I'm not sure what this place is supposed to be. Their phone doesn't work, they don't answer emails…read morevery well from their contact page on their website, and their open house was more of a group meeting. I decided not to apply to be a member but this whole setup was confusing from the info I got from the site. Good luck getting in contact with them. Maybe my expectations of online communication was too much for them.

I wonder if people know about this? I feel like they should, thus here I am writing a review about…read moreit. Truth be told, I wish I had more detailed information about Akron Makerspace, because the space here is truly awesome. I found out about it at Ingenuity Fest 2017, where I learned that they offer both classes and open houses for "makers" or wannabe makers. I sort of stored it in the back of my mind, and decided to try it out around my boyfriend's birthday. I signed us up for a CNC cutting class for about $50/person. If you aren't familiar with CNC cutting, it's basically a very high level computer program that allows you to engrave wood or metal in a very detailed fashion (sorry if there are any nerds out there that are screaming at the computer saying "NO, NO, it's so much more than that!). Truthfully, CNC is much more than that, but Akron Makerspace seeks to condense what would normally be a 6 week course into a few hours so you can go home with something you made. Pretty awesome huh? Lest you be deterred thinking, computer programming? That doesn't sound like me... They have a TON of other stuff here! I'd tell you to check out their website, but really, that wouldn't even tell you all the stuff they have here. The best way is to just drop in and see what it's all about. They do offer open houses weekly where folks can just drop in to check it out, or get help from the expert makers on a project they are working on. Some examples are: welding, vinyl cutting, jewelry and stamp making, robotics, wood carving... the list goes on and on. Basically, if there's something you want to make and you just aren't sure where to start, THIS is the place. They do offer memberships for $35/month which can get you open access to the space (you get a fancy key and everything) and access to all their equipment, as well as a storage space for your projects. I do think the classes are a fun way to get your foot in the door, as they have several different ones (there's a calendar on their website). I'm told that they are planning on collaborating with some local restaurants to do some date night offerings, which I think would be awesome. All in all, this place is definitely worth a visit, and creative people will love how much they have to offer!

Do you need to weld something but don't have a welder or know how to use it? Ditto for woodworking,…read moremetal working, sewing, laser cutting, and the list goes on and on. If you need to build something and don't want to invest thousands of dollars for one too, check out TechShop. They will teach you how to use the tool and you are on the road for building a giant fire-breathing monster for a holiday parade. Also, the handicapped bathroom is huge. It's like a mini office.

Closed as of November 2017 the makerspace just outside of…read moreDetroit in Allen Park, MI, informing me of upcoming events and membership deals. Just two weeks later, an email from TechShop CEO Dan Woods hit my inbox announcing that all 10 wholly owned locations in the US are closed

It's a "store" only in the abstract sense... everything is free. Whenever a dorm occupant…read moreliquidates some of their things, they end up here. Bring some stuff, drop some stuff off. The selection varies wildly depending on time of year, but there's always a nice selection of clothing. The concept of the free store originated with the Digger movement of San Francisco of the 1960s. They had a free store on Haight Street where soldiers on leave could walk in looking like a soldier and walk out looking like a hippie, then they would probably go AWOL and ditch Vietnam. Nowadays it's a great way to curb the awful waste of our culture through re-use. As the website says, you need to swipe your card to get into the building. If you can't find someone to let you in, you can call the store and they'll come up and get you.

I highly recommend the free "store"--especially at the beginning of the year, when all the stuff…read morefrom the seniors that moved out last year is still there. Any freshmen looking to outfit their new dorm room or upperclassmen moving into a house should definitely check it out. I mean, come on: it's free.

Staff cannot be helpfui enough. Want a drink? A bite to eat? A game selection to play? How to play?…read moreThey're right on the spot to help you. Roomy facility with PLENTY of games to play! Staff is friendly and enthusiastic. Stop by and have a good time!

