This is a very cool experience…read more While this is a great date spot I went with my friend as this was on her birthday wishlist. So if you are going for a "real" art experience this may not be your vibe. This was more a sensory experience, very therapeutic. Our instructor was very thorough. The lighting and aromatherapy was very therapeutic as well. I won't give to much away only that you should try it but I will also warn you if you are doing sculpting you DO NOT take the finished product home with you. As I said this is a great therapeutic experience.

A must-try creative date or weekend hang!…read more I went to Brunch With Monet and had the best time. Love that it's part paint class, part bottomless mimosa brunch. From the moment we walked in, the space had such a chill, artsy atmosphere. The instructor was not only super talented, but also so kind and helpful. He walked us step-by-step through the painting, demonstrating each part on a sample canvas and checking in with everyone as we painted. He kept our mimosa glasses full and refreshed our paint palettes There were also fresh pastries and fruit to nibble on while we painted, and he even helped us take photos and videos throughout the class Whether you're planning a cute date, a girls day out, or just looking for something creative and fun to do in NYC, this is such a unique experience. Highly recommend and yes, I'll be back with more friends soon!

The experience was beyond disappointing and honestly unacceptable. The staff was completely…read moreinattentive and offered little to no instruction or guidance from the moment we arrived. We were simply told that we could not throw the larger items, only the cups, and then left to figure everything else out on our own. To make matters worse, we paid extra for the "360 video experience," only to find out it was nothing more than our own phone being placed on their device -- something that was never properly explained beforehand. Charging customers extra for that is extremely misleading. What was most frustrating was the complete lack of care and professionalism from the two staff members working. After sitting around for an extended period with no communication, we literally had to go out and ask whether our session was even over. That level of disinterest and poor customer service was obvious the entire time. My family and I came here to celebrate a birthday, and instead we left frustrated and disappointed. Spending nearly $300 for this level of service was a complete waste of money. I would absolutely not recommend this place to anyone.

I'd been curious about rage rooms for a while, and after stumbling upon The Ragery while walking my…read moredog, I finally decided to check it out with a friend. We went for the $200 room, which came with one large item, one medium, one small, and a variety of plates and cups to smash. The process starts with signing waivers, storing your stuff in a locker, and suiting up with a helmet (with a face guard), gloves, and a thin jumpsuit. They also give you a wireless speaker so you can blast your own music while you rage which adds a fun personal touch. Inside the room, the rules are pretty straightforward: don't break the walls, don't hit each other, and keep communicating. You get a choice of "weapons" including bats, pipes, crowbars, a skateboard, and hammers. For about 30 minutes, we were on our own with plenty of room to let off steam and smash things to our hearts' content. Was it fun? Absolutely. Smashing stuff is as therapeutic as you'd hope. Was it worth $200? That's a tougher call. It felt a bit steep for what you get, but the experience did match what was advertised. I imagine you could find similar rooms for less money outside of Manhattan, but this is New York; just about everything is pricier here, even breaking stuff. Overall, I had a blast, but if you're on a budget, keep in mind that the cost is definitely part of the thrill in this city.

An awesome team experience!…read more It's cerebral, collaborative, informative and an overall exciting adventure in the greatest city! I've done the GCC for two years in a row and plan on making it an annual tradition. You will rack up a lot of steps, work your brain and learn a lot about the rich history of New York City. Some of the challenges are hard, some of them are extremely hard (binary code and interpreting braille) and most are fun. There's even delicious treats that are added in the mix. I highly recommend participating in this amazing challenge and using the services of GCC for any of your team building needs.

I recently did their main scavenger hunt last weekend, but had previously done a shorter one and a…read morefew virtual events. A common theme was they were all incredibly well organized, and challenging without being unbeatable, and a lot of fun for me and my friends. Can't wait to do their next one!

This is such a fun experience, if you go with friends it's like an opportunity to bond and if you…read morego alone you'll end up making new friends with your teammates. I definitely recommend for couple date nights or small/large groups. They also offer drinks on site which elevates the experience if you're making a night of it!

Such a great date night idea or a fun night out with friends. Had an absolute blast here. Started…read morethe night with drinks at the bar, hit the Photo Booth and then it was game time. Without giving too much away, we were laughing and just having an all around blast the entire night - it was a 10/10 experience!

LOVED spyscape! Amazing for family or group event. Clean facility and well coordinated from staff…read more It was a nice break from the hustle! The staff was beyond helpful finding a lost piece of jewelry! Forever grateful for their professionalism and diligence with recovery!!

