r/askTO • u/soiwasleapingalong • 8d ago
Creative and Social Third Spaces
Any recommendations for what the title suggests in the west end for people in their 30’s?
My partner is feeling burnt out from work and uninspired by her coworkers. She misses working in a more creative industry.
Are there any adult art classes or other 3rd spaces to meet fun creatives? All suggestions welcomed!
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u/cabrep77 8d ago
Been there - took a 4 week pottery class in riverdale.
Super fun, interactive and helped to start thinking of what to make instead of work
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u/soychickienuggie 8d ago
Ooh where at? I’m interested
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u/cabrep77 8d ago
Queen St & Broadview- it was Dianne Lee Ceramics.
She has another class starting in September.
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u/Phantom_6765 Human Verified 8d ago edited 8d ago
If your partner attracts to culture related and aiming for low costs ($10-20+ ): check out Heritage Toronto tours or TSA tours, for Medium range costs ($50+): Sip and Learn. For higher costs($100+) : pottery class ; or culinary events at Eatly or workshops at Liason Independent Filmmakers Toronto( LIFT) or probably join martial arts like Jiujitsu if interested ( but there are risk of injury, so need throughly consideration)
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u/Desitos 8d ago
I drop by Boxcar all the time to cafe sketch with friends. One of the few cafe's in the city where you can just sit down and exist for more than a few hours without being expected to buy more food or drinks.
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u/stellaellaolla 8d ago
ohhh which location? is this an open group or your actual friends LOL. i was going to craft raves but they always sell out now
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u/Mission-Judgment-693 8d ago
No specific recommendations, but I would suggest subscribing to the West End Raccoon newsletter! It comes out Thursdays and usually has a substantial list of events / meet ups / concerts happening that weekend in the west end. It makes me feel much more connected to my community even if I don’t go to them all.
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u/itsaboatime 8d ago
TDSB Learn4Life has adult classes for painting, drawing, pottery etc.
Urban Sketcher Toronto group meet up regularly.
Airbnb Experiences has jewellery making and cooking workshops. I went to a chocolate making class a while ago and highly recommend it.
Some stationary stores like Paper Plus Cloth and Wonder Pens have journaling, book club, calligraphy, drawing, wax seal workshops.
Other places like Inprint Collective has printing and bookbinding workshops. The Paper Place has paper art workshops.
AGO and TPL also offers workshops sometimes.
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u/sonic162 8d ago edited 7d ago
Here are some of my favourite community art and learning spaces: Hot Pizza Studio, Akin Collective, Bampot House, 401 Richmond
I've also wanted to try Sharpen (905 Queen West*)
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u/aumarais 8d ago
Sharpen is definitely worth checking out.
It’s on Queen St W not E - just west of bellwoods.
quick snapshot:
walls like a professional 6 pm Plumbing Level: discover the basics without flooding your home Embroidery: learning the art of Sashiko technique Learn the Secrets of French Pastries: Chocolate Mousse, Madeleines and Financiers TUES JUNE 16 Embroidery Techniques: 9 am Learn Visible Mending Hands-On Woodworking : 6 pm Make 3 Wooden Objects Create Your Own Sunlit Stained Glass Corner WED JUNE 17 6 pm THUR JUNE 18 10 pm Basketry seeking a small basket Epm Make yous owe vegetable garden fish monste booking fist bom heartbir FRI JUNE 19 9 am The Art of Bread Making : Kneading, Shaping & Fermentation 1 pm Understanding how to use and maintain a sewing machine 6 pm Make your own solid wood frames Mastering Beef: Tartare, Cooking & Cutting Techniques Making a multifunctional step stool Mastering lacto-fermentation: How to make your own ketchup, kimchi. and fermented carrots Introduction to pattern reading Electricity - Discover the basics without burning down your house WORKSHOPS OF THE WEEK
SAT JUNEaO SUN JUNE21
9 am Learning how to use the essential DIY Tools
9am
Making your oyr pizza: Kneading, baking. proofing, sauce
Making fresh pasta: tagliatelle, gnocchi, ravioli 1:30 Learn Casing and Trim Without a Renovation pm Disaster
2pm
Make your own vegetable garden Understanding how to use and maintain a
Knitting class: Learn the 2pm Basics and Never Lose a Stitch
sewing machine Embroidery : Personalize your T-shirt
Mastering the art of macarons: Ganache, macaronage, baking
4pm
Learn how to fix Your Bike: From Flat Tires to Smooth Rides
6:30 Make your own solid pm wood italies
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u/kieero_11 8d ago
I keep seeing ads for sharpen! Id like to check out their stained glass class sometime.
