Tough luck if you are over the age of, let’s say16, but a lot of this week’s events are geared toward children. With good reason: The last Saturday in April is Mexico’s National Day of the Child.

If you have kids or know families with young children, consider being a fairy godmother or godfather for a day and get them to some of these wonderful events. (Cover the cost of the tickets, godmother!)

Meanwhile, of course, there really is a lot going on for the rest of us. There is a prestigious horse jumping event and the 50 Best Bars in North America will be named in a splashy ceremony. Do not try horse jumping and bar hopping at the same time. Leave that to the professionals.

The literary life is not dead (or hibernating) just because the snowbirds have fled the nest. An excellent poetry reading is coming up on Wednesday. Love is in the air and it begets romantic music. There is a youth orchestra performance, Lady Zen at the Ten Ten, a free organ recital, an Earth Day documentary, and an over-the-moon gallery opening.

In fact, who are we kidding? Life has not slowed down one bit in San Miguel. If I were you, I’d check out at least one of the three event listing websites that track San Miguel’s wonderful world of entertainment, events, and curiously interesting things to do:

Discover SMA

Lokkal events

San Miguel Live!

If one of them doesn’t have anything that gets your juices flowing, one or the other will. (And a pro tip: If you can’t read the information on an image, click on it with your cursor to open it up.) Remember, always tip generously your waitstaff and musicians.

Meanwhile, a selectively curated list of events for you:

Sunday, April 21

1 p.m. One good Sunday begets another

Lady Zen is back at Ten Ten Pie al Carbon on Stirling Dickinson in Colonia San Antonio for another Sunday afternoon of upclose and intimate musicality.  LadyZen has a fabulous range so you might get anything and everything from Broadway tunes and musical theater, soul, the Great American Songbook, some Jazz, and a few surprises.

Reservations required. Voluntary donation. Call  +52-415-121-1445

5 p.m. Up on the roof: Sunset Sessions

With days this hot, when the sun goes down, you want to be up on the roof, catching a hint of a breeze and feeling the music through your tequila haze. That’s not James Taylor but Steven Jaymes and friends up on the roof of Raindog Lounge. You never know who the friends might be. Could be Edgar Ordoñez on bass, Miguel Favero on cajón, Geoff Wadsworth on saxophone, Paul Segal on guitar, or local singers like Johnny Favorite, Fil Formicola, or María Sánchez. They’ve all shown up as Jaymes plays piano and guitar and sings.

Cover is $100 pesos – for the musician(s).  Happy Hour is 6-8pm with 2×1 cocktails. Raindog is located at Zacateros 45, above El Tupinamba. Reserve your table by WhatsApp (415-111-3755) or e-mail (bookraindoglounge@gmail.com)

Monday, April 22

If you think of anything, let me know.

Tuesday, April 23

Raising the bar: And the winner is …

Pity the person who was given the task of coming up with the 50 best bars in North and Central America. Oh, and the Caribbean. I mean, there are a LOT of watering holes inside that perimeter. Just the same, the deed has been done and the results are in. And San Miguel of all places has been chosen to unveil the lucky spots.

Actually there are events surrounding the big reveal. On Monday night is The Bartenders Feast at Live Aqua. On Tuesday is the main event at the Rosewood. And On Wednesday will be a closing party on one of our very chi-chi rooftop bistros.

You game for all that? Here’s the scoop.

6 p.m. What’s love got to do with it? Everything.

David Mendoza is one of the most loveable musicians in San miguel and one of the most talented. Whether he is playing his beloved saxophone or the drums or a few other instruments, his performance always comes across soulful and passionate. 

So, of course David has put together a night of romantic music which will be performed at Paprika “The Music House” on the Ancha. With David will be pianist/singer Carlos Vargas.

Music from and for the heart begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are $300 pesos for the musicians and a minimum food and beverage consumption of $300 pesos.

Wednesday, April 24

All day – They jump horses, don’t they?

The Otomi Grand Prix FEI Show Jumping Event begins today and continues through the weekend at Club Hipico Otomi, located at Principal 18 – which is easier to get to than it sounds. Head past the bus terminal, across the railroad tracks and keep going until you are almost at what used to be the Allende Pressa but is now a desert wasteland.

You can’t miss Clun Hipico – everything is so green and lovely and so are the people walking around. Not green, but lovely. And horses. Lots and lots of beautiful horses and the riders who adore them.  Horses and riders will be competing for $175,000 usd in prizes. See? This is a big deal.

Here’s a nice description of the events by Sara Tylosky in the budding young newspaper Insider News. She explains it all much better than I ever could. Though, I have been there and found the events fascinating. Dress nice.

2 p.m.  A documentary film for Earth Day/Week

Narrated by Woody Harrelson, “Kiss the Ground” proposes regenerating the world’s soils – which can stabilize Earth’s climate, restore lost ecosystems, and create abundant food supplies – by drawing down atmospheric carbon. With graphics and visuals and striking NASA and NOAA footage, the film illustrates how soil restoration becomes the missing piece of the climate puzzle.

Location: Santo Cinema, Mercado Sano, Ancha de San Antonio #123. Get tickets at the venue.

