Let me start the week by saying, dawg, I’m tired. It may be the hyper-awareness of a birthday of a certain age that came and went last week but really drove home the point: I have had way too many birthdays in my life.
And that realization leads to another realization: I’m tired.
All of this is to say that as I was putting this calendar together Saturday night, I reached a point where finishing this thing wasn’t going to happen on deadline. So, on Sunday, I updated this page with a half-dozen more fun things for you to consider.
And as always, send your ideas and events to robertj.hawkins2012@gmail.com. Thanks for playing along!
As always, there are three fine institutions of curated events already in place in San Miguel de Allende. They may be dull but they have the data you can use:
So let’s get to it. You’ve got some brunching to do!
Sunday, April 14
Sunday brunch music
Good morning! Yes I know it is Sunday. Get up, get dressed and get ready! We’re going brunching today!
Do you have any idea how many restaurants in San Miguel de Allende offer free live music with your morning omlettes and burritos?
Me neither. Not a clue.
But here is a rundown of some of the places where you can dine and immerse yourself in the smooth Sunday stylings of jazz and Latin. The music is free – but note that most of these musicians play paying gigs around town. Here, you get them with your Huevos Rancheros, Gordita de Harina, and Chilaquiles Verde.
This is just a sampling. There’s great music throughout San Miguel all Sunday long. Check out San Miguel Live! For more ideas. And don’t forget to tip your waiters and waitresses and musicians – generously. (This is their Sunday, too, you know.) Click on the links for more details.
Cafe Rama – Morning Jazz Trio – 10 a.m. – Noon. Alberto Robledo, Sergio Carrillo and Ricardo Urbina play all that jazz.
La Sirena Gorda – Jack’s Guitar and Pamela – 10 a.m. –noon.
Acoustic guitar instrumental duets, songs from Luis MIguel to the Beatles on a Venezuelan cuatro and 9-string harp guitar.
Lolita – Manix – 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Live acoustic music and vocals with Antonio Arrolea.
Tres Fuentes Hotel – Osmar Aquino – 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Brunch with solo piano pieces, ranging from the Old American Songbook, to Latin jazz and Latin American music.
Zibu Allende – Domingos de Musica En Vivo – 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Brunch accompanied by Guitar, Gypsy Jazz Manouche, Latin Music, Piano, Vocal Singer, World Music.
Quanax Sabor a Mexico – Shago Fraga – 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Brunch with Shago Fraga’s romantic music in English and Spanish – Ballad/Trova/Bolero, Great American Songbook, Latin Music, World Music.
Our Habitas – Gaby Espinoza and Sharon Itoi, with Diego Flores – 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Four sessions during your brunch – enjoy pop music, jazz, bossa nova, and other Latin rhythms in English and Spanish.
7 p.m. Arthur Miller’s “The Price”
Last performance: Two brothers settling their late father’s estate, and settling a few scores while they are at it. One stayed home, ate his dreams, worked as a cop, and cared for the father. The other walked out on the family and got to live his best life as a prominent surgeon. Both have paid a price. Can they reconcile?
“The Price” will be performed at Shelter Theatre, Vicente Guerrero #3 over three consecutive nights – April 12. 13 and 14. The play will be in English as a live radio play, with projected supertitles in Spanish. The cast will be Antonia Banewicz, Cristopher Berns, Steve Garfinkel, and Lola Smith.
For tickets go to Boleto City online. https://boletocity.com/tc-events/the-price/
Monday, April 15
1 p.m. Webinar: US-Mexico Relations in a Double Election Year
Laura Carlsen, Director, Mira: Feminisms and Democracies will discuss what we can expect in the months leading up to Mexico’s general election on June 12 and the United States election in November. What are the post-electoral scenarios? And what impact does all this have on the daily lives of our populations?
A Stanford grad, Carlson works as an international relations analyst, journalist, researcher and consultant on movement building and gender justice in the Western Hemisphere.
You can join in person at the Hotel Quinta Loreto’s Community Room, Callejon de Loreto #15, Centro — or by Zoom at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87226505511
5 p.m. – 100 Women (and Some Men) Who Care
Mix and Mingle: 3:30 p.m; Sign in: 4:30 p.m.; Meeting Begins: 5 p.m.
The charitable fundraiser group meets at a new location, La Casona Hotel at Josefina Orozco #2. Just look for Panio Bakery on Salida a Celaya and aim for the tall white building behind it. Easy. And guys, despite the name, you are welcome to attend.
What’s it all about? 100 Women Who Care put the “fun” in “fundraising.” Over the years, the group has raised nearly $200,000 usd for local non-profit groups. Each participant drops 1,000 pesos into the bin. Three non-profits – names drawn from hat containing 20 groups – re asked to talk about their work and from these, one is selected. by vote of the doners All the cash in the bin goes to that group. They do this four times a year.
Check out the website for details.
6 p.m. – Raising “Kane” at the Shelter
The countdown of the top 100 movies continues with what many regard as one of the greatest movies of all time – certainly one of the most influential, Orson Wells’s “Citizen Kane” (1941). Before the brash young Welles took the helm, cameras were static, on the floor, pointed directly at the action. Welles played with camera angles, light and shadow, perspective, and narrative. Movies were never quite the same after the debut of “Citizen Kane.” Welles wrote the movie (with a massive assist from Herman J. Mankiewicz) and also starred in the title role.
Location: Vicente Guerrero #4, Colonia San Rafael. Tickets are 100 pesos at the door.
Tuesday, April 16
Wednesday, April 17
6 p.m. Theater: “An Almost Perfect Person”
At Teatro Santa Ana, Relox 50A. Tickets: $100 pesos, sold at the door.
