Ever take a class at the French Culinary Institute?

no i don't know about any particular school classes

any class you can take from an established big name caker in new york & jersey would be gold

ask your specific questions here

there is a wealth of information

if you ask how do i make a cake sculpture it would too broad an answer of course

if you ask how do i get this effect with fondant you probably would find out

plus there are tutorials here too

and do searches here

Toba Garrett, award winning cake decorator teaches regularly at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. She teaches everything from 1 day classes to a 240-hour professional training for cake decorators.

http://www.tobagarrett.com/

http://rec.iceculinary.com/ (search for Toba Garrett)

http://www.iceculinary.com/professional/Cake.shtml

meetup nyc cake decorators... im a member also. And atone of the culinary schools toba garrett has a week long course (3 of them actually) for $500+. its pricey but shes an amazing cake decorator and its worth it imo. 

I took the FCI Pastry Arts program several years ago.  Haven't taken any of their individual classes, but I have heard positive things about their individual classes.

Being a Jersey girl as well I know there are plenty of options in NJ for classes.  And of course there is always Craftsy which has some fondant courses (i.e. Marina Sousa's Advanced Fondanting Techniques)

Regards,

Anne

misschristinec, I am scheduled to take a few classes at Pink Cake Box in NJ soon.  I am really looking forward to them.   I have taken fondant classes with Sweet Irene in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY.  She is excellent.  She has a website and facebook page.  She offers beginner and advanced classes.  I know she has a beginner fondant class either in January or February.  I have taken her pillow cake class, shopping bag cake class, gumpaste shoe class, purse cake class, tiara class.  I have also taken the cookie decorating classes with Toba Garrett at ICE.  She is excellent also.  P.S. Since you worked in an Italian Bakery can you recommend a really good NY Italian Bakery Butter Cookie Recipe with the sprinkles and/or jam in between?  Thanks.  Kathy