AROUND TOWN


Meetings & Lectures

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 

The lives of all of us are filled with significant events, people, and readings that alter our feelings and outlooks. Long-time San Miguel winter resident Sandy Brooks contemplates those significant happenstances that fed into creating her political, social and personal being at this week’s Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Service. In “Looking Back, Looking Forward: A Memoir,” the recounting of events are meant to resonate with others in the congregation and how those kinds of experiences have likewise affected their own lives.

Brooks, an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of New York for 15 years, facilitates a poetry circle and has served in numerous leadership positions. A retired children’s librarian and high school English teacher, Brooks continues to teach English to foreign students at the International Center in New York City. 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.

St. Paul’s Presidential service

On Monday, January 19, at 5pm on the eve of the inauguration of the first African American President of the United States, St. Paul’s Church, calle Cardo 6, holds a celebratory worship service to mark this important historic event, as well the anniversary of Martin Luther King Day. 

The Rev. Michael Long officiates at the service which includes gospel hymns and a reading by professional actress Olivia Cole. 

The Roman Catholic Ecumenical Order of Celaya has been invited, as well the Bishop and the Brothers of La Soledad at Antotonilco. Some expats living in San Miguel actually walked with Martin Luther King at Selma. Rev. Long will invite them to stand and reflect on their experiences. The service is open to all who wish to be part of this joyful dual celebration.

Green community meeting

Join San Miguel’s blossoming “Green Community” at the first of a weekly meeting every Wednesday, January 21, 7pm at Chai Café, 24 Salida a Celaya. 

The meetings, part of the Sustainable San Miguel network, aim to charting a course for socially responsible development and ecological sustainability for the town. Recycling, water conservation, organic agriculture, renewable energy, and green development are just a few of the topics discussed at these meetings. This week discussion will focus on “Building a Green and Sustainable Community in San Miguel”.

Midday Rotary Club on Thursday

Due to the US Presidential Inauguration, the regular meeting of the Midday Rotary Club will not be held at its usual time next week. Instead of Tuesday, the Club will meet on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. 

Ex Rotary president Gordon Logan speaks on crafts. And don’t forget to purchase your tickets for Rotary’s SuperBowl Party Fundraiser on February 1. The big event is at the Longhorn Smokehouse (Salida de Celaya, 6), and the tickets, 150 pesos, are available from John Doherty, (415) 115-8239 or Larry Castriotta, 154-5749. 

The Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday meets 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. 

Gathering of Facilitators for Healing

One never knows what will happen at the remarkable Gathering of Facilitators for Healing. This distinctive "energy exchange", takes place, Thursday, January 22, 12, noon, Privada de Pila Seca 5 (turn into cul de sac opposite Pila Seca 45.) 

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.

As one participant commented; “I’ve seen true beauty; a feeling of oneness and come away with a peaceful, easy feeling and a little ‘spaced out’.”

This is the Gathering’s eleventh year.

The meeting is free and open to the public, including those in need. Facilitators are invited to participate. Call 152-0376 if you have questions; otherwise come and see for yourself. The next gathering is Thursday, February 5.

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, 4:30–7pm.

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.  The 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.

Gallery Wednesdays with Magenta Magenta Gallery collective presents a series of demonstrations, presentations and talks on art every Wednesday during January and February.

Rebecca Peterson begins this series Wednesday, January 21, 3 to 5pm with a demonstration/lecture on tin work and the history of the nicho (tin box with a glass door) in Mexico and as a contemporary art expression.

Future topics include layering and mixed-media techniques in collage and painting; and photography, printmaking and the Oaxacan craft of corn-husk sculpture.

Magenta Gallery is at Mesones 57, interior B, corner with Relox, open Monday to Friday 11am–6pm and Sundays 10:30am–3pm, closed Tuesdays. For more information, call 154-5366. 


Intensive Watercolor Painting course

Simply Art, sponsors a five-day intensive watercolor course February 16–20 with Canadian watercolorist Bonnie Steinberg., a teacher from Toronto, Canada, holds a. The course covers techniques of saturated watercolors to design and architectural details. The cost is US$300. For registration and further information, call Marcia Dworkin, 152-4280, marciamexico@hotmail.com.  



Yoga in El Charco Bóveda

Join yoga teacher Ximena Velasco for weekly yoga classes in the town’s most beautiful classroom—the boveda at El Charco, botanical gardens. Classes are Monday and Wednesday, 10 to 11:15am and cost 85 pesos. Contact Olivia Ledón, 154-4715, and olicharco@gmail.com for reservations and for the monthly package of 8 classes for 560 pesos.



Tours & Excursions

Saturday Adventure Tours

Visit one of San Miguels most successful enterprises, the glass-blowing factory Guajuye of the Alvarez family. Witness the amazing skill of workers who create the award winning and internationally renown hand blown glassware. At the showroom visitors will be tempted by a fantastical arrange of hand-blown glasses fruit bowls, vases and other colorful objects.

