This is my first time at the downtown Manhattan location. I had previously been to the greenpoint location. Here's what I liked. Today, I did the watercolor activity and was handed a folder with multiple sized paper and some watercolor paint. I started painting right away. The workers are around to refill the paint/brushes/supplies when you're running low. I felt extremely attended to and I had such a good experience. I think that in the future, I might do the air dry clay activity as drawing/painting is not really my forte. read more

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Been wanting to visit this spot for a while now, so I'm glad I finally had a chance to come. Thank you, Bumble, for hosting a wonderful event! Happy Medium is tucked away under the Manhattan Bridge on the outskirts of Chinatown. It is a large 2-floor space with some of the sweetest staff. We were one drink (nonalcoholic) and a snack on the house. I'm not an artist by any means, and so I chose the least messiest option which was Soft Pastels. They had other options too like watercolors, clay, and charcoal. HM let's you take you take home the sketchbook, which is great. I honestly can't wait to come back here and bring a group of friends! read more

This art cafe is a great solution for casual art dabblers wanting a space and tools to get creative. I brought a date here on a Saturday night and us both being beginners we steered clear of the likes of charcoal and pottery and stuck to the more beginner friendly mediums-- clay and watercolors. We stayed for a couple of hours chilling in their loungey space, which had an excellent playlist. I like their little snack selection and non-alcoholic beverage choices. They even have some cbd drinks, though no booze. If it was their intention to protect the low key and quiet ambience in the space, it is working-- everyone spoke in respectfully hushed tones. Age range skewed younger-- early to mid twenties mostly. I think I'm more of a journaler than an artist but appreciated the space and opportunity to use my brain in a different way. read more

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My friend and I came here for an art cafe. We put down a deposit in advance for our spots and showed up at the time. You don't have to choose what activity you do until you get there. My friend made friendship bracelets and I painted a pot. Both of our activities were $28, and I paid for the pot that I painted (a small vase, which was $18). We had two hours to do our activity. There was a small cafe for drinks and snacks. We both thought it was a fun activity if you're looking for something out of the ordinary. read more

Happy Medium - Art Classes Near Me - New York, New York

I went to A Happy Medium because I was in the mood for some art. The space is really cute and has a fun concept. It's set up like a restaurant, complete with a menu where you pick which art project you'd like to do. Just a heads-up: if you choose the "paint a pot" option, the menu price only covers the activity itself. The actual piece you choose to paint comes with an additional cost, so keep that in mind. The staff was very nice and welcoming, which added to the relaxed vibe. On their website you cannot make reservations, but I also noticed they're very responsive if you DM them on Instagram, which makes booking super easy. Overall, it's a creative and enjoyable spot if you're looking to do something different while spending time with friends, family, or even just on your own. read more

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What a fun way to spend your afternoon. We did the pottery wheel, and although I was very bad, the instructors were so nice and patient with our group. They were super helpful and I eventually started to get it. A great single, date or group activity. read more

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Huge fan of Happy Medium since they opened four-ish years ago. I've only been to the Two Bridges location, which never disappoints. I've done charcoal drawings, large canvas paintings, collages, and pastels. You can sign up for an art cafe appointment or take a longer class. Some photos attached from visiting over the years so you can get a sense of the vibes. It feels cozy and non-judgmental, like you're making things in your cool art friend's living room. read more

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My coworkers and I and we all chose to "paint a pot". The option to paint a ceramic is $28 then you have to pick a pay for the item you want to paint so this can get expensive pretty quickly. I decided to paint a bowl which was $35 for a total of $63. So it can get pretty pricing depending on what you decide to paint. I have to say it was a lot of fun and so very relaxing. I loved it. You should make reservations and the sitting time is 2 hours. After you are done they will fire your item and email you when it's complete. I'm super impressed with how it turned out. If this was less expensive I would do it a lot more. read more

