MAKING THINGS AND FIXING THEM

BEGINNING CLAY ON THE POTTER’S WHEEL This is the quintessential class you take when you’re looking to take an easygoing class after a hard day’s work. And for good reason: Pottery is cool. Example: that really erotic scene from Ghost. The Righteous Brothers and pottery will never be the same. Pottery Northwest, 226 First N., 285-4421. $222. 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Sept. 9-Dec. 2.

HISTORICAL BOAT RESTORATION Seattle is a port city, but no one from Seattle seems to know a thing about boats. It’s time to change that. You can help restore the “Glorybe,” a wooden power cruiser from 1914 that was involved in a fire, then sank, and then was salvaged so people like you could bring it back to life. Specifically, you’ll be “removing and replacing carvel planking, framing a new deck and house, and [doing] various projects in interior and exterior joinery.” Sounds cool. Wood Construction Center, 2310 S. Lane, 587-4916. $60-$125. 3:30-5:30 p.m. or 5:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays or Tuesdays, Sept. 30- Dec. 3.

INTRODUCTION TO BLACKSMITHING There was a Simpsons once in which Bart learned about metal. He had never heard of metal. “Metal,” he said, repeating the word so he’d remember it. Boy, was that funny. If you already know what metal is and you’d like to work with it, this is the class for you. You can make anything from a leaf hook to a candleholder to a fireplace poker. Discover U, 2150 N. 107th, 365-0400. $149. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sat.-Sun., Sept. 14 and 15.

MOSAIC BIRDBATHS Birds are cute when they bathe. They flap their feathers and put their little beaks in the water. They chirp. It’s sweet. In the morning, there’s nothing more pleasurable than watching little birds bathe while eating a doughnut. Now, this pleasure can be yours. Make a birdbath with pottery fragments, sea glass, and pebbles. Take it home and enjoy. The Pottery School of West Seattle, 4437 California S.W., 365-0400. $69. 12:30-4:30 p.m. Sat., Sept. 7.

FLOWERS, FOOD, AND FENG SHUI

ARRANGING FLOWERS IN A BASKET You know those lovely flower baskets people send to family and friends when they’re down and out or in the hospital? Now you yourself can learn to brighten someone’s day with a handmade, personalized flower basket. Class covers fresh flower care and handling techniques, flower selection guidance, design and construction techniques, and, of course, working with floral foam. Floral Design Institute, 911 Western, 749-9464. $40. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 5.

CORDON BLEU Louise Hasson shares anec- dotes about London’s Cordon Bleu Cooking School—specifically, how they taught her to make cordon bleu. And you get to watch her make some dishes: artichaut farcis, escalopes de veau Valentino, and vacherin chantilly. What the hell are these things? Better go find out. Bon Vivant, location TBA, 525-7537. $35. 7 p.m. Tues., Sept. 10.

FENG SHUI BASICS Feng Shui is the 5,000-year-old Chinese art of placement. In your home, it’s supposed to enhance positive energy flow. We could all use a little positive energy, couldn’t we? At this class, you’ll learn how placing your sofa in a slightly different spot can dramatically alter the harmony of your life. Discover U, 2150 N. 107, 365-0400. $39. 6:30-9 p.m. Wed., Oct. 9.

ITALIANS CELEBRATE TOMATOES! Tomatoes, like people, come in all shapes and sizes: reds, yellows, purples, oranges, and—the most unusual—striped green. After a tasting session, Bon Vivant cooking club director Louise Hasson will teach students to use the tomatoes in a number of delicious meals. Bon Vivant, various locations, 525-7537. $35. 7-10 p.m. Tues., Aug. 27.

WRITING & WRITERS

GROANLESS GRAMMAR: A WRITING SKILLS TUNE-UP Let’s face it, it’s the e-mail age, and no matter how many smiley faces you punctuate your electronic mail messages with, they’re not going to cover up your rusty writing skills. And what do you do when things get rusty? You tune them up! Tune up your writing skills in this fun, intensive one-day class. Bellevue Community College, 10700 Northup Way, Bellevue, 425-564-2263. $115. 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Fri., Oct. 11.

INTRO TO PR WRITING Can’t seem to write a press release without sounding skeptical of what’s being released? Ever find yourself writing memorandum sarcasm that offends people when all you’re really looking for is a laugh to boost your lack of self-confidence? You are not alone. School of Visual Concepts, 500 Aurora N., 623-1560. $455. Tuesdays, Oct. 1-Dec. 10.

