Update: Change of venue for San Miguel PEN Presents! Talks and times are the same, only the location has changed: Nectar at Camino Silvestre, Correo #43, Centro.

Talk is not cheap but it sure is plentiful in San Miguel de Allende during the first couple of months of 2025.

Intelligent, knowledgeable and often-times brilliant speakers will be stepping before podiums all over the city to offer enlightenment on topics like explaining the last U.S. election, explaining the current Mexico president, explaining the media, poetry, Artificial Intelligence, outer space, talking about their latest novels, the history of San Miguel, and so much more.

If you are looking for a modern-day Chautauqua Movement, look no further than San Miguel.

Smart, entertaining, and informed people are migrating out of the freezing winter climes and thawing out in front of warm and receptive audiences in San Miguel. Can you blame them? And we get the benefit of all that articulate brainpower.

Here’s a roundup of talks where you might still might grab a seat.

Poetry and Prose Cafe opens for the new year on Jan. 9 at Murmullo Cafe, Ancha San Antonio #24 at 5 p.m. The theme for the night will be “Falling from Grace.” Original works will be read by Elisa Bernick, Mike Keefe, Diana Kuper, and Phil Gambone. Details at www.sanmiguelliterarysala.org . A $100 peso donation is suggested.

Margaret Atwood returns to San Miguel: Acclaimed author Margaret Atwood and journalist Martin Fletcher will bat around the timely topic “From Fiction to Reality: Has Our Dystopian Future Arrived?” on Sunday, Jan. 12, 5-7 p.m., at Foro El Obraje, Calzada de la Presa, #50, Centro.

This fundraiser for the San Miguel Writers’ Conference 20th anniversary Student Scholarship Program, will present Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” with the San Miguel Award for Literary Excellence. This event is SOLD OUT. Write to registrar@sanmiguelwritersconference.org to be added to the waiting list.

On Jan. 14, the lecture series i³ (“Ideas that inform and inspire”) presents Dr. Nancy K. Hayden, a leading space policy and technology expert, on the topic “Space: A Brave New World, or the Wild, Wild West?” — a timely discussion given the Billionaire Tech Bros’ Club and the commercial race to space.

 “Dr. Hayden will explore the rapidly evolving space industry, discussing how the rise of commercial companies, a surge in satellites, and increasing geopolitical tensions are shaping space while impacting nearly every aspect of modern living, from communications and financial services to disaster response,” according to the I3 press release.

The talk is at La Casona Event Center (across from Luna de Queso). Tickets are $15 usd ($290 pesos) in advance, or $350 pesos at the door. Missed out on Attwood? Don’t procrastinate. Buy tickets here. 

The I3 series continues Feb. 4, with journalist Monica Maeckle who will address the migratory Monarch butterflies which have been under seige since a 1976 National Geographic cover story spilled the beans on their nesting locations in Mexico. Since then, tourists and scientists have flocked to their seasonal roosting spots. But are they endangered or not? 

The title of Maeckle’s talk, “The Monarch Butterfly Migration, Its Rise and Fall” also happens to be the title of her book, the result of two decades of tracking Denaus plexippus and its migrations through California, Texas and Mexico. Maeckle will provide insight into the natural history and science behind this extraordinary migration. She will share unique insights into these insects and offer a detailed look at the evolving community of scientists, enthusiasts, and advocates working to support the monarchs. 

The talk is at La Casona Event Center (across from Luna de Queso) Tickets are $15 USD ($290 pesos) in advance, or $350 pesos at the door. Buy tickets here.

There will be additional lectures in March and possibly April. Stay tuned. 

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PEN SMA UPDATE: Change of venue! Talks and times are the same, only the location has changed: Nectar at Camino Silvestre, Correo #43, Centro.

The PEN Presents Winter Series runs from January 14 to February 25 at the Casa de La Cultura, Mesones #71, Zona Centro. The six Tuesday talks all begin at 6 p.m. and tickets are $350 pesos/$20 usd. For information and tickets go here.

PEN is an international organization founded in 1921 to defend free and unfettered expression across all borders.

