AROUND TOWN

Meetings and Lectures

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Meeting

The San Miguel UU Fellowship introduces a new program that will be presented from time to time called “This I Believe, This I Do.” It will feature up to three members who will present aspects of their belief systems and how they implement those beliefs in their lives. With beliefs that run the gamut from the theistic to the humanistic, the Fellowship hopes that many members will choose to share in this program format in the future. The entire community of SMA is invited to learn more about what makes Unitarian Universalists “tick.”

Sunday’s program will be led by the Reverend Farley W. Wheelwright, a retired UU minister who marched with Martin Luther King and served nearly 50 years in the pulpit. A legendary figure within the worldwide Unitarian Universalist community, Rev. Wheelwright has been a full-time resident of San Miguel for more than 15 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.

Midday Rotary Club

On Tuesday May 6, we are pleased to have as our guest speaker Harold Shand, Director of Sales for the new Artesana Rosewood Residences development, San Miguel’s first five-star resort community. Mr. Shand will be sharing some thoughts on the vision behind the development as well as how Artesana will contribute to the community of San Miguel.

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 Calle Ancha de San Antonio and Calle Sterling Dickinson. Check-in time is 12:00-12:25 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. For more information, please go to the website: www.rotarysma.org. 

Garden Party fundraiser at St. Paul’s Church

The Centro Infantil San Pablo is holding a fundraising Garden Party on the lawn of St. Paul’s Church on Friday, May 9 from 10am to noon. In addition to a children’s special Mother’s Day presentation, there will be delicious home baking, beautiful handcrafted gifts, fresh flower nosegays and children’s art for sale. 

The Centro Infantil—a St. Paul’s mission—provides preschool orientation to under-privileged Mexican children, modeled after the Head Start programs in the US. It needs funds for a new building. The program offers individual teaching attention and parents are taught how to participate in their children’s schooling. In addition, families are given early identification of health problems and learning disabilities, social service referrals and emergency assistance. At lunch each day children have a nutritious meal via the Feed the Hungry program. 

Volunteers are always needed: contact Claudia Vilchis at 152-6233.

Classes & Workshops

Chess workshops

Free chess workshops for adults meet Mondays 5–6:30pm in the central patio of the Biblioteca Pública. The Biblioteca has good chess sets, but bring your own if you like. More than a dozen players occupy the north portal of the patio each week. The library is closed May 5, but the players will be back on Mat 12.

About 10 players gather at Mama Mia, Umarán 8, on Wednesdays, 5–7pm. The restaurant has tournament-class sets and spectacular views of churches, mountains and sunsets from the rooftop terraces.

Adults also play chess at Casa de la Cultura on Chorro, 10am–2pm on Saturdays (no meeting on May 3, though, due to the holiday). The view is extraordinary and you’ll know you’ve earned it after you climb the last switchback on the road to the top of the hill.

Private acting technique classes with San Miguel Actors Workshop

Alan Jordan, Artistic Director of Iguana Productions and San Miguel Actors Workshop, has announced that he will be offering private acting classes for a limited time.

San Miguel Actors Workshop has been dormant during these very successful productions (Love Letters, Sex Lies & Quilting, In Their Own Words and The Love List) and now it’s time to go back to the routes of a strong acting technique class. We have always offered private coaching for actors, poets and singers who are in town and want to work on specific pieces but this is the first time we are offering private classes to the public. Private classes will be more flexible for those who travel, have busy schedules, or are in town for short visits.

For more information on Jordan and Iguana Productions, their website is www.theatersanmiguel.com. 

Individual acting technique classes are 350 pesos or a package of 10 classes for 2,500 pesos (250 pesos each). Each private acting technique class is between 60 and 90 minutes in duration. Classes will be held in Jordan’s home in colonia Independencia, telephone 154-0352.

