LOVE Mix It Up! I brought my daughter here to attend her friend's birthday party and the girls had…read moresuch a blast. The studio set up outlined canvases ahead of time at each station and a staff member walked the girls through the basics of how to paint their mermaid pictures step by step, but definitely encouraged creativity with paint colors and techniques. It was pretty amazing to see how each girl painted their own unique mermaids! They also have tables and chairs set up to the side for parents and offer drinks. The birthday girls parents ordered pizza and we all ate that after the painting was over. It was a wonderful experience and I'd definitely consider this spot for a birthday party. I believe they also host wine and paint date nights, so I'd totally be down to dragging, *ahem, I mean bringing* my husband to one of those.

This was one of the highlights of my birthday trip to NOLA!…read more I'm almost at a loss for words regarding the wonderful time that I had! The owner Andrea is warm, hospitable, and was very accommodating. The atmosphere with all of the beautiful ladies felt like home-away-from-home and like I was amongst sisters. The art studio itself is nicely decorated, clean and comfortable. There was no clutter and there was space to move around and be social. The bar is well stocked and has nice options for purchase. I went on a Wednesday night and they have special food and drink on that night which was a plus. Due to our busy time in NOLA we hadn't had time to stop for a bite before the class started and our appetites were ready for the delicious food when we arrived. The artist who led us in creating our masterpieces was kind, patient, and encouraging. At a point during the process I was loosing steam and didn't think I would make it through to finish but even with it 1/2 finished she provided guidance and feedback that prompted me to continue. By the time I got my second wind, I was rocking and rolling! My painting actually turned out better than expected being that I'm an amateur artist. This experience will be one I will never forget nor will I forget the beautiful women who touched my heart and made my trip/birthday celebration extra special! I almost forgot to mention that, Andrea the owner gifted my friend and I two beautifully decorated cups of which we can use to sip our favorite drinks she also gifted us a bottle of wine on the house! The next time I'm in NOLA, I must stop by! Lastly, I hadn't considered that my canvas may not fit in my luggage when it was time to leave. Thankfully, I was allowed to carry it as a carryon item at the airport. All was well! Thanks Andrea for a memorable experience that was relaxing, positive, and exciting all at one once!

This place has such a fun concept! You come in, don't even need an appointment, choose your already…read morecreated pottery piece (based on shelf level, the lower shelves are the least expensive and so on up), choose your paints, sit and paint, pay when finished, and pick your piece up in a week! That is the best idea! Especially if you are intimidated by created the pottery pieces. The owners make you feel welcome and so really, you should not feel intimidated. The other option here - other then just walking up and painting a pre made piece - is to book a class to create your very own piece and paint that! They have plenty of fun options and party sizes, so check out the info on their website. They have a great space here and little patio or courtyard in the back. This was one really relaxing time. I think I will make it a girls night soon, and come here and paint, and go have some drinkies and pasta nearby! Thank you for bringing BellyFire to Nola!

Belly Fire -- 5…read more Belly Fire is such a beautiful pottery space... like instantly calming but still creative and fun. Me and three of my friends booked a 60-minute extraction class online. One of my friends reserved it with her card, but you don't actually pay until you get there, which I liked--it secures your spot without pressure. Now here's what really stood out... One of my friends was late, and the instructor waited for her. We didn't even have to ask. He just did it. That level of consideration? You don't see that everywhere. Later I found out he was one of the co-owners, and that just made it even better. It didn't feel like a money grab at all. It felt like they genuinely wanted us to enjoy our time there, and we did. Our instructor was super patient, very hands-on (and yes... we definitely joked after about how good he was with his hands because the way he was working that clay?? ). He let us have fun with it too. One of my friends went completely off script, just doing her own thing, and instead of correcting her every second, he let her enjoy the experience. That meant a lot. After we finished, we labeled our pieces and they gave us pickup instructions. You get a window of a couple weeks to come back for your pottery or it gets tossed. I'll be honest... I missed my pickup window, and that's on me. They sent reminders and everything, so they definitely give you a fair chance. Overall, I loved this place. They have different experiences too--family days, date vibes, group activities--so it's something you can keep coming back to and doing in different ways. More than anything, I appreciated how they made us feel. Not like customers, but like individuals just enjoying something new. I'll definitely be back... and next time, I'm picking up my piece on time

