Now is probably the best time to ask yourself: will your mom appreciate a box of cannolis or a stack of chocolate-dipped strawberries more? Would she prefer spending time at a sip-and-shop event or demolish a box of empanadas while in her jammies?
Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 14, and if you haven't already brainstormed the best gifts to pick for your ma, here's is a cheat sheet (thank us later) to come up with a thoughtful gift that is sure to impress.
Whether you want to keep it classic with a standard bouquet of flowers, or pick something more unique and fun — like a wine and gardening mashup — we have compiled a list that's as local as it can get.
For mothers who like art and craft
For mothers who take a special interest in their kids' art projects, are artists themselves or are among those who can spend an entire day in a museum, a trip to an art show titled Romance and Roses at the Gallery at Queen's Park seems apt.
Make the weekend all about art by planning a visit to award-winning Van Dop Gallery's Art of the Garden Mother's Day event on May 13 when you get to walk the gallery and garden space, browse delicate fused glass creations by artist Violet Finvers, and pick a tiny masterpiece from the display for your mom.
Alternatively, book a spot at Free Little Art Gallery’s eco-art workshop at New Westminster Public Library on May 13 (2:30 to 4:30 p.m.) and transform a four-litre milk jug into a unique piece of gift-able art, which, no matter how it comes out, would make a precious handmade gift for your mom.
For moms who appreciate a low-key celebration at home
Sometimes all moms need is an evening of curling up in the sofa with a basket of empanadas. And lucky for you, a New West business has already thought of it. Empanada Gal's Mother's Day gift basket includes a box of savoury and sweet empanadas, and sauces to go with it. There is probably little else as comforting as noshing on the palm-sized snack like no one is watching.
Now, if your mom prefers more of a lobster tail- and cannoli-kinda bash, Columbia Street’s Gastronomia Italia has whipped up the perfect solution. Their gift box for the special day comes with 10 authentic Italian treats including hazelnut lobster tail, candied orange cannoli, double chocolate panna cotta and more. With just a click, you can seal the perfect plan to convey your amore per mamma this year.
For moms who appreciate a fancy dine-out
If your mom prefers a fancy dinner outside the home, move the take-out plans for a less significant day. Instead, pick up your phone and make reservations at a local restaurant for the special day.
El Santo’s social media page already has a gentle reminder to book a table ASAP and Gino’s Restaurant has unveiled its three-course Mother’s Day special menu (includes beef wellington with au jus for entree) to help you cement your Sunday dinner plan.
A few other restaurants have announced special offers — Pho 99 promises a gift for anyone who hops in for a Vietnamese fare with their mom and orders items that amount to $50 and more in total; Match Eatery and Public House will be giving a complimentary beverage to all moms who plan to sit down and have an elaborate meal at the neighbourhood pub and sports bar on the day.
For mothers who like wine and flowers
A bouquet of flowers, as has been established over years, is probably the easiest gift idea to convey your love. There’s no way someone can look at Queen’s Park Florist’s Mother’s Day special violet floral arrangement or Bunches and Blooms spring bloom and not smile.
But what if you take the simple gift and build up on it a bit? What if you give your mom the experience of crafting a 12 inch by 10 inch planter the way she wants — all while sipping a glass of wine?
Pacific Breeze Winery is offering the gardening and wine combo to all those who do not mind delaying the day’s celebrations by a couple of weeks — to May 27. But those who do mind, there’s the chocolate and wine tasting sessions at the winery between May 12 and 14 (first day is already sold out). A glass of rosé in one hand and a piece of hand-painted peaches and cream chocolate in the other might just be the ideal way your mom was hoping to spend the Mother's Day afternoon.
For mothers who like the outdoors
If your mom is someone whose top hobby includes tilling, mulching and double digging, here’s a unique Mother’s Day activity that she might like: a restorative native planting session. The “community building event for Mother Earth,” on Saturday, May 13, between 1 and 3 p.m., involves planting more than 300 native plants at the southwest corner of Thompsons Landing Park in Queensborough.
By planting native forbs, ferns, ground covers and shrubs, participants like your mom will be doing their bit to help enhance the habitat for wildlife. Just the prospect of getting to be outdoors while also helping better the health of the environment would have her pick up her shovels, wheelbarrows and gloves, if our hunch is right.
For mothers who like chocolates
Forget taking breakfast to her bed, what if you could wake her up with a large box of handcrafted cookies, bars, squares and cakes? New West's gourmet dessert company Trove Desserts is now accepting orders for its large dessert boxes and dessert boards for pickup on Mother’s Day (the last day to order is today!).
But that’s not the only sugar-loaded option that screams your love for your mom. Cookies to Crumb’s specially-packed cookie gift boxes, Passenger Cafe’s dacaron pastries and Star Choco-Bar’s chocolate-dipped (vegan chocolate available too) strawberry gift boxes are gifts that have little chance of going wrong.
For moms who like to shop
Instead of racking your brain to shop for the perfect gift for your mom, why not give her the gift of shopping itself?
Zesty Lemon Clothing Co. and Chroma Nostaa Designs are organizing a Mom’s Night Out Sip & Shop at the clothing store (530 East Columbia St.) between 5 and 9 p.m. on Friday, May 12.
At the event, your mom will not only get to browse through the collection of summer and spring clothes, an array of modern handcrafted polymer clay earrings and more, but also get a chance to win prizes and take home swag bags. And the best part? All of it unfolds in a leisurely setting with beverages, sweet treats and other like-minded shoppers.
For moms of pooches
If you are a dog mom, celebrate your love for your furry baby by capturing it in a photo that lasts forever. Photographer Lindsey Parker is offering a 10-minute photo session for pawrents and their pets at Queen’s Park on Friday, May 12, between 5 and 7:30 p.m. Book a slot by putting in a donation towards Wild West Animal League.
The digitally-touched images will be ready in time for you to broadcast them on Mother’s Day on your social media channels, or to frame them up on your gallery wall.
For moms who want a time out
No matter how joyful it is, motherhood can be sometimes exhausting. Help her melt all that stress away with the gift of a spa package.
New West’s Sabai Thai Spa is offering Mom’s Time Out Spa Package that includes a full-body anti-stress massage, hand and foot rejuvenation, aromatherapy enhancement and a glowing facial at half its usual rate, and a Bonding Bliss Spa Package, where you and your mom can bond over a two-hour spa session.
