Shopping here since it was "A Different Drummer's Kitchen." It's a nice experience walking around…read morethe shop and looking at the wonderful things they have on display, but a recent experience had me evaluate if I would return. Extremely unpleasant woman sitting at the register reading a book made it very clear that I was interrupting her day by asking about tools they might have for making dumplings. In a very condescending tone, she informed me that dumpling presses were out of stock for the next 4 months "everywhere". When I said I wasn't sure if I needed a press, but was there anything else they might have that could help me make dumplings, as my significant other and I would like to try making dumplings together, she looked as though I had asked an impossible question, and then let me know that the only way to make dumplings was to do it in a "family setting". She said, "That's what the Asian families do. They make them together as a family." Not having a 'family', I said My significant other and I were just looking to enjoy some time together and make some dumplings in a casual way, she said no, that isn't how it's done, and again started talking about how dumpling presses were out of stock until I just said never mind and left. I hated that experience. I don't see why she had to put such emphasis on the fact that I wasn't Asian and we aren't a big family or something. That made me feel horrible about myself.

Baker's Pin is a lovely store with tons of cooking supplies and top name brands…read more Their cooking classes are fun and informative. Some chefs are hands on, and some lecture and you watch. Either way, you get to taste the recipes and learn tips and techniques.

The wild edibles class was great! I wish I had stayed for the whole weekend. I'll definitely be…read moredoing that the next time it comes around. Frank was great and extremely knowledgeable and friendly. I became more familiar with the vegetation around me and ate some wild berries. Great day and going back for more.

My son absolutely loved the Feb vacation program, and was very excited to head into the woods each…read moremorning. We'll definately sign up again!

The Hitchcock Center is a place that offers education on here, the place we live. It's really nice…read moreand important to take a look around and learn about what you are looking at. The plants and animals in the area. Public schools should really do something like this. My son and I are taking a class and it's one of my favorite things he does after school.

Wonderful facility and staff! We had such a positive experience with their summer camp this year --…read moreour 8 year old joined them for two sessions and came home full of stories and excited for the next day. We loved how supportive the counselors all were and are could tell how much everyone cared about the kids and their program. Outdoor classrooms, variety of activities, animals and environmental education, combination of facilitated and open play, great communication, gender neutral facilities and all gender supportive community, easy drop off and pick up, sliding scale enrollment fees based on ability and scholarships available. It's tough to register, though, as spaces are swooped up VERY quickly, and this year they capped families at two weeks for the summer.

Amazing place for kids to go and be creative for camp. The owner is kind and helpful. My kids want…read moreto go back all of the time! A precious experience.

Molly Cantor's pottery is magnificent.Although I've not been to her studio for years, I have…read morepurchased a couple of wedding and birthday gifts for favorite people in my life . Looking forward to a trip to her shop next Spring.

Molly Cantor is to pottery as Mary Oliver is to poetry. Each of Molly Cantor's art pieces traces…read morethe line between the human world and the natural world, and, if you listen closely, with your eyes, each holds a story. Her art is delicate, playful, touching, and beautiful in its simplicity. I traveled to her store in the quaint town of Shelburne Falls (a must for anyone visiting Massachusetts -- especially with its Bridge of Flowers, quaint coffee shops, art shops, and lots of community friendliness). And, I fell in love with Cantor's artful clay dog covered with flowers, his/her head thrown backward for a good throat scratch (much like our dog, Guinness). There were teacups with images of a clothesline blowing in the wind, or a chair, table, and a vase of blooming sunflowers (the perfect day, really), as well as a stretching skunk (is that Flower from Bambi?) ;) on a bowl. I can't decide which I'd love to own -- but to own any of these beautiful, heartwarming pieces to bring art into my home. Molly Cantor's pottery is poetry in form; it evokes humor and embodies a reverence of nature and animals. Who wouldn't love that?

There is so much good I can say about Footloose School of Dance. As I sit here ready to write a…read morereview, I'm trying to think of any potential bad and...I don't think I can! The instructors? Amazing, and so patient with each child. The classes? Worth every penny to see the kid's faces come recital weekend. The facility? Always clean, regardless of how many people are inside. The owner? A great person. There are many different classes offered for all ages. Ballet, tap, hip hop, acro, lyrical/liturgical, musical theater, combos...even ballroom dancing classes for adults! The studio is celebrating their 25th anniversary this year and like a fine wine, it just gets better with age!

