Learn Something New!

Take a private pottery class from Alma Design Studio, whose clients include local restaurants like Canon and Franquette. (Photo by Greg Ashley, headline lettering by Angela Southern)

BECOME A GUITAR HERO

Admit it: You’d still love to be a rock star one day. Wouldn’t we all? Lucky for us, one bona fide rock star would love to be your music teacher. After spending roughly two decades as the bassist for Cake (playing on hits like “Never There” and “Short Skirt/Long Jacket”), Gabriel Nelson retired from the Sacramento-born band in 2015 and has since focused on teaching average-Joe Strummers like you to rock the casbah here in his hometown, at Kline Music near Land Park. “I really love doing it. I feel very fortunate to work with people on music,” he says. During Nelson’s half-hour one-on-one lessons in either guitar or electric bass, you can learn everything from reading music to composing your own anthem to nailing that epic guitar solo on “Stairway to Heaven.” $120 for four lessons or $150 for five. 2200 Sutterville Rd. klinemusic.com

MAKE A MULVANEY’S MEAL

Mulvaney’s B&L is synonymous with Sacramento’s farm-to-fork movement, so the chance to shadow executive chef John Trujillo to the nearby Midtown Farmers Market and take his ultra-seasonal cooking class is an invitation to dig into our culinary roots. During the outing, you’ll first learn to pick out the best produce our region has to offer at the Saturday market. Then at the restaurant, Trujillo and his team will teach prepping and cooking techniques—from grilling vegetables to working pasta dough—while you and your fellow classmates help whip up a four-course lunch using all that farm-fresh bounty before sitting down to savor the fruits (and vegetables) of your labor. The fall dates for the monthly cooking class, which accommodates up to 20 people, are Sept. 12, Oct. 24, and Nov. 14, so get ready to eat your heart out. $150. 1215 19th St. 916-441-6022. eventbrite.com

Photo by Rachel Vetterlein, Courtesy of Mulvaney’s B&L

GO DANCING WITH THE BROADWAY STARS

Want to channel your inner Bob Fosse or Chita Rivera? You can chassé one step closer to the Great White Way alongside some of today’s  greats as part of Broadway Sacramento’s musical theater dance classes. Disney stage vet Brian Steven Shaw—whose credits include performing in the Broadway version of Frozen  and in the national tour of The Little Mermaid—leads 90-minute classes in styles ranging from Fosse jazz to character-inflected hip-hop, with a beginners’ class every Monday and a more advanced class on Wednesdays at the UC Davis Health Pavilion, home of Music Circus. Meanwhile, in the special appearance department, Broadway Sacramento also offers dance workshops in which cast members from its musical productions teach toe-tapping choreography from their shows, including this winter’s A Christmas Carol on Dec. 14. $35. 1419 H St. broadwaysacramento.com

EARN A LICENSE TO KILN

If you’re a child of the ’90s with a keen appreciation for Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze’s chemistry in Ghost, then a pottery class might just be the best date night ever. And although solo students and platonic pairs are equally welcome here, the fact that this class from Sacramento’s Alma Design Studio is limited to two participants has us primed to swoon. You’ll learn from the artisanal pottery atelier responsible for some of the most stunning dishes, bowls and cups in our region’s restaurants, from new neighborhood favorites like Oak Park’s Oaxaca to Michelin-recognized standouts like Canon. Alejandra Magaña—who owns Alma with her husband, Luis—takes the wheel to teach the two-and-a-half-hour lesson in clay spinning, and each student walks away with at least two pieces, which the Magañas glaze and fire in the kiln right alongside their restaurant-bound masterworks. To which we say, tableware for two, please! $110 per person. 200 N 16th St. 916-716-8932. almadesign.co

