Our mug, after being fired and glazed. Photo by Esther Ro (COM’15)

The scene is a throwback to childhood: a wall of unpainted white ceramics, newspaper-covered tables with brushes and palettes, and brightly painted finished pottery on shelves. But the Clayroom is anything but your typical paint-a-ceramic studio.

For 17 years, the studio has been a popular attraction not just for children, but for nostalgic grownups drawn to the Clayroom’s half-off studio discount on Monday nights, free pizza dinner on Tuesday nights, and a liberal BYOB policy. But the most eager adult crowds are found on Wednesdays, during the popular Wine and Cheese Night.

Intrigued by the premise of this adult take on a childhood classic, we couldn’t help but stop by the weekly 21+ only event, which runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Guests are encouraged to arrive during the first two hours to ensure enough time to eat, drink, socialize, and of course, paint their creations. Motivated by an empty stomach, we showed up shortly after six to find the studio empty save for owner Doug Fisher. When he greeted us with, “Red or white?” we knew we were in for a great night.

We sipped Cabernet (that evening’s other option was a Pinot Grigio) as Fisher showed us around, pointing out the ceramic shelves stocked with an array of mugs, small plates, tiles, and figurines. The $30 admission fee includes wine and snacks, plus your choice of up to $20 worth of pottery, which covers most of the items mentioned above. Those with their hearts set on larger, pricier pieces such as dog bowls, teapots, and serving platters, can pay the difference. Thinking ahead to the inevitable chill about to envelop Boston, we chose a large, round mug as our canvas—ideal for serving up warm tea and hot soup.

Although the Clayroom seats up to 40 guests, reservations are recommended so there’ll be enough beverages and snacks. Photos courtesy of Clayroom

Next up, the paint. Fisher led us to where dozens of numbered bottles were ours for the picking. Ceramic paint is thick and chalky and looks nothing like the vibrant hues after a piece has been glazed and fired. To compensate for this disparity, a mosaic of already-fired sample tiles hangs above the bottles so you can envision the finished product. Each square is numbered to correspond to a paint bottle.

Influenced by the wine choices, we grabbed some brushes and filled our palette with just two colors, fiery scarlet and porcelain white.

The rest of the evening couldn’t have been simpler. You just head back to your table and sip, snack, and paint. The space, which holds upwards of 40 people, began filling up and soon the room was half full. Spurred by the sudden competition for snacks, we loaded a plate with grapes, Triscuits, and a medley of hard and soft cheeses from the snack table, which also offered Oreos, and set to work.

Fisher moved among guests, offering advice, touching up designs, and refilling glasses. (Unlike other craft and drink events in Boston, such as the Paint Bar, the Clayroom’s Wine and Cheese Night offers unlimited wine and snacks.) Since this was our first time decorating pottery, our vision was modest—a red mug with a flower chain and a few other white details. And while our project didn’t require too much assistance, we appreciated Fisher’s assurance that he “could fix any mistake.”

Guests can choose from over 50 colors to decorate their ceramics. Each hue is also available in a small bottle with a precision top for applying finer details.

After applying five layers of paint, consuming three glasses of wine, and making more trips to the snack table than we’re prepared to admit, our creation was done. We were shocked to see that almost three hours had elapsed. Now, it was time for the most difficult part: a five-day wait until our piece was fired and glazed before we could pick it up.

Finally it was time to return. When we were handed our lacquered mug, it elicited the welcome return of another childhood memory: swelling pride.

The Clayroom is at 1408 Beacon St., Brookline; hours: noon to 10 p.m. every day; phone: 617-566-7575. By public transportation, take any Green Line C trolley to Summit Avenue. Reservations are strongly recommended. The Wine and Cheese Night is each Wednesday from 6 to 10 p.m. The cost is $30 (more for a bigger piece of pottery). Regular studio fees are $8 per painter ($6 each for groups of four or more) plus the cost of your piece. Additional specials: half-off studio fees on Mondays from 6 to 10 p.m. and free pizza on Tuesdays from 6 to 10 p.m. The Clayroom also hosts children’s parties and private parties.

This is part of a series featuring Boston nightlife venues of interest to the BU community. If you have any suggestions for places we should feature, please leave them in the Comment section below.

Paula Sokolska can be reached at ps5642@bu.edu.