Since Mother’s Day is coming up on Sunday, May 11th, we would like to take this opportunity to say a very big thank you to all of the hardworking moms (and stepmoms, grandmas, aunts, caretakers, etc.) out there who help make our houses feel like homes. In honor of this special day, we have compiled a list of places to go and things to do to celebrate Mom around the Twin Cities.
Taking your mom out to brunch has become a Mother’s Day tradition. Luckily, the Twin Cities have lots of delicious choices when it comes to the midmorning meal. Whether she likes a more conventional buffet or a meal with contemporary offerings, there is surely something to suit her palate. The Nicollet Island Inn offers a classic five-course, champagne brunch – the perfect setting to catch up with some lighthearted girl talk. Another perennial Mother’s Day favorite is the Saint Paul Hotel Ballroom Brunch, which includes six lavish food stations and live music, making it optimal for a family gathering. Although the Nicollet Island Inn and Saint Paul Hotel options are a bit pricey, the quality of the food at both locales make them well worth your money (and, c’mon, your mother deserves a treat). If your mother would prefer something with a bit more ethnic flair, Masa in Downtown Minneapolis – known for its authentic Mexican cuisine – is offering a three-course family style brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. And of course you can’t forget about the Chatterbox Pub in Highland Park, which is serving tasty traditional brunch fare like frittatas, pastries, french toast, and house sausage at an affordable price that will leave you enough money to buy your mom a thoughtful gift.
Perhaps your mom adores shopping almost as much as she adores you (hey, nobody’s judging). If so, nothing could be more perfect than taking her to 50th and France in Edina. This high-end shopping center has a variety of stores that your mother is sure to love, including upscale retailer Dana’s Apparel and the Edina original, Hot Mama, perfect for the mothers-to-be and newly minted moms in your life. For moms who want something a little more unique, there’s Uptown, Minneapolis’s epicenter for trendy stores filled with funky finds. Or maybe your mom prefers browsing for home décor. Then historic Stillwater, only a 30-minute drive from St. Paul, would be the ideal destination, with its quaint downtown area, filled with one-of-a-kind antique shops and other boutiques.
Several attractions in the area are also offering deals for the special lady in your life. The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is holding a Family Day with the theme of May Flowers, certain to brighten up the occasion. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Zoo is letting mothers in for free May 10th and 11th as part of the Macy’s Mother’s Day Weekend celebration. Your mom (and you too!) will surely delight at seeing the animal mothers interact with their cuddly offspring. Another potential option for the cultured lady in your life is the Saint Paul Civic Symphony Mother’s Day Concert, held at the Landmark Center. The event is always quite popular, so make sure you get there well before the 1 p.m. start time if you want to secure your seats. If your mother is known for her sense of humor, you might want to take her to the Mother’s Day Comedy Jam at the Orpheum Theatre on Saturday night, to see hilarious performers such as The Talk’s Sheryl Underwood and Lavell Crawford, from Breaking Bad. All the laughing you’ll do will be sure to burn off enough calories to warrant indulging at brunch the next day (just go with us on this one).
No matter how much they deny it, every mother deserves a little pampering, considering all that they do for everyone but themselves. The ever-popular Ivy Spa Club in Minneapolis is offering a special Mother’s Day package for $135, which includes a 50-minute massage and gel manicure. The Day Spa in Edina has a similar special for $100.
We all know that there’s a chance your mom will refuse to just sit back and relax even on a day dedicated to her, so fortunately there are plenty of physical activities on offer throughout the Twin Cities. If your mother is an avid outdoorswoman, go biking with her along one of the state’s many scenic trails (after all, it is National Bike Month – stay tuned for a blog post on that next week) or take her out on one of the lakes, most of which are ice-free. Or, being the selfless woman she is, perhaps your mother would like to contribute to a cause – for that, there’s the 22nd Annual Twin Cities Race for the Cure, being held at the Mall of America.
Of course there is an unlimited amount of other ways to treat your mom on her special day; it all depends on her likes and preferences. So, tell us: where do you plan on taking the significant woman in your life this Mother’s Day? Let us know in the comments below!
