An incredibly happy place. The managers runs the studio so there's never a glitch. The instructors…read moreare not just elite-level sewists, but they are also incredibly kind and patient beyond belief. They meet you were you are. I often feel like a klutz around sewing machines, but they empower me to just go for it and, as long as they're by my side, I get great results. I look forward to the days I have an upcoming class scheduled. Recommendation: Take a class.

Over the past few months I took 3 sewing classes at Sew Crafty and LOVED IT!…read more I started with the Machine Sewing Basics class to brush up on my skills. I had sewn as a teen so it was easy to dive back in, but there were also brand new beginners in my class that seemed to do really well too. After Basics, I felt confident enough to sign up for Hemming and Alterations (a set of 2 classes), where we reviewed measuring and different types of hems/clothing modifications. We even got to bring in some of our own clothes to work on while supervised by the teachers :) Since then, I've been able to hem a bunch of items I've always wanted to wear, so I'll call it a success! The staff was soooo knowledgeable and patient (shout out to Anika who led both of mine!), making the total of 6 hours I spent there really efficient. The studio was tidy, well organized and had all the equipment we needed to thrive. Plus, the classmates were all super kind, so I guess it draws in nice people! 10/10 recommend!

DO patronize this place. I've been coming here for a bit over a year and have had a wonderful time…read moredoing so. I've learned how to make figures, mugs, bowls, vases, and how to glaze them in so many different ways. The owner Meg will be sure to show you physical examples and lend you books if you have an idea of a piece you want to do or a color you want to try, and she'll talk you through the steps but still say it's your piece to do what you want with! They also have a wonderful scholarship program that I've been able to utilize from time to time and if you buy a mug from their wall it goes towards that fund. I am so grateful to have found this community and to be able to learn in this kind and open space.

After reading a recent review by Rianna D., I had to check out the windows. I must say I was QUITE…read moredisappointed by the terrible inaccuracies of Rianna's review. I did not see any violence and there was not a single ERECT PENIS to be found. What I did see was a most varied collection of distinct and unique art that clearly represented the artists that work from their most welcoming space! I have worked out of several studios, and have to say Lincoln Square Pottery & Learning Center has been the most welcoming, supportive and generous art space I have been a part. If you are looking for interesting gifts and unique ceramics, come on by. If you are looking boring, uninspired, slap it in a frame and call it art art, just keep walking. If you a re looking for ART, something that might challenge you, or perhaps a mug to give as a gift, there is both and everything in between. And a little advice for Rianna, look up St. Sebastian, that was the inspiration for one of the "pornographic" pieces you referred. And before referencing something you clearly know nothing about, BDSM, do some research on that topic as well. And by the way, YOU DID contact the Alderman to report the "debaucherous" display, and they did not have a problem with it AT ALL! You might want to check out that little thing called the First Amendment, it covers Freedom of Expression of which artistic expression is covered.

I had the best time with Isa at Pottery Studio 1! You should absolutely request her! We did the…read morecombination wheel and painting class and it was totally worth it! Isa was incredibly patient and she made it feel like you were just trying out a new hobby with a friend! She demonstrated and then let us do it and was so so kind even when we messed up. Then when we went into painting and table work she helped me craft a little add on to my dog bowl. She is not only an amazing instructor but she even showed us some of her work and it looks so great! She definitely made my first wheel experience so great!

We came on a Saturday and ended up being the only two in class, but it was still fun. Our…read moreinstructor was Steph, who is a fantastic instructor and very knowledgeable. She made the process incredibly easy and also stepped in to help when needed. The location is pretty new, apparently opening a few weeks earlier. Definitely check it out!

