HDPA invites ladies to night on the town

POULSBO — It’s time again for the women of North Kitsap to forget about the stresses of daily life, leave their husbands at home and throw caution to the wind — or at least apply a little extra lipstick — for Little Norway’s second Girls Night Out sponsored by the Historic Downtown Poulsbo Association.

Starting at 4 p.m. Oct. 11, any female who mentions the Girls Night Out event at participating downtown merchants can expect food and drink specials, craft and cooking demonstrations, entertainment and bonus buys galore, not to mention the free goody bags offered at the Cabana between Liberty Bay Books and Les Saisons while supplies last.

“The event is designed for all women of our town, and of the North Kitsap area,” said participating Tizley’s Europub and Europa Deli owner and HDPA member Tammy Mattson. “Everywhere they turn, there will be a sale or a special or a discount.”

In the handout bag will be a map of all participating downtown stores and list of events, as well as coupons and free samples. More than 40 of Poulsbo’s gift shops, clothing and furniture boutiques, salons, restaurants, bookstores and craft stores will take part, opening their doors to women for a “fabulous chance to indulge themselves,” Mattson said.

“It’s geared towards all women,” said HDPA marketing chair Meisha Rouser. “It offers them an excuse to get together, get the girls, go out and have some fun.”

Rouser said for all that downtown offers, it’s often difficult to find the time to enjoy it, and Girls Night Out provides the perfect excuse. She said the first event, held in May, was a social hit that brought the community together.

“It’s something else for the people of our town to do,” Mattson said. “Just a ton of activities.”

Even men aren’t completely banned from the fun.

“There’s a bunch of restaurants that would love to keep those guys busy, they just don’t get the bags, that’s all,” she said.

Mattson added participants can also expect live music along Front Street, and can take advantage of the opportunity to get a jump start on Christmas shopping.

“It’s just going to be a lot of fun for women,” she said. “There’s going to be beverage tastings, classes, all kinds of things to do.”

Mattson said the event was started by businesses as a way to target a certain market, and has grown into a can’t miss event the HDPA now backs.

“There was a group of business owners that wanted to do this type of marketing that are all members of the HDPA, and it’s just kind of worked itself into an event that now the HDPA supports,” she said. “We’re trying to have them about once a quarter. This’ll be the second in a string of Girls Nights Out in 2007.”

Girls Night Out will run until 8 p.m. Thursday night.

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