I've been taking classes for about a year now and I couldn't be happier with the experience I've…read morehad here. Every instructor is knowledgeable, kind, supportive and dedicated. Not only are there formalized classes but there are extra opportunities to learn with workshops and photo-walks. The community at the school is very open and friendly and I feel very lucky to be a part of it! I would highly suggest taking a class if you are new or even experienced at photography

I took Photo 1 and think the course was good quality. Expensive but you get 7 lectures on photo…read moreinstruction and 5 labs on how to use photo editing software so it's substantial content. The classes are mostly taught by former students who have completed a lot of coursework and are quite experienced.

I booked a discovery flight with CityWings at Pilot Pete's as a birthday gift for my husband, and…read moreoverall it ended up being a really memorable experience. Our reservation was scheduled for 4:00 PM, and when we arrived there was a sign outside instructing guests to call or text a phone number upon arrival. I immediately sent a text and waited, but after about 10 minutes I still hadn't received a response. I then tried calling the number multiple times with no luck. By this point, I was getting a little concerned because there wasn't anyone around to check us in or let us know what was going on. Thankfully, a kind gentleman nearby offered to walk across to one of the airport buildings to ask about our reservation. Shortly after, Victoria came out to greet us. She was incredibly sweet, apologetic, and explained that they hadn't realized we were waiting. Unfortunately, by that point it was already around 4:30 PM. Despite the rough start, Victoria completely turned the experience around. She was knowledgeable, professional, and took the time to explain everything thoroughly. She made us feel comfortable and excited about the flight. One of the coolest parts was that she even let my husband take control of the aircraft for a bit, which made the experience even more special. A few things to know before booking: the Discovery Flight is around $100 and only accommodates two people--the instructor and one guest. If you're planning this as a gift, keep that in mind. My biggest complaint was the communication. Ironically, the phone number I had been texting and calling didn't return my call until around 6:00 PM, after the flight was already over and I was practically home. That was definitely disappointing and something I think could be improved. That being said, the actual flight experience was fantastic and made for a unique birthday gift. Everyone we interacted with was friendly and professional. There was another flight company across the airport that appeared to have a more traditional reception area and staff available on-site, although it was significantly more expensive. It may be worth researching both options depending on the experience you're looking for. Overall, I would absolutely recommend CityWings for anyone interested in a discovery flight. Just make sure to confirm your reservation and arrival instructions beforehand. Thanks to Victoria, what started as a frustrating experience ended up becoming a birthday memory we'll always remember.

Sebastian is truly a professional trainer! I bought a 60 minute introductory flight for my…read moredaughter and she loved it! He took her to 2 other local airports so she could practice takeoffs and landings. He took time to explain all the features of the plane - before and after the flight. He also set her up on the simulator in his office both before and after her flight. If you are interested in purchasing a flight - I highly recommend Citywings with Sebastian.

I went during Covid. The downtown locations was closed due to Covid, so the instructor suggested…read morewe meet at his house. I saw he had been on the news a few time being interviewed due to his training. So I felt pretty good about it. I arrived on time and knocked on the door. No answer for about 7 minutes. (Maybe taking a nap, I don't know) But the training felt awkward as he kept bringing up politics. He seemed upset who won the presidential election. And then started getting a bit racist. All of this while were sitting in his kitchen, in his house.

I actually found Defcon because I attend the same range as Tunwa Yee, the owner. I was shooting my…read morenew S&W 380 bodyguard and doing a horrible job at it. He took notice of my issue from another lane and offered to step in to help. He ended up spending an hour with me on my technique, and didn't charge me a dime. A week later, I met with him and his partner, Spence, for a formal training session. They covered several areas with several types of firearms. They helped me with my form, my stance, and getting me used to a variety of different firearms and ammo. Tunwa even rented several different firearms to see what I might prefer for CNC. The lesson was very thorough, and I have observed a great deal of improvement from the time I have spent with these guys. Super friendly, personable, prepared with everything you need, offers a variety of solutions, works with you and modifies form accordingly, and more more more! I highly recommend using their expertise to improve your own technique and safety awareness

Wise Owl is an amazing place to enroll your child in. I enrolled my daughter when she was only 16…read moremonths old and she has been there since. When my son was born, I enrolled him at 6 weeks old. I was very nervous about having my son, who was still so young at the time, enrolled. However, the staff there made me feel very comfortable with my choice. Ms. Yahaira and Ms. Jessica have been helpful with any concerns I have had for my children. My daughter has two amazing teachers as she is transitioning to Pre-k now. I always see her smiling and dancing with her classmates and teachers. They introduce her to new ideas and sensory activities that stimulate her in just the way she needs. In addition, my son has amazing teachers as well! They are always singing with him and encouraging him to use fine motor and gross motor skills constantly!! They love to see him thrive and I love that more than anything. Ms. Daniela, Ms. Estella, and Ms. Sara have been nothing but a great help . If you are looking for a place where trust is important to you while also watching your child thrive at every milestone, then Wise Owl Daycare is the place for you. I promise you won't regret it.

We started our son at 4.5 months old at Wise Owl in January of 2024 and have been SO incredibly…read morehappy with our decision! The teachers + staff at Wise Owl have been very communicative and responsive to our needs and questions, and provide very thorough updates via the app throughout the day (including photos, meals, diaper changes, and lengths of naps!). Additionally they have helped us as first time parents get him on a schedule, start purees and solids, and meet developmentally appropriate milestones! We are so excited to continue to grow at Wise Owl!

