It’s our ultimate dilemma: what to do for a fun night out with the girls, without having to schlep all the way downtown?
Well, voilà! Look no further than your own backyard. These are the coolest places to hit with your girlfriends for a night out on the town in the ‘burbs.
It’s Always Wine O’Clock
Flight Restaurant & Wine Bar in The Glen is a wine and food lover’s ultimate dream! Small plates, appetizers, flatbreads and entrees by Chef Christopher Cunningham are paired with Flight’s seemingly never-ending wine list. Wine is served by the glass or by the bottle, but if you’re at a restaurant called Flight, you’ve got to pay homage to the namesake, am I right? The “wine & small plates in a modern space” venue serves a variety of flights ranging from the “If U Like Sauvignon Blanc Flight” or “West Coast Flight” to the “Sparkling Flight,” all of which include three wines to fit its theme. Have your table order a variety so you can try them all! Flight Restaurant & Wine Bar, 1820 Tower Road, Glenview, 847-729-9463
Grab a Brew
Temperance is a craft brewery located right in Evanston. Hit up The Tap Room at the beer company, where you can try the brews at their freshest. On warm summer nights, Temperance’s beer garden opens up for a lovely outdoor venue to sip on a flight, half pint or pint and nibble on food from nearby favorites Tomate Fresh Kitchen, Bee’s Knees and Popcorn Asylum. The Tap Room is open every day but Mondays, when it is closed for private events. Temperance Beer Company, 2000 Dempster St., Evanston, 847-864-1000
Time to Fly!
You think you know yoga? Think again! Take a step out of your usual-class comfort zone and try aerial yoga at Avani Yoga Studio. Practice beyond your floor yoga routine on an Aerial Silk Hammock for a full-body workout. An Aerial Yoga Basics class is offered Fridays at noon, where you can learn how to swing and balance on the equipment. Once you and your friends have mastered this, take your skills to the next level Tuesday evenings at 8 when you can, according to Avani’s website, turn upside down, float, fly, flip and really play! Space per class is limited, so reservations are preferred.Avani Yoga Studio, 1501 Busch Parkway, Buffalo Grove, 847-229-0292
Secrets of the Vine
Located in the heart of downtown Evanston, this Napa of the North Shore—The Wine Goddess—is more than just a wine retailer; it is a mecca centered on our most-coveted grape product. Chicago native, owner and wine wiz Diana Hamann will share her wit and expertise with your group of gals, no matter the size. The store offers a consistently rotating and evolving list of classes open to the public, including “Wine 101,” “The Great Wines of Washington State” and “Ze Wines of France!” Private classes are available for groups of 12. For groups as large as 50 people, guests are invited to chat and laugh over a wine and cheese tasting, followed by a wine seminar. Just you and another gal pal? Don’t miss The Wine Goddess’s $5 wine tasting every Saturday from 3-6 p.m. The Wine Goddess, 702 Main St., Evanston, 847-475-9463
Find Your Inner O’Keefe
Let a glass of wine bring out your inner artist! Calling themselves the upscale “Paint. Drink. Have Fun.” destination, Pinot’s Palette at The Glen is your perfect girls’ night out destination to get those creative juices flowing. In just two to three hours, you can paint your own canvas masterpiece to take home with you. Come for a class open to the public listed on the venue’s site, or with a group of 10 or more, host your own private party at the same cost. Wine and beer is available for purchase. Bring your own hors d’oeuvres and treats to accompany your beverages, or have them catered. Pinot’s Palette, 2011 Tower Drive, Glenview, 847-730-5972
There’s Music in the Night
As the North Shore’s own summer-concert destination, Ravinia has booked plenty of A-list acts for this season, ranging from Hall & Oates to Train to Carrie Underwood. Buy lawn tickets and pack a picnic basket to enjoy while listening to your favorite acts with your best friends. Ravinia Festival, 200 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park, 847-266-5100
Photo courtesy of Ravinia Festival.
It’s Thursday, Let’s Dance
Make the sidewalk your dance floor! Boogie down to the northeast corner of Davis Street and Orrington Avenue with your friends on a Thursday evening this summer through August 7 for a dance class with live music. With the event now in its 15th year, themes for each week this season include R&B, Latin, Blues and Big Band. The full lineup can be viewed here. The event is free to the public.909 Davis St. Plaza, Evanston
Vibe at 1935
If you don’t want your all-girl outing to stop at dinner, this place is your dining, drinking and entertainment destination wrapped up in one pretty package. Decorated with comfy couches and funky light fixtures, owner and creator Lisa Norcia-Appelbaum created an eclectic, laid-back atmosphere with a cool “vibe” for a nightlife destination for suburbanites to flood. With a kitchen open until midnight on weekends and no definitive time the bar itself closes (the website says it’s when Lisa says so), Vibe at 1935 is the perfect place to spend your night out with a group of friends. Their motto is “city vibe without the drive,” and Vibe at 1935 certainly fulfills that promise. Vibe at 1935, 1935 Sheridan Road, Highland Park, 847-780-4815
Heading down to the city? Here are 6 Creative Ideas for Girls’ Night Out.
