Mama Needs a Night Out!
Whether you are a stay-at-home mom, work outside the home or live a combo of both, being a mom is hard work—really hard work! Of course, we love our children, but being in constant demand all day every day can be exhausting and draining. And I’m pretty sure by now we have all heard the phrase, “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” meaning that if you aren’t taking care of yourself and filling up your own life with things you enjoy, you can’t effectively help other people. Lisa Hemmen, an Overland Park mom of two says, “Even though it can be difficult to find the time to get away, it is extremely important to do so. I find that even a little bit of time with my mom friend community helps me recharge and come back home with a renewed attitude and energy—at least for a little while!” Scope out these fun and unique KC ideas for your next moms night out.
Coffee mom
If you have some java loving friends, book a tour of the Roasterie in KC, which requires reservations at $5 apiece. Tours run at 10:00 and noon almost daily, although more options are available on Saturdays. Maybe a Roasterie tour isn’t your thing, but you and your gals would love to hit a few coffee shops in the evening! Check out Pilgrim Coffee in Overland Park, Outta the Blue Cafe in Leawood or Rochester Brewing and Roasting Company in downtown Kansas City, MO. All are open until 9:00 or 10:00 in the evening. And though this year’s Caffeine Crawl has already happened, it’s never too early to start warming up for next year’s 2023 crawl!
Sports loving mom
Fall and winter don’t have quite as many sporting events as spring and summer do, but you could surely find some moms up for a Chiefs game with a little pre-game tailgating or take a short jaunt to Lawrence for an epic KU basketball game! Sporting KC also offers public and private stadium tours. Public tours are available year round, Saturdays and Sundays; private tours require an online form be filled out for rates and availability.
Wine loving mom
Are you and your tribe wine lovers? Look no further! Check out KC Wine Co’s festival and events calendar for some fun MNO activities that range from live music on Fridays and Saturdays to Sip and Shop throughout the month of November. Or pop into Tannin Wine Bar and Kitchen, located in the Crossroads district, where every Wednesday evening is Wine Club!
Bar hopping mom
The Kansas City metro area is home to so many amazing restaurants and bars, and some new ones have come on the scene recently. Grab your friends for a fun night out at Olathe’s Tall Trellis Brew Co, Spring Hill’s Bull Creek Distillery or downtown Overland Park’s Brew Lab. With each establishment’s hosting a variety of events, you are sure to find something exciting and lively for your next MNO.
Crafty mom
Are you and your mom tribe crafty gals? If so, your possibilities are nearly endless in the metro area for cool and unique MNO ideas! Check out Embers Candle Bar in Lee’s Summit where you all can choose your own containers and scents then pour your own candles! Creative Culture, a DIY studio and milkshake bar, also hosts drop in and create sessions on a first-come, first-served basis, or if you want to be sure you have space for your mom group, they offer private parties, too. Board and Brush, Pinot’s Palette and Paint, Glaze and Fire are a few other great spots for a little DIY crafting with your gals!
Active mom
Maybe your mom community loves being active or outdoors. You’re in luck! With places like Top Golf, Chicken N Pickle, RoKC and GoApe, you are sure to find something for your mom squad. But if none of those tickle your fancy, why not sign up for a 5k together? The annual Turkey Trot is scheduled for Nov. 24 … so dust off your sneakers and hit the pavement together!
Exploring mom
Feel like a little exploration around the city? Why not book a Trolley Tour around KC or, for an even more unique experience, bring along some snacks and drinks (no alcohol please) and reserve a pedal hopper to cruise around Waldo or the Crossroads! Bear in mind you’ll need a little larger group for this experience, as the minimum number to ride is 10.
Shopping mom
Mark your calendar for Downtown OP’s next Sip & Shop event: Bootique Wine Walk on Oct. 20! You can browse through unique and charming shops such as the Pretty Posy, Ensemble, Ten Thousand Villages and Unique Finds. Follow @downtownop on Instagram to find out about more events! The Painted Tree is another great shopping option for you and your mom community to check out. You are sure to have fun and find something for everyone!
Cooking mom
The Culinary Center of Kansas City offers girls night out events, as well as a host of other classes that you and your friends might find appealing if you are up for something new in the kitchen. CR Confections (CRConfections.com), a local cookie company owned by Cameo Robinson, offers cookie decorating classes close to the holidays, as well as private classes, too!
Time off you think?! Let’s just say you’ve earned it! According to Salary.com, moms hold about 20 different positions (such as bookkeeper, kitchen manager, logistics analyst and so on) and work on average 106 hours per week. This means moms are putting in about 15-hour workdays, seven days a week!
Julie Collett can write about MNO all she wants … but can’t actually remember the last time she had one! Now she is armed with plenty of ideas and no excuses!