This was such a fun and unique experience! I surprised my boyfriend with this for his birthday, and…read morehe absolutely loved it. The challenges, puzzles, and games really make you think--you definitely have to process the clues carefully! There are multiple levels to complete, and throughout the experience you're asked questions that determine what type of agent you are, which was a really cool touch. It was challenging, but in the best way. Now that I understand how everything works, I definitely want to go back and do it again to see if I can do even better! If you're looking for something interactive, different, and a lot of fun, I highly recommend checking this place out. We'll definitely be back!

Suzi, Amber, and Corrine really got our party of 23 moving! We came in as a company event for an…read moreend-of-summer outing. Suzi greeted us by tightly securing our aprons around our necks, and Frank was kind enough to keep the beer and wine flowing for the first hour. We broke into teams and were ushered into the back room, where a gorgeous stainless steel kitchen was. We were talked through knife skills, cleanliness, and prep work. Knives and wine were discouraged, so a few of us took to chopping and a few others stuck to sipping. The teams were very organized - the leaders took their jobs seriously and did a great job of coaching not only first-time and novice "chefs" but also providing more advanced tips for those that had obviously held a knife in the kitchen before! Suzi was really adaptable to a small request for something competitive (our company gets a little... ferocious when pitted against one another).. we played a quick round of cooking jepoardy (not to brag, but my team won). Suzi kept things on track, Frank kept score, and we all yelled our brains out for no particular reason (because yelling means its the right answer, right??) We then began our three-course meal: prepped by us and plated gorgeously by the kind staff. We had voted on our menu and went with something asian-inspired - starting with shrimp spring rolls, five-spice duck breast, and banana-mango rolls in a coconut sauce to finish. The entire event lasted about 3 hours, and even though we ran over by about 10 minutes, Suzi was generous enough to let people filter out as they finished their wine, which we all appreciated greatly. I work in HR (and was given the responsibility to coordinate the event), and highly enjoyed working with the entire team so closely before the event, and was pleasantly surprised by a prompt email from the team the next morning with a receipt from the event, and a promise that recipes and photos were on their way via email in the next few days. I would highly recommend using Cooking by the Book for company activities, bachelorette parties, an outing in NYC with friends - whatever the occasion or however diverse your group, Cooking by the Book is a winner on every account.

I don't like cooking and I have no desire to learn to cook. Sooo you know if I'm giving this…read morecooking class 5 stars it must be something special. Those who like cooking will be thrilled with a night at Susi's home, but others who are happier socializing and eating (like myself) will be just as satisfied. As soon as we arrived Susi handed each of us a personalized apron (probably the only thing that I'll ever see Chef Andrea on), told us to tie our hair back (I appreciate a hairless kitchen) and directed us towards delish apps and wine. But the night got even better... We were split into groups and I was placed into the capable hands of Chef Charmaine. My group was in charge of the upside down strawberry cake. Yum- I hope there'd be batter testing involved!! Charmaine gave each of us a job (mine was to crack eggs). We chatted and drank wine while we baked so it was actually fun. I may have given her a slight heart attack when I dumped the vinegar into the batter way earlier than necessary, but for the most part Charmaine made sure the others would be able to enjoy our cake. By the time I was over cracking eggs, stirring batter (and yes, even taste testing) it was time to sit down for a 5 star meal of gazpacho, flatbread, salmon, quinoa and the cake. I wasn't a huge fan of the salmon, but it was probably just me because it quickly disappeared from everyone else's plates. Everything else was absolutely incredible. I love that Susi hosts these dinner parties right out of her cozy home and if I had a kitchen that gorgeous I may even consider cooking. Maybe.

An absolute treasure! We went to a Saturday class, which was a holiday gift for my pizza obsessed…read morepartner who struggles with the dough and overloads on the toppings. After 4 hours we came away with 4 pizzas, a few new recipes and a wealth of knowledge about dough and all of the ingredients needed for delicious NY style pizza. The venue is small, it would be ideal for a large group of friends but we just made new friends for the afternoon. Shah led the class & with Ricky and Eduardo's help we were stuffed by the end of it. Keep in mind though that you don't actually start sampling any slices until midway through the event. They do have wine and beers available for purchase with a complimentary ice water station to keep you hydrated. Shah was entertaining in his presentation, which kept the afternoon moving at a nice pace. Would highly recommend over and over again.

