Learn to cook – At Create-a-Cook you can sharpen your knife skills or learn to make pasta from scratch at their frequent cooking and kitchen skills workshops. They also offer “Date Night Cooking Classes” where you and your sweetie can learn to prepare something side-by-side. Register via their website or by calling 617-795-2223.

Make something sparkly – Bead and Pearl offers over two-dozen different classes in jewelry making, from beginner to advanced.  You can create beautiful briolette earrings using wire wrapping, stitch a complex peyote cuff bracelet or crochet a bead necklace. Supplies and tools are available, but make sure to register in advance as their classes fill up quickly.

Solve the mysteries of the universe – Newton Community Education’s summer classes are almost over, and the new fall schedule is not yet out. But they have offered some truly remarkable and fascinating classes in past seasons, including the intriguing-sounding “Introduction to Codes and Ciphers” and the follow-up course “Codes, Ciphers and Cryptograms.” Check out their offerings online at their website.

Get whiskey’ed away – Don’t wait on this class: Tonight (August 4) from 5 – 8PM Urban Grape is offering a rare opportunity to learn about whiskey from Lord Henry Slane of Slane Castle Irish Whisky. Urban Grape recently won Best of Boston for Best Wine Shop – West, and TJ Douglas, half of the award-winning team, will be sharing his recipe for White Wine and Whiskey Sangria. No reservations necessary but get there early so you can enjoy some samples.

Dance like nobody’s looking – Did you give up your childhood dreams of becoming a dancer? Or perhaps you felt too ungainly as a teen but have come into your graceful own as an adult. Either way, Boston Ballet School  offers beginner adult ballet classes that will allow you to get in touch with your inner White Swan. You can pay per class or buy a series of classes at the Newtonville studio. Check the website for registration information and FAQ.