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I absolutely loved the idea of happy medium's crafts cafe and have been wanting to come here for the longest time. I finally made it with two friends this weekend. They have a cute little gift shop downstairs and their art cafe upstairs. It's very cosy and dimly lit which makes for a warm atmosphere but turned out to not be ideal for crafting. Their crafts menu offers multiple options including air dry clay, card making, water coloring and more, with each option costing just shy of $30. All three of us chose paint-a-pot. You can choose from various clay pieces including mugs, bowls, plates, vases and more that you can paint. You'll have to pay for the piece on top of the crafts cost. I chose and mug and had a lot of fun painting it. Their bookings are for two hours so that's the amount of time you have to complete your project (I recommend keeping that in mind so you don't have to rush like I did ). They also sell a few canned drinks and snacks, but the crafts the main attraction. I definitely had a fun time and look forward to seeing what my finished piece looks like. read more

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I came here for a watercolor workshop and it was a lot of fun! I've been meaning to try Happy Medium for awhile now. The space is very aesthetic and peaceful. I love the concept of an art cafe which is perfect for casual artists who want a space to do art without investing in too many supplies. read more

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Very fun cute date! I painted some egg cartons for my place. Overall cute date idea and not that expensive. I would definitely come here again for a different craft date! read more

Such a unique and creative place to visit if your into painting, drawing, or sculpting. There is a menu they give you at the start to look over the options. There are about 10 choices of different art mediums that you can pick from. I picked watercolor and my mother picked painting a pot. Is it pricey? Yes. Do i think it's worth it? Absolutely. You get two whole hours to work on your artwork and they lay out all the material for you while coming to your table to check in. Everyone was extremely friendly. I payed $28 for 5-6 pieces of watercolor paper, the watercolors, 3 brushes, and some water. The atmosphere was super cute with little candles at our station and indie music playing. I think this would be a great date place or a good place to go with freinds! read more

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I had a fun experience painting a pot however it's $28 to use the paint materials and $20 more to select a mug. You could also select other types of pots for different prices like a dog bowl for $55. I liked that the glaze colors were pretty, but I probably would not come back cause of the price. My friend did the two friendship bracelets for $28 and I had another friend do the paint a pot for $28 + $8 for choosing a small egg holder. We chose the 12pm time and they did remind us twice that we have to be done by 2pm because the next round of people come at 2:15pm. read more

Happy Medium - Paint a pot - Art Classes Near Me - New York, New York

What an aesthetic, calming spot for a friendly hangout or cute date! They have a wide array of art activities for ~$30, from watercolor painting, to charcoal, to clay, to oil pastels, and several more. There's also a Paint-A-Pot option, but the price of the pot is an additional charge. I chose the watercolor painting option and it came with a plate of watercolors and a folder of canvas paper. We got 2 hrs to make the most of our items. These are definitely activities you can do much cheaper at home, but it's very efficient when it's a rarer activity. The staff are attentive to any assistance your party may need - more paint, supplies, etc. There's also a cafe section with snacks, bevs, and a complimentary water dispenser. The only con overall at Happy Medium was that there's barely AC - we went on a very hot day and was still warm when we were inside. read more

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Had the most AMAZING experience at Happy Medium! I went with a group of 8 and we had such an awesome time. We did paint a pit, water color, oil pastels, and air clay. All were great, I personally loved doing the water color and would definitely do it again. The staff was so friendly and accommodating and the overall vibe of the studio was so relaxing. A great sober activity. read more

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This spot is perfect for all levels - amateur crafters and professionals alike. It's a nice break from standard drinks and dinner to hang out with friends. The main door to the studio can be easily missed but it is right next to a store with a large window holding several pottery pieces. You will then walk up a stair case and get a seat at a table. There is a small selection of tea, soda, water and snacks available for purchase and you can pay via cash, venmo or Apple Pay. When you're seated, a staff member will ask what craft you want from the menu. I and my friends each did the air dry clay. There are books around for inspiration and a placard that gives you tips on how to work with the clay, but it requires a bit of motivation on your part. Once in the zone, it's fun to get crafty and try to get a final project. Towards the end of class, there is a bit of a bottleneck to wash your hands as there are two small bathrooms. A minor hiccup, but something to be mindful of. Can't wait come back and try another craft! read more

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For those who take day trips into the city, this is the perfect spot to spend an afternoon. For those who live in NYC, this is a perfect spot to go with friends or for a date. When I went, we ordered the watercolor package and ended up staying for nearly the full two hours. It was a great break from walking around, and it allowed me and my friend time to relax while still spending time catching up. We're always going from restaurant to restaurant, so this was a nice change of pace! The main studio space is located upstairs and it has just the right kind of vibe. They do sell drinks and refreshments inside! My only complaint (non-issue) is that the booking situation could use an upgrade since you can only reserve a spot through Instagram DM, last time I checked. The prices have also gotten a bit steeper, but I would still strongly recommend checking it out if you can snag a spot. read more

