Parents Night Out: Planning A Date Night In Ossining

 Once upon a time, they were frequent and spontaneous. From dinner and a movie to a night of dancing, there was plenty of alone time to be had with the significant other. But that was before we became a family of two busy parents and two adorable kiddos. These days, date nights are rare—and they take a bit more planning.

Take this week, for example. I have decided that an evening with the hubby is long overdue. I’m determined to plan a date night that is close to home (as in, right-down-the-street close). Oh…and it has to be something we haven’t tried before.

With requirements like that, I hope I don’t give up and spend my local date night ordering pizza (hey, it’s dinner!) and stopping by the Stop and Shop DVD kiosk (dinner and a movie!).

No, I want to go out…so let’s take a look some of my choices.

There’s always the Swiss Restaurant on Croton Ave, Brasserie Swiss. I’ve peaked inside once or twice, and the cozy, intimate atmosphere just whispered to me “romantic date night!” Besides, it will be fun for my husband and I to step out of our culinary comfort zone. We’ll order something interesting like the Snails Bourguignon!

But a quiet sit-down dinner is always such a low-key choice, isn’t it? I might want to try something a bit more upbeat. I’m thinking Karma Lounge for a couple of martinis and karaoke!  I hear the martini bar and grill, located on Main Street, hosts karaoke night every Thursday from 8 pm until midnight.  I’m not sure if we’ll work up the nerve to actually croak out a song, but it might be quite the fun night anyway.

And here’s a date night I’ve been thinking about ever since I became a Dancing with the Stars fan. The hubby and I can drop in on a beginner’s salsa lesson.  In Ossining, the place to go is Josie’s International School of Dance on Main Street. It costs $20 to drop in for a single class and I’m sure we would have fun learning all the basic moves. I’ll just put that one on the wishful thinking list, because I would have to convince my husband to channel his inner Maksim Chmerkovskiy first!

Decisions, decisions. 

Now…time to figure out who will watch the kids!