** ADVICE FOR DATE NIGHT**

Tempe Town Lake. It's not terribly exciting but one night, we drove over there and walked along the lake. There are places to stop and talk. And it's alway busy with people jogging and walking at night. Then we walked over and grabbed a bite on Mill Ave. It was a new part of town to explore and fun

Stacy Sullivan is an editor for arizonamoms.com, pets.azcentral.com and The Republic whose single mom sister is constantly asking for advice as she raises two great kids.

What about a fun restaurant like a teppanyaki place or fondue ... like the Melting Pot ... as for fun things to do .. baseball is in season now so what about a Diamondbacks game .... or there's always put put golf ... ummmm ... what else ... catching a concert that's in town ...

We were invited to go along with some friends to a wine tasting at Wrigley mansion tonite, but alas no sitter. I thought it sounded fun to dress up and act fancy for a couple hours!

Friday April 25, 2008
Wine Tasting in Geordie’s
$30 per person ($25 pre sale)
7-10 pm

Susan is mom to Alexander, Isabel, David and stepmom to Eric. She does community outreach for arizonamoms. Be sure to enter the Back-to-School $1000 Giveaway every day July 4-31!

Tempe Market Place in the district is nice. Grab a bite to eat - lots of choices, go to the book store there, grab a coffee and go sit by the fire. Both ends of the district have places to sit, fireplaces and waterfalls.

KarilouMomof2 is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com living in Tempe. Her daughters are 9 and 6.

Take a class together (cooking?), see a live performance (phx ballet and phx symphony offer free outdoor concerts throughout the year), attend a lecture, go to First Fridays in Phx, go to an art museum.
It's easy to get in a rut but a lot of do in the Valley.

Susie is a discussion leader in the east valley for arizonamoms.com. She has two sons, ages 6 and 2.

So, this is probably way out of the way (and with gas...), but...in Tuscon there is a great theater called 'Gaslight Theater'. It's melodrama...they do spoofs off lots of famous movies, shows, etc. We went to a Phantom of the Opera and 'Dos Amigos' (instead of 3 Amigos). They are doing an Indiana Jones one, but the name is 'Arizona Smith'. It is great!!! And the food (especially the pizza and desserts) are great.
The acting is great, the singing is great...just an all around wonderful, light-hearted evening. And the tickets are cheap-I think about $17/pp.
Maybe if you save your pennies and dimes you can fill up your tank for a fun night out. :)
www.thegaslighttheater.com

One of my moms took her husband horseback riding without the kids for 3 hours. I thought this was so nice. Another mom took her husband to Las Vegas for the weekend.

One Happy Mom in Arizona.

I like going with my husband to 98 South in Chandler for some wine and appetizers, and they have live music a lot.

I've tried getting him to come with me to a karaoke bar, but he just points out we have a machine at home. Ha!

Other times we just go for dessert and coffee. It's a short date, but it's our date.

Arizona Moms Editor Yvette Armendariz shares stories about raising her kids and tips for busy parents in her Time-starved (goddess) Mom blog. She and her husband are raising two children, ages 8 and 11.

If your husband is anything like mine - he loves to dance! Each time the city sends their city classes he always points out to me the salsa or other couples dance classes. He'd love to take a dance class together (although I'm more along the lines of 'ballroom dancing' and not so much mambo.) It's a creative idea.If he is not a dancer then try other things. Occasionally my hubby and I go out to a Suns game or Coyotes hockey game. Or just dinner at a nice restaurant or just out for drinks at a local resort. I think its the idea of being together and spending time talking and enjoying each others company - whatever that might be. Have fun!

LisaMommy is a 38 year old discussion leader for arizonamoms.com from the Paradise Valley/Scottsdale area. Her two boys are ages 7 months and 3 years old.

Skye (83rd Ave and 101) is a great date night! Live entertainment, fine dining, great wine list...Start out ealier to have dinner, and then as the night progresses the bar/lounge area turns into a great spot to dance, people watch or just enjoy the music.

If you're "movie-people", it might be fun to try the drive-in! My husband and I also go to live theater (although he's really just indulging me on those dates!).

Hobbymommy, 38, is a discussion leader from Mesa. She is a happy stay-at-home mommy to a 3-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old son.

You said that you wanted to "think out of the box" - so drop the word "NIGHT" from your expectation. Just go on a date and maybe don't go at night!

A date from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. can open up hundreds of possibilities for things that are closed at night...and you still pay for just 4 hrs. of a sitter...(and you get free alone time that same night too after they go to bed!).

Go up to Out of Africa and take an open jeep ride to see the lions, giraffes and tigers.
Rent a cabana at the Biltmore and spend the afternoon by the pool (or just sneak into a resort - it sure isn't that hard, and they won't kick you out if you are running up a bar tab!).
Go see the Titanic exhibit at the AZ Science Center.
Go bowling during the day so you don't compete with the leagues for lane availability.
I like the idea above about playing golf or going horseback riding.
Go on a hike on the Peralta Trail in the Superstitions.

Think daytime activities!!
:)
Have fun!

Happy2BMommy, is a stay-at-home mom who just turned 40 (argh!) with a 6 yr. old daughter and a 4 yr. old son, and is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com living in Scottsdale.

WOW.. these are all great ideas.. I'm taking notes!! We have the same issue but sometimes we meet friends in Scottsdale and that is fun.. Try Randy Gerbers new Stone Rose Lounge, we went for the maxim super bowl party and it was really cool... I want to go again when there is not so many people and when there is no whoopla. It seems like a nice place for a date night with hubby!

Elizabeth is a discussion leader for arizonamoms she writes about everything from her needing mommy advice to crazy and silly stuff that happens. She lives in the West Valley with her husband and 3 children.