What the heck is going on?

We hear that a lot now that there is no longer a weekly newspaper in San Miguel de Allende. (Not that the newspaper was all that informative. But it was better than nothing.)

The other thing we hear is “I didn’t know that was happening? How did I miss it?”

Easy. Stuff to do is all over the place. Sometimes in your Facebook feed. Sometimes in your e-mail. Sometimes on websites dedicated to local stuff. Sometimes by word of mouth. Sometimes by a poster pegged to a local bulletin board.

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We just never know. And it feels like we’re knowing less and less with each passing day. 

OK, this isn’t the solution but here are some of the things going on this week. Most of these are one-offs – they won’t be coming around again for a while, if ever. That makes them special.

This is not a comprehensive list — and no one person could or should ever have to do that. Some who do a good job (and I encourage you to bookmark these):

DiscoverSMA  —   Old school page design but a wealth of information, well-organized. What it lacks in style it makes up for in volume.

Lokkal —   I’d say the content borders on eccentric. Sometimes. That makes it interesting. Plenting of calendar content and background stories about events. Lot oflinks back to DiscoverSMA.

San Miguel Live! –– Excellent website of events – but only as good as the event planners who post to it. Thank goodness there are lots of them. Divided by days and by genres.

Where do you find your entertainment news in SMA? Feel free to send information on upcoming events to  robertj.hawkins2012@gmail.com Try to be as complete and informative as possible. (Thanks!)

Ok, these are some of the things going on that I would personally like to attend if I had two or three bodies and the energy of a 50-year-old:

MONDAY, February 26

Charity Bingo at La Frontera Restaurant, Refugio Sur 28, Colonia San Antonio, starts at 5 p.m. Pay to play: $150 MXN gets you 15 cards. (On behalf of all ADHDs, Yikes!) This happens every other Monday, so mark your calendar. Doors open at 5 p.m.  Bingo starts at 5:30 p.m.  Food is great and there are prizes, camaraderie, and the good feeling of contributing to worthy causes while enjoying yourself.

TUESDAY, February 27

Operisima in Concert: A night of set pieces, arias, and vocal showcases, presented by at least 10 talented young people of Operisima Mexico, under the direction of maestro Rogelio Riojas. Operisima now has a home base in Los Frailes at Casa Puccini where their stated goal is to perform a whole opera each month. Casa Europa in Centro is a sort of home away from home for showcases.

The performance begins at 6 p.m. at Casa Europa, San Francisco 23. Tickets are $400MXN and you can buy them at the Aurora Book Store, at Casa Europa, or by WhatsApp (415) 181-2464.

San Miguel has an urgent water problem. In this presentation, two champions of clean, natural water, César Arias de la Canal and Dylan Terrell, will discuss how we got to this point, what we can do about it, and what the future holds.

César Arias is a founder and current president of San Miguel’s El Charco del Ingenio Botanical Garden and a member of an old and prominent San Miguel family. Dylan Terrell is the founder and executive director of Caminos de Agua, which provides clean water access to San Miguel communities.

Buy $300MXN tickets online or at Aurora Bookstore, Calzada de La Aurora 48A, Tue-Sat, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.  At the door: Casa de la Cultura, Mesones 71

The talk is presented by San Miguel PEN, the organization of writers that defends freedom of expression around the world. Your $300 MXN contribution supports San Miguel PEN’s work. 

If all that talk of water shortages leaves your throat dry, take your ticket to Vivali restaurant for a complimentary glass of wine with dinner (around the corner at Hernandez Macias 66).

WEDNESDAY, February 28

Remember when Gil Gutierrez held court at Bistro Mi Casa? The master guitarist closed shop when Covid hit and saved his music for his rancho Zandunga, out in the campo. Exciting news: Gil Gutierrez is back in town, playing Wednesday at the Aristocrat, Calle Jesus #27 in Centro, with the Gil Gutierrez N.Y.C Quintet. 

Reservations are a must, via email info@aristocratsma.com, and must be paid for in advance of Monday 26 Feb at 10 p.m. All seating is assigned and the $600MXN per ticket revenue goes to the artists.

Confessions of a Clown: Fiddling With The Stories of My Life

Says the Clown himself, Stuart Nemtim:  “’Fiddling With The Stories of My Life’ is my telling my personal stories. It is deeply vulnerable. It hits audiences where they live and struggle. But it is not heavy, because the comedy of the show livens it up. As Emmet Kelly said, “Laughing at me gives the audience a spiritual second wind for going back into the battle of life.”

Nemtim will take the stage at Teatro Santa Ana, Biblioteca, Calle Relox #50a for two nights, Feb. 28 and 29, at 5 p.m. Tickets are $330 MXN. Nemtim writes about his life as a clown here.

