INFO San Miguel

General News

During the City Council meeting on September 5, there was a vote to reconsider having the bulls run in the downtown streets once again. Last year’s canceled Sanmiguelada had been a poor copy of the ages-old traditional St. Firman’s Day event in Pamplona, Spain – the Pamplonada.

José Luna of Mama Mia, lost much business with the cancellation, as did many other bars and small eateries. Luna thinks the Sanmiguelada was a badly organized event and suggests one which is better planned, located away from the very center of town. It could support Patronato Pro-Juventud Sanmiguelense for low income youth. It is doubtful if the Sanmiguelada will be reinstated this year, but certainly, a rousing event to bring visitors to town is needed in the autumn months – a week of top notch bull fights maybe.

Spain will probably return to Mexico the two flags that were used in the early days of Mexico’s fight for independence from Spain. The flags were lost in a battle on January 17, 1811. The possible return date is during the 200th year independence celebration in 2010.

The Instituto de Rehabilitación y Enseñanza Especial (IREE) is the only school for deaf children, where they can receive basic education, sign-language instruction and speech therapy. It is supported by donations to cover costs while the families of most of the students cannot afford the minimal tuition. It was thought that it could not reopen this school year, but thanks to the temporary rescue came the Bernard Weisman Foundation with a US$12,500 grant, it can continue through the end of this year. Three teachers, a speech/language therapist and a school director also provide to basic education. The school is a place where the deaf children can communicate with others, not only those with similar problems, but to develop social skills. Students come from SMA, Celaya, Comonfort, Dolores Hidalgo and Querétaro. To help by sponsoring a student, or paying the teachers’ salaries (US$3,000 a month), or adopting the school rent (US$600 a month) or paying the monthly utilities (US$125), contact the director/founder Cecelia Escobar at 152-0913 or iree@uisono.net.mx. Holly Yasui is fundraising coordinator. Contact her at 152-8166 pr hollyyasui@yahoo.com

The Juárez Park has a cast bronze sculpture of two heads entwined called The Lovers. The piece has a history – made by a female artist known as Rai Graner Murray. In the 1930s she worked with Enrique Alfarez in both Morelia and New Orleans and visited SMA from time to time. Now Rai Graner’s daughter Lynne Gleason lives in SMA and specializes in sculpting horses. She has donated her mother’s work to the growing sculpture garden in Juárez Park.

To read an updated list of Activities for Fiestas Patrias going on right now.

Groups and Meetings

September 14
- The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will hear Dr. Cliff DuRand and Atahualpa Caldera tell about the Center for Global Justice’s Summer Intern program. The Fellowship, which welcomes people of all ages, races, religions, sexual orientation, and gender identity, meets each Sunday in La Posada de la Aldea, Ancha de San Antonio 15 at 10:30 a.m. All are welcome.

September 16
– The Midday Rotary Club’s weekly meeting in the Hotel Real de Minas is canceled for Mexican Independence Day, but will resume on September 23.

Lectures

September 17
– Anne and Jim Olsen will lecture on the state of education in Mexico and in SMA, particularly, in the Biblioteca Pública’s Sala Quetzal from 3:00 to 5:00. The entrance is FREE at Insurgentes 25.

September 17
– Lauren Lesko will talk about “Astrology and Revolution” in the Biblioteca Pública’s Sala Quetzal at 7:00. Entrance is at Reloj 50A.

September 18
– Arturo Morales Tirado will give a virtual tour of the huge archaeological site of Teotihuacán. The lecture is in the Santa Ana Theater. The entrance is at Insurgentes 25.

September 19
– Wayne Colony and Walter Meager have a new book Wild & Wonderful: Nature Up Close in the Botanical Garden El Charco del Ingenio. Meager wrote the text and Colony took the photos. They will give a lecture on the contents of the book in the Biblioteca Pública’s Sala Quetzal at 5:00. Entrance is at Reloj 50A.

Tours

September 13
– Saturday Adventure Tours usually visit a home of an artist and then goes to a place of interest out of town. The tour leaves from in front of the Parroquia at 10:30.

September 14
– There will be no House and Garden Tour because the in town main streets will be filled with the 25th anniversary of the SMA Fire Department.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, a walking tour of historic SMA led by SMA volunteers leaves the Jardín in front of the Parroquia. The tour lasts a little over two hours and is mostly level walking. Taking the tour helps provide medical and dental care for children in need through Patronato Pro Niños.

September 16, 17 & 18
– The morning tour of the botanic garden El Charco del Ingenio is on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The tour meets at the main entrance at 10:00 a.m. and lasts about two and a half hours. Bring hat and water and wear comfortable walking shoes. For further information, call 154-8838.

