I studied improvisation with Steve Ivcich decades ago. I wasn't interested in becoming a…read moreprofessional actor (and lacked the talent even if I had wanted to become one). I took the class just to have an interesting life experience and possibly meet some new people, nothing more. And yet what I learned from Steve has stuck with me all these years later, and I still think about my experiences in his class from time to time. They were that meaningful -- even profound in some ways. That's the mark of a great teacher!

So... I realized something the other day... I actually dove…read moreinto acting because of this guy... I took several of his Professional Program classes and never looked back. Unfortunately I never finished the last class, but wow, as I thought about it, Steven taught method acting like none other. Pure genius. Pretty much in line with the teachings of Stanislavski and Chekhov, but with Stevens' own blend of artistry mixed in! Without a doubt, his classes gave me the drive and ambition to pursue my acting career. And thankfully, I've been involved in some really, really, awesome projects. Thanks Steven! Highly Recommended!!!!!!

Loved this class learned so much!! We made a ton of arrangements and he teaches you little tips and…read moretricks to make your work outstanding and you will remember them

Michael Gaffney is a true artist and excellent instructor. I am preparing for my son's wedding…read moreand the course has most definitely given me the confidence to execute the perfect flower installations, arrangements and bouquets for the day. Can't wait. I also hope my work with flowers contunues well beyond the wedding. Thank you Michael. We had a great class and fantastic experience.

I love making things with my hands; I love the sense of accomplishment it gives me. My grandmother…read moretook up upholstery in her 70's and made some beautiful pieces, one of which I inherited. The fabric on the piece isn't really my style and I decided that if it was going to be re-done, I wanted to be the one to do it. There aren't many places to learn upholstery. I am lucky to live a few blocks from the shop; my classmates weren't so lucky, they all lived at least 20 miles away. I wasn't sure what to expect with the beginner's class, so it's worth noting that in the beginner class you most likely won't work on an actual piece of furniture.* What you will do is complete four projects that give you the skills to move on to actual furniture. The class is very hands on, you will thread a machine and start sewing in your first class. There are no prerequisites for this class; half of us hadn't used a sewing machine before. Owning a garment machine, there were a few things that took getting used on upholstery machines. There are two instructors; Jeff, the owner, taught my class and one of his staff taught the other. I can't speak to the other teacher's style, but Jeff is very laid back and a firm believer of learning by doing. Jeff is very generous with his time, knowledge, tools and materials; many students don't finish all of the projects in the allotted class time, but you're welcome to come back and finish after your session is complete (provided there's room). You're always your harshest critic, but I was so flattered when the manfriend thought my final project was something I had bought. I really loved this class and can't wait to start the intermediate class. The intermediate is like an independent study, you bring the piece you want to work on. If you've meandered by and seen the work in the window on Lincoln, those are student pieces. * One project is a bar stool cover. If you've got a piece to work on, you can use it. TIP: There's a lot of close work in the class and it's easy to get into a groove. Wear comfortable clothes you wouldn't mind getting dirty and bring your glasses, water and a snack.

I just took the "Beginners' Upholstery Class" with Jeff Kraut and LOVED it!…read more The class covers upholstery techniques that can be applied to automotive upholstery, furniture upholstery, and bag making. It is taught on industrial sewing machines (no previous sewing experience necessary). I already knew basic sewing and I definitely picked up lots of new tricks/techniques. Some of the topics we covered: * setting up the machines and basic sewing. * quilted stitching on vinyl (like on the back of a car seat or stuffed chair) * adding piping trim * zipper installation and sewing a small case * stapling construction and making a panel (like recovering a chair seat or a car side panel) * beginning pattern making and making a seat cushion Projects might vary a little from class to class. I've posted photos of my work. The class was Mon & Wed, 7-9pm for 5 weeks. It's located just down the street from Trader Joe's on Lincoln. Easy parking & near the El. You can get more info from Jeff at canvasboss@yahoo.com. I'm looking forward to the advanced class!

Took MIG1 & 2 from Daniel and had a great time. Other people in the class were fun to hang out…read morewith, I felt completely safe all the time, I felt like got good 1 on 1 instruction. I will definitely book some shop time soon so I can practice and then finally weld that bumper I've been meaning to weld for a year!

This place is great. I needed to learn how to weld and what afternoon my instructor completely told…read moreme what to do and I've been doing it on my own ever since. I plan to go back for a refresher because they're so good. They also rent benches if you are a true welder, you can go in there and do your own work for a minimal fee.

This review is for the two week accelerated Broker course…read more Bottom line, this course will prepare you for the state exam. It's my feeling this course is probably the best bet if you are serious about taking the state exam quickly and passing on your first attempt. The course is entirely worth the price point. You get all of the study and learning materials you need will need. No need for an additional class or study program. My course was taught by Oliver. I will admit Olivers teaching style and my learning style did not mesh at first. The longer you're in the course, the more you understand his direct and no BS approach. You have a huge amount of information to cover and you have to do it on schedule. Theres no time for off topic questions or hypotheticals. You are there to learn the rules and laws surrounding Illinois Broker licensing, not developing sales techniques, or understanding the operations of a real estate company. My personal thoughts on getting the most out of this course: 1. Listen to every word the instructor says - There is a reason they are explaining things they way they are. 2. Attend every class - About halfway through the first week you'll ask yourself why you put yourself through this - push through! 3. Review each days material every night. - Practice those quizzes and exams that come with your book.

