Summertime in Montreal means longer days. It’s as if waiting the de rigueur 6 minutes for a metro on the orange line almost doesn’t matter anymore. It’s golden hour.
You can go out in the morning to cool off, then go out again for brunch, then go out again to the park and take micro-naps in between – and the clock doesn’t really matter anymore.
In this haze of heat, sun, thunderstorms, cool water and hot nights, time seems to pass too quickly and at the same time very slowly. And what’s more, we’re not even on vacation!
To make the summer fun last, and to feel like we’re putting this lost time to good use, we’re going to develop our creativity with workshops that will remind us of summer camp craft tables .
Around a pottery wheel, we’ll also be able to meet new people without getting too drunk on Sangria…
For those who pick wild flowers on the edges of wastelands…
The natural cosmetics and home products boutique Les Mauvaises Herbes offers in-person and online workshops, as well as recipes for making your own beauty products at home.
Face cream, household products, aromatherapy, soap, solid shampoo… It’s for those who stopped eating Rolo cones this summer and for those who make their own kombucha, as well as for fans of natural skin products and toxin-free local insect repellent…
…and for those who subscribe to Pamela Anderson’s newsletter . Because in the city, sometimes we have to force ourselves to stay connected to nature.
Where? Online on the Mauvaises Herbes website, or at the boutique at 6260 rue Saint-Hubert.
When? The boutique is open Tuesday to Friday, 11am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 12pm to 5pm.
How? workshops cost between $30 and $80, bookable on the website
For creative people who don’t know what to do and those who refuse to leave their balcony…
Ceramics gallery-boutique Bref offers do-it-yourself kits for small decorating projects that can be done with the kids, between friends during a picnic, or to flex those artistic muscles we’ve forgotten about this winter.
Paper silkscreen, punch-needle, birdhouse and flower press – perfect for the inside-outside of a summer in the city.
Where? Online at the Bref website, or at the boutique at 261 Bernard Street West.
When? the boutique is open Monday to Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and weekends, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
How? do-it-yourself products start at $10.
For those preparing for winter nights…
A little early, we sometimes already have the anxiety of the long, icy nights of the winter months – dark, endless. For those who feel melancholy in summer when the sun is shining outside, we suggest a candle-making workshop at Café Moonday.
Workshops last around 2 hours and are for ages 11 and over (because of the handling of hot wax), and candles are created with soy wax.
Where? Café Moonday, 3962 Boulevard Saint-Laurent
When? the boutique is open Monday to Friday, noon to 8 p.m. and weekends, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
How? book your session online on the Café Moonday website; the candle-making workshop costs $39.95.
For those who like to get their hands dirty…
Cône 10, the Plateau’s most serious pottery workshop-gallery-boutique, offers workshops for those with an artistic vision who want to create their own tableware, flowerpots or learn how to “throw”.
There are also courses specifically for children, and even a summer workshop for kids…
For clay enthusiasts, there are weekly courses, including a 2-week course to make tiles you’re dying to try out this summer, and a 4-week hand-forming course for artists who want to think outside the box.
Where? Atelier Cône 10, 3941 rue Saint-Denis
When? schedules vary, so check the website for workshops (but most are adapted to a work schedule for those who spend the summer in the city and the office).
How? One-time workshops start at $55, and weekly workshops start at $180 for two weeks.
Enjoy the workshop!