Happy Medium - Interior - Art Classes Near Me - New York, New York

This is such a cute and fun place to go to with friends or for a date night. I came here with a friend one friday afternoon, and we had so much fun. The vibes and aesthetic are so chill. Love the open and airy concept. We made reservations online via DM. Staff was welcoming when we walked in, and it really is just like going to a restaurant where they seat you and give you a menu, but instead of food you have a menu of different crafts/art options to do. Options ranged from: paint-a-pot, air dry clay, watercolor painting, collage making, and using charcoal and pastels. Separate from the art cafe which is on the second floor, on the first floor they also offer pottery classes. We chose to do air clay because it was something we've never done before. We each received a pound of air dry clay and tools. They have a book shelf filled with art books if you wanna browse for inspo. Otherwise you're free to craft however you like. We had no idea what we were doing but we had a blast figuring it out. It was a 2-hour experience and at the end, we were able to take home our projects in a box. Overall, we had a wonderful time and had so much fun. Would love to come back and try another art experience! read more

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I'm updating this review as Happy Medium reached out and was very professional in their response. I do appreciate that. We know that things can slip through the cracks and I'm hoping my experience was unique and that they modified their processes. I would consider returning for another activity and will update if that happens. read more

Really cool place for a creative outting with a friend, a date, or alone! Overall recommend to go! Options to paint, create a collage, and more. For me, the pottery painting choices were scarce and pricy. If you choose to do a collage, there are many magazines and books to look through but you must sift through many scraps and torn up paper to find anything useful. Random things to know before you go: -You may end up sitting on chairs close to the ground. -They only take Venmo, Cash App, or Apple Pay. -I would try to only go with 1 other person because a lot of the seating is only for 2 people. -Comfortable/cool temperature inside -bathroom inside -calm & fun music Free water! They also have a bar with iced teas, soda, kombucha, CBD drinks, and beer. read more

Happy Medium - Right side of the space - Art Classes Near Me - New York, New York

A fun and quick(er) date activity on the more pricey side of the spectrum (if you can afford a little frivolousness). We had a reservation for 2 on a Sunday late afternoon and the jawn was buzzing with activity. Good vibes were being spread through the wonderful music choice that filled the room, and you could tell most people were eitber on dates or using the 2 hour slot as a way to catchup with friends. There's a small variety of options to do: painting pottery, making a collage, water color painting, clay sculpting, etc. which all teetered on the more expensive side. You get seated when you meet the staff exclaiming your reservation, they lead you to your seat, and you're shown a menu of possible activity options. We opted for the painting pieces option, and our staff member promptly brought over a tray of glass glaze, and a little rolled towel including a couple brushes. All in all we paid $28/per person to paint for 2 hours, which didn't include the pieces we took home. Pottery ranges anywhere from $5-$45. I was surprised by how little variety and selection they had, despite their prices being so high. We both opted for trinket boxes ($16), but they had run out of lids (weird) so we were able to snag one for 50% off. I'm used to painting at bigger establishments with selections so plentiful they're splayed along both walls of the store for much cheaper, so I was surprised by how much they probably take in. We just barely hit the 2 hour mark when I finally finished. I wasn't aware of the time limit until my partner mentioned it afterwards. If I had known, I sense I would've been feeling rushed and pressured to finish, which isn't the most relaxing experience by any means. Again to my bewilderment, they mentioned that we must wait 2-3 weeks for pieces to be finished in the kiln. I was pretty shocked by the sheer lengthiness of that, but maybe because people are so quickly in-and-out, there's a ton of pieces to finish everyday? When I go into creative mode, I prefer peace and chill vibes because I'm deeply focused in whatever I'm doing. If that's you, you might not enjoy this place. While it has an upbeat vibe--a variety of chilled beverages, cheery music, bustling with guests--the overstimulating may be distracting. What doesn't help is the time limit. This might be great for people who don't really partake in "art," stuff and want to casually spend their day doing something simple and fun, but for me, it was a little too expensive to justify the experience. Not sure what the $28 fee per person was necessarily for. Staff simply put our tools on our table and there was maybe 15 glaze colors at most. That part is lowkey whack.. Again, go with low and simple expectations! If you're looking for a more creative fostering atmosphere, this probably isn't the place. read more