I don't know where my previous review of Green Shirt Studio went, but I am thrilled to have the…read moreopportunity to review these guys again! I can honestly say that Green Shirt Studio has changed my life. The best decision I ever made was on one Sunday in January 2011, I went to a all-day Meisner workshop, where I met Andrew Gallant and Sommer Austin. Several years ago, I completed levels 1-5, and I just keep coming back for more. Currently, I am taking the Accelerated Meisner course, which is 100% worth the investment! Not only does this work "get me out of my head" and help me with my acting, I find that it has made me a better communicator when it comes to public speaking, job interviews, and professional development. Throughout the years, Sommer and Andrew have helped me in so many ways, as both a theatre artist and a professional arts administrator. I can honestly say that I wouldn't be where I am today in my career without their belief in my abilities, their careful coaching, and their commitment to supporting the goals of their students. Above and beyond that, they have continued to provide outlets that have expanded my skills as an administrator, which helped me get my fledgling career off of the ground after college. For that, I will always be grateful. Hands down, the best acting training money can buy in Chicago! Thanks Sommer and Andrew!

I took the meisner 1-5 levels and I learned so much about the whole acting process. Now I feel like…read moreI have a specific technique that I can implement that doesn't feel random every time I give a performance.

I signed up for Matt's class because after researching it and reading all the reviews on Yelp I…read morefelt like it would be more than just learning various signs with my hands. So many people said it was engaging and fun and they learned so much more about the history and culture of being deaf. I was looking for something more engaging and holistic so I signed up! Now, having just completed level 1, I am so glad I did! I'm so impressed with how much I learned in such a short amount of time! Matt structures the class in a way that makes the information so much easier to learn. He groups words with similar hand gestures or themes together and explains why a sign is the way it is so you really understand the root of things. Another person said in their review that you learn actual conversation and not just vocabulary and it's so true! I feel like I can actually communicate using ASL even after just a few classes. And Matt teaches so much more than sign language. He really gives us insight and perspective into what it means to be Deaf. He uses his personal experiences and knowledge of Deaf Culture to create a tangible learning experience for his students. I'm so glad I signed up and can't wait to complete all four levels. If you're looking for a fun and meaningful way to learn sign language, take Matt's class!

I took levels 1-3 with Matt L, and I had a wonderful experience. Matt is an incredible teacher. He…read moreis very knowledgeable, and he uses many different mediums to teach ASL concepts. I especially loved the lessons on deaf-culture, which helped me understand the deaf experience from someone who experiences it firsthand. Matt is very warm and empathetic (and funny!). I'm sad there aren't more levels because I would definitely continue to take classes with Matt. Definitely, definitely recommend!

This studio is where my acting journey began, and I'm so glad I found it. From the very first…read moreclass, I felt a warm and supportive atmosphere where it's easy to step outside your comfort zone, learn, and grow. Every class is engaging, inspiring, and gives me something new to think about and work on. I really enjoy working with Ed. It's clear that he has a lot of experience, a strong acting background, and a deep understanding of the industry. I'm grateful for every piece of feedback because it's always thoughtful, honest, and gives me something to improve. I leave every class feeling inspired, more confident, and excited to keep learning. I highly recommend this studio to anyone who wants to grow as an actor.

I am writing this to share my experience as a former student to help future actors, particularly…read moreyoung women, make informed decisions about their training environment at the Chicago Actors Studio. The experience I had here nearly 13 years ago has haunted me, and nearly traumatized me out of the industry altogether. Thankfully, I went on to other schools and continued forging my acting career and have done well for myself. None of that was cultivated through the tutelage of Chicago Actors Studio. On the very first day of class, Ed Fogel, the owner of this school, announced to the room that I reminded him of his ex-wife simply because I was blonde, and stated that he was going to hate me because of that fact. Strange icebreaker, right? It was an uncomfortable beginning filled with copious amounts of seething hostility and too much personal information about this instructor. I laughed it off nervously, understandably thinking this was some kind of joke--albeit a very strange and humorless one. It was not. Throughout the course, his behavior was deeply unprofessional. He utilized targeted public humiliation, such as forcing me to repeat single lines mechanically without artistic guidance and yelling expletives or hurling insults my way in front of the class. It was clear to me: Ed wanted, not an actor making unique, intuitive choices, but a puppet that he could control. He talked to me like I was dense and laughed derisively as I "struggled" to parrot his exact inflections on words in my monologue. This did not feel like it was building my vocabulary or range of acting, nor did it do anything but erode my self-confidence. During partnered work, he openly bypassed me to apologize to my scene partners for being 'saddled' with me, claiming I would hold others back. "I'm sorry you've been stuck with her, but someone has to be. I know you can handle more difficult scenes, but we can't stretch her too far." This was said, almost verbatim, as if I were not there, standing right beside my scene partner. Even if I were truly a hopeless actor, this is not appropriate behavior to exhibit as a teacher in any industry. And the tired excuse of, "Well, this is a tough industry," is just that: tired. The acting industry, whether film or theater, has changed and progressed, and I've never experienced such flagrant bullying, abuse or unprofessionalism in the last six years as a professional working actor. Acting is a vulnerable art form that requires sensitivity and patience; and yes, grounding, too. But never does it require "tough love" that is really just abuse in disguise. While Ed may possess industry knowledge--which felt as dated and worn as the disgusting dilapidation of the building the school is set in--his classroom environment was not a safe or constructive space for artistic growth. Prospective students should be aware of this pattern of behavior before enrolling.

We used Rent A Copter for an Egg Drop at Conant High School in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, April…read more13, 2019. See story here: https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20190413/conant-helicopter-egg-drop-wows-young-crowd John was great to work with. We spoke on the phone about our vision. He followed up that evening with an email outlining everything that we discussed and how the event would occur. John answered all of our questions regarding the safety of the event. He was communicative over email and over the phone. On the morning of the event, he texted the ETA of drop. John wowed the crowd and performed flawlessly. We would hire them again and recommend them to anyone. Thanks John for making it a great event!!!