AROUND TOWN

Meetings & Lectures

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

The Reverend Doctor Constance Brereton speaks about her recent experiences in one of the most dangerous places in the world, the military Line of Control that separates the—Indian and Pakistani—controlled parts of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.

An artist, theologian, philosopher and adventurer with a deep interest in world culture, Rev. Brereton has kept a home in San Miguel for 30 years. 

The UU Fellowship meets every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. 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

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.

St Paul’s: Women Mystics

During Lent, Father Michael Long and the church Deacons present a series of talks on “Women Mystics,” beginning noon Tuesday, March 10, at St. Paul’s Church, calle Cardo 6.

Facilitators for Healing

The sixth Gathering of Facilitators for Healing , an “energy exchange,” takes place at noon on Thursday, March 3, at Privada de Pila Seca 5 (turn into the cul-de-sac opposite Pila Seca 45.) Every meeting is different. The meeting is free and open to the public, including those in need. Facilitators are invited to participate. Call 152-0376 for questions.

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 on the terraces at Casa de la Cultura on Chorro: Saturdays, 10am–2pm, Wednesdays and Fridays, 4–7pm.



Play with clay and beads

Learn how to make unique beads and sculptural jewelry at the advanced Polymer Clay workshop, Instituto Allende, Monday, March, 2 until Friday March 6, from 9 am-1:30 pm. Polymer Clay is a material favored by modern artists which can imitate the texture of stone, ivory and wood. A designers delight it also permits the direct transfer of images onto the surface.

Myriam Bardoul returns again to the Instituto with this favorite workshop.

The workshop costs US$225. For further information, call or visit Instituto Allende, Ancha de San Antonio 20 or call 152-0226. 

Tours & Excursions

Saturday Adventure Tours

February 28 takes Adventurers on a gem of a tour!

Jeweller Tomas Le Noir will recount adventures and stories of the amber mines of Chiapas where the indigenous people mine this 40-million-year-old resin. Le Noir then transforms the brute pieces into elegant refined jewelry.

In a change of scenery the tour visits an old hacienda. Hidden behind the wrought iron gate is a magnificent garden lined with a corridor of arches with rooms filled with antique furniture. In the main house, visitors are treated to a unique collection of heirloom furniture featuring a wall of European plates. The rest of the property continues to amaze visitors with breathtaking views, an elongated blue pool, an old wooden wagon filled with a riot of colorful flowers and even a private chapel. It is all like a movie set. Cameras a must.

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 on Tuesdays and Thursdays 

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 here 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. 



Performances & Events

Potluck Dinner at St. Paul’s

St. Paul’s Anglican Church invites everyone to a special potluck “Favorites” dinner on Saturday February 28 at 6.30pm in the Parish Hall, next to the church on Cardo 6. Bring your favorite dish for six (couples, please bring food for 10). Music will be by “Los Logros” (Ken Vaun, Ron Shawn and Liz Stone), the delightful trio who played two successful Valentine’s Day concerts at Teatro Ángela Peralta recently.

Church member Russ Archibald, a tireless worker for humanitarian causes, will give an informative 10-minute talk.

Reservations are required so that everyone is comfortably seated. Phone Rosalie Gower, 154-0186.

Events at Instituto Allende

Instituto Allende wraps up its Winter Season Arts and Crafts Fair, Saturday, February 28 and Sunday, March 1, 10am–6pm. This is the final of three others successful fairs that preceded this weekend's. The fair, now in its 10th year, showcases some of San Miguel’s finest artists and craftspeople. Over 100 vendors come from Guanajuato, Oaxaca, Michoacán, Mexico and San Luis Potosi. There’s live music all day, food and an easy-going atmosphere.

On Tuesday March 3 at 6pm famed local artist David Leonardo inaugurates an exhbit with new works at the James Pinto Gallery inside the Instituto. Leonardo's exquisite historic murals depicting both pre-Columbian and Colonial times are rich with both color and content. His work inside the Biblioteca Pública’s Quetzal room is a stunning visual history of the Aztec world and mythology. In the Instituto Allende courtyard Leonardo painted the definitive mural of contemporary Mexican history and the Independence and Revolutionary movements.

Leonardo's newest work spromises to be a visual and intellectual cornucopia.

"Los Camperos," Mariachi perform inside Instituto Allende at Terraza Pergola, Thursday, March 5 at 5:30 pm. Mariachi music and Mexico are inseparable and what better place to enjoy a cocktail than the patio with the best views in town. Admission $100 pesos includes cocktail. 

Super-Bodega Sale

In March, the Bodega adds a special section of rare and collectible books, valued from 50 pesos to 5,000. The books are from the many donations the library receives. Each Thursday, 10am–1pm, more volumes will be added to the special section on the Biblioteca patio. This sale provides additional funds for the library. The Bodega de Sorpresas has helped fund the Biblioteca’s scholarship programs for decades through weekly sales of books and other items.

Croquet 

The 2009 season of San Miguel croquet is underway with a two week tournament that began on February 5. The winning doubles team were Charles Rutherford and Bill Carridine. The singles winner was Dean Sanders of San Miguel. It should be noted however, that the runner-up in both contests was the Club’s oldest member, 92-year-old retired Air Force colonel, Allen Crockett. Those finals were held Sunday, February 15, followed by a gala Fiesta for members and their guests. The next tournament is scheduled for the Fourth of July.

New members, for a month or a year, are welcome and many are surprised with the level of skill involved, often it is described as a combination of billiards and chess, with a little golf thrown in!

The Club offers free lessons for those interested in this fascinating game of skill and strategy. Call Max Neder at 152-1090 or George Mauze at 150-0138.

Films & Videos 

Meditation Center

The Meditation Center of San Miguel presents The Legend of Bodhidharma, a Zen documentary that combines education and entertainment, Thursday, March 5, 5:30pm, at Callejon Blanco 4, near Quebrada. 

In a life-changing event, Attorney Jonathan Lang is introduced to Bodhidharma, the legendary founder of Zen, and to meditation by a knowledgeable shopkeeper. In this documentary, Lang’s journey is interwoven with artwork depicting the legend of Bodhidharma and interviews with John Daido Loori, Roshi Zen Mountain Monastery, Bernie Glassman, Roshi Zen Peacemakers, Gerry Shishin Wick, Roshi Great Mountain Zen Center, and Dennis Genpo Merzel, Roshi Kanzeon Zen Center. Please join us for this enlightening video. Presentations of the Meditation Center are free. Donations are always gratefully accepted.

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.



Biblioteca Pública

The English Book Committee seeks:

1) Librarians with an extensive background in children’s and adult literature,

2) Catalogers experienced in using electronic systems, and

3) Computer-literate individuals (with strong eye for detail) who will edit catalog records.

Call Robin Velte at 154-4661.

SPA needs volunteers

We know you caring people are out there! The Sociedad Protectora de Animales is looking for volunteers who can work on membership roles, newsletters, and Fund Raising. Possible Board positions available. Please write: nhardy110@aol.com or call 154-5761 for more information.

Pro Musica 

Pro Musica de San Miguel seeks 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. No knowledge of music is neccessary. Contact President Michael Pearl at 152-2688 or mpearl5493@aol.com.