The San Miguel Playreaders troupe presents the Judith Ross play “An Almost Perfect Person,” starring three new actors – Alison Mix, Rick Franz, and Frank Freschet.
Directed by Frank Simons, this is a “gutsy, always funny and sometimes wicked glimpse of the way things are these days in the political arena and the bedroom.”
A failed candidate soothes her loss with back-to-back bed romps. When the two men in her life meet face to face, things get really interesting.
Thursday, April 18
10 a.m. – 2p.m. Vista Antigua Estate Sale
This stunning collection of art and furniture will be sold over three days, starting today. The depth and breadth of treasures can’t be easily summarized. Seriously, hit the website and scroll through the scores of images of art work, rugs, collectibles, and so much more. Lalique crystal pieces, Hummels, Mexican Artwork by prominent artists, Sterling Silver, Swarovski Crystal figures, household items, furniture, linens, beds, etc. There is also a nice selection of costume jewelry with a few sterling and gold pieces.
Location: Bugambilias 22, Vista Antigua, San Miguel De Allende
5 p.m. – Free “Organ Plus” Concert
Music for Oboe and Organ: This Templo de la Tercera Orden concert showcases the 1875 Johnson pipe organ with music for oboe and organ by Krebs, Morricone, Pergolesi and Rheinberger with nationally known oboist Miguel Salazar. Organist Malcolm Halliday will also perform two solo works by Bach and Mendelssohn.
The concert is free, thanks to a donation from music patrons John and Joy Bitner.
Location: Templo de la Tercera Orden, Calle de San Francisco, Centro.
6 p.m. Theater: “An Almost Perfect Person”
At Teatro Santa Ana, Relox 50A. Tickets: $100 pesos, sold at the door.
The San Miguel Playreaders troupe presents the Judith Ross play “An Almost Perfect Person,” starring three new actors – Alison Mix, Rick Franz, and Frank Freschet.
Directed by Frank Simons, this is a “gutsy, always funny and sometimes wicked glimpse of the way things are these days in the political arena and the bedroom.”
A failed Congressional candidate soothes her loss with back-to-back bed romps. When the two men in her life meet face to face, things get really interesting.
Friday, April 19
5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saxploitation in the evening
Saxophonist Alan Villanueva performs with his trio at Cine Bacco, Hernandez Macias #59.
Tickets: $600 pesos
Villanueva is embarking on a tour of Mexico’s top cities to showcase his prodigious talents before relocating to New York City on a Fullbright scholarship to further hone his mastery of the saxophone. Joining Villanueva on stage are Papacho Sirdey, Adrian Flores, and Victor Monterrubio. The band will be revisiting iconic compositions of the great masters as well as arrangements and creations of their own. Experience Bacco’s unique acoustics while you immerse yourself in the spontaneity of jazz.
Saturday, April 20
7:45 a.m.-Noon – Monthly Audubon Bird Walk
Meet in front of Instituto Allende, Ancha de San Antonio #20
Members free, non-members 200 pesos or US $10
Preregistration is a must: audubondemexico@gmail.com
The morning birdwalk will be led by Norman Besman and Luke Rich,and follows the Rio Laja at Montecillo de Nieto. Keep an eye out for raptors above the fields, a variety of birds in the fields and trees, and aquatic birds within the river channel – as well as newly arrived migratory birds.
Leaders will have spotting scopes to view the birds up close and binoculars to lend if you need them. Sturdy shoes, hat, sunscreen, layered clothing are recommended. Don’t forget your water! Because of the resurgence of COVID, masks will be required in cars. Cars are always needed so yours is appreciated.
8:30 a.m. — Second annual Walk for Autism
Meet at the Jardin in Centro
$400 Registration
The 2-km walk will take participants to Parque Zeferino. Your $400 pesos registration fee includes a t-shirt and bottle of water. Additional donations are encouraged to support our work. Look forward to seeing you! If you can’t make it, think about sponsoring a walker.
Register at www.ninosconautismosma.org
5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Reconocer. Reconectar. Renacer.
Contemporary Dance workshop participants will present a performance piece within the framework of The Patchwork Healing Quilt exhibition at Bellas Artes.
Through dance, participants will interpret the emotions that the powerful healing blankets exhibit seeks to convey to the public. Reconocer. Reconectar. Renacer. = Recognize. Reconnect. Reborn.
There is no charge for the performance at Bellas Artes – Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramirez El Nigromante, Hernandez Macias 75.
Read more about the Healing Quilt Exhibit here.
7 p.m. Vivaldi by Candlelight
This is the first of several Candlelight concerts that bring the magic of live music and a multi-sensory environment to incredible locations in San Miguel de Allende. The tribute to Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons will be at Live Aqua, under the dim light of scores of candles. A quartet formed by violins, viola, and cello will perform the music of Vivaldi.
Tickets for the hourlong concert begin at $879 pesos and can be obtained from the online site.
Two other upcoming Candlelight concerts will be tributes to Coldplay and Queen.
7 p.m. Jazz Manouche at Soultribe
This concert explores the Mexican composers who have left their mark on the bolero genre but with the added touch of the quartet Jazz Manouche-style. At Soltribe Kitchen, Ancha de San Antonio # 123.
Jazz Manouche is Eli Doney, Guitar manouche; Pepe Helu, Guitar manouche; Adrián Floreswinkell, Doublebass; and Yala Torres, Violin and Vocals.
Buy your tickets in advance and secure your place by calling +52 415 109 9411 or stop in to Soltribe Cuisine in Mercado Sano.
Musings, Magic, San Miguel and More 