AROUND TOWN

Meetings & Lectures

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

George Bell, a 17-year resident of San Miguel and Unitarian Universalist since the early fifties, will talk about his long life in music at this Sunday’s meeting.

George is well known for his long association with all things musical in San Miguel, especially the Chamber Music Festival, the Jazz Festival, Promusica, Suzuki programs and various concerts. He’ll also relate his experiences as a professional concert violinist in New York, Hollywood and Los Angeles prior to making his home here.

The UU Fellowship meets every Sunday at 10:30am 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.

Macintosh Users Group 

“10 Great Macintosh Websites” is the topic for this month’s meeting of the San Miguel Macintosh Users Group at 3pm, Monday, April 20, in the Biblioteca’s Sala Quetzal.

The Web is a natural ally for those seeking information on how to use their Macs to make their computing experience more efficient and enjoyable. We’ll take a look at 10 great websites that offer tips and tricks, free software, troubleshooting, history, hardware, Apple news, discussion lists and more. We’ll also demonstrate how to download, setup and use Skype—the free software program that allows users to make telephone calls, instant messages, or video calls over the internet without cost to other Skype users. 

In addition, experienced facilitators will field questions about anything and everything on your Mac.

The Macintosh Users Group meets monthly in a comfortable learning environment to expand skills, build confidence and explore the creative possibilities of Macs. Everyone is welcome at the free meetings. Contact Nonni Markeset nonniem@mac.com  or Jon Sievert jon@humblepress.com  for more information.

Midday Rotary Club

Cecilia Ibarrola de Escobar, Director of Instituto Rehabilitacion y Ensenanza Especial (IREE), the school for the deaf, is the guest speaker for the April 21 meeting.

IREE is the only school for deaf and hard-of-hearing children in San Miguel and the surrounding region. Founded in 1992 by San Miguel resident Cecilia, IREE has taught deaf children and children with speech problems for 15 years.

Cecilia will discuss the present status of the school and recent progress made in funding and education. She will impart what it would be like to live in world without music, sounds of birds, the wind or the sound of human voices. 

The Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday meets Tuesdays at Hotel Real de Minas, intersection of calles Ancha de San Antonio and Stirling Dickinson. Check-in time is 12–12:15pm and the meeting starts promptly at 12:30. Visit www.rotarysma.org  for more information.



Classes & Workshops

Chess: patio and terrace

Chess players meet Mondays 5–6:30pm in the north portal of the Biblioteca Pública’s central patio. Players also meet three times a week at Casa de la Cultura on Chorro: Saturdays, 10am–2pm, Wednesdays and Fridays, 4:30–7pm.



Tours & Excursions

Saturday Adventure Tours 

These tours benefit the Centro de Crecimiento school for disabled children and leave the Jardín, across from the Parroquia, at 10:30am.

Botanical Garden Tour 

A guided tour in English of El Charco del Ingenio each Tuesday and Thursday, 10am–12:30pm, is a fun and informative activity for people of all ages. Entry is 30 pesos (waived for members) and the tour is 50 pesos. Wear a hat and closed shoes. The juice bar next to the gift shop has water and refreshments. The easiest way there is by taxi. Staff will call a taxi for the return trip. Reservations are not necessary. Information: www.elcharco.org  or email nzerriffi@yahoo.com. 

Audubon conducts a bird walk on the third Sunday of every month. This Sunday, April 19, Bob Graham, our renowned birder/hiker/leader, takes us on a walk through El Charco del Ingenio, San Miguel’s Botanical Garden, where many interesting birds are always on site and in sight.

Possible sightings include Cassin’s Kingbird and the Roofbird. Meet at the Instituto Allende entrance, Ancha San Antonio 20, at 7:45am Sunday. As the sun rises higher, those who have brought a hat and water will be happier. Cars will be available. However, if you bring a car and can share a ride, it’s an easy drive to the starting point.

Bring binoculars if you have them. Bob will have the new Audubon bird guides with him for purchase. The walk is free for Audubon members and 50 pesos for others. You’ll be back by noon, with new entries for your life list and new friends in the world of birding. Call Linda Whynman at 152-2139 if you have questions.

Audubon is always looking for guest birders to lead walks, too. Visit http://www.audubonmex.org  for more information.



Performances & Events

Tardes de Tertulia at Bellas Artes 

Wednesday Cultural Gatherings take place at 6pm at Café las Musas in Bellas Artes, a wonderful space for a series of musical and theatrical performances about different kinds of music. Zarzuela was March 27 and April 3. Neapolitan songs are April 22, and tango is May 6 and 13.

In these comical performances in both English and Spanish, our characters, the count and the countess of Bellas Artes, tell you the history of the musical genre and the musicians interpret it.

They are Christian Baumgartner, Laumuq, Xavier Hernandez (tenor), Liliana Gutierrez (piano) and Gabriela Perales (soprano).

LASMA Movimiento Cultural, a nonprofit organization composed of recognized artists from diverse disciplines, presents the cultural gatherings. LASMA exists to raise the level of culture in our community and to support artists’ creative proposals.

