AROUND TOWN


Meetings & Lectures

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Sergio Rodriguez discusses “Opening the Eight Gates of Wisdom” at this Sunday’s meeting. We live in an age that worships youth and we find ourselves as a society becoming ever more superficial, ever more devoted to what is external only, short on endurance, shallow in meaning. Small wonder so many approach the latter part of life in a state of “crisis.”

Yet midlife and beyond is no crisis, but a time of wonder and beauty of the deeper and more meaningful kind. Each “gate” holds a challenge and a gift. To pass through each of them is to be opened and enriched by the enlightenment of truly having lived. 


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.

Philosophy in Unity Diversity

Because of the flu in Mexico, the Philosophy Groups will not meet Tuesday, May 5. We can keep the same topic of “In Control?” for May 12. Friends of Unity will meet as scheduled. Contact Nancy Anderson at revnancyaa@gmail.com for information.

Midday Rotary Club 

The Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday will not meet on Tuesday, May 5. Guest speaker Pat Harding, President of Jóvenes Adelante, will be rescheduled. 

Lions Club International

Annette Goodheart, Ph.D. has specialized in the application of laughter to psychotherapy and coaching since 1970, as detailed in her book, Laughter Therapy: How to Laugh about Everything in Your Life That Isn’t Really Funny. She has led workshops and seminars in 14 countries and has appeared on international TV and radio, including NPR, BBC and Oprah. Her short talk here is set for May 7.

The Lions Club meets every first and third Thursday 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.

Garden Party

In celebration of Mother’s Day, St. Paul’s Church hosts a special Garden Party on the lawn Friday, May 9, 10:30am–12:30 pm. The 51 children of Centro Infantil preschool, ages 3–5 years, will present a 40-minute musical event, “Cultures of the World,” led by their inventive director Patricia Palacios and supported by their other teachers Maria Magdelena Rubio Garay, Ana Oliver Zamora Frias and Cecilia Pina Lopez. The preschool in Independencia for needy Mexican families is one of St. Paul’s outreach programs. There will be refreshments and sales tables of handcrafts, cards and White Elephants.



Classes & Workshops

Chess

Events May 1–5 are cancelled. Chess players next meet Wednesday, May 6, at Casa de la Cultura on Chorro, and then it’s back to the regular schedule: Saturdays, 10am–2pm, Wednesdays and Fridays, 4:30–7pm. Players at the Biblioteca Pública next meet Monday, May 11, 5–6:30pm. 

Dance at El Sindicato and Arthur Murray

Due to concerns about the flu outbreak, El Sindicato and Arthur Murray will close until Monday, May 4 (at least). El Sindicato is a public building with many children’s classes and large group classes (such as Zumba) which could create possibilities for transmission of the virus should it find its way to San Miguel.

Arthur Murray is cancelling all group classes and parties until next Monday. If you had a private lesson scheduled this week, expect a call to reschedule, or feel free to call Christie Olvera at 044 (415) 106-4401. 



Tours & Excursions

Saturday Adventure Tours

The tour benefiting the Centro de Crecimiento school for disabled children is cancelled for Saturday, May 2. 

House & Garden Tour

The tour for Sunday, May 3, is cancelled and the Biblioteca is closed. Tours resume May 10.

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

Artists Fair

Insituto Allende’s Artists Fair will go ahead as scheduled this weekend, May 2–3, 10am–6pm, at Ancha de San Antonio 20. Admission is free.

Concert

The homage to Andres Lopez Mendoza set for Monday, May 4, at Teatro Ángela Peralta has been cancelled.

Singles Social Group

Four years ago a small group of single people began meeting once a week at a local pub to socialize and lend support to each other. We later publicized the meeting and opened it to all singles in town, meeting at Romanos restaurant whose owner offered 2-for-1 drinks and provided complimentary botanas. Sadly, Romanos closed its doors a few months ago. We scrambled for a suitable location and settled on a delightful venue, the newly opened Woolis Kaban Restaurant at San Francisco 25, next door to HSBC Bank. We welcome singles, couples and anyone who is interested in meeting new people to join us every Wednesday, 5–7pm, for 2-for-1 national drinks delicious Mexican botanas.


Tardes de Tertulia at Bellas Artes 

Wednesday Cultural Gatherings are at 6pm in Café las Musas in Bellas Artes. In these comical performances in both English and Spanish, the count and countess of Bellas Artes tell you the history of the musical genre and the musicians interpret it. They are Christian Baumgartner, Laumuq, Xavier Hernandez (tenor), Liliana Gutierrez (piano) and Gabriela Perales (soprano). Tango is May 6 and 13. Tardes de Tertulia is for everyone and it’s a fun way to understand and enjoy music, poetry and theater. 


Violin/piano recital

The planned recital by Turkkan Osman Macias and Liz Stone scheduled for May 7 at St. Paul’s Church has been postponed.




Masala full moon dinner

The House & Garden Tour for Sunday, May 3, has been cancelled. Tours will resume on May 10.

In the Buddhist tradition, every full moon evening is a time for reflection, but the full moon in May, with the rising of the morning star, when Siddhartha Gautama became the enlightened one, is particularly revered. In celebration, Shanti San Miguel’s Indian restaurant, Masala, is serving a special full moon dinner on May 9. Cocktails and appetizers are 6:30–7:30pm, and dinner at 7:30pm, with time after to sit out on the terraces and watch the full moon with the lights of San Miguel in the distance. 

The 375-peso dinner includes appetizers, a first course of tamarind shrimp, a main course of chicken cooked in a banana leaf, rice with cashews and curry leaves, fresh lime pickle, cauliflower masala, dal, garlic naan, and chai and homemade gulab jamun.

Drinks are not included, but we have a full bar and some wines that go particularly well with Indian food. Reservations are suggested, at 044 (415) 100-8396 or info@shantisanmiguel.com.

Films & Videos

Meditation Center

The Meditation Center at Callejon Blanco 4, near Quebrada, presents videos on Thursdays at 5:30pm. Please arrive early, as seating is limited and late arrivals disturb others. The films are free, though donations are always welcome.



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.