Map graphic by Amanda Smallwood
Dinner and a movie can be fun, but sometimes you want to try something different. We came up with six creative date-night ideas.
Make a Painting
For the artsy couple not afraid to get their hands dirty, Muse Paintbar in Gaithersburg offers couples classes where you create a joint acrylic painting—the two canvases come together to make one image. Food and beverages are for sale. Couples nights typically take place once or twice a month. For more information, visit www.musepaintbar.com.
Cook—And Eat—Together
For $75 per person, La Tasca in Rockville will teach you how to make your own paella and/or sangria. The evenings also include appetizers, a tapas bar and paella buffet, dessert and coffee. A sangria class is scheduled for Jan. 14; paella classes are scheduled for Jan. 7 and Feb. 18; and sangria and paella classes are slated for Jan. 22 and Feb. 12. All classes are offered through LivingSocial. For more information, visit www.latascausa.com.
See the Symphony
If you are new to the symphony, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra conductor Marin Alsop’s “Off the Cuff” series at Strathmore (she talks with the audience after the performance) is a great way to understand more about the music. Her first talk this year will take place on Jan. 13, after the BSO plays Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7. Lots of nearby restaurants—including Seasons 52 and Wildwood Kitchen—make it easy to make a night of it. For more information, visit www.strathmore.org.
Share Some Laughs
When it comes to love, people are often advised to find someone who makes them laugh. You can put that theory to the test at Glenview Mansion Cottage’s “Wine and Improv” nights. Led by a theater professional, the workshops incorporate a variety of improv-style games involving role play, charades and props (think of the show Whose Line Is It Anyway?). Tickets include one drink per person, though additional beer and wine is available for purchase. Couples tickets cost $60 ($35 for individuals) and all attendees must be 21; the class typically includes one to two dozen people. The first two “Wine and Improv” nights in 2017 are on Jan. 19 and Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. For more information, visit rockvillemd.gov.
Go Dancing
At Dance Bethesda, a couple’s first private lesson is free. If you like what you learn, you can start to make a regular evening out of it. The first Friday of every month, the studio holds an open dance party (8:30 to 11 p.m.), which typically includes ballroom, Latin and swing music. For more information, visit dancebethesda.com.
Bond Over Books
Open for more than 30 years, beloved independent bookstore Politics and Prose in Upper Northwest D.C. is a fun place to spend an evening. With author talks scheduled almost every night of the week, couples can come to browse, listen and read—and then head downstairs for dinner and drinks at The Den. Check the store’s website (www.politics-prose.com) for a calendar of upcoming readings.
