I've done two pottery experiences with Joan from Family Tree Pottery, and both were absolutely…read morewonderful. The first was at Griffo Distillery for my birthday -- she was amazing! So kind, patient, and incredibly talented. She made the whole experience feel fun and welcoming. After that, I set up a private class with her at her studio for a group of friends, and we had the best time. She had a huge assortment of ceramics to paint and offered tons of creative ideas and guidance while still letting everyone make their projects their own. Both experiences were relaxed, inspiring, and so much fun. I can't recommend Joan and Family Tree Pottery enough -- I will definitely be back!!!

I had a great experience with Painted Cellars! I attended a Paint & Sip with my 90 year old mom at…read moreher assisted living community. I was afraid it would be too difficult for Mom, but it is an easy step by step type of painting, which I also appreciated because I am also a beginner. (I did prompt Mom a few times but she painted it herself!) Very enjoyable and satisfying event! Highly recommend!

Fun event! Easy step by step instructions for beginners like me. Will be back again for a winter…read moreproject. Food/drinks need to be purchased for those wondering.

I am beyond excited for the custom sign i ordered! The craftsmanship is incredible and fits…read moreperfectly with my farm house style! Seriously do yourself a favor and order a custom sign or book a Sip and Paint party, you won't be disappointed!

We had the most AMAZING time last night with Boards and Bottle at Moonlight brewing. Go to one of…read moretheir events with anyone and you will have an amazing time. Also, would be so fun to plan an event at home for a party! Check them out and go to an event soon. Kristen is so sweet and helpful and you can be creative or stick to something simple. No need to be an artist because it's a simple idea you can take home to cherish or give to someone else!! Perfect valentines and fun!

Creative and fun intimate environment, great for couples and hidden away from the social public…read morepath. Scott's unique take on pottery and patience guiding a beginner eased the anxiety of having to be perfect my first time on the wheel.

I love this charming local art center and have enjoyed many exhibits here over the years. Today we…read morevisited the Wayne Thiebaud exhibition, which was absolutely fabulous. I've seen a number of his works before at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, but several of the pieces on display today were new to me--such a treat to experience different works up close. The gift shop is small yet thoughtfully curated, featuring items inspired by the current exhibit along with creations by talented local artisans. Admission is very reasonable, and students receive discounted entry at just $10. Donations are also warmly welcomed and help support this wonderful community art space.

Way too hot to stay indoors, the sound was terrible at the Jerry Garcia show on Sunday. The guitar…read morewas way too loud. You couldn't hear the vocals. The people with their cell phone don't respect your personal boundaries. I will never buy a ticket here again very disappointing.

I had the absolute best experience at the most recent paint night Alana & Her mom are the absolute…read moresweetest duo & I will definitely be going to more events!

Alana and her mother are the sweetest ever! Alana is incredibly talented and a great teacher. I…read morereally enjoyed that she gave us lessons on mixing colors, and did her own painting so we were able to copy what she was doing. But she also gave us space to focus on our projects. I will absolutely be taking another class. Alana and her mom make you feel like you've been friends forever!

This is a very cool place for anyone interested in crafts and arts. The woodworking equipment is…read moreexceptional and state of the art. There are a variety of other art stations to meet the variety of arts and crafts interests. The staff folk are friendly and helpful. It is definitely worth checking out.

A Maker's Dream // Stellar Non-Profit Superb Community //…read moreClasses Galore Imagine making all of DIY projects that you saved on Pinterest. Or repurposing some old materials into something new. Maybe you have other purchases in mind rather than photoshop suite, a space to shoot objects, a table saw, a compressor, drills, or a welding rod. Creative tools can be expensive... why not share instead of investing in something you will use only a few times? Well, you can thank your lucky stars you stumbled across this place, and thank the Mother/Son team who built the organization along with other contributors and volunteers. Lots of love has poured into Chimera. A dream come true for anyone who wants to take on new project or learn a new skill. Walking around I couldn't help but notice creativity fills every inch of the space, a 100 year old Truck converted to battery powered by solar, a fun frisbee game welded out of bicycle tires, chains and a stand... a two seater recumbent bike (maybe a burning man creation?) awesome sculptures hanging inside. I feel fortunate to have come here with friends to work on another friend's project. We spent the day in the space working quietly and met a handful of people. Including an inventor who was volunteering at the front desk, and a web designer who helps fellow makers create an online presence and market their work. Helpful, cheerful, and excited about what this space is for the community each and every person lit up with a smile when they talked about how great Chimera is. With entry level memberships at around $10 per visit, it's affordable for even a dabbler or someone from out of town who wants to rent an airbnb and have a long weekend of tinkering. Conveniently located near downtown, the community market (also a NPO, run by VERY nice volunteers) is across the street offering locally made food, and an organic food bar. There is a CVS several doors down, and downtown has a variety of restaurants and a whole foods market too. If you're still reading, you're clearly curious... Come learn how to 3D Print, or use a laser cutting machine, weld, sew, make jewlery, and then photograph your Etsy worthy pieces and have a great time! Need photoshop or video editing? They have computer stations you can use too. Such a great spot! Come on by and say hello. I promise they're friendly. The Scene: Artsy Fun, Creatives, Inventors, Co-Working Destination Rating: 9 Date Rating: 10 Hob Nob Potential:9 Strong Suggestion: Even if you do not live close by it would be worth the drive. GREAT space, lovely town. *** Note: If you have any tools that you would like to donate, I believe they can provide a tax deduction and the community would be grateful.

A neat surprise of two separate galleries, one art, and the other history. Very interactive and…read moreawesomely local! FYI, it took me about an hour at the history museum in about 30 minutes in the art museum. Art: this museum is the one story building that is on the corner of B St, and very conspicuous with the signs on the wall. I hear that the exhibitions rotate every five months or so and is the contemporary art side of the museum. It's a smaller of the two galleries but definitely worth a visit. History: as someone who is not very familiar with the county, I did not know that this was the post office that used to be on 5th Street, some blocks over from its current location. There's more explanation inside the history museum if you are interested in learning more! The second floor is the permanent exhibition regarding the history of Santa Rosa. The first floor seems to be rotating exhibitions. *I actually found the exhibitions at the history museum quite engaging as they put a lot of interactive elements such as wine tasting (reservations needed) and a petting zoo for band instruments and a chance to listen to music using a turntable and cassette tapes. I usually visit most museums once, but I would definitely love to come back to the history museum in the future- and maybe bring some friends and family so they can also enjoy this magnificent space as well.

Be Still My Art Art…read moreand history museum located in the heart of Downtown Santa Rosa that's been celebrating the region's history and art scene for over forty years (ca. 1985). The Good: *More than the name implies, as it's not just a history museum but also an art museum, as well as a sculpture garden. *Staff were incredibly helpful and friendly. *$12/adult, $10/senior, and $6/kid makes this an inexpensive option for things to do, especially on a rainy day. *The art section of this museum is truly incredible. There were some truly beautiful pieces of art on display here that left us mesmerized. The Meh: *Only open Wed - Sun. *The history section of this museum was just OK, but maybe it just didn't hold up to the art portion. The Ugly: *Paid street parking only. Conclusion: Great little museum to come check out when visiting the area and a good way to kill an hour or two.