If you haven’t been, you owe it to yourself to go see the Exploding Judases, today, Sunday, at noon. Go sooner and get a close-up look at the lifesize papier mache figures that will be blown to smithereens. You may even recognize one or two! You may even want to project a name or two of your own onto the more anonymous ones.
Frankly, the pyrotechnics signal the end of High Season, that semi-sad time of year when the season begins to change, to heat up and get really really dry, and all that money changes course and begins to flow back north to the United States and Canada.
Suddenly things like classical music concerts, top-level talks, and festivals just dry up with the arid wind. Well, we’ll always have, Dia de los Locos, long and quiet hikes, religious processions and fireworks (possibly one and the same). And cool local musicians will start getting the recognition they deserve. And parking will be easier. And crazy gringas will not throw fits in coffee shops when they find out there is no decaf.
Meanwhile, let’s enjoy one more week of the good stuff.
If you hear about anything fun happening in San Miguel, you can always drop me a line with the details at robertj.hawkins2012@gmail.com .
Sunday, March 31
This is Easter Sunday. Here’s what it is all about in San Miguel de Allende
Noon: Blowing up the Judases
The full tortured passion and drama of Mexico’s Roman Catholic heritage turns to a lighter side in the central Jardin plaza shortly after celebrating the rising of Christ. Thoughts immediately turn to revenge — and fireworks. At least a dozen lifesize figures will be condemned to dematerialization by pyrotechnics.
One by glorious one.
Stay til the end when kids scurry around collecting limbs, dismembered heads, torsos, and colorful scraps of whatever. Stuff Dad will make sure ends up in the trash on Tuesday. But so much fun while it lasts.
Grande finale is the Firing of the Judases on Easter Sunday when huge papier mache figures of politicians, bogeymen and Judas Iscariot are blown up in the town’s public gardens. In recent years, the final figure looked remarkably like Donald Trump. Not last year, though. Now that he is back running for president — some say running for his life — and impugning the reputation of hardworking Mexicans everywhere … maybe he’ll make a comeback.
I’d vote for that!
1:15 p.m.: Went to a garden party …
What could be more Easter Sunday than listening to a choir in a lovely garden while sipping beverages and admiring everyone dressed in their Holiday finest?
The place will be the Salazar Restaurante and Gardens, Salida Real a Queretaro #64 (located inside the Hotel Posada La Ermita). The centerpiece will be the Sing San Miguel Choir, lead by jazz and soul vocalist Sibyl English.
The gardens open at 1:15 p.m. and the choir performs at 1:45 p.m.
Tickets are $600 pesos for adults and $300 pesos for children 12 & under. Details at: https://www.sibellacircle.com/ . Members of the choir are also selling tickets, if you know of someone.
2 p.m. It’s da bomb.
Multiple Oscar winner “Oppenhimer” is playing at Cine Bacco. Really, the bigger the screen the better. It isn’t every day an atomic bomb goes off in front of your face and you get to discuss plot, character development, and special effects later.
Cillian Murphy is terrific as the conflicted, complicated, brilliant J.Robert Openheiumer, father of the atomic bomb. But then, so it the rest of the cast – complicated and conflicted.
Cine Bacco is at Hernandez Macias 59 in Centro. Tickets are $150 pesos.
Monday, April 1
6 p.m. It’s about Time (the magazine’s Top 100 movies …)
Shelter Theatre is working its way through the Time magazine list of the top 100 movies from the last 100 years. And tonight it is bringing the epic MGM movie “Ben Hur.” The perfect Easter season spectacle. At the time, it had the biggest everything: budget, sets, cast of extras, music score, movie stars. Today, a 17-year-old kid with AI software could get the job done.
Charlton Heston is the wealthy Jewish merchant Judas Ben-Hur who is framed and taken into slavery and works his way back to freedom as a gladiator and chariot racer. His rage and desire for revenge are tempered by he encounter with Christ who is on his way to crucifixion by the Romans. Powerful and cinematic stuff.
