Mother’s Day is quickly approaching (Sunday, May 11th) and we’ve got a bunch of inspiration for ways to treat the mother figure (or figures) in your life – whether they lean towards traditional types of pampering or have more unconventional tastes. We’ve brought it all together in a handy list of seven options currently on our radar. Just whatever you do, don’t forget to show “mom” some love!

Brunch

DACHI | Pacific Northwest-inspired restaurant Dachi (“Pal” in Japanese) strikes a balance between refined and relaxed, with all the warmth of a real neighbourhood spot. Reservations are now live for Dachi’s annual Mother’s Day Lunch with a three-course menu that showcases the best of Spring. They’ll also be pouring sparkling rosé and have a few special cocktails for the day. You can even add a fresh bunch of flowers to your reservation, ready to be placed on the table when you arrive. Space is limited, so reserve your spot now through Tock. Brunch here will not be a lame “Sorry Mom, I didn’t bother thinking about where to take you” affair, this is more of a “Mom, you’re cooler than just any old brunch” reservation, and she’ll appreciate that. DETAILS

THE ACORN | The Acorn is honouring Mother’s Day with special multi-course brunch menus available on both Saturday, May 10th and Sunday the 11th. Served up family-style, each $65 ticket also includes a welcome cocktail (non-alcoholic option available), as well as coffee or tea. Brunch at the Acorn is always a good thing; but as this one is timed with the peak of Springtime and its explosion of abundant farmed and foraged ingredients, you know that it will be all that much better. Positive, community vibes will abound, along with inventive, flavourful plant-based dishes. Bonus: If you act quickly, you can opt to add on a floral bouquet from Valley Buds Flower Farm (Mother’s Day Brunch reservation is required). Do that here. DETAILS

Flowers

CSA | As Valley Buds, real life human “buds” Alana Paterson and Michelle Pezel grow some really great veg on their “unconventional 2 acre plot” in the Squamish Valley, which you should definitely get your hands on. However, for the purpose of this list we can’t not mention that they also have some serious flower game. Hook up mom with a consistent, weekly or bi-weekly colourful reminder of your appreciation for them, by choosing one of two currently available CSA Flower Shares: the 6-week-long “Breezy Bloomer” ($175; late-July to early-September); or the 12-week-long weekly “Full Bloomer” ($345; mid-July to end-of-September). DETAILS

WORKSHOP | Is your mom more of a hands-on type? Then how about signing them up for one of four available Floral Arranging Workshops hosted by Athiana Acres in Richmond this Mother’s Day weekend? Specially timed to coincide with the holiday, each 90-minute-long session will lead participants through the creation of their own arrangement using blooms fresh from Athiana’s garden to take home (vase included). Even better, the instructor will be passing along advice on how to make your own at-home flower garden blossom, should mom have the desire to further nurture their green thumb. No experience required. Treats (from Butter Baked Goods) also included. Workshops take place from 10-11:30am or 1-2:30pm  on Sunday the 11th or 10-11:30am on Saturday, May 10th (the 1pm time slot is already sold out) and are $160 per person. Sounds like a pretty idyllic way to spend some time on a sunny morning or afternoon! (And an excellent way to put in some quality time together, if you can swing spots for mom and yourself, of course.) DETAILS

Dinner

TASTE SOUND | If your mom is the adventurous food-loving sort, then this should be right up their alley: The next in Burdock & Co’s ‘Taste Sound’ series of dinners with musician/biologist, Tarun Nayar, is happening on Thursday, May 22nd. If this is your first time hearing about Taste Sound, here’s the rundown: Through custom-designed equipment, Nayar translates the bioelectric activity of fruits and vegetables into sound, allowing diners to literally listen to their plates. Guests wear “silent disco” style headphones during a portion of the meal, and are encouraged to experiment by playing with their food in small science-based interactions to tease out new sounds. Nayar also performs a live score using raw ingredients, adding another dimension to the experience. Tickets to this month’s ‘Resin’ themed four-course meal are $200 each (plus tax and grats) – no small investment, but a cost we think is well justified by the exceptional ingredients on your plate, manipulated by one of the city’s best chefs (Andrea Carlson), plus the (priceless) memorable experience and remarkable story to tell that’s attached to the price tag. DETAILS

SELF CARE

SUNJA LINK | Maybe mom is the type who always ends up at the bottom of her own priority list? You know, the kind of person who will bend over backward making sure you’re feeling your best, but can’t justify spending a bit of time and/or money treating themselves… Don’t give them the option. Hook them up with some “forced” relaxation and rejuvenation with an appointment at Sunja Link’s Main Street spa. (Even if you can’t squeak in a last-minute appointment for the “official” day, we doubt that’ll matter.) Non-intimidating, low-key, welcoming vibes, and lots of options – from facials and massages, to eyebrow and lash treatments, microneedling and waxing. Plus gift cards and a highly discerning and well-stocked apothecary and boutique tthat includes the house brand (highly recommend). DETAILS

SALVE | Slice of Life is hosting Invasive Art Initiative for a Lemon Balm Salve and Invasive Tea making workshop ($15 per person) on Sunday that sounds like a rewarding experience on several levels. Sign up mom to spend an engaging, educational, and social couple of hours learning how to transform a common “weed” into a tin of skin-saving balm to take home and enjoy. The workshop winds down with some locally harvested tea made from invasive plants, to be sipped on over an in-depth discussion of the histories and stories behind the largely overlooked and mis-labelled plants. Of note: This is a Sunday morning deal (10:30am-12:30pm), so if mom isn’t an early riser, then this probably isn’t the right gift. But if they are, then it’s the perfect preface to a late brunch meetup on The Drive! DETAILS