AROUND TOWN
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Meetings & Lectures
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meeting
Reverend Jeffrey G. Jones discusses the challenge of facing serious setbacks in a completely bilingual service titled “Learning to Fall” or “Aprender a Caer” at this Sunday’s Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meeting.
Life can be difficult. Whether it is a serious illness, broken relationship, financial or other crisis, these are parts of real life. How do we prepare? Perhaps it is by learning to fall. La vida puede ser difícil. Si es una enfermedad seria, relaciones deshechas, crisis económica u otra crisis, estas son partes de la vida real. ¿Cómo nos preparamos? Tal vez, es por aprendiendo a caer.
Rev. Jones is the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fredericksburg, Virginia, which he has served for eight years. After spending a six-month sabbatical in San Miguel de Allende in 2007, Rev. Jones and his family have returned to improve their Spanish, renew friendships and, once again, enjoy the Mexican culture.
The UU Fellowship meets every Sunday at 10:30am 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.
Midday Rotary Club
On Tuesday, August 19, special education teachers Linda and Ronald Felton discuss the needs and their experiences at the Ignacio Ramirez School. Located on Stirling Dickinson, the school is a state-run special education center with about 75 kids with various disabilities at all age levels. They are woefully underfunded and are lacking in equipment, materials and resources.
The couple began working with the school through Computadores pro Jóvenes. The school has received a number of computers but needs some adaptations to its facility to make them secure and accessible to the kids.
Linda has 33 years of experience in the Miami Public Schools and has taught children with various disabilities, from mild to severe, at all grade levels. Ron is a teacher and administrator with 30 years in the Miami Public schools where he was the director of special education for many years.
The Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday meets every Tuesday at Hotel Real de Minas at the 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. For more information, visit
www.rotarysma.org.
Mexico under NAFTA
NAFTA has emerged as an election year issue in the US, with the Democratic contenders calling for revisions in this agreement with Mexico and the Republican candidate supporting the status quo. But all look at NAFTA through the rose-colored glasses of the US. Seldom is NAFTA viewed in terms of its impact on Mexico.
Mexico joined with the US and Canada 14 years ago to form an integrated economic system that has fundamentally transformed Mexican society. Under the banner of “free trade” the movement of capital and commodities across the border was accelerated. Under the economic principles of neo-liberalism, public assets were privatized –sold often to those who were politically well connected—and social services were curtailed. Communally held ejido land was also opened up to sale and this, along with a flood of imported corn from the US, forced millions of campesinos off the land and fueled a massive migration. NAFTA has made Mexico an ideal laboratory in which to study the effects of globalization, since they are so intensified here.
Dr. Cliff DuRand explores the effects of NAFTA in a talk sponsored by the Center for Global Justice on Wednesday, August 20, at 10:30am on in Sala Quetzal. Admission is 50 pesos.
Classes & Workshops
Chess: Five days, three locations
Free chess workshops for adults meet Mondays 5–6:30pm in the central patio of the Biblioteca Pública. A dozen players occupy the north portal of the patio each week. The library closes at 7pm, but Café Santa Ana lets players carry on for another hour or two.
Players also gather at Mama Mia, Umarán 8, on Thursdays, 5–7pm.
Chess players meet three times a week at Casa de la Cultura on Chorro: Saturdays, 10am–2pm, Wednesdays and Fridays, 5–8pm.
Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Painting but Didn't Think to Ask
Phoebe Greyson, visiting artist from Boulder, Colorado, and Vancouver, British Columbia, will lecture on the nature of paint, color theory and techniques for creating the illusion of three dimensionality. Greyson, who has been painting for the past 15 years and who teaches out of her Boulder and Vancouver studios, believes strongly that many beginning painters lack a grounding in basic painting techniques that limits their choices and their ability to solve problems when they encounter them. Many painting classes begin by encouraging participants to paint, usually by trying to render what is in front of them. This, Greyson believes, although it may work for some, leaves the majority of students without an understanding of the medium they are using and the choices that it offers. For example, Greyson explains, certain pigments are translucent and others are opaque. This needs to be taken into account when deciding which color to use in certain situations. Also, red and blue do not necessarily make purple; sometimes they make brown. An understanding of basic color theory is not only necessary for predictable color mixing, but also for the creation of three dimensionality. Issues like edges, texture, overlapping and contrast also play an important part in creating the illusion of three-dimensional space. Greyson will discuss these issues and how to use them to solve specific problems.
