Sunday, August 18

8 –10 a.m. OK, what’s a “botarga”?
I’ll tell you: It is a full-body costume often of a cute animal, vegetable, or a sports team mascot — or Spiderman and Deadpool. Put yours on, zip it up, and join the first Botargas Race at Plaza La Luciérnaga. Be your anthropomorphic best as you “Run, jump, and laugh.” Those are the rules. That’s all we’ve got. Registration is $100 pesos.

9 a.m. A fiesta in La Palmitas neighborhood
In case you were wondering about the cohetes, the Catholic Church in La Palmita is celebrating The Virgin of the Three Ave Marias. Festivities started on Aug. 8 with eucharistic celebrations, rosaries, and prayers. Yesterday there were kids’ races and neighborhood processions. Activities resume today.
9 a.m. — Eucharistic Celebration by the priest, Eleazar Mota Morales.
10 a.m. — Distribution of food in the Temple Atrium and Tombola
10:30 a.m. — Festive walk in the Palmita neighborhood.
2 p.m. — Dancing and music.

10 a.m. — 3 p.m. Car show benefit for Yui
Car show in support for a friend to many in the car and motorcycle scene, Yui Sakamoto, who went into cardiac arrest.
Today, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the parking lot of the La Aurora. There will be motorcycle and car clubs to help raise funds for medical expenses for Yui Sakamoto. This is Day Two of the car show.

10:30 a.m. Everything Alborada
This will be a busy time in San Miguel, culturally speaking, and my good friends Efrain Gonzalez and LauraCerroblanco want to tell you all about it — if only so you won’t jump on Facebook every morning and ask, “What are the explosions for?”
They will be guest speakers at the UU Fellowship and their topic is “La Alboradas: SMA’s Celebration of the Triumph of Good Over Evil.” Should be very informative. Plus afterward there will be cookies and coffee.
Universal Unitarians meet in the Aldea Hotel on the Ancha. There is parking inside.

8 a.m. — Spend a day on the farm
Live a unique gastronomic experience at Rancho Vía Orgánica. Discover the magic of Mexican cuisine just 20 minutes from downtown San Miguel de Allende. An opportunity to reconnect with nature, learn, savor and enjoy unforgettable moments at the organic farm and restaurant.
Agenda of the day:
Explore: Embark on a fascinating tour of the ranch and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature.
Harvest: Pick fresh organic vegetables, straight from the ground to your table.
Savor: Delight yourself with a tasting of pulque, the ancient Mexican drink.
Learn and Cook: Participate in an exclusive Mexican cooking master class taught by chef Alejandro Ruiz.
The menu includes: Chiles in wild mushroom nogada, mushroom salad, molcajete sauce, red rice with vegetables, and freshly made corn tortillas.
To reserve a spot call (415) 101 5533 or (554) 908 6511. Via Organica is located on the road to Jalpa, not far from the Zandunga ranch/restaurant of Gil Guttierez.
Vía Orgánica restaurant is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Sunday. Also, this entire program repeats on Sunday, Aug. 25.

7 p.m. — Last chance: for “Carmen”
Enjoy the powerful lyrics from the sultry and sensuous aria popularly called “Habanera” in French composer Georges Bizet’s 1875 opera “Carmen.” You’ll be able to hear it and so much more when Operísima México performs the opera comique on Aug. 15-18, at Casa Europa México, Calle San Francisco #23, Zona Centro.
Set in southern Spain, the story of “Carmen” is as powerful and passionate as the music: When the a naïve soldier Don José is seduced by the fiery gypsy Carmen, he abandons his childhood sweetheart and deserts the military. He loses Carmen to the glamorous torero Escamillo after which … no, I won’t tell you. But, spoiler alert, it does not end well. Passionate love and operas are like that.
The music is performed under the direction of Operísima founder Rogelio Riojas-Nolasco as “an opera in concert version with stage movements.”
Casa Europa doors will open at 6 p.m. For reservations call +52 415 181 2464. Tickets are $500 pesos.
“L’amour est un oiseau rebelle!”

