Miami residents looking for a creative outing beyond a meal or drinks have several beginner-friendly options, from learning Hong Kong-style mahjong to making a terrarium or practicing brush lettering.
Coral Gables designer and illustrator Andrea Mendez of Vintage Unicorn Design shared three local picks in Coralgableslove’s Miami Locals Series. Her suggestions center on activities that can work for friends, dates or family members without requiring prior experience.
888 Mahjong Social hosts Chinese mahjong, Hong Kong style, with instructors available to help newcomers learn the tiles, turns and winning hands. The group has held games at FUKU, 135 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables, and has also hosted pop-up events elsewhere in Miami, including at the Vizcaya Village night market. Event dates, prices and any venue perks vary, according to the source, and are posted through the group’s Eventbrite page and Instagram.
Crafts and Drafts Miami runs rotating hands-on workshops around the city, including carnivorous plant terrariums, seasonal pumpkin decorating and painting events. Current workshops, locations and ticket details are released through the organization’s website and Instagram.
Mendez also leads beginner hand-lettering workshops through Vintage Unicorn Design. Her next listed class, Letter Your Thanksgiving Table, is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Arte y Pasión Cafe, 205 Aragon Ave. in Coral Gables.
The $75 general-admission workshop, with a $65 early-bird price while available, teaches brush pressure and letter formation before participants create fall-themed place cards. Brush pens, practice paper, lettering worksheets and place-card stock are included. Tickets are non-refundable, and no experience is required.
Participants who want to make cards for a holiday gathering can bring names or words they would like to letter during the class.
