AROUND TOWN

Meetings & Lectures

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship This Sunday, June 21, is Father’s Day. On this occasion, three Unitarian women—Phyllis Culp, Peggy Bell and Liz Stone—discuss the impact their fathers had on their lives and values. 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 June 23, we are pleased to have as our guest speaker, Leticia Gonzales Fernandez, Clinical Director and Director of Mexican Services of Hospice San Miguel. She will speak to us about Hospice and how it has developed since its inception, and on the recently approved Mexican law on Palliative Care.

Ms. Gonzalez has many years of education and experience in emotional counseling to adults and teenagers with intra family problems and low self-esteem, and with problems dealing with loss. At Hospice San Miguel, she helps patients and their relatives to cope with loss and death. She also helps the Hospice staff in dealing with personal problems and with their working relationships with institutions.

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, June 25, at the Hotel Quinta Loreto, Loreto 15. 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.

Tours & Excursions

Saturday Adventure Tours

This week Centro de Crecimiento will not host a tour. Instead, on June 20, they will hold a garage sale at Zamaro Ríos 6. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Centro de Crecimiento. Check Atención for news about the next Saturday Adventure Tour.

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


Audubon Bird Walk

Audubon conducts a bird walk on the third Sunday of every month—in June, that’s the 21st. This very Sunday Norman Besman takes aficionados de aves on a walk at through El Charco del Ingenio, where many interesting birds are always flitting about, especially in the early morning.

Recent sightings include blue grosbeaks, black-crowned night-herons and a northern bobwhite. Your leader is a recent arrival from Seattle, so he (like all of us) is hoping for conditions that encourage water-birds, too.

To join this month’s Audubon walk, meet Norman at the entrance to the Instituto Allende, Ancha de San Antonio 20 at 7:45am on Sunday morning. As the sun rises higher and higher, you’ll be a happier person if you have a hat and water. If you have binoculars to bring, they would be helpful. Cars will be available, but if you come in one that can be shared, it will be very much welcomed, and it’s an easy drive to the starting point.

The Audubon bird guides and the new butterfly guides will be available for purchase. By the way, Audubon is always looking for guest birders to lead walks, too. Visit our website at www.audubonmex.org  for more information.

The walk is free for Audubon members and 100 pesos for others. For more information, call Linda Whynman at 152-2139.

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. 

Performances & Events

Arthur Murray Studio Party

We will be having our final studio party at El Sindicato this Saturday, June 20, from 7:45-10pm. Here is the low-down: a group Swing class (all levels) starts at 7:45, and the party starts at 8:30. Then we’ll dance all styles of Latin, Swing, Tango, and ballroom.

Join us at El Sindicato, Recreo 4. As always, this event is completely free to our students. A 150 peso donation for guests and the general public includes snacks, wine, lesson and party. Bring your friends!

Please come join us as we bid farewell to El Sindicato and hello to our new place! Call 044 415 106 4401 for more information.

Democrats Abroad 4th of July Party

San Miguel Democrats Abroad has reached a total membership of over 1,000 San Miguel residents. After only four years in existence, Democrats Abroad is now the largest organization in San Miguel.

The Democrats Abroad 4th of July Party has become a tradition in San Miguel for the American community. This year’s menu (included in the ticket price) features hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, coleslaw, carrot cake and brownies. Also included are music and unique raffles. A cash bar with specially priced beverages will be available.

The Fourth Annual San Miguel Democrats Abroad 4th of July Party will be held in the gardens of the Hotel Real de Minas on Saturday, July 4, from 1–5pm.

Tickets are available for sale now at Border Crossings, La Conexion (Calle Aldama location only) and Solutions. Tickets are US$15 or 200 pesos.

Singles Social Group
San Miguel Wednesday Social Group relocates from Woolis Kaban to 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. 



Films & Videos

Meditation Center

The Meditation Center of San Miguel presents Pema Chodron in conversation with Alice Walker on the meaning of suffering and the mystery of joy at 5:30pm Thursday, June 25, at Callejon Blanco 4. Presentations of the Center are offered free of charge. Donations are gratefully accepted.

This video reveals the revolutionary power of tonglen—the “giving and taking” meditation—through a dialogue between two hearts and minds forged in very different cultures, yet deeply joined in the simple practice of compassion. Take a front row seat as the Pulitzer Prize winner Walker and American Buddhist nun Pema Chodron reflect on anger, joy, fear and the union of spiritual and social activism.



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.


Cook-off volunteers

Event organizers of the Fourth of July El Grande Cook-off to benefit Feed the Hungry and Patronato Pro Niños seek volunteers for pre-event work and on-the-day support. Contact Cathy Cooper Long at elgrandecookoffvolunteers@gmail.com. 



Chamber Fest

The concert is presented under the auspices of the XXXI San Miguel Chamber Music Festival to be held August 5 through August 16. To purchase season tickets, volunteer or provide guest lodging for university students, stop into the Festival Office inside Bellas Artes, Hernández Macías 75. Pre season hours are 11am to 1pm. Contact Director Camie Sands at 154-8722 (office) or 154-6920 (home), or email info@festivalsanmiguel.com.  For information on groups and performance dates, see www.festivalsanmiguel.com.