We know you love your mother. We could tell way before we saw the tattoo.
But organizing an outing or a special event in this city isn’t always easy; between the multitude of alternatives and the swarms of people looking to make the same magic, Mother’s Day can be tricky business.
So here are a few thoughts, ideas, venues, and business that may help you finalize your plans. If she asks us how you came up with the idea, don’t worry, we won’t rat you out. As they say, “Mum’s the word”.
Brunch
Super-creative, right? This is always the hot ticket on Mother’s Day Sunday so you’d better get on those reservations fast. Here are a few options to get the ideas and the mimosas flowing…
Some Classics
The Old Mill
10am – 1:30pm ($47.95, $24.95 for children)
Cafe Boulud (in the Four Seasons)
10:30am – 3:00pm ($70)
Casa Loma
3 seatings from late morning until late afternoon ($55, $35 for children)
Auberge du Pommier
11:10 – 2:15pm ($55)
Some Interesting Alternatives
Mother’s Day Brunch Cruise in Toronto Harbour
11:30am- 2:30pm ($48.95, $44.06 for seniors, $24.95 for children)
The Drake Hotel’s Mother’s Day Brunch
Mom-osas available as of 9:30am ($36)
A Personal Chef for the Evening
Photo Credit: Carrie MacPherson. Photo by Alexi Hobbs for The Globe and Mail
Enjoy each other’s company in the comfort of your own home and even learn a few things by having a chef come in and make you a private meal. In Toronto, you can check out services like The Chef Upstairs, Dining In Chez Vous, The Chef Alliance, and many others.
Painting & Drinking
Remember the time you brought home that terrible painting from Grade 2 art class and your mom put it up on the fridge and pretended it was a masterpiece? Ya, that’s because she was probably drunk. AND WASN’T IT A GLORIOUS BONDING EXPERIENCE??
These events are getting hot all around the city and for good reason. Grab your mom, some wine, a canvas, and some inspiration and whip up a work of family art. You can check out some available events on the PaintNite website.
A Chocolate Workshop
Fact: Mothers love chocolate more than their children. And can you blame them?
Tasty Tours is well known for their sweets tours through the Bellwoods and Kensington Market areas, but now they offer a workshop in which you can learn, taste, and then create; at the end, you and mom will have your very own hibiscus-infused chocolate truffles.
A Day-Trip
Moms spend enough time in the city. For a true change of pace, consider a change of scenery. There are some great spots just outside the city with refreshing nature and plenty of much-deserved relaxation. A few examples to consider…
Shizen Spa at Deerhurst Resort – Mother’s Day Spa Package
Scenic Caves in Collingwood – Caves, Suspension Bridge, Mini-Golf, etc.
Wineries of Niagara on the Lake – Tours, Tastings, Brunches & Dinners|
A Personal Shopper or Closet Concierge
Ok, this one might get a little pricey, but it sure would be fun to play dress-up with a high-end fashion professional. Check out places like The Bay at Yonge & Queen and Holt Renfrew for some of the city’s better personalized services. Or, for another angle, you could hire them a Closet Concierge to swoop in and provide everything from a re-organization of their storage space and styling tips to creation of a digital “lookbook” for their existing outfits.
There is no shortage of entertainment in Toronto right now and we have never met a mother who didn’t like either singing or horses, or both. Here are a few shows running now that may be of interest to mommy dearest…
Counting Crows (May 14th)
Last Night of Canadian Music Week
A Blue Jays Game (vs. Red Sox)
There’s just something about a baseball game that screams, “Family Fun” even more than it does, “You’re a f***in’ bum, Ortiz!”. So grab some tickets to the finale of the 3-game series and treat your mother to our city’s last hope in sports. The first 20,000 fans get a Josh Donaldson White Replica Jersey, and in the 200 level outfield, they’re setting up a “Mother’s Day Oasis”. We’re not sure what that is but it sounds lovely.
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