AROUND TOWN

Meetings & Lectures

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

George Bell continues the story of his life in music at this week’s Fellowship Meeting.


A 17-year resident of San Miguel and a Unitarian Universalist for more than 50 years, George will discuss the art of listening to music and his experiences as a professional concert violinist in New York, Hollywood and Los Angeles. Music itself will comprise a significant part of the program.

George is well-known in the community for his long association with all things musical in San Miguel, especially the Chamber Music Festival, the Jazz Festival, Pro Musica, Suzuki programs and various concert productions

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 for coffee hour afterwards.



Midday Rotary Club

On December 1, Susan Page speaks on “Fresh New Ideas for Your Relationship.” As Susan notes, many of us in San Miguel have long, stable relationships, which give us great comfort and pleasure. But focusing a spotlight on how you relate to each other may impart a new glow that will brighten you both up even more.

Susan Page, known in San Miguel as the founder and director of the San Miguel Literary Sala, spent 23 years conducting innovative workshops for couples. Her strategies are not only communication skills, but rather unilateral loving actions that have amazing power to solve difficult problems and add pleasurable new shine to any relationship.

Susan is the author of six perennially popular books about relationships, all still in print after many years. She has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show three times, and her speaking and media career took her to twenty-six US states, Canada, Korea, Australia and, of course, Mexico. She is a past chapter president of the National Speakers Association.

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 12–12:25pm and the meeting starts promptly at 12:30. The meeting is followed by a luncheon and visitors are invited to stay for lunch and fellowship. Visit www.rotarysma.org for more information.

Lions Club International

The Lions Club meets Thursday, December 3, at Sappos Restaurant at calle Nueva 10.

Check in time is 12:30pm and the meeting begins at 1pm, on the first and third Thursdays of each month. You may order lunch from the special menu and one-hour validated parking is available next door. For additional information, contact Mick Maguire 152-7523.

Classes & Workshops

Chess workshops

Free chess workshops for adults meet Mondays 5–6:30pm in the central patio of the Biblioteca Pública. Players also gather at Casa de la Cultura on Chorro, 10am–2pm on Saturdays and 4:30–7pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.




Tours & Excursions

Saturday Adventure Tours

On Saturday, November 28, it’s a one-stop tour, at one of the best—if not the best—ceramic factories, in the area. You needn’t go any further than Arte San Gabriel to buy anything in Talavera or tile; here you’ll find everything from macetas to colorful basins for your bath. They have it all!

As we visit a couple of the family homes, we will see the products put to everyday use—a beautiful set of dishes in the cupboard, a tea set on the coffee table, or an urn in a niche.

We move on to the factory, where we will be shown the molds used in crafting the infinite number of factory products. If we’re lucky, we’ll see some of the talented artisans sitting on low stools before a tiny turntable, painting an article that is to be fired. In this case, what you see is not what you get, because once fired, the colors of the piece are completely different.

Finally, we visit the immense show room, what you’ve been waiting for all along! Here you will find unique items from the tiniest salt and pepper shakers, to huge Talavera urns to a seven-foot three-tiered fountain. You’ll even find the plaque for your front door that reads “Mi Casa es su Casa.”

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

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. Enjoy a stroll in nature while learning about our conservation project and garden. Entry is 30 pesos (waived for members) and the tour is 50 pesos. We suggest you wear a hat and closed shoes. Reservations are not necessary. Information: www.elcharco.org or 154-8838.

Bird Walks 

Signe Hammer leads bird walks in El Charco del Ingenio on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Join her on Wednesday, December 2, at 9am for a 2.5-hour exploration of San Miguel’s botanical garden.

The walk is for birders of all levels, no reservations are needed and you are free to leave the walk at any time. Bring binoculars and water, and wear comfortable walking shoes and a hat. Cost is 50 pesos for members of either El Charco or Audubon, 80 pesos for nonmembers (includes El Charco entrance fee).



Performances & Events

Singles Social Group

San Miguel Wednesday Social Group now meets at the Sunset Bar in Casa Linda, Mesones 101, diagonally across the street from Teatro Ángela Peralta. 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.

Social Newcomers Club

The Social Newcomers Club has been in San Miguel for over 30 years, giving new residents and visitors a chance to visit different homes and try out restaurants.

The Club gets together every Tuesday at 7pm. When they meet at homes, each person brings finger food or beverage for six. When the group meets at a restaurant, they usually receive a free national drink or enjoy happy hour with dinner.

In December, they will start collecting new socks and gloves for So Some May Eat. At the annual Christmas party, each person will bring a 150-peso toy for disadvantaged children in the campo. On New Year’s Eve, a potluck dinner starts at 9pm, and left over desserts will go to the boys orphanage the next day. (We hope everyone will bring extra desserts.)

On December 8, there will be a special treat—an art opening by Leonardo Maldonado, who is also a musician and will entertain at Casa de la Noche on Organos 19.

Films & Videos

Meditation Center

The Meditation Center of San Miguel presents special features from the Milarepa DVD at 5:30pm, Thursday, December 3, at Callejon Blanco 4. The special features include an interview with director Neten Chokling; the documentary Who Is Milarepa? directed by Neten Chokling with Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, Dzongar Khyentse Rinpoche, Pema Chodron, Robert Thurman and others.

Sogyal Rinpoche, author of the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying calls this “a masterful portrait of Tibet’s most illustrious saint, whose life and enlightenment is an inspiration for today’s world.” Alix Sharkey of the London Guardian says it is “a must see for anyone concerned about the patterns of violence and retribution consuming today’s world.”

Presentations of the Meditation Center are offered without charge. 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.



Pro Musica

Pro Musica is San Miguel’s leading promoter of classical music, staging over 20 concerts every year at St. Paul’s Church. We hold wine and botanas receptions, champagne parties and dinners after many of the concerts. We are looking for a part-time volunteer to help us organize and oversee these functions between September and March each season. This is a fun role and an opportunity to meet a wide range of people on a social basis. Contact Pro Musica President Michael Pearl at 152-2688 or 044 (415) 100-1458, or email mpearl5493@aol.com. 



Volunteer Coordinator

The House & Garden tour seeks a volunteer coordinator. Ideally, the person lives here year-round, is very capable and organized. The hours are 10am to noon on Sundays. Preferably, the coordinator will have the flexibility to work a house if we run short on volunteers. The volunteer coordinator does just that, coordinates House & Garden tour volunteers on Sunday mornings for the houses and drivers. For more information or if interested, email jenniferhamiltonsma@yahoo.com. 



Ticket collectors

The organizers of the Centro de Crecimiento 4th Annual International Chili Cook-Off, to be held on January 30, 2010, in the grounds behind Hotel Real de Minas, are looking for volunteers to work the ticket gates on the day of the Cook-Off. Twenty to thirty volunteers are needed for shifts of at least two hours between 8am and 5pm. If you can help, please contact the organizers at smachilicookoff@gmail.com.