Date Night: Pasadena

According to every relationship expert, married couples should schedule date nights. My husband and I used to "go out" all the time. I was at home and he has a condensed work schedule that allowed us to spend at least 2 days a week alone (at least until the kids came home). Since I started working we haven't really done anything together, except go grocery shopping and devise plans on how to minimize the amount of food that our two adult sized children eat. In light of their adult size and the beginning of the new school year it is clear that our house will be empty (and our refrigerator full) in a very short amount of time. What will we do? I don't want to stare at him while he watches Sports Center and every sports (or anything else that can be categorized as a sport) game played in the world. I don't need to do everything with him but we should be each others companion and not just parents to our children. Some of my trip and activity posts are ideas (and not so subtle hints) about what I would like us to do together. Pasadena is a place that I love, love, love. I love the Craftsman style houses, the pedestrian friendly neighborhoods, the little mom and pop stores, community activities, the list can go on and on. (uhm....I love it)

Accommodations:
The Westin Pasadena They have a ton of special offers that make the stay very affordable, especially given the quality of the hotel.

Activities:
Laemmle Theatre Built in the 1930's and specializes in showing critically acclaimed, independent feature films. (I have mixed feelings about movies being a date activity, the couple basically sits quietly next to each other. At the very least there needs to be an activity before or after the movie to make the date successful.)

The Ice House Comedy Club Paul Rodriguez and a bunch of other people that I don't know by name but I recognize their faces from comedy specials on tv. I remember laughing and nearly peeing my pants a couple of times, seems very promising.

Last but not least - Food:
Arroyo Chop House USDA Prime, dry aged meat. Boys love meat. No matter how hard it is on their bodies as they age. They love it. Something about the smell of meat awakens something in their d.n.a. I am willing to sacrafice myself and eat a delicious steak. Marriage is about give and take. I am also willing to have a delightful dessert, if it will help the evening along. What a giver.

Il Fornaio An Italian restaurant that explores the cuisine of different Italian regions (using food!!) and was also a 2009 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence recipient. They hearth bake their own bread and make pasta and pizza dough daily, need I say more?