Here are the talks:

Jan. 14: Author Katherine Corcoran on her investigation and book, “In the Mouth Of The Wolf: The murder of Mexican journalist Regina Martinez and the true cost of silencing the press.”

Jan. 21: Advocate Dylan Terrell of Caminos de Agua on “The Water Crisis in San Miguel: How it affects you and your neighbors and how we can fix it.”

Jan 28: Suzanna Dworsky on “Defaming the Truth Tellers: How governments uses criminal defamation laws to prosecute and imprison writers.”

Feb. 4: Gerry Helferich and Theresa Nicholas discuss “From NonFiction to Truth: How two award-winning authors moved from history and memoir to fiction and poetry.”

Feb. 18: Jim McKeever and Alfredo Garcia-Lucio of the restaurant Nectar and boutique shops Camino Silvestre discuss “Passionate Gardening: From garden to table to healthy living in San Miguel.”

Feb. 25: Poet/teacher Judyth Hill on “Women Out Loud: PEN, the global kapow! of poetry, and you!”

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The Instituto Allende’s Lifelong Learning Program is ready to launch a series of classes in 2025, January through March.

Courses on offer are:

JANUARY

“America’s National 2024 Elections: Looking Back, Looking Forward” with Paul Gardner, January 6 and 8 | 1-3 pm. $325 pesos.

“Martin Fletcher on the Media, Storytelling and Writing” with Martin Fletcher January 13, 15, 17 | 1-3 pm. $400 pesos.

“Roam about Beethoven” a deep dive into all things Beethoven with Nicolas Boulaine, January 20, 22 | 1-3 pm  $325 pesos.

“Generative Artificial Intelligence” with Michael Werner, January 21, 23, 24 | 1-3 pm. $400 pesos.

“Jung’s ‘Map of the Soul’ with Jungian psychologist Deborah Fausch, January 27, 28, 31 | 1-3 pm. $400 pesos.

FEBRUARY

“A Beginner’s Guide to THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO,” with Phillip Silver, February 6 | 10-12, 1-3 pm $325 pesos. (ProMusica San Miguel presents a live production of Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” on Feb. 7 and 8.  )

“History of San Miguel de Allende” with Jesus Ibarra, February 10, 12 | 1-3 pm  $325 pesos.

“Troubled Neighbors: US Interventions in Mexico Since 1821” with Gerie Bledsoe, February 17, 19, 21 | 1-3 pm $400 pesos.

“Simplicity vs. Complexity in Music and the Arts” with Owen Cantor, February 14, 18, 20 | 1-3 pm $400 pesos.

“SEEING Theatre: The Visual Aspects of Production” with Phillip Silver, February 24, 26 | 1-3 pm $325 pesos.

“The Revitalization of Endangered Artisanal Skills” with Natalie Rivera, February 25, 27 | 1-3 pm $325 pesos.

A detailed description of each course and a listing of eight more to be held in March is available here. .

Online registration with PayPal. In person registration can be done at the reception office of Instituto Allende, at Ancha de San Antonio #22. Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 2 pm  

If you have general questions, please feel free to contact me

John Wimberly, Team Leader for Lifelong Learning. ( jwimberly6243@gmail.com ) or, if registration related, Josephine Curtis ( jocurtis44@hotmail.com ). 

Attendance is limited to 45 students per class and many fill up fast. 

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TEDxCalle Aldama: Echoes of Resilience at the Matilda Hotel, Calle Aldama #53, Jan. 16, Noon – 5 pm. 

Nearly a dozen speakers who are prominent in fields as diverse as cuisine, marketing, activism, digital strategy, artisans, business, and journalism will deliver talks that celebrate the indomitable power of the human spirit to overcome adversity, adapt to challenges, and foster stronger communities.

TEDxCalle Aldama aims to connect people, spark innovation, and inspire a movement that reshapes realities through the transformative power of ideas. “This isn’t just an event; it’s a catalyst for personal growth and collective action,” say the organizers.

For more details and tickets, click here.

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“Presidenta Claudia Sheinbaum: A Case Study in Leadership” at Teatro Santa Ana in the Biblioteca Thursday, January 23 at 4 pm.

