Sometimes, the best thing you can do is just get out and take a hike. Especially now, while the rains have turned the region into an emerald dreamscape. Sure, the roads and trails can be a bit muddy (OK, a lot in some places). These photos, taken on Saturday, were from a walk near the north end of Pressa Allende.

There is a photo below of the extraordinary power of the Obraje stream as it courses and tumbles through the canyon in El Charco del Ingenio, the botanical gardens. See it before the rains slow down and it returns to a trickle!

Meanwhile, here’s some fun stuff to kick-start your week:

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Sunday, July 28

10 a.m. — 6 p.m. Last day for Artisans Fair
Bordering the Plaza Principal on three sides, the Artisans Fair brings together homegrown craftsmen and women from all over San Miguel, offering unique products in tin, jewelry, fabrics, papier mache, weavings, and more. This is the last day for “San Miguel de Allende Artisan Fair 2024” which has survived more than a couple of deluges to bring you their products during this rainy season. Check them out, won’t you?

5-8 p.m. Dancing queens and art
La Joya Azul Guest House is the place to be for the monthly “Gay Social & Friends / T-Dance.” The La Jola Azul is located at Segunda Priv. Ignacio Allende #26. There will be art by James Harvey, Ross T Smith and resident artist Jose Luis Ramirez. Tunes to dance by DJ Marni Hills. Cash bar and snacks available on the Terrace.
Come mingle with our gay community and friends and have a dance. The last event drew “106 dancing queens” according to organizers. The social is being planned as a monthly event.

All day — Peruvian Independence Day
Lima restaurant at Salida a Celaya #10C is celebrating its heritage and history with food and drinks from its new menu, live music, and a chance to socialize while celebrating Peru’s Independence Day! Today commemorates the day in 1821 when General José de San Martín declared Peru’s independence from Spanish rule. This day is part of the larger celebration known as Las Fiestas Patrias, which also includes July 29th, honoring the Armed Forces and the National Police of Peru.

Tuesday, July 30

9:30 a.m. Honey, I’m home!
The Midday Rotary Club will present speaker Alma Garcia, tourism director of ecotourism-conscious Tierra y Amor resort and spa and site of the Honey Museum.
That’s right, San Miguel has a whole museum dedicated to bees and the production of honey.
The meetings are held in the Sala Quetzal in la Biblioteca. Use the Calle Relox entrance. You can join Rotarians for breakfast at the Zenteno Cafe before the meeting. Doors open for breakfast at 8:15 am. The cost is $150 pesos (cash only).
The Honey Museum is commemorating its second anniversary. Tierra y Amor offers a tapestry of ecotourism activities that highlight the region’s commitment to sustainability. The Ethnographic Room delves into cultural heritage, while the Nursery and Organic Garden showcase sustainable agriculture practices. The Mesquite Forest and Dehydration Area educate about local flora and traditional methods, complemented by artistic expressions in the Land Art and Labyrinth of Crete.
For more information about Rotary, contact club president Lee Carter at lee.carter@rotarysmamidday.org .
For more on future Rotary speakers, click here.

2-4 p.m. — Surreal but timely. Now, discuss
Luis Buñuel’s surreal comedy/drama “The Phantom of Liberty” (1974) will screen at JC3/Chesma Calle De Las Moras 47 (at 5 de Mayo) after which, filmmaker and scholar Elías Nahmías will analyse and discuss this groundbreaking movie. It will be shown inFrench with English subtitles.
From JC3: “Is freedom a ghost? Join us for a journey into the provocative and surreal world of Luis Buñuel.This bold and subversive work of cinema challenges traditional narrative structure and offers a biting critique of social conventions and morality through a series of disjointed, dreamlike episodes. Featuring Buñuel’s trademark blend of dark humor, visual innovation, and philosophical depth, ‘The Phantom of Liberty’ is a must-see for fans of avant-garde cinema and anyone interested in exploring the limits of storytelling.”
General admission is $150 pesos, $100 pesos for members.

