Cocktails, Canapes & Colors

Did you know tomorrow is the first-ever National Mom's Night Out?
(Finally, a holiday I can wholeheartedly endorse!)

And Mother's Day is Sunday!

What's a Mom to do with all this free time (yeah, right!) and doting attention?

Maybe you & your sweetie are overdue for a date night, but you're tired of the ol' dinner & a movie combo and that fickle date-night muse has abandoned you? 

Or are you desperate seeking a new locale or activity for your little monster's, err, I mean prince or princess' forthcoming birthday party?

Recently, I had the pleasure of escaping the family-hood for an evening at Palettes, on Main Street in Natick.

Palettes isn't a bar, but they serve some of the most unique and tasty cocktails I've had the pleasure of sipping.

Palettes isn't a restaurant, but they serve super savory snacks & sweet treats to satisfy your appetite.

And Palettes isn't an artist's studio, though you just might take home a new masterpiece.

Palettes is all those things - part bar, part restaurant, part art studio - with a generous measure of fun mixed in.

I joined a gaggle of fellow Boston area bloggers, and the evening's mastermind, Charlene of The Charlene Chronicles, for what turned out to be a uniquely amusing evening.

Palettes put out a wonderfully tasty sampling spread - italian sandwiches, grapes rolled in goat cheese & pistachios, gorgonzola deviled eggs, asian noodle salad, and strawberry shortcake cups - yum, yum, yum.

Before the painting commenced we all got to loosen up our artistic side a bit, sipping cocktails from Palettes' menu of "muddled madness", "champagne creations", "artistinis" and "palettes punch", as well as micro-brews and vino.

The Dexter - muddled strawberries, blueberries & basil, agave, Citron & club soda - sounded strange (berries & basil, in a cocktail?!), but it was surprisingly sublime & refreshing.

Not wanting to overdo it on a "school" night, I skipped the Last Mango in Paris - Lillet, Citron, mango juice and champagne (I'll have to visit again, soon).

Keep in mind fair readers, I am NO artist - my stick figures are so pathetic they have been known to skulk off the page in shame - but our adorable artist guide deconstructed the evening's painting, offered color & technique guidance, and encouraged us to not be afraid of the canvas, brush & paints.

There were periods of serious artistic concentration, friendly consultations, and plenty of laughs . . . we all had a ball!

So, how did the Housewife do? Are you ready? Brace yourselves, here comes my big reveal . . .

I won't be breaking any records at Sotheby's, but it isn't as awful as I feared it could be - it must have been the excellent instruction & good libations.

So if you're looking for something different to do, I highly recommend checking out Palettes in Natick.

Palettes offers kid & adult programs, 

family & open paint sessions, 

birthday & private parties.

Special thanks to Charlene & the gracious Palettes crew!