We held my daughter's sixth birthday celebration in the Pottery Studio at Fayezart this afternoon…read moreand it was a home run with the birthday girl and all her friends. Faye has been working in clay for a quarter of a century and has a great faculty for getting even junior amateurs excited about pottery projects. Over the course of their two hour party the kids did three different projects -including one on the potter's wheel- and still had time to break for cake. The Pottery Studio at Fayezart is a great big well-lit space located in a funky house three doors up from Salmon Bay Park in Ballard. There's a little space with a table inside a sun porch for parties on rainy or chilly days, plus a patio with a profusion of furniture for beautiful sunny days like today. The park was the perfect location for my daughter and her friends to meet before class and decompress (and burn off some cake calories) afterwards. FYI, for those parents looking to get their kids (or themselves) into something out of the ordinary the studio offers after-school classes for kids as well as sessions for adults. For parents looking for an original kids birthday party idea, I highly recommend Fayezart.

A homey playground for all ages, this Ballard neighborhood sanctuary is just a stone's throw from…read moreSalmon Bay Park. A lively, oh-so-liveable enclave conveniently located 2 blocks from easy bus route on 15th Ave NW. Myself and some other eco-conscious ladies came to Faye's studio to enjoy an afternoon of pottery making bliss. Consensus all around was that we'd found one of Seattle's best kept secrets! A feeling of accomplishment and conviviality prevailed. The vibe is cool, the atmosphere creative, the hostess the mostess!

Lovely shop. Well curated yarns and needles. Friendly staff! Prices are comparable with other…read moreshops. I only wanted a replacement needle for my travel knitting , but was tempted to purchase some yarn. They also let me in 5 minutes early as it was raining!

One of my all-time favorite yarn shops! The owner, Emily, is the absolute best and is curating such…read morean amazing selection of yarns and notions. And I love the community that she's creating with the craft socials on Mondays and Rough and Tumble pub, and knit nights at the shop on Thursday. I'm so glad to have such a special shop close to home.

As I'm sitting down to (finally) write this review, words are escaping me. Gregg is as talented as…read morehe is direct, honest, and passionate about this craft. If you're not serious about becoming an actor, I would advise you to look into the many other classes Seattle has to offer. Perhaps one at the UW (scene study? intro to scripts? audition practice?) ... Gregg I hope you're laughing right about now. This class strips you of social constructs and leaves you bare enough to absorb any character; at least that's the goal. If that sounds like the level of acting you want to do, Gregg's studio is the ONLY place to do it. Be prepared to work, to learn, to take criticism, and eventually grow as an actor. Gregg, I appreciate you and can't wait to give my Oscar speech so that I can thank you properly. All my love, Jazmin

As a disclaimer, I have never thought that I would ever write a Yelp review. This is my first, and…read morevery likely - will be one of my only - reviews here ever. I'll try to keep this short, because I want you - the skeptical, aspirational actor - to read this. However, I will also say what needs to be said. I've mentioned this elsewhere too, so if you see these words on other platforms, know that this was intentional. I first came to the Gilmore Studio because it seemed to be the only place in Seattle that could offer sincere instruction in a craft that I sometimes doubted could even be taught. Gregg proved to me that I was horribly wrong. It can be taught. And it can be taught very, very well. I was unfortunate enough to only be in the area for one summer, but I have considered myself a student of his ever since. That summer has laid both the physical and mental groundwork that I rely on as I continue to train and act in New York and LA. Gregg Gilmore is a teacher who will understand where as an actor you can grow most, and how. He gives, and only gives, complete and utter sincerity to his work, which means as the student, you will have both the gift and responsibility of mutually doing the same. Whether you have never acted before, or have trained in other notable studios, I deeply encourage you to give an honest and thorough consideration of the compelling work done here. I have, and that has made all the difference.

Push/Pull is an "underground art and comix" shop that sells and promotes 'Art, Supplies, Classes,…read moreand Community.' Came here for the community aspect as they hosted one of many locations for a town wide community cocktail walk was going on. We sipped cardamom-lemon vodka here as featured by a local restaurant. While there we chatted with the shop employees who were very nice. While sipping we browsed the studio looking at are pieces by local artists which can be purchased. A perfect example of supporting small business and local art. Push/Pull lives up to their statement being a part of and promoting the community. There is a fair amount art supplies here - including but of course not limited to Sketch books, brushes, glazes, paints, easels and more. They offer classes and have info about events going, so if you're an artist and want to be in more 'in the know' it may be worth checking out Push/Pull simply for that. I hope Push/Pull continues to be a part of the neighborhood!

