The daily digest of Twin Cities culture | Secrets of the City

Flowers by Bastian + Skoog

Mother's Day is by far the most sentimental of all Hallmark holidays! Even if you're not the mushy kind, we suggest you dig deep and find your inner sap -- if you want to avoid getting slapped, that is. After all, it's the least you can do for the woman who cleaned up after you for 18 (or more) years. This Mother's Day, take the thoughtful route, and give your mom the ultimate gift - a bit of your time. Whether your mom is traditional or unconventional, we're bound to have an idea that will suit her taste, and your budget!

 

 

 

GIFTS

No time to do the hand-made thing? No worries. Mom will still love you, especially if you shop at one of the following local specialty stores!

Frank Stone Gallery

1224 Second Street NE
Minneapolis
612-617-9965

Peruse a unique selection of jewelry, pottery,  glass, furniture, prints, and original art at this Northeast staple. 

MN Center for Book Arts

1011 Washington Avenue S.
Minneapolis
612-215-2520

Mom will love any gift from this charming little shop in the wonderful Open Book space, also home to the Loft Literary Center. Beautiful paper, handmade journals, and unique card designs, not to mention a cool selection of art books, will give you plenty of options.

Patina

Various Locations
Twin Cities

A wonderful and colorful selection of funky jewelry, ornaments, handbags and other gift assortments. Visit their website to find a location closest to you.  

Max's

3831 Grand Way
St. Louis Park
952-922-8364

Top-notch quality contemporary jewelry, world class chocolates, and home art galore. One stop in this lovely gift shop and you'll definitely become a regular customer, if just for the chocolate.

TC Green

2405 Hennepin Avenue S.
Uptown Minneapolis
612-374-4581

For the "Earth Mother" on your list, pop into the new eco-inspired shop, TC Green, and pick up something hippy chic. Just forego the patchouli oil, please. 

The Electric Fetus

2000 4th Avenue S
Minneapolis
(612) 870-9300

Moms are interested in other things besides cooking and doing your laundry, it's true! They probably like music too. Head to legendary Minneapolis record shop, The Electric Fetus, and pick something up to suit her tastes. Not sure what she likes? We hear Barbara Streisand just came out with a new concert DVD.

Books Make the Heart Grow Fonder

Magers and Quinn

3038 Hennepin Ave.
Minneapolis
612-822-4611

This indie bookstore carries discounted new and used books from bestsellers to the obscure and out of print. The best place in the Twin Cities to pick up an unusual literary gift for your mammy!

U of M Bookstore

Coffman Union
300 Washington Avenue S.
Dinkytown

Mom may not need any college text books, but the U of M Bookstore also carries loads of other cool books that will be right up her alley. Check their website for awesome author events that Mom may enjoy this month. And when you escort her there, stop in at the Regis Center for the Arts across the river to peep the latest exhibition!

Common Good Books

165 Western Ave. N
Saint Paul
651-225-8989

This neighborhood bookstore located in the historic Cathedral Hill area of Saint Paul offers everything from classic American literature to "quality trash." And we can't argue with that.

 
Bloomin' Gorgeous

When's the last time your mom received flowers? Last Mother's Day? Go the tried and true route with a large, creative arrangement, a healthy new indoor plant, or a delicate orchid!

Bastian + Skoog

310 N. 2nd Street
Minneapolis
(open by appointment)
612-333-6450

We've never seen prettier! Floral darlings Liz Bastian and Heidi Skoog have magic paws when it comes to artfully arranging flowers. Their warehouse district studio will be doing custom orders for delivery through Saturday (arrangements start at $50) and their super fancy Mother's Day edition hand-tied bouquets will be available at Surdyk's Cheese Shop as well ($15-$35).

Roger Beck Florist

1100 East Franklin Avenue
Minneapolis
612-871-7080

This Franklin Avenue flower mecca has saved our butts more than once. Pop in and the helpful staff will help you hand-select freshly cut stems and greenery to create a beautiful bouquet -- with your own personal touch! A trip to the Franklin Street Bakery, just across the street, will also prove fruitful with decadent pastries galore! (Moms love chocolate last time we checked).

Art From the Heart

Forget useful right now. Think serendipity, frivolity, and personal. And if nothing strikes your fancy, let's face it, your mom is a sucker for handmade gifts. Remember the hype surrounding anything plaster and fingerprint related? Pull out your artsy gloves and design your own gift for mom! You don't need to create an oil painted masterpiece or spend a lot of money to impress. If you're not artistically inclined, here are few fun ideas that Mom will love:

- Dig up a childhood art project and frame it -- Moms love being reminded of your pre-out-of-control-teen days.

- Create and frame a photo collage using family pics, but it's probably wise to scan and re-print old photos; the last thing you want is to be nagged all day for putting glue on the back of your baby pictures. A trip to your local scrapbooking store will give you tons of ideas to cute-up your collage!

