Inconsistent, Unprofessional, and Ultimately a Waste of Time & Money…read more I am writing this review on behalf of my father, a retired military Veteran from India, who just completed 7 lessons with Brookline Driving School. Unfortunately, his experience was overwhelmingly disappointing and I would strongly advise you to look elsewhere. Our primary issue was the complete lack of consistency between instructors. He had at least three different teachers, primarily switching between Ervin and Vitaly. While Ervin was patient and seemed to genuinely enjoy teaching, the same cannot be said for his counterpart. Vitaly was, frankly, obnoxious. He lacked basic respect for his students, was often loud and visibly frustrated, creating an environment where my father felt intimidated and unable to ask questions. If you don't have the patience for this job, why are you in it? To make matters worse, he made uncalled-for and stereotypical "jokes" about Indians being bad drivers, which was completely unprofessional and offensive. The biggest practical problem arose from this inconsistency. Ervin and Vitaly taught completely different techniques for parallel parking. One would say to do it one way, and the next lesson, the other would contradict it. This constant change in instruction confused my father daily and shattered his confidence. The culmination of this failure was on his road test. He failed specifically because of the parallel parking maneuver. The conflicting advice from his own instructors left him unsure of the correct method, leading to a critical error. I hold Brookline Driving School 100% responsible for this. We are cutting our losses and heeding our neighbors' recommendation to try Waltham Driving School instead. Save your time, your money, and your sanity--go somewhere else. This school is unorganized and employs instructors who are not aligned, with at least one who lacks the basic demeanor required to teach.

I decided to try again despite my initial lesson and I'm so glad I did. Vladimir, Viktor and Ervin…read moreare compassionate, attentive and informative. Their lessons were worlds apart from my initial lesson. I took 5 lessons with these guys and I got my license this morning! I booked the test through the school and it went *chef's kiss* so smooth and stress-free. Shout out to the receptionist as well for being super informative about what to expect/bring for the test. This rating would be 5 stars if not for my initial experience. My advice to potential students - and this honestly goes against my own ethos: if you're not vibing with one of the instructors, try another! Though a business really only gets one chance to make a first impression - there are some really good instructors at this school. Don't let one experience stop you from your endgame.

I have gone to the Harvard Dental Center for decades, but something has broken their system They no…read morelonger answer their phone. They cancel appointments and don't help you rebook.

Terrible service. They pretend to be friendly but are solely interested in harvesting data and…read moreresearch for their teams. They spread my gum infection from one area in my mouth to other areas that previously experienced no infection! Lost teeth after going there. They had no intention of restoring my teeth -- only extraction, extraction, extraction. The worst moment was when my saliva suction device fell on the floor, my mouth was bleeding -- I asked for help. They pointed at the floor and said "its right there" gesturing me to reach for my own saliva suction MID procedure! FROM THE DIRTY ASS FLOOR. That alone let me know enough to never return.

I appreciate that they offer scholarships and have a supportive community for addressing questions…read moreand concerns. They seem to value the understanding and practice of herbalism.

There are not many herb schools in the country that cover the amazing depth and breadth of material…read morefound in the advanced course of study, modeled on Paul Bergner's teachings. If you're serious about studying herbs and you're located in the northeast or looking to move here, this school provides a rigorous practical background in the techniques and practices of traditional western herbalism. As a graduate of the apprenticeship and the two year advanced studies program, I highly recommend this school. When I moved to the northeast a quality herb school was high on my priority list, and I had completed an herbal apprenticeship elsewhere. I wanted to jump straight into the advanced program but was convinced by Katja to start with the apprenticeship and I'm so glad I did, because there was almost no overlap with my previous program. My knowledge of herbal energetics, actions and preparations, body systems, physiology and traditional food ways grew by leaps and bounds (before this I had a solid biology background). The vitalist principles foundational to holistic health; including sleep, movement, diet and stress management, are instilled throughout the coursework and laid the groundwork for my current practice. The apprenticeship is for all kinds of folks who want a foundation in herbal studies for personal education. The advanced program is great for anyone wanting to dive deeper, especially if they have questions about how to set up an herbal business. The advanced program includes training for the sorts of issues you are likely to encounter as an herbalist working in an urban setting. I find the staff knowledgeable and committed to excellence. Great if you want to really sink your teeth into the material. Substantial.

They sold a me a gift card then went out of business and never refunded the money. Don't trust…read morethem. Ever!

Something got me interested in glass blowing. I know myself, and I knew I probably wouldn't have…read moreheaps of fun... but it is something I wanted to experience for myself. After reading the reviews, I decided to go here. I took the glassblowing sampler, which serves as an introduction to the art. My two instructors were Matt and Pat. The first thing we did was go through the shop, and see what kinds of things they do. There were no visible sales tactics involved, more like a "this is what we do". Then we got to the room where the melted glass actually lives... now folks... they tell you to bring a bottle of water, bring one. Molten glass is incredibly hot, and therefore the room is too. They go over what we will be making, and how we will be making it, as well as things that could go wrong. In this glass we make paperweights. Then we go over safety and practice three times to make sure we got everything down. Yes, burns do happen, but they do everything they can to minimize the risk. When it is your turn, one of the instructors will be working with you one on one to guide you through the process, and ensure you don't get a burn from glass whose temperate well exceeds 1,000 degrees. However, this is where this place lost some stars. When it was my turn, Pat was the person working with me. While I appreciate his help, he did many things that were extra, and unrelated to safety, such as spinning the rod. While minor, and while I was the one manipulating the glass, I still felt it took away from the experience. It was more like me assisting him than him assisting me. You don't get the opportunity to "blow" into the glass in this class, but it was demonstrated to us at the end. Some more notes: Instructors were fairly chill, but no-nonsense dudes. When you have molten glass, joking around is very dangerous. The owner has a great sense of humor! And finally, molten glass is very viscous. It is not as easy to manipulate as it looks. In conclusion: if I had enjoyed glass blowing, I would return here. But, alas, I found it was not for me. Definitely worth it for the experience though!

