As the weather gets warmer the urge to break away from our winter slumber awakens. Grab a friend, lover, or your fantastic self and let’s discover all of the fantastic opportunities to get out and discover fresh hobbies this amazing city has to offer.
Pottery
“Those who build are better than those who tear down.”
If you’re dying to get your hands dirty and have never gotten over watching Ghost with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore; then pottery is for you. POT Studio LA, for and by people of color, has made its mark by prioritizing community first with locations in Echo Park and Mid-City. They have one time classes, multi-class series, and even classes in Spanish! Learn on the wheel or hand carved with live models or take their themed classes like upcoming “Iranian Pottery,” “Mother’s Day Flower Cups,” or one of their “420 Positive” nights.
If you’re looking for smaller class sizes and more one on one education, Claytivity Pottery is the place for you. Almost putting you in a meditative state, Claytivity has set the bar high for non-private pottery classes. Bonus: their Frogtown location is across the street from Frogtown Brewery and other fantastic restaurants if you are in need of libations after your sweat breaking creative feats.
Roller Skating & Skateboarding
“When you fall down seven times, you stand up eight.”
There is nothing quite like the feeling of rolling down the LA bike path in the spring with the wind blowing through your hair. Since the pandemic hit, a wave of adults have re-discovered skating and boarding. If you’re looking to improve your balance, finding a set of wheels that is right for you is imperative.
For roller skating 101, head on out to Moonlight Rollerway. For just $35 dollars every Tuesday at 7pm, you can learn from certified instructors how to start and stop and go forwards and backwards. When the clock strikes 8pm, the floor opens for recreational skating so you can test out your new skills. Once you’ve got your moves all settled, you can sign up as you like for various theme nights and ride off into the rink!
For skateboarding, The Skate Side offers group classes and after school programs galore. For adults looking to learn, their one on one classes are appropriately priced and let you choose between 25 minute and 55 minute sessions. With locations in Santa Monica, to Glendale, and Pasadena, this is the perfect setting to feel confident as you prepare to surf the pavement all summer long.
Painting
“White. A blank page or canvas. So many possibilities.”
You wanna relax and channel your inner Van Gogh, Monet, or Kahlo? The Artist’s Lab is here for you where they believe that “art is for all ages and abilities”. With their a $30 trial start class, you will suddenly have access to a world of color mixing, composition, brushwork, texture and so much more. Through their intensive programming, you’ll leave having a stunning portfolio of pieces that you can continue to develop.
With classes in painting, sketching, 3D print modeling, and much more, Artist’s Lab is a fantastic place to start fresh as you delve into new activities this summer. Artist’s Lab is a fantastic place to start as you delve into new activities this summer.
Book Clubs
“Books and doors are the same thing. You open them and go to another world.”
Finding a book club to match your specific literary preferences can be daunting. Luckily, the ever helpful Los Angeles Book Clubs site makes it easy to find a group that covers material interesting to you and is open to new members.
Looking to find other Queer Men who love to wine and dine? There’s a group for you! Want to meet other women who love to book and brunch? Your tribe is waiting. From the very niche to just the average “book lover,” this site covers them all.
If romance is your passion, then look no further than the brilliance that is at The Ripped Bodice book clubs. With themes like historical romance, romantic fantasy, and even events that help you get into self-publishing and creative writing classes, The Ripped Bodice will connect your love of reading with others beyond the page.
Archery & Sword Fighting
“The more you practice, the luckier you become.”
Work stressing you out? There’s nothing quite like drawing your bow and arrow, practicing your swashbuckling, or a little hand to hand combat to release any pent up frustration.
For those who are competitive with themselves, archery might be for you. Pasadena Roving Archers has classes every Saturday except for the first of the month. Reserving a spot is easy, but note their non-refundable $5 reservation fee. But when a membership is $150 for the entire year, you know you’re gonna show up.
Woodley Park Archers classes also cost $5 per session but with no annual membership fee. With their introductory classes on Saturdays from 9am – 10:30am, and intermediate classes from 11am – 12pm on Saturdays and Wednesdays from 6pm – 8pm, you’re going to find room in your schedule to grow. Children must be 9 and over to participate.
If you love a little friendly competition and choreography, Swordplay LA is ready and waiting for you. A studio built for actors and stunt professionals, this spot offers everything from fencing and sword fighting, to hand to hand combat, to even whip basics. They’ve got multiple memberships (Starting at $80 a month) depending on how serious you want to be. With a free consultation and facility tour, you’re in the right hands as you channel your inner badass!
Cooking
No one is born a great cook, one learns by doing.
If you’ve ever dreamed of trying your luck on “Hell’s Kitchen” or “The Great British Baking Off” and somehow never got an opportunity to try, now is the time. The Gourmandise School offers classes for all skill levels, from “Baking and Pastry,” to “Sourdough 101,” to “Chocolate Workshops,” to 4 week cooking classes.
EATZ Cooking goes all out in terms of creativity. From cooking with tequila, to hand making your own gnocchi or pasta from scratch, to in-depth nights that focus on various world cuisine, there is never a dull option. While these classes cost a pretty penny (usually upwards of $125 per person) the experience you get is hands-on and worth the three hour class time. You’ll be hosting dinner parties and wowing your guests with your in-depth knowledge in no time.