5 p.m. — The Music of Languages
A poetry reading that celebrates languages from around the world will be hosted by Natalie Taylor and Danita Brisson at Calle Umaran #38.
Translations of the many poems will be in English & Spanish. This is a free event.

Wednesday, July 31

6:30 p.m. Parika will rock you tonight!
The rock ‘n’ roll dynamo known as Frad makes her Paprika debut. You may have already seen her around town and not even known it. Frad Mulier is the winsome creature with a portable sound system who stops at restaurants and coffee shops to belt out some crazy good rock songs. Nobody promotes their shows the way Frad does. She’s pulled off some exciting shows at Trina’s and Raindog Lounge with her backing band. Now it is Paprika’s turn. Her partner Javier provides some scorching guitar and drummer JuanJoy keeps the beat.
Tickets are $150 pesos and the money goes right to the band. Your food and drink tab helps Paprika to book the very best in live music in San Miguel.

Thursday, August 1

10 a.m. — Garden of earthly delights
At Charco del Ingenio Botanical Garden the seasonal rains have transformed the 170 acres into an Irish Eden. That means green, brother, green. Blooms in abundance. And the saturated reservoir is providing some spectacular spillage. You can hear the thunderous crash of water against rock a half-mile before you reach the entrance. This is the one time that the word “lush” has a good connotation.

And while you can walk around and take it all in on your own, what’s better than a personal tour with a trained guide? The garden is filled with plants from all over Mexico, many of them endangered. You can learn their names and properties and geographical history every Thursday, 10 a.m. to noon. Fee is $150 pesos ($100 pesos for members). Bring a picnic lunch or grab something at the garden cafe!

Located just a mile northeast of central San Miguel, El Charco del Ingenio can be reached on foot (about a 30-minute walk from the municipal market) or by taxi. The reserve is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Led by English-speaking guides, two-hour tours of the conservation area operate on Thursdays at 10 a.m. For more information, visit the garden’s website.

6-8 p.m. — Just say cheese …and wine
The Luna de Queso restaurant and market has launched a monthly wine and cheese pairing at their Calle Josefina Orozco location, with some live guitar music to make it all go down smoothly.
Here’s the scoop: “This month, we have Quesos Las Luciérnagas as our guest. Tere and Pablo are two people who are passionate about their work. They are mindful of the feeding processes of their sheep because they want to take care of every detail of their cheeses starting with the milk. Their goal is to live in harmony with the land to receive healthy food from it, and in the same sense, to give gratitude back to the field that gives life. They have a very inspiring life story that you will want to hear!
“For the wines, we will have Disruptivo. Sommelier Arael will share his extensive knowledge of old-world wines, guiding us on a journey through Italy, its grapes, and its most representative regions.
“Amid guitar music, each melody will be tailored to each cheese and wine. You will taste cheeses with incredible personality and quality.”
Cost is $550 pesos. Contact Luna de Queso for details.

7 p.m. — A virtuoso at the keyboard
The San Miguel de Allende Organ Festival, in collaboration with Chorale San Miguel and Casa Europa México, presents Bavarian organist Roland Dopfer, at the Iglesia de la Tercera Orden on Calle San Francisco. Dopfer studied at the Robert Schumann Musikhochschule in Düsseldorf and the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz in Cologne, perfecting his craft with masters such as Nigel Allcoat and Wolfgang Seifen. He has performed concerts in Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Oman, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Mexico, and the United States.
This special event is free, with donations welcomed at the door on the day of the event to support future concerts.

7-9 p.m. — Magical History Tour
Virtuoso guitarist Ricardo Salinas will put on a night of all-Beatles music spanning the career of the group. from “Love Me Do” to “The Long and Winding Road.” The concert celebrates 60 years of Beatlemania in the world, trying to tell its musical history with the best songs of the Fab Four on Classical Guitar.
“Magical Guitarist Tour: The Beatles, Ricardo Salinas” will be at Foro de Obraje, the amphitheater across from Live Aqua resort. Tickets are $500 pesos for general admission and $350 pesos for students. Salinas studied Instrumentalist-Guitar and Master in Music Education at the National School of Music (now Faculty of Music) of the UNAM.
For details, a song list, and more information go to Unshow Productions.