Monday, Aug. 19

4:30 –7 p.m. Charity Gringo Bingo!
Enjoy a good meal at La Frontera Restaurant while playing Gringo Bingo. There are prizes from local businesses and proceeds benefit two local charities. Pay $150 pesos for 15 cards. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. on Refugio Sur #28. Bingo starts at 5:30 p.m.
Charity Bingo is held every two weeks on Monday Nights at La Frontera. Get all the details here on Discover SMA.

Tuesday, Aug. 20

Roadrunners are tearing up San Miguel. The good kind of rock ‘n roll that fills your soul. Don’t miss them! Tuesdays at Tupinambra, for example.

Wednesday, Aug. 21

3-5 p.m. The Brain Exchange
Two heads are better than one? Try thirty or more. San Miguel Literary Sala brings together women from all over San Miguel for some unique brain-storming. The “Women’s Drop-in Brainstorming and Networking Group” meets the third wednesday of each month, from 3-5 p.m. at the Aldea Hotel, Ancha de San Antonio #15.
Cost is only $100 pesos and no reservation is needed.
Bring your own challenge, problem, need for inspiration or ideas, or a warm embrace. Issues range from deeply personal needs to marketing or business ideas and everything inbetween. Let the hive mind help you.
There’s more information here.

Aug 21-25 World Music Festival
The 2024 edition of this exciting five-day festival is here, with free master classes, concerts, exhibitions and a film series. Events are held at the Biblioteca public library, El Nigromante Cultural Center, Angela Peralta Theater, Conde Restaurante and Baco Cinema.
Follow along on Facebook.

Thursday, Aug. 22

11a.m.– 4 p.m. A few writes can undo a wrong
When is the last time you got a hand-written postcard? I know. Right? It means something. Now, imagine you live in a swing state and all you get are MAGA’s pre-recorded phone rants. Suppose instead you got a nice colorful, handwritten postcard encouraging you to keep the faith, make sure you can vote, and know you are loved.
You can do that for real, every Thursday at the Abrazos boutique, Zacateros #24. Just walk in and join the writing party. You will be addressing postcards and writing a well-researched script to low turnout Democrat voters in key swing states to motivate them to vote on November 5th.
Bring some pesos for postage — $110 pesos will cover 10 postcard stamps. The postcards are free. You can even take a bunch home to work on there. We just finished a batch this morning. For more information: SanMiguelPatrice@mac.com

Noon — Bang the drum all day
Come and learn how a percussion ensemble is put together and identify the parts that make it up in the company of professional instrumentalists and percussionists, who will work with three rhythms: Samba from Brazil, Toro from Africa and Candombe from Uruguay. You will learn to distinguish the sections that make up a rhythm and the differences between low, medium and high frequencies, as well as the rhythmic patterns of each of the sections.
A collaboration with San Miguel de Allende World Music Festival and the PERCEN drum and percussion studio.
Event by Centro Cultural El Nigromante, Dr. Hernández Macías #75, Centro.

4-7 p.m. Resplandor — por los Bomberos
Artists plan to take the “exploded” air tanks of the local fire brigade and turn them into art using a variety of media, right before your eyes. This is a collective exhibition in support of the H.H.H. Cuerpo De Bomberos Voluntarios De San Miguel de Allende.
The live art event takes place at Fabrica Aurora within Section B, at the EMongrell Art Studio. The sale of the pieces will go 100 percent to the Bomberos Voluntarios.

Among the artists will be: Andrea Félix – Antonio Loza – Alan Rodríguez – Alex Vaduren – Alejandro Boomzer – Breatriz Cota – Erick Mota – Gerardo Ruiz – Juan Ezcurdia – Juan Luis Potosi – Lucas Rise – Marco Debrayes. Event is organized by Estefania Mongrell.