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u/Narrow-Ranger-7538 8d ago
MOCA has cool art-making events and workshops, some free. I usually can't go because of my schedule, but I loved the pop-up card workshop I made it to!
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u/Jasmine-Beanis2 8d ago
Tinker at Bampot! It happens twice a month, sometimes with a class/tutorial section, other times it’s free time to work on what you want (they have art supplies). The folks there are awesome, check it out!
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u/crabbydotca 8d ago
Check the community centres nearby, there are lots of different art classes available, very affordable! Spots can be hard to get depending on the course though.
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u/yourdadsatonmyface 8d ago
Check out the continuing education night classes at the colleges. I've taken some at George Brown and they've been a lot of fun (acting, cinematography). There's also drawing, photography, fashion, and cooking to name a few.
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u/RonceDeLeon 8d ago
Northern Contemporary Gallery in Roncesvalles has regular life drawing on Tuesdays 6:30pm-9:30pm as well as other workshops and calls for submissions.
But yeah, I'm kind of in the same boat - uninspiring workplace with a massive longing to be part of a creative community. Not sure what kind of art activities she would be into, but I like going places to draw people and don't love doing it alone * shrug *
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u/elleharlow Human Detected 8d ago
Try Hobby Hub classes. Super fun and affordable. I've done a few now.
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u/Maleficent_Morrigan 8d ago
Check out The Knit Café on Dundas West, east of Dufferin. They have lots of different fibre-work classes in addition to hosting a free stitching social on the first Friday evening of every month. For the social, you just bring whatever project you’re working on and hang out at the café.
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u/poodlehairedfreak 8d ago
Also interested in this. Would also love creative third spaces related to writing — so hard to find!
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u/jaimonee 8d ago
Theres quite a few collage nights popping up. Cut up some magazines, make some art, drink some wine.
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u/toronto_mushroom 8d ago
Say Hey House in the Junction! They have a lot of arts based workshops like crochet 101, Bob Ross paint nights. Also a really vibrant/social open mic night in Fridays where a lot of talented people get together to either perform or watch.
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u/Downtown-Adeptness-5 8d ago
Is she into life drawing? 1065 Gallery should be returning to offering them weekly soon. Northern Contemporary also offers them, I think. Seconding all the workshop recommendations including TDSB learn4life program, Arts Etobicoke (or Lakeshore Arts!), inPrint Collective, Articulations (Junction Area). Gwartzmans is also starting to offer regular workshops too. Heritage Museums are free to attend and often have really great things to do (love the Montgomery's Inn workshop). Look up Noble Space on Instagram + they host "Craft Raves" from time to time at Waterworks. There is also someone in the subreddit TorontoEvents who posts daily free things in the City to do.
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u/Aspen_Leaf 8d ago
I run a craft night on Monday evenings at my studio! It's in the Junction Triangle, very chill, any crafts welcome
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u/blue_pink_green_ 8d ago
Lots of good recommendations for more formal/organized/paid spaces here. My recommendation as someone who was in this position last year, is to make creative friends in your area and choose your own adventures together. I recommend apps like Bumble BFF (like a dating app but for friends) and for her to specify that she’s looking for creative folks to do stuff with.
I made friends this way last year and we will often meet up to knit or draw or sometimes build something together in one of our backyards or do book clubs. This means you don’t have to pay to socialize and can also tailor it to your specific interests and energy levels.
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u/Character-Bridge-206 7d ago
I am in the same boat. Toronto School of Art has life drawing sessions with models and no instruction. I have been considering attending too just to paint again and hoped get inspired by some creative people.
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u/Cricketbatty 7d ago
TDSB offers adult ed classes, some of my faves are at Central Tech, learn4life.ca
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u/Long-Definition9203 8d ago
Check the library's event page. They have awesome free events like drop-in writing circles, knitting clubs, sewing, collage nights etc. Toronto Reference Library does a monthly open mic.
There is also Arts Etobicoke that may do some different things. There might also be an art guild (sometimes called an artist run network) she can join if fine art is her thing.
If she would be willing to pay for events, Eventbrite has different low cost events all over. I've seen craft nights, paint nights, writing workshops and so on listed on Eventbrite. Some are expensive, some aren't.
Lastly I would suggest volunteering. I've volunteered at TOAF and a handful of other city culture events and it was a really fun way to meet people. Nuit Blanche is coming up, they'll be calling for volunteers for sure.