Wednesday 9 October 2013

Date Night Idea: An Evening at the Art Gallery


Everyone always talks about how important date nights are once you have kids.

But the trouble is, we really just want to sit on the couch and veg out in front of the TV- me with my knitting and Guy with his internet. Our last date night consisted of going to Home Depot, eating Subway sandwiches for dinner, picking up a baby gift for a friend, and then sitting in a cafe for an hour, feeling tired and wishing we could go home. But we felt guilty for wanting to go home, and also like we'd be ripping off the babysitter if we came home so soon. That is not an unusual way for us to spend a 'date night'.

So we decided to shake things up a bit and actually do something that people who were not married/cohabitating (and therefore HAD to go on dates as a way to spend time together) would do. We went to First Thursday, an evening event that the Art Gallery of Ontario puts on in the evening on the first Thursday of every month. And guys, it was FUN. It felt like a date- I wore a nice dress and there were bars and art and quiet corners to kiss in.

AGO 5

The fox-print dress is a a light summer dress (a birthday gift from a friend, but I know she got it at ASOS- the link is here, but it is out of stock).  To cozy it up for fall, I'm wearing it with a sheath dress underneath, and my awesome upcycled Anthropologie inspired cardigan. This was the first time I've tried the 'belted cardigan' look, but I think it works- I would do it again.

AGO 3


AGO 1


Also, this cardigan seems to go with everything, true story. 

AGo Collage 3
The First Thursday event actually lets you wander around the galleries (most of them, anyway) with booze and food. The food they had on offer that evening: cronuts (seen above), fish and chips in tiny personal sized boxes, deep fried mac and cheese. It wasn't healthy, but it was delicious! 

AGO Collage 1
 There were some cool new photography exhibits, and somehow part of the fun of First Thursday involved people dressed up with weird masks wandering around and perusing the art. Oddly, it does add a little something to the fun of the evening, though!
AGO collage 2
There were loads of people there, but yet it never felt too crowded. Guy and I have agreed that this date night was the most successful of all our post-baby date nights, and we will continue to go to First Thursdays. This was actually energizing, and fun, and stimulating, and beats the pants off of errand-running and obligatory dinners that we're too tired to actually enjoy. 

18 comments:

melody (mandarines) said...

You look so pretty! And your outfit is perfect for the Fall!

Nat at Made in Home said...

Ahahah just posted a review of the film we went to see on our date night - but no outfit shown. Love the cardigan, sounds very cultural for a date night, not sure I would have the attention for an art gallery yet... but sounds like a good idea for the future!

Unknown said...

Sounds like the perfect date night! And that dress/cardi combo, beautiful. I love seeing knits in the wild. The belted look totally works for you.

Carmel said...

i have loved that sweater since you were working on it... changing the hem and cuffs! You look amazing! The fox dress is very cool!

Evelyn said...

What a fun date! I felt the same way in my early years of parenting but then my hubby & I discovered free late nights at our local museums and voila, date night became a great way to enjoy art and be among a vivid social scene. Love your look!

Anonymous said...

I agree...most days once the kids are asleep, all I want to do is sit on the couch and knit.

I love your fashion sense! I need to learn how to put together outfits like you! And also have friends who would buy me awesome fox dresses!

Teresa said...

Looks like a lot of fun. Cute outfit! I'm suddenly feeling the urge to surf the interwebs in search of little fox fabric...

eliza said...

well you look splendid! i love the layering of the dresses, with just the tiniest peek of the dress underneath, it gives it a layered interest. that cardigan is dazzling, it's nice to know it's such a useful wardrobe piece! looks like a lovely evening. ^_^

Ashley said...

That is the perfect autumnal outfit :) I'm glad date night went well! My bf and I are due for one, but, as you said, when you cohabitat it's just so much easier to hang out on the couch. First Thursday sounds great! First Friday (same thing) is one of the things I miss most about living in a city. So many things to do that you (probably) wouldn't normally do.

Anonymous said...

Good for you! Wish there had been First Thursdays, or Mondays or whatevers in the way, way out NYC suburbs (exurbs really)35 years ago. Who knows, maybe I'd still be married to my daughter's dad. Lol!

Anonymous said...

What an interesting idea (and cute cardigan)! I will have to look into something like this in our area...

Loulou said...

That sounds like a really fun date! I've never been to First Thursday. You look very nice in your fox print dress. And I'm glad you found some quiet corners in which to kiss :)

Not to jump on the 'me too' bandwagon but Nick and I are going to the gallery for the first time together today.

Makunka said...

It's very important to find a time for you both and don't talk only about child, home etc.
And you are so beautiful

Voie de Vie said...

Oooh, looks like fun! We have several "first" art nights each month here (depending on neighborhood) and they are usually also fun (although your food was better - how was the cronut?).

Pamela said...

We don't even have kids and we struggle to get out of the house! Kudos to you for making it a priority, even when you don't feel like it.

Love, love, love the sweater! Thanks for posting about the project - I'll definitely be trying it out for myself.

Hilary said...

That is such a great idea! Neill and I have the same problem with date night (which we don't do nearly enough anyway)...but maybe we'll try a REAL date next time!

Also, you look fabulous!

Pam said...

Take the word of a parent whose nest is now empty - getting a baby sitter to run errands together isn't a bad idea -- but it's not a date. An evening at an art gallery, dressed up a bit. That's a date. Enjoy!

Eatsruns said...

You look great, the cardigan is fantastic! I'm going on a bunch of dates at the moment (new man in my life, eek!) and that's given me a great idea - here in London most of the museums do "lates" on a Friday night once a month or so. Must do that!