Billy and I love our new neighborhood, and there are so many restaurants we want to try. we decided to implement a weekly date night every Wednesday or Thursday.
here’s the twist:
one of us picks 2 restaurants that we want to try, and emails both menus to the other one by noon on the day of the dinner date. that person looks over the menus, makes a selection by 3:00pm, and calls for a reservation if necessary.
then it’s a secret until dinnertime.
currently, we’re choosing places we can walk to because there are so many nearby. this just adds an element of fun to an already fun date night.
another element we’re considering is having a drink at home before we walk to the restaurant (if we’re in the mood!) and skipping drinks while there to lower the bill. even 2 drinks adds $20 to the tab, and we typically have dinner plans with friends over the weekend when we will order cocktails or a bottle of wine.
I rarely drink during the week, but last night we decided to make a vodka drink mixed with some sparkling water that the friendly people at Cascade Ice sent me.
I chose lemonade, and mixed it with vodka over ice. it has a true sweet & sour flavor. I can compare it to original lemon-lime Gatorade which I happen to love but never drink (unless I’m deathly ill or stuck in the desert!) because of the high sugar content.
when I drink vodka, I typically sip it on the rocks with lime juice, or sometimes mix it with soda water if I’m craving carbonation. Cascade Ice is a calorie-free way to get that fizz with some flavor but without the sugar and sodium. it’s also gluten-free.
here a link to Cascade Ice Popsicles!
as for the dinner date and restaurant choice? a complete success! it needs a post of its own as we had a great time and found a new go-to spot right down the street.
if you drink alcohol, what’s your drink of choice?
I love a good glass of wine (red or white depending on time of year and the accompanying meal) or a basic vodka drink. that’s it!
do you have a special date night ritual (with a significant other or friend)?
I LOVE this idea!! A twist on the date night, a SECRET date night! That is so awesome! I loved your pics on instagram last night and your pre-dinner drink and then dinner. Cheers, friend, to a great weekend (I too am a red and white wine drinker, VERY rarely ANYTHING else, trulY!)
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thank you! we had so much fun, and we’re excited to make it a weekly event! our 1st restaurant was amazing so the bar has been set as far as expectations go. I hope you are having an amazing weekend!! xoxo
I LOVE your twist on date night!! I am *totally* stealing this and surprising Scott in the very, very near future. You guys are so cute!!
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please steal the idea! it was so much fun, and I love that both of us end up happy with the restaurant…we usually find one we’re both excited about, but this process is more fun and efficient!
xo
The venue selection process you two have come up with is so creative! I love it. We do date night about once per week, too – we just might have to steal this idea
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I hope you do steal the idea! it was a fun way for us to pick a place. there have definitely been times when we were so indecisive about where to go and this eliminates that annoyance!
Oh I absolutely love that twist! So much fun. I wish we had a host of really awesome restaurants nearby that would warrant being able to do that. Maybe I need to come visit? Of course, then it wouldn’t exactly be date night LOL. I hope you guys have a wonderful weekend.
you & Jason can come to NYC and crash our date night anytime! we’d have a blast.
I hope y’all are having a great weekend as well! xo
Since I havent had a drink since December 31, and won’t again until after out son is born, I have been blown away by how much even one of us not drinking lowers the bill!! My drink of choice totally depends on where we are- wine at pizza or Italian places (exception-Louies), Stella at old monk or cap pub, gin and tonic anywhere. Always champagne with Tyler if we are celebrating ANYTHING….even if it’s just celebrating a good Tuesday.
Sloannie! yes, alcohol definitely is a bill-changer – sometimes completely worth it, other times not so much. I love hearing you talk about your SON! seriously, so exciting. I hope you’re feeling great. and I remember that about you and Tyler – the love for champagne! it was part of his proposal! <3
I have been blown away by how much even of us not drinking lowers the bill. Thanks for sharing this with us.
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That is so cute! I love the idea. And the cocktail hour at home. The number of restaurants is endless too.
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thanks, Marci! I hope y’all are getting out on some more dates with the new little one. I need to come catch up on your blog. have a wonderful weekend! xo
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