BARBECUING
The Institute of Culinary Education, 50 W. 23rd St., nr. Broadway; 800-522-4610
Hill Country executive chef and BBQ-circuit junkie Elizabeth Karmel knows her southern-style ‘cue, but you don’t have to credit her when you turn out buttery North Carolina pulled pork, tender Texas brisket, and sweet Kansas City ribs (plus sides and sweets) at your next cookout.
When: June 27, 6 p.m.–11 p.m.
Price: $110
DRAWING
Education Building, Museum of Modern Art, 4 W. 54th St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 212-408-8441
MoMA hosts numerous studio classes like Drawing and Perception, which covers contouring, balancing proportions, and capturing light. Plus, sketching is interspersed with lecture tours on Seurat, Giacometti, and other stars of the museum’s collection.
When: Wed., June 4–July 23, 7 p.m.–9:30 p.m.
Price: $410
GOLFING
Randall’s Island Golf Center, 1 Randalls Island; 212-427-5689
Mayor Bloomberg’s own instructor, Tom Sutter, defected from Chelsea Piers to be the head pro at this new driving range, where we’ve already suggested you blow your rebate.
When: By appointment only
Price:$130 per session
INVESTING
NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies, 145 Fourth Ave., at 13th St.; 212-998-7200
If you’re going to buy stocks during these bizarre economic times, you should at least be sure you understand the basic topics you’ll study in Fundamentals of Individual Investing.
When: Wed., May 21–July 2, noon–3 p.m.
Price: $295
KNOWLEDGEABLY REFERENCING HISTORY
NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies, 145 Fourth Ave., at 13th St.; 212-998-7200
Sure, watching CNN will increase your political IQ. But effortlessly referring to what you learned about the French Revolution from NYU’s Plato to NATO seminar, a class that claims to cover all of Western civilization, will make you sound as informed as any pundit.
When: Tues., May 27–July 15, 6:20 p.m.–8:25 p.m.
Price: $430
PASTA MAKING
La Cucina Cooking School, 32 Poggio alla Farnia, Fauglia, Pisa, Italy; 301-432-7382 (in the U.S.)
You read that right: Italy. Marco Canora’s mother runs a cooking school out of an ancient farmhouse (with lodging) in Tuscany, where the Hearth chef is hosting classes himself this summer. It’s worth the flight just to tour Florentine food markets with one of New York’s top chefs.
When: June 28–July 5 or July 5–12
Price: $3,600 includes a weeklong stay, food, and classes
SAILING
Manhattan Sailing School, North Cove Marina, 385 South End Ave., nr. Liberty St., 7G; 212-786-0400
Visiting friends in the Hamptons, the Vineyard, or some other Waspy vacation spot prefaced with “the”? You can learn to sail in a single, intensive weekend, in Battery Park to avoid an Owen Wilson–in–Wedding Crashers scene with the locals.
When: Through the summer; Fri., 6 p.m.–8 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m.–7 p.m.; Sun., 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
Price: $590
SCRATCHING
Dubspot, 348 W. 14th St., nr. Eighth Ave.; 877-382-7768
If you splurge for a D.J. beginner package, you’ll be scratching and mixing in time for that rooftop Fourth of July rager and have your rhythm completely down by Labor Day.
When: Tues., June 3–July 22, 6:30 p.m.–8:15 p.m. or Sat., June 7–Aug. 2, 2 p.m.–3:45 p.m.
Price: $695
SKETCH-COMEDY WRITING
Administrative Office, Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, 145 W. 30th St., nr. Sixth Ave., fourth fl.; 212-366-9176
Eric Fogel, the creator of MTV’s Celebrity Deathmatch and Anton & Crapbag, will explain proper formatting for preparing sketches, and most important, make you put your funny ideas on paper in class and out.
When: Mon., July 14–Sept. 15, 7 p.m.–10 p.m.
Price: $325
TAILORING
Flirt Brooklyn, 303 Third Ave., nr. Carroll St., Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn; 718-783-0364
This clothing shop sells its own label and other local designers, but in its home-ec studio you can learn to alter your own clothes for a slim-fitting summer.
When: Thurs., June 12, 19, and 26, 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m.
Price: $125
WINE TASTING
Italian Wine Merchants, 108 E. 16th St., nr. Irving Pl.; 212-473-2323
The informal, weekly group discussions of Italian vintages at Studio Regionale come with antipasti or Batali-approved plates like rich, creamy black-truffle risotto, depending on the topic.
When: Sat., 1 p.m.–3 p.m.
Price: $50–$125