Take me out tonight- Date Night

Dating your partner/spouse is so important and also takes some planning that you didn’t have to do before you became a mom. To be good parents, you need to be able to enjoy your time together without kids occasionally as well. I hope that this article inspires you to try something new and also helps relieve some of the stress that can come from planning a date night. One of the ways that we have ensured that we have a bare minimum of date nights is by building them into our lives. These built-in date nights are easy to do because you already paid for them so you feel that you HAVE to go together or at very least one of you goes.

One of my favorite things to do in the winter for date nights is go to see a show.

While I enjoy a movie just like everyone, I prefer live theater and we are so lucky to have the Stranahan Theater here in NWO.  Buying these tickets ahead of time forces you to commit and get that babysitter booked! Better yet, get season tickets and then you have 5 set date nights or girls nights out. That was the outlook that we took on buying the season tickets, we were gifting ourselves date nights that were already planned and paid for ahead of time. Also, if a BIG show comes to town like Wicked, Hamilton, etc. then you already have the tickets and don’t have to pay the resale prices like we have had to in the past just to see one show.

If you have an amazing sitter like we do who can be there early enough for you to get dinner before the show – here are some of our favorites near the theater.

• Sebastiano’s Italiano *our favorite*- 2 minute drive
  • right across the street from the Stranahan, books up quickly-make a reservation
  • try the mussels, grilled chicken caesar, daily specials and soups, and gelato or an affogato for dessert
  • my favorite is the aglio olio e peperoncino
• Carrabba’s Italian Grill– 10-minute drive
  • Happy hour 4-7 pm bar area only- we walked in and got a seat at the bar
  • we shared a charcuterie board and 2 glasses of wine for $25
  • Lots of other small plates to share on happy hour as well
• Tandoor Cuisine of India– 3-minute drive
  • under construction currently, but wanted to include it because it’s close and  absolutely delicious
  • mixed grill- a great way to sample a little bit of everything
• Barr’s Public House– 8 min drive
  • always offering delicious chef’s features
  • Try their signature wings, asiago truffle trifecta, sous-vide chicken, and bourbon-glazed salmon. 
  • Spicy garlic pickle tini- MUST TRY

With a maiden name like Glorioso, of course, the first two choices are Italian. These are ones that we have enjoyed before our shows and I would recommend them. You might be wondering why I included the driving time but that is so you can do that backward mama math to figure out when to make your reservation for. Make sure to leave time to park and get yourself a drink or snack before you go in for the show!

After the show, if you’re looking for a nightcap while you still have the sitter. I would double-check their hours, we usually go to the Thursday show so there aren’t as many choices open late

• Thursday & weekend shows
  • Swig– 10 min drive
  • Village Idiot– 6 min drive
  • Fifth Street Pub– 11 min drive
• Weekend shows
  • Levi and Lilacs– 6 min drive

Some of you might be thinking, man that is A LOT of shows that your hubby has sat through. Yes, it is and I know there were a few that he could have gone without watching BUT we usually enjoy dinner beforehand, QT at intermission, and sometimes even a nightcap afterward. PLUS, we have been season ticket holders for the Browns for 5 years now so if you do the math he’s still winning. 

Since we had the tickets before we became parents, it made it easier for us to delegate a night for date night. Thursdays have become our weekly date night, as long as we can make it happen with our sitter and schedules.