AROUND TOWN

Meetings & Lectures

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

In a followup to last Sunday’s highly informative and successful discussion, “Bridging the Cultural Gap, Part 2” is the topic for this week’s Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meeting.

Last week several bilingual speakers intimately familiar with both Mexican and Anglo cultures met in a moderated forum to help address questions of getting along in a bicultural community.

This week the congregation offers their personal experiences and asks questions of Irma Rosado, Hector Ulloa and Dorothy Gonzalez-Rojas.

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.



Midday Rotary Club

On Tuesday, July 21, we are pleased to welcome Dr. Jose de J. Valencia Rodriguez as our guest speaker. He talks about “Alzheimers from the Inside Out.” Dr. Valencia has an extensive background in study and care of older people. He is a specialist in thanatology and gerontology and the author of numerous books and articles.

Among his many achievements, he is ex-director and co-founder of Cielito Lindo Independent and Assisted Living in SMA, director of San Miguel de Allende Home Care and counselor at Hospice SMA. He is the creator and developer of many concepts and groups to enrich and involve older citizens in the artistic, spiritual and cultural life of the community. 

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.

Lions Club International

The Lions Club next meets Thursday, August 6, at Don Quijote restaurant, Prolongación de Pila Seca 55. Check in time is 12:30pm and the meeting begins at 1pm. You may order lunch from the special menu and parking is ample. For additional information, contact Norma Robinson at 120-0726.

UTPA Week

The University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) visit to San Miguel de Allende promises to be interesting. UTPA Week includes lectures, workshops and free musical performances offered by faculty and talented musicians.

UTPA faculty members Reynaldo Santiago and Steven Schneider offer Art and Creative Writing workshops respectively. Summer lecture series are offered in Philosophy, Music and Business by Dr. Cynthia Jones, Dr. Peter Dabrowski and Dr. Teofilo Ozuna.

Mariachi Aztlan, a UTPA group that has won numerous national awards, performs throughout the week. The performances are free and are hosted at the Casa de la Cultura for children, as well as in a neighboring community and in the Jardín.

For more information about the lecturers, musicians and UTPA Week, go to www.utpa.edu/sma or call the UTPA office at (956) 381-3661. Tickets for the Summer Lecture Series are available at Teatro Santa Ana, and all proceeds benefit the Biblioteca.






Tours & Excursions

Saturday Adventure Tours

Tomas LeNoir brings 40 million-year-old amber from the mines in Chiapas. Brought up from the depths of the earth, these ugly, mud colored hunks are soon transformed into brilliant honey colored baubles. LeNoir is the magician who makes the transformations, using his immense talent. Moss green and wine red ambers also come from Chiapan mines.

Off to a horse show at Rancho La Loma, where they raise beautiful Andalucian horses to be trained in dressage. Touring the extensive grounds, see Trojes, native housing from Patzcuaro, now used as guest houses after many amenities have been added. A huge tack room is filled with antique carriages and stacks of brandy filled barrels. Shall we tap one? Then on to the bleachers to watch the graceful creatures perform their traditional dressage paces. Afterwards you are invited to take a carriage ride drawn by huge Percherons.

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

Audubon Bird Walk

This month’s third Sunday Audubon bird walk is on July 19, when the group visits the bridge over the Rio Laja, just past the back road into Atontonilco. Riparian habitat (habitat associated with water) is a fine place to look for birds.

In the past in this spot, we have been lucky enough to see both the Belted and Green Kingfishers, Black Phoebes, Blue and black-headed Grosbeaks, Grove-billed Anis and, of course the ever present yet overwhelmingly beautiful Vermilion Flycatcher, just to mention a few.

This month’s birders are lucky to have a new leader (while our renowned Bob Graham is up in El Norte)—Signe Hammer, who honed her birding skills up in Central Park and the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in New York, among other top birding sites. Norman Besman helps out, too, and bringing his scope along to add to the sighting pleasure.

To join this month’s Audubon walk, meet Signe and Norman at the entrance to the Instituto Allende, Ancha San Antonio 20, at 8am on Sunday. You’ll be happier if you’ve brought a hat and water; if you have binoculars to bring, they too would be helpful. If you come in a car that can be shared, it will be very much welcomed, and it’s an easy drive to the starting point.

The walk is free for Audubon members and 100 pesos for others. People with questions may call Linda Whynman at 152-2139. By the way, Audubon is always looking for guest birders to lead walks, too. Visit our website at www.audubonmex.org  for more information.

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. A shuttle is available now from the corner of Juárez and San Francisco, leaving at 9:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm. Return trips are available, 11am–5pm. The cost is 20 pesos per person per trip. Reservations are not necessary. Information: www.elcharco.org  or email nzerriffi@yahoo.com. 

Performances & Events

Singles Social Group

San Miguel Wednesday Social Group meets at Restaurant Bacco, Hotel Sautto, Hernández Macías 59. Singles, couples and anyone interested in meeting new people are welcome every Wednesday, 5:30–7:30pm, for 2-for-1 national drinks, delicious Mexican botanas and lively conversation.

SPA/Ballet Benefit

On July 26, 5–7pm, the Ballet Folklorico of San Miguel and the Sociedad Protectora de Animales presents a benefit for the love of dance and the SPA dogs and cats. Traditional dancing, an ethnic fashion show, a raffle and homemade food are featured on the La Pérgola patio at Instituto Allende, Ancha de San Antonio 20. Tickets are 150 pesos, available at the door and La Conexión, Aldama 3. Proceeds help Ballet Folklorico provide costumes and shoes for their dancers, and help the many helpless and innocent animals at the SPA that deserve a second chance and a loving home.



Films & Videos

Meditation Center

The Meditation Center of San Miguel presents a 12-week series of Eckhart Tolle videos, Touching the Eternal, from a retreat in India in 2002. Each video is about an hour and a half long. 

Through the centuries countless people from around the world have been coming to India, thirsty in their search for truth. Considered to be the birthplace of spirituality, India has produced more great mystics and spiritual teachers than any other country. What more fitting place for Eckhart to speak of the eternal Now? It is here on the banks of the holy Ganga River, amidst the snow-capped Himalayas and the tremendous beauty of scarlet sunsets, that a group of determined souls from around the globe met to sit together in silence. Join them in this transformational experience and allow yourself to be guided through words and stillness into the state of presence.

The series starts Thursday, July 23, at 5:30pm at Callejon Blanco 4. Presentations of the Center are free; donations are gratefully accepted.



Volunteer Opportunities

Does your nonprofit need some extra help, perhaps for an upcoming event? Send new, short requests for volunteers to edit@atencionsanmiguel.org  with “Volunteer Opportunities” in the subject line. Listings run for four issues.



San Miguel School of English

The San Miguel School of English seeks short-term assistance in two areas: 1. Teachers willing to teach one to three evenings per week for one or two months beginning September 1, until the winter residents return to San Miguel and take over. Those interested in teaching for longer periods are also most welcome. 2. Someone with Excel experience to assist director in registering students and recording their tuition payments. Can be a short- or long-term position, with help needed the most in September.

Contact Jean Yeager at 152-0916 or mexgenyus@hotmail. om or Carole Whitney at 152-3050 or whitney@cybermatsa.com.mx  and dldcsw@yahoo.com.