Upcoming Event Offers Moms a Kid-Free Escape

Hard workers undoubtedly deserve some rest, and that's especially true for mothers, which is why local event planner and mother of two, Shiri Gradek, created Mom's Night Out, an event offering moms a calming, kid-free evening of socializing, set to take place on Wednesday.

“The event is an opportunity to relax and keep up with women who are also moms in the community,” Gradek said. “Moms have so much going on they're usually too exhausted to go out and do things when other events are occurring, so I'm having the event from 6-9 p.m. because it's a surveyed time that's reasonable for mothers to attend.”

With the theme of Trivia Night, the event should be a fun evening with two rounds of trivia, women-specific prizes and affordable food from the in Santa Cruz.

“Backstage Lounge has a very small, but very delicious and affordable menu, most of their items are $5. It's really an intimate place and is kind of perfect for the event,” Gradek said. “And whenever we have a venue we'll always have it at a very reasonably-priced place with a low cover charge, because I also want to accommodate young families.”

Gradek said the idea for a mom-specific evening was conceptualized during a group play-date with 12 friends, and that it stemmed primarily from the simple desire of being able to finish a conversation without interruption.

“I used to be part of a play-date group and the moms enjoyed talking to each other so much, but we were constantly being interrupted by kids, so we thought we wanted to have a mom's night out with friends, and then we thought we'd extend it to the public,” she said.

Although the event was primarily created to offer moms a free evening, another purpose is to aid local nonprofits dedicated to helping women and children. Gradek said 50 percent of event proceeds are donated, with the 3 Pens, a nonprofit comprised of three cooperative preschools that lost all of its state funding last year, being the organization they donated to during their first event in March.

“I think, personally, and also from just knowing moms who have young children, that a large influence of their lives are their kids, and they're affected by issues that surround women and children, so seeing that it's Moms Night Out, it's fitting that the event supports women and children,” she said.

The first Mom's Night Out event took place at in downtown Santa Cruz, and attracted around 30 women, some of whom were worried about being away from their kids and partner, but who ultimately enjoyed their time chatting away with fellow moms, Gradek said. 

“When they showed up, so many women said they can't stay long because they had to make dinner or had plans with the husband, but so many people who said they could only stay for a little time stayed beyond the time the event ended, and recognized other women in the community they didn't expect to see there,” she said.

The Backstage Lounge is at 1209 Soquel Ave. in Santa Cruz. Admission is $5, and childcare is not provided.

For more information, visit Gradek Events or visit the Mom's Night Out facebook group page.