CRAFT A SIGNATURE SCENT

“Smell is a potent wizard that transports us across a thousand miles and all the years we have lived,” wrote Helen Keller. If so, then Sun Kissed & Co.’s two-hour workshop with owner Kimberly Lim may prove a potent experience from which you’ll emerge with an olfactory keepsake of your own making—a 10-milliliter rollerball (about six months’ worth) of bespoke perfume. Along the way, you’ll learn the art of fragrance layering with scents that are heady yet headache-free. After suffering migraines from heavily scented products, Lim began creating scents in her Pocket-area home in 2020 using vegan ingredients that are also phthalate- and paraben-free, and launched her fragrance line the following year. The perfume pro brings a baker’s dozen of scents for mixing and matching to the workshops, which she hosts at Curtis Park’s Hey Daisy Studio (the next ones will take place on Sept. 20 and Nov. 8). Her favorite combo? The sweet, floral notes of jasmine, caramel and pistachio in her Shawty It’s Beautiful scent, paired with the pear, apple and sugar of We Are Pear-fect. Botanical bonus: A tree is planted with each workshop-ticket purchase. $60. 3444 24th St. shopsunkissedandco.com

Courtesy of Sun Kissed & Co.

SING LIKE AN AMERICAN IDOL

Got a song in your heart? Practiced and novice vocalists alike can tune up their instruments at Roseville’s Emmett Hayes Voice Studio. A former Hollywood casting producer who has served as a vocal coach for singers like American Idol  finalist LaToya London and The Voice  finalist Kristen Brown, Hayes brings out the songbird in his students over the course of a month, which includes four private lessons and one group class. So whether you’re a little bit country or a little bit rock ’n’ roll (or pop or R&B)—the sessions are tailored to each singer’s style and taste—you’ll be singing a different tune in no time. $295 per month. 313 Judah St. Roseville. 916-237-6399. emmetthayes.com

TEST THE WATERS

If you’ve ever contemplated sticking an oar in the water—literally, not figuratively—you’re in the right place. Current Adventures Kayak School and Trips owner and instructor Dan Crandall calls Folsom’s Lake Natoma “the best place in the whole state of California” to learn how to kayak. Steady water levels, low motorboat traffic and bursting natural beauty collude to make this 4.5-mile-long haven between Folsom and Nimbus dams a perfect spot for a newbie’s idyll. The locally based Current Adventures offers a three-hour beginners’ kayaking class from April through October. Each on-the-water session doubles as a wildlife expedition, during which you may spot turtles, ducks, bald eagles and more. $79. 1032 Lotus Rd. Lotus. 888-452-9254. currentadventures.com

Courtesy of Current Adventures Kayak School and Trips

TURN INTO A GLASS ACT

If the fragile, colorful fantasies on Netflix’s glassblowing reality show Blown Away  have ever, well, blown you away, then Rainbow Glass Inc. near American River College is where you’ll find your pot of gold. Alongside glass-fusing and stained-glass workshops, their hottest offering (thanks in part to a 2,100-degree kiln) is glassblowing. A veteran artist of over 50 years—who studied under the glass master Dale Chihuly himself—Philip Teefy leads sessions where up to four people learn to tease colorful blobs into vivid creations. Students can choose between crafting a bowl, a vase or a drinking glass, working side by side with Teefy during the four-hour lesson. Get ready to blow up a polychromatic storm. $125. 4556 Auburn Blvd. 916-483-3843. rainbowglassart.com

GET A TASTE OF YOUR OWN MEDICINE

A spoonful of sugar may help the medicine go down, but a handful of natural, locally grown ingredients does so in a more delightful (and healthful) way. Nevada County-based organic farmer Daylin Wade, who holds a master’s degree in therapeutic herbalism, shows you how to self-soothe with medicinal plants at Rancho Cordova’s Soil Born Farms. Wade’s “Art and Science of Making Plant Medicine” lesson, which will next meet on Sept. 23, will start with a brief tour of the urban farm—one of California’s largest—during which she will harvest new herbs for the class to add to the fresh-picked bounty from her own garden. Then she’ll teach students to convert all that plant power into natural, additive-free remedies, like using stinging nettle leaves to relieve seasonal allergies, or rosemary and dandelion leaves to aid digestion. During the two-and-half-hour deep dive, blooming herbalists will create salves, tinctures, oils, teas and more while learning the dos and don’ts of medicinal plants, the science of extracting their benefits, and the all-important art of bringing everything together in one tasty package—no sugar required. $40. 2140 Chase Dr. Rancho Cordova. 916-363-9685. soilborn.org

