Around campus

Rolling stones tour comes to McGill

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No, Mick, Keith and the boys won't be playing Gert's anytime soon. However, the ever-popular bike tour exploring the secrets held in the city's building stones will be winding its way through the streets on Sept. 13. Beginning with the ancient fossils at the Redpath Museum, the tour's highlights include the Sulpicians' reflecting pool at the Grande Seminaire, Leonard Cohen's boyhood home and the ghosts of Griffintown. The thirst built up by all that pedalling will be quenched during a refreshing pitstop at McAuslan Brewery for a beer sampling. Cost includes booklet "What Building Stones Tell," beer and fresh market bread and cheese.

Stones and Beer Bike Tour; Sept.13; 4 p.m.-8 p.m.; beginning in front of Redpath Museum, 859 Sherbrooke Street West; rain or shine. Cost: $20 for adults, $10 for seniors and students with IDs.

For more information or to make reservations: call Ingrid Birker at 514-398-4086 (Ext. 4092#).

Take your B(ike)M(etro)W(alk) to campus

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On Sept. 20, McGill drivers are being asked to leave a smaller carbon footprint by leaving an actual footprint—or a bike tread—instead. As part of International Car-Free Day, the lower campus will be closed to all parking, except for disabled drivers. Dust off your old 10-speed, rediscover the joy of walking or screw up your courage and take a foray into the world of public transportation. Who knows? You might discover you're a closet metrophile.

International Car Free Day, Sept. 20. Lower campus closed to all parking (except disabled). Limited through-traffic on an as-needed basis only. For more information go to www.mcgill.ca/rethink/events/.

The family that mummifies together...

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The Sept. 16 installment of the Redpath Museum's popular Family Discovery Workshops, "Momies égyptiennes et momification," promises to leave children and their parents enraptured—or should that be enWRAPtured—as it unveils the secrets of Egypt's mummies. Even better, participants will be instructed on how to make their own mummy—which, along with reanimating the dead and having a pet werewolf, ranks right up their on a kid's cool meter. Kids not quite down with the whole curse of the undead thing might want to check out the Sept 23 workshop, "Trees and plants of Quebec," in which they will learn about native trees and their fall colours. Rather than bringing home their own Tutankhamun, participants will make a nifty leaf mosaic instead.

Momies égyptiennes et momification (in French); Sept 16. Trees and plants of Quebec (in English); Sept 23. Both workshops have two sessions: 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Redpath Museum, 859 Sherbrooke West, auditorium. Cost: $6 for children of all ages, free for parents. To register for workshops or to consult the full schedule, call Ingrid Birker at 514-398-4086 (Ext. 4092) or go to www.mcgill.ca/redpath/whats_on/sunday_activities/sundayworkshop/.

Pow Wow sure to wow

ray Deer at 2006 Pow Wow.
Owen Egan

In what is becoming a fall institution, the McGill First Peoples' House will be holding its sixth annual Pow Wow on lower campus Sept. 21. A centuries-old Aboriginal tradition, Pow Wows are colorful festivals of music, dance and trading. In addition to featuring a full slate of aboriginal performers, including hoop dancers and Inuit throat singers, the daylong celebration will feature education circles where prospective students from Native communities can get information and career advice from representatives from the faculties of social work, law and medicine. Onlookers should bring comfortable shoes, as members of the audience are encouraged to try their hand, or feet, at traditional dancing.

Pow Wow 2007; Sept. 21; lower campus from 8:45 a.m.-5:00 p.m. For the full schedule or other queries, contact the First Peoples' House at 514-398-3217, email firstpeopleshouse@mcgill.ca or check out their website at www.mcgill.ca/fph.

Making beautiful music

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Are you still traumatized by having to learn "O, Christmas Tree!" on the recorder for the big concert back in elementary school? If so, you should take in the Montreal International Recorder Competition Finals at Redpath Hall on Sept. 16. Virtuoso players from around the globe will be playing until they are red in the face as they compete for some $7,500 in prizes with the winner taking home the $3,500 grand prize. For the Finals, each participant will be required to give an original concert lasting no more than 30 minutes and will be judged on creativity, artistic coherence, composition and improvisation. Unlike most of us musically challenged types, these musicians transform the recorder from the torture device of our youth into the instrument of beautiful music it really is.

Montreal International Recorder Competition Finals; Sept. 16; 1 p.m.; Redpath Hall, 861 Sherbrooke Street West. Admission: $5. For more information call 514-523-3611 or go to www.ensemblecaprice.com.