Whether it’s knitting or mahjong, grandmas gave us the best activities for when you finally get off your phone

When you’ve been chronically online, there’s no shame in disconnecting to reconnect. There are plenty of hobbies your grandma did long before the Internet was ever around, and maybe she had the right idea. Even though you can technically knit on your own or bake a cake without anyone’s help, sometimes it’s better to do it with some guidance and a friend or two, like with these 5 options below.

Embroidery and Needlepoint Stores 

Underrated hobbies, both embroidery and needlepoint let you bring to life gorgeous creations and make anything fabulous. Some stores not only have all the supplies you are looking for but tips and tricks for how to start from the basics. Aristeia Needlepoint in Santa Monica has kind staff that can help you find exactly what you are looking for or figure out your own journey if you are a senior embroiderer. A Stitch in Time Needlework in San Marino offers a wide selection and a super cute gift shop, with more reasonable finishing costs. Other notable stores are Garden Gate Needlepoint in Covina, The Altered Stitch in Lake Balboa and Wildfiber in Santa Monica. 

Bird Watching

If your neck hurts from always looking down at your phone, look up at the sky for a change. With hundreds of species of birds in L.A., you never know what you might see. Pigeons and seagulls might not seem very cool, but maybe a bright neon-blue California Scrub-Jay or the vibrant Allen’s Hummingbird. Through organizations like the Los Angeles Audubon Society and Los Angeles Birding Club, they offer free guided walks in habitats across the city. Now is the chance to venture to the Ballona Salt Marsh, the L.A. River and local parklands to find a beautiful winged companion you can remember forever.

Mahjong Groups

This Chinese game of skill, strategy and calculation has not only been trending in recent years, but has grown to be a staple for neighborhood clubs and social gatherings. Various groups, like the L.A. Mahjong League, The Mahj, General Lee’s Chinatown, The Four Winds Club and others host meetings and pop-ups to play this tile-based game while chatting with your fellow players. There are also groups on Facebook, Instagram and Nextdoor looking for a new member, or you can always host your own. Beyond gameplay, you can fall in love with the people gathered around the table, the food and drinks on the side and socializing while you play this game of skill and luck.

Scroll to continue reading

Baking Class

TikTok videos and online recipes can only get you so far sometimes. Not only can baking classes help you to bake, but you can understand the science behind it and have more and better tools at your disposal. Depending on what you want to make, there are baking classes for whatever cake, pastry or baked good you want to create. There’s OH LA LA for sourdough, The Sweet Spot Workshops with cake and cupcake decorating, Class Bento for macarons and more, plus community college extension courses, like those at L.A. Trade Tech that often have free or very low-cost classes. In one session you can learn so much and if you choose to come back for more, you can build your baking skills to cook up a storm.

Crochet and Knitting Events

Everyone’s favorite hobby nowadays seems to be crocheting or knitting. Not only do you have to focus on what’s between your hands, but you’ll end up with something amazing to wear or a lovely little knick-knack. Through the Los Angeles Public Library, there’s the Knitting and Crochet Club for you to bring your own hooks, needles and yarn and create in good company. There are also paid workshops at local yarn stores, like The Knitting Tree and The Little Knittery, and community groups with more informal meetings. So grab your needles and get to work with a group so you don’t have to crochet or knit in solitude.