My husband and I went to a 12 pm Saturday workshop for his birthday present. He loves making pizza…read morebut struggles with the dough so i thought this could be a fun and educational class! We had a great time, walked away with a ton of knowledge and ate a ton of our own homemade pizza creations! The class was compromised of all couples and one father/son duo - 8 pairs in total which was the perfect intimate class size. Shah was the main instructor who led the class - he was great - made everyone comfortable and explained things in ways we could all understand. The other 2 employees were super helpful and they all pitched in to make class run smoothly. The first two hours of the class we learned how to make the dough - each pair made enough dough for 4 pies. We also learned how to make a simple pizza sauce, tasted different types of cheese, and sampled a few pies we watched him make as he demonstrated the techniques. The second half of class we made our own pies. They had so many different toppings to choose from, and you could even make dessert pies! It was a lot of fun coming up with our own flavor combinations. Shaping the dough was a lot easier than expected after learning the techniques. We got full quickly so they had boxes to take home leftovers. We had a lot of fun! The 4 hours went by quicker than expected. They have alcohol and wine for purchase and free ice water. Tip: Make sure to eat something for breakfast since you don't actually start eating anything until more than halfway through the class. Definitely give this place a shot! Fun idea for birthday parties or other special occasions.

Upon entry we received such a warm welcome from Chef Armando. The all-inclusive beverages and…read morecomplimentary charcuterie were a really nice touch to start the evening, especially if you arrive hungry like I did. We started by learning how to make Chicken Marsala, then moved into pasta making (my favorite part). After that, we learned how to make fresh mozzarella, and finally ended the night with dessert: tiramisu. The entire experience was so fun and interactive. I especially appreciated how knowledgeable Chef Alex was about everything we were making. When I asked about the type of pan she was using and why, she gave such a detailed and thoughtful explanation, which I really appreciated. By then, we had definitely worked up an appetite! We started dinner with a delicious salad and focaccia bread, followed by pesto fettuccine made from the pasta we created ourselves. Then came Chicken Marsala with mushrooms, and ricotta-stuffed ravioli in red sauce, also handmade by us. One of the best parts of the night was the atmosphere. Cooking, eating, and learning alongside people you've never met before somehow felt so natural and welcoming. You genuinely leave feeling like you made new friends. If I had one honest critique, I do wish there had been more opportunity to personally season some of the dishes to taste, as I felt parts of the meal were a little bland for my preference. I also personally prefer softer pasta over a firmer al dente texture. That said, I completely understood why the pasta had that texture since we didn't have much time for the dough to fully rest and develop. I also think some light Italian jazz music playing in the background would have elevated the atmosphere even more and really taken the experience to another level. Overall, I had a wonderful time and would absolutely take another class. It's definitely worth it for the experience, the knowledge you gain, and of course... dinner! Also, we got home (with our left overs) and finally had the tiramisu... and WOW. It was soooo delicious. The ravioli and tiramisu were definitely the stars of the show for me!

Chef Oliver was amazing! He lead our pasta making class with Chef Armando and it was so…read moreentertaining, educational and the perfect date night. Highly recommend and we can't wait to come back!

We had a team building event there. There were about 19 of us. The crew there is amazing. They and…read moresure we had fun, it was competitive, and the food OMG!! You cook your food and you also have a meal as well. I learned so much from our Chef Matt. He was awesome. Thank you to the crew- Michelle the hostess herself, Chef Mark, Alissa, and the bartender Brennan. They deserve stars for dealing with our crazy crew. I recommend you bring takeout containers. They do not have any, you will need it cuz you get a lot of food.

Our team had a fantastic experience at My Cooking Party! The event was well organized, engaging,…read moreand a great way for our team to interact outside of the office. The instructors were knowledgeable, friendly, and made the cooking process fun for everyone, regardless of skill level. The food was delicious and enjoyed by all. Highly recommend for any company looking for a memorable team-building activity.

Hands down best cocktail making company in the city. The private events I have participated in with…read morethem has been an awesome experience. The instructors are very nice/ hands on and are not just there to teach you how to make cocktails but they also want to know about who they are teaching and what kind of drinks we like and all. They are very accommodating with people with allergies too. We were making a cocktail that included something I was allergic too and they replaced it with some fruit I could muddle in my drink. If you ever have the chance to host a cocktail making class this company is the way to go.

I attended a mixology class with Liquid Lab and would highly recommend it. Definitely eat something…read morebeforehand because you will be making four full cocktails! They all had their own spin (not just your typical Moscow Mule) and I loved learning about proper technique and what to take into account with flavor profiles. There's an intermission halfway through for food (and it was delicious). There was even a make-your-own cocktail competition at the end for an extra fun ending. It's a great value and would definitely do it again!