So I got some good news at my crappy office job today. Turns out my company has a bit of unused cash budgeted for employee training, and as a result, my boss has allocated me $500 for educational/training purposes. Take a night class, attend a seminar, something like that. Even though my position has little to do with computer graphics, my boss is cool enough to let the relevance issue slide.

My question is, what to do? I have to spend it by the end of the year, so attending Siggraph is impossible. Are there any big conventions or training sessions in the US? How about Pixar's Pixar University?

I'd hate to waste an opportunity like this, but really can't think of any options. Help?