I'm obsessed y'all…read more Paint and Sip classes have always been one of my favorite things to do. The Rustic Brush takes it to a whole nother level though. Tracy & Travis opened up their doors late fall of 2019 and were only open for a few months before COVID-19 struck. I love and appreciate how they adapted and created DIY kits that you can take home and enjoy socially distant and in the comfort of your Casa. It was super easy to order my kit ahead of time and when I picked it up masks were worn and everything by their team. I loved doing the kits in the comfort of my own home. Everything was packaged and labeled nicely. I enjoyed the butch paper wrapping since I could use that as my painting station and not ruin my furniture. All the paints were packaged individually, came with a set of sponge brushes, a disposable apron (yes please!), and of course the custom stencil I chose. You can actually choose up to three paint colors and they have a wide variety of stencils and projects to choose from. Currently during COVID-19 you can book a private experience for a small group of folks and it's BYOB!

I purchased a Do It Yourself (DIY) kit. Paying online was efficient and I appreciate how quick the…read moreowner reached out to confirm my colors. I picked up my kit a few days later and that was quick and easy as well. I selected the classic gray stained wood and must admit I was disappointed in how it looked. The stain didn't appear to take on most of the wood. I wouldn't have been happy putting my stencil directly on top of the wood, so I painted the wood white first. You basically paint on top of the provided stencil and then pull the stencil off. It was challenging because the smaller pieces took forever to pull up. I literally broke a sweat lol! My takeaway from that is to pick a pattern that isn't so complex the next time. Overall, I was pleased with my finished product. I just wish it had the classic gray background.

Today I had my first time being here the place was really nice it looks so good& the experience was…read morejust nice. And we went by the sunset and we took a photo and it was a beautiful photo. And then the service was really kind they were really kind and they were patient. And then we were there for Judge Nicole Shepherd's party. I recommend this place to you it was really nice if I could write it higher I rated at 100 stars!!

The venue was so cute! I was there for a Yelp Dinner Party event in September and The Lakehouse did…read morenot disappoint whatsoever. It was very spacious, clean, and aesthetically pleasing. It's very close to the Lakeshore so you can see and feel all the boaty vibes from the area. Nice service as well. There are parking spots all around the area as there is a big parking lot across the street. If you ever need a venue for any event, I'd definitely recommend this place.

This place always offers a wonderful experience. The service is wonderful. My daughter and I have…read morebeen here multiple times, and each time they are accommodating, helpful, friendly, and very professional. They always return phone calls promptly when I call outside regular business hours, and are always available to take my call during business hours. They offer a nice variety of projects to work on. The facilities are always stocked and very cle

I have become very disenchanted with Serendipity. When Serendipity first opened at its original…read morelocation, the name suited the business. It was a special place with a unique vive. Stephanie, the proprietor, was warm, friendly, and helpful. The hours were plentiful and convenient. Serendipity moved to a larger location. Since the move, Serendipity is no longer an inviting place to paint. It does not have regular nor convenient operating hours. Phone calls and messages do not get returned. It is no longer an enjoyable place. This saddens me. I will not be going back. I hope Stephanie can get her act together, before she looses her business. Kate Brown

I have ALWAYS wanted to try throwing my own pottery, and Artsy Edge was a great place to do it!…read more I took my three grandkids any my mom, and we all had a blast. We went back a couple of days ago to glaze our pieces once they were ready to be painted, and I will pick them up when they are completed. They have summer camps for the kids, and my granddaughters will probably go for a few days next summer. Super sweet and patient staff!

I was excited to take a pottery class at Artsy Edge, but unfortunately, the experience was…read moreovershadowed by poor customer service and disorganized operations. First, the instructor texted me to come in at any time during the week to complete the glazing phase of my pottery. When I arrived, she told me I couldn't glaze because a class was in session--contradicting the message she had sent. Additionally, their posted hours of operation were inaccurate. She originally stated the studio closed at 5 PM, but after I pointed out that the website listed 8 PM, she admitted the discrepancy. When it was time to pick up my pottery, they couldn't find my pieces. On top of that, the instructor's mother was incredibly rude. At checkout, I asked if they accepted both cash and card, and the instructor confirmed they did. However, when I presented a $100 bill (for a remaining balance of $45), they had no change. The mother repeatedly insisted I just "leave the remainder as a tip" three separate times. I had already planned to leave a tip, but being pressured like that was uncomfortable and unprofessional. When I refused, they then asked me to Venmo the payment because they didn't want to pay card processing fees. While the actual pottery class itself was enjoyable, the operational side of this business was frustrating and unprofessional. Clear communication, better organization, and basic customer service improvements would make a huge difference. Until then, I can't recommend Artsy Edge.

