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The most recent discussion of traffic problems in SMA took on a worldview when a Colloquium on Traffic Issues in World Heritage Cities was held in SMA January 30 and 31. Organized by SMA’s Tourism, Economic Development and International Relations Departments, it had Francisco López Morales and Francisco
Vidargas, director and sub-director of INAH’s World Heritage Department as hosts. Although many local government officials were not in attendance for much of the Colloquium, there was a representative there from the main departments. The main problem facing SMA is traffic flow of private vehicles in el Centro. This could be resolved by economically accessible parking lots outside el Centro plus efficient and attractive public transportation. Yanet Lezama López, architect on historic centers from INAH in Querétaro, stated that “Citizens must decide what they want for their city.” Lezama held that increasing pedestrian traffic in el Centro could lead to more public demand for less vehicular traffic. She also suggested that residents and workers be given parking priority in parking lots of el Centro. That a public planning meeting be held within two months to generate recommendations and ideas for funding with participation of experts, local authorities and citizens was suggested.
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Crime
One murder, with the murderer apprehended, and one female tourist assault in an afternoon on a main street kept our police force busy. February 1, a stabbing at a party led to the death of 18-year-old Ricardo Bárcenas Godínez of Valle del Maíz. The murderer is a member of a gang from Colonia Allende and was arrested less than 24 hours later. The tourist, Sylvia Bradley, who was assaulted, wrote a letter to Atención San Miguel’s editor to tell her tale. Walking on Ancha de San Antonio near Calle
Cardo, two Mexican men grabbed her handbag, twisted her hair, pulling it from the roots. A passer-by brought the activity to a halt as the men jumped into a waiting taxi. They got her wallet with cash and credit cards. Unfortunately, Bradley does not speak or read Spanish and so did not sign anything the police presented her with for making an official complaint. Where were the translators?
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Mayor Jesús Correa, Department of Public Security head Daniel Trujillo and Civil Protection head Alan Àlvarez have announced the commencement of a
drive to encourage citizens to report things immediately when they see things going wrong. In Spanish it is called ¡No la
riegues! .. Denúncialo al 066, which equals Don’t delay! Denounce it at 066 (the police emergency number. This drive is aimed at graffiti artists as well as real criminal activity. Mayor Correa said, “An eye on the street is equivalent to two police officers in preventing crime.”
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Last week’s Chili Cook-Off for the benefit of the Centro de Crecimiento was a huge success. They used up the roll of 1,000 tickets, and admitted customers with cash, which equaled 1,200 attendees. There were 20 Champion Chili Cooks from Texas who had won regional or national (USA) cook-offs. Prizes went to José and Bertha Guerra for the Best International Chili and to Jaime Fenton for the Best Local Chili. Best Beans Prize went to Courtnay Pelch and the Best Margarita and People’s Choice Chili went to Gustos Bar owners Laurie Sandefer and Lisa Tyson. The final accounting is not done as yet, but should benefit Centro de Crecimiento over $100,000 pesos.
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Groups and Meetings
Feb. 10
- The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will hear Sandy Brooks on “The Voices of Protest” in USA history. 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.
Feb. 12
- The SMA Midday Rotary Club’s weekly meeting in the Hotel Real de Minas will
have the presentation of their first formal presentation of Midday Rotary’s first annual “Citizen of the Year,” which goes to two citizens, Saul and Linda
Whyman. In addition, the chorus group Madrigals and More will perform river songs from the USA as an honor to Black History month. The meeting starts promptly at 12:30. For more information, go to
www.rotarysma.org.
Feb. 16
- The Center de Crecimiento will have “A Dazzling Black & White Affair” at the Hotel Real de Minas with open bar and hors d’oeuvres at 6:00 plus silent auction and
raffle. At 7:30 the live auction with more hors d’oeuvres will continue and at 9:00 music and dancing. Tickets are available at Romano’s Restaurant, Casa
Katalina, Casa Maxwell, Barbarita Boutique and in el Jardín.
Feb. 17
- Audubon Mexico will host a Gala Benefit Brunch in the Hyder House (a blend of several old houses). PEASMA
(Proyecto Educación Ambientale de San Miguel de Allende) will benefit from the event, with music by Bobby Kaplan’s Trio and a Barbara Porter fashion show. Tickets are on sale in the Jardín, La Conexión, or call Bob Haas at 152-0804.
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Lectures
Feb. 12
- Robert de Gast will present a slide show/lecture on Mineral de Pozos entitled “The Romance of Ruins: A Visit to
Pozos” in the Santa Ana Theater at 5:00. Entrance at Insurgents 25.
