Jack and Frances's
Guide to San Miguel de Allende

Things to see and do in San Miguel:

• Live Music
• Art Classes
• Photography Classes
• Music Classes
• Cooking Classes
• Galleries and Museums
• Hot Springs
• Massage
• Weather Info for San Miguel de Allende

Live Music:

• First of all, don't miss coming to hear us, Jack and Frances! Our elegant classical spanish guitar duets are unique. See our schedule for details. Recommended: Friday night 7:30 to 9:30 at Bugambilia Restaurant, Hidalgo 42. Reservations: (415) 152-0127
  
  
• The Pedro Cartas Group. Pedro Cartas is probably the finest pop violinist in the world, yes, arguably better than Stéphane Grappelli. Since the breakup of the Gil and Cartas band (guitarist Gil Gutierrez got his big break and is off touring with Doc Severinsen) Pedro has been performing with his new band at - well, we're not sure at the moment! They are no longer at the Bella Italia. Check the Atencion's "Que Pasa" section for possible new info. With Camille Garcia - accordian, Beto Gonzalez - acoustic bass, Miguel Favero - percussion. See review on Jack's blog.
• Yoremi Badiana sings in a variety of Mexican music styles several nights a week at Casa Payo, the Argentine steak house at the corner of Pila Seca and Zacateros. Call for her current schedule and for reservations (recommended): 152-7277
  
  
• Hopalong is the stage name of jazz bassist and guitarist José Luis Chagoyan, who plays regularly at Mama Mia's, on Umaran Street #8 just a few doors down from the Jardin. No reservations necessary, most of the time. Hopalong has a variety of entertaining musical collaborators.
  
  
• Los Garambullos: One of two very fine folklorica bands in San Miguel, the Garambullos play several nights a week at Mama Mia's. The Garambullos are a little hipper and more commercially oriented than Mayahuel, below; don't let that stop you as they are very entertaining. You can easily hear both bands as they play next door to each other.
  
  
• Mayahuel has played six nights a week for ten years at the Pueblo Viejo restaurant at Umaran #6 next door to Mama Mia's. They have songs from every country in Latin America, delivered in an emotionally charged style that makes a moving and memorable show. Reservations: (415) 152-4977

Art Classes

• Tim Hazell, one of San Miguel's most prolific interdisciplinary artists — he is a painter, poet, musician and more — offers private tutorials and consultation work in humanities and fine arts. See his website or call (from the USA) 011 52 (415) 154-5608.
  
  
• Nina Wisniewski — MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute — has taught, painted and exhibited her work in San Miguel since 1997. Classes in painting and drawing for all levels of experience.
  Telephone: 011 52 (415) 151-2462
  Email: wisnina2 (at) hotmail.com

Photography Classes

• Robert de Gast — Whether using a simple point-and-shoot, or a complex film or digital camera, Robert de Gast can teach you how to see, compose, and transform light, colors, people, and places into remarkable photographs. He is a patient teacher and coach who enjoys sharing his experience and passion for photography — a word that delightfully has its origins in the Greek, "to write with light."
  Telephone: 011 52 (415) 152-7396

Music Classes

• Guitar Vacation Retreats: Our (Jack and Frances) guitar education program for adult amateurs.
  
  
• Creative Classical Guitar: Our guitar education program for young people with professional aspirations.
  
  
• Free Guitar Classes are taught daily at the Casa de Cultura, Bajada del Chorro No. 4, which you can find by walking south from the Jardin on Recreo Street (Calle Recreo) for a few blocks until you come to the old public laundry, an open plaza with wash tubs. Turn left and climb the steep hill to the Casa de Cultura.
  
  
• Piano and Voice Classes: Elena Shoemaker teaches all the talented kids in San Miguel, plus she stages an unforgettable Winter Recital every December which is another "Don't Miss" show if you can get an invitation! Elena was the director of San Miguel's annual Jazz Festival for 13 years, as well as the director, author and composer of countless musical comedies and revues staged in the Angela Peralta and Santa Ana Theaters.
  Phone: 011 52 (415) 152-2491
  Email: elenashoe (at) gmail.com

Cooking Classes

• Hugh Carpenter's Camp San Miguel: Six days in the enchanting artists' community of San Miguel de Allende, with cooking classes, cultural events, shopping adventures, and grand dinners at ancient haciendas.
  
  
• Here's a whole page of San Miguel cooking classes...

Galleries and Museums

• The Other Face of Mexico: Owners Heidi and Bill LeVasseur represent an exclusive group of Mexican artists and artisans. Bill is a long-time collector of Mexican ceremonial dance masks which are displayed in their own separate showroom; he has traveled throughout Mexico visiting remote indigenous villages to assemble this unique collection. By appointment only: (415) 154-4324
  
  
• Galeria Atotonilco: This lovely private estate is as much worth seeing for the house and grounds as for the folk art collection which it contains. A private appointment is necessary — see the website.

Hot Springs

• La Gruta: The most picturesque of the hot springs, La Gruta has its hottest pool in a cave (artificial, but striking.) The water is not quite as hot as at Escondido, but La Gruta makes up for this by having a full restaurant with decent (although not spectacular) traditional Mexican-style food. La Gruta is about five miles out of town on the Delores highway, just after the turn to Atotonilco and the big curve to the right. It is an easy walk from the road, so you can take the bus coming and going.
  
  
• Escondido Place: Escondido is off the Delores highway to the left, immediately before the turn to Atotonilco and the big curve to the right. Although there is a sign near the road, the resort is about a half-mile in, making an inconvenient walk if you take the bus, so don't — take a cab instead and arrange for the driver to return in two or three hours. The water is hot (hotter than La Gruta) and clean, and there are many pools although for most of the year only five are filled. There is a small snack bar but no restaurant worthy of the name. Nevertheless, they discourage food, so hide some snacks in your gym bag.

Massage

• Our friend Veda offers massage at Sagrada Wellness, a few miles out of town and up in the hills off the Delores highway. Veda was a competitive body builder before retiring to San Miguel to teach Yoga and holistic health practices; she underwent the rigorous two year Canadian massage training, and knows anatomy as few massage therapists do. She is an expert in sports massage and the rehabilitation of injuries, and also does Ayurvedic health counseling.

Weather Information:

• Weather Info for San Miguel de Allende