I love this place! It is a perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon making a custom craft gift (or…read morepersonal use decorative). I am not the most crafty person (far from it), but they were able to help this guy make a beautiful Christmas present (wine carrier in my case) with pre-set or custom designs. They made it fun (full of coffee / tea + cookies), while there is this borderline addictive painting and gluing. Oh and the staff is super helpful and happy to work with you through all your color decisions / gluing troubles. Great for: 1. Friend bonding 2. 7th date 3. lazy day 4. Reunions Bad for: 1. 1st dates 2. Break ups

From the owner: The Makery is a creative space for makers of all kinds. We are a hub for ideas, design, and…read moreinnovation as well as an enriching center for learning, art, culture, and social interaction. We maintain a collaborative, community workspace with the essential tools and expertise for people to develop their skills and bring their ideas to life.

Cool makerspace with laser cutting, woodworking, 3D printing, electronics tools, and more. They…read morehold workshops occasionally and members get access to the shop 24/7 (though I'm not one and can't speak to that level of access).

From the owner: Cambridge Hackspace is a 501(c)3 non profit maker space in the center of Somerville, MA. We hold…read moreweekly meetings where we get together and make things.

I've been a member at Artisan's Asylum since 2017, and it's been one of the most meaningful…read morecreative communities I've been part of. I started out pretty tentatively, just learning and exploring. Over time, I got more involved and eventually became the laser shop lead for four years. That experience opened the door for me to build a small business creating bamboo candle lanterns and piggy banks--something I never would have been able to do on my own without access to the tools and support there. That's really what makes a makerspace like this so special. You get access to equipment that would be wildly expensive (and impractical) to own yourself, and you're surrounded by people who are both learning and generously sharing what they know. A recent moment really drove that home for me. I needed to test out my tent system for an upcoming show, but the weather outside was terrible. I was able to set everything up in the common space and run a full test. Honestly--such a small thing, but incredibly helpful, and exactly the kind of flexibility that makes this place so valuable. These days, my focus has shifted to painting, and having studio space at the Asylum has been just as important for this next chapter. I have the room I need to work in encaustic, lay out panels, prep surfaces, and wrap finished pieces for transport. The shared spaces make all of that possible in a way that would be hard to replicate anywhere else. It's a welcoming, diverse environment with something for everyone--whether you're just curious or looking to build something serious. If you've ever thought about trying something new, take a class and see where it leads. You might surprise yourself. Time to get creative.

completed the jewelry 101 course. Fantastic instructor who led us through a series of steps…read morelearning the correct techniques on every tool in the Artisan's Asylum jewelry shop. We completed a ring (which my wife liked) over the two day 6 hour course. I have had some previous experience but this was an excellent learning process that taught me many things that improved my skills. Highly recommend taking this learning journey!! Great value for your money.

An old friend is a prominent member and instructor, Dale Savit. This past fall we drove east for…read morefall colors, clam chowder,and a couple of Dale's pieces. This is a great place to visit if you can, and hey, it's across a parking lot from Sam Adams brewery too!

I always stop in here during the JP Open Studios and this past weekend (Sept 2012) I actually…read morebought a small installation. Extremely fair price. You can wonder around the whole studio and see pieces in various states of creation. You can't miss the giant sculptures outside. If I ever have unlimited cash, I'll be back to buy one or two of those things. Check it out if you have any interest in metalworks. They have classes too! The piece I bought was by Walter Clark at outsideartist@live.com and www.outsideartist-inside2.com. I also uploaded a pic of the framed metal woman's head to encourage you to check them out!

What an asset to the community. I love this space and they offer art shows, musical performances,…read moreplays/musicals and more! We need more arts venues and it makes me happy when I see one thriving in the community. Please visit sometime!

It's a beautiful and welcoming space, for the right kind of people…read more The art displayed was interesting, but mainly speaks to their right kind of people. The theater was comfortable, for short legs for short duration. Went outside during a break, security in this direction, turned around, security in that direction. Don't know what that was about. Overall, can't say it was worth the travel time to visit. Maybe I just caught it at the wrong time.