Listings Updates:

Address Changes:

Baeza street, bordering the southern edge of Parque Benito Juárez, was
re-named by the town in October to honor a famous former resident,
opera singer and actor José Mojica.  The only address change to be
affected is the Antigua Villa Santa Monica, a posh hotel now occupying
the ground's of Mojica's old estate.

Marianne Johansson Jewelry & Sculpture moved from her long-time
location at Mesones 38 to Hidalgo 4 among the courtyard shops
surrounding the Hacienda Los Laureles restaurant.

Nirvana, one of the town's top restaurants specializing in Mexican fusion,
left its longtime address on Hernandez Macias and now is located around the
corner inside the Hotel Casa Linda on Mesones 101.

Tato y Lore, the full service canine grooming service, changed its address
to Prolongación de Pila Seca 2 in Colonia San Antonio.

Name Changes:

Maxi Vinos, at Zacateros 83, is the third name change in less than a year
for what was called Grupo Corpovino in the book, then became Vino Inn San Miguel. 
It still specializes in mostly domestic wines and liquor.

No Longer in Business:

Carrefour, France's version of Walmart, sold all of its Mexico operations to a Mexican
grocery store chain based in Veracruz.  Stores affected include those in Querétaro. 
No information whether they will be re-branded or put on the real estate market.

Decoración y Acabados Arquitectonicos, on Cinco de Mayo corner
Salida a Celaya, no longer sells cantera.

Distribuidora de Vajillas y Lozas, the home of the town's largest
industrial-sized blender, closed its doors at Zacateros 50 in early
November and moved to an undisclosed location in the city of Querétaro.

El Arbol, a restaurant which also served as the town's best outlet
for books by resident authors of San Miguel de Allende, closed
after a divorce.  Fortunately, El Tecolote bookstore (Jesus 11) now
houses an authors sala featuring dozens of titles by local authors.

En Aqua Bar, a hip establishment known as the town's sole purveyor
of pulque, has unfortunately hung a "cerrado" sign in its windows.

Estacionamento El Nogal, a handy parking lot located behind the Espino
grocery store, has closed while heirs decide what to do with the valuable property.

Internet San Miguel, a wildly popular cybercafe on Relox, met the curse
of higher rents and closed its doors.  The space now is occupied by Border
Crossings, a mail service formerly located on Correo street.  Like Internet San
Miguel, Border Crossings also rents computer time in addition to its other services.

Hotel Aristos, a venerable San Miguel de Allende landmark for 30 years, closed
its doors on the grounds of the Instituto Allende at the end of July.  According to rumor,
the immense property will be developed into condos and private homes.

J.C. Penny's store in León is no longer in business.

La Vida, whose fortunes have fallen in 2005, has closed its kitchen. 
The bar remains open, hours sporadic.

Modelorama, on the Salida a Celaya, has changed owners and no longer
retails the scores of Corona beer-related souvenir items which made it
such a hit with visitors.

PriceSmart México was shuttered by its San Diego, California-based parent company. 
Stores affected include those in Celaya, Querétaro and León.

San Miguel Litros, a small neighborhood bar which never caught on, has been absorbed
by its neighbor, BBQ Bob's and now serves as an "ice house" serving liquor and food.

Sazon, an elegant Bloomingdales-for-the-kitchen-like store which featured outstanding chefs
and cooking classes, is closing in August.  Owner Teresa is getting married and moving back to
the United States.

Subby's Sandwiches Gigantes, a safe place to dump the kids to play
video games and eat good food, folded the tent at Hidalgo 40 in late
October.

Feedback:

Coolist:  -------- Original Message --------

>From "The Best of San Miguel de Allende" (2005

Edition)

By Joseph Harmes

 

Under the heading, "Best examples of disgruntled

gringos:"

 

"Wonder where the gringos go to whine and gossip after

they've left El Jardin?  This mailing list, devoted to

San Miguel de Allende, will jam your e-mail in-box

with endless drivel about everything from the town in

which they chose to live to American politics."

 

Atencion doesn't escape a well deserved skewering

either:  "Letters to the editor harangue the quality

of the local English-language newspaper in which they

are published.  Logic dictates that the letters

themselves demonstrate why the quality of the tabloid

is held in such low esteem.  As Shakespeare wrote,

"Not so much brain as ear-wax."

 

Congratulations, Mr. Harmes.  Your entire guide hits

nearly every nail right on the head with accuracy and

attitude.  



La Vida, a restaurant-bar located on Ancha de San Antonio 31, was very 


happy to be mentioned more than a dozen times in the book but 


apparently takes offense at its WCs being named among the town's Best 


Bathrooms for a Quickie.  The author apologizes for any anguish this 


may have caused but stands by the facts behind his reporting.




Gone But Not Forgotten:



The landmark one-lane bridge in the small town of Empalme--between 

San Miguel de Allende and Celaya--was expanded recently into two lanes.  

No longer does a four-lane highway rapidly merge into a space for a single car.  

As Mexican President Vicent Fox hails from Guanajuato, where he once served as 

governor, pesos will continue to pour into state infrastructure projects before 

he leaves office in 2006.