Summer can be a nice break from your regular schedule, with lazy days in the heat, exotic vacations and day trips to the beach. But let’s face it — after months of taking it easy, you start miss the rush a little. The great news is that fall is here and as F. Scott Fitzgerald said, “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.”
It’s back-to-school season, folks, and if you think that we’re gonna let you miss out on the adrenaline that autumn’s new beginnings offer, you’re wrong. Just because you’re an adult doesn’t mean that you can’t experience the feeling of a brand-new school year. This fall, you get to join the kids in on the fun.
How are your New Year’s resolutions going? How productive was your summer? No matter. You get a second chance at going out with a bang before 2016 wraps up. We’ve compiled a list of classes that might spark your interest, from baking to wheel throwing. You know you want something new. So, let’s get moving:
DANCE: Salsa
Everybody’s got a little time to get down, and Astoria’s Sol Dance Center is the place to do it. Founded in 2009, this local gem is committed to providing an excellent experience to its students. Whether you’re looking for a fitness routine, an uplifting experience or leisurely fun, you can find it here. Their programs encourage basic skills such as rhythm and coordination while introducing students to the je ne sais quoi that comes with the art known as dance.
Loosen up this fall with a group salsa package. Get out there with specialized dancers and equally curious peers.
Forget the online dating, put away your phone, invite a friend out and have some fun! See what swings into place.
Sol offers an introductory promotion for new students interested in salsa. Though single classes are available, guests are encouraged to make commitments as short as three weeks. The Salsa Boot Camp Special, which starts at $50, gives you up to six hours of dancing!
For those who fall in love with the new experience, Sol Dance Center offers socials and dance nights to add to the fun. If you really hit it off, there’s even better news: you can become a member and get access to unlimited classes. This deal includes everything from classical ballet to capoeira.
347-935-3955
30-16 Steinway St., Astoria
ARTS & CRAFTS: Wheel Throwing
Some are all about the feet, but for those who like to use their hands, there is the art of using a potter’s wheel.
Beginner students at the Brickhouse Ceramic Art Center in Long Island City will become experienced in basic glazing techniques as well as the firing process. Students make their first pots from start to finish. The great thing about the classes is that they are limited in size so that everyone is able to receive one-on-one instruction.
If you discover that you’ve got a knack for it, you can hone your skills and learn how to make more advanced forms like plates, covered jars and large bowls. They say it can get a little messy, but this chaos sounds like the good kind.
Fall sessions at Brickhouse Ceramic Art Center are on the verge of starting, and you’re just in time to test those hand skills out. You can book a spot in the six-week program (Monday classes begin on Sept. 12 and Wednesday classes start on Sept. 14) or the seven-week program (classes start between the end of October and beginning of November). Classes cost between $300 and $350, depending on length.
Prospective students are encouraged to visit the studio and get a tour of the facility. The staff is cool, and who knows? Pottery just might be your “thing.”
718-784-4907
10-34 44th Dr., LIC
EDIBLE ART: Baking
If you’re looking to add a class to your routine and you have a sweet tooth, then we’ve got a offer you can’t refuse: a baking course at Sugar Room, Sunnyside’s cake design studio.
Participants learn techniques such as cake decorating, crumb coating, buttercream making, cupcake making and decorating, and how to make the most delicious Dominican cake. Who doesn’t need that in their life?
If you’re interested in baking, sign up for the Cakes, Filling and Icing course, starting the last week of September, for $400. In just three weeks, you can learn how to make different cakes, fillings, and icings.
Though there is a long list of options to pick from, this sweet deal might be the place to start. Sugar Room classes are perfect if you’re hungry to acquire some serious baking techniques, but even if you’re just looking for a new hobby, this might be the place for you; founder Juan Arache’s love for his work can inspire even the most casual of bakers.
718-707-2900
44-21 Queens Blvd., Sunnyside
FITNESS: TRX
Fall might just be the time to try the oldest “rejuvenator” in the book: the workout. Whatever motivates you to get out there and sweat, this is one of the purest ways to a fresh perspective. Astoria’s Sage Gym, founded in late 2009 by award-winning trainer Jordan Schneider, has an awesome menu of services.
A crowd favorite and “must try” workout, TRX — short for Total Body Resistance Exercise — is a suspension training method that’s available in various packages. The method allows users to work against their own body weight for a fast, effective, total body workout. It’s tricky and takes some time getting used to, so the trainers at
Sage will be useful guides as you journey into the body weight exercise world.
Members are encouraged to commit anywhere between 15 and 25 classes. If you’re serious about starting something new this fall, you can book a 20-session package at $460.
If you’re not into TRX, you have a bundle of other Sage classes to choose from such as kettlebell, boot camps, military boot camps and advanced training. There’s no walk home like after a good workout in the autumn chill.
718-777-1676
23-17 31st St., Astoria