September 19
– Richard Cretcher will lead a wildflower identification walk at 9:30 in the botanical garden El Charco del Ingenio – members go FREE. For further information, go to nzerriffi@yahoo.com

Movies

Biblioteca Cinemateca
Sep 13 – Kids Matinée – Cartoons – noon – FREE
Sep 15 – Weather Report: Live at Montreux 1976, jazz, English – noon
Sep 17 – After the Wedding, Danish/Eng – 3:00
The Namesake, Eng/Sp – 5:00
Exiles, Fren/Eng – 7:30
Sep 18 – Weather Report: Live at Montreux 1976, jazz, English – 7:30
Sep 19 – Exiles, Fren/Eng – 3:00
The Namesake, Eng/Sp – 5:00
After the Wedding, Danish/Eng – 7:00
Sep 20 – Kids Matinée – Cartoons – noon – FREE

MM Cinemas – For schedule www.mmcinemas.com or 120-4743

Movie Pocket Theater – El Market Bistro, Hernández Macías 95 – 1:30, 4:00 & 7:00
Talented Young Directors: Richard Linktaler & Atom Egoyan
Sep 13 – Before Sunrise
Sep 14 – Speaking Parts
Sep 15 – Before Sunset
Sep 16 – The Sweet Hereafter
Sep 17 – Dazed and Confused
Sep 18 – Ararat
Sep 19 – Suburbia

Shelter Theater, VG4 Vincente Guerreo 4, Col. San Rafael – 7:00
www.sheltervg4.com

Meditation Center of San Miguel, Callejón Blanco 4 (off Quebrada)
Sep 18 – 2nd of videos of Gangaji: The Moment of Choice

The Arts

September 15 and 16
– Instituto Allende will host special Arts and Crafts Fairs, produced by Gilberto Castillo from Oaxaca featuring marimba music.

September 20
– Rick and Deb Hall, collectors of Mexican Folk Art will open their el Cortijo home Los Linares from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 for an exhibition and sale, with net proceeds to benefit Ópera de San Miguel. Directions are available at Zócalo Folk Art, Hernández Macías 110 or 152-0663.

Readings

September 12
– Authors’ Sala Reading with David Lida and Wim Coleman will be at St. Paul’s Parish Hall, Calle Cardo 6 from 5:00 to 7:00.

Performing Arts

September 12 & 13
– Alan James Band will appear in concert at El Viejo Topo, Calle Stirling Dickinson 28, at 9:00. Alan James Hutchinson and friends combine blues, funk, folk and rock music styles.

September 17 and 18
– San Miguel Playreaders will present “Legends!” by James Kirkwood in St. Paul’s Parish Hall, Calle Cardo 6. Readers will be Billie Bremer, Elena Shoemaker, Michael Gottlieb and participating in her first playreading, Barbara Porter. Stan Gray directs and Eli Nadel provides lights and sound. Doors open at 7:00; the play begins at 7:30 or before, if the house fills.

September 21
– Iguana Productions are planning a February production and will hold interviews/auditions to be arranged by appointment from 10:00 a.m. till noon. Call Kirsten Dehner at 152-1112. Visit www.theatersanmiguel.co for info about Iguana.

Exhibitions and Openings

The Heart of Frida Exhibition has returned to SMA and is now at Jesús 36, open Monday thru Sunday, except Tuesday, from 10:00 to 6:00.

September 12
– Bellas Artes, Hernández Macías 75, will have an opening for the abstraction by Simone Pontecorvo from 6:00 to 8:00.

September 13
– Mary Wells Studios at Calle Loreto 5A will have a group show by Wells, Rio Casey, Phoebe Greyson and Sheila Seguin from 6:00 to 8:00.

September 17
– The Santa Ana Galería in the Biblioteca Pública will have an opening for painter Antoni Subirats at 6:00. His paintings will be on view for the remainder of September.

September 19 and 20 Casa de la Cuesta, Cuesta San José 32 will have Jacobo Mendoza, Zapotec weaver with some of his work, plus giant papier mâché figures (mojigangas) and masks to see.

Workshops and Classes

The Clubhouse at Los Labradores, off the road to Dolores Hidalgo is now offering classes in painting on Wednesdays in the gallery at 11:00 a.m., yoga on Thursdays in the gym at 7:00 and photography on Saturdays in the Workshop at 11:00 a.m. A weekend workshop is scheduled (September 26 thru 28) on Self Discovery. Call Norma Sánchez for further information and reservations at (415) 185-2202.

Tags: The Weekender

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