I love this art store and education space! Great community for local artists and everyone here is…read moreso wonderful. We're lucky to have this space in Ballard.

What a fantastic comic shop! The Grumpy Old Man's Comics & Collectibles has tons of long boxes and…read moreshort boxes filled with back issues, newer books, and hidden gems waiting to be discovered. The staff were friendly, welcoming, and very helpful throughout our visit. One of the best parts was that there was truly something for the entire family. We all had a great time digging through the boxes, searching for books to add to our collections, and enjoying the treasure hunt. If you're a comic collector and find yourself in the Seattle area, this is definitely a must-stop shop. We had an amazing time and look forward to visiting again.

I did not expect such a well-organized and friendly comic book shop from the name! But coming…read moreinside I was greeted by friendly staff and was presented with nicely organized rows and boxes of comics. They have quite the selection! I came in for Free Comic Book Day, picked up a few free old FCBD issues, and browsed. We even met the shop dog, Molly (I think?). When I couldn't find what I wanted, I asked the shop owner and he was kind enough to find them for me and explain some things about it. I bought the issues and left happy :)

Got a Intro to Wheel session as a birthday gift. Sara, our instructor was great. Very helpful…read more Class was scheduled for 7-9 pm- ended at about 8:30 pm.

I like to come here for the free wheel throwing on Friday nights from 6-9 pm. Being able to throw…read morefor free (you don't keep the pieces or guarantee that you finish them) is great if you're just looking for a place to practice. They sell various pieces made for donation, and donate to a different cause each month (or week?). However, during this time on Friday, the wheels are all usually full so I would recommend going right at 6. If you're new and you ask for assistance you'll get a great tour and they will work with you to get a wheel. Otherwise, the rest of the times I have gone have been a fail in securing a wheel:( My favorite part about this place is that the neighborhood cat likes to hang around. He's just the cutest little guy and is always working so hard at the front desk!

Our daughter, Aviana, joined Willow Tree in 2021, during COVID, as part of the first Tiger class…read morewhen she was three years old. After a wonderful nanny-share at home--where we could closely observe and control every aspect of her day--my wife and I were understandably nervous about transitioning her to preschool. We did extensive research and toured nearly ten preschools and daycares. Willow Tree immediately stood out. From the very beginning, it was clear that the director, Liu, and the entire staff were genuinely loving and attentive caregivers. From her first day, Aviana loved going to school. Her development accelerated noticeably--she made friends, gained confidence, and even happily ate the school-made lunches. We initially had questions about the Mandarin immersion program and whether it might delay Aviana's English development. Liu reassured us that the opposite would be true, explaining that children's brains at that age are "like sponges," capable of absorbing far more than we often realize. She was absolutely right. Aviana's English continued to flourish, and her Mandarin grew from zero to a working knowledge of the language--truly incredible. To sum it up: if we had to do it all over again, we would choose Willow Tree without hesitation. Two years later, we enrolled our younger daughter, Amelia, when she was just a year and a half old. She began in the Bunny class, moved on to Penguin, and is now in Tiger. She loves it. Her Mandarin is now as strong as her English, even though we speak only English at home. On more than one occasion, I've caught Amelia dreaming in Mandarin--a constant reminder of how much she has learned in such a short time. Willow Tree has provided an exceptional academic and developmental foundation for both of our girls, along with a truly welcoming and supportive community. As Amelia prepares to graduate, we know we'll remain connected through the friendships our daughters have built and the families we've come to know beyond the classroom. We couldn't be more grateful for Willow Tree.

My daughter is in their Bunny class and we have had a wonderful experience to date. The teachers…read moreare very communicative and we catch up frequently on her development, interests, and areas for more monitoring. The teachers have been so kind to her and to us, and I feel confident and comfortable knowing she is in a safe and nurturing space. She has gotten exposure to music, dancing, reading, art and of course - language and culture. My daughter has learned a lot of mandarin in school and often surprises me with the new words she learns! Where she has development areas, they have also told me about them and what they've done to help. The other perks are they provide meals and there are a lot of daily photos for me to see what she's up to. My husband and I are very grateful our daughter is taken care of and growing with Willow Tree.