I had the distinct pleasure of visiting this interactive cultural funhouse, highlighting the Joy /…read moreArt / Music of New Orleans. It was truly a love letter to the city, full of colorful, unique, and creative art exhibitions, all made out of recycled materials (which I found to be impressive and admirable)! There was a curated playlist of amazing jazz music playing throughout, which really set the tone delightfully! Upon entering, guests are welcomed into the space and there was a personable and helpful guide who described the space, then led us into the opening rooms. The first one was blue with neon pink, green, and glowing, with letters, symbols, and TV screens, comprising of one big puzzle. The next is a long hallway of hot pink with blue detailing and lights throughout, along with cool protruding, spongy shapes representing organs on the walls. Very psychedelic vibes! This led into a large space with sculptures of a larger than life alligator mouth open wide, creature atop a huge pot with the words "Stir the Pot," crawfish, tall lily pads, insect jazz band, peacock and more. There was also a cool, pretty flower wall, and upon closer inspection, I discovered they were made out of records. From there, I headed upstairs to see the blue, purple, and pink room holding the gorgeous Fountain of Youth glowing bright blue, filled with gold coins in them for wishes. The ceiling was lush and leafy with a lovely hanging light, as well as a pearly oyster shell inspired one. In addition, there was a shotgun style house with a balcony we could go in. Back downstairs, I explored a bar neon colored words related to New Orleans all over the walls, with upside down piano & drinks. Next, I checked out a decorative white a black room, featuring a glowing green stand. With the press of a button, it turned the room disco-y blue with a glow in the dark effect. After that, I went into the beautiful Desire themed room with humongous pearl structures hanging down, where you can write and release your true desires. Such a dreamy, ethereal feel to this one! There was a little sleek and sexy speakeasy space, called Candlelight Lounge. Then was one of my favorite exhibits: Feast Mode, displaying glittery New Orleans culinary delight classics in true indulgent style, as well as super funky, fun paintings and art pieces. Near this room was a window with full of shiny, delicately constructed objects of vibrant colors representing New Orleans. This was a glitzy video opp with props offered, with the phone going in the center, spinning around and capturing us dancing, shimmying, or whatever suits your fancy! The remaining few installations were music themed with drums and large silver circles, which could be played, emitting different sounds to create a symphony of song. At the end, there was a room showcasing larger than life sculptures of heads of musical greats, including Louis Armstrong, Lil Wayne, and Big Freedia. I really enjoyed my time here. Staff were super welcoming, accommodating, and helpful with photos throughout. The artistry, detail, and care was visible throughout each and every art piece and room. JAMNOLA was such a fun experience and I recommend you check it out for yourself!

I took my 12 year old daughter to JAMNOLA and we had a blast…read more Every room was something different, super colorful, interactive, and just fun. She was excited the whole time, and honestly so was I. It's one of those places where you can actually enjoy it as an adult and still let your kid have their moment too. We definitely got some really cute pictures, so if you're into that, you're going to love it. It's very "stop, pose, next room, do it again" in the best way. It's not a super long experience, but it's worth it. I'd say give yourself about an hour, maybe a little longer if you're taking your time with photos. Only tip is try to go when it's not too crowded, because some people really turn it into a full photoshoot and you'll be waiting a little. Overall, I'd definitely recommend it, especially if you have kids or just want something different to do in the city.

Check out the historic 1870s white firehouse on Magazine Street that has been restored and…read morerenovated into a beautiful event space. Love the exposed brick walls and the 14 foot high ceilings that mimic the night sky. The grand fireplace wall is perfect for taking photos with family or friends. The space is so open and inviting with an antique bar and plenty of space for couches, tables and seating conducive to mingling. Catering is easily done with Sukho Thai downstairs. Get the spring rolls, fried tofu and fresh rolls with a peanut dipping sauce for appetizers. For main courses, try the pad Thai, drunken noodles or I Love You, My Sweetheart. Filled with eggplant, veggies and a choice of proteins, it is so good. Finish the buffet with sweet mango sticky rice. Great place for a special family event.