A Christmas Date Night in Hammond
Content & Events Manager, Dara Calmes, here to share all about my Christmas date night with my fiancé in our festive little city of Hammond!
I absolutely love the holidays, and even more, I love showering my loved ones with thoughtful gifts. In the months leading up to Christmas, whenever a friend or family member mentions something they love—whether it’s an item, a TV show, or a band—I make a mental note of it. I’ve always enjoyed the act of gift-giving; it’s a way to show the people I care about that I see them for who they are and that I listen to what they say.
But when it comes to my fiancé, it’s a bit different. After more than 11 years together, I often struggle with finding the perfect gift that captures exactly how I feel—how much I love him, how he’s my best friend, and my favorite person in the world. And honestly, he tends to feel the same way about me. When you’ve been together so long and already have everything you need, how do you shop for the one person who already has your heart?
So this year, instead of scrambling at the last minute for a gift, we decided to do something different: a Christmas date night. A lovely dinner, desserts, coffee, twinkling Christmas lights—and, most importantly, just being together. Read below to see all the fun, romance, and festivities we got up to right here in Hammond!
Cena; Hammond
To kick off our date night, we headed to Cena; Hammond for a delicious dinner. For drinks, my fiancé chose their Traditional Gimlet, a refreshing basil and cucumber cocktail with a bright lime flavor. I stuck with my classic glass of Sauvignon Blanc. After browsing the appetizer menu and being indecisive (everything sounded so good), we decided on one of Cena’s daily specials: a slab of thick-cut bacon topped with the best fried shrimp we've ever had, drizzled with balsamic sauce. It was an incredible way to start the meal.
Next, we ordered Caesar salads, followed by our entrees. My partner kept it simple with Cena’s Gnocchi, no meat, and a side of Brussels sprouts. I went for the Pappardelle with paneed chicken, which was so perfectly crunchy that I finished the entire plate. Afterward, my fiancé declared it was the best meal he’d had in a long time. Naturally, I took zero pictures of the food. But Date Night was off to a great start!
BATTER
After our amazing dinner, we were in the mood for something sweet and headed over to BATTER for a treat. Unfortunately, we arrived a little too late to grab our favorite—Mom’s Cornbread Cupcake—but trying something new was still a delight. I chose the Choc-a-lot Cupcake, while my fiancé went for the Frosted Brownie. The good news is, I didn’t make the same mistake twice and actually filmed these chocolate treats for you all to check out! Neither of us could finish our desserts, but no worries—they were quickly devoured the following night. Before we left, we snapped a few selfies with their adorable pink Christmas tree.
Luma Coffee
With dinner and dessert checked off the list, it was time to grab a drink from Luma Coffee and take a stroll through Zemurray Park. I know, I know—it’s been cold, but iced coffee is a state of mind. My fiancé went with the Gold Rush iced latte, with notes of salted caramel and butterscotch. I knew if I had caffeine that late, I’d be vibrating through the walls of our apartment, so I opted for the Cinnamon Crush (which, by the way, my fiancé was extremely jealous of). The Cinnamon Crush should definitely be your next drink. It’s Topo Chico with chai tea, cinnamon, and a honeyed lemon. The balance of spice and sweetness was just perfect.
Zemurray Park
To wrap up our date night, we headed to Zemurray Park to enjoy the Christmas lights. We decided to skip the train ride due to the long line (and, well, it was already 8 PM and we’re both in our 30s), but the lights themselves were absolutely beautiful. We strolled around with our drinks, holding hands, laughing, making jokes, and even dancing on the lit-up bridge. There’s something so nostalgic about those old-fashioned lights— the soft reds and blues, the whimsical characters. It really spoke to my inner child. We had such a great time and left feeling happy and in the Christmas spirit.
When it was time for bed, we curled up on the couch to watch TV, and all night, I kept hearing my fiancé whisper, “Man, that was really good gnocchi.” It was the perfect Christmas date, and I feel so blessed to spend the holiday season with this sweetie, another year in a row. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!