Guides
Curated guides to the best hands-on classes by city and category.
Best Pottery Classes in NYC
New York City has a genuinely impressive pottery scene spread across Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. Wheel-throwing classes sell out fast on weekends, and studios like those in Williamsburg and DUMBO regularly book months ahead. Whether you have never touched clay or you just want a consistent place to keep throwing, this guide covers what to expect and where to look.
Top Cooking Classes in Los Angeles
Los Angeles has some of the best cooking class options in the country, driven by a food culture that genuinely spans the world. Studios in West Hollywood, Silver Lake, Culver City, and Pasadena run hands-on sessions with working chefs covering everything from knife skills to regional Italian cooking to high-end pastry technique.
Things to Do Solo on a Saturday in Chicago
Chicago on a Saturday has more going on than most people realize, and a lot of it is better done solo. Improv comedy classes at Second City and iO, pottery workshops in Ravenswood, cooking sessions in Lincoln Park, and painting classes in Wicker Park all attract a regular crowd of people who came on their own and left having met a few others.
Best Date Night Classes in San Francisco
San Francisco is a compact city with a surprisingly active class scene. Pottery studios in the Mission and Hayes Valley, cooking classes in SoMa, cocktail workshops near the waterfront, and sushi making sessions around the Richmond make it easy to find something better than dinner for a date night in the city.
Best Beginner Classes in Denver
Denver has quietly built a strong hands-on class scene in RiNo, the Highlands, Cherry Creek, and LoHi. The studios that have landed there attract a mix of locals and people new to the city looking for something to do and somewhere to meet people. Every class listed here welcomes complete beginners.
Top Outdoor Classes in San Diego
San Diego exists for outdoor activities almost more than any other major US city. Surf lessons at Pacific Beach and La Jolla, kayaking tours out of Mission Bay, paddleboard sessions in the harbor, and coastal rock climbing near the city center give you more options for learning outdoors here than almost anywhere else on the west coast.
Best Pottery Classes in Los Angeles
Los Angeles has one of the most active pottery communities in the country, centered in Silver Lake, Echo Park, and Venice. Studios here attract serious hobbyists alongside complete beginners, and the class quality reflects that mix. Whether you want a single wheel-throwing session or a full series, LA has options worth your time.
Best Cooking Classes in NYC
New York City is one of the best places in the world to take a cooking class. The concentration of professional chefs, culinary traditions, and quality ingredients in the city means the cooking class options here are genuinely excellent across multiple cuisines and skill levels. From weeknight pasta sessions in Chelsea to professional knife skills workshops in the East Village, you have serious options.