The Real Estate Institute has been an excellent resource for my continuing education. The entire…read moreexperience was professional from start to finish -- clear course instructions, well-structured material, and an easy-to-navigate system. I also appreciated how responsive and helpful their team was whenever I needed assistance. It made the CE process smooth and stress-free. I would absolutely recommend them to any real estate professional looking for reliable and high-quality continuing education. FIVE STARS

Cherice Taylor is the Making It Sew Fun director and teaches sewing classes for adults and children…read morein her home sewing studio. She is very hands-on and patient with her students, but she does expect for students to learn her techniques and be open to building on them. I have had the pleasure of receiving her instruction since April and she has even taken time to help me with my personal, non-class related sewing projects. I recommend her class to anyone who has little to no sewing experience. Even if you sewed years ago and want to sharpen your skills, Cherice is for you!

From the owner: For over 20 years, Making It SewFun has been a creative education hub on Chicago's South Side,…read morewhere students walk in with zero sewing experience and walk out with skills they carry for life. We built our own trademarked curriculum, You Can Make It, around a simple conviction: quality sewing education should be accessible, hands-on, and taught with genuine expertise and care — and that's exactly what we've created here. Our seven-level program takes you from your very first stitch through advanced construction, with tissue fitting woven in at every stage — because the most valuable skill we teach isn't following a pattern, it's learning to adapt one to your own body. That's the difference between owning a skill and just completing a project. We teach both adults and youth. Our youth program runs as after-school during the school year (September–May), and a Saturday summer sewing camp for kids looking to keep building skills outside the school year. What sets our studio apart isn't just curriculum, it's culture. Students learn alongside instructors who've spent years mastering this craft, and alongside each other — sharing struggles, celebrating breakthroughs, and building genuine friendships around a shared interest. Many of our students started as strangers and became each other's biggest supporters. Visit makingitsewfun.com to explore our full program lineup and register for a class.

horrible communication they never pickup the phone next to imposible to sign up! have been calling…read morefor a month and no answer

Wonderful opportunities for fast paced learning towards certification in HVAC and electrical…read more Success stories of students in previous semesters have advanced in their career or started a new trade because of their experience here.

Currently in the middle of a 6 week introduction to sewing class with Sew Anastasia and am amazed…read morewith how much I have learned so far! I have already used a sewing machine and serger and was introduced to different stitches and hem styles. I especially love the set up for her classes - Anastasia and her assistants walk around assisting students and she introduces new material via projection screen. Every class ends with a mini project that summarizes what we learned that day. Unrelated to sewing, she has super cute cats that mosey around class looking super adorable!

My friend and I took the beginner 6 week sewing class. In the first class we learned how to use the…read moremachine, multiple stiches and even made a scrunchie! Anastasia is fantastic at building within the session and by the end of the classes you can follow a sewing pattern. Each class you make something new. This class was so much fun with Anastasia and George being super helpful throughout the class. We even had two little kitty helpers, Lily and Iris. This class gave me the confidence to buy my own machine. Thanks guys!

Not enough effort put in these classes. Read from the book all the time. No slides, hardly any h.w…read more and the questions on the test where so different than what the book had taught us

Terrible overhead lineman program. Basically have to teach yourself. All you do is read from the…read morebook and get tests on completely different questions that were not in the reading. Terribly run, constant changing schedule, hard to contact the school when having trouble. The only good thing is the cafeteria staff and food. I give them 5 stars.

It says "Meh, I've experience better" for 2 stars. Well, unfortunately that isn't the case. I…read moredidn't go anywhere else for portfolio school. I chose Chicago Portfolio School. The promises they made up front and what they delivered are in stark contrast to one another. The 'classes,' while informative, felt stuck in an ad time far removed from today's ad market. This school focuses on tradition print advertising. I'm not sure if you've noticed, but currently traditional print advertising is about as relevant as MySpace. We never even looked into developing fully integrated campaigns until over halfway through this program. As anyone who is looking for jobs in today's market can tell you, employers aren't looking for 3 really great print ads. Today's agencies want fully fleshed out, integrated, web-based campaigns in your books. That isn't what you get from CPS unless you go rogue and decide to do that yourself. Follow exactly what this school tells you and you'll find a great job. Baristas at Starbucks get full benefits and stock options don't they? I was told I would come out of this school with a portfolio that would be competitive and strong enough to get a job or interview most anywhere. This couldn't be further from the truth. One person out of my entire class had a book when this program was over. Most of the ads the students put in their books were created well after this program ended as they were rushing to get a book together so they could start looking for jobs. I would have been better off taking a year and the money I spent on this school and traveling Europe or southeast Asia for a year, then returning and trying to throw a book together in 3 weeks. If you are looking for a really social school however, this school is for you. In fact, the only reason I gave this school 2 stars is because of the friends I made while I was there. Even still, If this school focused half as much time on going out and drinking, perhaps the students could focus more on their work rather than discovering new and inventive ways to nurse their hangovers. Don't expect to be motivated to do anything at this school other than to get to the front of the line so you can get at least two or three more drinks before the school closes its tab at the disgusting bar up the street. If you're contemplating this school, I have a word of advice - reevaluate your options. Hey, I hear Wal-Mart might be hiring.

A great school that helped me put together a great portfolio, which helped me land a great job. Not…read moremuch more I can really say, except thank you.