Mother's Day: 5 places to take Mom in New Westminster this weekend

Yes, it's Mother's Day again this weekend — that's Sunday, May 8 for those who may have forgotten.

So once you've handled the breakfast in bed and the bouquet of flowers, what else can you do for the special mother figure in your life? 

The Record team is offering up these five made-in-New-Westminster options to infuse some local love into your Mother's Day gift ideas for 2022.

Take her to the theatre

We in New West have the good fortune to have both the iconic Massey Theatre and the contemporary Anvil Centre Theatre in our midst – and, as it happens, they both have shows on offer this weekend.

At Massey Theatre (735 Eighth Ave.), you can catch Music of the Night on Friday evening (May 6) at 7:30 p.m.. As the name would suggest, the night of song is a tribute to legendary composer Andrew Lloyd Webber in recognition of his 75th birthday. If Mom's a fan of Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar, then this one's most definitely for her. It's all brought to the stage by professional musical theatre performers who've been seen on stages around the globe. Tickets are limited as of the writing of this post, so buy online now.

At Anvil Centre (777 Columbia St.), meanwhile, Royal Canadian Theatre Company presents Norm Foster's hilarious Screwball Comedy – bound to delight all those fans of Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn and other stars of the silver screen. Catch it Thursday, May 5 through Sunday, May 8, with shows at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 3:30 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday. You can find more details and tickets online.

Take her to tea

Swing by the Eighth & Eighth Arts Space (the Massey Theatre complex at 735 Eighth Ave.) on Sunday afternoon for the next instalment in the Global Tea Room series. Join curator/host Cassius Khan – tabla wizard and local resident –  as he introduces you to renowned Chinese musician Lan Tang, an erhu (Chinese violin) performer and vocalist whose music crosses between the new music, improvised music and world music scenes. You'll enjoy music and refreshments, and it's all free. It runs from 3 to 5 p.m. in Studio 1B.

Take her for a nature walk

What's your favourite place in New Westminster to connect with nature? We've got some newsroom favourites to suggest, staring with the gem that is Glenbrook Ravine. Or maybe Sapperton Landing is more your style, with its nice, flat walk along the river (just don't miss the path down to the little beach where you can sit a spell on a log and feel you're far away from the city). There's Hume Park, where you can take trails down to the lower park area and connect with the Brunette River, or cross East Columbia Street for a walk along the river as it winds through the woods. Or check out the lovely treed trails of Queen's Park, or take a stroll along the waterfront at the Quay (and, naturally, stop in at River Market for some food). 

You can find more information about city parks and trails online.

If you're so inclined, you can even enjoy some guided walks this weekend as part of the popular Jane's Walk series – check out this list of New Westminster Jane's Walks, running Friday, May 6 to Sunday, May 8.

Take her for ice cream

Yes, the forecast is indeed calling for a cool and rainy Sunday, but don't let that stop you. Ice cream is an all-weather treat (I say so, and I'm a mom, and therefore it is in fact so). And we in New West are blessed with some pretty fine choices. You can, of course, never go wrong at Rocky Point Ice Cream (500 Sixth Ave.), where the Lemon Yogurt Cookie, Earl Grey & Honey, and Salted Caramel flavours are always good choices (well, so are all the other choices, so pick whatever your heart desires). Or, if you're walking along the river as per the above, don't miss Tre Galli Gelato at River Market  (810 Quayside Dr.); the gelato expert in my house (that would be my nine-year-old) recommends all the berry flavours, though I personally lean towards the coffee-infused options.

I'd be remiss not to remind you about the maple-infused goodness on offer at Anny's Dairy Bar uptown (722 Sixth St.) — although, if you go there, you must naturally also leave room for poutine, so prepare accordingly.

Take her to the gallery

Does Mom love art? New West has you covered.

You can swing by Plaskett Gallery at Massey Theatre (735 Eighth Ave.) for New Refuge, an exhibition of works by Jane Appleby. It's open Tuesdays to Fridays, 1 to 4 p.m., during Massey Theatre shows (before the show and at intermission) and by appointment.

The Gallery at Queen's Park has Artist's Choice, a juried show by the Fraser Valley Potters Guild. It's open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; you can find the gallery in Centennial Lodge (near the bandshell).

At the Anvil Centre's Community Art Gallery (on the third floor at 777 Columbia St.), you can check out Art Talks, an exhibition of work by nine artists who connected virtually during the pandemic and who are now bringing their artistic conversations to the public realm. An official opening is on Thursday, May 5, and the show runs until June 10.

And, of course, don't forget New West Craft, with its Mother's Day artisan market on Saturday, May 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at River Market.

Or why not make your own mini art crawl and stop in at all of the above?

However you choose to spend your weekend, here's a salute to all the mothers and mom figures out there. Happy Mother's Day!

Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, [email protected].