Tardes de Tertulia is for everyone and it’s a fun way to understand and enjoy music, poetry and theater in one of San Miguel’s most beautiful spaces.



Films & Videos

Meditation Center

The Meditation Center at Callejon Blanco 4, near Quebrada, presents I Am That I Am, the teachings of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, Part 1, on Thursday, April 23, at 5:30pm. Please arrive well before 5:30, as seating is limited and late arrivals disturb others. Part 2 will be shown April 30. The films are free, though donations are always welcome.

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj met his guru Sri Siddharameshwar at the age of 34, and three years later “realized” his true nature. He remained little known until 1974, when the book I Am That appeared, arguably the most profound spiritual text of a generation. Since his death in 1981, he is considered by many to be the strongest voice of Advaita-Vedanta to appear in the twentieth century.

Narrated by Dr. Stephen Wolinsky, this DVD contains the complete teachings of Sri Nisargadatta and “experiential meditations” to lead the viewer into the I am, and beyond. These teachings convey Maharaj’s basic premise, “All you can teach is understanding, the rest comes on its own.” 

Forum/ShalomSMA

As we stroll through museums and galleries, do we think about how these works came to be in their places? You are sure to be surprised by the number of masterpieces you’ll recognize and by their violent and hidden history.

Joan Allen narrates The Rape of Europa, a documentary that chronicles 12 years of the Nazis’ pillaging works of art throughout Europe and the international effort to locate, protect and return millions of valuable treasures. The film traces the story of art lovers and everyday heroes who tried to thwart the looting Nazis and reveals how experts from Europe and the US are still working to recover priceless works of art missing or hidden for decades.

The screening is Monday, April 27, at 5pm, in the Hotel Quinta Loreto TV room,

Loreto 15. Plan to stay afterward, enjoy the refreshments and share your impressions. Your 50-peso donation helps us continue our Outreach Programs in San Miguel.



Volunteer Opportunities

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.


Photographers for Atención

San Miguel hosts several photography workshops each year, and some pass though town on the way to other destinations. If you are a workshop organizer or a participant, contact Editor in Chief Suzanne Ludekens about submitting photographs for publication. Call 152-3770 or email edit@atencionsanmiguel.org. 

Atención proofreaders needed 

Atención seeks help with typo suppression—proofreading. The ideal candidates will have some professional experience in journalism or publishing, but we don’t live in an ideal world. Just drop by sometime for the 20-minute, nitpicking proofreading test. Hours are flexible, but the people who come Thursdays and Fridays like wrestling with manuscripts, while the Tuesday people prefer galleys. 

Pro Musica 

Pro Musica de San Miguel is looking for a volunteer to be the secretary to its board, to send out agendas, attend board meetings and prepare the minutes. The eight annual board meetings are between September and May. Pro Musica promotes classical music with 20 concerts a year at St. Paul’s Church. This position offers the opportunity to be involved in a fascinating aspect of the arts world. No knowledge of music is neccessary. Contact President Michael Pearl at 152-2688 or mpearl5493@aol.com.  

Centro Infantil 

Centro Infantil, a preschool and kindergarten program for disadvantaged Mexican children ages 3–5, an outreach program of St. Paul’s Church modeled on Head Start, has several volunteer opportunities. A volunteer arts coordinator, preferably experienced with preschool children, to develop and implement an arts program incorporating volunteers. Some Spanish desirable. Also needed are volunteer English teachers for one hour per week and volunteer classroom assistants one morning per week. Contact Linda Work at 154-5729 or work_Linda@yahoo.com. 

Santa Julia Girls 

Volunteers are needed for the Adolescent Life Skills Program. Last semester’s pilot was a success, so the Madres are seeking female Mexican mentors to continue. Contact Robin Loving at robin@robinloving.com if you can help with beds or roof repairs to the Madre house. Several donors from San Jose, CA; Appleton, WI; and San Marcos, TX need help getting their donations to the children. Contact BobbiFries@yahoo.com  or 152-4957 if you are travelling from any of these areas.

El Nigromante

Volunteers are needed at Centro CASSA “El Nigromante” for the children’s English and computing programs, and the mixed painting and chess workshops. All are afternoon programs and some experience with children is required. Visit Biblioteca Municipal, Pepe Llanos 14, or call Jesús Rodríguez, 152-7855.

Patronato Pro Niños 

PPN provides health and dental care to needy children and seeks volunteers two mornings a month throughout the school year to offer services to ill children in outlying areas. Should be fluent in Spanish and/or have a vehicle that can travel unpaved roads. Contact Steve Livingston at steve@stevelivingston.com. 

For the “Wash Your Hands” project, sponsored jointly by PPN and Feed the Hungry, volunteers are needed to demonstrate hand-washing skills to children in San Miguel schools. Transportation and teaching information provided; dates and times flexible; Spanish a plus. Contact marylcarruth@yahoo.com.