Paint The Town

This was easily one of my favorite Unilocal Elite events I have ever had the privilege to attend.
I arrived way too early (a first for me), and tried to shake off the nerves I had. Painting? In front of people? I was DEFINITELY going to need wine.
Thankfully, the class ended up being much less nerve-​racking as I had initially expected. The instructor and owner both did fabulous jobs explaining the process, keeping us stocked up with supplies, and making sure we were all at ease. If you are looking to do a group outing, I would highly recommend one of the classes at Pinot’s Palette.
As for the other, highly-​important elements (food and wine), well, they were wonderful as usual! The food seemed to be in endless supply, and the apps were perfect given the activity at hand. I made sure to have two glasses of wine to take the edge off while painting. I’m no van Gogh, but thankfully everything starts to look better with a little vino.
Cheers to Adam S. and our amazing hosts at Pinot’s Palette in Briarcliff!

Very excited that I could finally make it to another Unilocal Elite event and as a double bonus… it was in my neck of the woods! I had no idea that Pinot’s Palette had moved into Briarcliff and I had never been to one of these «paint/​eat/​drink» places before (I know, I’m slow to catch on to the fad!) so I was excited to check it out.
First, the space is really lovely. Beautiful art decorates the walls… art that YOU too can create! The setup is nice (although the areas where we painted did seem a bit crowded at times with elbows and arms moving to and fro)…but I suppose that is all part of the fun!
The organic market down the way, Green Acres Market, provided some pretty kick a** trays of food to munch on during the event as well. Hummus, pita chips, veggies, dips, sliced meats and cheeses, an assortment of peppers, artichokes and olives… the spread really hit the spot and there was plenty to go around… and around and around! Thanks Green Acres! :) I don’t know if Pinot’s Palette has a deal with Green Acres and if they bring in trays regularly, but it is definitely a great partnership from what I can see.
Of course, no painting party would be complete without… wine! The overall ambiance of the food, drink and painting fun was truly an interesting night out with fellow Unilocalers!
The owner was there, and he was making sure everyone had more dollops of paint on their trays, as he walked around checking on our progress. The instructor was a fun, lively gal (who also teaches young Montessori school children) and seemed to be a perfect fit for this business.
I am definitely making plans to go back here with a group of girlfriends very soon now that the crush of the holidays are behind me.
Thanks Pinot’s Palette for an awesome night of fun and thanks Adam for arranging something unique in the Northland!

This event was a blast! I was really nervous about painting but I really enjoyed it. Great snacks and wine were provided — great job putting everything together Adam! The instructor and owner were both very friendly as well. I’m really looking forward to returning to paint again!

I had such a great time here! What a fun event. The owner and instructor were warm and welcoming and made us feel comfortable and at home.
Thanks to Adam, there was plenty of snacks and drinks (yum stuff from Green Acres).
I was a little anxious as it’s been years since I’ve painted but it was easy to get back into it. Have a little wine, start swirling your brushes in paint and next thing you know, you’ve impressed yourself!
I will definitely be coming back soon. I saw plenty of paintings decorating the walls that I want to create (landscapes with trees!) and hope to do so soon.

The event was great fun! I had never been to a «paint and sip» event, but I now understand the appeal since this was an absolute blast, good time!
If you are looking for a good evening of entertainment where you can meet some folks or have a fun time with friends or family, this Pinot’s Palate is a great choice. The artist that led us through the process was funny and entertaining and we walked out with a new canvas of the plaza with lights.

Another super fun night with the Elite crowd. I have been to other «wine and canvas» style places but this place felt a little less stark than the others. I think the kitchen nook really helped with that feeling. The displays on the wall were nice motivation, or rather a reality check, in some scenarios. As for the piece we did, it was deceptively simple, but I swear that has more to do with the stellar instructor than the piece itself. And speaking of the instructor, she was a fun, bubbly, easy-​witted teacher just out to have fun. This made it a relaxed atmosphere for all involved. The food consisted of a nice spread of snackables and a few types of wine and beer topped everything off. What a nice «date nite» with so many of my Unilocal friends.
P. S. Pro tip: Don’t put your wine near your canvas as it will end up just as painted as your painting! Haha.