The theater is at Vicente Guerrero 4, San Rafael and tickets are $100 pesos.
Tuesday, April 2
3-4 p.m. Marketing your new book
You’ve decided how you are going to get that book published. Now, how are you going to get it into the hands (or Kindles) of readers?
That’s the question Lainey Cameron, author and book marketer and Leslie Kain, author/self-marketer hope to answer in this second session of the Publishing Sala in San Miguel de Allende. Talk will take place in Sala Quetzal of La Biblioteca, Relox 50A. Donations will be appreciated.
7 p.m. Improv People anniversary show
San Miguel’s “favorite (and only!)” improvisational theater troupe, Improv People, is celebrating its lucky 13th anniversary with one show only at the studio at Subida al Caracol #11. For a change, the troupe is bringing on stage a guest artist, Andy Rostad of Chicago, who “brings an immense amount of improv skills to the table. Plus he’s a fine human—and a great deal of fun! #truth!”
Can’t argue with that.
For tickets, go to the Improv People website .
And hit the PayPal button – with your finger, not a hammer – for your $14.50 tickets. If you prefer to pay in cash ahead of time, send a WhatsApp message to 415 103 8027.
9 p.m. Tribute to the music of Joaquín Sabina
El Tupinamba pays tribute to Spain’s own Leonard Cohen, the beloved 75-year-old Spanish singer, poet, composer Joaquín Sabina.
Who? From Wikipedia: “Joaquín Ramón Martínez Sabina (born 12 February 1949) is a Spanish musician, singer, composer, and poet. His songs usually address love, heartbreaks, and society with a large usage of literary figures similar to the baroque-literature style.
“He has released fourteen studio albums, two live albums, and three compilation albums.”
The evening also includes Flaminco Taurino. El Tupinamba is at Zacateros #45. No cover.
Wednesday, April 3
5-7 p.m. Birdies is for the doggies
“Loteria for the Animals” moves to Birdies Burgers restaurant at Salida a Celya #6 and the fundraiser this month will benefit the Lucky Dogs Club House.
The cost is $400 pesos and includes 4 loteria (Mexican bingo) games and a welcome drink. There will be food and drinks for purchase. There will be prizes for game winners from sponsors, including Dos Aves, Birdie’s Burgers, Panio, Pilates Love, The RIDE, Florios & Clandestino Hotel.
A raffle at the end of the night will give away a “fabulous Staycation.” Music is by DJ Zurik & Alejandro Trejo.
April 3 and 4th
7 p.m. Magical realism meets the theatre
Who knew a late-night stop at a McDonald’s could lead to encounters with a giraffe, a unicorn, a tarot reader, and an ancient rabbi? That all happens in the staged reading of “Summer Night with Unicorn” by David Rush.
The witty and poignant play makes its San Miguel premiere under the direction of Lee Duberman at the JC3 center, Cinco de Mayo #47. It stars Richard Fink, Steve Garfinkle, Clara Dunham, and new to San Miguel, Vermont actors Susannah and Tom Blachly.
“Unicorn” takes place between 10 p.m. and dawn on a Chicago summer night, as the chatty and charming Estelle Zingerman meets Warren Spencer at an all-night McDonalds and engages him in a mission that leads to encounters with a street artist, a Tarot card reader, a 19th Century Chassidic Rabbi, a giraffe, a Unicorn, and more.
Admission is 200 pesos (150 pesos for JC3 members). Advance tickets are available online or by visiting JC3 at Calle de las Moras 47 (at Cinco de Mayo). If you have difficulty purchasing tickets, please call the office at 415-185-9191 Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 4
5 and 7 p.m. NYC jazz comes to SMA
Two jazz sessions at Cine Bacco – which is not just about movies! The trio’s leader Rotem Sivan’s music has been praised by no less than critic Ben Ratliff of The New York Times for having “a searching quality to his improvising.. He attains a kind of private language. It’s the kind of thing that makes you listen harder.”
