The Plot Thickens (Ages 13-18)
Free workshop. Limit 12 students.
Saturday, April 21 | 2-3:30 p.m. | Woodrow Hall | 5504 First Avenue N.
Who does what and what happens next? Come talk the mechanics of plot with author Nadria Tucker in this 3rd installment of her amazing workshop series, Writing a Novel is not Impossible. (Note: You do not need to have attended Nadria’s first two workshops in this writing series to register for this one.)

[REGISTER FOR THE PLOT THICKENS]

(Image from Darwin, Singer, by Nadria Tucker)

We held our first of what will be regular balloon mapping workshops on Thursday afternoon at Railroad Park. A dozen students participated, as did a handful of Railroad Park visitors just curious about the giant red balloon in the sky. Hope to see you at our next workshop in May.

Here are the photos from the afternoon.

The Recipe of Me (Ages 7-10)
Free workshop. Limit 12 students.
Thursday, April 5 | 4-5:30 p.m. | Woodrow Hall | 5504 First Avenue N.
Join Oxmoor House cookbook editor Shaun Chavis poet and UAB creative writing instructor Elizabeth Hughey and write recipes about yourself. Our little memoirs will have all the features of regular recipes — headnotes, ingredients, instructions — but will require no time in the test kitchen!

[Register for The Recipe of Me]

Writing a Novel is not Impossible: Character (Ages 13-18)
Free workshop. Limit 12 students.
Friday, March 30 | 4-5:30 p.m. | Woodrow Hall | 5504 First Avenue N.
Attention, aspiring novelists: This stand-alone session, the second in our series on writing a novel, covers that most crucial element of fiction: conflict. Without conflict, a story can’t move forward, and in this workshop, we’ll look at the different forms of conflict and how they can help you move your own stories forward. - Led by Nadria Tucker

[Register for Writing a Novel is not Impossible: Conflict]

We’ve been making cuts here and measurements there over the past two months, but late last week, we got down to serious business. The crew from Community Property Development started framing the back offices of DISCO’s future HQ on Friday, and the plumber and electrician will start working this week.

We’re hoping for a soft opening in late spring. In the meantime, if you’re passing through Woodlawn, stop by 5500 First Avenue North and say hello.

Come explore! You will use old nautical maps and scrolls to navigate and chart some of the Unchartered Territory in your mind. This is part two of our Mapper’s Delight workshop series. – Led by Kate LeCroy

[Register for Here Be Dragons]

Bathtub Snack Cake: Creating Menus for Imaginary Restaurants (Ages 8-12)
Free workshop. Limit 12 students.
Thursday, February 16, 4-5:30 p.m. | Woodrow Hall | 5504 First Avenue N.

Back by popular demand!

Inspired by favorite storybooks and poetry, you will create a menu for your own imaginary restaurant.

Does your menu have Bathtub Snack Cake with a Pink Icing Ring (The Cat in the Hat Comes Back), Pixie-Dusted Flying Potato Chips (Peter Pan), or a Cookwitch Sandwich (Silverstein’s Falling Up)?

Come invent your own story-inspired dishes and create your menu to show them off. – Led by Scott Jones

[Register for Bathtub Snack Cake]

Writing a Novel is not Impossible: Character (Ages 13-18)
Free workshop. Limit 12 students.
Saturday, February 11 | 2-3:30 p.m. | Woodrow Hall | 5504 First Avenue N.
Attention, aspiring novelists: This stand-alone session on character is the first in a series of five workshops that take a practical approach to all the elements that go into writing a novel. You’ll discuss what makes a character work and how to flesh out your own characters. - Led by Nadria Tucker

[Register for Writing a Novel is not Impossible: Character]

Thanks to our Kickstarter backers and FoodBlogSouth, as well as the generous support of Birmingham-area foundations and individual donors, we have finally begun building out our future home on the ground floor of Woodrow Hall, in Woodlawn.

We’ll post updates (and photos) about the space over the next couple of months. We hope to finish the heavy lifting by April and be in the space by May.