What to do downtown now that the sun sets before 5 p.m.

Instead of hibernating until spring, treat the long, dark nights as your excuse to pick up something new. Here are five hobbies to dive into in and around Downtown Denver this winter:

1. Give Pottery a Spin

Get your hands dirty at the Denver Clayroom, located right off Platte Street. With wheel-throwing and handbuilding classes for every skill level, there's a spot for you whether you've never touched clay or you're ready to level up.

2. Be the Main Character at the Library

Grab a cozy corner at the renovated Denver Central Library and get lost in a good book. It stays open until 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and when the doors close, Leven Deli Co. is just a short walk away in the Golden Triangle for your plot-twist dinner.

3. Become a Salsa Pro

Warm up the coldest nights at La Rumba, a Denver institution for Latin dance. Lessons run several nights a week on a walk-in basis, so there's no excuse not to show up. Take a beginner class, stay for the social dancing and leave with some new moves (and new friends).

4. Get to Know Your Local Museums

Downtown is packed with museums, and rotating exhibitions mean there's always something new around the corner. Whether you dive into the Denver Art Museum, the Clyfford Still Museum and History Colorado Center you can find them clustered together in the Golden Triangle.

5. Get Your Zen On

Winter wellness, anyone? RÖK SPAS on 17th Street near Union Station is a Nordic-style bathhouse built around contrast therapy, with a Finnish sauna, a steam room, thermal soaks and cold plunges. Add in their community events like run club and it's the perfect excuse to step out of your comfort zone (and into a sauna).

Make the Dark Hours Count

The sun may clock out early, but Downtown Denver doesn't. Pick a hobby, grab a friend and make this the winter you finally tried something new!