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Sip Wine and Paint a Masterpiece at This New Smith Street Studio

By Nikhita Venugopal | January 27, 2015 2:08pm | Updated on January 28, 2015 2:52pm
 The studio that lets you sip wine and create a masterpiece is opening a new location at 228 Smith St.
Painting with a Twist Opens First NYC Location
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CARROLL GARDENS — A new paint-and-sip studio is giving Brooklyn a chance to show off its creative side and try an “alternative” date night, the owners said.  

“Painting with a Twist” is opening its first New York City studio in Carroll Gardens, inviting  patrons to spend the evening with a drink in one hand and a paintbrush in the other.

Suzette and Felicia Riley, two sisters, are opening the new 1,500 square-foot studio at 228 Smith St. at the end of February or early in March, they said.  

“I’d describe it as the new dinner and a movie,” said Suzette Riley, 46, who lives in Lawrenceville, Ga., where the sisters also operate another “Painting with a Twist” location.

“It’s a great alternative to your regular date night."

Painting with a Twist is a paint-and-sip franchise that was founded in 2007 and has more than 190 locations in 28 states.

Beer, wine and finger foods can be purchased at the studio or patrons can bring their own beverages for the evening sessions, the owners said.

The sessions, which require no previous experience, are priced at $45 per person with painting supplies provided by the studio and a chance to take home the masterpiece once it's complete, said Felicia Riley, 36, who lives in East Flatbush.

Once the studio is open, patrons can choose a class they’d like to attend from an online calendar that will also show which painting the whole class will be working on. An instructor and an assistant will guide each class.

“I think that you kind of make a connection when you collaboratively create something together,” Suzette Riley said. “It’s romantic, it’s interactive.”

But the studio isn’t just for lovebirds. The sisters are also encouraging friends and family to sign up or book the studio for private parties and kids’ birthdays. The studio will also host monthly charity events for local nonprofits.

“It’s going to be a place where people can come and let their hair down,” Felicia Riley said.