Date Night in The District: Summertime Edition!
It’s summer. The sun’s at its full glory in the midwest, it’s out more hours, it’s helping gardens and flowers and shadows grow, it’s giving cool water inexpressable allure, it’s subtly changing the color of hair and skin, it slinks down each evening, making the hours drip with a golden glow, and when the fireflies start their nightly dance, beckoning the moon and stars to come out to twinkle too, we know summertime is in full swing, doing its summertime thing. Most people are too.
For many of us, our schedules change with the seasons. In summer, we may stay up a little later, we eat differently, engage in different activities, and we may even love differently in the summertime. These things happen! There’s loads of songs and poems that suggest so. Cities shift too. Retailers, bars and restaurants have their summer vibes on full display. And if you’re in a college town, like Columbia, heaven knows the parking situation is radically different in the summer months too!
[Hot tip: You can always park for FREE after 6pm in ALL of the garages downtown.]
This July, we took a little time to put together a “Summer Date Night in The District” hypothetical. Although it’s certainly not even close to exhaustive (we have such a diverse downtown) but we do hope this sparks some ideas and joy for you and your boo-thang.
First, while the afternoon turns into evening, kick things off by dipping into one of The District’s bars or restaurants for a cool summertime sip. An artisan cocktail perhaps or try a mocktail on for size. Son of a Gun makes a terrific cocktail using tequila, aperol, elderflower, lime, and bitters. They call it, “Part Time Lover.” It’s summery, sultry, and just right for kicking off a date night with your sweetiepie.
Now that you’ve wet your whistle and blown off a little workweek steam, you can stroll leisurely taking in the sights and shops. You may flag a store you need to revisit for some summertime wears, Edgy Cowgirl is a new boutique in downtown CoMo specializing, as the name suggests, in edgy fashion combined with timeless western charm. They even have a store pup, Gus! Or maybe you’re more into art, stop by one of The District’s many galleries, there’s so much to see!
[Pro tip: Local art makes a memorable gift for any summer lover.]
After strolling the summer streets, not forgetting to stop and admire the vibrant planters, you’ve probably worked up an appetite . Whatever you are in the mood for — The District has you covered. From restaurants focused on local farm to table , cuisines inspired by cultures around the globe, to the tried and true eateries which have been in Columbia for decades, choosing will be the only tough part of your evening! If you’re feeling stumped, consider trying out Endwell Taverna, a new (2024) restaurant in downtown Columbia that’s also a finalist for Inside Magazine’s 2025 “Best New Restaurant” category. Go and you’ll discover why. There you’ll find New York inspired Italian fare with flair. Start off with a cooling insalata, may we suggest the misticanza salad which has a zesty lemon vinaigrette, before moving on to a main dish; Endwell’s pizzas are served on their seventy-two hour sourdough crust - yum!
After you’ve eaten and strolled you can cap-off your summertime date night in the cool of the cinema. Ragtag, a nonprofit arthouse theatre, keeps their box office fresh with new films and special events year round. Or, if you’re enjoying the nighttime vibes, grab your sweetie an ice cream cone (while you take in the notorious wall art) from local creamery, Sparky’s, and continue your stroll.
Bottom line – the next time you’re looking for a great date night, look no further than The District. You can discover more restaurants and shops on our webstie: https://directory.discoverthedistrict.com/business-directory/
We hope to see you soon —it’s good to be here!