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Discovery Center

The Discovery Center in Chicago is a well-established adult education program offering a variety of fun and stimulating classes taught by qualified instructors. With a focus on lifelong learning, there are no exams or grades, allowing individuals to learn at their own pace for personal enjoyment and growth.

Upcoming Classes (4)

All courses are held at unless indicated.

Thursday, July 10th
6–6:30pm CDT (6 sessions)

$145

Thursday, August 21st
6–6:30pm CDT (6 sessions)

$145

Thursday, October 2nd
6–6:30pm CDT (6 sessions)

$145

Thursday, November 13th
6–6:30pm CDT (6 sessions)

$145

Provider Description

The Discovery Center is Chicago's Lifelong Learning Center. As Chicago's large stand longest running independent adult education program, we present fun, stimulating classes by qualified independent instructors who enjoy introducing others to their subjects.

Learn among friends for your own enjoyment and growth, no exams, grades or degrees. Suggestions or comments always welcome. See for yourself what lifelong learning can be!

2855 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
Discovery Center
Lakeview, North Side
2855 N Lincoln Ave
Btwn N Racine Ave & W George St
Chicago, Illinois 60657

Reviews of Discovery Center

(4.3-star rating across 305 reviews)
  • Mixology 102: Sophisticated and Complex Cocktails

    Bridget C. • April 12, 2025
    i loved this course. the instructor was very informative and entertaining! definitely would recommend. please market these courses more!
  • Stained Glass Workshop

    Charlotte Y. • April 8, 2025
  • Essential Mixology Bartending

    Mariah G. • March 12, 2025
    Great instructor and information! Will be back!
  • An Introduction to Kink 101: Bondage and Domination, S&M

    Virginia H. • December 16, 2024
    The instructor was very knowledgeable and took their time explaining every aspect of the course. They definitely made you out feel comfortable. I look forward to future classes.
  • Hold 'em Poker Open Play

    James V. • December 14, 2024
    I would recommend this class 100%. It was a lot more than I thought it was going to be. I would recommend anyone who wants to sharpen their skills. This is the place to go. My teacher was excellent.
  • Drawing for Beginners

    Kanyika S. • November 20, 2024
    The class was extremely flexible and I received a lot of 1:1 instruction. Learning a new skill is always hard, and a bit embarrassing because you have to kinda be bad at it first but I felt really comfortable and supported.
  • Intro to Crochet II

    Anonymous • November 16, 2024
    There were 4 people in the class. Three were there to learn how to knit (zero experience) and me, there to brush up on my crochet skills. The instructor, Hero, managed to give her attention to all of us. Her calm and humorous demeanor paired with her quick eyes, helped to put everyone at ease. I really enjoyed the class and I learned how to make a granny square, which was the real reason behind me wanting to improve my skills.
  • Contract Bridge for Beginners

    Anonymous • November 1, 2024
  • Mixed Media Art

    Victor M. • October 22, 2024
    Not at all what I was expecting. Was so disappointed I only attended 1 class.
  • Stained Glass Workshop

    Skylar G. • October 22, 2024
    I’m very pleased with the end product but I felt like the pricing wasn’t upfront. I don’t know that i would have paid the extra $85 and $50 for this course, but if i had, I would have appreciated all the prices explained before I booked it. I was especially upset about the extra $50 paid directly to the instructor.
  • Intro to Crochet

    Alyssa L. • September 15, 2024
    The instructor was great at teaching and helping us understand to learn to crochet. The classroom was too small for all of us, it would’ve been better in a bigger room. Also, some of the other students are why I rated the class a 3, it had nothing to do with the instructor.
  • Mixed Media Art

    Cynthia T. • September 12, 2024
  • Intro to Painting I & II

    Sara W. • August 27, 2024
    Thanks so much for an amazing class - it really included a lot of techniques in a short amount of time. I really enjoyed it.
  • Mixology 102: Sophisticated and Complex Cocktails

    Angela V. • August 25, 2024
    It was a really awesome class, the course leader was very knowledgeable and taught us some really great tricks while still making the class a lot of fun. I definitely would recommend the course to others looking to learn more about mixology. Only note I have is I think in the future it would be great for the course to provide water, because there was no water in the building and we were having drinks for quite some time.
  • Contract Bridge for Beginners

    Mark V. • August 9, 2024
  • Drawing for Beginners

    NANCY R. • August 1, 2024
  • Essential Mixology Bartending

    Angelic S. • July 2, 2024
  • Intro to Painting I & II

    Dana F. • June 29, 2024
    I was so disappointed that I didn’t even bother going to the last class. There were six of us in the class although we were registered for three different courses (drawing, painting, and mixed media). I know it was an intro course, but we spent a good 30 minutes in the first class talking about primary and secondary colors. We were given an assignment and then basically left alone to do it, with very little feedback. Of the three brushes I was given to use, one was so hard that it didn’t even soften after 30 minutes soaking in water. Also, learning to draw/paint shadows in a dark room with only overhead lights is very difficult. I learned more from the videos I had watched on YouTube.
  • Intro to Painting I & II

    Annie S. • June 26, 2024
    I’m thrilled to give this class a big, cheerful 5! I took the Intro to Painting, and it had such a warm, intimate atmosphere. The instructor was not only incredibly knowledgeable but also truly supportive, making it a fantastic environment for everyone, no matter their skill level. This experience has been a wonderful escape, allowing me to focus on creativity through painting during some major life changes. Attending a multi-week class for three hours has been an incredibly rewarding way to prioritize self-care. I’m genuinely grateful for classes like this and am already excited to have signed up for another one!
  • An Introduction to Kink 101: Bondage and Domination, S&M

    Kerry L. • June 6, 2024
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Review Summary by CourseHorse

Students generally appreciate the Discovery Center for its flexibility and personalized approach to learning. While one student, lacking art experience, praised the school for its accommodating nature. Another student, despite initially being the only one in the class, acknowledged the teacher's friendliness and engaging teaching style. Mrs. Eva Tolbert-Bradley received high praise for her notarial process class, with a shy student commending her for providing essential networking opportunities for business startups. The student expressed gratitude for the stepping stones provided to initiate their notary public entrepreneurship. The overall sentiment is positive, emphasizing the human touch, flexibility, and practical knowledge gained from classes at the Discovery Center. Quotes: "I recommend this school for flexibility and a human touch." "Mrs. Eva Tolbert-Bradley was wonderful. Very knowledgeable instructor. Provided networking with professionals needed for business startups." "If you are looking to get into [a new] line of work, take this class. You will be happy you did."

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