga strengthens the body, promotes balance and cultivates mindfulness. Join us for low-cost classes Tuesday and Thursday evenings 6:30–7pm. The Shakti Yoga Center is on Ancha de San Antonio above La Finestra restaurant, between Blockbuster and Santa Clara ice cream. Mats, bolsters, blocks and straps provided. Contact: Joanna at 152-1271 or francisjoanna@hotmail.com. 

Fourth gathering of facilitators for healing

The fourth Gathering of Facilitators for Healing, an “energy exchange,” takes place at noon on Thursday, February 21 at Privada de Pila Seca 5 (turn into cul de sac at Pila Seca 46.) The meeting is free and open to the public, including those needing to be healed. You don’t have to be a healer to attend, although “everyone is a healer.” For more information, call152-0376.

Trips & Tours

Audubon bird walk

Due to their Gala Fundraiser taking place on February 17, Audubon has rescheduled their usual third Sunday of the month bird walk for the fourth Sunday, February 24.

We hope that our faithful birders will notice this change. Transportation permitting, the plan is to go to the bridge at Montecillo de Nieto. From the bridge there is an excellent eye-level view of the bird life in the surrounding trees where Great Kiskadees and Golden-fronted Woodpeckers abound. Looking down at the Rio Laja, one can see water-loving birds, like the Black Phoebe, and with luck, the beautiful Green Kingfisher patrolling the stream.

The Audubon bird walk is a monthly event gratis to members of Audubon de Mexico. We ask a donation of 100 pesos, or US$10 of nonmembers to contribute to the ecological projects in which Audubon is involved.

People wishing to take part should meet in front of the Instituto Allende at 8am, equipped with hat and drinking water. Binoculars and bird books are useful, but not necessary, as there will be a scope among the birders. The trip leaves promptly at 8:15am. Anyone with an automobile willing to help with transportation is greatly appreciated.

Audubon is looking for an enthusiastic bird lover who would like to lead bird walks in the coming months. If you are interested or would like more information, please call Bob Graham at 154-9856.

Botanical Garden Tour

Every Tuesday morning, discover the marvels of cacti and other Mexican plants and learn about the history of El Charco del Ingenio (garden and nature reserve) with Martin Smith, curator of the collection. 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. 

Performances & Events

Fundraiser for Tibetan orphans

A special garden party fundraiser occurs in San Miguel on February 16 from 3–6pm in support of Tibetan orphans. Almost 500 orphans live and are educated at the Menri Bon Tibetan Monastery in Dolanji, Himachal Pradesh, India. Dolanji is a Tibetan Refugee Settlement Camp. They have the same needs as all children—food, clothing, shelter, education and love.

This is the first event of its kind anywhere in Mexico. It is made possible by www.bonfoundation.org and Dr. Denise Gelpi Aughtman DOM, resident of San Miguel. Donations made through this organization are tax deductible, although cash and checks are accepted.

The garden party includes a door prize for everyone, a raffle, an art show with music, refreshments and a short slide lecture at 4 and 5pm. The location is in Colonia la Canada at Puente de Sta. Teresa 10. Please enter Los Frailes and make your first right, then first left, and, finally, first right to 10, located on the right. Contact: Denise, 044-415-113-1043.

Film & Video

Zen Video Series

The third presentation in our series is Un Buda, a Spanish film with English subtitles, filmed in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The DVD cover describes it thus: “A young man, thrust into the world of a great city, fights to avoid his deep spiritual need and the desperate longing of his soul to know who he is. His loss, disillusionment and tragedy cause him to bury himself in the depths of ascetic spiritual practices, to abandon completely his ordinary life. He goes to a Zen temple in the mountains in search of a teacher. He finds him, but all is not as he thought.”

Guillermo Hernandez of Rock and Pop says: “If this movie came from the American cinema it would be considered a masterpiece. Very interesting, very well filmed, very well told, very well acted with great sensitivity.” The running time of the film is an hour and forty-five minutes.

Seating is limited; early arrival is recommended. A 20-peso contribution is requested. 

This video will be shown Thursday February 21 at 5:30pm at the Meditation Center, Callejon Blanco 4, off Quebrada.

Snowbird Symposium Film Series

The American Ruling Class and Paul Robeson: Here I Stand are this week’s entries in the Center for Global Justice Snowbird Symposium Film Series.

The American Ruling Class is a dramatic documentary written by Lewis Lapham and directed by John Kirby that “explores our country’s most taboo topic: class, power and privilege in our nominally democratic republic.” It seeks to answer the question, “Does America have a ruling class?”

To find the answer to this question, Lapham sends two fictional Yale grads on a series of interviews, some candid and some staged, with such power brokers as former secretary of State James Baker as well as progressive icons, such as Howard Zinn, filmmaker Robert Altman, Barbara Ehrenreich, Kurt Vonnegut and Pete Seeger.

Ultimately, the film is a morality tale. Our two representative graduates, “one rich and the other not so rich,” must struggle with their responsibilities in “a world collaterally damaged by the magic of money and the miracles of science.” The real-life luminaries they meet on their journey become characters in a story about power, its responsibilities and abuses. The film is presented on Monday, February 18 at 3pm

Paul Robeson: Here I Stand presents the life and achievements of an extraordinary man. Athlete, singer and scholar, Robeson was also a charismatic champion of the rights of the poor working man, the disenfranchised and people of color. He led a life in the vanguard of many movements, achieved international acclaim for his music and suffered tremendous personal sacrifice.

The film is screened at 3pm on Thursday, February 21. Both films are shown at the Teatro Santa Ana in the Biblioteca Pública with an admission charge of 50 pesos.

Bioneers Film Series

On Tuesday, February 19, the Bioneers Films will feature intrepid explorers of “liminal lands.” The first film will feature Ka Hsaw Wa and Katie Redford, who speak about their own collaborative work in the jungles of Burma and the Amazon. The liminal lands

they explore are the ones between human rights, indigenous peoples and international corporations. Ka Hsaw Wa, a member of the Karen ethnic nationality, was one of the student leaders in the1988 Burmese student democracy uprising and has been a human rights activist ever since. He has been recognized by many environmental groups, having won awards such as the Goldman Environmental Prize, the Reebok Human Rights Award and the Styler award for Human Rights and the Environment.

The second film features scientist Wallace J. Nichols speaking about A Brave New Ocean. Senior scientist at the Ocean Conservancy and ocean activist extraordinaire, Nichols delves into the new space-based research and new deep sea technologies that have resulted in an explosion of information about our oceans.

The films will be shown from 3–4pm at Teatro Santa Ana. The cost is 50 pesos. An optional Conversation Café will follow.