THURSDAY, February 29

Javier “Jitano” Estrada will present a fabulous Gypsy Guitar Concierto at Kaffi Casa de Pan in Colonia Guadalupe (around the corner from Gil’s Tienda) at 4 p.m. A San Miguel treasure,  Estrada delights audiences with his blend of “Gypsy Flamenco” guitar and inspirational storytelling. A $300 MXN donation is requested. Call to make reservations(bilingual): (477)-601-6748.

Undiluted 100% Chopin: International pianist Javier García-Lascurain will interpret the captivating melodies of the composer Federico Chopin. Immerse yourself in Lascurain’s mastery as he brings Chopin’s timeless compositions to life.

Buy $300 MXN tickets at Casa Europa or reserve at (415)-181-2464 The performance at Casa Europa, San Francisco #23, Centro begins at 6 p.m.

Going for baroque on rock ‘n’ roll:  Mario Moya on harpsichord and Alberto Moya on flute will interpret the likes of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Jimi Hendrix through a unique blend of classic rock and baroque music. They will throw in some Vivaldi and Bach for free!
The concert is at 6 p.m. at Café Murmullo, Ancha de San Antonio #24. The cover charge is $250 MXN.

FRIDAY, March 1

The Festival of Our Lord of the Conquest. Indigenous dancers come to the Parroquia at 9 a.m. to recite 33 prayers, one for every year of Jesus’ life on earth.     “Look for native dancers in front of the Parroquia from dawn until dusk the first Friday of March, a tradition spanning over 400 years.

“Scores of dancers from all around Mexico don elaborate pre-Hispanic costumes, complete with plumed headdresses and other indigenous garb reflective of what the great Aztec, Mayan and Toltec emperors and warriors wore.  At this, the start of the food growing season, dancers perform for most of the day in front of the Parroquia to help ensure prosperity for all.  They begin following a 6:00 am mass that celebrates the spiritual conquest of the dancers through their faith in Jesus Christ.  It is a feast of particular significance to the native Otomies.”

Read more about the history here.

FRIDAY & SUNDAY March 1 & 3

Geneva Lewis, a 24-year-old violin prodigy who made her debut at age 11 with the Pasadena Symphony will bring her talents to St. Paul’s Church, Calle Cardo, at 5 p.m. on Friday and Sunday, March 1 and 3.

Friday’s concert features compositions by Brahms and Schuman and Sunday’s will highlight Bach, Elgar, and Handel. Nathan Lewis will accompany the artist at the piano. Lewis most recently performed for the Pro Musica series in 2022. She is based at the New England Conservatory of Music.

Tickets begin at $200 MXN and are available on the ProMusica website. They can be picked up at the ProMusica ticket desk at the door to the concert, starting 45 minutes before showtime.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY,  March 2 and 3

Guadalupe Art Walk: Last weekend Colonia San Antonio artists opened their studios to the public. This week, the honor goes to Colonia Guadalupe.  Local artists open their home studios showcasing paintings, printmaking, sculptures, & mixed media work for sale. Spend a day or two in Colonia Guadalupe, known for its wonderful wall murals, local artists, and great cafes and restaurants.

Grab a coffee or lunch to make it a day!

SATURDAY, March 2

After the Guadalupe Art Walk, consider taking a few more steps down the road to the Fabrica Aurora First Saturday Art Walk, 5-7p.m. Yes, there will be wine!

Of special interest, ZOHO Gallery will be honoring the late artist Mike Kleimo with a special exhibition of his works spanning the years he spent in San Miguel, 2002-2018. Kleimo passed away on October 10, 2018, here in San Miguel.

Kleimo was a founding member and a guiding force behind the ZOHO Gallery. The works on display will be the last of his plein aire watercolors.

The online magazine Lokkal has a thorough look at Kleimo and his work by Edna Dickinson, who was married to him for “40 very interesting years.”

Opera de San Miguel announces the San Miguel XV Competition

The 12 opera finalists who will have participated in an intensive week of master classes, essays, conferences, and career assessments with an international jury will perform Saturday at the Angela Peralta Theater at 6 p.m.

The singers are Carlos Arambula (baritone, 32); Ricardo Ceballos (bass-baritone, 31); Daniela Cortés (mezzo-soprano, 24); Rosa Dávila (Soprano, 29); Sweet Guadarrama (Soprano, 29); Montserrat Hernandez (Soprano, 33); Issac Herrera (baritone, 33); Pompey Lugo (baritone, 27); Paula Malagón (soprano, 32); Lucero Quintero (soprano, 33); Jennifer Mariel Velasco (soprano, 29); and Alejandro Yépez (tenor, 28)

The sale of tickets – from $400 to $1500 MXN – is only at the box office of the Angela Peralta Teatro, Mesones 82, corner Hernández Macías, Centro. The office is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Opera de San Miguel is a non-profit civil association devoted to discovering and stimulating, through grants and professional opportunities, the most talented young opera singers in Mexico since 2008.

That’s it. I’m wiped.