AROUND TOWN

Meetings & Lectures

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

At this week’s meeting, Reverend Gail Tapscott of the UU Church of Fort Lauderdale presents a new understanding of the earth-centered traditions at the heart of Unitarian Universalism.

The UU living tradition draws from many sources, including spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions that celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

Rev. Tapscott has been the spiritual counselor and Sunday worship leader at her church since 1999 and holds a Harvard Master of Divinity degree.

The UU Fellowship meets every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at La Posada de la Aldea, Ancha de San Antonio 15, and welcomes people of all ages, races, religions, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Visitors are invited to attend the service and then join the UUs in the hotel restaurant for brunch.

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.

San Miguel Macintosh User Group

This month’s meeting of the San Miguel Macintosh Users Group is scheduled for 3pm on Monday, March 16, in the Biblioteca’s Sala Quetzal.

Topics to be discussed include how to download, setup and use Skype, the free software program that allows users to make telephone calls, instant messages, or video calls over the internet free of charge to other Skype users. We’ll also demonstrate a low-cost innovative program called “It’s About Time to Learn the Switch to Mac” that teaches you the Mac by connecting the dots to Windows equivalents. Lots of time is allotted by experienced facilitators for questions about your Mac.

The Mac Users Group meets monthly in a comfortable learning environment to expand skills, build confidence and explore the creative possibilities of Mac computers. Everyone is welcome and there is no charge. For more information, contact Nonni Markeset (nonniem@mac.com) or Jon Sievert (jon@humblepress.com).

Midday Rotary Club

The Rotary Club is pleased to have Ed Clancy as our guest speaker for our March 17 meeting. 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.



Classes & Workshops

Chess: patio and terrace

Chess players meet Mondays 5–6:30pm in the north portal of the Biblioteca Pública’s central patio. Players also meet three times a week at Casa de la Cultura on Chorro: Saturdays, 10am–2pm, Wednesdays and Fridays, 4:30–7pm.

Polymer clay—the magical art medium

A special, advanced polymer clay workshop has been scheduled at Instituto Allende, Tuesday–Thursday, March 17–19, 9am–4:30pm. Polymer clay is a newer material recently used by modern artists with possibilities that are endless. 

Myriam Bardoul, a native of Belgium, has lived her adult life in Canada’s Eastern townships outside Montreal. She has spent recent winters in San Miguel. Trained as an artist, Bardoul discovered polymer clay as an innovative art medium at a workshop in the early nineties given by Victoria Hughes, the foremost artist of the time who employed the polymer process. 

Since then, Bardoul has incorporated polymer clay into jewelry, collages and other projects. The clay’s texture can imitate and take on the appearance of natural substances such as stone, ivory and wood. It’s also possible to transfer images directly onto the surface. Her unique wearable and decorative art is recognized for technical precision and sensitive expression. 

Last year’s workshop was a smashing success. When back in Montreal, she teaches mixed media jewelry at The Visual Art Institute. 

Students will be shown how to manipulate, condition and work with clay to produce a look of ivory, jade, turquoise, amber and coral. Students should bring a ceramic tile or piece of glass as a surface to work on and an Exacto knife. For further information and registration, call Instituto Allende, 152-0226 or visit Ancha de San Antonio 20. Cost for the three-day workshop is US$200, Visa and Mastercard accepted. 

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. The class is limited to 12. Register: 154-5466, michaelkibble@gmail.com, $400 for five classes. Information: www.artadventuresanmiguel.com.

Tours & Excursions

Saturday Adventure Tours

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

Audubon conducts a bird walk on the third Sunday of every month—in March, it’s the 15th, this Sunday, when Bob Graham, our renowned birder/hiker, leads a walk past the dam at Presa Allende.

To join this month’s walk, meet Bob at the entrance to Instituto Allende, Ancha San Antonio 20, at 8am on Sunday. As the sun rises higher and higher, you’ll be happier if you’ve brought a hat and water. Cars will be available, but if you come by one that can be shared, it will be very much welcomed, and it’s an easy drive to the starting point.

Binoculars also would be helpful. Bob will have the new Audubon bird guides with him for purchase. The walk is free for Audubon members and 50 pesos for others. You’ll be back about noon, with new entries for your life list and new friends in the world of birding. For information, call Linda Whynman at 152-2139. Audubon is always looking for guest birders to lead walks, too. Visit http://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. 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

Social and Newcomers Club

Welcome to the Longhorn Smokehouse, Salida A Celaya 6, for St. Patrick’s Day on Tuesday, March 17, at 7pm. A free national drink comes with dinner and Keith is entering into the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day by adding corned beef and cabbage to his menu. Join in the regular fun of rolling the dice for an extra free drink. Call Paula Nesti at 152-4299 for information.

Foodie Auction
You foodies know who you are—you live for fabulous food, you watch chef shows on TV, you start thinking about your next meal as you take the last bite of the meal in front of you.

Mark your calendars for Friday, March 13, 5–7pm and head over to the Center for Global Justice at Calzada de la Luz 42, for a silent and live auction to raise money for the good work they are doing. Foodies will be able to bid on some great meals and yummy food that you will eat soon anyway. Buy them at the auction, have some wine and cheese and help a great organization—two birds, one stone.


Auction items are from the Restaurant, BajoFondo, SolyLaLuna, Luna de Queso and Bee Natura. Most exceptionally, Las Mayores (Kirsten West, eight-year collaborator with Rick Bayless, Maggie Sperling, Dinner Maven of SMA and Gael Sherman, mother of the Dinner Goddess) will be offering, for the first time ever, a catered, five-course dinner for four or six people to be prepared and served in your home. The cuisine will be haute Mexican in the spirit of Rick Bayless’s Topolabamba & Frontera Grill, our President’s favorite Chicago restaurants and the 2007 winner of the James Beard gold medal for best restaurant in America. Highest bidder gets the prize!



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

Volunteer proofreaders needed for Atención

Two of our regular crew have fled to another country because they had to work so hard at proofing manuscripts and galleys. They plan to return in about a month, they claim. In the interim, we need help with typo suppression. The ideal candidates will have some professional experience in journalism or publishing, but we don’t live in an ideal world. Just drop by sometime for the 20-minute, nitpicking proofreading test. Hours are flexible, but the people who come Thursdays and Fridays like wrestling with manuscripts, while the Tuesday people prefer galleys. 



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