When was the last time you did something for the first time?
I crave experiences – I want to try something new often – I want to be challenged, intrigued, and creatively busy. And I want to share in these experiences with my friends, family, or really anyone who will say yes. So when Verlocal approached me about taking one of their local classes – the only struggle I faced was picking just one class…at least to start with…
The Verlocal motto is…
Discover your passions. Share it with others. Inspire new beginnings.
Verlocal – the place for true and local experiences.
Verlocal offers a platform for people all over the world to share their interests with one another.
Locals can market their passions, knowledge and/or skills on a secure webpage. Globe-trotters or other locals can seek out experiences that are catered to what they want to learn, see, or do.
Verlocal – connects people to live and share unique experiences.
Verlocal – provides an easy way for people to monetize their passion and share it with people all over the globe.
For some reason it seems different than Groupon or Living Social – the approach feels real & personal – like you are truly connecting with artists, makers, and passionate people eager to teach their craft or skill. You go to Verlocal not to find a coupon code or a ‘deal’ but to find really good classes and experiences in your city. In addition to Seattle, Verlocal offers activities in several major cities including LA, New York, Boston, etc…you can find the full list here.
So what class did I choose?!
Well, I try to involve my daughter, Adalyn, in as many experience’s as possible – she’s 5 and at the perfect age to try new things with me! So we opted for the Hands-On Artisan Chocolate Making Class With An Award Winning Chef.
These are the beautiful hand-painted, ganache-filled delights my 5 year old made! Adalyn was the youngest student and did a fantastic job! Parents >>> try out an experience with your kids!
Chocolate Making Class
The Chocolate Making Class was in West Seattle, led by Michael Poole, Master Chocolatier and founder of Hot Chocolat – Artisan Firehouse Chocolates. Michael is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, Paris with Le Grande Diplome in Cuisine and Pastry. He specializes in French and Caribbean cuisines, French pastries and artisan chocolates. A surprising fact about Michael is that he is also a lieutenant for the Seattle Fire Department. His stories and infectious personality allow the class to flow and the student’s to feel at ease in the kitchen – which is necessary in a 3 hour class. We all left feeling that kindred connection over chocolate…which I must add is the best kind. I highly recommend taking one of Michael’s classes – he also offers Macaron-Making which looks amazing.
In regards to pricing, the Chocolate Making Class was $70/person and that included all of the supplies, plus we took home the chocolate’s we created in a Hot Chocolat pastry box. (I believe there’s a 25% off coupon code on the Verlocal website right now!)
Conclusion
To sum up, my Verlocal experience was absolutely perfect. I recommend this for a girl’s night out, birthday party, date night, or maybe just a Wednesday night? There are so many activities to choose from – whether you’re into rock climbing, pottery, calligraphy, photography or even overnight backpacking!
I challenge you to try something new in August. End the Summer with a bang – maybe you’ll discover a new talent, a new passion or just an excuse to drink wine with your girlfriends?!
XoXo Portia
Disclosure: Verlocal graciously provided a complimentary class to try and review. The opinions expressed here represent my own, which I take great pride in providing pure honesty…because I’m OBSESSED with sharing the Good!