Hi everyone,

Remember when I said September is objectively the best month and you nodded in agreement? I meant last week’s September, not this nine-degrees-on-the-morning-dog-walk nonsense. The September in which we launched our after-school and evening courses, brought more than 180 people into HP for seven-week sessions, and then screened two dozen art films from the past half-century and heard that some kids even re-created scenes at home. I liked that September. Thank you for being part of it!

And still, there’s more—this weekend we’re hosting our ever-popular one-off Saturday Comics session, plus a new Block Printing class in which you can decorate your own textiles (perhaps to wrap up in against the chill). Learn more below, and about our PA Day sessions and a welcoming open house for TDSB educators looking for a creative field-trip venue. Tell your teachers!

Thank you, as always, for powering our social art project/creative community/family business/“what if?” experiment.

All good things,
Brian

This Saturday at HP: Comics for kids, Block Printing for adults

I sometimes worry the Kobo e-reader in our house is going to catch fire because our oldest reads so much manga. (It’s our “good” screen.) Is your kid similarly obsessed? Introduce them to the power of expressing themselves through words and pictures with our one-off Saturday Comics session. Mike Ellis, who has been building the fantasy world in his Pieces of Eights comics since 2009, will help participants develop their own characters and introduce them to plotting, conflict and resolution, and other essential storytelling elements. Get your kid started on their own world! 2–4 p.m. at 1152 College Street.

In the era of fast fashion and “viral” totes, the handmade stands out even more. Express yourself and build a new skill in our Block Printing class led by artist Sarah Aranha, a beloved and in-demand teacher. You’ll learn how to design a simple image, carve your own printing block, ink it up, and print repeat patterns onto fabric. Then you can take what you make (a piece of cotton or linen clothing, a tote bag) out on the town; enjoy it at home (a table runner, tea towels); or give it to someone as a gift they’ll remember. No experience required—just a willingness to have fun and experiment! 7–10 p.m. at 134 Osler Street.

Don’t forget: PA Days are coming up in just a few weeks!

The headline above is for me as much as it is for you. Hot Pizza has you covered with daylong PA Day workshops for both the TDSB and Viamonde systems (oui, nous parlons français). (OK, I don’t, but Julia and our teachers do.) Free up your workday and get greeted at 4:00 p.m. by a kid excited to share what they made during a full day of making, moving, and laughing.

TDSB:

• November 20: TDSB PA Day at 134 Osler Street. Register →

• November 20: TDSB PA Day at 1152 College Street. Register →

Viamonde:

• October 26: Viamonde PA Day at 134 Osler Street. Register →

• November 27: Viamonde PA Day at 134 Osler Street. Register →

Free open house for TDSB educators

Tell your teachers! On the morning of Saturday, October 24, TDSB educators can join us for a free open-house workshop designed especially those interested in bringing their students to Hot Pizza. Led by founder Julia Dault, this hands-on session will offer a playful introduction to what a school visit can look like at our studio: warm-up drawing games, creative stations, sample projects, and examples of how workshops can be tailored to different grades, subjects, and classroom themes.

It’s all free! And because we’re asking you to come do something tangentially work-related on a Saturday, we’ll of course serve good coffee and tea.