This past weekend we headed downtown to check out the Adults Night Out event at the Phoenix Science Museum! All that really means is that there are NO kids! We were able to grab a drink at the entrance (if we wanted) and headed in with just us adults – and it was awesome!
As a group we checked out several of the floors of interesting information, challenged each other with their hands on experiments and got to know one another in a fun, open environment! There was no uncomfortable pressure or awkward activities that made anyone feel out of place. Afterwards we met up at a local pub that had some great music, a plethora of drink specials and options along with great food! The best part of the evening though: we were there till the late hours getting to know one another, making new friends and just enjoying a night out and not sitting at home!
It’s Tuesday night after a long day of work. Most people head home to put on their sweats and plop in front of the TV all night. Not us. That’s not E&A’s style! Instead, we met up for a relaxing evening of wine, painting and friends! The night began with sipping and sampling the different wines we brought. We relaxed on plush couches and snacked on fresh baked breads accompanied by infused oils and vinegars. We took time to unwind, meet new members and talk about our day. Then it was time for the real fun to start! We each selected our desired photo and attempted to recreate it with paint and a blank canvas. At first it was a bit intimidating, but it wasn’t long before my painting was well on its way! Just when I thought i was stuck, help was close by. E&A had a private painting session which came with two of our very own instructors! Whenever we needed guidance or supplies they were right there waiting to help us. Even if we didn’t need anything at all they were there with compliments and encouragement! And when we were indulged and focused on our paintings, they brought to our attention when the local commuter train pulled up to the station across the street. For those of you that were there, you know what I mean. Let’s just say it was a reminder to take a break, breathe and sip your wine. (We liked train breaks). At the end of the evening it was great to see how many of us chose the same picture to paint and how differently they each turned out. The colors, the shapes, the strokes of the brushes…they were all impressively beautiful! It was obvious to me how each of our characters were expressed through our art. We all have our own style and uniqueness…And that’s what E&A is all about. Coming together to be who we are! Some of us have similarities and some of us have differences. That is why the club works! That is why we love it and have a blast!
Even after our first snowfall just a few days ago, our fall season is still upon us. It’s kind of backwards, actually, the leaves are falling off of the trees on top of the snow on the ground. But that doesn’t stop us from enjoying the beautiful autumn weather for a hayride! We climbed aboard the wagon all bundled up with our hats and mittens to brave the chill of the air. The hot cocoa and cider definitely aided in our warming up as we rode along the trails. All we could hear was the sound of the horses hooves hitting the ground as they walked and the slight breeze rustling through the trees. We saw some deer that were definitely not afraid of us, as they just looked up and stared, then went back to munching on the tall grass along the trails. We talked, we laughed, we huddled up for warmth… all as we took in the views of this beautiful clear night! We arrived back at the stables just as the sun was setting and just in time for a bonfire! Roasting smores and hot dogs was an added treat as we filled up our cups again with something hot! Definitely a night to remember with our fellow E&A friends!
We had ours in one of the best spots… under the glow of the Space Needle at The Pacific Science Center’s Dinosaur Room. It was really neat to have the party and dance floor next to these big animatronic moving dinosaurs. Members really pulled out all the stops and went wild with their costumes. We had all sorts of ghosts and ghouls and creatures of all kinds, both sexy and scary costumes. Freddy Krueger won scariest costume. Funniest costume was this squirrel guy and another person won for her costume of a huge Hershey’s Kiss! I had on a Cop uniform and many members thought I was a real cop went they first walked in. “I’m just here to Serve & Protect” J
I’m shocked that the next morning we had 19 members signed up for a hike up by Hoodsport (the Cooper Creek Trail). I guess you just can’t stop our members. But I must admit it looks like it was a good hike.
We also did our Dark & Mysterious Wine tasting yesterday and that was a fun event. The owners of this great wine shop open up their shop for a private tasting just for E&A, they put out meats and cheeses and other delights for pairing with the wines. It’s informative but it’s also very social and the owners give us a discount on any bottles in the house when we are done ….I must admit I ended up buying a bottle to take home for the holidays.
