Things To Do In Claremont

Signature Service: Art on Tap
Established: 2009
Reservations/Appointments: Required
Staff Size: 2–10 people
Average Duration of Services: 2–4 hours
Brands Used: Blick acrylic paints

Q&A with Jen Rosen and Mary Beth Fletcher, Owners

Sometimes it's all about the little things in life. What supplemental courtesies do you include with your main services to leave clients with a smile on their face?
All of your supplies and needs are taken care of. You receive a free beverage to get you in the creative mood.

How is your approach different than that of other professionals in your field?
The instructors have masters' degrees in fine arts and are credentialed school teachers, which is something other companies do not offer. Our experienced teaching methods put you at ease and guide you step-by-step. We only have one rule: it is impossible to make a mistake. What one deems as a mistake can lead a painter into a unique masterpiece.

Is there anything else you want to add that we didn't cover?
Art on Tap is an adult painting class, held at Claremont Craft Ales, where creativity flows from giant kegs of craft ale right into your paintbrush.

Fitness and nutrition guru Stacy "Sportygirl" Ziegler puts a spin on traditional Pilates at her studio, SportyFit Pilates. During her 50-minute workouts, she guides exercisers through circuit-training sequences incorporating Pilates reformer equipment that helps improve strength and cardio. Each workout uses Pilates' principles of core engagement—a focus on breathing, postural alignment, and controlled movements. Small group sessions are limited to 10 students, and each participant uses their own machine, which includes a reformer, wunda chair, and jumpboard.

Balls fly across five courts at The Pacific Juniors Volleyball Club, where young sports enthusiasts play recreational volleyball and train to perform better. Volleyball programs target every type of player, from kids hoping to gain new skills to teens who want to spike balls on the beach, while camps and clinics test players' abilities. In the facility's weight room, members build endurance on a treadmill, strengthen muscles using free weights, or enjoy a faux picnic on the turf workout area.

After struggling with yo-yoing weight and self-image issues, Nancy Schopp reached a point when she became, as she puts it, "sick and tired of being sick and tired." So she got moving, reaching her own fitness goals and then helping others do the same.

Today, she stays busy leading up to a dozen classes every week. Her fellow instructors enthusiastically share the high-energy class load, teaching the newest blends of cardio and strength-training in X-Ripped and Zumba Xtreme NRG sessions. Experienced yogi Anne Gonzalez makes Vinyasa yoga's flow of poses accessible to yoga devotees, newcomers, and those just now discovering that their arms bend more than one way. In addition to group classes, the instructors also lead personal-training sessions and small-group training, supplementing cardio and resistance workouts with dietary guidance.

A pupil’s holiday letter addressed to “Mr. Vargas” captures the heart of Vargas Conservatory of Music in one simple sentence: “You are one of my favorite teachers.” Michael Vargas and a team of degreed instructors—who are trained by Vargas himself—work hard to motivate and encourage their students, forming genuine friendships as they instruct pupils in music theory and sight-reading. The private lessons tackle everything from classical to jazz to pop music, depending on the student’s tastes.

It's fitting that the daily mantra at Iron Works Gym is "Strike while the iron is hot." Not only does this motto reflect the gym's industrious name and spirit—it also reflects the staff's focus on helping clients achieve their full fitness potential. To aid in this pursuit, the gym is filled with health and exercise gear that ranges from ellipticals and stationary bikes to free weights, resistance bands, and a steamy sauna. The gym also guides visitors toward health with services that include personal training, sports-specific training, and group classes.