Tuesday is ours.
We protect 6–10 PM every Tuesday for each other—with the occasional exception for holidays, birthdays, and the realities of five kids’ school and sports schedules.
A Weekly Tradition
Real Austin Date Nights, Planned for You
Mark & Jen's Tuesday Date Night Journal
Austin · Every Tuesday · 6–10 PM
One sitter. Four hours. A new Austin date every Tuesday.
Real dinners, activities and nightcaps—planned, experienced and shared by Mark & Jen.
Every Tuesday, from six to ten, the same sitter walks in the door and we walk out of it. No carpool line, no permission slips, no negotiating who's on bath duty — just the two of us, for four hours, doing whatever we feel like doing. With five kids under thirteen, it's easy to let 'us' quietly disappear into the schedule. This is how we don't let that happen.
How It Works
A tradition since 2009.
The sitters have changed since we got married, but our standing Tuesday date has stayed.
We take turns.
Mark plans one week. Jen plans the next. Half the fun is seeing what the other person chooses.
Always somewhere new.
Our one rule is simple: never repeat a restaurant. Every Tuesday should bring a fresh table and a new story.
Volente is home. Austin is the playground.
Our map stretches through Cedar Park, Lakeway, Georgetown and Austin—and once all the way to Dripping Springs when the experience was worth the drive.
Why We Do It
With five kids in the house, it's easy to let a marriage run on whatever time is left over. This is our answer to that — four hours a week that belong only to us, to talk through whatever the week didn't leave room for, kids included.
For Jen, it's the highlight of her week — every week.
Mark's take: way more fun than couples therapy — and a lot cheaper.
If you're dating or married: find your Tuesday, protect it, and keep showing up for each other. It's one of the best things we do for us — and we'd tell any couple to steal the idea.
About Mark & Jen
The two people behind the Tuesday Date Night Journal
Mark is a steak-and-bourbon enthusiast, co-founder of Crystal Practice Management, a former youth minister, and the other half of this Tuesday-night tradition.
Jen was born and raised in Louisiana and brings a serious love of crawfish, Cajun cooking, martinis, and gathering people around a table. She also founded a monthly cookbook club and is the author of Praying Through Infertility.
Together, Mark and Jen protect four hours every Tuesday to explore a new restaurant, cocktail spot, movie, or experience — and they never repeat a restaurant or movie.
Find Your Austin Date Night
Browse real dates by mood and occasion — from inexpensive nights out to once-in-a-while celebrations.
The Journal
Follow along here for ideas, honest takes, and everywhere the Tuesday map has taken us so far.
Date night ·
Aris Steakhouse — Austin Restaurant Weeks
Read the full night →
Date night ·
Picnik + Lutie’s
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Date night ·
SOSU Izakaya & Sushi Bar Date Night
Read the full night →
Date night ·
PopStroke Cedar Park Date Night
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Date night ·
Jen’s Birthday: The Kimberly + In Plain Sight
Read the full night →
Date night ·
Captain Pete’s Boathouse Lake Travis Date Night
Read the full night →
Date night ·
Valentine’s Night: BOA Steakhouse + Small Victory
Read the full night →
Published ·
Bat Watching from a Boat
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Published ·
Grey Orchard & Ruby's Bar
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Published ·
Cinque Terre West ATX & Honey Moon Spirit Lounge
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Published ·
The Seaholm Date Night
Read the full night →
New weeks get added here as we go — check back for the next one.
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Got a Suggestion?
Know a spot we haven't tried? We're always looking for the next one — tell us where to go.