Immaculate vibes. Games for days. There's so many to choose from, and the staff was passionate and…read moreexcited to assist our group. The games are very well organized, and there's even a suggestions list on the wall. Not to leave out, the lights and art make for a fantasy cottage core immersive space. I love shrooms! But obvi, The main reason to come here is for the games. You want cat games? They got purrfect choices! Pandas? Uh-huh that have it! Racoons? You bandit believe it! Wanna watch your friends meeples get eaten by sharks? You can hear with Survior Island! Parks and Trails? Have no fear... they got it here! Criminal games? Allegedly they have them ;) They have so many, that it was overwhelming to choose. Prices are fair, with about a $5 fee/gamer, with set times of 3 hours max typically. I'm sure if it was empty and if they didn't have other resi's or a waitlist, you could hang longer, especially if you have an extra $5 or something... Weekends, espeically in the winter, will be more crowded so be aware if others make you nervous. I personally get nervous about gaming when others are around. My brain shuts down and I loose critical thinking skills necessary to win. And winning is life. Onward, the food was meh. I ordered the cheese flatbread 'Za, hoping to channel my inner teenage mutant ninja turtle and smash my fellow turtle completion. But the pizza was bland. It was like pita with cheese on. I'd say, go somewhere else and get food, and go here for the games and dranks. The latte was delicious, and I actually ordered a second. It was just the extra sweetness & energy boost I needed to crush my competition. You already know I like to check out the restrooms. They had two gender neutral large accessible restrooms, from what I discovered on my exploration, and they were clean, with adequate lighting and finishes. Parking is scattered across the street, but there's the large westside market lot available. With Mitchell's Icecream (yes the train was working at this one last time I went), Ohio City Burrito, and a plethora of options, you can't go wrong! Now, back to the games - I will say, some of the games are very advanced and will require extensive set up and knowledge on how to play. If there's game you're interested in playing, and you have little knowledge, I recommend looking up the rules first and checking out tutorial vids. Otherwise, you'll waste a lot of time figuring out the logistics. If you wanna go from bored to board games, I recommend this place!

Driving up from Columbus to Oberlin, Ohio on a little mini adventure, decided to check out a fresh…read morelocation for an established yarn store. First off, Oberlin is a comfortable college town, and the parking is stress-free. I sometimes worry a lot about where I'm going to park when I go somewhere on a busy Saturday in summer. Parking worked. The business was previously in a 300 square foot two story home, and space was tight. Now it's in an expansive 3000+ square foot showcase space with tall ceilings, wrought iron support beams and plenty of room to move around. With some yarn stores you feel like you're bumping into things, but not here. It's well laid out, with a large community space in the middle of the floor, well-built tables and chairs. You feel like you can really take your time to both shop and work on projects here. For more formal classes, there's also a dedicated back area with loads of fun art on the walls. The entire space is well lit and inspirational. Exactly what you want in a local yarn store! Prices are in-line with what you'd expect, so the value is very good, especially given the fact that you can walk out with your selections on the spot. I love supporting local businesses and also appreciate the immediate gratification of getting what I need right then and there. The selection was the best I've seen in a long time! Some of my favorites were Spincycle Yarn, Cocoknits accessories, and we even picked up a hand-forged iron yarn bowl that will be a centerpiece of our home maker space. Atenti bags were also well represented in various shapes, sizes and color schemes. This family owned business made me feel super comfortable shopping around, and had answers to all of my questions. At the time of this writing, the store had only been open at this location for just over two weeks, and you can tell that it's going to do well.

This yarn shop is worth the drive! It's filled with beautiful yarns displayed by weight, dellaQ…read moreproject bags, baskets, notions, and more. The owner Lisa, is friendly, inviting, and very knowledgeable. She suggested a beautiful non-superwash yarn for a vest I'll be knitting. And, John was very helpful and suggested a great place for lunch. I think there is something there for every yarn collector.

Such a cool space! Kaiser gallery is an Art gallery AND a bar AND they have charcuterie boards AND…read morethe have an outdoor patio AND is located in the heart of Tremont! They host monthly life drawing workshops, community critiques and art openings. Parking can be a little difficult around here but it's totally worth it! Tonya, the owner?, is super friendly, knowledgeable and a great conversationalist. The bartender is great and the cocktails are fantastic!

COVID Update! I visited The Galleries on a whim yesterday. They just opened a new show featuring…read morework by Cleveland's Laura and Gary Dunn and Evie Zimmer. It's a great mix of pop and abstract art. They require masks and have updated their format for one way traffic. Be sure to visit to check out this exhibit!

The Galleries at CSU FEEDS MY SOUL. I know that's dramatic, but I can't exclaim enough the free,…read moreurban treasure that is The Galleries. A part of Cleveland State University, you can easily see the window display from Euclid Avenue, but don't be deceived. While the doors look locked, you can absolutely enter. This gallery simply shares a door with other businesses located in their building. If it's locked, feel free to buzz, and one of the friendly gallery assistants will let you in. The Galleries consistently hosts some of the most innovative and internationally recognized artists. If anything, you must, at a minimum, stop by for the annual People's Art Show. The People's Art Show is a free, unjuried, uncensored exhibition celebrating creativity, diversity, and imagination. Any artist can contribute, and any person can purchase a piece of artwork directly off the wall. The amount of ingenuity, perspective and originality that sprawls from this exhibit is utterly fascinating. Regardless of the exhibition, you can spend a solid 1-2 hours exploring through this robust gallery. Once you enter, it's surprising how much quality art there is to absorb. The gallery starts in one open room, weaves through a narrow hallway, and expansively opens into another high-ceiling showroom. Take the time to wander, ask questions, and soak in the talent represented in this gallery!