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Culture Brief: Still Spellbound

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As a third-grader, I voraciously consumed stacks of Sweet Valley High and Baby-sitter’s Club novels that I borrowed from the library on a weekly basis. In hindsight, probably the only positive impact this had on my development was a deep-seated knack for spelling things right. Because I got a shameful bronze medal in my elementary school bee, I’ve always felt a little spelling void, and watching Spellbound on repeat just ain’t fillin’ it.

Lucky for me, and other alphabet enthusiasts, Perpetual Emotion Machine Productions – the sweethearts who brought you last year’s Slowdance Nights – are planning monthly Mile-End Spelling Bees at Le Cagibi (5490 St. Laurent).

As a slightly more forgiving alternative to traditional bees, participants at this event are given two strikes before being eliminated from the competition, not to mention coupons such as “Ask A Friend To Spell Your Word,” “Pass This One On,” and “Word-Swap.”

The entrance fee is $5 and registration is at 7:30 p.m., but it’s limited to 16 participants, so don’t be tardy! The bee starts at 8 p.m. The top spellers of the evening will be awarded literary prizes and jars of honey. S-W-E-E-T.

– Leah Pires