Mother’s Day Guide: Five Things To Do For Mama’s Annual Sunday Funday
Mama’s play a lot of roles. She’s your baby’s bestie and your lifetime ride or die. There are days she doesn’t even think about herself for one second, and for good reason. But let’s make sure Sunday isn’t one of those days. Plan something extra, make her feel special, and have a little party in her honor because Mother’s Day should always be boozy, brunch filled, and over flowing with love (and presents, wink wink). Here are five ways to make more out of Mamas annual Sunday Funday.
The Bronx Garden Party and Italian Mother’s Day Brunch
Garden party, a bronx brunch, and a killer glass art exhibition are the perfect way to spend the afternoon with mom. The Spring is the best time to explore the New York Botanical Garden with the fam because the beautiful flowers and nature conservatory are in full bloom. But if thats not enough to make the trip to the Bronx, the psychedelic glass artist Dave Chihuly has a overtaken the place (for a limited time) with an Alice in Wonderland-esque nature meets art experience throughout the gardens. After exploring the grounds, head to Bronx’s Little Italy, Arthur Avenue, for some of the city’s best old school Italian food. Check out Zero Otto Nove for brunch and then walk the Avenue for some market shopping for the best authentic Italian delicacies in the city, namely anything made of cheese, cured meats or pork.
Uptown Mornings at the Met Museum and Bubbly Brunch
Grab a cab and head to the upper east side for a fancy afternoon filled with a little culture, belinis, and brunch. First top, The Met Museum’s latest rooftop installation, a large scale, modern sculpture from a young Argentinian artist, Adrián Villar Rojas. Taking The Met’s most social of spaces, Rojas has created an intricate sculpture of a big debauchery filled dinner party (hello, sign me up!) made up of modern human figures interwoven with old world artifacts and art pieces, which are actually based off of the Met’s own collection. The eerily real sculptures of the people combined with 3D replications of famous relics from across the world make this a major conversation piece and a truly unique art viewing experience. Now that you got your culture on you deserve some bubbly. Head to any of my favorite uptown brunch spots for a lady who lunches kind of afternoon or evening: Sant Ambroeus , Serafina Upper East Side, The Mark Restaurant by Jean George, Cafe Boulud at the Surrey Hotel, and Amali.
Downtown Day at the Spa and Cobblestone Street Brunching
Greenwich Hotel and the surrounding small area of Tribeca is an under the radar oasis for a chill Sunday funday. Treat mom to one of the best massages in Manhattan at The Shibui Spa where you can spend some QT post services by their pool and other tranquil facilities. Then head directly across the lobby for a brunch spread at Locanda Verde or around the corner to one of my fav spots Smith and Mills and Two Hands. Following, with a full belly, shop some of the best boutique furniture, design, and clothing stores in town, like Consort Design, La Garçonne, and Edon Manor.
Movie and a Brunch Date with Mommie
For the film buff mom or the family looking to do something a little out of the box this Sunday, Williamsburg’s NiteHawk Cinema has a movie and brunch pairing of the classic film Mommie Dearest. This Brooklyn theater is one of the best places to catch a screening of a new film, classic flick, or documentary, enjoyed with a {brunch} cocktail in hand and great food. You’ll leave feeling pretty #blessed you aren’t Joan Crawford’s daughter and a little bit tipsy. Double #blessed. Keep the party going with an afternoon spritzer at The William Vale Hotel‘s rooftop bar Westlight.
A Chill Time Downtown, on the Lower East Side
Let’s all come to terms with it: the Lower East Side has some of the best restaurants, bakeries, and tons of super cute clothing, jewelry, and design shops. Despite the over flow of bars and “children” day drinking and night drinking, this area of lower Manhattan is gritty, full of street art meets fine art, and makes us feel like a younger, cooler version of ourselves. For this mother’s day, enter Chill House, the new modern day spa, salon, and cafe that is the perfect place to bring mom for an afternoon of relaxation and pampering. Not only is this new spot downtown cool and well, chill, it’s on the more economical side of spas. Which will make brunch and post brunch shopping that much better on the bank. For my favorite mom approved brunch spots nearby, check out: De Maria, Dirt Candy, Hotel Chantelle, and Russ and Daughter’s Cafe.
Looking for something else to do on Mother’s Day? Check out The Restaurant Rolodex.
Main Image Credit: Natasha Poly by Mario Testino for Vogue Paris 2014