Did an art class with my granddaughters at Tony & Friends and was VERY pleased. Tony took…read moreinordinate amount of time walking us thru the correct way to paint and was sooo patient with us. I highly recommend this studio. It's been around for a long time and is hidden from the main social media platforms and should not be. He is GREAT!!! Very reasonable and was proud to take my painting home with me (which hasn't been the case in some others I have tried). Give him a try - you will be well rewarded!!!

From the owner: Full service art class studio.read more

Was lucky enough to tour this school, and find out what they have to offer a gifted child. It is a…read morevery small private school that does charge a tuition, but there is really nothing like it that I've seen. Having been around gifted children, I've seen how difficult traditional schools can be for them and that sometimes they are not being challenged, but here they cater to exactly what the child needs. The school has a very open floor plan that allows the teachers to have a bit more freedom to teach each child how they need and want to learn. The school itself is very clean and tidy, with plenty of books, some instruments, and technology for the students. A new head of school seems excited and eager to bring her years of experience and knowledge to the school and community. Excited to see what this new school year brings for the school!

Vanguard Gifted Academy is designed to serve the special needs of gifted children. They…read morepersonalize learning by ability level and pacing allowing children to enjoy delving deeply into topics they are passionate about and working at advanced levels where they are challenged. The STREAM program is exceptional! Each afternoon the students become fully engaged in learning across subject areas with authentic peers who spark each other's imagination as they collaborate on problem solving, and hands on learning applications that lead beyond mastery of a concept to innovation! Want to check it out come to a Showcase. They are on the website events page.

Writing as a former teacher and a true beginner this is not the place to start. It's very…read moreexpensive, sitting for 3 hours is hard and the place is far from being clean. I was told that all supplies were "included " nothing was said about paper for watercolor, $30.00 extra. I find it rude to be told that this or that brush is 80 or 100$ , why then give it to a beginner it only adds to the stress. The project became what he saw not what I saw. I was so tense and stressed out that I didn't go back for the last class! I feel taken advantage of and believe that a 70$ refund is more than fair. Classes for beginners should include how to hold a brush right from the beginning , paints used were not even given the correct names, etc, etc, ; class should be fun! They were Not!

I've been taking classes from Len for 2 years and I can't recommend it enough. When I saw the…read moreamazing work he gets out of his youngest (school age) students, I knew he would be an excellent instructor. I love this place, and the great sense of camaraderie among the students.

Law helped fix a broken antique door for me and did a fantastic job! Not only did he impeccably fix…read morethe glass but he fixed the door frame too! He offered to pick it up and return it for an additional cost and was very communicative throughout the entire process. I couldn't be happier with the final result.

This window has been in my family for 50 years now. It was in my house when I was growing up and…read morehas moved with me twice. I had installed it into my present house and my wife and I enjoyed looking at it every time we walked into our bedroom. Last year I noticed the glass was coming out of the leading holding it together. Upon further investigation I realized that the wood frame was rotted on the outside causing the issue. The glass was literally sinking out of the frame. After searching the internet I stumbled across Art Glass and Studio. I'm sure glad I did. Lawrence (Law) was a pleasure to work with! He was honest and realistic about his timeframe for assessing the situation and actually getting the work started and finished. I really appreciated that he let us know that he is a busy guy handling a number of projects at the same time but would give our window his utmost attention when our time came. He gave us plenty of options for the repairs working with our budget and suggesting different methods for reinstallation of the window. The option we chose was to make the window a decorative piece instead of an actual permanent window. That way if we move again or our children want the window to stay in the family after we're gone it will be easier to move it to the next place. When it came time for our window to be worked on, I removed it from our house (my choice to save money) and took it over to his shop. Law started on it and kept us informed as to how it was going. Once started, he finished it quickly and it looks great! In this day and age of "bait and switch" it was such a pleasure to work with someone who actually does what he says and does great work. This window was built around 1870 and thanks to Art Glass and Studio (Law) it should have another 150 years of in it. I highly recommend them

I have been going to the Mosaic School since January 2025 and have taken 3 classes. The teachers…read moreare great, the atmosphere is welcoming, and I tell all of my friends and family about this place! Nowhere else in the U.S. is there an art school that has such a focus on mosaics. I've learned so much -- they provide the materials and the expertise. I've met some really wonderful people and friends and am already signed up for their stained glass class in September!

Just spent the most amazing weekend at the Chicago Mosaic School. I traveled over 500 miles to get…read morethere and it was well worth my time and effort. I felt the atmosphere to be warm and accepting, accommodating those with little experience and those who spend their lives being creative. It was a perfect balance of informational, historical and hands on Glass work. All my questions were thoroughly answered and I left feeling inspired and eager to utilize what I learned. I would recommend this school to any and all. An added bonus is the eclectic neighborhood, warm and charming teacher, Lydia, inclusive atmosphere and creative vibe that persisted throughout the class.

After 5:00 summer series Wednesday wine down:I recently visited this Little Black Pearl, and I have…read moreto say the energy when I walked in was great. I was surrounded by such positive, welcoming people of all ages. Throughout the night, we sang karaoke, played cards, shot pool and listened to good music. What really stood out to me was how safe, inclusive, and comfortable the environment felt. Everyone was so kind and genuine. But what truly touched my heart was how the community embraced my brother, who is special needs. There was no judgment only acceptance, laughter, and open arms. For the first time in a long time, I didn't feel like I had to be on guard, watching to make sure he was being treated with respect because everyone just welcomed. It was a relaxing night filled with connection and joy. I would absolutely come back and recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, warm, and safe space. Thank you for such an unforgettable expeience.

The organization for which I work recently held an event at Little Black Pearl (LBP). The support…read moreand service we received was beyond stellar! LBP provided the space, catered the food (via their onsite cafe, Carver 47), connected us to amazing balloon and floral vendors, and provided other accoutrements (e.g., tables and chairs, table coverings, a stage, sound and tech support, package management). LBP's one-stop shop especially helpful given that our planning team resided outside of Chicago. There is so much to applaud from the experience: the warm and inviting space exuded elegance; the feast was as beautiful as it was delicious; and the LBP team's interactions with us (from planning to completion) was the epitome of grace and hospitality. They accommodated every request and did so with an exceptional level of excellence. When we asked that the menu include a vegetarian and Halal dish, they ensured guests had multiple options. When we requested assistance erecting our banner, they took on the task of assembling the entire structure, even machine washing and drying it when they noticed a stain. Compared to other spaces we considered (and have used in the past) across the city, LBP's offerings and support stood head and shoulders above and their love was palpable in their attention to details.That they have a heart-centered mission and work in support of youth and community was tasty icing on an already amazing cake. Thank you, Little Black Pearl team, for making our event a world-class experience!