Book Signing
Seeing with the Pen 
Edward Simpson
Sat, Mar 14, 1–4pm
Garrison & Garrison Books
Hotel Sautto
Hernández Macías 59
Free

La Josefita and La Ruta 2010
By Edward Simpson

The Mexican Paul Revere was a woman and her image on a five-centavo piece (1942-55) gave that copper coin the nickname Josefita, for Doña Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez. That was back when the dollar was worth 4.85 old pesos and a five-peso coin was nearly an ounce of silver, back in the forties, as recalled by Elisa González, my primary source.

Doña Josefa, living in Querétaro in September 1810, overheard that the plot of Ignacio Allende and the other insurgentes had been discovered. She got word to San Miguel via Ignacio Pérez, causing an early launch to the struggle for independence, with Hidalgo’s El Grito in Dolores and the march of the campesinos to San Miguel.

Anticipating commemoration of La Independencia, denoted by “La Ruta 2010” signs around San Miguel, and in memory of Sareda Milosz and her newspaper El Independiente, I once again venture to relaunch my book, Seeing with the Pen, which gives voice to my love for San Miguel.

Milosz is fondly remembered for her cross-cultural newspaper that represented her own independence and celebrated the cultures that thrive in this historic place.

Having picked up the pen about 10 years ago to see San Miguel, for to write descriptively is to see intensely, now seems a good time to pick up the pen for a book-signing event at Garrison & Garrison Books, (415) 111-0335. Michelle Garrison’s store is worth a visit and a re-visit, and you can celebrate there with free coffee and cookies, and an autographed copy of Seeing with the Pen.

Celebrate the memory of El Independiente and Sareda Milosz, the independence of Mexico and Doña Josefa’s Revere-like warning to San Miguel, the real beginning of La Ruta 2010. 

Rare & Collectible Book Sale
Thu, Mar 19 & 26, 10am–1pm
Biblioteca patio
Insurgentes 25

Super-Bodega sale

On March 19, the Bodega again offers a special section of rare and collectible books, valued up to 5,000 pesos. The books are from the many donations the library receives. On February 23, the library received a literal truck-load of books, which will enhance the rare book section and boost the regular Bodega book offerings.

Each Thursday in March, 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. The first special book sale on March 5 was a record-breaker, with nearly a thousand books sold in three hours for 14,000 pesos (regular Bodega 5,000 pesos and collectible books 9,000 pesos).