Celebrate Mom With a New Adventure!

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Mother’s Day is on May 12th!! It is time to honor your Mama, Wife, Grandma, Close Female Friend, etc.

Stumped on just how to do that?  Since this is an activities-based blog and I love being active (in the exploring sense, NOT in the gym sense), I thought I would offer a few cool ways you can celebrate Mama this year by taking her on a new little adventure.

GO ON AN ALTERNATIVE SPA DATE

Many women love massages and facials, but those types of spa services are overdone, “same old” Mother's Day gift ideas. This year, give your Mom a spa alternative she won’t soon forget.

Did you know that Himalayan pink salt has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties? Mama will be both relaxed and rejuvenated when she tries a session inside the Salt Cave of Darien. For 45 minutes, she can tune out the world around her and relax in a cave like environment of dry salt.  And through Mother’s Day, the Darien Salt Cave is offering a special  - just $50 for 2 gift cards!

Got no one to babysit the kids? No problem!  For $35, bring your child (aged 6 months to 12 years) along for a Children’s Session at the Darien Salt Cave. These sessions include adorable toys for the kiddies to play with in the sand while Mom relaxes.

If you’re not near CT, try a location of the Montauk Salt Cave in Montauk or Huntington, Long Island or in downtown Manhattan.

If  Mom prefers the bright outdoors to dark caves, then take her on a day trip to Sojo Spa Club in Edgewater, NJ. This adults only, smoke-free, alcohol-free and shoe-free (!) Korean-inspired hydrotherapy spa boasts a year-round heated rooftop infinity pool with incredible views of the Manhattan skyline, plus a dozen other outdoor pools and baths. I’m hoping my Mother’s Day includes a visit (wink, wink).

GIVE MOM THE GIFT OF ROOFTOP TIKI

Tiki drinks are synonymous with happiness and most people, particularly females, cannot resist their sweet, refreshing, celebratory charm. So take your Mama for tiki drinks on a Manhattan rooftop!!

The Polynesian is a swanky tiki bar that opened last summer in the Pod Times Square Hotel.  There is a large, deep blue “dining room” and beautiful matching bar with bar seating indoors, and outside the dining room lies a large open air patio.

The drink menu at The Polynesian was conceived by tiki guru, self-described pirate and head cocktailier, Brian Miller. Besides the traditional cocktail section, there are non-alcoholic drinks and frozen drinks, a section called “XXX” drinks that feature more alcohol than the typical 2 oz pour, and a section of large format drinks for group sharing.  The Polynesian also offers bar snacks like Curry Chicken Wings and Coconut Shrimp to soak up the booze, as well as a large format Pu Pu Platter.

Or on the east side of Manhattan, consider taking Mom to Broken Shaker at the Freehand Hotel, a NYC outpost of the popular Miami original‍ cocktail bar,  promising a “rooftop oasis with sweeping views of the city” offering “the perfect blend of elixirs, syrups and infusions paired with fragrant herbs, fresh-pressed juices and exotic ingredients from around the world.” While the Concrete Jungle may not be as tropical as the 305, the drinks at Broken Shaker come with some real cocktail cred and I know I’d be psyched to spend my Mother’s Day sampling them.

SEE SOME ART BY WOMEN OR ABOUT WOMEN

The art scene in New York City is off-the-charts good. And a great way to celebrate Mom this year is to together see some art made by or about females in NYC.

Any Mom would love spending time with the colorful baby bears of  We Are the Baby Gang by Italian artist, Paola Pivi, currently on view on Orchard Street at Perrotin through June 8th (Gallery is open 10am - 6pm Tuesdays through Saturdays).  

You can also bring Mom to the rooftop of the Met, where Polish sculptor Alicja Kwade has created a miniature solar system called Parapivot atop the Met’s Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden.

If Mom is an early-bird, then show up first thing in the morning to the Brooklyn Museum to try to snag a ticket to the sold out run of Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving. This high profile exhibit closes on Mother’s Day. 

Or how about you and Mom contemplate Andy Warhol’s relationship with the female subject at Warhol Women, a collection of the famous painter’s works of women, on view through June 15 at Levy Gorvy gallery at 909 Madison Avenue (Gallery is open 10am - 6pm  Tuesdays through Saturdays).

HAVE A special SEAFOOD MEAL TOGETHER WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK

While Father's Day is often associated with backyard BBQs, there is no clear food of Mother’s Day.  Since Mom’s  Day arrives just as the weather is finally warming and sunlight hours are finally expanding, I think of seafood when I think of Mom’s Day.

On a beautiful spring day, there is nothing better than simple grilled fish dishes, raw bar and a glass of white wine. But fish restaurants can often be very pricey, charging over $40 for just piece of fish. Here  are a few quaint and tasty seafood spots you can share with Mom without breaking the bank.

My favorite local restaurant, The Whelk, in Westport, CT, is an absolute star in Fairfield County dining and in the genre of seafood restaurants, generally. Mom will love sampling a bunch of innovated seafood focused small plates, paired with an excellent cocktail program at the Whelk. You can read all about my love for the Whelk in my earlier blog post.

On the western side of Westchester, grab some fresh oysters and other seafood delights at causal but hip, Bread and Brine in Hastings on Hudson.

Or in Manhattan, The Clam in the West Village is an adorable and delicious neighborhood cafe. Don’t miss their Clam Dip with zesty potato chips or the Spaghetti and Clam Pasta. Mom will be so happy to spend the day with you in any of these spots.

Happy Mother’s Day!