Are we too old for Charlotte?

Just recently, my age scale started getting very heavy on the side of 40 and less on the side of 30.  I don’t have a whole lot of issue with this.  The “Me” of today could out-run the “Me” of 10 years ago.  I have better shoes and handbags, credit cards that aren’t maxed out and thanks to modern medicine…I don’t look a whole hell of a lot different than my mid 20’s self. 

Each year on my birthday, I do my call to arms of some of my favorite ladies for a night out on the town.  A night with a nice dinner where I’m not running a child to the bathroom or making deals on how many bites someone has to eat, sounds like heaven each year.  I always say suburban housewives are a bit like caged animals.  We get wrapped up in our lives of the gym, Target, birthday parties, work and school engagements.  When we find a night with an excuse to let loose, you would this it’s our last night on earth.  We spend the day prepping hair, nails, and outfits…our version of a Cougar Prom.

But as I age each year, I find that our favorite places are being overrun by 20 something’s.  We once felt at home in these environments but now we feel like we are the table that the 90-pound hostess sits in the back.  The better tables are saved for the other 90 pound 20 something’s.  These tables of young girls are looking for their bills to be picked up my some older grease-ball that they will give time to just to save a buck.    So we sit in the back, going through our bottles of wine and sushi.  Our potty mouths and inappropriate conversations will give stares our way or a possible manager coming to check on us.  But, hey… we still have a ball.

We finish our dinners and thanks to the alcohol, forget that we are 10 years older than the rest of the crowd.  We jump from bar to bar, only staying 5 minutes until someone says, “Absolutely not… Too young!” and we move on to the next.  When we finally find a spot that seems to have the youngsters thin out, we find a table and dance until last call.  All the while feeling the looks from the remaining stragglers of women who are probably saying, “Good Lord.  Please let that not be me when I’m their age!”  (Maybe because I once said that too!)

Finding a place to let loose in your 30’s or even (cough) 40’s can be tough.  The majority of my friends in their 40’s have thrown up the white flag and conceded to just having a nice dinner out and then retreating to a house party.  Only there can they dance and sing to Bel Biv Devoe’s “Poison” song without feeling like an old bag of bones.  I ask myself, do they have it right?  Once you hit your mid-thirties, is it socially inappropriate or such a blow to your ego to feel like you can hang in this town… in public?  Even my husband, six years my senior, can’t help but throw a jab as I’m waling out the door.  “Don’t forget how old you are now..”, as he giggles.  As if I need reminding.

There have got to be places us old ladies can go and feel comfortable right?  We should not be locked up in cages yet.. right?  RIGHT?   So, I am assembling a team of ladies who know how to have a good time and are okay getting creative in our selections.  We are going to hit this wonderful city of Charlotte and find out where we can go enjoy ourselves.  Businesses in Charlotte have got to cater to this group because we have money to spend and we spread the word.  We own businesses, we are amazing at social media, and we have about 100 other moms we talk to each day.  Do you know how many times people ask me where they should go out to have a good time?  It’s scary.

So that is what I’m hoping to bring to you over the next couple of months.  New areas to try out that make you feel comfortable while maybe even having a legendary night.  I’ll let you know the vibe, the clientele, and even the dress code so you know whether or not you may need to put that turtleneck sweater away.  (No one should be wearing those anywhere anymore ladies…)  I’m hoping that you stay tuned to find out where ladies like us can have a good time.  We’ll try to get creative so we can hit different personalities of ladies, different areas of Charlotte and report back to you on our findings.  We will check out a concert, new restaurants, Wine and Beer festivals, bowling on Montford, charity events, girl’s trips… We will try just about anything.  J

Look out Charlotte.. Smarty Moms are checking YOU out.

Are you a Charlotte business who would like Charlotte Smarty Pants to check YOU out for a Girls Night on the town?  Email me at erin@charlottesmartypants.com with your information and the details and just maybe we will add it to our list of places to hit!  J