Travis Bembenek, CEO of Mexico News Daily, will discuss in-depth Mexico’s new president and the important decisions she faces. Bembenbek will also share his thoughts on the environmental, economic, social and political landscape facing Mexico’s president. A Q&A will follow.

Price is $280 pesos 10% cash discount (Purchase Tickets Online)   All proceeds benefiting La Biblioteca.

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The San Miguel Writers Conference and Literary Festival returns for its 20th year, Feb. 12-16,  with so much to celebrate. The conference part attracts many first-rate writers who teach the ropes to scores of aspiring writers but it is the headliner speakers who get all the attention.

All of the main speakers will be in the Hotel Real de Minas Ballroom and it is not unusual for tickets to sell out. Headline speaker events are open to the public.Individual tickets and package deals are available. Check out the website – and soon.

Here’s who will be drawing the big crowds:

John Irving – Wednesday, February 12, 6:30–8:00 p.m. Irving has written 16 novels which have been translated into more than 35 languages. They include “The World According to Garp,” “Cider House Rules,” “A Widow for One Year,” and “A Prayer for Owen Meany.” The last is his bestselling novel in every language. His latest and possibly last, “Queen Esther,” echoes people and places found in “Cider House Rules.”

John Vaillant – Thursday, February 13, 2:15–3:30 p.m. Vaillant is an award-winning author of nonfiction books.  “The Golden Spruce” and “The Tiger” were national bestsellers. His debut novel is “The Jaguar’s Children.” His talk is titled  “Fire and Oil: Coming to Terms With a More Flammable World”

Ruth Reichl – Thursday, February 13, 6:30–8:00 p.m.  Reichl is an American chef, food writer and editor who, for ten years, was the editor-in-chief of Gourmet Magazine. In addition to two decades as a food critic for the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times, Reichl writes cookbooks, memoirs, and novels Her talk: “Writing Paris: When a City Becomes a Character”

Jennifer Clement – Friday, February 14, 2:15–3:30 p.m. Clement is the author of five novels, two memoirs, and several books of poetry. Her talk, based on her recent memoir, is titled  “The Promised Party: The Fury, Ecstasy and Danger of ’70s Mexico City and ’80s New York”

Jorge F. Hernández – Friday, February 14, 6:30–8:00 p.m  Hernández “is the author of five novels, three short story collections, and numerous essays and newspaper columns over many years. Of special interest to us in San Miguel, he wrote Microhistory of the Sanctuary of Atononilco, for which he won the Atanasio G. Saravia National Prize for Banamex Regional History.” His talk: “We Read and Write for the Benefit of Memory and Imagination.”

 Kaveh Akbar – Saturday, February 15, 6:30–8:00 p.m. Akbar’s poems appear in The New Yorker, The New York Times, and  Paris Review. His first novel, “Martyr!” is about a queer Iranian American who is dealing with depression, addiction, and the death of his parents. It was a finalist for the 2024 National Book Award, a NYT best book for 2024, and on Barack Obama’s summer reading list. Akbar’s talk is titled “The Word Dropped Like a Stone: Sacred Poetics Under the Reign of the Money God”

Giller Prize winner Sunday, February 16 2:15–3:30 p.m. TBA.

Keynote Panel – Sunday, February 16  4:00–5:30 p.m. All of the keynote speakers will share the dias for a freewheeling – and free – discussion.

Percival Everett – Sunday, February 16 6:30–8:00 p.m. The author of more than 30 novels, poetry collections, and short story volumes, Everett’s most-recent novel, “James,” has been short-listed for both the 2024 National Book Award and the 2024 Booker Prize. The popular film “American Fiction” was based on his novel “Erasure.” His talk is titled, “The Art of Contemporary Fiction.”

Miss anything? Send an e-mail to robertj.hawkins2012@gmail.com and provide the details!

Meanwhile, click like if you are so inclined. A peanut drops out of the machine next to my computer when I reach five likes … And don’t be selfish — share this with a friend.

Thanks for playing along! And Happy 2025!