This was SUPER FUN even though my artistic talents are less than nada. I have wanted to try Pinot’s Palette since it opened, especially since it is like ½ mile from my house, and this was the perfect way to do it with a bunch of fun Unilocalers. Food and drink were stellar as always and our hosts were patient and encouraging. I will definitely be planning a moms night out here soon with some other local friends and hope business is booming — it’s awesome to have a place like this at Briarcliff Village, which can sometimes feel a little staid. Thanks Adam and Pinot’s!

Josel has been asking me to go to a paint studio for about a year. We missed last year’s Elite Paint the Town event and so we jumped on the opportunity for this year’s event. In short, the event was great! Pinot’s Palette in Braircliff, the paint instructor/​guide, and of course Adam did a great job hosting us! There was a large amount of munchies to go around and kept me full throughout the class. The paint and supplies were laid out so we were able to jump in right away. Everything was very organized. The instructor was bright and entertaining, perfect for a non-​painter like me. I am a perfectionist and have a slight OCD so I was afraid of moving too slowly but she timed everything well. She was also willing to help out those who needed it. I even learned a few techniques that I could use if I took in painting as a hobby. The theme of Christmas in Kansas was also perfect! Painting the Plaza during the holiday season was awesome. The music was fantastic as well. I never imaged I’d be painting and singing along to oldies.

Tons of fun! I was concerned that Mr. P might be the only many there so I was pleasantly surprised to see so many other men in attendance. I’ve painted at other drink and paint places and I have to say Pinot’s Palette is one of the best. I really liked the arrangement of the space and the guidance of the teacher. While my lack of painting skills resulted in a work that only a mother could love, it was a fun night out of the house.

Went here for a Unilocal Elite event and WHAT A GREAT event it was!!! Awesome activity and awesome appetizers and wine. Just plain fabulous. Thanks Adam for coordinating!
This paint and sip place is fabulous. I have never done a paint and sip activity, but I will seek out more opportunities to do this. It is so much fun. It is a little nerve wracking and pushes you to try things outside of your comfort zone, but the returns are great!
Return on investment included: 1. I had fun, lots of fun. 2. I felt competent. 3. I really like my painting. 4. I am proud of my painting and myself. 5. I tried something new and found myself immersed in it. 6. I focused on painting for 2+ hours and was not focusing on my stress, life, etc. What a great way to tune into something pleasurable. 7. I laughed. 8. I drank wine.
These are all very valuable things in our too busy way of living.
As for the specific place (Pinot’s Palette), the staff was very kind and helpful. Our «teacher» was funny… she made the whole process enjoyable, even when I was biting my nails over some critical elements of the painting. She used humor and reframing to help us jump into a step without worrying about making mistakes. The setting is very comfortable and cute. It would be a great place and activity for a date or a ladies’ night. Since you spend a lot of time focusing on the painting, I think it would be especially good for an early romantic or friend date when you’re worried that you might not have enough to talk about. Highly recommend, and I hope you’ll give it a try!

Adam did it again. This was a truly all around great experience. The appetizers served were divine and the painting experience was simple enough for the novice but easily personalize-​able (is that a word?) for the truly artistic. I’ve never been to one of these group drink and paint places because I honestly always thought they were for middle-​aged suburban ladies with nothing better to do. Right after this event, though, I met up with a bunch of my friends and gleefully showed them the picture I had painted and we made plans to do a group outing (co-​ed no less) after the holidays. This event is what Unilocal events are all about: getting us out of our routines and allowing us to experience places and activities that we otherwise might not have. This place will definitely have my business and that of my friends long after the memories of this event fade.

Unilocal’s paint the town was a smashing success! Pinot’s Pilate provided fancy party trays for us to munch on. I had never seen a party tray with grape leaves. Those were my favorite! There was also plenty of wine that they insisted we drink before and during the painting… You know… To calm the nerves of us novice painters.
The artist and her assistant were both very personable and fun. They were also very organized and moved things along quickly. This wasn’t my first drinking/​painting rodeo, but I for sure love Pinots Pilate the best. I had a blast singing along to all the songs they played.
I had a great time painting the plaza /​Cheesecake Factory scene. Thanks for a fun night!