- If all else fails, an ironic, autographed picture of yourself may or may not do the trick, depending on your current relationship with Mom!

Framing shops we like:
Hang it Inc.
Icebox Framing
FrameWorks

     
Do-It-Yourself Brunch!

Why not capture mom's heart with a homemade brunch? You can finally reassure her that you in fact know how to cook. One of our favorite things to do is a "Trilogy Brunch." What is a trilogy brunch, you ask? Well, it's brunch, along with a trilogy of bad movies perfectly suited to laze about watching all day. Now, while Mom might not be down with seeing all three "House Party" movies, or even the Star Wars trilogy (strange, but probably true), you can still find some sort of "trilogy" that she will dig. Maybe three classic musicals, or three Marilyn Monroe flicks...perhaps the "Lonesome Dove" mini series -- our mom LOVES that one!

Preparing brunch is not really as complicated as it sounds. If you've got brothers and sisters you can pool your collective culinary talents and pre-make a lot if it. Here are some of our own favorite -- and easy -- brunch recipes!

Honey-Cinnamon-Lime Fruit Salad

Cut up:

Green Grapes
Strawberries
Honey Dew Melon
Cantaloupe
Kiwi
(and anything else you like)

combine a few tablespoons of honey, juice squeezed from one small lime, and a few shakes of cinnamon. Toss with the fruit in a large bowl. Viola!

Heart Attack Potatoes

Delicious, totally trashy, and 100% un-nutritious!

Combine in a large bowl:

Two packs of frozen (thawed) hashbrowns
1 can of Cheese soup
1 container of Sour Cream
half a stick of melted butter
2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese

Put in large casserole dish, cover and bake at 350 for about 45 minutes.

For the topping:

Crush up three cups of corn flakes and toss with half a stick of melted butter to coat. Uncover potatoes and distribute flakes evenly over the dish, return to oven until flakes are toasty and brown. Serve hot, and worry about the calories tomorrow.

Mimosas!

We like to take a fancy spin on Mimosas, because we love to drink.

2 parts champagne
1 part orange-pineapple juice
splash of Chambord

Serve chilled in a champagne flute, or an "I Heart Mom" mug.

 
Brunch the Town Red

Ok, you're too lazy to cook, we get it. Lucky for you, the Twin Cities will be bustling with tons of delicious Mother's Day Brunch extravaganzas! Be sure to make reservations, as Mom's Day is synonymous with Brunch.

French Meadow Bakery

2610 Lyndale Ave S.
Minneapolis
612-870-7855

This organic cafe is always a hot spot on Mother's Day. Your mother will love the décor and the tasty all-natural bakery items.  

Cue at the Guthrie

818 S. 2nd St.
Minneapolis
612-377-2224

The sleek restaurant inside the new Guthrie will be serving a Mother's Day Brunch menu 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and specializes in local and sustainable dining. 

Chambers Kitchen

901 Hennepin Ave.
Minneapolis
612-767-6978

The Asian fusion restaurant located within the luxury-art-hotel is offering a complimentary mimosa or glass of champagne with brunch for all mothers today. 

Birchwood Cafe

3311 E. 25th St.
Minneapolis
612-722-4474

Known as one of the best vegetarian-friendly restaurants around, Birchwood offers fresh, organic and local ingredients for a tasty bunch.
 

Ecopolitian

2406 Lyndale Ave. S.
Minneapolis
612-874-7336

Completely organic, raw and vegan restaurant and ecological shop always has a delicious lunch menu and yummy smoothies. 

20.21 Restaurant

Walker Art center
1750 Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis

Enjoy Chef Asher Miller's brunch buffet with a free champagne cocktail!

Afton House Inn

3291 St. Croix Trail S.
Afton, Minnesota
651-436-8883

A fabulous Sunday gourmet brunch buffet 9am-5pm at the beautiful Afton House Inn.

For an extensive list of additional brunch spots and Mother's Day Specials, visit OPEN TABLE.
    

OUT & ABOUT

You may have forgotten in the midst of your demanding schedule, but mom leads a pretty entertaining life as well. Take a moment to catch up on each other lives while communing with nature -- and maybe even sharing a picnic!

Como Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory

1225 Estabrook Drive
St. Paul
651-487-8200

Free, donations welcome

10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary

Theodore Wirth Parkway and Glenwood Ave.
Minneapolis
612-370-4903

7:30 a.m. - half an hour before sunset Monday-Sunday

Minnehaha Park

4801 S. Minnehaha Park Dr.
Minneapolis
612-230-6400

6 a.m. - 10 p.m.
 

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

3675 Arboretum Drive
Chaska, MN
952-443-1400 

Browse the Arboretum Auxiliary Spring Plant Sale on Saturday, May 9th and Sunday, May 10th, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Margot Picnic Shelter. A must-see sale featuring hard-to-find plants and ornamental grasses.