Date Night | Rex and Regina Blog

August 4th, 2009

Day Two – Celebrating Julia Child: A Countdown to Julie & Julia

photo from www.julieandjulia.com

I am a planner by nature. To plan my schedule daily, weekly, monthly — oh, let’s face it — to plan anything is just in my blood. So today’s post is all about sharing that neurosis and helping readers plan in advance for this weekend’s opening of Julie and Julia!

Here are a few simple steps for planning the perfect movie night:

1) Choose your companions.

Decide who you should take with you to the movie. Julie & Julia is, beyond a shadow of a doubt, a chic flick. That said, I think its culinary theme may give it broader appeal to foodies male and female alike. And dare I say, it could be a nice date movie.

Meryl Streep is said to masterfully capture Julia Child’s quirky demeanor; Amy Adams, a bright rising star, is also getting good reviews.

So, you can make it a girls-night-out, a date night, or even a group outing. Just be sure to watch it with someone who has a modicum of interest in food lest you miss out on the pleasures of debriefing about deboning ducks and the proper way to poach eggs.

2) Find a theater.

The location of the theater should be convenient for you and your guests. Check out Fandango for theater times and showings.

3) Figure out where to eat.

Going to a movie about cooking without arranging to partake in some good eats is simply unacceptable! Consider…

having guests over for a Julia Child potluck before the movie, asking each person to bring a course for the meal made from a recipe in one of Child’s cookbooks.
making a full Julia Child menu yourself, should time and resources permit.
letting someone else do the cooking! One fabulous option is the special pre-fixe menu in celebration of Julia Child that Inox in Tysons Corner is offering now through August 31. If you are a city-dweller, yes, it would mean a trip to the suburbs, but trust me, based on my recent dining experiences at Inox, it will be worth it.

4) Celebrate!

After the movie, treat your guests to a special dessert to celebrate Julia Child. You might consider surprising them as you leave the theater with cupcakes or other individual-size treats or, if you want to go all out, go home to enjoy a cake or pastries from Baking with Julia.

For more on how to celebrate Julia Child and the upcoming release of Julie and Julia, check out the first post in the series and stay tuned for more posts throughout the week!

May 22nd, 2009

The Ultimate Date Night Picnic at Wolf Trap

One of my all-time favorite things to do in DC in the summer is enjoy a concert on the lawn at Wolf Trap. Warm summer air + good friends + great entertainment + delicious picnic food = a fabulously festive time.

There’s really no better date spot in the summer than Wolf Trap. So whether it is a first date, “date night” with your spouse, or even just a time to hang out with friends, create the perfect evening by putting together the ultimate picnic ensemble.

Wolf Trap kicks off its summer season tonight, so what better time to share some tips on creating a super-chic picnic?

Start with the blanket — quite literally the foundation of any good picnic experience.

I adore Yumi & Laurie Blanquettes. They are 100% organic cotton and super plush — great for cozy-ing up!

Furano Blanquette from Yumi & Laurie

If you are looking to impress with a custom blanket, check out this do-it-yourself version from Design*Sponge. The vinyl is a smart way to make sure you stay dry if the ground is at all wet.