I have been a member and student at Clayworks for 10 years. It's like a second home to me.read more

Is 3.5 stars an option? I only say this because it's above average by far but doesn't quite make my…read morerequirements for a 4. Clayworks is divided into two schools of instruction - 1) 10 week instructor guided courses with unlimited use (during class time and open studio while class term is in session) of two kinds of clay and supplies, 2) monthly rental shelf space with your own golden key to the facility. You can come any time you want except during course time. So the clientele lends itself to potters of all experience. Pros: - loosey goosey honor system, system. Clayworks seems to be run by its potters. There's a lock box where firing fees and course registration costs are dropped. -There's no one looking over your shoulder which lends itself to seemingly limitless possibilities for creativity. This is an environment of very talented artists. Just cruise through the shelves (but don't touch!). -The class sizes are small which allows for more individual instruction. -2 kinds of clay. Fantastic! -Class courses are very reasonably priced - one of the cheapest studios in the NYC area. -The students and renters are a close community. They have BBQs in the garden, bring drinks and breakfast sometimes. The studio has a warm and positive vibe. Everyone's there for the same reason. No drama and everyone wants to help each other. Cons: -There are many different types of wheels which can get confusing if you're just starting out or came from another facility. -You really have to come with your own supplies. Not much is provided for you in the way of molds, decorating devices, tools, etc. -There isn't much room to work and hand build and the slab roller is always covered with junk. This was particularly upsetting to me as I typically incorporate a lot of hand built elements in my wheel thrown work. -There's a limited amount of open studio time for enrolled students, in my opinion. Clayworks is closed on Sunday. I never understood that. -Shelf space rentals can get expensive. You pay by the month and you've really got to be in there consistently to make it worth your dollar. -The studio is also a little out of the way and hard to get to if you don't have a car. Expect to hop on the B71 to Red Hook. That's pretty much the only way unless you like to hoof it from the F train at Carroll St. I enjoyed my time at Clayworks. I made some friends, had a wonderful time but in the end I decided to leave to no fault of Clayworks. I just don't think it was for me but that's not to say it won't be for you, however. I would make the recommendation if someone asked my opinion. I would say, "try it out and see if you like it. I did, but moved on. No harm. No fowl."

We were looking for a muralist to paint our nursery. We were extremely pleased to find Irina as her…read morework is exquisite. She was able to take a few of our photos and some of our ideas and create a beautiful, one of a kind mural. Her attention to detail and talent is second to none. Anyone looking for a project like this, look no further, Irina from Dots of Arts, is your best option, hands down.

Amazing absolutely amazing place for young students. I am an English teacher and I have a student…read moreof low income. My school sponsored him, and Artura taught him so much and perfected his sketching, shading, and charcoal skills. Wonderful school I would suggest it for absolutely anyone. And they really do care because I was kept updated on my students progress while he was in the program.

What a gem Sara is! Her painting school is a slice of heaven- beautifully situated, full of natural…read morelight- a place to learn and create and unplug from the world. The other night, I found myself sitting with a group, Canvas arranged, candles lighting the space- fresh flowers in vases down the center of the table for inspiration. Paintbrush in hand I was anxious on how to start. Sara's calm reassurance and knowledgeable guidance gave me the confidence I needed to begin my journey across the blank space. An hour later I was holding my painting full of joy like a little kid! I'm looking forward to my next sitting and am eager to begin taking classes! Thank you Sara! Thank you for this!

Sara is a great teacher! She's smart and very informed about all kinds of painting, historical and…read morecontemporary. The atmosphere is very friendly. Whatever level you're at, this place will meet your needs if you're interested in painting. It's a great community spot! I'm so happy I found it. Highly recommend!

I had my teens' birthday gathering here - 11 teenagers over (almost) three hours. It was a hit!…read more The owner was super helpful (& quick) with all my questions, changes, and plans. Once there, the staff was responsive and helpful. The glass-work itself, after basic instructions, is fairly self-driven - so great for older kids and adults. I highly recommend Shiny Sparkly Lab for events for HS kids, college kids, or adults. The finished projects were very cool. The teens really enjoyed themselves. My own kids are clamoring to return! Thanks!