DO THE WRITE THING

In a world of texts, emails and emoticons, handwritten notes communicate a personal touch that stands out in the crowd. Add some panache to your penmanship with a class taught by Lara Kiniris, aka The Calligraphy Girl. The Sacramento-based master letterer, whose clients have included Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Coach and Macy’s, has been making art with the written word for 18 years and spreads the lettered love by leading various workshops. The classes range from handwritten journaling to chalkboard writing, but sign us up for the monthly introductory to calligraphy classes. (This fall, Kiniris will add a seasonal spin with “Calligraphy and Pumpkin Lettering” on Sept. 12 and Oct. 17 at The Kitchen Table in Land Park.) And after you learn the strokes to create magical missives, you’ll leave the workshop with a set of tools, ensuring that you’ll have something to write home about. $85. Various locations. 916-769-9585. calligraphygirl.com

Courtesy of Lara Kiniris

MAKE LIKE EMILY IN PARIS

If you’re eager to embark on a mad love affair with the most romantic of the romance languages, consider a rendezvous with midtown’s Alliance Française de Sacramento, which hosts classes, workshops and bimonthly book clubs that transport you to a café in Paris, or a beach in the Riviera. The next series of French courses—from beginner to advanced, and each capped at 12 students max—runs for 10 weeks, starting Sept. 28. Meanwhile, for those seeking shorter immersions, the group also hosts in-person and online events, from yoga classes (conducted en français, mais oui) to French music concerts. $405 for the 10-week French course, including required membership. 2420 N St. 916-453-1723 afsacramento.org

TRANSFORM INTO A JEDI MASTER

So you’ve been harboring a fantasy acquired a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away: to someday wield a lightsaber in combat. Well, the Sacramento Historical Fencing Academy hears you, dear padawan. Partnering with the local chapter of The Saber Legion, an international rules and competition organization for LED saber fighting (yep, it’s a real thing), the local fencing academy—which is located near Rosemont—offers a one-hour beginners’ class every Saturday where students don padding, cross polycarbonate pseudo-lightsabers, and learn from internationally renowned rapier fencer and instructor Douglas Leonard. Want to take on the Empire? As Master Yoda would say, do or do not—there is no try. $30. 8460 Belvedere Ave. 916-281-9338. sachema.com

COOK CRIMINALLY GOOD FOOD

Tucked away on an unassuming strip of Fulton Avenue, Napoli Culinary Academy—with a surreal, theme park interior that recreates an Italian village street scene, complete with faux storefronts and old-world charm—welcomes aspiring cooks of every measure. Each group class packs the cozy eatery for a cooking demo, followed by a trip to the kitchen to whip together the night’s repast before sitting down for dinner. The academy offers everything from pizza-making to Spanish or Chinese cuisine, but we’re especially drawn to themes like Mobster Meals (Al Capone’s Prohibition Vodka Sauce Rigatoni, anyone?) and movie nights, including ones inspired by mafia classics like The Godfather  (Sicilian Chicken Parmesan) and Goodfellas  (Mama Scorsese’s Meatballs, with spaghetti and tomato sauce). Leaving before the cannoli? Fuhgeddaboudit! $158. 1401 Fulton Ave. napoliculinaryacademy.com

Courtesy of Napoli Culinary Academy

BECOME A BIG CHEESE

Cheese may just be the happiest food on Earth. After all, there’s a reason we break into big, goofy grins every time we say the word. Local baker-turned-artisanal cheesemonger Kim Mack uncovered a joyful passion when she decided to craft her own ricotta for some cannoli eight years ago, and she’s been beaming ever since—including from the cover of Cheese Connoisseur  magazine. Through her company Scratch Made Life, Mack conducts cheesemaking classes at her North Sacramento home kitchen most weekends, helping students make everything from provolone to Swiss to Brie and Gruyère. For triple the fun, sign up for her “Italian Trifecta” course (upcoming dates include Sept. 26, Oct. 24, and Dec. 12) to complete the tasty hat trick of producing Parmesan, mozzarella and ricotta. And you won’t just learn how to make  them, you’ll leave the four-hour class with freshly crafted ricotta, a ball of mozzarella, and an 8-ounce wheel of Parmesan. Now that’s  something to smile about. $76. 4932 Shady Leaf Way. 916-524-1420. scratchmadelife.com