The CUTEST art studio! After seeing it everywhere over social media, I'm so glad I finally got to pay a visit to Happy Medium with a friend! To make an appointment, all you have to do is DM them on Instagram and they respond pretty quickly. One thing to note, your reservation for the Art Cafe has a two hour reservation so highly recommend to be mindful of time. The studio itself has a warm and creative atmosphere and the staff were always available to answer any questions I had. They have a variety of arts and crafts to choose from and we ended up selecting the "paint-a-pot" activity. Note that you'll have to come back later to pick up your fired creation. We decided to paint a plate and the plate itself costed $20 and the use of their supplies/studio was $28. If you're looking for something to do that doesn't involve drinking or eating, this is the place! It can get a bit pricey if you want to do this regularly but I think it's a great place to do some arts and crafts while catching up with some friends. read more

Stopped in because we saw the lights from the corner and were immediately welcomed into the space. The host downstairs promptly greeted us. As we climbed the stairs, a crew member spotted us and warmly said we'll see you at the top. Upon checking in with the staff at the register they squeezed us in without a reservation on a packed Saturday night. Everyone was amazing and while we aren't artist we had the best impromptu date night. Who says New Yorkers aren't friendly. read more

So much fun!! For all ages. I took my 10 year old niece and we had the best day. Such fair pricing and the vibes are immaculate read more

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A fine time. The front entrance is pretty difficult to find at night. A very artsy and chill place as you would expect from an art experience. It was all very "unorganized yet organized." Our group of 8 sat in a corner at a large homemade table and all ordered from the art menu. We each got separate things so it was fun to see what everyone was going to create. They have refreshments available at the front counter. Nothing from a kitchen but they do have bagged chips and such. No alcohol but they do have CBD and THC drinks. I think it's a great idea but WOW the prices are pretty high. I got the Oil Pastels for $28, and they are basically homemade crayons. You can choose what paper you want to create on - white, cream, or brown. I found out that they rotate colors but I didn't have any black. I guess I could've asked for some but considering they charge extra for things, I didn't. And it's pretty hard to blend oil pastels. It's a great activity for a group but you only have two hours to think about what you want to create and basically create! They have inspired spread through, and a library of books and collages to gain inspiration. Overall, it was fine! Not exactly worth it though. read more

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SUCH a fun experience - 10/10 would recommend! activity: "menu" items include clay, watercolor, charcoal, and pastels, i chose watercolor and it was so fun!! they give you several sheets of thick paper in different sizes to use and two brushes. my friends and i sat here for a while and painted a bunch of different things together! the space: super big space - i would recommend coming earlier if possible bc it does get pretty dark and most the lighting is very dim read more

Happy Medium - Art Classes Near Me - New York, New York

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Happy Medium is located near Chinatown and operates like a cafe where you order art instead. They off for variety of options from painting pots to creating your own clay sculptures to watercolor and charcoal. I've personally order the paint a pot and painted a mug, which cost an extra $20 for a total of $48. They provided a couple different glaze, color options and provided brushes and water. You can reserve up to two hours at a time during which the leave you to it to create your masterpiece. It was a cute and relaxing experience, although a tad pricey. I'm excited to retrieve my piece though! read more

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I was really excited about coming here, but I have to say it wasn't "worth the hype." I came here with a friend, I decided to do the paint a pot and my friend did the collage experience. The paint a pot experience was extremely overpriced in my opinion, $28 to do the experience and the pot itself was $35. So in total I paid $63 to paint a pot for 2 hours. I'm not understanding what I paid $28 for. Definitely an overpriced activity. The experience itself is also only a 2 hour experience which did not give me enough time to paint the entire pot and my friend did not finish her collage either. A positive thing I have to say is the staff is extremely nice and accommodating. At first they sat us at a very low table with a wooden couch that was very tight for the 2 of us to sit, and the low table was extremely small that we had no room to complete our art. We asked to be moved and the staff moved us to a high table which had more room which was great! But, we were seated with 5 other people at the table so the space was still limited. The chair I sat on also was extremely pointy and was digging into my legs. I also have to say our reservation was at 6:45 pm and we weren't seated and set up till well after 7:00 pm but we still had to leave by 8:45 for a 2 hour reservation. I feel the 2 hour reservation should have started once we were seated or once we received our art supplies. The cafe itself is such a cool idea and it was fun but I wouldn't come back due to prices and very small read more

