Brainy Classes in NYC, New York

Basic plumbing: How to fix a toilet, install a faucet, stop a drip, or unclog a drain. Save on costly repairs that you can do yourself. Note: Price Includes $20 Registration Fee

The hand has been called God’s Road Map. This spiritual gift is both a science and a universal language, based on principles that anyone with an interest in human nature can understand. Reading your own palm is like reading a book about yourself, the most important and interesting subject to know about. The story the hand tells is about your strengths,...

Cut a board, level a shelf; install an anchor bolt in a hollow wall. This class will stock your toolkit with the most useful tools and give you handson tips for using them. Discover your inner handyperson and save money on basic repairs. Note: Price Includes $20 Registration Fee

At the end of an early American funeral, participants were given a cookie: spiced with caraway, and stamped with a special design, they were often kept for years as a memento of the departed. Although mourning traditions have changed over time, and vary from place to place, what they have in common is food and drink. From the home parlour to the funeral...

Do you have questions about how to search NYPL databases, upload an e-book, or how to uses your portable devices?  Bring your Laptops, I-Pads, Cell phones, etc. and let our Adult Programs team help you in a focused, courteous, and friendly ambiance.

For many people, the old year closes out with a certain amount of frantic cleaning and gift-buying for the Yuletide, followed by a brief respite to digest, then onto New Years’ celebrations. January – whether you greeted New Years Day fresh and excited or slightly hungover! – is an excellent time for doing some divination to prepare oneself for...

Discuss the first seven of Ben Franklin’s virtues — Temperance, Silence, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Industry, Sincerity — and answer two questions: How can we improve ourselves and how can we improve our world? In regular small group discussions, Circle members use Franklin’s classic 13 civic virtues to spark discussion about members’...

In this one-hour session, we'll learn to juggle in slow motion, first with scarves, then with balls.  Juggling is super fun and good for you too! Come have some fun getting fit, brainy, & super coordinated.

Attend this 'choose your own adventure' format class, based off real events and try to survive England during the reign of Henry VIII! Do you have the political savvy to survive England during the reign of Henry VIII? Learn about the many ways you could be convicted of treason (even thinking about the death of the king would get...

Come learn about what's being made in NYC today and what you can do to support local manufacturing. We'll cover industrial policy, business incubators, R&D, hybrid manufacturing, and the craft food movement, among other highlights. This class examines public policy and current trends. For decades, American and urban manufacturing charted a steep...

Combining the latest information and discoveries from astronomy and astrophysics with the latest images of and by telescopes, we will explore the following areas: A brief history of humanity’s view(s) of the Universe Near Earth environment The Moon The Sun The inner and outer Solar System Extrasolar systems The search...

Learn the technique of crafting a perfect ballet bun that can last through every spin, twirl and leap in your upcoming dance class! Dancers will receive a ballet bun kit including all essential accessories to create the perfect bun, participate in a hands-on tutorial, test how their ballet bun lasts in a high energy dance class and create their...

Aggregates, soil texture, the rhizosphere – what on Earth are we talking about? Facts & Field Tests provides a foundation for your soil explorations. Learn how soil scientists describe soils and what qualities are necessary for healthy plants and ecosystems through easy-to-replicate field tests. Please Note: Price includes Garden admission.