Natali Carrera
Latest posts by Natali Carrera (see all)
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If a new year dawning makes you want to expand your horizons and learn new things, you’re in luck. Fresno has become home to a burgeoning how-to scene rich with do-it-yourself classes and lessons.
If you want to learn something new in the new year, here are five awesome ways to do that right here in Fresno in the next ten days.
1. Try Modern Calligraphy
Playing with calligraphy brush pens I asked for for Christmas.
Calligraphy has evolved from its classic form to a more playful and bouncy script known as Modern Calligraphy. Useful for home décor, wedding signage and favors, invitations, craft projects and more, learning to create Modern Calligraphy fonts is both fun and enjoyable.
I recently took two Modern Calligraphy classes taught by Shelley Borcherding, owner of Scribble and Script, a company that creates beautiful, custom Modern Calligraphy pieces for purchase. The beginner’s course taught me the basics of building Modern Calligraphy fonts and how to form upper- and lower-case letters, while the intermediate course taught me how to connect letters to each other and add flair to my writing. Both classes provided all the materials I needed to get started and 3 hours of personalized instruction.
My place setting at the Modern Calligraphy class offered via Scribble & Script.
The next beginner’s class is taking place tomorrow, Dec. 28, from 6-9 p.m, and you can purchase tickets here. There is also a beginner class taking place on Friday, Jan. 12, from 6-9 p.m. Tickets for that class are available here.
2. Finally learn how to salsa dance
Have you ever been invited to go salsa dancing and thought, “I wouldn’t have the slightest clue how.” Pete and Carmen’s Salsa Dance Academy can help!
Located in the Tower District, and offering Sunday dance socials as well as weekly lessons, instructors Pete and Carmen are ready to teach you the moves. According to reviewers, Pete and Carmen have an “intuitive style of teaching” that makes learning easy. Plus, if you act quickly, you can even get a month of classes for just $23 via Groupon here.
3. Learn to make Kombucha
Kombucha is a fermented, lightly sparkling tea drink that many enjoy for its purported health benefits. Though it can be purchased ready-made at many stores, or enjoyed on tap at The Revue, some drinkers may be interested in making it from scratch.
If that’s you, Root Access Hackerspace is holding a class on how to do just that coming up on Jan. 6 at 3 p.m. Get all the details and rsvp here.
4. Interact with sloths and other restricted creatures
Whether you think sloths are cute and interesting creatures, or you Kristen-Bell-LOVE sloths, you’ll have a special opportunity to get up close and personal with one, as well as several other amazing animals, this Saturday, Dec. 30.
Lost Realms Pets located at Cedar and Nees in northeast Fresno will be offering 50 guests the opportunity to interact with a hedgehog, alligator, wallaby, lynx, porcupine and of course, a sloth starting at 11 a.m. Get your tickets and all the details here.
5. Blow glass
My friends’ son Elias crating a Christmas ornament at Ballis Glass
Have you ever admired the beauty of blown glass? If so, you can learn how to make it yourself with the help of the pros at Ballis Glass.
Classes are offered frequently, but if you’d like to learn how to make a blown glass ornament, the time to act is now. If you get in on one of the classes taking place over the next few days, you’ll have a beautiful ornament you’ve created yourself to hang on your tree next Christmas. Sign up for a class and view the upcoming class schedule here.
Completed ornaments made at Ballis Glass
Stay tuned for future opportunities to learn new things here on FresYes in the months to come!