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Great vibes but not sure if I'd return. This is my second time at Happy Medium, the first time I did the free hand clay on the first floor (which I found difficult), and this second time I did the collage making upstairs at the art cafe. PROS: 1. The place has great vibes, nice music and lighting, snacks available, bathrooms, etc. 2. I really like the concept of the art cafe, it's cool that a group can come and all make different things CONS: 1. We came on a Sunday at 6:45 and it was very busy, they initially sat us at a very short and uncomfortable table, but they were very accommodating when we asked to sit at a higher table so that was nice! However, we did end up sharing a table with other parties and it felt a little cramped like we couldn't spread out because of the people next to us 2. My friend and I both felt this was very expensive - I did the collage experience for 28$ which I'd be fine with if I had more time, minimum three hours is needed. Maybe it's just me but I can't complete anything creative with only two hours, I hate feeling rushed, I ended up cutting out what I wanted for my collage and taking it home to finish at my own house in peace. My friend agreed it was expensive, she painted a pot which was 28$ for the art cafe experience in addition to the price of her pot which was $35 for a plain soup bowl, so altogether she paid $63 for two hours of painting. This exact activity can be done at Painted Pot or other ceramic painting places for cheaper and they don't put a time limit on the activity. 3. As I stated, more time is needed, minimum three hours. I'd be totally fine with these prices if I had longer to do my activity. Overall I'm not sure if I'd come back, I really love the concept but like others said in their reviews, the execution is wonky. read more

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Happy Medium is such a refreshing change from a typical night out. Extremely sober-friendly (no alcoholic drinks available) and a great place to let your creativity loose. I did the collage postcards and my one "thorn" would be that the magazines they provided were EXTREMELY picked through - I spent half of our time there scrounging through the scraps that others had left behind to find anything I wanted to use. Probably would not pick this activity again but I would go back to try something else. read more

It's a great novelty spot- instead of just going out for food/drinks, you can catch up while playing with pastels or paints or clay. It's quite fun although yes a little pricey. I think it's pricey because although they give you all the materials, for example the pastel colors are pretty much primary, so it doesn't feel like you get so many options for the price. However it's a very cute place and it's hard not to have fun here. read more

A little overpriced in my opinion for just freehand art. I think it would've been cool to be provided with guides or quick lessons or more things to draw inspiration from. Instead it just feels like random art supplies that I should've just picked up from the store and done at home with friends. And we having nothing to really go off of. I still think it's a great concept but just don't think it's anywhere near worth paying for. read more

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It was super easy and very casual. We went at around 8-9pm, so I would suggest getting there a little earlier so as to have enough time to fully do your craft. We did collaging which was $28, but was just the right amount. They had a lot of pottery options, but the prices varied based on sizes and were a little in the pricier side. read more

It's a great idea, but I think it could've been executed a little better. The whole process felt unpolished - to reserve, you have to submit a deposit via a form, but there's no way to connect your deposit to your name or reservation (not sure how they do that on the backend). The space is large and gets great natural lighting. There are plenty of tables and chairs to sit at, though they do vary on size. It's quite chaotic when you arrive, since the staff are always running around and it's a little difficult to identify who works there. You then order off the menu for your medium, and it takes a bit for them to bring it to you. Watercolors ($24) - this was a bunch of watercolor pigments put onto a plate and some sheets of watercolor paper. The colors are weird, they didn't have some colors (like brown) so you would have to mix them together to make what you want. But the colors they did have had weird undertones. I was also not a fan of their brushes, the tips kept splitting apart so it was hard to paint anything detailed. The time limit seemed to be about 2 hours. Overall, it's a cute spot to hang with friends but wouldn't expect much out of the supplies here. read more

Happy Medium - Colors - Art Classes Near Me - New York, New York

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Very fun space to get together and do some crafts! You can do a variety of things for a decent price. The space is awesome totally like an art studio. read more

