While some states continue to reopen businesses and lift travel restrictions, many are experiencing a new in-flux of COVID-19 cases. Washington state is now requiring face masks, while Connecticut is enforcing a 14-day quarantine for many out-of-state visitors. For the Navy, the latest guidelines restrict sailors, for the most part, to work and home.
These restrictions might be especially difficult if your sailor just came home or is on their way out for deployment. It’s not easy, but we have to make do with what options we have available. A few of us wanted to share some date night-in ideas, while we make the most of being at home in Groton:
Sweets to-go from Sift Bake Shop
Like most military couples, we tend to celebrate holidays and special occasions whenever we can. Recently my husband surprised me with a belated Mother’s Day cake from Sift Bake Shop, a local bakery in Mystic. We took the cake out to our backyard and enjoyed it with some wine. The dessert was a special treat, and while we would have loved to be at a nice restaurant (or at Sift’s new rooftop patio, Mix), the comfort of home still felt special. Sift Mystic is currently open for in-store customers, with online ordering and curb-side pick-up still available (24 hours in advance). You could also do this with brunch on a weekend (if you haven’t had Sift’s croissants, you don’t know what you’re missing). To view the full menu, click here.
Charcuterie Board Kits From Mystic Cheese
My husband and I love cheese and charcuterie boards. If there is one on the menu, it will be ordered. I love to throw one together and pour a glass of wine for a relaxing evening at home. Next week I plan to surprise my husband with a date night in and put together a charcuterie board with all his favorite accompaniments. Mystic Cheese provides charcuterie and cheese boards to go or you can customize your order and choose from a variety of cheese. They have an app for easy ordering and offer contact-less curbside pick up. They have a selection of wines available for pick up to so be sure to add a bottle to your order. Here’s my order: The Finback Cheese which pairs wonderfully with a light wine or bubbly, the Speck, and a bottle of the Azul y Garanze rosé. If you want to try a few options, opt for the cheese board in a box or the charcuterie board in a box.
Backyard Picnic
If you ask a native Connecticuter how they deal with the painful winters, the response you get will be “because the summers are so amazing.” It’s true, the summers here are pleasant. There’s a nice breeze in the evenings, and the days are long. I plan to have several backyard picnics over the next few weeks. My husband loves to grill so our menu normally includes an appetizer, something grilled, and some wine. I have outdoor lights and a cozy seating arrangement around the fire pit. I plan to have a few bottles of white open to do some tasting pours while he’s grilling. One of our picnics will definitely include grilled oysters from Mystic Oysters. Check out their Facebook page for updates on their pop-up locations and offerings of the day. For a quick dinner, grab some pre-made entrees, sandwiches, salads and desserts from Mystic Market.
Craft Kits From Mystic Board and Brush
I love all the crafts. For a more hands-on date, check out Mystic Board & Brush and their various pre-assembled craft kits ready for pick-up. If you enjoy paint and sip events, give this a try for a creative date night-in. Kits include DIY wooden signs (pictured above) and other fun home decor projects. Be sure to check their calendar and register early because their kits always sell out.
Old school game night
Turn off the TV and enjoy an old-school game night. Bust out an old board game or puzzle, either as a couple or with the whole family. My spouse and I enjoyed this especially because we stepped away from our phones and just enjoyed ourselves and conversation together. Make a night of it and order in some dinner (psst… here’s a list), and curbside drinks from Grand Wine & Spirits or Beer’d Brewing.
Have you tried any date nights at home? Any other ideas you want to share? Comment below!