Things to Do in San Jose

Knitting as a hobby is older than agriculture and twice as delicious. Bobbin's Nest offers all the supplies a knitter's tightly purled heart could possibly desire, as well as sewing, crochet, and embroidery supplies for crafting across the craft board. Skeins of yarn run on average between $10 and $15, whereas a yard of fabric generally goes for $8 to $10. If you need some help creating an inverted afghan or hangin' scarf, craft books are available in spades, running in cost from $14.95 to $21.95. This nest of bobbins contains a large arsenal of boutique-dyed yarn, modern fabrics, independent patterns, unusual embroidery supplies, craft books, and creative classes.

In 1976, educator, musician, and kinesiologist Robin Wes longed for a children's gym that prioritized personal growth over competition. Unveiled at a time when physical-education classes pushed students to focus almost exclusively on winning, Robin's program was swiftly adopted and is now used in more than 300 Little Gyms worldwide. Robin still pens original music to accompany lessons, which engage whippersnappers aged 4 months to 12 years with gymnastics, dance, karate, and parent and child activities.

Each of The Little Gym's classes introduces simple movements that sharpen motor skills and set brains whirring, allowing kids to progress at their own pace until they can finally build a computer out of macaroni and glitter. Staff members strive to build a base for lifelong social skills and self-assurance with each exercise, including activities rooted purely in fun, such as summer camps or birthday parties, which helped The Little Gym to earn title of #1 Birthday Chain in Parents Magazine.

VIN12, the popular host of monthly wine gatherings, celebrates its third year of vino-fueled get-togethers with the Spring Sparkling Wine Event. More than 400 patrons are expected to show up for the opportunity to wend their way through the venue and contemplate more than 40 brews from an eclectic mix of wineries such as Think Tank, Fat Grape, and Grand Amis. Although the event focuses on sparkling wine, other options such as pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc, and bordeaux abound. Photographer Bryon Malik mingles with the crowd, searching for the world's most photogenic wine as guests enjoy unlimited samples and nab inexpensive gourmet snacks crafted by Porteno Empanadas.

After buying the Exclamation Point's original location in Saratoga, owner Melanie Vancil moved the studio to Santa Clara, expanding the workshop's inventory of needlepoint and cross-stitch manuals, crochet threads, buttons, and hand-painted canvases. Needlepoint, originally developed in the 16th century to create beautiful cloth tapestries without bulky looms or expensive trained spiders, draws from a proud tradition of craftsmanship, decorating household objects such as pillows, chair backs, and rugs with patterns and pictures of colorful fiber. Students of all ages learn to master this ancient form of art, as well as machine sewing and crocheting, in fun, informative classes, creating beautiful fabric keepsakes of their very own.

Sick of buying expensive supplies and having to adhere to a class schedule just to create art, Jennifer Kurtz Rubin started the first of her chain of ceramic lounges in 1993. Each Petroglyph Ceramic Lounge is designed as a social and creative space, one that all customers can use to express themselves artistically while catching up with friends. The lounge throws open its doors for both kids and adults to decorate clay bisque pieces, such as mugs and salad bowls, with a bounty of colorful supplies, never worrying about cleanup afterward. Once they’re complete, the art pieces are glazed, fired, and ready for pickup in a few days. And because artists can stay for a whole afternoon or just 30 minutes, the lounge even grants a few moments of creativity to patrons with the busiest schedules. The company also goes beyond casual art making to host parties for kids and adults, in which they can bring in live music, serve food, and train scoops of ice cream to paint their own bowls.

Inside, Fire Works Ceramics’ studio looks more like a cozy cottage than a storefront, its shelves of blank ceramics and hardwood tables awash in sunlight as they wait to be painted at handsome kitchen tables. Visiting artists take their pick of blank mugs, dishes, vases, and figurines, all poured in-house rather than sourced from archaeologists’ garage sales. After decking out their chosen piece in as many colors as they like, guests surrender them to staff to receive a coating of glaze and a trip into the kiln. In addition to walk-in sessions, the studio can also host birthdays, bridal showers, and butterfingers’ support groups.