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If it were just for the vibes alone, this place would be a 10/5. The music, mood setting, and decor is immaculate and unmatched. I was a little disappointed with the overall experience though. When you order off the menu, you get the chosen activity for your entire group but they don't provide enough supplies for multiple people, thus each person ends up having to pay for an item. The quality of the materials was not great, and for the watercolor they give a tinyyyyy amount of paint. You don't get to choose the colors and the amount is so small that you can barely make anything. You can choose to bring your own materials, but you still have to pay $20 in order to use the space. Honestly if I came back in the future, I would probably do this You also have to make a reservation by DMing them on Instagram - I didn't have a problem with this as they responded super quickly. read more

I came here for the first time with my partner and was very pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere and the concept are both very cool. We were lucky and got a table to work at but some people ended up seated at a table full of the collage papers or the girl next to us had a chair kind of connected to our table so I feel like where you are seated could be a bit hit or miss. It's also a bit dark considering you're trying to work on something and make it look nice. On the other hand it does add to the ambience. The people are super friendly though and they give you everything you need. There is also a little "cafe" so you can get drinks. They only accept venmo or Apple Pay so just something to be aware of before you go. As others have said the two hour limit does feel slightly tight once you get on a roll. I feel like 2.5-3 hours might feel better but I get that it's a business and they want to maximize number of people. read more

Happy Medium - The menu - Art Classes Near Me - New York, New York

My party of 3 booked a time / space for a weekend evening to "art" on our own through emailing the business from their website. This tucked-away art space is at the top of a set of stairs behind a discrete door. The interior was lit with ambient lighting and just generally gave off a relaxing / comforting environment. We were given a "menu" of art mediums to choose from. I got the $15 charcoal experience (there's watercolor, clay, etc at different prices). I received a booklet of paper, charcoal with a wide range in diameters, and a rag to wipe my hands. There is no instruction whatsoever, but there are some art books to look through to draw inspiration from. You can pay for some drinks from the bar. At the end, we paid through Venmo. Overall, this was a really great experience with my friends. This was a night well-spent just enjoying my company and creating art all for only $15! read more

Maybe a 3.5. This is a good place to try once. If you're looking for a social activity that isn't dinner, it could be worth giving Happy Medium a shot. I made a reservation via Instagram DM for a Sunday night. My friend chose the "collage buffet" and I went with "demi pastels". These were semi-hard pastels (chalky consistency) that came with a string bound stack of paper (the "sketchbook"). It's cool that they make the pastels in house. I do wish they were more robust and attractive -- I felt like the tray of pastels that I got had a lot of tiny bits that were hard to use. The ambiance is soothing. It's a fairly spacious space with wooden furniture and cozy decor. There is also nice selection of seltzers/nonalcoholic drinks that you can buy at the counter. This is most definitely a spot for the vibes and not really for creating a masterpiece, given the 1) two hour time limit, 2) average quality materials, and 3) mood lighting. There's windows so I'm sure it's fine during the day, but in the evening you can barely see what you're working on. I would consider coming back for watercolors or charcoals, if a friend wanted to try it. They take apple pay, venmo, cash app, and cash (no credit cards). read more

Happy Medium - Menu - Art Classes Near Me - New York, New York

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Really cute pottery studio with awesome vibes! Very intimate and a great activity to do with your partner or a group of friends. There are many classes to choose from so there is something for everyone. My husband and I live two hours away from NYC and decided to do a hand pottery session and had a great time. The staff was very helpful and was able to assist us whenever we needed. A couple weeks after we were done and waiting for pick-up, we received an email saying the one of the pieces was glazed with the wrong color. It was okay, we did not mind and they offered to redo the piece completely and glaze it with the same color or just keep it as is. A few weeks after, our pieces were ready to be picked up so we made the drive to retrieve them. After arriving, only one of our pieces was to be found. We ended up having to leave without my husband's which couldn't be located - they advised us that it was somewhere in the building and that they would ship it to us. It was a bit frustrating since we drove all the way to get the pieces, but it was okay. However, a few days passed and we received no email or call regarding the shipment. I personally had to reach out and email the business to begin the process of shipping the piece. I had to relay the situation again and give our address again which caused a lot of back and forth before it was finally shipped a couple weeks later. Just a bit frustrating, but the actual pottery experience was great. read more

Happy Medium - Art Classes Near Me - New York, New York