Feb. 12
- San Miguel PEN lecture series will hear Austin Briggs reading “The Joys of Joyce: Reading "‘The Dead’” in Bellas Artes auditorium, Hernández Macías 75 at 6:00.
Feb. 13
- Retired professor Guillermo Méndez will talk about the mythology and adventures of Columbus in the Santa Ana Theater at 3:00. Entrance at Insurgentes 25.
Feb. 13
- Chilean artist Tomas Burkey will talk on “Light and Matter” in the Ana Julia Aguado Gallery, Plaza Principal 18, up stairs from 8:00 to 9:30.
Feb. 14
- Leonard Bird will appear in PEN Writers Aloud series in the Biblioteca Pública’s Sala Quetzal at 4:00. Entrance at Insurgentes 25.
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Tours
Feb. 10
- The House and Garden Tour begins gathering at the Biblioteca Pública at 11:00 a.m. and leaves at noon.
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 part in the tour helps provide medical and dental care for children in need through Patronato Pro Niños.
Feb. 14
- A guided tour of the cacti that grow in the botanic garden El Charco will begin at 9:30 in the lecture hall there. Space is limited so reserve at
nzerriffi@yahoo.com.
Feb. 16
- Instituto Allende’s field trip is an overnight visit to Mexico City and the pyramids of Teotijuacan leaves early on Saturday and returns late of Sunday. On Wednesday, February 13, at 4:00, there will be a free lecture preview of the upcoming field trip. Bilingual guides lead all Instituto tours. Reservations are required and fees must be paid in advance at Instituto
Allende, Ancha de San Antonio 20. Telephone 152-0226.
Feb. 18
- To support the eye clinic and diabetes testing, the SMA Lions Club will sponsor a six-day trip to
Oaxaca, with a stopover in Puebla. For further information and reservations, call Janice Page at 152-5541.
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Movies
Biblioteca Cinemateca
Feb 9
- Kids Matinee Vintage Cartoons Noon FREE
- Opera Movie Richard Strauss’ Capriccio 2:30
Feb 11
- The Dead, John Huston, Eng - 5:00 & 7:00
Feb 12
- Bioneers films with John Abrams: In Thinking Like Cathedral Builders + discussion 3:00
Feb 13
- Art Movie How to Draw a Bunny
Feb 14
- Global Justice Film War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning
Us to Death 3:00
Feb 16
- Kids Matinee Vintage Cartoons Noon FREE
- Opera Movie Verdi’s Aida - 2:30
MM Cinemas For schedule www.mmcinemas.com or 120-4743
El Market Bistro, Hernández Macías 95, Sala Alex Philips at 4:00 & 7:00
Cinema, History & Adventure in America
Feb 9 - Cabeza de Vaca History/Adventure, Mex 1991
Feb 10 - Fizcaraldo History/Adventure/Drama, Ger 1981
Feb 11 - The Mission Drama/war, USA 1996
Feb 12 - Aguirre The Wrath of God - Adventure/History, USA 1972
Feb 13 - Little Big Man Western/Adventure/war, USA 1970
Feb 14 - Cobra Verde Adventure/Drama, Ger 1987
Feb 15 - The Grapes of Wrath Drama/History, USA - 1940
The Meditation Center, Callejón Blanco 4
Beginning Feb 7, a series of 8 videos with a Zen theme and Alan Watts talks on Nothingness and meditation 5:30
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The Arts
The Program in SMA for the 2nd Annual Baroque Music Festival, Baroque & Beyond is:
Feb. 15
- Bellas Artes, Juan Luis García: Conferencia “Keyboard Wizardry in Baroque: - noon - FREE
Feb. 18
- Posada de San Francisco, Claudine Gómez-Vuistaz Nuances, Inflections and Fancy noon Posada de San Francisco Lunch 1:00
Feb. 19
- Hotel La Puertecita Movie & demonstration of Baroque dance
- Dance of the French Baroque Theater noon Hotel La Puertecita Lunch 2:00
- Cranston Gallery Camerata Ventapanne Voice and viols at the Royal Court 7:00
Feb. 20
- Casa Grau Camerata Trio Baroque & Beyond - noon
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Performing Arts
Feb. 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16. 17, 20, 21 22 and 23
- Iguana Productions will present the comedy The Love List by Norm Foster in the Villa Jacaranda Theater, Aldama 53. Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8:00 with Wednesday and Sundays having matinees at 3:00.
