Mother’s Day has a way of sneaking up on us, even though it’s been an official United States national holiday since 1914.
Moms spend so much time taking care of us that sometimes we forget to take care of them. If this year's holiday has sneaked up on you, don't worry. There’s still time to treat your mom to some fun in the Springfield area over the Mother's Day weekend, and all of them support locally-owned small businesses.
From brunch to cheesemaking, and from shopping to strawberry picking, here are five ways to treat your mom this Mother’s Day. Some of them are on Sunday, others are on Saturday, so make sure you check the dates before you put Mom in the car and go!
Mother’s Day Brunch at Metro Eats
Metro Eats, a food park at 2463 W. Sunshine St., will help you treat your mom to food, drinks and shopping in one location on Mother’s Day, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Stusquatch’s Rockstar BBQ, Breakfast & Bakery will be serving up its regular brunch fare as well as some special Mother’s Day items, including several variations of eggs Benedict. Owner Stu Aldridge said this will be the first time his mother and father have come to town since Stusquatch’s Metro Eats shop had its grand opening last month, so he wanted to do something extra special.
Where House Bar is the place to go for bottomless mimosas and a bloody mary bar, and there will be other food vendors as well, including El Salvador Pupuseria Y Mas.
Grow For Good 417 and Illumine Collect will have their joint store open, with a chance to make your own air plant fridge magnet. Moms can also make their own jewelry with KascadingS Flourishes.
Ace High Permanent Jewelry and All Things Girlie will also be on-site at Metro Eats.
Home Cheesemaking Class at Pickwick & Cherry
Does Mom love to create in the kitchen? Here’s a chance for her to learn a delicious new skill: cheesemaking.
Pickwick & Cherry Fine Foods & Gourmet Gifts presents its Home Cheesemaking Class May 14 from 1-4 p.m. It’s taught by professional cheesemaker Ryan Mihalik, who grew up in the Rountree neighborhood.
A $64 ticket gets Mom hands-on instructions on how to make fresh ricotta, the simplest of cheeses, and fromage blanc, a rich and creamy spreadable cheese. She’ll also learn the 30-minute mozzarella technique, the most involved of the three kinds of cheese taught in this class. The class includes a discussion on where to get the limited amount of equipment and ingredients needed to make cheese at home.
Mihalik has worked at dairies across the United States, Europe and Australia. He made cheese at home for several years before deciding to pursue it as a full-time career. He most recently spent five years as the head cheesemaker at a sheep dairy in California, producing hard and soft cheese, yogurt and other fermented dairy products for farmers markets across the Bay Area.
A very limited number of tickets is available, so book this class sooner rather than later. Can’t get to the cheesemaking? Gift certificates are available for future classes, and Cherry & Pickwick will have chocolate-dipped strawberries and Mother’s Day cookies available all weekend.
Mother’s Day Republic Road Crawl
Support local small businesses — and maybe win a fabulous prize — at the Mother’s Day Republic Road Crawl 10 a.m.-3 pm. May 13. Four businesses are participating, all located on Republic Road between Kansas Expressway and Fremont:
Here’s how it works: stop by one of the businesses and pick up a punch card. Get your card stamped at all four establishments and you’ll be entered into a giveaway, no purchase necessary. Each store will have its own giveaway, so you’ll have four chances to win.
Strawberry picking at Gardener’s Orchard and Bakery
Spend some time in the fresh spring air and scoop up some delicious berries at Gardener’s Orchard and Bakery, about 17 miles north of Springfield in Brighton.
You can pick your own berries — $13 for a 3-pound box or $21 for a 5-pound box — from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 13. There will also be fun activities for the whole family, including a petting zoo, hay ride and obstacle course. The bakery will be serving up pizza as well as several strawberry-themed treats, like donuts, lemonade, slushies and even kettle corn.
Admission to Gardener’s Orchard and Bakery is $7.95 per person, with a special $5 price for seniors and members of the military. Kids ages 2 and under are free.
The Mom Walk Collective’s Mother’s Day Event at 4 By 4 Galloway
Check out local vendors and enjoy delicious brews at The Mom Walk Collective’s Mother’s Day Event at 4 by 4 Brewing in Galloway (2811 E. Galloway St., Suite A), from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. May 13.
Vendors at the event include:
- Ace High Permanent Jewelry
- Club Pilates
- Kendra Scott
- Lindquist Lane
- Mila.Captures Photography
- Nettie J’s
- Parents Co-Op
- The Simple Crumb
There will be raffles during the event, with brunch snack items provided and alcohol available for purchase. The event is free, though space is limited. Guests are asked to register themselves and whoever they might be bringing with them, kiddos included.
The Mom Walk Collective is new to the Springfield area. It helps mothers connect with each other through regular coffee dates and walks. You can learn more about Springfield’s chapter on Instagram.
