Gathering Spots?

[OregonMusicMan]

Hello all. (newby here). My wife and I traveling to GTO on January 23rd to stay for a month and would like to know of any particular gathering spots or watering holes for like-minded expats. (We're from the very Liberal-minded state of Oregon. 'nuff said). I'm interested to find out how the transition to expat went for people. (Contemplating the move ourselves).

[Mikel1]

Can't speak for everyone's politics, but Cafe Tal on Sangre de Christo comes to mind. Also Wednesday evenings 6pm Ls Santaurrona has an intercambio with expats and Mexican locals. 2 hours of Spanish and English conversation. Usually a dozen or more attend.

[DonJuane]

Hi, they normally have a Sunday brunch some refer to as Gringo Breakfast but I looked just now and didn't see the schedule. The topics there vary and if you see someone with a red hat on, you can always slide around the table ( :-) ). I haven't been in a while but my life is hectic and travel abundant these days. Guanajuato is sort of unique in that everyone seems to be into their own thing with the locals or their artwork or their reconstruction projects and I personally don't see as much of the meet-up activity as I do in other places. But then again maybe I'm just too busy into my own thing, art projects (let's see, how many ways can I lie on this couch) ;-)

[DonJuane]

Oh, I found it. Gotta get up off the couch and page to page 2. It's called SunBrunch :-) Be on time because they eat fast.

[jesm]

Sr. Don Juane is keenly observant about less meet-ups happening here. It is true. Quality not quantity might apply to this situation. It is a bit of a self fulfilling prophecy as many who choose to live here, us included, have “fewer expats” as a key reason for being here. To each their own.

[roberb7]

One good place to find a lot of Gringos in one place is concerts by the Symphony Orchestra of the University of Guanajuato. Their next season starts Feb. 2, 8:30 PM at the Teatro Juaréz. Music by Johann Strauss, Dvorak, and Mahler.

[Barbara]

In addition to the suggestions above, here are a few more.

Several Tuesdays a month 5 p.m. at the Hotel Maria Cristina Boutique Hotel on Calle la Presa (opera & cine eclectica, discussions), all in English.
Come about 20 minutes before for a glass a wine; people usually scatter afterwards for dinner.
Several Tuesdays a month at Foro Cultural 81 on Positos #81 - films, music, lectures
Wednesdays once a month (usually the last Wednesday) 8 p.m. at Hotel Boutique Casa Dioniso, live music with drinks and snacks afterwards, a
good place to mingle and meet people.
Saturday evenings around 9 p.m., live music at the Union Bar at the Maria Cristina Hotel - no cover, good music, small but nice bar
Sundays at 1 p.m. in the Museo Gene Byron in Marfil, concerts, usually chamber music, classical or jazz. Afterwards wine and snacks are served, another good place to meet people.

Karen Yee used to have a meet-up group but that ended last October We have a facebook page Guana What where we list all these events and more.

ADDITION TO MY COMMENT ABOVE:
Another suggestion: enroll in a Spanish class and you'll meet visitors and residents from various countries. The language schools also offer other activities and trips for their students.
I agree with Don Juane's and jesm's comments above. Many expats who live here are into their own thing. You can expect to see some expats at these places when they have time to spend with friends or family, but they aren't really meet-up spots like you'll find in other towns.