The craft super-store will be offering beginner cake decorating classes starting Nov. 2. (See schedule below.) More advanced classes are on tap for December, says store manager Rich Merlini.

Go wild with cake decorating. Photo by jenniferrt66 via flickr.

“Cake decorating is huge,” he said when asked why the store was launching classes in the sweet and sticky art of cake decoration.

For cake decorating and baking supplies, Michael’s boasts a small selection of basic pans, an array of character forms—I saw Dora the Explorer—cake stands and the like. There are also tubes and tubs of fondant icing and other items for gussying up your cakes and cupcakes.

Here’s Michael’s cake decorating class schedule:

Mondays: Nov. 2, 9,16, 20

• Course 1  930am-1130am

• Fondant/Gumpaste  1130 am 130 pm

• Fondant/Gumpaste 430pm-630pm

• Course 1  630 pm-830pm

Wednesdays: Nov. 4, 11, 18 and Dec. 2

• Course 1  930am-1130am

• Fondant/Gumpaste  1130 am 130 pm

• Fondant/Gumpaste 500pm-700pm

• Course 1  700 pm-900pm

Thursdays: Nov. 5, 12, 19 and Dec. 3

• Course 1  930am-1130am

• Fondant/Gumpaste  1130 am 130 pm

• Fondant/Gumpaste 430pm-630pm

• Course 1  630 pm-830pm

Sundays: Nov. 29, Dec. 6, 13, 20

• Course 1 10am-12pm

• Fondant/Gumpaste 1200pm-200pm

• Course 1 230pm-430pm

Michaels
Columbus Village
808 Columbus Ave
New York, NY 10025
212 865 0813

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What Dad doesn’t love beer and chocolate?  You can pair the two in a special Father’s Day class. Or if your Dad is a cocktail maven, sign him up for a class on how to mix classics like the Grasshopper and the Pink Lady.

Take a look at these Father’s Day ideas:

Is that Chocolate in My Beer?

What: An afternoon of chocolate and beer. You’ll learn about the many varieties of cocoa beans and chocolate, how the Aztec and Maya discovered chocolate, and how to make your own chocolate bars from the bean. Learn all of this with Nat Bletter, who has studied and made chocolate for over 5 years.

In the class everyone will participate in making chocolate bars from scratch after a short talk on the history of chocolate with some tastings, and you’ll go home with recipes and a bar of chocolate.

Where: Jimmy’s No. 43 – 43 East 7th street (downstairs), Manhattan

When: Sunday, June 21, 2:00pm – 5:00pm

Who: Jimmy Carbone, owner of Jimmy’s 43, fine beer aficionado and originator of the Good Beer Seal of Approval will pair Nat’s homemade chocolate with a selection of artisanal beers.

How Much: Admission: Slow Food Members – $30
Non members – $35
Tickets: Available on-line only at BrownPaperTickets.com
Proceeds will go towards Slow Food NYC’s Harvest Time in Schools Program.

The Evolution of Cocktails Post Prohibition through Today

What: Prohibition was a boon to cocktail culture as we know it.  But many of the era’s delicious concoctions have since fallen out of fashion. Rediscover iconic cocktails such as The Grasshopper, The Pink Lady, and others. In this hands-on workshop you’ll find out how to craft these historic libations while learning the fun, factual and mythical back-stories on the ghosts of cocktails past, and how their recipes have evolved over time.

Who: Mixologist Charles Hardwick of Blue Owl Cocktail Room

Where: Location: The Study, The Astor Center, 399 Lafayette St. at East 4th St.  212 674 7501

When: Sat, Jun 27th, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

How Much: $65.00.  Click here for tickets.

Related posts:

1. First Annual Beer Month Kicks Off With Grill-Off at Water Taxi Beach
2. Cocktails in the Morning: The Mixologist’s Greenmarket Tour
3. Holiday Cooking Class: Christmas in Provence Workshop