AROUND TOWN


Meetings & Lectures

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 

At this week’s meeting, international consultant Bob Leonard discusses “Islam and Our Misconceptions,” especially the widely embraced Western view that Islam is a violent and aggressive religion. The talk focuses on the real teaching of Muhammad and his reflections as recorded in the Quran.

During his long career, Leonard worked in Africa, the South Pacific, the Caucasus, and in Southeast and Central Asia, including Uzbekistan and Azerbijan, both Muslim countries. Since 1988, he has trained more than 800 developing-country nationals in management, planning and community development. Most recently, he was an advisor on a US$21-million World Bank community development and infrastructure project in Azerbaijan. Bob and his wife, Sue, are full-time San Miguel residents.

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

On Tuesday, November 18, Jody Feagan talks about the upcoming Writers’ Conference and other San Miguel Authors’ Sala programs. Feagan is the founder and director of the San Miguel Writers’ Conference and Literary Festival. In 2006, Feagan led the effort along with Susan Page, who founded the San Miguel Authors’ Sala, and 25 hard-working volunteers to organize a weekend writers’ event in San Miguel. More than 20 local and visiting authors signed on, along with literary agents and editors, offering workshops in fiction, memoir, self-publishing, poetry and children’s books to over 100 attendees. John Berendt, author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, was the keynote speaker. Attendance increases every year and the conference has expanded from a one-day to a five-day program.

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.



Lions Club International

On Thursday, December 4, Dr. Jose Valencia Rodriquez, a specialist in gerontology and the head of the new Cielito Lindo assisted living and retirement community at Los Labradores, describes a new option for those interested in what is available in and around San Miguel for older parents and perhaps individual future needs.

Lions Club International meets every first and third Thursday at Quinta Loreto Restaurant, Loreto 15. Parking is available. Check-in time is 12:30pm and the meeting starts at 1pm. For more information, contact Norma Robinson at 120-0726.



Social and newcomers club

The weekly dinner of the social and newcomers club is Tuesday, Novemeber 18, 7pm, at the Italian restaurant Mare Nostrum, Umurán 56. For more information call Jean Schikel at 152-4299 or Paula Nesti, 152-4299.

Bonsai presentation at El Charco 

Dan-Horia Chinda has taught martial arts around the world since the sixties and has a doctorate in architecture and environmental design. He will present the history, style and general principles of bonsai using a slide show which includes examples of trees from the bonsai masters and nurseries in Japan. The presentation is November 21, 10am, at the botanical garden Bóveda. Reserve space at nzerriffi@yahoo.com; members are 70 pesos and nonmembers 100 pesos.

Dan-Horia starts weekly bonsai classes in January, limited to 10 people. More details will be available at the presentation or email dan-horia@atelierdhc.com. Chinda’s website is http://atelierdhc.com/chindadojo/master/master.htm.  

Classes & Workshops

Chess: patio and terrace

Chess players meet Mondays 5–6:30pm in the north portal of the Biblioteca Pública’s central patio. The library closes at 7pm, but Café Santa Ana lets them carry on for another hour or two.

Players meet three times a week at Casa de la Cultura on Chorro: Saturdays, 10am–2pm, Wednesdays and Fridays, 5–8pm.

Blues guitar

Del Rey and Steve James will conduct a workshop on American roots and blues fingerstyle guitar. The two-part session focuses on the guitar styles of Memphis Minnie, Frank Stokes, Big Bill Broonzy and Sam McGee.

Rey and James demonstrate some of the techniques of these innovators, laced with bits of blues lore and history. They’ll show you where the styles came from and how they influenced the music that followed. Then they’ll break it all down into manageable points you can take home and practice. Bring along your guitar, ukulele or mandolin. 

Long-time teachers at festivals and music camps worldwide, Rey and James have conducted clinics at the Port Townsend Blues Festival, Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, Augusta Heritage Festival and Fur Peace Guitar Camp. 

The workshop costs 500 pesos, or 600 with admission to Friday night’s El Viejo Topo show. 

Chi-Kung and Tai-Chi Chuan at Los Frailes

Grandmaster Dr. Dan-Horia Chinda offers weekly workshops about “Mind, Body and Spirit Harmony through Chi-Kung and Tai-Chi Chuan” for all the neighbors in Los Frailes. He discusses basic issues, from theoretical to practical, benefits of practicing, implications in daily life and the awareness offered by diligent practice.

Workshops focus on simple Chi-Kung (energy cultivation) exercises which improve health and personal healing power, and move to Tai-Chi Chuan basics, an ancient approach to coordination, balance and flexibility.

The weekly workshops meet on Sundays at 10:30am at Plaza de Azulejo, around the big fountain. Sessions are about 45 minutes and everybody is welcome with no age limitation. They’re free but donations will be used for Los Frailes maintenance.

Hatha Yoga classes

Hatha Yoga strengthens the body, promotes balance and cultivates mindfulness. Beginners meet Mondays and Wednesdays, 9–10:30am; evening classes for all levels are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 6–7:30pm at Hotel Casa Bonita, Cardo 9. Contact Joanna at 152-1271 or joannafrancisdechavz@yahoo.com. 

Tours & Excursions

Saturday Adventure Tours

Have you ever wondered how those so real-looking fruits and vegetables, and those “good-enough to eat” pan dulce are made? Today we are going to see how they evolve from newspaper, rolls of sanitary paper and brown butcher’s paper. The type of object being made depends on the type of paper that will be chopped up and mixed with flour, water and glue. When this mushy mess reaches the right consistency, it is put into molds, later unmolded carefully and left to dry for the many processes of paint, varnish and shellac that produce—Eureka—a lovely red apple. In the sales room are barrels of fruit and veggies, baskets of pan dulces, plus napkin rings, coasters and oh, so many tempting things.

An interesting ride through flowering countryside takes us to Rancho Puerta de Sosa, where we see a seventeenth-century stone granary and then a chapel with early frescos still visible. The original home, following the colonial custom, is built around a central patio; on one wall are more old frescos. In front of the home is a lovely lagoon for ducks. Take your camera!

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

Botanical Garden tour

El Charco del Ingenio (Jardín Botánico) offers two-hour tours on 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

Arthur Murray dance at Romanos

The Arthur Murray dance studio holds its twice-monthly dance night at Romanos Italian restaurant, Hernández Macías 93, on Friday, November 21, 7:30–9pm. There is no cover charge but a 100-peso minimum order per table is requested.

Films & Videos

Meditation Center: Buddha’s Lost Children

The Meditation Center at callejón Blanco 4 presents Buddha’s Lost Children at 5:30pm, Thursday, November 20. The film by Mark Verkerk is a true story of compassion in the remote borderlands of Thailand’s Golden Triangle, where a professional Thai-boxer turned Buddhist monk devotes himself to caring for the poorest hill tribe children. The monk’s unique brand of tough love unlocks the boys’ potentials. Buddha’s Lost Children will challenge your views on childhood and parenting.

“I left the film inspired and humbled,” said Dominic Cappello, author of Talks about Violence.

Meditation Center presentations are free, but donations are accepted.



Volunteer Opportunities

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.
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