Is it as chaotic at your house right now as it is at mine?!? Back-to-school and the holiday seasons are notorious for high emotions and high stress for my family of five. In addition to carving out time to have fun and seek joy as a family this month, I’m also committed to setting aside time for an adult-only evening (or two!). Quality time with the people I love always does my heart good, reduces my stress and reminds me of what’s most important. Check out these ideas for a unique date night or friends’ night out experience in OKC this month — you may be surprised that these family fun locales also offer adults-only fun!

1. If you’re seeking a beautiful spot to relax and recharge, check out Art After 5 every Thursday evening at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. Happening weekly through Oct. 13, enjoy beautiful views of downtown OKC from the newly renovated Roof Terrace. Beer and wine is available for purchase. Plus, peruse museum exhibits, including Chihuly Then and Now: The Collection at Twenty. The Museum Store, also redesigned, features a full bar with cocktails, beer, wine, and grab-and-go sweet and savory items from Ganache Patisserie. Tickets are free for members, $10 + tax for non-member adults. If you want to make it a family event, kids are free to attend. Purchase tickets here. 
2. Opportunities to spark creativity often serve as beneficial self-care for me, and Oklahoma Contemporary Studio School’s Thursday night workshops are just the place to enjoy hands-on art-making. Enjoy an evening of grown-up fun, no art skills required. All supplies are included. August classes will explore making a ceramic fruit bowl, creating ceramic decals and making a blank book for sketching, scrapbooking or journaling. Workshops are about $65 per person and registration closes a week prior. 21+. If crafting isn’t your thing, Oklahoma Contemporary‘s exhibits are are open till 9 p.m. every Thursday and admission is FREE! 
3. If a break from the chaos of this time of year is what you’re after, Factory Obscura is the ideal spot to step away from reality and into a magical world of immersive, jaw-dropping art. Adult Nights are held every third Thursday from 7 to 10 p.m. Before or after you explore Mix-Tape, grab dinner or shop along Automobile Alley for a full evening of fun. Tickets are $20 per person, free for Mix-Tape members. Guests must be 18+.  
4. A popular summer destination you’ve likely enjoyed with your kids many times — the OKC Zoo hosts its Sip & Stroll events the third Thursday of each month through September. Guests 21-and-older are invited to explore an outdoor path that spans the majority of the OKC Zoo to discover amazing animals from around world and delicious drinks at six “watering holes” along the way. Plus, enjoy sea lion or elephant presentations, feed the giraffes ($5 per person), sing karaoke, ride the carousel, dance to live music and play lawn games. Tickets are $27 for zoo members, $32 for non-members. Purchase a drink passport for an additional $27 to get six total 5oz samples of the speciality cocktails at the themed bar locations. Online reservations are required. Remaining Sip & Stroll dates include Aug. 18, Sept. 1 (rescheduled from July 21 due to that record-breaking heat) and Sept. 15. Sip & Strolls are held from 6 to 10 p.m.
5. Science Museum Oklahoma hosts monthly SMO21 events sure to make you feel like a kid again. Yes, that Science Museum — the one you may remember visiting on a field trip as a kid if you grew up in OKC and that you’ve likely chased your kids through over the summer months. Now it’s YOUR turn to enjoy an adults-only night exploring the museum, listen to live music, indulge in cocktails and watch science experiments. The monthly events are themed (dressing to impress is encouraged!), and at the Aug. 26 “SMO21: Mission Control,” guests will launch rockets, train in spacecraft simulators, handle space artifacts and much more. The fun starts at 7 p.m. and lasts till 10 p.m. Tickets are $25 for general admission. $35 for VIP tickets include a free signature cocktail and early entrance into the event at 6:30 p.m. Day-of tickets are $30 for general admission or $40 for VIP. Purchase advance tickets here. Guests must be 21+ to attend.

STAYCATION SPLURGE
Sometimes a few hours away just isn’t enough to recharge. If time and your budget allows, splurge with a staycation at the Omni Oklahoma City. The beautifully-appointed plush rooms, impeccable customer service, plenty of onsite dining options and gorgeous poolside views of downtown and Scissortail Park make for a perfect, relaxing getaway, right in the heart of OKC. During our recent stay, we were treated to a Picnic in the Park basket featuring charcuterie and wine, ideal for a pre-dinner (or full meal!) walk over to neighboring Scissortail Park.

The third floor pool deck is not to be missed — it’s the ideal spot to watch the sunset while enjoying an appetizer or meal via the Catbird Seat restaurant. Through Labor Day weekend, guests can experience the culinary artistry of the summertime Water + Color food and beverage menu featuring vibrant hues and wellness-driven ingredients. As a busy mama, is there anything better than having a gorgeous plate of delicious food (that you didn’t have to cook yourself!) delivered to you poolside as you soak up stunning views?! Perhaps the only thing that might compare are the surprisingly quiet guest rooms with heavenly soft beds and linens which make for a restful, uninterrupted night’s sleep! 

Bonus: you don’t have to stay overnight to enjoy the Omni’s amenities! Enjoy a pool pass for the day starting at $25 for adults and $10 for kids. Check out onsite Tap House, a two-story sports bar where you can catch a game, enjoy live music and feel like a kid by playing foosball, Skee-ball and other arcade games.

Check out all the current special offers at Omni Oklahoma City here.

​Have a great OKC date or friends’ night idea to share? Send us your ideas to tips@metrofamilymagazine.com. For monthly date night ideas, check out our round-up of the top 5 date night events happening each month. 

Erin Page is managing editor of MetroFamily Magazine, an award-winning writer, a lifelong resident of OKC, wife to Jordan and mom to Addie, Hutch and Weston. She enjoys exploring our city, altering recipes (to equal parts delight and distress of her family) and hiding from her kids to eat chocolate.