My uncle lives in a house that he nearly single handedly built himself in the woods of Vermont…read more It's sturdy, beautiful, and expertly crafted. So I thought, "surely I must have some of this handiness in my previously totally non-handy self." But before I plunked down thousands of dollars for lathes, circular saws and other manly machines you can buy at Home Depot, I thought I'd test the waters with a woodworking class. Finding one in Chicago proved harder than expected until one say I saw a flyer at a local coffee shop advertising Woodsmyths. It sounded like exactly what I'd been looking for: hands on, experience with a variety of common woodworking tools, and a mix of instruction and projects. The class started out fine enough: there were about 10 people, we read some handouts, received some brief instructions, then got down to business. I liked that we'd get to work on things ourselves that we'd then take home to keep, but the instruction left a lot to be desired. The teacher is a bit eccentric and seemed more concerned that everyone finished their projects than whether they actually learned anything. I felt rushed, didn't feel encouraged to ask questions and when I did, the instructor often just fixed my problem for me instead of showing me how to do it. After 10 weeks and $350, I had three items I'd crafted mostly myself: a toolbox, a simple bookshelf and a storage box-style end table. The last of these I really liked and still have, the others didn't survive my most recent apartment move. And disappointingly, I don't feel like I really learned all that much. The teacher was a stickler for safety (a good thing), so I feel mostly comfortable operating woodworking machines. But I don't feel like I know better now than I did before the class what to do with them. I know Woodsmyths also offers a more advanced class that people seem to take, so maybe others had better experiences that I. So if you can't find any other woodworking class options, it may be worth giving this one a go. But don't expect to be anywhere but a tiny step closer to building your own cozy bungalow in the New England woods.

Anyone who is taking this furniture making class is probably not looking to start a career as…read morewoodworker. I signed up for the the class to scratch my wood working itch to see if it might turn into a cool new hobby. I was hoping to learn some things about building furniture and seeing if it was something I want to explore further. The intro class is a 10 week program and I made it to week 5 before throwing in the towel. Neil has no business teaching anything. The guy has a major anger and control problem. The class is run from a converted garage behind his house and he doesn't have enough tools to accommodate everybody in the class. Space is tight. Which is manageable and means we had to take turns and learn to work as a group so we all didn't need the same tools at the same time. Not a big deal. However he made it a huge deal. He micromanaged everything to the point of driving quite a few of us insane. He's like the Anal Retentive Carpenter on an angry coke binge. By week 3, he didn't know any of the names of us dudes in the class yet he knew all of he names of the women in the class. Why? Because he was routinely hitting on them in pathetic ways. And probably burning mental images of them into his brain for lonely nights at home when his internet connection goes out. Week 1: The completely useless and extremely painful safety lecture. He talked for 3 hours about: really nothing. He told drinking stories and babbled about nothing that really had to do with safety. Captain Obvious. There wasn't much useful safety content. It was painful to sit through. I assume he doesn't lead by example since he violated all of his own safety rules routinely. Week 2-4: We started on a shelf project. Most of the components were precut and the bulk of experience was sanding things with an orbital sander and drilling screws. Think graduate level Ikea assembly. During the drilling part, he handed out a bunch of phillips driver bits that are used in drills. These are $.99 pieces. He handed out five of them and when we were cleaning up, we could only find four of the five. He went on a tirade that we weren't respecting his tools and had all 7 of us crawl around on the floor for 20 minutes looking for it. We never found it. Neil found it later - in his own pocket when he was doing laundry. When anyone asked questions about anything, he would get really agitated. Like we were dumb dumbs for not knowing wood is sold in 1/4 lengths. Duh. The following week, we were measuring pieces for our shelf project using a tape measure. We had a tape measure we were sharing among the group. Neil walked by our work bench and asked who was using the tape measure. None of us responded because none of us were using it. He went insane. He started yelling and screaming about keeping the work area clean. He started cussing like a scene from The Exorcist, opened the door to the shop and then chucked the tape measure out into the street. This is the same guy who the previous week gave a lecture about respecting the tools and had us crawling around on the floor for a $.99 piece. The guy has no business teaching. There are plenty of other good working schools in the city where you can learn the skills of a potentially very rewarding hobby.

My daughter has been taking classes here for a few weeks and is really loving it! She's learning…read morethe basics of form drawing while also getting to experiment with different materials in a supportive environment. I highly recommend StudioUs!

Studio us is an amazing art studio located south of Andersonville. Rachel is the owner and…read moreinstructor and has an absolute magical way with children. She employs technology to help kids learn to draw one line at a time. She also holds amazing workshops for $10 an hour where kids can do special art projects. Classes are maxed at 6 kids, most have around 4 so your kiddos get lots of attention. Best art studio in the city.

Acting Studio Chicago has been a great resource to hone my skills, one class after another has…read moreexceeded my expectations. Kurt Naebig's Monologue class stands out as having been particularly impactful. Kurt helped me find well-suited monologues and a level of specificity in my work that really brought my monologues to life. A case of opportunity meeting preparation, I used a monologue I had recently worked in Kurt's class to successfully audition for representation! Having taken taken this class in-person, hybrid and virtually, I can honestly I can say I prefer the virtual version. The level of instruction was consistent with in-person, however the amount of reps in Zoom class was greatly increased. And, as all of our work is now in the virtual world, it was also great prep for Zoom auditions. I highly recommend this class and Acting Studio Chicago!

