I attended an acrylic painting class here today and learned so much and made new friends too. This…read moreis a non-for profit that depends on membership, grants, donations and volunteers. It features an art gallery, children's art teachers, music studios offering piano and voice lessons and a community room for events. They host many fun events such as art fairs and participate in Bartlett town events such as the recent Halloween parade and trunk or treat and the upcoming cocoa crawl. Another great community asset in Bartlett to enjoy.

Being at a child's arty party is like being in a church or a library..........those are not my…read morewords ......it is exactly what they told a group of 10-year-old girls, at my daughter's birthday party.......at the end of the party, they asked the girls if they had fun...... All the girls in unison yelled NO!!!!!!........I was left with the distinct impression that they have heard that answer many times before, but have no plans to change what they are doing. If you are looking for a child's party, where the kids have to raise their hands to talk, and are told they are not allowed to leave their chair...... Then this is the perfect place for you!

We've been coming here at least once or twice a year for a while now and always enjoy the…read moreexperience. There is something for everyone to paint and the vibe here is so relaxed that you really can relax and enjoy the process. If it were closer, I'd totally have a birthday party for the girls here, but I don't think people would drive 30 miles in February to do it!!

had a good time at Art Füzd! The atmosphere was creative and welcoming, and the staff was friendly…read moreand helpful. They made the experience enjoyable

Standard paint-and-sip experience. The instructor was kind and clear and really helped make…read moreeveryone's paintings look great! It went way over time and got a little slow at points but overall a good experience. Just note that the drinks are not included (I thought they were).

We had a great time! We visited in Christmas Eve...As…read moresomeone from a small family, this was a wonderful find on a holiday where many activities are closed. There were 13 of us in a class to paint a decorated tree in the beautiful outdoors. Our instructor was very good. She led us, step by step, to make the tree all better than we thought we could upon entry. There were plenty of breaks to get paint to dry, and that made the experience the full two hours. She was also willing to take photos of groups at the end. There are drinks and snacks available and near by bathrooms, so you can keep yourself busy during those breaks. It was also reasonable for the amount of time spent, and for being able to take something home with you...$35/person. We will be back!

A-dor-a-ble. I still send cards to people so I love to stop in an independent stationery shop if I…read morehappen upon one. This shop is pretty tiny but has lots of goodies inside. You'll find some cards (there were some pretty funny ones here), notepads and paper, pens, and so on. They had a cool watercolor book by a creator who has a QR code for a free art class on the back, which I almost bought but taking up a painting hobby is just not something I have time to pursue right now. In addition to the paper goods, they have some textile stuff too. Wallets, sunglasses sleeves, tablet holders, cord keepers; you'll find that and more here. In addition to a few there things I bought a few of the cord keepers because finding loose cords around like snakes laying everywhere is annoying. The employee (proprietor?) was friendly. She was sitting at the front of the store at a typewriter when we came in, maybe composing her novel? A blast from the past for sure but old typewriters are works of art.

From the owner: Stationery, gifts and custom invitation printing! Support Small and Localread more

We saw a ten act horror show. It was fantastic. The actors were really good and engaging in their…read moreroles. The studio was small but cozy. We sat in the front row, so we literally a few feet from the actors. About 20 people in attendance. The cost was pay what you want, so I gave $30 each for my wife and I. Afterward, you could give more for the actors, so I threw in an extra $20. The theater is a little tucked back from the street. It's small, and you have to go up a flight of stairs to enter the studio. All the people who worked there were nice and helpful. You could buy alcohol at a reasonable price, but I passed, as I didn't want to have to use the restroom in the middle of the performance. I plan on looking up more shows as they come out. I like the small setting and with only 7 actors performing, you could really sense their skills for each story. They also have art you can bid on in the studio, although we didn't place a bid. I'm not an artsy person but I like plays, and the theme was right up my alley. To the actors that performed that night; bravo!!!!

If you want to go to the coolest little art place in Elgin come here! I have seen bands here, seen…read moreart here - and I m pretty sure that they have art classes. I love this place and every time I stop in (a lot) they have new events and new art on the walls. Love this place!!

I have been going to the Mosaic School since January 2025 and have taken 3 classes. The teachers…read moreare great, the atmosphere is welcoming, and I tell all of my friends and family about this place! Nowhere else in the U.S. is there an art school that has such a focus on mosaics. I've learned so much -- they provide the materials and the expertise. I've met some really wonderful people and friends and am already signed up for their stained glass class in September!

Just spent the most amazing weekend at the Chicago Mosaic School. I traveled over 500 miles to get…read morethere and it was well worth my time and effort. I felt the atmosphere to be warm and accepting, accommodating those with little experience and those who spend their lives being creative. It was a perfect balance of informational, historical and hands on Glass work. All my questions were thoroughly answered and I left feeling inspired and eager to utilize what I learned. I would recommend this school to any and all. An added bonus is the eclectic neighborhood, warm and charming teacher, Lydia, inclusive atmosphere and creative vibe that persisted throughout the class.

I went to watch Les Miserables by Schaumburg On Stage as I'd recently missed the national tour in…read moredowntown Chicago. Realizing that Drury Lane and Paramount had done their version a few years back and Marriott Theatre had done it a bit before that, I wanted to watch a live version in case I can't make the next big stop in Milwaukee. I watch quite a bit of theatre, both professional and amateur. Not sure why, but until this show -- I wasn't aware of Schaumburg on Stage which has been around since 2016. To my surprise, the quality of the production was similar in quality to other highly acclaimed groups like the District 214 all-district group (which recently did The Wedding Singer). Here were my thoughts on various aspects of the show: Staging: It really surprised me how many sets were used in the show and how they were fully functional. They were designed and painted well and items were hardly reused. They also did a very good job of quickly changing sets to make sure the showtime was kept to a reasonable length. Vocals: Two things I like about this. One is how they kept the complex harmonies -- which worked great in group songs. The overall balance lacked baritone and bass voices, but that's expected with younger actors. I also liked how they did not shy away from the challenge of the very high notes for male or female leads. They could have easily changed the key, but it's great to see them embrace the challenge. Orchestra: A bit smaller, not sure if it's due to space limitations or that's the way the school version is written. A bit more reliant on piano and common woodwind/string instruments than the full version. I did like how they played at a level not to overpower the vocals. Lighting and fog: I liked all the varieties of lights used. Not just in general stage lighting from the top, but also from lights on the side and spotlights. There were quite a bit of variations on lighting, which helped to tell the story. I did not like the excessive use of stage fog though, which tended to linger for more than a single scene. Overall, a great group to watch a show from. It's much better than the typical amateur group and prices are very reasonable. It's also great how they incorporate actors and actresses from all different ages and help them to build interest in theatre. Based on the quality of this performance, I can't wait to watch another show when they get a new digital microphone system.

The experienced people at SOS really see the value and potential in each kid. They are like family…read morein that they really connect and care, but they also hold the kids to a high standard and help them achieve it. This is definitely a step up from park district community theater in both production quality and experience.