The lecture will be held Tuesday, August 19, 2–4pm at May Wells studio at Loreto 5A. A question and answer period follows. It is strongly suggested that participants bring something to take notes. A contribution of 100 pesos is suggested. To view Greyson’s work, visit
www.Greysonart.com.
Tours & Excursions
Saturday Adventure Tours
This Saturday, August 16, the Adventurers start “up-the-hill.” On the way to El Atascadero, we visit Casa del Rinconcito, which was once a tannery, the biggest industry in San Miguel many years ago. It is built into a rocky hillside, giving the home many levels, with hidden terraces, one with a pool. Farther on is a room with a grand piano and a window-wall, looking out to an ancient, spreading Zapote tree. Up more stairs, you will find more bedrooms, all fabously decorated.
Now to Rancho La Loma, an equestrian center for training Andalusian horses. On a tour around the beautiful and extensive grounds, we will see a couple of Trojes, typical homes brought up from Pátzcuaro. One has been converted to a chapel, others to guest houses, with many modern amenities added, such as baths and kitchens. Their tackroom contains a marvelous collection of antique carriges, one of which was the first horse-drawn taxi in Mexico City. From the grandstand we will witness these well-trained beauties showing off all their gaits of dressage. Anyone for a carriage ride, behind gorgeous Percherons? You will have your chance. What fun! Don’t miss this tour! Bring your cameras!
This tour leaves from inside the Jardín, across from the Parroquia, at 10:30am.
Botanical Garden tour
For the next few months, El Charco del Ingenio (Jardin Botanico) offers tours Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (rather than one tour a week on Tuesdays). The start time is 10am sharp (instead of 9am) and tours last two hours. A hat, water and good walking shoes are recommended. Fees are 50 pesos for members and 80 pesos for nonmembers. Private tours are available for 150 pesos per person (minimum five).
The easiest way to Jardin Botanico is by taxi. Staff will call for a taxi for the return trip to town.
Reservations are not necessary. If you have any questions, email nzerriffi@yahoo.com.
Instituto Allende trip to Dolores Hidalgo and Guanajuato
On Saturday, August 23, at 9am, Instituto Allende Tours leads a day-long field trip to Dolores Hidalgo and the city of Guanajuato. Dolores Hidalgo, a center for Talavera style ceramics, is also the location where Miguel Hidalgo uttered El Grito in the main square on September 15, 1810, his famous and historical cry for freedom. The center part of Dolores will be toured including the town’s square that offers avocado, shrimp and tequila flavored ice creams, along with more traditional types.
Later the tour heads to Guanajuato, a charming capital city with great cultural tradition and home of the University of Guanajuato. Famed painter Diego Rivera’s home is on the bill along with an easy-going walking tour of other sites of interest like the Plazas de la Paz and the main Jardín.
Cost for this trip is US$65. Trips are all-inclusive; reservations are a must. Native-speaking, bilingual guides lead all tours and offer further insight within a secure environment. A free lecture previews upcoming weekend field trips each Wednesday at 4pm at the Instituto. Call 152-0226, or visit Instituto Allende, Ancha de San Antonio 20.
Films & Videos
Eleventh Eckhart Tolle video
The Meditation Center of San Miguel, callejón Blanco 4, presents the eleventh installment of a 13-week series of Eckhart Tolle videos, Touching the Eternal, from a 2002 retreat in India. Each video is about an hour and a half long; they show at 5:30pm on consecutive Thursdays continuing August 21. The presentation is free, although contributions are accepted.