Middletown Quintessential Spot for Romantic Rendezvous

I’m just taking a wild guess here but I bet that when you think of love and romance, a picture of Main Street in Middletown doesn’t immediately spring to mind.  Perhaps it should!  In February of 2011, the National Trust for Historical Preservation named Main Street in Middletown as one of the top romantic streets in the country based on atmosphere, history and romance. “Middletown’s allure includes an artful Main Street brimming with elegant restaurants, an award-winning local chocolatier, and the romantic Inn at Middletown, offering the best of New England charm.”

It’s all in how you look at it.  Sure, it’s not a moonlight stroll on a beach or a private cabana in Aruba but with the right attitude, a romantic getaway is as close as downtown. You can enjoy a nice meal, immerse yourself in culture and even be entertained. In fact, not only could you enjoy a nice date night but you could even have an entire day of fun with your honey on Main Street.

Start off with a scrumptious breakfast at O’Rourke’s Diner, visited by The Food Network’s Guy Fieri, host of “Diner’s Drive-In’s And Dives”; it’s a Middletown staple famous for it’s French toasts and scrumptious dishes with an Irish flare.

Follow that up with a short, hand-in-hand stroll to the Tesoro store which offers a mix of unique gifts and crafts.   Main Street Market is just a short distance away and offers an eclectic array of shops like Echo Trading which sells everything from specialty teas to jewelry.  Visit Pamela Roose which sells gorgeous handmade knitted items and even takes specialty orders.  Peruse a selection of titles at The Book Bower.

To see one of the world’s most extensive architectural reclamation projects, make an appointment to visit the showroom of Irreplaceable Artifacts. Together with it’s sister store, Demolition Depot in New York City, they re-claim beautiful architectural ornaments from across two continents.

Middletown is a melting pot of cultures so take advantage of this diversity by visiting stores like the Tibetan Bazaar which showcases colorful goods from Tibet or stop by Haiti’s Backporch and see a variety of works by Haitian artists as well as crafts, clothes and specialty foods.

If all of that shopping stirs your appetite, you are in luck because Middletown offers a variety of cuisines including Mexican, Italian, Vietnamese, Tai and American.  Many restaurants even offer al fresco dining.  Afterwards, enjoy a cup of Joe and a “unique vibe” at the European style café, Javapalooza.  You might even be able to enjoy some live entertainment.  Later, indulge in a sweet treat at Lizzy B’s Sweet Celebrations. 

If ice cream is what strikes your fancy, stop by Cold Stone Creamery and then take a walk over to the fountain at the corner of Main and William Street.  Enjoy the free Wi-Fi available anywhere downtown and make a reservation for a romantic dinner at Esca’s, and enjoy their extensive wine selection.  If not, try Amici’s or The First and Last Tavern. Later, catch a flick at Destinta Theatre and cap the night off with some fun at Eli Cannon’s or maybe walk a couple of blocks to Harbor Park. These are just a few of the great places you can go and things you can do in Middletown.  There are many options to satisfy anyone's tastes or budget.

Whether you do it weekly or monthly, date nights are important for a variety of reasons; getting away from the kids, injecting excitement into a marriage, getting re-acquainted and solidifying your love.  They don’t have to be expensive getaways. Why, a date night could take place just around the bend.  All you need is to bend your creativity a bit.  Marriage requires constant nourishment. Date night nourishes the relationship mentally, emotionally, physically and even sexually…if you’re lucky!

So next time you are thinking of having a great date night, go no further than Main Street. Our city has a plethora of great things to see and do and there’s no one better to enjoy them with than your sweet heart.