SWEEP THE OLYMPICS

Skiing? Skating? Been there, done that, have the T-shirt. This time, keep your Winter Olympics fervor stoked by sweeping the ice to guide a granite stone down the sheet with the Wine Country Curling Club. Teaching Learn to Curl classes several times a month all year long, veteran curlers—who have won multiple national medals, including the gold at the 2024 Arena Club National Championships—get students out on the rink at Roseville’s Skatetown Ice Arena within minutes. Each two-hour session ends with a full curling match alongside the club’s members, and an invitation to return for a free follow-up intermediate class. Keep up the lessons and maybe we’ll see you at the 2030 French Alps Games. $40. 1009 Orlando Ave. Roseville. winecountrycurlingclub.com

STOP AND SMELL THE WILDFLOWERS

The vivid orange-gold of California poppies, the royal purple of elegant brodiaeas, the eye-popping pink of Henderson’s shooting stars. The full spectrum of nature’s color wheel is oh-so-briefly on display in springtime, splashed across the 1,100-acre slopes of UC Davis’ Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve. Take in the view, but also explore beyond what your eyes can see during the university’s Wildflower Experience outing at Stebbins. The class is among the 100-plus courses available to community members annually through the UCD chapter of the Osher Life-long Learning Institute. (OLLI for short, the national network offers uncredited classes at universities to adults 50 years old and over, but those at UC Davis and others are open to students of all ages. A springtime event, the Stebbins field trip won’t take place again until next March, but those interested in exploring the great outdoors this fall can take a guided hike through UCD’s Cahill Riparian Reserve near Winters on Oct. 22.) During this three-hour nature excursion, in addition to getting the lowdown on the diverse flora at the reserve from naturalists, you’ll learn how to sketch flowers from natural science illustrator Robin Lee Carlson and make the most of your phone camera from nature photographer Jock Hamilton, whose photo of Stebbins is shown at right. $75, including required OLLI membership. 530-757-8777. cpe.ucdavis.edu 

Photo by Jock Hamilton

SEW YOUR WILD TOTES

If the idea of learning to sew strikes you as a bit intimidating, a sip of wine might be just the liquid courage you need to thread the needle. On most weekends, Midtown’s Topstitch Production offers just that with its festive beginner “Sip + Sew” workshop, livening up an introduction to operating a sewing machine with cheese, crackers, fruit and libations like wine (both traditional and nonalcoholic), ginger beer and sparkling apple cider. Up to 12 students will get hands-on instruction from sewing pros (take a look at Kru’s chef jackets for an example of Topstitch’s work), choosing from among more than 100 fabrics to construct their own pocketed tote bag. By the end of the four-hour class, you’ll be in stitches, guaranteed. $100. 1717 19th St. topstitchproduction.com

K-POP AND LOCK

Top-notch dance skills may not actually be fatal to demons, but to judge by last year’s KPop Demon Hunters—Netflix’s most watched film ever—they certainly do slay. Whether you’ve been TikToking moves from BTS for years or are new to the music genre, Sac Dance Lab in North Sacramento offers a beginners’ K-pop class, where Darina Hul Kellom from the Sacramento dance band Hip Service teaches you the fast-paced hip-hop moves the Korean style is known for. Then once you’re popped and locked, you can move up to the intermediate class led by Sacramento Kings dancer Nicole Dlugopolski, with current choreography from today’s biggest K-pop acts like Stray Kids and BlackPink. $17. 1807 Tribute Rd. 916-572-8336. sacdancelab.com

Courtesy of Sac Media Lab