Savoring a Summer Evening Enjoying Fantastic Eats at Mesa Urbana in Lincoln Park

Date Night Sipping and Savoring on the Beautiful Patio at Mesa Urbana in Chicago

Disclosure: I did receive a complimentary meal from Mesa Urbana to help me bring this review to you. No other compensation was received. Opinions are 100% my own.

A summer evening in Lincoln Park treated us to a date night complete with nature and a fantastic dinner right in Chicago. When we learned that Mesa Urbana moved to a new location in Lincoln Park with a lovely patio, we knew that we would have to make a little jaunt to take in the new dinner spot. We could not have pleasured in a better date night experience than wandering Lincoln Park and setting in for an evening on Mesa Urbana's patio.

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Stay Warm and Entertained at 3 Events in the Aurora Area This Winter & a Giveaway

Stay Warm and Entertained This Winter in the Aurora Area!

**Disclosure: Thank you to the Aurora Area CVB and Paramount Theatre for providing tickets for my winter giveaway. No other compensation was received; all opinions are 100% my own.

The winter months can be particularly long and grey here in the Chicago area. Fortunately, there are a few upcoming events in the Aurora area that will inspire you and your family to get out and enjoy engaging activities and performances. I am happy to highlight three upcoming events that are each unique and will have you engaging the senses this winter season. I am also giving away four tickets to the Blind Boys of Alabama performance on January 18, 2019 at the Paramount Theatre -- so be sure to enter!

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1913 Restaurant + Wine Bar in Roselle, IL: Splendid Date Night!

During a recent date night, my husband and I discovered 1913 Restaurant + Wine Bar in Roselle. The restaurant is a happy melange of French, Italian and American cuisine and maintains an intriguingly sizable wine list. Perfect for a date night!

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Argentinian Flare at Artistic Cuisine

Artistic Cuisine Argentinian Restaurant in Palatine, IL. Image courtesy of Artistic Cuisine.

Artistic Cuisine is a gem hiding in Palatine. A friend recommended it to me a few years ago and I am sad that it took us about a year to visit--it is that good. The menu is quite creative and a fresh departure from much of what we see in the Chicago suburbs. The Argentinian flavors are amazing and the care in crafting each dish is evident.

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Fresh and Vibrant Cuisine Rock Date Night at Mesa Urbana in Northbrook

Upon our arrival to Mesa Urbana, we immediately sensed the jovial vibe of other diners. This place really has something going on! The menu features many of our favorite Mexican items with a new flare. Already intrigued by what we saw on the menu, the restaurant's vibe increased our anticipation. Let date night begin!

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7 Wine Festivals Coming to the Chicago Suburbs

Time for some summer fun for the parents! The last couple of weeks, I have been seeing a few notifications about upcoming wine festivals! While a number of these will have family fun, you may want to use them as an excuse for a date. You can purchase tickets for many of these already. Santé!

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Champagne Tasting Experience at Vin Chicago Barrington! Cheers!

**Disclosure: I did receive complimentary admission to the Vin Chicago Champagne Tasting. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

Wow! We had so much fun at the annual Champagne Tasting at Vin Chicago in Barrington a couple of weeks ago! I can easily see how this event is a perennial favorite. Initially, I thought the concept of trying over 30 champagnes may be a tad overwhelming. I do like a little bit of an adventure but would such a sampling hold my interest and would I really notice differences between the wines? Hmmmm.......

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Date Night Idea: Champagne Tastings Coming to Vin Chicago in December

**Disclosure: I have been invited to attend one of the Vin Chicago Champagne Tastings and will be reviewing the event. No other compensation has been received. All opinions are 100% my own.

As the holidays approach, many of us are thinking about what type of wines we should serve during holiday festivities. Celebrating certainly means popping a bit of bubbly! If you are unsure about how to choose champagne or are just curious about trying different champagnes and sparking wines, Vin Chicago's December Champagne Tastings are for you! Plus, what a fun date night! Selections will include some of the usual suspects like Dom Perignon and Bollinger but I am pretty excited to try a selection from Oregon! Here is a run down on the info for Champagne Tastings at each Vin Chicago location. Be sure to reserve a spot!

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Dinner, a Murder and a Mystery: An Interactive Date Night

**Disclosure: We were provided with complimentary tickets to Wanted Dead or Alive in order to conduct an accurate review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

Sometimes thinking of a fun date night can be a little bit of a challenge. Looking for something new to do or a movie you want to spend money on seeing or a band you would like to listen to can be a fruitless endeavor. Yet, we all need to get out! From time to time, my husband and I like to try something a little different than are normal go-tos for a date night. Life is too short to not be willing to try something new! So, when The Murder Mystery Company invited me to one of their shows, I knew that we had to go! Who doesn't need a little suspense and mystery in their lives--especially when it will all be solved in an evening?

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Madame ZuZu's Tea Shop and Art Studio {Date Night} (CLOSED)

**Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

A couple weeks ago my husband and I had a night out. We both enjoy tea, so we thought that we would check out Madame ZuZu's in Highland Park for a little relaxation. We visited on a nice summer night and enjoyed the ambiance of Highland Park as diners assembled to eat outdoors at some of the neighboring restaurants.

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Why We Love Visiting the Chicago Botanic Garden {in the Evening}

One of my summer pleasures is taking advantage of visiting the Chicago Botanic Garden in the evening. In the summer, the garden stays open until 9PM, slightly after sunset, which gives you plenty of time to amble around and explore. A stroll through the gardens can be the perfect way to start off a date night or just a tranquil way to end a busy summer day. Here are the reasons that we LOVE summer evenings at the Chicago Botanic Garden:

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Date Night Perfection: Seasons 52

Last week, we were able to steal away for an evening. We opted to revisit one of our favorite restaurants, Seasons 52, for our night out. We love Seasons 52 because the menu is seasonally based, so it changes four times a year. This is exciting because you do not get tired of the options--there is always something new to try. Plus, they focus on the star foods of the season. This adds a little something special that separates Seasons 52 from other restaurants.

Being that we are in the midst of the holiday season and the gorging has begun, we were happy to know that our entrees at Seasons 52 would be lower than 475 calories. Add this to the freshness of each dish and it makes Seasons 52 the perfect choice for dinner out without adding to the heaviness of many things we may be eating in the weeks to come.

For dinner, I had the Caramelized Grilled Sea Scallops. The dish included asparagus and a sun-dried tomato-mushroom pearl pasta along with the scallops. I felt that the portions were perfect and I was actually surprised to find six scallops on my plate. The pasta was excellent--I could have eaten more (but shouldn't have!). The flavors were enhanced by a splash of lemon. The only real issue I had with the dish is that the asparagus was a little thick for my liking. Yes, we are asparagus snobs in my house and prefer the super-thin variety. However, the dish was excellent and I was glad that I ordered it!

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