How to wow on Mother’s Day

You want Mother’s Day to be perfect, but breakfast in bed and a basket of scented soaps (enough already!) just don’t have the same appeal year after year. Not to worry: we’ve planned a unique day for every kind of mom — including a guaranteed-to-impress event, a memorable experience she can share with the family and, of course, a meal she doesn’t have to prepare (for a change)!
 

Artsy mom

From painting on weekends to taking in an interpretive dance performance, she’s crafty and creative with an eye for beauty.

Event: The Real World? takes a look at the art behind theatre. The question of whether playwrights should “write what they know” is analyzed through a one-act play about art, autobiography and family. Tickets start at $21 for a 2:30 p.m. show at the Tarragon Theatre.
Experience: Get creative at the Glaze Craze. The studio has lots of pottery to paint, along with glass fusing, fabric painting and mosaic art.
Dining: Terra Restaurant’s textured walls, house wine bottles, fresco-like paintings and stained glass set the mood. Aesthetically pleasing plates of miso- and maple-glazed black cod or a juicy steak on the Sunday‘licious’ menu make it an easy choice for the mom who loves beautiful things.

Soccer mom

Whether she’s going for a run, teaching the little ones to catch a ball or cheering louder than anyone else on the sidelines, the soccer mom is always on the move.

Event: Bring It On: The Musical has elements of competition and impressive athletic choreography. On at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Ed Mirvish Theatre. Tickets start at $45.
Experience: Pack up a soccer ball and a Frisbee and head out to an outdoor space, such as Eglinton Park, where Mom can be the sports star.
Dining: WEGZ Stadium Bar in Vaughan boasts games, interactive activities and off-track betting. The menu has roasted wings and build-your-own pizzas and burgers.

Kid-inside mom

This mommy never gets tired of playing with the kids; she truly enjoys getting dirty, stuffing her face with candy and watching Disney movies.

Event: Through puppetry, masks and percussion comes a West African–inspired story about an ancient baobab tree that gives birth to a little boy who goes on a quest to bring water to his village. The Young People’s Theatre has two showings on Sunday, at 11 a.m. (pay what you can) and 2 p.m. ($15-$20).
Experience: Indulge her sweet tooth with a Tasty Tours walking tour in Kensington Market. Every Sunday, groups are introduced to bakeries, chocolatiers and more.
Dining: Uncle Betty’s offers comfort food for the youngster inside each of us. Their ultimate grilled cheese comes with mac ’n’ cheese, meat loaf or pulled pork and garlic aïoli.

Daredevil mom

With endless energy brewing within, she’s an adrenaline junkie who loves to take risks.

Event: Watch the National Chinese Acrobats perform heart-stopping acts while serenaded by the Kitchener-Waterloo symphony on Saturday. Mom will be on the edge of her seat at the Sony Centre. Tickets start at $38.
Experience: Go on an indoor rock climbing adventure at True North Climbing, with lots of wall space and bouldering.
Dining: Take her to Amaya Indian Room and order the tasting menu. Tell the server to keep the lineup a secret and let her enjoy the surprise of every rich flavour on the table.
 

A scene from the Canadian Opera Company's Semele
The Canadian Opera Company's Semele

Finer-things mom

An old soul, but never a snob, she can tell the difference between great and top-notch.

Event: The COC’s performance of Handel’s Semele is a Greek myth fused with a contemporary story of a Chinese love triangle. From $45.
Experience: Head to the Bata Shoe Museum and let her soak up the endless number of wearable art no woman can resist: shoes. The little ones (aged three to nine) can partake in weekend family fun, including treasure hunts and dress-up.
Dining: Where else would you take a lady who appreciates quality? Mom will love the skyline view from one of Scaramouche’s highly coveted window tables. (It’s Joanne Kates’ top-ranked restaurant!)

Eco mom

Whether cooking an organic meal or trying to get a solar panel on the roof, this mom is always doing things to make the earth a little happier.

Event: Take her to the Make Mom Proud! cooking class at Great Cooks on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.. The school uses local, organic ingredients and sells products in eco-friendly packaging. Cost is $110 per person.
Experience: Grab your bikes and go for a ride on the Kay Gardner Beltline Trail where you can watch spring bud and blossom.
Dining: Cafe Belong at the Evergreen Brick Works serves up local, sustainable, organic grub. She’ll be star-struck by chef and owner Brad Long, who is also a TV personality on the Food Network.

Rocker-chic mom

A lover of music and the occasional crazy night out, this mama likes to let her hair down once in a while.

Event: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes rock out at the Kool Haus. Tickets start at $29.50 before fees. Doors open at 8 p.m.
Experience: Pull out the guitar and have a singalong with the family in an inspiring location, such as Edwards Gardens.
Dining: Every Sunday, Bier Markt has Rock und Roll Brunch with local musicians. Start off the day right at the newest Shops at Don Mills location.

Nerdy mom

Always one to help the kids with their homework, she’s a science buff who chooses comic books over fashion mags and may even own a superhero T-shirt.

Event: The Avengers is out and making it big at the box office. Take her to the movie that brings together superheroes from five previous Marvel Comics movies — in 3-D.
Experience: The ROM is temporarily housing 30 specimens from Vesta, the second-largest asteroid in our solar system. The exhibit celebrates NASA’s first major mission to study asteroids in detail.
Dining: Unwind for lunch in the Lee-Chin crystal of the ROM at c5. Celeb chef Corbin Tomaszeski serves amped-up classics, such as a lobster BLT salad and truffle potato chips.
 

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