Tours & Excursions

Saturday Adventure Tours

A great adventure today. We go first to a genuine colonial townhouse that has been where it is for the last 300 years, on Hidalgo, about a block and a half from the Jardín. In those days it was important to be near the church, and the Parroquia was there, though not the “Pink Cathedral” it is today. Over the years the home has undergone many changes, though probably none so drastic as the most recent, but it has also been brought back to some of its original luxury. A modern touch is a pool in place of the central patio, surrounded by palm trees (also something new). All the big comfortable bedrooms now have bathrooms. Cantera is used throughout for arches, pillars and fireplaces. The dining room is in its original position facing the patio (now pool) with the typical Arabian-style arched doors. Leaving the glories of the past, we head way out to Las Hadas Madrinas (The Fairy Godmother) better known as Patsy’s Place! Surely the good fairy waved her magic wand over this arid land and turned it into the green oasis that it is today. Patsy is a well-known caterer and cooking teacher, and the focal point of her home is her kitchen, a cook’s dream. She also is a great collector of Mexican crafts, as every nook, cranny and shelf will attest to. Quite likely, Patsy, true to nature, will show off some of her mouth-watering goodies for us to sample. This tour leaves from inside the Jardín, across from the Parroquia, at 10:30am. Bring your camera along!

Botanical Tour at El Charco

Every Tuesday morning discover the marvels of cacti and other Mexican plants as well as the history of El Charco through a guided tour in English. Entrance fee is 30 pesos (waived for members) and the tour is 50 pesos. All proceeds benefit the garden. The tour starts at the main entrance at 9:00a.m. and lasts about 2.5 hours. Bring a hat and water. Space is limited, so reserve by calling 154-8838 or email charcodelingenio@gmail.com. 

Lions Club trip

The International Lions Club of San Miguel is sponsoring another bargain trip—this time an overnight stay in Tesquisquipan in the state of Querétero on May 29. This is the time of the annual wine and cheese festival, which features the products of regional vineyards.

The town is known as The Fountain of Eternal Youth, as the abundant thermal waters are touted to be therapeutic. On Thursday night, the festival offers wine, cheese and live music. The next day, the group will head to Bernal for lunch. Bernal is situated at the entrance to the Sierra Gorda mountain range and its main attraction for many visitors is the enormous stone that is reportedly second in size only to Australia’s Ayers Rock.

The fee for the trip covers transportation in an air-conditioned bus, hotel, tips and breakfast, plus a donation to the Lions Eye Clinic which dispenses glasses and gives free diabetes testing on Thursday mornings at Correo 63. The cost is 900 pesos each, double occupancy, and it is important to make your reservations early, because only 36 participants can be accommodated on this trip. For information and reservations, email Jean Schickel at jeanandpeter@prodigy.net.mx, or call Ellen Gary at 152-3406. Fees will be collected at the eye clinic 10–11am, Thursday, May 8.

Films & Videos

The New Earth final screening

During the last several weeks, Oprah Winfrey has held a series of eight live television programs viewed by over 12 million people world-wide. The last two chapters of The New Earth written by Eckhart Tolle, will be shown on April 29 and May 6, in the Sala Quetzal at the Bibloteca Pública at 2pm. A discussion group will follow the broadcast.

This is the first time Oprah has brought a book to the net and her enthusiasm for author Tolle, and the message he has to deliver, needed world-wide attention. It is commercial-free and seen by millions around the world.

Oprah’s interest in Tolle began with publication of The Power of Now and most recently with his best seller, The New Earth. More than 650 San Miguel residents have attended the eight previous showings held at the Villa Jacaranda. Due to the hotel’s closure for extensive remodeling, the series will continue at the Bibloteca. For further information or suggestions for the discussion group, please contact Bob Andren at bob.andren@yahoo.com. 

Overheard

This small space is dedicated to the priceless gems overheard around town. Send your contribution to edit@atencionsanmiguel.org  with “Overheard” in the subject line.


Jackie to Stan: “Are you gonna carry me home?”

Stan: “No...I’m gonna roll you up in a little ball and kick you down the hill!”

Jim, responding to being called a descendant of Adam and Eve: “You're not gonna change my relatives.”

San Miguel curse: “May he trip on a cobblestone.”.