It's easy to get lost in the monotony of your day-to-day routine and activities. Mix it up this term! Do something wholesome and satisfying and pretty damn cool make something. In high school, I used to make bowls out of old records and bracelets out of toothbrushes, but thankfully Dartmouth has workshops and activities to help you dabble in crafty new pursuits. Just think of how great it will be to get a compliment about a piece of jewelry or food or furniture and respond that you made it. Here is a list of ways you can create all sorts of nifty things this Fall. Plan ahead, though! Many of these activities require advance registration and can only accommodate a limited number of participants.
Saturday, Sept. 25 at 10:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m.: Make merry and celebrate fruit!Apple Fest at the First Congregational Church in LebanonCost: Free
Coming from a state that grows 60 percent of the country's apples (holler at Washington State!), I'm a huge fan of all apple varieties. What could be better than a free festival celebrating such a wonderful and versatile fruit? The festival includes baked goods, face painting, food, gift basket raffle and a white elephant table.
Monday, Sept. 27 at 1:00 6:00 p.m: Make a difference!Blood Drive at Tracy Hall in Norwich, VTCost: Free
I can honestly say there's not much that's more satisfying that donating blood. I still find needles pretty scary and I always talk the phlebotomist's ear off because of my nerves, but trust me, it's worth it. Each blood donation can save up to three lives and you get yummy cookies and juice. You'll also be entered into a raffle to win Red Sox vs. Yankees tickets and a gas card.
Monday, Oct. 4 at 7:00 8:00 p.m. or 8:00 9:00 p.m.: Make music!DJ-ing 101Cost: $30 for six sessions
Last year, for my first article ever, I had to interview campus DJs about the music scene at Dartmouth. Real talk: they're all incredibly cool. I awkwardly said hi to all of them at dance parties, but it was always unclear if they remembered me (shout out to Jan who probably thought I was psychotic). DJs are present at most big parties and they play a big role in the music scene on campus. While I'm probably too musically illiterate to successfully DJ, some of you could be the next ones deciding what music is big at Dartmouth and that's sweet.
Tuesday, Oct. 5 at 1:00 3:30 p.m.: Make a canoe paddle!Canoe Paddle Carving Workshop at the Woodworking Workshop in the HopCost: $80 for seven sessions
If you were like me and had "Just Around the Riverbend" memorized as child, this class is for you. I can't think of anything more wholesome than making your own canoe paddle. Ledyard rents canoes for only $10 an hour, and how badass would it be to rent a canoe and say, "That's ok, I don't need a paddle. I made my own"? Pretty badass.
Sunday, Oct. 17 at 10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. or 12:00 2:00 p.m.: Make bread and pastries!Intro to Bread and Pastry Making in Brace Commons in East WheelockCost: $55 for three sessions
My mom once bought a book called "Carbohydrate-Addicted Kids" in attempt to get me to eat less of my favorite food (bread, I kid you not) and more fruits and veggies and such. Needless to say, she only sort of succeeded because this Miniversity class sounds fantastic. The last session is at the Organic Farm, which has a turtle-shaped clay bread oven. Miniversity also has classes on making cupcakes and flatbreads of the world, so you have lots of great carb-filled options.
Tuesday, Oct. 19 at 6:00 9:00 p.m.: Make bangles!Bangles and Beads in the Claflin Jewelry Studio in the HopCost: $15
Bangles are cute and jingly and versatile, plus the word bangle is fun to say. Store-bought bangles always hurt to squeeze over my hands, so maybe this workshop will help solve my bangle-related problems. This is also a great introduction to the jewelry studio and an excellent gift idea for the woman in your life, whether it's your mom or your best friend or your ambiguous hook-up buddy.
Friday, Oct. 22 at 6:00 9:00 p.m.: Make a longboard!Build a Skateboard with Greg Elder at the Woodworking Workshop in the HopCost: $30
For those of you coordinated enough to ride a skateboard around campus, props first of all and secondly you should take this class! Reading about this workshop already inspired me to listen to some classic Avril, so it must be good.
Friday, Nov. 5th at 5:30 8:30 p.m.: Make a table!Build a Small Side Table at the Woodworking Workshop in the HopCost: $30 for two sessions
I literally can't think of anything more practical to make than a table. If you're like me, every flat surface in your room is already used for storing piles of things you probably don't need, so actually having a place for all that stuff would be clutch. Hence your new handmade side table!
Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 6:00 9:00 p.m.: Make earrings!Quick and Easy Earrings at the Claflin Jewelry Studio in the HopCost: $15
Facts of a girl's life: tights will get runs, you will spill coffee on lightly colored clothing and parts of earrings will get lost. But that doesn't have to happen if you make your own earrings! The craftsmanship will (hopefully) be better than Claire's and you can decide exactly how you want your masterpiece to look. Finally no more picking through racks of strange or expensive or excessively bedazzled jewelry!
Sunday, Nov. 21 at 1:00 p.m.: Make a run for it!18th Annual Hanover Turkey Trot 10K on the GreenCost: $15
Certain Mirror writers have a habit of casually dropping phrases like, "While I was on my 14.8 mile run through the hills of New England" and I can tell you right now I will never be one of those writers. Running is not really my thing, but themed fun runs make me reconsider my feelings. This one sounds awesome: long enough to make you feel legit, right after the most gluttonous holiday in American culture, and right in Hanover. There's also a Tiny Turkey Trot for little kids, so you can watch them scramble around the Green too.