What a wicked weekend we had starting with a fantastic meal and event in the Dark!! That’s right the Dark!! A restaurant concept that has taken off, The Dark employs wait staff that is seeing impaired and they lead you to your tables and serve you, all while sitting in total darkness. The best part, although the food was delicious was the great conversation as you tried to figure out what you were eating. Most of us ended up eating with our fingers, as trying to manage utensils and not knocking everything off your plate was a little difficult!! Then to top off the weekend we had our annual Halloween Party. It always amazes me to see the great bonds that are made in this club and new relationships beginning to blossom. We had a terrific band rock the house and play music that had everyone singing and dancing the night away. In between sets we had even more tunes and since we had our very own beer pong girls, it was only fitting that we played the song Solo Cup for them. Great music, great food and of course the best of friends!! It was an awesome night to party and celebrate Halloween in the Harbour.
There’s an event that only comes around once a year to Phoenix and it brings people from all over the state together for a couple of weeks. Yes, the Arizona State Fair. It’s a one-of-a-kind event that satisfies our inner-child via rides, food and activities!
I don’t think we could get from ride to ride fast enough or scream from exhilaration any louder! It’s not every day you drop 100ft in just a few seconds or swing high and fast above the fairgrounds in the air! Between our group we ate our fair share of junk food – which was AMAZING! Ever try a deep fired Oreo? They’re actually pretty delish!
Within minutes of playing the fair games, we had all won a stuffed animal… only to add to our collection later on in the evening. We got to pet baby goats, pot belly pigs, lambs and kangaroos! Walking around the state fair allowed us to chat and get to know each other better and talk about upcoming events. With amazing weather and great company, this event is a not-to-be-missed!
Unless, of course, it’s in a corn maze. The fun part though it getting lost with 30 other people! What a fun night that was! Our group headed in to the maze with the expectation of taking about 1.5 hours to finish it… Apparently though, we are rockstars because we finished it within 45 minutes! Following the clues, our group didn’t make one wrong turn! (Ok, we might have and just didn’t notice it) But really we had a great time running through the corn and following clues. When we reached the end, we were having such a good time that we decided to turn around & find how far back we could go! Our group re-entered the maze and went all the way back until we couldn’t go back any further. What a fun Halloween treat!
One of our favorite events is themed Pub Crawls so we decided to dress up on Friday for a little fun before our big Halloween Party. About 40 of us hit Washington Avenue in full costume and we made a splash. We started with a free beer party at Blue Moose and end up doing the Monster Mash at Taps. Saturday night though was the main event! 90 of the single best people of Houston gathered at the E&A clubhouse for dancing, crystal ball reading, photobooth, food, drinks, blackjack & prizes. We had a dance off for Backstreet Boys tickets & the 8 foot tall Sasquatch won the big costume contest taking home 2 tickets to see Zedd & a ticket to our annual NYE bash!
Imagine walking into a room, full of dressed up fellow E&A members, whether it is your first event or your fiftieth… it has got to put a smile on your face! From super original to super heroes, from scary to humorous, and everything in between! Some had masks where you had to guess who it was, but eventually they would laugh or say something, and you’d have it figured out! If this is your first event, it might take you a little longer, but that is what’s great about these big parties that E&A has every year… it’s an ice breaker in itself! You all have something in common tonight… you’re all dressed up as someone other than yourself! Tonight… you can be anyone you want to be! This is a night where “nerds” get along with Gangsters, and flappers get along with ghosts, and a devil can sit on an angel’s lap… tonight… anything goes! So whether you met someone new (or will have to re-meet them again, when they are out of costume) or got to catch up with someone you already knew, then mission accomplished! All of you super heroes did your job and saved the night! Especially on the dance floor! Two words: DANCE-OFF! So until next year….
Chicago’s biggest event yet!!! And guess who was there? Super woman! Captain Jack Sparrow! And the Energizer Bunny! That’s right…I am talking about the Halloween Bash, and boy was it is FUN!!! Our first annual Halloween Party was so awesome that it carried into the wee hours of the morning! The company was great! The band rocked! The costumes were spectacular! It was so refreshing to see each other out of the ordinary. Dressing up simply makes you feel like a kid again, and we all need that every once in a while! Our VIP loft was perfect for dancing or just relaxing and mingling on the comfy couches. Plus, it was only steps away from the band. We had the best of both worlds! E&A created a night of great fun, friends and memories. We have the pictures to prove it!