The trio consists of Rotem Sivan, guitar/ composer; Hamish Smith: upright bass; and David Sirkis on drums. There will be two 90-minute shows, 5 and 7 p.m., and tickets are $650 pesos.
Cine Bacco is at Hernandez Macias 59 in Centro.
Friday, April 5
7 p.m. Lady Zen sings Al Green and Marvin Gaye
In her first large-scale amphitheater concert in more than two years, Lady Zen, backed by the Royal Court Band, will pay tribute to two giants of soul, Marvin Gaye (“I Heard it Through the Grapevine,” “What’s Going On”) and Al Green (“Let’s Stay Together,” “Tired of Being Alone”).
Lady Zen’s Green and Gaye concert will be held at the new La Troje Amphitheater at Our Habitas hotel/resort, in Valle de Los Senderos, Av. Central #101, Col. López Mateos, San Miguel de Allende. Located 15 minutes from downtown San Miguel, the amphitheater has tiered, stadium seating, assuring perfect sightlines for all members of the audience. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Tickets range from $350 to $1,200 pesos (for VIP seating) plus a service fee and order processing fee. There are seven price points to choose from.
Tickets from Boleto City: https://boletocity.com/
Saturday, April 6
10 a.m.– 2 p.m. – Find a deal, help a child
The “Heart to Heart” Charity Bazaar in San Miguel de Allende, is run entirely by our dedicated group of volunteers, collecting and displaying largely high-end donated items solely to support the community work of Patronato Pro Niños.
Look for great deals on clothing, accessories, jewelry, shoes, handbags, artwork, household items, small appliances, furniture, and electronics while aiding in the health and well-being of the children of San Miguel. Patronato Pro Niños has been doing this work for 45 years!
Bazzar Location: Reforma 75C, Fraccion Ignacio Ramirez, San Miguel de Allende
All you need to know: about Patronato Pro Niños.
11 a.m.–5 p.m. Happy World Water Day
Drink up, while you can.
On the occasion of World Water Day, 27 organizations that makeup Red/Agua Vida will set up booths and displays to promote awareness of the water crisis in the region and call for citizen participation. The location will be Plaza Civica in Centro, San Miguel de Allende.
Agua Vida is “a network of civil society organizations and individuals working in San Miguel de Allende to preserve and restore our finite water resources and to ensure the right to clean water for all through an informed and engaged society.”
5 – 7 p.m. Fabrica Aurora Artwalk
It’s open house every first Saturday of each month at San Miguel’s largest collection of galleries. Artists are there to talk about their creations, new exhibitions debut, appetizers, and wine are served, and people-watching is celebrated. Be the art! Dress up for the occasion!
7 p.m. Old pals: ‘Fil and Hopalong’
“Fil and Hopalong” promises an unforgettable night of smooth jazz stylings and some of the great American Songbook classics when two old music pals, singer Fil Formicola and guitarist and double-bassist Hopalong hit the Angela Peralta stage backed by a quartet of superb musicians: Rolando Gotes, guitar; Papachoh Sirdey, keyboard; Armando Servin, trumpet; and, Victor Monterrubio, drums.
Formicola can be heard around town, notably at Paprika, often singing the best of Sinatra and Bennett. Mexico City Conservatory alum Hopalong has made a name for himself on both sides of the Atlantic. They’ll stretch the night with some Sting and McCartney and a smattering of blues and pop. This is shaping up to be one for the memory books.
Location: Teatro Angela Peralta, Mesones #82, Centro. For tickets – $400, $500, $600 – go to the theater box office or online at Eventbrite.
As always, these fine event artisans are crafting lots of the details on what’s happening in San Miguel. Refer to them often:
Discover SMA — https://discoversma.com/events/events
Musings, Magic, San Miguel and More 
Jan and I have bemoaned the passing the Atencion newspaper but are grateful to you for picking up the fallen sword. We love your perspective on life in SMA and appreciate the news of upcoming events. It is a lot of work on your part but greatly appreciated. 🙂 🙂
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Thanks, amigo. So good to see you behind the lens today!
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