You found a sitter. Now what? The best date nights don’t need a long drive or a big plan. Here are a few easy ideas close to Decatur and Avondale Estates, from low-key to a little more special.
Schedules, tickets and hours change, so check each place’s website before you go.
1. Dinner and a walk around Decatur Square
The simplest date night is still one of the best. Decatur Square has plenty of restaurants within a few blocks of each other, so you can pick a place when you get there. Then walk the square after dinner. It’s lively on weekend evenings and there’s usually something going on.
Good for: a relaxed night when you just want to talk without anyone interrupting.
2. Live music at Eddie’s Attic
Eddie’s Attic on North McDonough Street has been Decatur’s listening room for songwriters since the early ’90s. It’s small and intimate, and it’s the kind of place where the audience actually listens. Check the calendar for a show that fits your taste.
Good for: music lovers, and a night that feels like an event without being fancy.
3. The ’Dale Ale Trail in Avondale Estates
Avondale Estates has a surprising number of breweries within walking distance of each other. The city’s ‘Dale Ale Trail maps them out. The Lost Druid on Washington Street has a kitchen with shareable plates, and Wild Heaven is on Maple Street. Pick one or two and make an evening of it.
Good for: a casual night out that’s minutes from home.
4. Fernbank After Dark (21+)
Once a month, Fernbank Museum opens its doors to adults only in the evening. There’s live music, food and drinks, science demos and the dinosaurs, without the field trip crowd. Each month has a different theme. It’s usually the second Friday.
Good for: couples who want something different from dinner and a movie.
5. Garden Lights, Holiday Nights (Nov–Jan)
If you’re planning ahead for the holidays, the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Garden Lights runs nightly from mid-November to early January. Tickets for popular nights go fast, so book early. Book your sitter early too, because December weekends fill up.
Good for: a festive night out, especially on a weeknight when it’s less crowded.
6. A stay-at-home date
Sometimes the best date is at home. Have the sitter take the kids to the playroom or the backyard, or handle bedtime, while you cook dinner together or finally finish that show. It counts!
Need a sitter for date night? Starlight Sitters offers babysitting for kids ages 2–11 in Decatur and Avondale Estates, on weekends, school breaks and weekday evenings after 4 PM. Request a date and a parent will get back to you to confirm.