AROUND TOWN

Meetings & Lectures

Shalom San Miguel

Joe Ershun speaks at the Shalom San Miguel Shabbat dinner and lecture on Friday, January 9, at 6pm in the hotel restaurant. The annual membership meeting is Sunday, January 11, 4–6pm in the TV Salon (refreshments). Both events are at Hotel Quinta Loreto, calle Loreto 15.
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 

At this week’s service, Sergio Rodriguez addresses the healing process that comes after the end of a love relationship, either through choice or death. A severed relationship that has lasted many years and endured many trials can be a life-shattering experience. The circumstances vary, but one thing remains constant—your need to heal your heart, rebuild your trust and get on with the rest of your life.

“Climbing” the rebuilding mountain is tough, from the pits of denial to the swamp of grief, the fire of anger, to the hills of transitions, openness and recovery. This process has been “mapped” and knowing the territory can be helpful. He’ll offer some guidelines on how to grow during this difficult time.

The UU Fellowship meets every Sunday at 10:30 am 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, January 13, Rossana Quiroz Ennis will address the topic, “Whose Trash Is It?” Ennis is a cultural researcher and archaeologist who came to San Miguel in 2004 to participate in the Cañada de la Virgen Archaeological Research Project and has been in charge of the Astronomic Observational Program at the site for the last four years. She has created Basuraco, a domestic project for garbage separation. Her project won first place at the Recycle Contest organized by the Mexico City government this past November.

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.

Social and newcomers club

The social and newcomers club meets every Tuesday night either at a local restaurant or a house. For more information about the weekly dinner, call Jean Schikel at 152-4299 or Paula Nesti, 152-4299. 

The Art of Self-Editing

Steve Joseph gives a talk/workshop and Q&A on “The Art of Self-Editing” at Garrison & Garrison Books in the courtyard of the Sautto Hotel on January 14 at 5pm. Joseph was an editor at Dell, McGraw-Hill and Macmillan. He compiled and edited the million-selling anthology, The Me Nobody Knows.

Center for Global Justice

For many the Obama campaign represented a call to restore the US as a nation ruled by law, respected by others and itself, that unites and uplifts its people—a country we can be proud of once again. To achieve that will require undoing much of the damage left behind by the Bush administration.

On the eve of the new administration taking control, the Center for Global Justice will host a public forum, “What Is to be Undone?” to hear what US citizens (as well as others affected by failed policies—that’s just about everyone in the world) want to have undone. Come add your voice to shaping an agenda for change we can believe in. The Wednesday, January 14 forum at 10:30am in the Sala Quetzal (50 pesos) will be introduced by brief statements from Jon Sievert, Cliff DuRand on restoring the Constitution and Arturo Yarish on militarism. Others are encouraged to bring their ideas and share them. What needs to be undone in order for the nation to move ahead? The resulting collective agenda for change will be sent to the Obama administration. 

Gathering of Facilitators for Healing

The group at this meeting promotes openness about alternative medicine, provides hands-on demonstrations of healing techniques and encourages others to participate. I would encourage anyone interested in alternative medicine to attend one of the Gatherings.

This is the Gathering’s eleventh year. This first 2009 Gathering, an “energy exchange,” takes place at noon on Thursday, January 22 at Privada de Pila Seca 5 (turn into 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 information, but there is no need to call ahead to reserve a place on the program.

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, 4–7pm.

Robert de Gast’s “Portrait of the Parroquia”

It is not a cathedral. It is not the oldest church in San Miguel. Parroquia just means “parish.” Its façade was finished only a little over a hundred years ago and has recently been renovated. But San Miguel de Allende’s parish church, La Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, has become world-famous, the symbol that instantly identifies San Miguel the way the Eiffel Tower announces Paris, or the Golden Gate Bridge represents San Francisco.

On Tuesday, January 13, 5pm, local author and photographer Robert de Gast presents hundreds of photographs of the church during a slide show and talk at the Teatro Santa Ana at the Biblioteca Pública, Insurgentes 25. He will discuss its history and show the many ways in which San Miguel’s icon has been used to promote the town and sell anything from T-shirts and coffee mugs to books and posters.

The slide show explores many spaces within the church, some seldom seen by the casual visitor. Photographs show what it’s like to climb up into the towers or to descend into the crypt.

Admission to the one-hour presentation is 60 pesos (50 pesos for library members) and benefits the many programs of the Biblioteca.

Robert de Gast, a long-time resident, is the author of nine books, including, most recently, Behind the Doors of San Miguel.

The Artist’s Way: A creative recovery course for women

A 10-week creative recovery course for women, based on the highly successful book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, starts Friday, January 23, 1–2:30pm at Ancha de San Antonio 73 (upstairs).

Patricia Mahan has facilitated this course several times in San Miguel over the past two years. Mahan’s artwork and creativity are a testament to the breakthroughs this course provides. Contact Mahan at 154-0462 or e-mail: dannpatm@yahoo.com. Course is limited to eight participants and the cost is US$120 for 10 weeks. The Artist's Way can be bought at Libros El Tecolote or through Amazon.com

Tours & Excursions

Saturday Adventure Tours

The next Adventure Tour will be Saturday, January 10. We hope to see all of you Adventurers for another great tour. 