4 p.m. Poetry Night with Jennifer Clement

Author Jennifer Clement will read at Cafe Rama’s Poetry Night. A Meet and Greet with music provided by pianist Carolyn Studer and bassist Sergio Carrillo Silva precedes the reading. Afterward,  poet and memoirist Catherine Marenghi will interview Clement and take questions from the audience.

There is no cover. Drinks and appetizers, including a special “Poet’s drink,” will be available for purchase. Reservations are recommended but not required. Call 415 154 9655. Cafe Rama is located at Nemesio Diez No. 7.

7 p.m. Fuensanta & Ensamble Grande

Nearing the end of an extensive Mexico tour, this multi-national ensemble will be lighting up the stage of the Angela Peralta Theater, Mesones #82, with their music, poetry, and more. 

“The Ensamble Grande is a performance in which Fuensanta’s music and poetry become the common thread of an international organization embodied by some of the brightest young musicians based in Europe.”

Tickets are $400 pesos, general admission. Get tickets here.

7 p.m. – Backyard birthday bash

Bill and Eva Lose are having another rock ‘n’ roll birthday party. Of course, this one is for all you April babies – and everyone else who just wants to celebrate the April birthdays of others. Their beautiful sloping and terraced backyard is perfect for live music, dancing, picnicking, and just being social.

But you need to reserve a seat in advance. This party might already be filled to capacity. They do fill up, and quickly. So may this serve notice to all you May babies: Plan ahead.

The concert will feature music of the 60s, 70s, and 80s by the band Materia Dispuesta. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the band rocks at 7 p.m.  Nothing is sold on the premises so bring your own picnic dinner and beverages.

Contact Bill Lose to see if any seats remain for this month. Location: Calle Amatista No 8, de Guadalupe El Saltito. Phone:  +52 415 119 3711  Remember: Reservations are a must. No walk-ins.

Thursday, April 25

6-8 p.m. Orquesta de Cámara Infantil y Juvenil de SMA

Watching this orchestra grow and mature as youngsters and musicians has been a great joy over the years.  You owe it to yourself to come and hear tomorrow’s maestros and maestras de musica!

This musical evening with young talents perform such composers as Gabilondo Soler, Arturo Márquez, Beethoven and Grieg. Under the direction of Víctor Hugo Ramos Fonseca.

The concert is free. In the Bellas Artes – Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramirez El Nigromante, Hernandez Macias #75.

6 p.m. Free all-Italian organ recital

The San Miguel Organ Festival, in conjunction with Chorale San Miguel, is bringing Italian organist Sossio Capasso to the Templo de la Tercera Orden on Calle San Francisco to perform an all-Italian music concert on the 1875 pipe organ. Chorale San Miguel under the leadership of Malcolm Halliday, purchased and restored the Johnson & Son organ. It was reassembled in the temple in late-2023 and has been featured in numerous concerts. Doors open at 5:15 p.m.

6-8 p.m.  Panio Lab opens just for kids

Kids ages 8-14 can learn the art of bread making from some of the best in San Miguel at The Formula of the Bread Workshop.

“Panio Lab has a special surprise for Children’s Day! Are you looking for a fun way to celebrate with your kids? We have the perfect solution! Join our workshop where the little ones will learn all about the art of making bread. Space is limited, so contact us via DM for more details and registration!”

Cost is $750 pesos per child. Call WhatsApp at 415-101-3003 to reserve places at the table.

Friday, April 26

5 – 8 p.m. RO Gallery – Grand Opening

Blue Moon Gallery on Stirling Dickinson is joining forces with Ricardo Ortiz Gallery and opening a second showcase space, this one on Zacateros #4 .  Stop in and help them celebrate the launch! Say hello to Dali and Van Gogh!

Saturday, April 27

10 a.m. A festival just for the children

Today is Children’s Day in Mexico and the Biblioteca Publica is going all out to celebrate the little ones.  There will be lots to see, experience and do until 2 p.m. and it is all free.

Don’t miss anything:

10-11:30am: Activities Rally

11:30am-12:30pm: Concert “Cantando Vamos Jugando”, by Paty Monsell

12:30pm-1:30pm: Media Theater “The Cow Who Thought She Was a Butterfly”

1:30pm-2pm: Surprises for the children

Biblioteca Pública AC  is located at Insurgentes #25.

11:30 a.m. – Democrats Abroad brunch

The local branch of the Democratic Party is holding a Meet & Eat, which ought to be a fun thing to do with the elections bearing down, President Biden’s polls improving, and the opposition candidate on trial. Lots to talk about.

The brunch will be at Lolita, Salida a Celaya #52 and only $350 pesos per person. RSVP so the restaurant has an accurate estimate: Info-MX-SMA@democratsabroad.org. Get more details here.

6 p.m. – “Mexican Nutcracker” at the Angela Peralta

The visiting dance company: “La Alborada”  presents a special show in Teatro Angela Peralta: “Juguetes de Carton”  (“Toys of cardboard”) is a creative dance figuring real dancers dressed as toys and toys made of “carton.”  Carton can be translated as cardboard and is a Mexican craft that originated during the colonial times.  The famous alebrijes are made of carton (not the same as papier maché) The show will delight both children and adults.  “A Mexican Nutcracker” is how it is described by the director.

Admission is very reasonable, $100 pesos. Tickets are on sale at the Theater, Mesones #82, Centro.