Remember when you and hubby were young, dating and having fun? Yeah, me neither. So, one of my goals for 2018 is to reinvigorate our date night. The past few years we have succeeded in taking nights out about once every week or two. With our live-in babysitters (aka our teenagers) we have been blessed with the ability to do this fairly regularly.
However, we hardly take advantage of these nights out doing much more than sitting sushi in hand across from each other at the same place, same time. Here are five Evanston places on my must-do list this year to shake up life beyond sushi-filled date nights. I’ll be checking these out, will you?
Bottles & Bottega
I have yet to try this location in Evanston, but my husband and I had a painting date night at another location in Glenview, a few years back. We got in touch with our inner Van Gogh and had a blast. Bring snacks and a bottle of your favorite beer or wine for a super fun night out. Â Group painting instruction allows you to feel like an artist, even though you may barely have the ability to draw a straight line.
Century 12 Evanston/ Cinearts 6 Movie Theater
Movie date nights are always fun, but add in a game room, a billiards area and a bar and you’ve got an excellent night out. Century/Cinearts allows you to come early or stay late after your show. On weekends they also have a live pianist and sometimes singers in the bar. Drinks can also be carried into your movie, as well. Cinearts will often have really cool independent films features alongside the mainstream showings. We go here often and love coming early to grab drinks and then watch our movie.
Kaffein
Locate your inner college student and hop over to Kaffein coffee shop. This little hipster cafe is chockfull of Northwestern students, but you can relive burning the midnight oil with a cup of award-winning java complete with designs in your latte, some excellent food, I hear, and grab a board game from the shelves. Hubby and I have done this date night a while back and had lots of fun reconnecting over an old Trivial Pursuit Genus Edition. Time for a rematch!
Come Out Dancing
A few years back, on a whim likely influenced by Dancing with the Stars, my husband became impassioned with ballroom dancing. He booked us a trial lesson at a local studio and we awkwardly laughed our way through an hour lesson of four left feet. It wasn’t my finest moment, but I think I may be ready to give it another go. (Don’t tell him!) So, I found this little studio in Evanston that offers lessons for one night or several classes in ballroom dance, salsa and swing. Could be fun for those that sway their hips better than I, or those in need of a good laugh!
Heaven Meets Earth Yoga
If the box step is not your thing, perhaps you and your spouse would be into trying couples yoga! I am trying to convince my husband to give this couples massage and yoga a try! For Valentine’s day Heaven Meets Earth Yoga will be teaching techniques on massage and relaxation through the art of yoga. I have attended classes here and love the cozy and welcoming feel of this studio.
I am excited to add to this date night list and watch our date nights go from blah and boring to enjoyable and entertaining. Let me know where you and your partner go and help me add to this list!