Instituto Allende Tours to Pozos 

Instituto Allende hosts a field trip at 8am on Saturday, January 10, to the “ghost town” of Pozos, about 45 minutes from San Miguel. This adventure is a camera buff’s delight. Viewing the ancient petroglyphs requires some moderate hiking. Pozos was once a bustling silver-mining center. It has bottomless shafts and we will explore some of the old mine ruins. Dangerous areas preclude pets and children on this trip. Sunscreen and wide-brimmed hats are suggested. Cost for this trip is US$65; reservations and prepayment are a must.

Instituto Allende Tours to Mexico City Instituto Allende will lead an overnight field trip to Mexico City and the nearby pyramids onSaturday, January 17.

The Mexico City trip provides a historic tour of the nation’s capital, taking in downtown, Bellas Artes, el Caballito Monument, the Zócalo, Cathedral and National Palace. 

The valley of Mexico was, as it still is today, the center of Mesoamerica’s high civilization. For centuries it has been considered the richest of all zones. Participants will visit the site of the great temple, which was once the heart of the Aztec ceremonial world. The temple was completely buried and remained hidden for 270 years after the conquest. Since the rediscovery artifacts have come to light like the eight-ton statue of the Moon Goddess and a 24-ton calendar stone. An adjacent museum houses a magnificent collection of Aztec art, altars, statuary and weapons. The quantity and quality of finds far surpasses anything previously discovered from this period of Mesoamerican history. 

We visit the renowned Anthropological Museum, a hallmark location, dedicated to the study of humanity in this part of the world, an in-depth complex that perpetually educates and inspires a nation and its people. Explanations of all artifacts and installations are printed out next to each exhibit in Spanish and English. At night, we tour Mexico City’s nightlife. Sunday is the trip to Teotihuacán, Mexico’s unsurpassed pyramids, a true wonder and maybe alone worth the trip. The cost for this trip is US$235, all-inclusive: (transportation, hotel, museum fees, and four restaurant meals and refreshments.) The tour returns to San Miguel late afternoon, Sunday, June 29.

Native-speaking, bilingual guides lead all tours and offer further insight within a secure environment. Reservations are a must and fees must be paid in advance. Visa and MasterCard accepted. Each Wednesday at 4pm a free lecture at Instituto previews upcoming weekend field trips. For more information, call 152-0226 or visit Ancha de San Antonio 20.

Botanical Garden Tour now Tuesdays and Thursdays 

Discover the marvels of cacti and other Mexican plants as well as the history of El Charco del Ingenio through a guided tour in English each Tuesday and Thursday morning. This is a fun and informative activity for people of all ages. Come and discover one of San Miguel’s best treasures. The 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 10am and lasts about two hours. We suggest you wear a hat and closed shoes. Water and other refreshments may be purchased at our juice bar next to the gift shop. The easiest way to the Jardín Botanico 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. El Charco’s new website is http://www.elcharco.org. 

Performances & Events

Calendar girls 

Las Dueñas 2009 calendar photo exposition has been extended through Saturday, January 17 at El Market Bistro, Hernández Macías 95. For those of you who couldn’t get in the door for the opening, we invite you back. We will have a calendar signing and closing ceremony to thank San Miguel for its wonderful support of this project. Stay tuned for details.

Calendars are on sale at the following locations: 7th Heaven, Chelo Agundis Farmacia, Border Crossings, El Market Bistro, Bagel Place, Libros El Tecolote, La Conexión, Blanco y Negro, Bienes Raices Olvera, Yam Gallery, Yoga Studio Shakti, Casa de Papel, or for home delivery call 154-4677. The price is 250 pesos or US$20. We offer a discount for three or more. Presented by Sight For Sore Eyes Productions and Skip Williams in order to raise funds for the blind and vision-impaired in San Miguel. 

 

Films & Videos

Shalom San Miguel Forum

Morirse está en Hebreo is a spoof about all the interpersonal dynamics that can possibly occur when a Jewish family suffers the loss of one of its members. After Moishe’s death, family and friends sit Shiva in Mexico City. During those seven days, secrets will be disclosed. If you think sitting shiva is different in Mexico from the US, think again! This is a film for anyone who has ever suffered the loss of a family member. Subtitles, 2007. Monday, January 12, 5pm at Hotel Quinta Loreto TV Salon, Loreto 15, 50 pesos.

Meditation Center

On Thursday, January 15, at 5:30pm, the Meditation Center of San Miguel presents “Discovering the Extraordinary in the Ordinary.” the second in a six-week series of filmed talks, The Art of Presence, given during a retreat in Copenhagen by Eckhart Tolle, with In every seemingly ordinary moment, explains Tolle, a profound depth and beauty awaits your discovery. The normal state of consciousness is concerned with quantity, whereas presence—awareness in action—brings quality into what you do. In this session, Tolle shows how to bring consciousness and thus quality and beauty into ordinary, everyday life.

The Meditation Center is Buddhist oriented and open to all forms of silent, still meditation. It is located at Callejón Blanco 4, near Quebrada, 152-2854. Most events are free, although donations are always welcome to maintain the center. Please try to arrive early for films as seating is limited, and late arrivals may disturb others.
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