4-7 p.m. — Art exhibit opening at Lavinia’s
Lavinia’s Framing and Art Studio will be exhibiting work by the late Donnie Turner Simeone, who some may have had the chance to meet here in San Miguel de Allende. Continuing exhibits include the works of Margarette Dawit and late José Ignacio Maldonado.
For some great background on the artists click here. (https://discoversma.com/events/mexico/guanajuato/san-miguel-de-allende/opening/lavinias-art-house/)
The gallery is located at Calz. de la Estación 153

6 p.m. — Funny thing happened on the way from the office
The Players Workshop of San Miguel de Allende launches its summer show “Office Hours,” a comedy by Norm Foster and directed by Brian Munroe, with a cast of 10, of whom nine are making their San Miguel debut. “Office Hours” weaves together six stories taking place on a Friday afternoon in six separate offices. The promos say, “all the stories are connected in a mad dash towards the end of the workday.”
The play will be performed in Teatro Santa Ana in the Biblioteca, Relox #50A between Aug. 15 and 24. Tickets are $350 pesos, cash only, at the theater box office. The play will be in English with Spanish subtitles. There will be 6 p.m. performances August 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, and 24. Matinees at 1 p.m. on Saturdays, Aug 17 and 24.

Thursday and Friday, Aug. 22-23

Saturday, Aug. 24

10 a.m. — Three-day photo workshop
On Sunday, August 25, San Luis de la Paz experiences the convergence of indigenous dancers from all over the country in a colorful pageantry of dance, music, drumming, and culture. It is the city’s biggest cultural event of its kind. A lucky few photographers will be able to photograph this gorgeous event under the guidance of one of San Miguel’s best photographers, Scott Umstattd.
He is offering a three-day workshop focusing on how to best photograph the colorful indigenous dancers.
Umstattd is not only renowned for the vivid photos of these dancers. He has made friends with many over the years, enabling exclusive access to their rituals and preparations.
Umstattd’s program includes a two-hour workshop on the 24th to prepare for the event, a shuttle to San Luis de la Paz on Sunday for the shooting, and a two-hour review, discussion, and critique on Tuesday, Aug. 27.
The fee is $8,500 pesos (includes all workshops, transportation, and dinner in San Luis de la Paz). Find out more here.

11 a.m. — 4 p.m. Just toying with you
Explore, learn and have fun creating your own toy at the Museum of Mexican Popular Toys summer workshop. Come with your family and friends every day from 11 a.m. to our creative workshops and say goodbye to summer with a traditional toy.
We’re waiting for you at Museo La Esquina! Kids and adults welcome.
Museo La Esquina is at Calle Núñez #40, in Centro.

1-5 p.m. Argentina isn’t just for futbol
There’s also beef — some of the best in the world. And the restaurant Bovine is paying tribute to this fact.
Here’s the scoop: “At Bovine, we pay tribute to the authentic Argentine grill. Alongside the talented chef Marcelino Castro from the renowned restaurant La Cabrera, founded in Buenos Aires by Gastón Rivera, we invite you to enjoy a unique culinary experience that celebrates the roots of traditional asado.”
The price will be $1,800 pesos, plus a15% service charge. Beverages not included.
The restaurant is located at Canal #16 in Centro. Telephone (415) 121 6787 for reservations. Go to the Bovine website for details.

6:30 p.m. Going to the dogs
Paparika restaurant is hosting a musical extravaganza fundraiser for Sanctuarios Angelitos the animal sanctuary
in the Campo that now houses more than 100 dogs, many of them disabled or unadoptable. Gigi A. Alexander began rescuing street dogs in a two bedroom apartment in Colonia San Antonio but when the rescues overran the space, she moved the operation outside of town. Now they have room to roam but the needs have grown enormously.
An all-star band of fine local musicians will rock the house for the dogs: Bill Kavanaugh, Doug Robinson, Felicita Ford, Jack Joshua, German Arroyo, and Rodrigo Vargas.
Suggested donation is $400 pesos at the door, plus a minimum $200 peso for food and drink. Click here to learn more about Sanctuarios Angelitos.

7-8:30 p.m. Celebrate the songs of women
Canciones de mujeres Latino Americanas/Songs of Latin American women will fill the night with glorious sound in Teatro Angela Peralta. Sung by Edward Simon and Margos Herrera.
General admission is $600 pesos.

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Have a great week. Send your events to robertj.hawkins2012@gmail.com. Did we miss something? We can update all week. Send it along.

Coming soon: