Girls’ Night Out in Watertown & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up #30

July 25, 2017 / 70 Comments

I am back today with lots and lots of kindness! I apologize that I skipped my kindness post last week, but things got a bit crazy and I was traveling and just could not get to it. And sometimes, you just have to let it go. So I did. But I have lots of wonderful kindness posts lined up for the next few weeks and I am so excited to share them with you all.

Last Friday night, my friend Amy and I hit the town! We decided it was high time for a little girls’ night out action and we had heard about some fabulous new places that have recently opened in Downtown Watertown. So we needed to check them out. First stop was a brand new tapas restaurant and bar called Spokes Craft Beer & Tapas. When we were there on Friday night, it was only the third day they have been open and the place was packed with so many friendly faces!

Spokes offers a “modern twist on the bar scene with a large variety of quality beers and wines and flavorful food made fresh with creativity. The menu provides “a variety of plates to share. This is an opportunity to share or have a drink but not fill up on food. A great alternative to a traditional meal.”

Meet Eva! She is one of the owners of Spokes and she is one of the kindest, friendliest women I have ever met. You can just see it in her smile and her eyes! She is very accommodating and goes above and beyond to ensure that every customer who walks through the door has the best drinking and dining experience possible. And our server was Kristin…she was equally amazing!

Eva makes a point to stop by every table and chat enthusiastically with every patron. She genuinely wants to know how you are enjoying your night out, the drinks, the food, the atmosphere and how she can make it better, if possible. Although, the entire experience is pretty great just the way it is!

Now let me tell you about the food and drink selection at Spokes. They offer a small tapas menu with plans of changing it up frequently. The current menu is host to 9 different tapas dishes including 3 amazing flatbread combinations and 2 marinated olive dishes…well anyway, check it out below.

We had ordered the Italian Twisted Handlebar…

Italian Twisted Handlebar
Italian Twisted Handlebar…Devoured

…and the Clement Flatbread.

Clement Flatbread

The Eska Flatbread looks pretty amazing as well!

Eska Flatbread

And check out the Bianchi Flatbread.

Bianchi Flatbread

So I’m kind of a food snob and I must say that these culinary creations have completely exceeded my expectations! I do believe I may have experienced a flavor orgasm on more than one occasion during my meal at Spokes! The marinades were perfect combinations of rich and zesty. The dipping sauces were delicious. The flatbread was baked to create a stunning balance of crispy and doughy. The portions were super generous for the price. In fact, Amy and I only ordered the 2 dishes and we could not finish them. And then there are the drinks. They offer “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall” plus 10 seasonal beers on tap. How fun is that?!

99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall

The selection of drinks provides something for everyone with a detailed description of each offering on the extensive menu. I enjoyed a delectable organic cider on tap that was refreshing and sweet and everything I look for in a drink on a hot summer’s night out.

And then Amy stole my drink for a photo opportunity! (But she did give it back.)

After Spokes, we decided to head across the street to the Downtown Local Lounge.

The Downtown Local Lounge “stemmed from an Amateur Wine Maker starting with Berries & Fruit and being recommended to submit to the NY State Fair in 2014.” The driving force behind this lounge is the desire “to help NY Wines flourish, and get the names out there…with a calm and relaxing atmosphere where people can socialize and enjoy a glass of NY Wine”.

Meet Kevin, the owner and wine connoisseur behind the bar at the Downtown Local Lounge.

Upon entering the doors of the lounge, you immediately notice that the atmosphere is very welcoming and calm offering a variety of comfortable seating spots from bar stools to small tables to plush lounge chairs.

They offer a wonderful selection of wines and beers as well as delicious and refreshing wine slushies for those patrons with a sweet tooth on a hot night.  In addition to the drink menu, they also offer light snacks that pair well with all of the different wine choices.

Kevin is amazing behind the bar…very knowledgeable about the wines and very friendly and personable as well…everything you would expect from a great bartender/lounge owner.

It is not your typical crazy bar scene that the younger generation may enjoy, but it is very suited to the tastes of a mature crowd who may want an evening out with great drinks and awesome company where you can hear each other talk! Although Amy and I may have become a little goofy by this point in the night!

Who am I kidding? We started out goofy!

To prevent the crazy younger crowd from busting down the doors in the late, late hours of the night, the Downtown Local Lounge closes its doors at 11:00 p.m. on weekends. But Amy and I were free for the night and trying to get in touch with the crazy girls of our youth. So we decided on one more stop in Watertown. But I am not even going to share my opinion (or the name) of that final place…because it would in no way be spreading kindness. Although when a place of business greets their customers with such a complete lack of kindness and seems nearly incapable of even decent service, they may be much more in need of kindness! Perhaps one day, this particular place will redeem itself enough to make an appearance in one of my kindness posts. However, after two consecutive failures on their part, I may not even give them a third chance.

On a more positive and kind note, I highly recommend Spokes Craft Beer & Tapas for a fabulous night out for drinks and light fare. I also highly recommend the Downtown Local Lounge for a quiet and relaxing evening out in Watertown. While enjoying your night out, you are also supporting local small businesses which is so very important in my opinion.

I hope you enjoyed my little tour of Watertown nightlife! And now here are your favorite posts from my #SpreadTheKindness Link Up from two weeks ago. And there are four favorites from that link up!

First, we have Jodie, Charlotte, and Nancy of Jodie’s Touch of Style showing some fabulous ways to create classic and modern outfits using the same dress and just changing your shoes. I love the ways these ladies play with their styles and always end up looking so magnificent! If you haven’t already, do check out Jodie’s post A Classic vs Modern Style Using your Shoes with a Dress.

Jodie, Charlotte, and Nancy of Jodie’s Touch of Style

Next, we have Chrissy of Granola and Grace sharing a fun family trip and some adorable outfits in in her post New Headband & Girlfriend Shorts for A Crazy Safari Ride.

Chrissy of Granola and Grace

Then, there is Liz of Lizzie in Lace looking as beautiful as she always does in her Polka Dot Ruffle Dress!

Liz of Lizzie in Lace

And finally, Lorena of My Every Day Wear looking bright and vibrant and totally fabulous in Color Change.

Lorena of My Every Day Wear

I want to thank all of you for sharing your posts with me and for always spreading the kindness! Have fun linking up and don’t forget to visit some other amazing bloggers! Stay tuned for next week’s #SpreadTheKindness Link Up when I will be sharing some images from my amazing photo shoot with Sarissa Melissa Photography. What a fabulous experience it was!


How have you been sharing kindness? Do you supported local small business in your own community? I would love to hear about it!

Spreading kindness on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Ups.

My Outfit Details
Lace Top: Torrid Salmon Run Mall (I cannot find a direct link to this top).
Jeans: Torrid Ex-Boyfriend Jeans – Medium Wash with Knee Rips.
Shoes: Chinese Laundry Sweetness Metallic Sandal from DSW.
Clutch: Old Navy (see their current selection of bags here).

Amy’s Outfit Details
I have no idea where Amy purchased her outfit except her shoes because I helped her pick them!
Shoes: Deflex Comfort Catie Soft Knot Wedges from Payless.

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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