Do NOT attend this school if you're having issues and need to drop the class. They will not offer…read morerefunds after they swipe your card without notifying you. I attend another school in which a student is expected to run their own card. This school will run yours and not give you a refund. Again BEWARE before signing up for classes here. I recommend Black Box Acting in Chicago if you want a beginner friendly school with pricing policies that arent shady at best. For clarification, I was unable to send my email to drop overseas due to a family emergency but they swiped my card anyway. Not only can I not fet a refund, they refuse to transfer my credit. I hope they take the money and sue it to continue scamming other students. Acting is a hobby at best. This company is selling dreams while scamming students in the process. There are many other schools worth your time and this particular place will not recieve another dime from me.

What a wonderful organization and creative community! I…read morediscovered this organization at the Printer's Row Lit Fest, and a friend recommended it too, and I am thrilled to know about this place! I attended an information session today and everyone was so kind and welcoming. They also provided an incredible food spread. The space is very warm and inviting. Really positive atmosphere. It was a lovely two hour event, which included socializing, an ice breaker, a writing exercise, and a Q&A. They offer a wide variety of classes, workshops, fellowships, and free events too. Lots of ways to become involved and find your writing community. I look forward to participating more in the future.

As a new author eager to grow within Chicago's literary community, I volunteered with StoryStudio…read morein December to give back to a space I truly admired and to earn class credit through their Work/Study program. I believed I was joining a reputable, nurturing organization for writers. Unfortunately, what began as an act of goodwill became one of the most disappointing experiences I've had with any arts organization. Despite showing up, completing my shift, and following up multiple times in good faith, my volunteer credit was never honored until I had to chase it down months later. Worse, after being told I'd be contacted for future opportunities, I was met with total silence--no returned calls, no responses to emails. Then, seeing new volunteer positions advertised publicly while I was still waiting for even a basic reply was frankly demoralizing. To make matters worse, when I finally did receive a response, it included vague recollections and misplaced blame about my punctuality--something that had already been cleared and verified by their own staff as a harmless scheduling miscommunication caused by conflicting information from the studio itself. Instead of accountability or an apology, I received an impersonal brush-off and a polite "we're all staffed up." As a writer and volunteer who genuinely believed in StoryStudio's mission, I expected better--basic professionalism, follow-through, and respect for the people who donate their time to keep the organization running. What I encountered instead was disorganization, poor communication, and a disappointing disregard for volunteers who aren't part of the inner circle. For new writers looking for a supportive creative home, I'd urge caution. Writers deserve better than to be ghosted by the very spaces that claim to nurture them.

The Pottery Loop is one of those rare places that's both incredibly creative and deeply relaxing…read more Whether you're new to pottery or have some experience, this studio makes you feel completely supported and encouraged to explore your own style. I've taken both wheel and handbuilding classes and truly loved them. I ended up making three pieces--two on the wheel and one from handbuilding--and the entire process, from shaping to glazing, was so rewarding. The staff, especially Mike, are amazing--patient, knowledgeable, and fun to learn from. They create a space that's relaxed but still focused, which is exactly what you want in a creative setting. They also offer 6-week classes if you're looking to go deeper into the craft. I haven't had time to commit to one yet, but based on my experience, I'd 100% recommend it to anyone who wants a consistent, immersive creative outlet. They do have a 24-hour cancellation policy, which is fair, though it can be a little tough if something last-minute (like getting sick) comes up. But overall, this place is such a joyful, hands-on, and well-run experience. I can't wait to go back again!

I can't say enough wonderful things about this pottery studio and the classes! From the moment you…read morewalk in, the space feels warm, creative, and welcoming. It's the kind of place where you instantly feel inspired to try something new. Mike, the owner and instructor, is truly incredible. He's patient, knowledgeable, and has a natural way of teaching that makes everyone feel comfortable. He takes the time to explain techniques, offers helpful guidance, and encourages creativity without ever making you feel rushed or intimidated. If you're thinking about trying pottery, this is absolutely the place to go. Mike has created a studio that feels like a little creative community, and every class is something to look forward to. Highly recommend to anyone looking to learn pottery, unwind, and make something special!