Entry No. 48 — the New York City file — filed under: hands-on
Brooklyn Glass — One Day Neon Workshop
Brooklyn Glass is a working neon shop with an on-site supply warehouse, not a craft-mall pop-up, and the one-day neon class puts you in front of an open ribbon-burner flame to soften and bend real glass tubing yourself. You learn what actually goes into a neon tube, then shape your own abstract piece in a color you pick, and the staff are full-time neon professionals. You leave with a power supply and wiring so the finished light works on your wall.
The story
Tucked into an unassuming industrial stretch of 13th Street in Gowanus, Brooklyn Glass isn't some sanitized craft-mall pop-up with pastel walls and plastic safety goggles. It is a legitimate, high-heat working glass facility and supply warehouse where full-time neon professionals spend their trade hours manufacturing custom pieces and stocking raw material.
Step into the One Day Neon Workshop and you're placed directly in front of a ribbon burner—a wide line of open gas flame that hums loudly in the studio air. You learn the real physics of glass fabrication: slowly rotating clear soda-lime tubing over the heat, feeling for the exact second the rigid glass slumps into liquid soft bendability, and making clean turns before the wall walls collapse or cool off. It is an unforgiving, physical dance of heat control and geometry.
Because you're learning directly from full-time neon fabricators rather than casual hobby instructors, you get an unvarnished look at the science behind the glow—how noble gases, glass tubing, and electrical currents interact. You select your color, bend an abstract glass shape with your own hands, and leave with a fully functional piece mounted with a power supply and wiring, ready to plug directly into your apartment wall.
What it's like
Expect five focused, sweaty hours from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM on a select Saturday. You will be working directly over open flame torches, so wear closed-toe shoes and natural fibers like cotton or heavy denim—leave any synthetic clothing at home, as it melts near heat. Keep your design simple; aiming for a complex cursive word on your first day is a recipe for broken glass, whereas abstract shapes and bold lines come out crisp. At roughly $330 plus booking fees, bench space at the ribbon burners is limited, so reserve your spot well in advance.
The move: Spend a Saturday afternoon side by side bending hot glass over a flame, then take home a glowing custom neon piece you made together.
📍 Before you go Class runs select Saturdays 11am-4pm, roughly $330 plus booking fee; spots are limited so reserve ahead.
- 📍 Gowanus, Brooklyn
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 142 13th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- The Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club — After five hours of sweating over open gas burners in Gowanus, walk a few blocks north to cool off with a tiki drink on the shuffleboard courts.
- Susan Gardner's Mosaic House — Extend the glass-focused day by stopping nearby in Boerum Hill to see an entire brownstone facade covered in hand-glued glass and found objects.
- Craftsman Ave — Knife Forging — If controlling open flame and raw material got your blood pumping, head down to Sunset Park to hammer red-hot steel into a knife.
Good to know
Do I need any prior glassblowing or torch experience?
No prior experience is required. The workshop is designed for complete beginners, though you will be handling real glass over open gas flames under direct professional supervision.
What do I actually walk out with at the end of the workshop?
You take home your own custom-bent, glowing neon piece, fully equipped with its transformer power supply and wall wiring so it works immediately.
When does the class run and how much does it cost?
It runs on select Saturdays from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM and costs approximately $330 plus a booking fee.
What should I wear to the workshop?
Wear natural fiber clothing (cotton or denim) and closed-toe shoes. Avoid synthetic materials that melt under hot temperatures.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp · Time Out
last checked: 2026-06-23