Then Adventurers head off to the hilltop home of Marta and Javier Alvarez. This magnificent home is filled with treasures from their world travels and unique family heirlooms. Marta, a fine decorator, has turned her many talents to jewelry making, which will be on display as well. As a part of a glass-blowing family, she uses lots of glass in her jewelry pieces. We saw some of her exquisite pieces back in the Guajuye showroom. Cameras—a must!


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

Instituto Allende Tours to Mexico City

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

In Mexico City the tour visits the historic downtown, home to Bellas Artes, el Caballito Monument, the Zocalo, the Cathedral and the National Palace. The famed Anthropological Museum is undoubtedly one of the highlights. Artifacts and representations of the diverse cultural groups of Mexico and the distinct historical periods are on display. Visitors will enjoy a Saturday night in the largest city in Mexico and then the next day visit the ancient pyramids of Teotihuacan, a true wonder and maybe alone worth the trip. The all-inclusive trip costs US$235. 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.

Next week Instituto Allende offers two insightful field trips on Saturday, January 24. 


Atotonilco, Dolores and Guanajuato departing 9 am and the City of Morelia via the famous monastery Yuriria which departs 8am. 

Audubon January Birdwalk--Happy Birding in 2009!

Audubon’s January Birdwalk is the third Sunday of the month—January 18th. Led by Bob Graham, who also was in charge for the very successful December expedition to La Huerta, this month's walk is slated to go to the bridge at Montecillo de Nieto where, in the past, we have had great success spotting some of the region’s more elusive birds, such as Blue Grosbeaks, Black-headed Grosbeaks and Summer Tanagers, just to mention a few.

The walk begins at a bridge overlooking the Rio Laja near the shrine of Atontonilco. Birding from that height, Graham says, lets you see birds at eye level. This makes it more likely that walkers will see birds not visible from other vantage points. And it’s the most likely place to see (though “a bit of a long shot”) “Muchus fastust”, otherwise know as the Road Runner. It's also generally one of the better places in the area to see song birds.

Transportation is key to reaching this location. Therefore, we ask that participants with vehicles please be sure to bring them. Failing sufficient transportation, we will return instead to the Botanical Gardens as we can use taxis to get there.

The Audubon Birdwalk is a monthly event open to members and non-members alike. Members of Audubon de México are welcome gratis. Non-members are also welcome, but asked to contribute 100 pesos, or US $10 to help support the ecological projects in which Audubon is involved.

Participants meet in front of the Instituto Allende at 8am, as the trip leaves promptly at 8:15 am. Please bring a hat and drinking water, binoculars and bird books are useful. The hike is usually over by noon. Call Bob Graham at 154-9856 for more information.

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 www.elcharco.org. 



Performances & Events

Healthy Open house

Moonrise Health (formerly Shakkai) has moved from Col Guadalupe to Organos 29, centro and hosts an open house on Thursday, January 23, 4 to 6pm. Events include live classical music by Jack and Francis, tea tasting (herbal, green and Chai), snacks and a storewide sale. Moonrise Health specializes in quality vitamins and supplements, herbs in cut and sift form, tincture, or capsules, and imported beauty products. 

The store will also host a lecture series on alternative health January 27 to 30.



Films & Videos

Meditation Center

The Meditation Center of San Miguel presents a filmed teaching by Eckhart Tolle, “Relationships,” Thursday, January 22, 5:30 pm. To meet another human being without the accumulation of past is to meet them in stillness, out of which arises unconditional love. Understand why the conditioned mind cannot possibly solve the problem of relationship. This lesson contains wisdom teachings that can transform not only your intimate relationships, but also your relationships with family members and friends. The film is the third of a six-part series, The Art of Presence, of talks given during a retreat in Copenhagen.

The Meditation Center, Callejon Blanco 4, near Quebrada, is Buddhist oriented and open to all forms of silent, still meditation. Like most events at the Center, the films are free, although donations are always very welcome to maintain the Center. Seating is limited, and arrivals after 5:30pm disturb others.



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. 


Pro Musica

Intelligent person with sense of humor needed with knowledge of writing to help write articles about Pro Musica concerts. Contact Pro Musica President Michael Pearl at MPearl5493@aol.com. 

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.

Biblioteca needs rare book dealer/collector 

The Biblioteca Pública plans a major fundraising Book Fest sale this winter. Rare and collectible books accumulated through donations over the past several years will be a featured section of the sale. We need someone in November and December to evaluate and price about 400 volumes. Contact Kathleen at the library office or Kennedy at Atención.. 

Santa Julia Girls 

Volunteers for the Adolescent Life Skills Program! Last semester’s pilot was a super success and so the Madres are seeking female Mexican mentors to continue this. 

Capital Campaign, there are not enough beds and the Madre house roof is caving in. Contact Robin Loving at robin@robinloving.com  if you can help.

Transportation, several donors from San Jose, CA; Appleton, WI; and San Marcos, TX need help getting their donations of things to the children. Please contact BobbiFries@yahoo.com  or 152-4957 if you are traveling from any of these areas.