Hi everyone,

With the end of September comes planning for our November–December after-school and evening courses, so the first bit of news is a save-the-date notice: Registration for November–December courses at Hot Pizza opens Friday, October 16 at 8 a.m. We’ll have more information for you in the next two emails!

In the meantime, it’s been a delight to see what’s coming out of this term’s courses: kids making their own pillows, using grass and plants as drawing implements, and developing advertising plans for their magazine, as well as adults sewing totes from recycled fabrics, painting their first canvases in oil, and making colorful prints. If you could see what I get to see, you’d be amazed by everyone’s creativity, too!

This weekend’s one-off classes are fully sold out. Thank you! Find out more about a few other upcoming weekend sessions below!

I’d write these notes with an ink called Hanging Rice if I could,
Brian

October 17: School of Rock 🎸🥁

In this new offering, kids will dream up and build their own musical instruments using cardboard, upcycled materials, and tons of art supplies. They’ll experiment with sound, rhythm, and design as they create shakers, guitars, drums, and other instruments! At the end of class, we’ll come together as a band to play our own original music. No musical experience needed, just curiosity and a willingness to make some joyful noise! Co-led by Allison Leyton-Brown, a musician, composer, and the cofounder of West End choir Power Chords, and Hot Pizza founder Julia Dault. Saturday, October 17, 9:30 a.m. at 134 Osler St.

October 24: Illustrated Recipes 🧑🏻‍🎨🥘

We had a sold-out room for this one in June. I was there to assist the wonderful Sarah Aranha and can attest to the great vibes. Using watercolour and other media, like coloured pencils and collage, you’ll learn to paint a favourite recipe on gorgeous paper, which you’ll take home to cherish (and cook from!). Sarah has the uncanny ability of making watercolours accessible and revelatory in their sumptuous beauty. Saturday, October 24, 8:30 p.m. at 134 Osler Street.

November 7: Letter-writing and Stationery Club 🖋️💌

If you’re the kind of person who knows a mailbox can be filled with more than just flyers, join me, Brian, to celebrate writing by hand, meaningful communication, and a love of stationery. HP will provide supplies and will even pay for postage and run your letters to the post office on Monday! But people also love bringing their own pens, rubber stamps, inks, papers, and stickers. If half the fun is creating something for someone you care about, the other half is swapping stuff and sharing stories. Saturday, November 7, 7:30 p.m. at 1152 College St.