Had a great experience with Teacher Melissa S. in Phoenixville, PA. She easily accommodated us and…read morea couple other kids late to the session. She was enthusiastic and engaging. Our group had several kids under 2, a handful of 2-4yos, and a couple 5yos. Tinkergarten is 100% outdoors; they use public parks as classrooms. Lessons focus on songs, stories, and visuals about animals and nature. They often incorporate the elements (fire, wind, earth, water) into lessons, as well as a featured animal or plant each time. Sign language (ASL) is taught for each lesson feature. Learning-play is the main activity, such as a treasure hunt, making lanterns, or creating "soup" from nature in the park and spices brought by the teacher. I'd signed up for a spring session just before COVID hit the US, and as with everything, Tinkergarten had to cancel. They offered online sessions, but my toddler was too young to really grasp that Zoom type interaction. Fast forward a year and a half, and I signed up late into this past fall session. Tinkergarten pro-rated it for us, which was great. I think this is best suited for ages 3-5, though it is offered for 6mos-8 years. If you want to get neat ideas about outdoor play, and meet like-minded parents/kids, I would definitely recommend this to the younger end of the age range. If you already are really creative and play outdoors often, this class will not be as exciting to your child, but it is a great opportunity to socialize with other kids. For older kids, classes are normally during school hours on weekdays, so I could see homeschooled kids attending, but everyone else will be in school. For me, it was a great motivator to spend more time outside, and it was fun taking a class with my child. We would normally spend much of the day outside, but we wouldn't be seated and focused on a lesson the same way, and Teacher Melissa's energy really helped us get enthusiastic about our lesson. My toddler LOVES the Tinkergarten song, too! Great bonding time with your kids! Great toddler socialization! Great at intriguing kids to lean into nature! My rating if only 4 stars was for a couple of cons. One, the cost is higher than similar programs at the YMCA, etc., and communication was difficult via email with Tinkergarten and our teacher. Also, I thought I'd be getting all my sessions live and in person, but the last two were online only. Otherwise it was a quality experience.

Our experience was with the Lexington, MA location while my daughter was 22 months old. My…read moreobservation is that this type of outdoor guided learning is effective if your child is over three and doesn't get a chance to spend much time outdoors. My daughter does well in playgroups indoors, but here kids are not confined to a small space (which is great) but - as such, your child's participation in activities is dependent on his/her obedience to the Leader and topic interest. In my personal case, my daughter and I spend time outdoors everyday and she is well versed in mud pies, foraging and very familiar with that particular park. Perhaps at her age she just didn't understand why she wasn't able to freely do these things at her own pace or our group was the most disciplined bunch of 20-22 month olds I had ever seen. I was also very hurt when I told the group leader that I was having a hard time keeping my daughter with the group and her response was to tell me that the other kids were her same age. As a teacher of children, she should know that all kids learn differently and comparing 20-22 month olds in an effort to shame me isn't helpful. I emailed the company to cancel and got a partial refund. I think age 4-5 is about when we'd get the most educational value and bang for our buck. My toddler was just too young and too into her own self-guided learning to follow the Leader - she'd get a similar experience when I take her to parks and nature trails myself. Sadly because of our experience with that teacher, we will not sign up in the future.

Easily the worst driving school out there. Slowly scheduling the on-road driving lessons is a…read morenightmare that takes months; you'll think you have inherited a second job, and a bad one. Their driving instructors are an utter shambling mess; one driving instructor had my teen drive to and park at her house so she could go inside and fix herself a hotdog to eat as they drove around. Thank you, very instructive. Choose any other driving school in the valley. Literally: anything else. EDIT: Note that the reply under this review suggests that it is "selfish" to want to "fast-track" a student to a reasonable amount of time. Not so! This is a business that charges money; Nichols refuses to hire more instructors because it would cost them money. Don't be fooled, go other places, there are many better options.

i recommend this driving school.. they really work with you. no judgement at all. i am 41 years old…read moreand i just got my license 20 years after trying the 1st time. i failed because i knew nothing on how to do a 3 point turn or parallel parking.. ill say i understand and can give you full detail instructions on how to do so now. i will say i am grateful i choose here for my driving lessons. i give a A++++++++... trust me it is worth the time, the distance and what many worry about, is cost. GOOD LUCK ALL........ THANK YOU AGAING for giving me faith in myself..