The sun shined brightly on downtown Glen Ellyn Friday evening, welcoming in the spring edition of the Ladies' Night Out Event sponsored by the Downtown Glen Ellyn Alliance. 

Downtown stores and restaurants teamed-up to offer special deals and entertainment to entice residents to shop all along Main Street.

Equipped with a map of participating stores and a list of specials, participants strolled around town trying to capitalize on the deals before the three-hour event was up.    

Bistro Monet hosted the kick-off party, offering $4 cocktails and appetizers. While some stores offered free gifts like The Prince’s Table, Escape Salon and Spa offered special discounts on high-end products, and Run Today revealed a new spring line of name-brand products. Glen Oak Restaurant participated by operating on their new extended hours for Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays.

Nutrifit owner Cathy Leman tried to attract customers to her new Main Street storefront by walking the streets of downtown with a child dressed in a banana costume and handed out healthy popcorn samples and free pedometers to participants.

“She was the perfect banana,” Leman said of her assistant for the day, “I was looking for something that would be a good complement for health and she pulled it off.”

Leman said that she's trying to spread the word about her company and explained that through her store she's trying to show that a healthy lifestyle doesn't always mean eating just broccoli and chicken.

At the end of the night, many ladies gathered at Cab’s Wine Bar and Bistro and Tap House Grill for the after-party to celebrate the festivities with music, drinks, and good friends.

For upcoming downtown events, visit www.downtownglenellyn.com.