Around Town


Meetings & Lectures

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

At this week’s meeting, Rev. Gail Tapscott of the UU Church of Fort Lauderdale shares how she personally draws on the Living Tradition and Principles for her own spiritual journey. She has been the spiritual counselor and led Sunday worship at her church since 1999, and holds a Harvard master of divinity degree.

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, March 10, Lydia Carey, the new executive director of the Center for Global Justice, describes a project to bring a solar water pump to Peñón de los Baños. The village consists of 70 families that all belong to an ejido and the communal-owned land is currently surrounded by agro-businesses that are lowering the water table, pumping chemicals into the ground and causing this community to pay an ever-inflating electricity bill in order to pump the water they need for themselves, their produce and their animals.

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.



Women Mystics

Wednesday, March 10 at noon, St. Paul’s presents a weekly series of free Lenten lectures on Women Mystics. The Venerable Michael Long will give the first lecture on Evelyn Underhill (1875–1941), a British writer of more than 20 works on religion and spiritual practice. In the English-speaking world, she was one of the most widely read writers for almost 50 years, beginning with her best-known work, Mysticism.



Classes & Workshops

Botanical art classes in El Charco 

Charlotte Staub Thomas gives classes Monday–Friday, 9am–1pm, March 23–27, in English. The workshop in botanical art techniques uses the garden as laboratory. Classes are limited to 15 and cost US$235 for members of El Charco and $265 for the general public (2,350 pesos or 2,650 pesos). For reservations or information, email nzerriffi@yahoo.com.  Classes in Spanish are March 28–29, with Alifie Rojas.

Watercolor Workshop 

Watercolorist/author Judi Betts offers a watercolor workshop in San Miguel March 23–27, 9:30am-4pm, at Mansion Virreyes hotel, Canal 19. Register: 154-5466, michaelkibble@gmail.com , $400 for five classes. The class is limited to 12 to ensure personal attention. For more information, go to www. artadventuresanmiguel.com.

Tours & Excursions

Saturday Adventure Tours

This Saturday, March 7, the Adventurers are going to one of the most beautiful streets in town where we find La Casa Encantada. As we enter we are “enchanted” with the view of arches that seem to go on forever. We follow the corridor, passing under the arches and come out to sunshine and a grassy area. Then we enter a living room with a huge fireplace of carved cantera, with an unusual painting of a horse hanging on the wall. After the dining room, we go down a long passage, off of which is a bedroom and a study, and finally come to the Jacuzzi room, with a fascinating mural of bathing beauties in various stages of undress. Pulling the men away (they love to have their pictures taken here), we go upstairs to more bedrooms and a stupendous view.

Rancho Ojo de Agua is the next stop, an elegant ranch with trained Andalusian horses. We will be given a show of the beauty of these graceful animals. The home is a showplace of good taste, using many pieces of artesania, such as baskets of every size and shape hanging from the kitchen ceiling. We visit a guest house, then a lovely pool-house, where we are given refreshments. Take your camera—don’t be sorry!

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 

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

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.



Films & Videos

Meditation Center

The Meditation Center at Callejon Blanco 4, near Quebrada, shows movies on Thursdays at 5:30pm. The films are free, though donations are always welcome. Please arrive well before 5:30, as seating is limited and late arrivals 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 

Pro Musica de San Miguel is looking for 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. This position offers the opportunity to be involved in a fascinating aspect of the arts world. No knowledge of music is neccessary. Contact President Michael Pearl at 152-2688 or mpearl5493@aol.com.  

Centro Infantil 

Centro Infantil, a preschool and kindergarten program for disadvantaged Mexican children ages 3–5, an outreach program of St. Paul’s Church modeled on Head Start, has several volunteer opportunities. A volunteer arts coordinator, preferably experienced with preschool children, to develop and implement an arts program incorporating volunteers. Some Spanish desirable. Also needed are volunteer English teachers for one hour per week and volunteer classroom assistants one morning per week. Contact Linda Work at 154-5729 or work_Linda@yahoo.com.

Santa Julia Girls 

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

Contact Robin Loving at robin@robinloving.com  if you can help with beds or roof repairs to the Madre house.

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

El Nigromante

Volunteers are needed at Centro CASSA “El Nigromante” for the children’s English and computing programs, and the mixed painting and chess workshops. All are afternoon programs and some experience with children is required. Visit Pepe Llanos 14, or call Jesús Rodríguez, 152-7855.

Patronato Pro Niños 

PPN provides health and dental care to needy children and seeks volunteers two mornings a month throughout the school year to offer services to ill children in outlying areas. Should be fluent in Spanish and/or have a vehicle that can travel unpaved roads. Contact Steve Livingston at steve@stevelivingston.com .

For the “Wash Your Hands” project, sponsored jointly by PPN and Feed the Hungry, volunteers are needed to demonstrate hand-washing skills to children in San Miguel schools. Transportation and teaching information provided; dates and times flexible. Spanish a plus. Contact marylcarruth@yahoo.com.