Happy Tuesday, mamas! If you’re already looking forward to the weekend, you’ll love the concept behind this week’s giveaway. The formula for a “great date” is simple: Delicious food + fun = Great Date. Interested?
We’re partnering with two of our website sponsors — Foster’s Pint & Plate and Fast Lane Entertainment — to create this Great Date Giveaway combo. One of our readers will receive a $50 gift card to use at Foster’s Pint & Plate as well as a $50 gift card to use for fun and games at Fast Lane Entertainment.
These two businesses are less than 10 minutes away from each other in Rogers, so it’ll be an easy drive to enjoy both of them. And we’re big believers in this simple truth about relationships: A couple who laughs and has fun together stays together.
About the food:
My husband and I have a few favorite restaurants that we save just for date nights. Foster’s Pint & Plate is definitely on that list. We’ve never had a bad or even “average” meal there. You can tell that a true chef designed the menu because it’s surprising and special all at the same time. For example, Foster’s managed to take one of the least-liked vegetables on the planet — Brussels sprouts — and turn it into an appetizer I had dreams about for weeks after date night. It’s that good! I swear! My husband and I fought over who got to eat the last one. (I won.)
The overall vibe at Foster’s is perfect for date night. It’s got an upscale, metropolitan feel to it, but it’s never stuffy or pretentious. The long, sleek bar looks like something you might see in New York City, but the hospitality has a definite Southern flair. We always see plenty of other couples there when we visit, although if the sitter cancels and you need to tote a baby or kid along with you, it’s family-friendly as well. (The kids menu has everything from peanut butter and jelly to fried shrimp!)
You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but we especially like the ribeye or the Margherita pizza. When the weather is nice, we recommend sitting out on the patio which has this huge fire pit to enjoy during the evenings. 
Last but not least, don’t make the mistake of skipping dessert! The Bananas Foster Bread Pudding is SO good, but we also love the Peanut Butter Chocolate Pie and the Warm Brownie dessert. Yummmmmm.
About the fun:
After you’ve had a great meal, it’s time to play! Who says that kids should have all the fun? Research shows that couples who do new activities together form stronger bonds. So why not skip the movie you usually do and go challenge each other to a virtual reality game at Fast Lane? (We’ve played their new virtual reality experience called Hologate, and it’s SO fun!)
Or if video games are not your thing, you can always do some old-school bowling at Fast Lane. Bowling shoes and gutter balls never fail to make us laugh. And there’s always cause for celebration when one of us makes a miraculous strike.
Fast Lane also has a great bar, so you can enjoy a cocktail or two while you’re kicking your husband’s behind at the video game version of Connect Four. If you need a snack, they’ve got you covered there, too, with a nice variety of appetizers, pizzas, popcorn, etc.
If you win this giveaway, just be sure to hide that Fast Lane gift card in a secure place so your kids won’t try to swipe it for themselves.;-)
HOW TO ENTER:
If you’d love to win this Great Date Giveaway, scroll down to the bottom of this post and then scroll past the comments posted by other moms.
Then write a quick comment telling us about one of your favorite dates you’ve ever been on. (First date with your sweetie way back in the day?) (The first date night after your baby was born and you were desperate to get out of the house again?) (A double date with your favorite couple friends?)
You can also email your answer to us at giveaways@nwaMotherlode.com.
INCREASE YOUR ODDS OF WINNING:
Help us spread the word about this giveaway by emailing your friends and family about the giveaway. We’ll give you an extra chance to win for every person you tell. Just be sure to put giveaways@nwaMotherlode.com on the CC line of your note so we can give you proper credit.
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BE SOCIAL:
You can also earn extra chances to win by commenting on our Facebook page, following us on Twitter or following us on Instagram. If you do any of those, just mention it in your comment or email so we can give you proper credit.
We’ll choose a winner on Friday, mamas, so check your inbox!
My husband and I have decided that we really love bowling together, so this would be FUN!
My favorite date was the first weekend away, after my son was born. We went to OKC for the first time. We saw Pearl Jam, stayed in a swanky hotel and tried tapas for the first time.
