Things to Do in Arlington

A piggy bank covered in polka dots, a platter celebrating Mother’s Day complete with each of her children’s handprints, a ceramic replica of Sesame Street’s Ernie—these are just a few of the projects that have emerged from Seize the Clay, a hands-on art studio specializing in pottery painting. In addition to embellishing various bisque pieces with unique designs, visitors can create glass-fused pendants, multihued mosaics, and silver-clay jewelry personalized with the initials of their beloved mail carrier. They can also try their hands at the potter’s wheel, hold birthday parties, or attend an interactive summer camp.

Although painting is a solitary experience for many artists, it becomes a color-strewn party at ArtJamN. Enthusiastic staff members encourage participants to interact, inspire each other, and even collaborate on the same canvas. Painters are outfitted with a bevy of paints and textures that add dimension to magnum opuses and make it easier to crawl into someone else's painting and take a nap. Both regular painting sessions and private parties introduce burgeoning artists to a cornucopia of artistic styles as they intermingle and sip from their own stash of adult beverages.

Range USA brings together the local community of shooting enthusiasts on its range and during special events while welcoming new marksmen with informative and confidence-bolstering classes. The 20,000-square-foot Memphis facility houses a shooting range divided into two climate-controlled areas—one with nine lanes at 50 feet deep, the other with 14 lanes at 82 feet deep—with one of the two areas always open to the public. Further afield, Range USA's team also operates a 10-lane shooting gallery in Jackson. Besides overseeing the ranges, the staff also teaches classes, from basic handgun and advanced tactical training to women-only and youth programs. A FAQ page anticipates visitors' questions, such as "What calibers are allowed on the shooting range?" and "Do you have ear muffs to match my belt buckle?" When spending a day at Range USA, the facility's own 1776 Deli & Eatery keeps hunger from interfering with focus.

Located in a refurbished school, patrons have flocked for years to Singleton Community Center’s facility to take over 100 different classes in everything from fitness, to arts and crafts, to dancing, music, tutoring, drivers ed., cooking, and more. Guests can work up a solo sweat or gather in the group-exercise studio for fitness classes, which include yoga, Zumba, and bench aerobics.

The facility also offers a preschool for children ages 2 to 5. Singleton Community Center also offers arts and crafts classes, such as pottery. Click here for a full list of activities available.

During the fall, Priddy Farms welcomes families to stroll through its 23 acres of farmland to enjoy picnic lunches, pick pumpkins, and bask in cool autumn breezes. Leisurely hayrides escort visitors to the farm's pumpkin patch, where they pluck orange gourds to carve or to transform into a very tiny carriage. At the play area, children can ride on a barrel train, climb aboard Noah's Ark, swing on tire swings, or run around the open area. Families equipped with flashlights can explore the grounds at night, possibly spotting deer, foxes, or farm owls. Families are encouraged to bring cameras in order to capture their own memories.

The staffers at Yarniverse understand that it often takes more than yarn and needles to see a knitting project through to the end. With this in mind, they man a round table inside the two-story shop where they help clients master tricky patterns, inspire them to try new techniques, and fuel knitting sprees with friendly conversation until each wooly endeavor is complete. Before starting new projects, clients stock up on yarns and knitting tools or refresh their skills in a class that covers how to make socks, dog sweaters, or vintage scarves.