Brush and Easel is the way to go! My 9 year old went to a friend's birthday party at Brush and…read moreEasel when she was 8. She had such great memories (and such a fun picture to bring home) that she asked to have her 9th birthday there.. Working with Irina was smooth sailing. Planning, to hosting was so simple because of her help and simplicity. Kids all had a blast! I often think it would be fun to have a girls night out, or a fun surprise family outing! Irina is great and looking forward to the next time! Definitely recommend!

I met Irina in March, and four weeks later hosted an evening birthday party at B&E that included 12…read moreadults. Stressed professionals walked in, three hours later happy relaxed men & women walked out. Each with his or her own masterpiece! Irina makes it very informal and easy. We brought in platters of food and adult beverages, then sat at our easels and followed her instructions. Each attendee has a canvas on a wooden stretcher, brushes, and acrylic paints on a paper plate palette. Irina provides the smocks. So easy to plan and execute a wonderful, memorable evening. Highly recommend!

Excellent customer service, and quality. I had two different works dropped off and they came out…read morebeautiful. Trusted Randi & Jane to make the perfect choice for matting color for both art works. They have so many choices for frames, types of glass and of course matting for whatever project, artwork you have. They also have art classes which you should check out on their website. They plan on opening back soon, since they have only been able to do is pick up and drop off service at this time.

A gem of a find out in the burbs. Look for the purple house with the Mona Lisa painted on the…read moredoor. Inside you will find terrific local art, creative and fun gifts, knick knacks and jewelry, friendly people, art supplies and tons of choices for frames. Check it out.

It was my first tim here over this past weekend. And I had no idea this even existed. I only come…read moreto Hopkinton for the Start of the Boston Marathon but never actually spend time here wandering around. This cute art center has different exhibits but the one I went to was all about the Boston Marathon. I had signed up to do the special package which included a 13 min slide show about the history of some of the statues that are on the Boston marathon course and just some history about the course/ race itself. And then there was a self guided tour to see the winged foot statues and some others as well. And there was a coupon for food at the start line brewery included too. The person who helped me get my tour started was very nice and helpful. This space is on the small side but it is very nice and clean. Feels a bit on the homey side. I would come back here for sure to check out other art exhibits they put on when it's not marathon season.

Went there this past weekend to see a blues concert in which 3 bands performed. The show was…read morewonderful and it took very little time to transition from one band to the next. Seating was on a first come first serve basis, but everything was well organized. There was a dance floor in front which was an added bonus. I will definitely go back to check out other performances. For $25, it was well worth it!

My higher grade is more for the art center itself rather than the performances. There's always a…read moresmall exhibition at the center of the building and it's nice to see artists can work on their projects late into the night. The facilities look clean and orderly, including the bathrooms and artist studios. I liked seeing all pottery made by the various artists. I also enjoyed the theater itself. While the seating itself isn't all that special, the acoustics are quality. If you expect something significantly higher than community theater here, you may be disappointed. While the performances were fine, they're not really all that polished and feel rather barebones (two actors playing one role in a production was rather strange). If you want a more grander theater experience but without going into Boston, consider Reagle in Waltham. (For all you Yelp police out there, yes, I paid $ here for tickets so I can review)

My first time back to The Umbrella Arts Center since the pandemic happened…read more I saw that they had a dinner and a show option on Thursday nights and the menu looked appealing, so I purchased the meal for $21. Dinner was available for pick up at the concession stand beginning at 6pm, while the show was scheduled for 7:30pm that evening. Traffic delayed me, so I arrived closer to 6:30pm. There was a game going on at the playground the next block over, so there were a lot of cars parked on the street, but parking was still not an issue. Dinner came in a brown paper tote and came nicely packaged and of a good portion size, so I even had some leftover. They had a vegetarian alternative (Nag's Head Roasted Yam, Grilled Zucchini and Squash, Caramelized Onions on Wild Rice (V)), but I opted for the meat - Starter: Hush Puppies with Maple Butter Entree: Pulled Pork Platter with Coleslaw and Collard Greens Dessert: Chocolate Flourless Brownie (GF) Catered by Nosh restaurant and the Concord Market. I was pleased with my meal. Sure the collared greens were a bit plain, but I was just glad to get a decent portion of vegetables with my meat and they were not overcooked. The brownie was individually sealed, and a little messy to eat, but quite good. And I had no trouble finding a seat at a table. In fact I had options. I could have grabbed a small high top for myself, but I decided to sit at an empty spot at the end of one of the 3 long tablecloth covered tables just beyond the concessions and ended up chatting with the pair beside me. I had a great experience at the Umbrella Arts Center! Quotes from the website regarding the show being performed that evening: A heartwarming musical that lifts up the beauty in second chances and the transformative nature of friendship. Percy Talbott is a spirited young woman seeking redemption. But in the small town of Gilead, she finds so much more. Based on the beloved film that took home the Audience Award at The Sundance Film Festival, the musical's rich score is marked by Americana folk rhythms, soaring melodies, and irresistible charm. It reminds us all about the resilience of the human spirit, the magic of new beginnings, and the power of community.

