Sorry men: This story is probably not for you.
While you guys are enjoying a rousing Sunday-night football game on the big-screen or the latest home-improvement project down in the workshop, we ladies are looking for the next best way to kickback with an evening out.
To plan a true LNO (that’s suburban slang for ladies’ night out), consider the following activities, each conveniently categorized in five of your favorite pastimes. Mix and match to create your perfect evening, and see all that Plymouth has to offer for a fantastic outing with just the girls.
Good Food, Good Friends
A family-run shop, Vinifera Wines and Ales offers informal wine tastings twice a month, usually every other Wednesday evening. Owner Christian Nesheim says there’s something for everyone, including an in-house sommelier and wine consultant: “We provide a range of options at tastings, from more value-conscious wines to higher-priced, premium wines.”
Feeling classy? For groups of 15–30 women, the Painted Turtle Chocolatier offers a bona fide tea party. “We use real china for high tea and serve a three- to four-course meal,” chocolatier Alanna Walsh says. Along with a fruit cup or soup, a four-tiered tray offers pastries, finger sandwiches, deviled eggs, desserts and chocolates. In addition to the traditional varieties of tea, the Turtle also offers a signature chocolate tea to all guests.
You don’t have to limit yourself to the “out”: For a fun at-home dinner without the hassle of preparation, check out Annie’s Cooking Tonight. A personal chef and caterer by trade, Annie Wobeking, along with her staff, prepare an entire meal—made fresh that day—for your girls’ night, delivering it right to your front door. Perfect for poker or Bunco nights, all you have to do is stick the dish in the oven.
Active Together
Owner of Yogastudio Mary Anderson describes her fitness facility as a perfect place for an LNO. “We have fun by decreasing stress and bringing joy to people’s lives so they can be better moms, spouses and people,” she says. Anderson recommends a Wednesday-night vinyasa yoga class for a more moderate workout or hot yoga for a higher-intensity experience.
Built in 1960, Elm Creek Golf Links of Plymouth is an 18-hole public course just waiting for your next foursome. With fast, bent-grass greens and bluegrass fairways lined with trees, Elm Creek showcases some of the most scenic views in the area. Specializing in group outings, the staff makes special accommodations for you and all your ladies on the green.
For some of the best hiking and biking in the Twin Cities, bring your girlfriends to French Regional Park. With miles of paved and off-road trails, and 310 square miles of total acreage, you can enjoy some time in the great outdoors—whatever the season! What’s more, French Park trails eventually connect to the 63-mile Luce Line State Trail.
Shop ’til You Drop
A husband-wife operation that has been around for more than 18 years, Studio Art and Frame provides art, framing and interior decorating services. “We like to give customers a more customized and personal experience,” explains Mark Larson, who co-owns the shop with his wife Marybeth. Schedule an appointment for you and your friends, and you’ll have the entire gallery to yourselves to enjoy tea and refreshments and peruse the wide variety of art the gallery has to offer.
For some of the best consignment shopping in the Twin Cities, visit Turn Style Consignment in Plymouth. Featuring a wide variety of designer and brand-name fashions, you and your girlfriends will surely find a number of must-haves (think clothing, shoes and jewelry) at greatly reduced prices.
Don’t let the consigning stop there. Offering artwork, home furnishings and accessories, The Wabi Sabi Shop showcases a large inventory of home consign and design. Mention you’re out for a ladies’ night, and staff will serve you a steaming cup of hot tea to sip on as you and your girlfriends opine over the more difficult design choices in your life.
A Group Effort
What’s more fun than enjoying an evening with the gals while knowing your giving back to the greater good? Working to enhance the lives of children and adults with developmental disabilities, Homeward Bound has a number of volunteer opportunities well-suited for groups. Get your friends together for a building project, arts and crafts, picnic or your own activity to engage the DESCRIPTOR people WHO? that Homeward Bound serves.
The city of Plymouth relies on volunteers for a number of special seasonal events throughout the. Of note is the city’s New Year’s Eve celebration on December 31; feel free to contact the city now if you and your friends want to feel truly good about ringing in 2011. “We had over 1,500 volunteers participate last year, providing over 25,000 hours of service,” says Jackie Maas, Plymouth’s volunteer coordinator. “Volunteers are very important to the city.” Be sure to contact Maas a couple months in advance to register your group.
With both long- and short-term opportunities available for groups of volunteers, your LNO could include a few hours spent doing yard work, playing bingo or doing arts and crafts. Serving adults and children with developmental disabilities, Hammer Residences relies on an arsenal of 500-plus volunteers to further its mission of providing quality services for adults and children with developmental disabilities.
An Evening of Entertainment
Plymouth Playhouse has been providing entertainment to local theater buffs for more than 36 years. Most of its shows run Wednesday through Sunday, with afternoon and evening performances. Recent and upcoming shows include How to Talk Minnesotan: The Musical (through October) and Away in the Basement: A Church Ladies Christmas (November 4–January 16, 2011).
Supporting youthful dramatic talent from around the Twin Cities, Blue Water Theatre Company gives young actors and actresses the chance to showcase their burgeoning acting skills. With shows like A Midsummer Night’s Dream and 42nd Street, Blue Water performs at various locations throughout the western suburbs.
Putting on a quirky lineup of theatrical renderings, Yellow Tree Theatre gives audiences something different to talk about. Classics, originals and musicals are slated for the 2010–2011 season, giving locals a high-quality theatrical venue to call your own.
Food
Vinifera Wines and Ales
1400 County Rd. 101 N.
763.473.0008
viniferawinesandales.com
Annie’s Cooking Tonight
72 Nathan Ln.
612.866.9895
anniescooking.com
Painted Turtle Chocolatier
10100 6th Ave.N. Ste. 106.
763.550.9475
paintedturtlechocolatier.com
Fitness
Yogastudio
3900 Vinewood Ln.
763.557.8626
yogamn.com
Elm Creek Golf Course
19000 Hwy. 55
763.478.6716
elmcreekgc.com
French Regional Park
12605 County Rd. 9
763.694.7750
Shopping
Studio Art and Frame
12849 Industrial Park Blvd.
763.551.1809
studioartandframe.com
Turn Style Consignment Store
15545 34th Ave. N.
763.694.6173
turnstyleconsign.com
The Wabi Sabi Shop
10100 6th Ave. N.
763.404.8499
wabisabishop.com
Volunteering
Homeward Bound
12805 Hwy. 55 Ste. 400
763.746.4821
hbimn.heroku.com
City of Plymouth
3400 Plymouth Blvd.
763.509.5230
plymouthmn.gov
Hammer Residences
1909 E Wayzata Blvd., Wayzata
952.277.2427
hammer.org
Theater
Plymouth Playhouse
2705 Annapolis Ln. N.
763.553.1600
plymouthplayhouse.com
Blue Water Theatre Company
763.473.3187
bluewatertheatre.com
Yellow Tree Theatre
320 5th Ave. SE, Osseo
763.493.8733
yellowtreetheatre.com