THE BLOOMSBURY GROUP AND BOHEMIAN LONDON The sisters, Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell, were interesting. According to the class description, “Virginia mined her semidysfunctional but upper-class family to present a world of leisure with a thin veneer over the abyss. Vanessa exuberantly decorated everything in sight and raised a family with various fathers.” They also hung out with the likes of John Maynard Keynes, George Bernard Shaw, W.B. Yeats, and E.M. Forster. UW Campus, exact location TBA, 543-2310. $453. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Oct. 1-Dec. 3.

EUROPE AND EUROPEANS

ART NOUVEAU: FROM HAIRPINS TO STAIRCASES Klimt, Gaud��and Toulouse-Lautrec were all associated with art nouveau (or, fin de si裬e style). Depictions of leaves and flowers as wavy and flowing lines sometimes characterize this style. (Leaves and flowers are also sometimes fashioned out of frosting to decorate cakes. That’s the other thing about this class: There’s dessert afterward.) Frye Art Museum, 704 Terry, 622-9250. $25. 7-8:30 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 12 or 26.

EUROPE THROUGH THE BACK DOOR Italy! Ireland! France! Rome! It’s like a trip through Europe—minus the backpack, that boring plane ride, the weird diseases, and the INS. Hosted by celebrity travel guru Rick Steves’ travel center. Edmonds Theater, 130 Fourth Ave. N., Edmonds, 425-771-8303. Free. 11 a.m. Saturdays. Ongoing.

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

PHYSIOLOGY OF BIRDS How can birds breathe without a diaphragm? How do they maintain warmth in the deep, dark cold of winter? Why do they poop 38 times a day? All your questions and more will be answered in this class. And you’ll also find out what “dittering” means. Seattle Audubon Society, Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 N.E. 41st, 523-4483. $30-$45. 7-9 p.m. Wed., Oct. 9 and 16.

SEX TOYS 101 Toys in Babeland co-founders Rachel Venning and Claire Cavannah will instruct on “the anatomy of pleasure and the toys and tricks to please yourself and your partners.” Finally we can all orgasm. Toys in Babeland, 707 E. Pike, 328-2914. $25. 7:30 p.m. Fri., Oct. 13.

DANCING, ACTING, & BEATING ON THINGS

AFRICAN DANCE/DRUMMING Dancing is cool. Drumming is cool. The Langston Hughes Center is cool. Combine all three by signing up for a class that will fill you with West African spirit and introduce you to Seattleites you’ve never known but should. Langston Hughes Cultural Art Center, 104 17th S., 684-4757. $100-$200. Drumming 5-6:30 p.m., Dancing 6:30- 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 24-Dec. 3.

BELLY DANCE WITH DELILAH All those summer picnics leave a little extra jiggle in your belly? Utilize it! You’re not fat, you’re an Aphroditian goddess. So decorate your body with jingly metal jewelry and learn the art of belly dance, the oldest dance form in the world. Visionary Dance, Seattle, 632-2353. $80. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 10-Oct. 29.

CONGA Any successful revolution is about timing, technique, and independence. This is true of the Cuban revolution. Similarly, Cuban conga rhythms rely on timing, technique, and independence. Develop rhythmic dynamics and personal musicality in Matt McCarter’s beginning and intermediate conga classes. John’s Music, 4501 Interlake, 548-0916. $40 for four sessions. 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesdays. Ongoing.

HULA AND TAHITIAN DANCING The mellifluous sound of ukuleles fills the air. Pigs are roasted on the beach. People watch your beautiful motions in the light of a Pacific sunset. This could be you someday. Hula Halau O Napualani Studio, 18563 Stone N., 365-0475. $10 per class or $120 for 20. 6 p.m. Thursdays, beginning Sept. 10.

ISRAELI FOLK DANCING On the Web site, the class is described as “featuring dances of the ’60s-’90s.” Now, how this is possible with folk dancing, we haven’t a clue. But it sounds interesting. This is how it works: from 7:30 to 8, you take lessons; from 8 to 10, you dance however you like. Drinks are served, making the whole night a whole lot easier. Stroum Jewish Community Center of Greater Seattle, 1617 Interlaken Dr. E., 860-7519. $6. 7:30-10 p.m. Second Saturday of each month.

SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING The Seattle Branch of the Royal Scottish Dance Society hosts classes for beginners. No partner necessary—just bring yourself and a smile! Who knows? You might meet a partner there. Meadowbrook Recreation Complex, 10517 35th E., 524-6685. $45. Thursdays, Sept. 26-Dec. 12.

IMPROVISATIONAL COMEDY It’s hard to be funny, especially if you’re worried that you look like a fool. The point of improv, though, is to look like a fool. See? Once you realize that, it’s not so hard to be funny anymore. Seattle Central, 1701 Broadway, 587-3800. $158. 7-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 24-Nov. 12.

RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY, AND MONEY

INTRODUCTION TO HATHA YOGA Stretch, strengthen, and release all that tension you have from driving Bobby to soccer, working on absurd spreadsheets at work, and obsessing that your back hair is conquering your back. 8 Limbs Yoga, 500 E. Pike, 325-1511. $46-$70. Sunday mornings and Tuesday evenings throughout the fall.

MONEY MANAGING: HOW TO RAISE IT, HOW TO USE IT Well, most of us know how to use it; the hard part is raising it. This class, designed especially for entrepreneurs, explores the depths of money management—borrowing needs, alternative sources of capital, understanding the role of bankers, and programs available to small businesses. Classes are taught by the Service Core of Retired Executives (SCORE). They all ran businesses for a long time, so they know what they’re talking about. SCORE Business Enterprise Center, 1200 Sixth, 17th Floor, 553-7320. $60 advance, $70 door. 8:15 a.m.-4 p.m. Wed., Sept. 25.

THE WORLD OF ISLAM: FROM PROPHET TO CRUSADERS UW’s Jere L. Bacarach speaks about the origins, emergence, and historical impact of Islam at Wednesday University, a Seattle Arts & Lectures program. Henry Art Gallery, 15th N.E. and N.E. 41st, 621-2230. $70. 7:30-9 p.m., every other Wednesday, Oct. 9-Dec. 4.

CLASSES FOR KIDS & YOUNG ADULTS

BETTER BABY SITTERS I wish my baby sitters had taken a class. They sucked. All they ever did was talk on the phone to their friends and watch MTV, while I played with matches and ran barefoot in the highway at night without a coat. This class, for 11- to 13-year-olds, teaches responsible baby-sitting techniques: safety, age-appropriate toys, choking rescue, and how to handle emergencies. Children’s Hospital, 4800 Sand Point Way N.E., 789-2306. $25. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays. Ongoing.

PERSPECTIVES: STRATEGIES AND SKILLS FOR TEENS AND PARENTS Sometimes, being a teenager sucks. Especially when parents are involved. But teens and parents can learn to work together to build healthy relationships, better decision making, and confidence. Children’s Hospital, 4800 Sand Point Way N.E., 789-2306. $25. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tues., Oct. 29.

POTTY TRAINING Remember the little minipotty your parents had you sit on when you were toilet training? You felt so grown-up. There’s actually all sorts of physical, intellectual, psychological, emotional, and social readiness issues surrounding toilet training. Learn about them in this class. Children’s Hospital, 4800 Sand Point Way N.E., 517-2486. Free. 7-9 p.m. Mon., Sept. 30.

WIGGLE WORMS Sing, rhyme, and chant with your 2- to 18-month-old beautiful baby who may or may not have a clue about what’s going on. With everything from classical to swing, you and your baby can learn about tempo, tune, pitch, and rhythm. And you know that kids immersed in music at a young age do better in school. It’s true. Plus, you get to play with puppets and scarves. Mulberry Bush Music and Movement, University Heights Center, 5031 University Way N.E., 686-2201. $120. 11-11:45 a.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 17-Nov. 19.

CLASSES FOR TEACHERS

TEACHERS AS SCHOLARS Teachers will become students this fall as part of a professional development program from Seattle Arts & Lectures and the Simpson Center for the Humanities at the University of Washington. The program is designed to reinvigorate K-12 teachers with a series of seminars like “Controversial Images: Telling the History of Modern Science,” “Modern Mexico in Art and Literature,” and “Myth, Art, and Metamorphoses.” Visit ww.lectures.org, e-mail tas@lectures.org, or call 621-2230 ext. 16. Free for teachers in member school districts; $150 for all other teachers. Times, dates TBA.