Great drawing school! My daughter has taken several classes there and really enjoys it. This isn't…read morea simplistic "keep them busy with art" type of place. My daughter has been learning quite in-depth techniques that result in great pieces of art (yes, I'm biased, but its not just my daughter's art that is impressive). Instructors clearly know their stuff, and are great with the kids, too. Highly recommend if you child (or you) truly want to learn about art.

Our children both attended ActonArt. Our daughter began at ActonArt the very first summer that they…read moreopened when she was just 6 years old. She continued to take classes through high school; art continues to be an important part of her life. Our son also took ActonArt classes for several years. He especially enjoyed the summer workshops. ActonArt has a robust and thoughtful curriculum that is always fresh and interesting. Each instructor brings their own unique talent, compassion, and enthusiasm to every class. But ActonArt does not just teach art, it gives students a sense of belonging where it is safe to express themselves. Each student can progress at their own rate without judgement or pressure. ActonArt has spread its love and appreciation for art, touching the lives of so many students- children and adults, alike! ActonArt is a very special place!!

Our team had a lovely experience with Canvas n Cup for a virtual paint party! Mahsa made…read morecoordinating the event a breeze, and was always very responsive to my questions. Jean curated a wonderful painting experience for us, our group found it totally zen and relaxing. If you are thinking about doing an event with them, you absolutely should!

This was a fun little company event. Highly recommend.read more

I've done two events at the The Paint Circle this year, the first was a private party for my meet…read moreup group and the second was a paint night with a good friend and a random group of painters. Both events were so much fun! The instructor, Leisu, has a ton of personality and knows what she's doing. She gives excellent step by step instruction and comes around for one-on-one pointers. I'm so happy with the final product from both paint nights. A lot of fun!!

The short story is... I was extremely disappointed in how the owner conducted business. She was…read morerude, unaccommodating and I would not recommend this place to anyone. The long story... We tried to get a large group together, it was a Christmas gift. It took a while to get so many people together at once but finally my cousin did. When we booked it we found out there was another party that afternoon. We contacted the owner and wanted to know if we could book another time since there was so many of us going. She replied she couldn't accommodate us because it was a groupon and wouldn't make any money off of it. We explained how hard it was to get everyone together so she grudgingly told us we could go the morning before the other party. However when we found out three out of the many couldn't make it but the rest of us still wanted to go, she gave us a hard time because the number change but when we said we could keep the same number by bringing someone else, she refused to help accommodate us and so we had to cancel all together. Luckily groupon refunded us.

Elsie Kaye's is full of unique and beautiful gifts. From jewelry to kitchenware, there are so many…read morespecial finds. I attended a bead-making demonstration with the owner Holly. She showed us how to make several styles of beads and at the end let us each make 2 of our own. She offers several classes at her studio. I highly recommend visiting her studio to check out her classes or just top shop!

A bunch of friends and I met up at Elsie Kaye for a metal stamping party... oh my goodness, how…read morefun. (And we made some pretty awesome jewelry too.) What a different, interesting and memorable way to spend an evening. Holly is not only a perfect hostess... (fun, joyful, entertaining) but a great teacher and guide... and she is patient beyond measure. Her shop is gorgeous -- white fur rugs and a little jewel box of a sitting area -- and all the bells and whistles and glassblowing "things" to make magical little pieces of art. What a great place to spend time with friends and make some pretty cool memories... (Thank you Holly!)

Very satisfied with the work. I was looking for something fairly basic and they accommodated me…read morespectacularly without a big up-sell. That said, from the examples on the walls in the store I could see they were capable of doing much more complex and beautiful work.

I don't know that I can remember a better retail experience. Lorene is absolutely amazing, and I am…read moreso grateful for her help and care. I called Hudson Framing in advance to ask about a couple prints that I needed to get professionally framed due to their unusual size. I wasn't looking for anything super fancy, and let Lorene know I was looking for budget-friendly options over the phone. I also let her know I had Covid concerns, as I was going to visit in the middle of a surge and I had high risk family members staying with me. She was kind and understanding over the phone, and when I got to the store, she immediately put on a mask and welcomed me in. During my visit, a couple other people entered the store, and Lorene stopped and kindly asked them to wear a mask - and even offered to give them one - saying *she* had her own Covid concerns. I was honestly touched by that gesture. She worked with me on options for the prints, and offered guidance on mats, materials, etc. She looked for good quality frame options at a lower price point, and was able to find something that was ultimately exactly what I wanted and at a lower price than I expected. I went to pick up my prints a couple weeks later, not realizing it was on the same day as the Hudson art festival. I somehow found parking about 3-4 blocks away. When I picked up my rather sizable prints, Lorene asked me where I was parked. I told her, and she offered to help me carry the prints. I insisted I was fine to do it on my own, and she asked how I would carry them. I fumbled tucking them both under my arms, and she took one and started walking out the door, insisting that she help me. Turns out, I needed her assistance, and enjoyed a nice chat with her as we walked to my car. Lorene is just so wonderful. I am getting a third print done to fit my wall, and will absolutely be bringing it - along with future art - to Hudson framing. I really can't say enough wonderful things about this store and Lorene.