• Make Meaning

  329 Columbus Ave., nr. 76th St. 212-362-0350

  Pretty much every afternoon since it opened in September, Make Meaning—the sprawling DIY crafts space on the Upper West Side—has been mobbed by the Bieber-and-under set, who busily create scented soaps, tweaked-out candles, greeting cards, jewelry, and (that old standby) painted mugs and plates. There’s a tangible buzz of preadolescent energy here, but rarely a shortage of clean work stations or raw materials. Surprisingly, most kids’ creations come out fairly polished, with no small thanks to staffers—or “Associate Creativity Enthusiasts”—who receive training on all manner of crafts and are free to hop in to help when necessary. Unlike many other activities for kids in this slightly awkward age range, it’s proved equally popular with both sexes—so much so that downtown and Upper East Side branches are in the works for later this year. Regulars should opt for the annual membership of $36, though there’s a flat day rate of $12, plus materials fees starting at $9 for small ceramics.

From the 2011 Best of New York issue of New York Magazine