I am trying to find a cooking and a baking class in NYC  for my 11 year old daughter.  Other than the CIA, what do you recommend?

–Carol

Check out Cupcake Kids and Cook with Class. Both of them over set programs for tweens but can also create a special program for a group if you'd like to put one together. Friends of ours have raved about both! Oh, and don't forget about the Institute of Culinary Education, which also offers a whole host of kids' classes.

I have an 11 year old daughter who loves to cook and bake.  I'm looking for an afternoon and/or weekend class(es) for her to take with a friend.  Do you know where I can find a more serious class than the 'kids in the kitchen" that she took as a child? Thanks.

–Carol

Three places to try: Institute of Culinary Education does have some classes for tweens as does Chef Rob at Cook with Class. Another option (though we have no first-hand experience) is the Natural Gourmet Institute for Food and Health. We know adults who've taken classes there and said they were great so it might be worth a try. Bon Appetit!

Do you know any place where I can learn to play poker? Husband teaching me has led to wicked arguments.

–Jill

School of Cards offers short and long-term sessions, depending on how deep you want to get into the poker scenario. They'll also do private events and birthday parties for kids as young as 12. We kinda like that idea for a tween party!

Do you know any place that offers language classes for children? We'd like our daughter to start a second language but her school doesn't start it until middle school.

–Jen

Since you didn't specify which language, we're gonna recommend Tribeca Language Center, which offers classes for both children and adults. They teach French, Spanish, German, Hindi, Mandarin, Greek, Japanese, Korean, and Italian. Something for everyone!