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Every woman needs an occasional "Ladies Night," but sometimes dinner and a movie just doesn't cut it, and the bar scene no longer holds any appeal. That's why a growing number of businesses are appealing to women's inner creativity by offering a spot where friends can gather for a casual, fun-filled evening. Best of all, they leave feeling they've accomplished something.
Say "Cheers" to Easy Dinners
Dinner by Design is a national franchise designed to take the work out of meal preparation. But the real fun is found in the groups of mostly women who get together to share the experience. It's common for five to 12 friends to bring their favorite bottles of wine, says Phoenix-based franchise owner Hannah Nelson, who runs her business out of a strip mall store, and spend the evening preparing meals for their family. When the women arrive, the recipes, ingredients -- provided by local food suppliers -- measuring cups and pans are ready.
"You don't do any cooking at all," Nelson explains. "You're simply assembling the meals. We do all the prep work, as well as the cleaning." At the end of the evening, the prepared meals are brought home, ready for storage in the refrigerator or freezer as directed.
Menus are decided upon by the franchiser, and new ones are listed each month on their website at dinnerbydesign.com. Typically there are 15 menu items to choose from, including appetizers like salmon puffs and sweet and sour meatballs, entrees such as chicken sauté with ponzu sauce, and desserts like peanut butter freeze. The leader of each group chooses what the friends will make. Prices run from $69 to create three full meals that feed four to six people, to $219, the price for creating 12 full-size entrees. Nelson likes to have 48 hours notice but can be ready in as little as 24 hours, to ensure everything is ready when her guests arrive.
"We have groups that come in every month. It's a good opportunity to get everyone together while still doing something for your family. When you consider how everyone's multitasking, you can see that we're accommodating a lot of people," says Nelson. "Plus, it's a fun way to hang out."
Share Creativity and Laughs
If cooking doesn't appeal to you, perhaps scrapbooking will. Cropping, as the regulars call it, is the name of the game at Creative Resort in Indianapolis. Just like the quilting bees of yesteryear, women love to gather to share their ideas, their supplies, and socialize at the same time, says owner Julie Sturgeon. "People come in groups, they find their own set of tables, and work together."
To host your own fun scrapbooking party... Get these useful tools and supplies and make it easy for you and your friends to enjoy expressing your creativity.
And for easy nibbles, serve chips and crackers and whip up some of our simple 5 minute appetizers. Add cut-up cheese, some mixed nuts, and seedless grapes. Then let the fun begin!
Many scrapbooking stores around the country hold cropping parties but Creative Resort is different because Instead of selling supplies, it rents its space and equipment. The sitting fee is $10 on weekdays, and $20 on weekends. That covers unlimited use of all her equipment, which includes $20,000 worth of various types of cutting tools and scanners. "We have equipment that will really let your imagination soar," she says. "You don't have to say, 'gee I wish I had that.' It's here."
Women have been known to pull all-nighters at Creative Resorts, and even come in their pajamas, Sturgeon says, which is why her place is open until 3:00 am on Saturday nights. "This is their creative time. I've already had people ask if we can stay open all night."
Enjoy a Colorful Evening
The Painted Pot in Brooklyn, New York is only open until 10:00 pm on weekends, but it's still common to see glasses of wine and snacks on the tables at this popular studio, which offers pottery painting and ceramic mosaics. "At least a couple of times a month we'll get a few women friends come in, sit here, paint, talk and have fun," says Fayza Ahmed, who works for The Painted Pot's owner, Lisa Meyers.
After picking the piece they want to paint, women browse through the idea books, choose among the dozens of stencils, and colorful paint collections, and watch others as they stoke their creative embers. Then, while they're painting a mug, teapot or dish - pieces range in size and price from $10 to $30 each -- they'll catch up on family news, and share their own stories.
Like many pottery places, which offer similar girls' night out opportunities, the Painted Pot fires and glazes each piece as part of their fee. Pieces are picked up one week later. "It's a good way for women to socialize, unwind and simply talk to each other," says Ahmed.
Tell us about your fun-filled Girls' Night Out. We'd love to be able to post it as a great idea for celebrating friendship and good times!
Photos: Young women enjoying their creative Girls' Night Out! "Painting Pretty Pottery" was originally posted by nvasko on www.photobucket.com. Beautiful "Best Friend" scrapbooking creation posted by shu_443sb on www.flickr.com.
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