I've been a member at Artisan's Asylum since 2017, and it's been one of the most meaningful…read morecreative communities I've been part of. I started out pretty tentatively, just learning and exploring. Over time, I got more involved and eventually became the laser shop lead for four years. That experience opened the door for me to build a small business creating bamboo candle lanterns and piggy banks--something I never would have been able to do on my own without access to the tools and support there. That's really what makes a makerspace like this so special. You get access to equipment that would be wildly expensive (and impractical) to own yourself, and you're surrounded by people who are both learning and generously sharing what they know. A recent moment really drove that home for me. I needed to test out my tent system for an upcoming show, but the weather outside was terrible. I was able to set everything up in the common space and run a full test. Honestly--such a small thing, but incredibly helpful, and exactly the kind of flexibility that makes this place so valuable. These days, my focus has shifted to painting, and having studio space at the Asylum has been just as important for this next chapter. I have the room I need to work in encaustic, lay out panels, prep surfaces, and wrap finished pieces for transport. The shared spaces make all of that possible in a way that would be hard to replicate anywhere else. It's a welcoming, diverse environment with something for everyone--whether you're just curious or looking to build something serious. If you've ever thought about trying something new, take a class and see where it leads. You might surprise yourself. Time to get creative.

completed the jewelry 101 course. Fantastic instructor who led us through a series of steps…read morelearning the correct techniques on every tool in the Artisan's Asylum jewelry shop. We completed a ring (which my wife liked) over the two day 6 hour course. I have had some previous experience but this was an excellent learning process that taught me many things that improved my skills. Highly recommend taking this learning journey!! Great value for your money.

Amazing campus, although it would be better if they had a flagpole out front of the school and…read moreflags in each classroom and a flag in the gym to make it feel more like a school and comfortable

In 1994, I attended The Ivy Street School when it had only three students: Mary, Melissa, and…read moremyself. My experience there was deeply troubling and traumatic. The environment was unstable, and the students were treated as if they didn't matter. The treatment I received was beyond what any young person should have to endure. Things became so unbearable that I ran away, terrified of what was happening to me at the school. After leaving, I found myself homeless. Thankfully, I met kind people who helped me get back on my feet. Through my own determination, I earned my GED and went on to attend college. Looking back, it's clear to me that the school was more interested in the funding they received than in truly helping students. In fact, they kept several thousand dollars that rightfully belonged to me. When I recently called them to request my records for a legal matter, they refused to provide them, something I find very suspicious, especially since schools are required to maintain records. It raises the question of what they might be trying to hide. I also recall that one of the staff members lived permanently at the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and was using the school's programs, and its students, for personal gain. To any parents considering this school for their children: please think twice. My experience was damaging, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. There are better, safer, and more supportive environments out there. This was not one of them.

I've been going to BMS for over a year now for piano lessons. As an adult student, I felt just as…read morewelcomed to the school as the younger students who seem to makeup a large part of the school. I played piano for approximately 10 years as a child and was looking to pick it up again after 12 years of not playing and taking lessons. Registration was easy when I first signed up for classes. I spoke with Greg, and he was really thorough with all available options and has always been thorough in answering my questions. I've never run into issues with the administration and think they are generally well-organized and friendly. They do the best to accommodate your schedule; I recently was able to extend my lesson time with no problem. I can't speak for all the teachers, but seems they hire teachers with exceptional credentials. I've been taking lessons from Jayoung since I started. With my hectic schedule between work and going back to school to get my Master's, I don't always have the time to practice as much as I like; however, she is extremely patient and understanding. She also is a good listener when it comes to my interests in repertoire and has guided me through some songs I always wanted to learn, but never tried due to the complexity. She has confidence in her students, and never have I heard her tell me that I wasn't capable of playing a song. The facility itself is an older house in Brookline. Some of the rooms may be a little cramped, but I think the building is perfect for what it is. There is no shortage of lesson rooms, and I've never had issues with being able to practice in another room right before my lesson (just check with administration first). Highly recommended!

The teachers are generally very competent and kind and work well with children. A special shout…read moreout to Julianne Johnston for flute, Tomoko Iwamoto and Konstantin Arakelov for violin, and Tom the dance teacher, who are all excellent. The school as a whole maintains a nice community feel.

An old friend is a prominent member and instructor, Dale Savit. This past fall we drove east for…read morefall colors, clam chowder,and a couple of Dale's pieces. This is a great place to visit if you can, and hey, it's across a parking lot from Sam Adams brewery too!

I always stop in here during the JP Open Studios and this past weekend (Sept 2012) I actually…read morebought a small installation. Extremely fair price. You can wonder around the whole studio and see pieces in various states of creation. You can't miss the giant sculptures outside. If I ever have unlimited cash, I'll be back to buy one or two of those things. Check it out if you have any interest in metalworks. They have classes too! The piece I bought was by Walter Clark at outsideartist@live.com and www.outsideartist-inside2.com. I also uploaded a pic of the framed metal woman's head to encourage you to check them out!

Third Space was the perfect venue for our bachelorette party activity. The cooking class was…read morefast-paced and interesting, the food was delicious, and the atmosphere--with music, BYOB & time to socialize--was super enjoyable!

We hosted a pasta making birthday party at this spacious and updated space. The kids had a great…read moretime making the fettuccine from scratch and decorating the birthday cupcakes. At the end, they sat down to eat together and enjoyed their creations. The chef instructor was wonderful too!