My favorite date probably our first Valentine’s Day, 16 years ago. He made dinner and dessert, played Frank Sinatra and lit a bunch of candles. 💛💛💛
One time when we were still dating, my husband and I picked up some Italian food and drove out to a place overlooking Beaver Lake. We had a picnic under the stars and talked for hours. It was great until a police car drove up while we were kissing in the car. We panicked and I hid in the floor of the back seat. I can’t imagine the officer didn’t figure out what was going on, but I sure am thankful he left after coming over to talk to my husband!
My favorite times were back before kids and every Friday night was date night. Sometimes it would just be a quick drive through and movie rental. Nothing big. Just simple. Just us.
My favorite date was our first! We had been friends for a long time, but our first date wasn’t officially a date. It was our first time to hang out together without anyone else. We went canoeing, and it was a blast. We flipped the canoe a few times!
My favorite date with my husband have been our college days when we had LOTS of time to take time over usually ethnic meals and go for walks after in our college town!
My favorite date is dinner and a movie after a busy week.
One of my fav dates goes back to college days. He took me to a Lexus dealership and we pretended to be newly weds and test drove a fun car! It was the most creative 🙂
A show at Walton arts center!
My favorite dates include anything with food! I always want to try new places.
Commented on FB too.
My kind of date is a nice, quiet dinner & then drinks afterwards with great conversation.
First date with my husband… 20 years ago! He found out my favorite things and arranged for us to do them that night! Such a thoughtful guy then and still is!
We went on a progressive date that was super fun! Apps, drinks, dinner, dessert- all at different places.
Dinner then Crystal Bridges for exhibit ending at Dave & Busters!!
Dinner then exhibit at Crystal Bridges then ending at Dave & Busters!! Just followed on Insta, FB, and Twitter and emailed friends!
My now husband and I were long distance dating for over a year, I was in California and he in Fayetteville. I flew out to see Arkansas and he took me to Eureka Springs. I love Victorian homes and the area, but hate tie dye and it was all over. was not so sure about moving here, 6 months later my son and I moved here.
My then boyfriend (now husband) took me to the zoo even though he hates them because he knows I love them. That was a favorite date. 🙂
One of my favorite dates was going hiking at Hemmed In Hollow – beautiful day and so much fun getting outside and taking in the fresh air and the waterfall!!
My favorite date is dinner at a new place! Love trying new restaurants, and our go to date always includes food! 🙂
One of our first dates was going driving out towards the lake after having dinner and ice cream. Love listening to music and driving around. ❤️
My favorite date of all time is when my husband took me to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, which is home home to the largest house/castle in the USA. He took me a few days before Christmas to celebrate my birthday and we toured it, then went to the winery to sample wines for free and went to eat at the restaurant there. It also snowed the day we went and it was so beautiful to see that in the Smoky Mountains.
Our first date we went to the movie theater to watch The Da Vinci Code and I fell asleep because I was not interested at all! Talk about a memorial moment…lol
My favorite date is at Crystal Bridges! Thanks for the great contest.
Date nights are rare these days with 5 kiddos but back in the day we used to love going to places like Dave and Busters. We love to play games and are very competitive with each other. We love going head to head at basketball or down the clown. Dave and Busters was actually one of our first dates and we did that photo machine that shows you what your kids will look like. Scariest kid I have ever seen and I told him we could never have kids. We laughed so hard at that picture. I still
Have the picture 20 years later but now I also have 5 beautiful kids.
One of my most favorite dates was years ago we went on a double date with some great friends. We had a fabulous dinner and then went to an outdoor Depeche Mode concert. It was a beautiful night outside. We had such fun dancing and chatting with our friends.
One of my favorite dates was our first day waaay back in the day!
My favorite date was the Weezer concert at the amp last summer. So fun:)
I follow on Twitter & Instagram
Favorite date night is dinner and then watching a local band play
Favorite date night is trying something new together. Followed on Instagram, too.
I was widowed before meeting my (now) husband. He’s very sensitive to my needs in relation to grieving etc. even as the years pass by. On my late hubby’s birthday last year, he took the day off and took me to the zoo just to try and help me have fun on a rough day! (sorry, no, he doesn’t have a single brother)