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They learned by night!
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Spine-tingling courses for the after-dark crowd
by LORRAINE CARPENTER
While the bulk of us spend our evenings watching crap television or wasting away in bars, strange figures lurk in the darkness, shadowy forms with mysterious destinations. You'll know them by their sober faces, book bags and café cards. But where do they go? If your curiosity is adequately piqued, I'll let you in on a little secret: you can observe these academic creatures of the night in their natural habitats, just go to the following locations. And hey, you might learn something new while you're at it.
Thomas More Institute
Laugh away those chilly autumn nights with Lovers and Lunatics, a course which explores the evolution of comedy in light of social change, from Elizabethan literature to romantic comedy films of the '30s and '40s. Classes are held Thursdays at 6:15 p.m. beginning September 28, with Joanna Bottenberg, Julie Schnitzer and Amy Shulman on the discussion team. This and other 12-session courses at Thomas More (3405 Atwater) cost $110, while 24-session courses are $180. Registration begins September 5. Call 935-9585.
La Salsera Dance Academy
Gotta dance? Ditch those B-Boy moves for some salsa and meringue action, available in four levels of difficulty (beginners' being most popular). With seven years training in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia and New York City, your instructor Sherril will put her expertise to work demonstrating basic techniques and breaking complex movements into small parts. The 11-week course, which will set you back $130, begins the week of September 10, with one-hour-and-20-minute classes held Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Various locations, call 849-7737.
Vanier College
Naked in public? Teeth falling out of your head? Now you can learn to analyze your dreams with instructor Harry Webster in Sleeping and Dreaming, a course where the classic dream interpretations of Freud and Jung are explored alongside contemporary scientific approaches. Groups will also discuss sleep problems such as nightmares and insomnia. Brings paper, pens and pillows Tuesday evenings, 7-9 p.m. from September 26 to October 31. This is a steal at $99, but be quick, the last day for fall registration is September 1. At 821 Ste-Croix, call 744-7000 for details.
Visual Arts Centre
This Westmount arts centre offers a variety of "creative explorations" courses including Sumi-e, the Japanese art of painting on rice paper. Longtime artist and teacher Minako Takahashi will teach Sumi-e basics such as rice paper selection, lively brush techniques and how to grind ink on an inkstone, while exploring both natural subjects and abstract design. This eight-week course, on Wednesdays from 7-10 p.m. beginning on October 4, costs $155 plus materials and a $20 registration fee. At 350 Victoria, call 488-9558.
Rod Roy Ski and Snowboard School
Come on down to Pierrefonds for Wednesday Night Owls, six two-hour lessons in alpine skiing (novice to advanced) or snowboarding (novice to intermediate), beginning on January 10, 2001. Lift tickets are included in the $169 package (plus tax), enabling eager skiers to get on the hills as early as 5 p.m. Lessons run from 7:30-9:30 p.m., followed by a group happy hour, including a special Valentine's Day wine and cheese--swingin', skiin' singles anyone? (Yes, this is for adults only.) Register before December 1 and get a $15 discount off the total price. Call 626-6240.
Dawson College
Take your class doodling to a new level with Comix, a fine-arts course which introduces students to the history, techniques and processes of cartooning, all for the meagre price of $90. Pictorial exaggeration, simplification and the development of pictorial sequences will be discussed Thursday evenings from 6:30-9:30 p.m. No longer just for geeks, honest. Although classes began August 28, late registration for this semester takes place on September 5. Call 933-3771 beforehand.
Montreal City Motor League
Wanna get out of the city? Or maybe just off the West Island? Let this 34-year-old institution be your guide to automotive bliss. From simple theory classes and refresher courses to full programs for you young permit-seekers, the MCML has got you covered. They're so confident that if you don't pass your test at the license bureau after completing their program, they'll pay for the retest. Prices range from $100 for theory alone to $400 for the full program. Call 844-7303 (1117 Ste-Catherine W.) or 426-2728 (Pointe-Claire) for details.
Masala School of Indian Cooking
Learn the fine art of low-fat, North Indian cuisine with Ilyas Mirza in his school/restaurant discretely tucked away in an Old Montreal building (373 Youville). Mirza, who's been teaching for eight years, provides ingredients, recipes and facilities for classes of five to eight students who observe, prepare and eat the food they cook. The five-week course, consisting of weekly, two-hour sessions at 6 p.m., costs $155. Gift certificates for your culinarily challenged others are also available. Located at 4521 Parc, call 287-7455 for details.
College Platon
Tired of being a white-bread tete carré or a Pepsi-sucking frog? Brush up on your language skills! College Platon offers semi-intensive English and French courses Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6-8 p.m., as well as a huge variety of non-official language courses for the adventurous. Four-week and 12-week courses are available ($175 and $450, respectively), with registration happening at the beginning of every month. Students may begin at any time during the six month "semester." The first round starts on September 5, with registration on September 1. Call 281-1016 for details.
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