Friday and Saturday, Aug. 2-3

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Women’s Collective Bazaar
Located at Stirling Dickinson #20, the Women’s Collective has gathered the works of 10 artists in one place for a “fun two days of shopping” for art, jewelry, and wearables. Yes, there will be music and comraderie.

Friday, August 2

7 p.m. — A night of Paganini and Beatles
On this night, guitarist Ricardo Salinas moves to the Angela Peralta Theater, Mesones #82, where he joins violinist Carlos Arias de la Vega. They offer a mixed program of classical — featuring compositions of Paganini and Piazolla and a selection of tunes from The Beatles.
Ricardo Salinas is a top graduate of at the National School of Music (now the Faculty of Music) of the UNAM with a Bachelors and Masters in instrumental guitar and education. De La Vegas is a member of the first violins of the UNAM Philharmonic Orchestra and the Mining Symphony Orchestra. ,
Tickets are $500 pesos general admission and $350 pesos for INAPAM/students. They are available at the Angela Peralta box office or online. The Go to the Unshow website for tickets and details. (https://unshow.art/ricardo-salinas-carlos-arias/)

Saturday, August 3

5-7 p.m. — Walk the walk
It’s the first Saturday of the month and that means all of the artists at Fabrica la Aurora will be opening their studios and galleries just for you. Get dressed up, go artsy-fartsy, or just drop by for some painting peering, sculpture vulture, schmoozing, boozing, and social mediating. Really one of the most fun things you can do all month. And who knows? You may walk home with a true work of art.
Here’s the Fabrica Aurora website for your background information.

6 p.m. — Edith Marquez sings for you
The one-time singer in the Mexican youth pop band Timbiriche and now actress Edith Marquez performs at the esplanade of the Hacienda Los Picachos hotel, located at Carretera San Miguel de Allende – Queretaro Km. 3, in Comunidad de Alcocer.
Marquez recorded three albums with Timbiriche and she is coming to San Miguel with her hit-filled tour, “25 years in Front of You.”
Doors open at 6 pm and the show starts at 8 p.m.
Tickets range from $800 peso general admission to $2,100 peso for VIP/Front row seats. Buy your tickets online here
There is secure parking at $50 pesos. The venue will have food and beverages for sale.

7 p.m. — A night of Italian music
Soprano Maribel Salazar-Toscano and pianist Javier García-Lascurain present compositions of Puccini, Verdi, Sartori, di Capua and more at the Angela Peralta Theater.
Javier García-Lascurain , international solo pianist born in 1979 in Mexico City, winner of the Esperanza Cabrera State Piano Competition, studied at Laval University with Arturo Nieto Dorantes, with chamber music recitals in Mexico, Canada, Brazil and Spain. Maribel Salazar-Toscano is a soprano born in Mexico City and winner of the INBA Special Prize at the “Carlo Morelli” National Opera Competition. She made her debut at the Palacio de Bellas Artes and performed in Bulgaria, the United States and international festivals, with leading roles in operas La Boheme, Madama Butterfly and Carmen.
General admission tickets are $500 pesos. INAPAM / Students are $350. They can be purchased at the Angela Peralta Theater box office or online at Evenbrite. (https://unshow.art/maribel-salazar-javier-garcia/)

Saturday-Sunday, August 3-4

10 a.m. — 6 p.m. A Rodarte by any other name …
Speaking of art gatherings. The Rodarte Fair is this weekend at Ancha de San Antonio #30 in Colonia San Antonio. This is the place to discover new, alternative and traditional designs from local and national artists, artisans and designers. Rodarte Artisan Fair features art, crafts, food, including:
jewelry, textiles, home decor, clothing, accessories, candles, leather goods, traditional scarves, and lots more. All made in Mexico. Come support our emerging artists, artisans, and entrepreneurs.

Each purchase also supports the Rodarte weekly art classes, in conjunction with the Instituto Allende. Rodarte’s art classes are conducted in collaboration with renowned artists and established galleries of San Miguel, currently in the school in the village of La Lagunilla (off the road to Jalpa).

Coming soon …