Feb. 8
- At El Viejo Topo Café-Theater, Calle Stirling Dickinson 28, Jeanette Macari’s production of ¡Viva el Tango! appears for an 8:00 performance.
Feb. 9 and 10
- Maureen Conlon began studying music here in Bellas Artes. She is now the holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Music at Rice University and a Master’s degree in violin performance at Penn State University. She, with Kathryn Bates, cello, and Rodrigo
Ojeda, piano, will present two concerts for Pro Música in St. Paul’s Church, both performances at 5:00. On the 9th, there will be music by Beethoven, Villa-Lobos and Astor
Piazzolla. On the 10th, Mozart, Ponce, Piazzolla and Schoenfield are the composers.
Feb. 11
- Soprano Clara Dunham with accompanist Ann Reily will give a concert with music by Brahms, Fauré, Wolf and Roussel in La Posada de la
Aldea, Ancha de San Antonio 15 at 7:00. Both musicians have been SMA residents for a number of years.
Feb. 11
- The Biblioteca Pública’s Sala Quetzal will have Sergio Basturo Valencia playing his harp and guitar. Basturo has made SMA his home for a number of years. Entrance at Reloj 50A for the 7:30 performance.
Feb. 12 and 13
- The Santa Ana Theater will have Steve Eaton and Mike Sanders with their humor, satire and music at 7:30 each night. Proceeds from the performances will go to Casa Linda, a group that builds permanent homes for those living in cardboard shacks in the environs of
SMA. Entrance at Reloj 50A.
Feb. 13 thru 16
- I Love Jazz will bring a piano concert by Ken Bichel in the Bellas Artes Auditorium on the 13th; The Downbeats at the Angela Peralta Theater on the 14th; the Natalie Braux Quartet in the Angela Peralta Theater on the 15th; and the Cool Jazz Era in the Angela Peralta Theater on the 16th. All performances begin at 7:30.
Feb. 13 & 14
- Erika Luckett returns to El Viejo Topo Café/Theater, Calle Stirling Dickinson 28, for two performances of her one-woman show, each night at 8:00.
Feb. 14
- The Santa Ana Theater will have pianist Alejandro Mora Fonseca playing love songs of his own composing and those of others at 8:00. Entrance at Reloj 50A.
Feb. 15 thru 23
- Baroque & Beyond Festival will bring the six members of the Camerata Ventapane of Houston, five from the Capella Guanajuatensis of
Guanajuato, five guest artists and two lecturers. The varied venues and performance hours will make the festival interesting and enjoyable. Many of the performances will take place in
SMA, but the main evening concerts will be in Querétaro. Varied ticket packages are
Feb. 17
- The Santa Ana Theater will have José Manuel Alcántara returning for his seventh classical guitar concert at 7:00. Entrance at Reloj 50A.
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Exhibitions and Openings
Feb. 9 - Fábrica la Aurora, the artists, studios, workshops, galleries, books, restaurant and bars celebrate the 4th anniversary with champagne, chocolate, music and mas from 6:00 to 9:00. In connection with the general anniversary celebration, Atrium Gallery will have an exhibition of Marcela Lobo’s bright canvases. The Comedor de la Aurora will have an opening for Terra Mizwa’s sculptural images.
Feb. 10
- Galería de Arte, Reloj 46, will have an opening for the human body paintings by Harry Van Dine. Opening is from 3:00 to 6:00.
Feb. 14
- Rainbow of Art Gallery, Ancha de San Antonio 3, opens its doors with sculptor and artist owner Jan Searle showing her latest works. Joining Searle will be Robert
Brickhouse, Jorge de la Fuente, Julian Fedorak, Eunice Hundley and Bill Lieberman, whose works will be featured initially.
Feb. 15
- Dee Roper’s Gallery at Fábrica la Aurora will feature Lynn Padwe’s photos of Bali: A Photo Story. Opening is from 6:00 to 9:00. The exhibit will last through February 21.
Feb. 15
- Exclusive San Miguel (real estate office) at Zacateros 9, will have an opening for the paintings of Christina Sol from 7:00 to 9:00
Feb. 15 & 16
- Roland Salazar Rose will open his studio at Montitlán #6, starting at 5:00. Other times, it is best to call 152-0995 for an appointment.
Feb. 16 thru 28
- Generator Gallery at Fábrica la Aurora will exhibit recent works on canvas by muralist David Leonardo. The opening is from 5:00 to 8:00. Leonardo will give a Gallery Talk on February 17 at 11:00 a.m.
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