I've wanted to visit the Shiny Sparkle Lab ever since I saw them on a local news highlight. We…read moredon't have enough of these unique creative hubs in our city, so this place is really a gem. I've done glass fusing in the past and loved it, so I decided to finally visit and take a class that focused on making either a Charcuterie board or coaster set. I took the class as part of my birthday weekend on 2/10. It is usually $124 however, I received 30% due to an advertised deal on their site (code sp30). I traveled by train from the Bronx to get here and was very excited however, my experience wasn't as exciting as I anticipated. Unfortunately when I arrived, I got lost. I walked back and forth trying to find the space and even asked around, but no one had heard of it. I looked online trying to find a phone number and to my luck, there is none. After walking around for 15 minutes, I finally found it. The door/entrance has a small sign with their name on it. Maybe it's just me, but they need a better indicator. The business is located on the upper level of what seems to be an executive park of some sort. Meaning, one building with multiple businesses inside or around the premises. The building itself looks like its under heavy construction. I would never have imagined that any sort of classes were being conducted there. Nonetheless, I made it just in time as the instructor, Dorie, seemed to have just began. She gave a great overview of glass fusing techniques and offered tips on making our piece as great as possible. Her directions were also very clear and concise. Once she was done, we were directed to begin our masterpieces. There were 12 students including myself. We were placed at a large table where all of the materials were laid out for us. Each person had a section or workstation at the table to work from. In addition to the wonderful layout, we were offered some delicious bites of charcuterie treats, wine, and water. I took an apron and got to work. The entire class was about 3 hours. We were offered a sheet of paper to sketch out our design. I did not like this nor did I expect it. I was under the impression that we'd do a predetermined design. Sort of like when you participate in a Paint and Sip class. I am not a creative person, so it takes me a long time to figure out a design from scratch. Nonetheless, I came up with something that I thought would be lovely. As mentioned, the table is filled with a variety of materials to create your masterpiece. Unfortunately, a lot of the glass pieces come from larger pieces that seemed to have been cut previously. Many of the pieces were cut unevenly or in various shapes so it felt like I was putting a puzzle together. I had to find pieces that fit into one another as best as possible to make some parts of my design cohesive. My design was somewhat abstract. I focused a lot on various sized boxes and lines. It was difficult to do this with broken pieces because I ended up having to cut them more to make them into squares or find multiple pieces of the desired color to make it as close to a square as possible. In my past experience with glass fusing, they offered pre-cut squares and full glass sheets for me to work with, which made it alot easier. In the end, I ended up staying behind to finish my piece because I just could not find enough cohesive pieces to fill the plate. Honestly, I just threw whatever on it to make it complete because I was tired of it. Despite my lack of creative frustration, the staff were extremely kind and helpful. Whenever I needed help or guidance, they were only steps away to assist. In addition, they were so patient with me as I remained behind to finish while others left. Once complete, they took my name and placed it aside to be fired up. I received an email that it was ready for pick up and stopped by accordingly. Overall, I'm not in love with the finished piece but I'm content with the experience. I think I would've enjoyed it more if I had some direction for the design or more pieces that didn't require as much work. The person working next to me also experienced a creativity block and was worried about the time, so I know it's not just me who may have felt uneasy. I don't think I would return only because of the distance. Otherwise, I would give it another try. I also would recommend to others. It's a nice time for friends or a couple to connect and enjoy themselves.

I was seeking a coffee shop with available seating on a lazy Sunday morning. After visiting two…read moreother coffee shops in the area with no success, Artshack was the only available option. ENVIRONMENT Interestingly enough, there was ample seating all over the coffee shop. There were ceramic pieces on display all over and after inquiring with the barista she confirmed there's a ceramic studio located in the back(separate ownership). However, for anyone in seek of a unique date idea the combo of coffee and ceramics fills a niche. The service was okay and there were select tables designated as "laptop free". SIPS I tried a chai latte which was decent but far from my favorite. HOWEVER,the drip coffee stole the show and I found myself appreciating it far more than expected. It was quite flavorful. While coffee shops that center around unique themes can at times feel gimmicky, the cafe at Artshack does so in a tasteful way that offers unique value. I will certainly be retuning for the drip coffee and maybe taking a ceramics class at some point.Happy sips!

I can't speak to their art and events, but I will never stop in here for a coffee or food again…read more Service was painfully slow and disorganized--and my girlfriend and I simply ordered a drip coffee and a cold brew, to boot. There was some problem with either (or both) the coffee carafe and coffee brewer, which is understandable, but they went on to make like 2-3 more specialty coffees while trying to figure this out, seemingly forgetting us. Wasn't entirely clear where to wait for our coffee, so it then became a real clusterf*ck of people milling about, unclear about where to order vs. where to wait. I eventually had to cut back in line and ask the server about my coffee after about 5-10 minutes, and he somewhat nonchalantly mentioned he couldn't get the coffee brewing and could he offer me something else. I'm kind of a stickler for my morning coffee (hot, even in the pit of summer) but had wasted so much time at this point I had to take a cold brew myself. Between the failure to update us, failure to have the most basic product a coffee shop could offer and the clear lack of caring about the delay, I was pretty furious. I understand that perhaps the coffee shop is just supplementary to their shop or their mission but if you can't do something right, well... you know.

If you need something to do in Manhattan, take a private class with Ayaka. It was my 20 year…read moreanniversary and I made a ring for my husband with my teenage daughter and friends. We had a fun time, and got to bring a cool souvenir home.

The ring making class was awesome! Ayaka is an expert instructor and made the experience engaging,…read moremeaningful, and fun!

Ms Kristin is a wonderful person. She's been working with my daughter for a little over a month so…read morefar and we are making progress. She is always on time, brings different toys and really cares about her clients. I would recommend her

Highly Recommend!! I was looking for a speech therapist for…read moremy daughter who was barely talking at 2 years old. My neighbor recommended Kristin, from Little Sunflowers. From the moment I met Kristin, I felt like my daughter was in great hands. Kristin is exceptionally professional, empathetic to all my worries and concerns and really fantastic with my little one. My daughter went from just pointing and whining to speaking clearly and being able to express herself! I'm thrilled with the progress that my daughter has made and I'm so thankful to Kristin & for her valuable services. I highly recommend!!! - Patricia D.