Brooklyn Brainery

Profile

Jonathan Soma and Jen Messier came up with the idea for Brooklyn Brainery when they felt a void of interesting, accessible, and cheap classes in New York. The result of their efforts is this community-driven center that draws crowds of curious people who are excited about learning. Although the classes were originally structured like book clubs, these days most are led by an expert on a given subject. But don’t expect to slouch in the back row as the professor drones on at the Brainery; lectures are participatory and hands-on, and the students are as enthusiastic as the teachers. In fact, just about anyone can become a teacher at the Brainery; all you need is a passion to share knowledge, and people who are interested in hearing about it. And because the course schedule is dictated by the community, it tends to encompass a variety of subjects (anything from Basic Spanish: Wining and Dining to Beekeeping 101), and often complements the season (think Summer of Riesling or A Brief History of Christmas Traditions). — Alice Urmey