This time of year in Toronto can be brutal when it comes to boredom and the winter blues. However, it is a great time to pick up a new indoor hobby to help the winter pass.
The weather outside is frightful, and if you want to stay indoors, we don’t blame you. Whether you learn how to make a delicious new meal, mend your favourite clothes, or create a work of art worthy of Freida Kahlo herself, here are some different pastimes to try.
Cooking Lessons
Winter is perfect for making your favourite comfort foods, a cool new dish you’re into, or even trying your hand at baking bread at home. Toronto also has a wide variety of places to check out cooking classes.
Dish has been helping people in the city learn to cook since 2000. Its range of classes helps participants learn both the basics of cooking and specialty skills like whole hog butchering or wine fundamentals.
Located in Etobicoke, Aphrodite Cooks offers classes on everything from Italian dishes to knife skills. They run classes both in-person and virtually, and they even have special group classes for you and your colleagues, friends, or family to learn something new together.
The Chef Upstairs is another Toronto spot that has experience helping people chef it up in their own kitchen. Adult classes include Italian, French Classics, Middle Eastern, Spanish Tapas, Japanese and Classic Thai cuisines. Meanwhile, their kids’ classes let little ones create delicious recipes from scratch, practice table manners, use kitchen tools, and maintain a clean and safe kitchen.
Pottery or Ceramics Classes
Pottery and ceramics classes are a great way to give your brain a break while you get hands-on with a new craft. Many community centres and studios around the city offer beginner-friendly pottery classes.
Clay With Me has classes that let participants try out spinning their own pieces on a poetry wheel, or if you’re feeling less brave, you can paint a pre-made piece. They also offer three-week and eight-week-long courses, if you’re planning on getting a little more serious about ceramics.
The Gardiner Museum has various offerings for pottery, each lasting two hours and covering things like bowl making, hand building and glazing. Classes fill up quickly, with tickets released on the 15th of each month for the following month.
Parkdale Pottery is a woman-owned studio with classes for potters of all skill levels, we’re talking everyone from little kids to intermediate sculptors. They run single classes, as well as longer courses spanning a month or two, and a summer camp for kids.
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Music Lessons
Tap into your musical side with piano, guitar, or even digital music production classes and learn to create Toronto’s next hit song — or at least, the hit song in your living room.
Kingsway School of Music has classes for adults aged 18-99, with a special focus on jazz, classical and pop music. Running 30, 45, or 60 minutes, the lessons are custom-tailored to fit any individual: for everyone from the absolute beginner to the fully advanced musician. Teachers also provide strong Music Theory support.
The Music Studio has tons of different classes in all kinds of genres and ages. This includes various camps for kids interested in musical theatre, songwriting, or even being in a rock band. Plus, they offer lessons for adults and children, both individually and as a band, and they have a children’s choir.
Those interested in improving their vocal skills should check out Singer’s Edge, which has lessons both online and in-person, with classes for beginners, experts, and children. Plus, they do offer music lessons for kids interested in trying out an instrument.
Textile Arts
Textile arts like knitting, crochet and embroidery are not only fun, but they can be super useful and even help you save some money by allowing you to fix your own clothes.
The Knit Cafe has a selection of crochet classes to choose from, teaching you the basics of crochet or how to make blankets. They also offer crash courses and freeform lessons to let you get your creative crochet juices flowing. Those interested in knitting should browse their scarf, hat, or sweater-making classes, or try out the knitting crash course to learn the basics of the craft.
Yarns Untangled has classes focused on knitting and crocheting for people of all skill levels. They cover everything from cable knitting to granny square crocheting, but if you have a specific project in mind, or want to learn a particular skill, they offer private lessons for $40/hour for one person, or $30/person for lessons with multiple students.
The Toronto Sewing School offers lessons, workshops and clubs focused on the art of needle and thread. Learn how to hem your own jeans, stitch an entire jacket together, or use a sewing machine at one of their classes, or bring a project you need help with to one of their sewing clubs, which run for several weeks per session.
Indoor Adventure Sports
Toronto has lots of different indoor adventure sports to try, from bouldering to indoor sky diving; thrill seekers don’t have to look far for their next feat.
Bouldering is a great way to get some exercise while having a good time. Basecamp Climbing has lessons for beginners, open gym time for more experienced climbers, and party packages for birthdays and corporate events.
Indoor skydiving is another way to get your adrenaline pumping without going outside this winter. With locations in the Greater Toronto Area — Whitby and Oakville, respectively — iFLY is an indoor skydiving spot that offers people the chance to free-fall without jumping out of a plane. Plus, they have a flight school program for kids.
Put the pedal to the metal and race your besties on the go-kart track. K1 Speed offers the full go-karting experience with a huge track, and they have a special offer allowing you to purchase a three-race package anytime Monday through Thursday for just $65! They also do parties, so… maybe this is the perfect time to show your friends who the fastest one really is.
