â– Sporty—It’s an Olympic year, and if your mom—who trained for years by chasing you around—can sprint like Usain Bolt, consider the new Olympics-inspired exhibition at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Connecticut (203-869-0376; brucemuseum.org). Opening May 12, The Olympic Games: Art, Culture, and Sport—which takes up a whopping 2,500 square feet of exhibition space—looks at both the ancient and modern games.
â– Groovy—Your mom was with it in the ’60s, but did she prefer the Beatles or the Stones? No matter. On May 12, the Fab Faux will perform Beatles hits at the Paramount Center in Peekskill (914-739-2333; paramountcenter.org), while Satisfaction will take on the music of the Rolling Stones at Westchester Community College (914-606-6262; sunywcc.edu). Afterward, take her to Brother’s Fish ‘n’ Chips in Ossining (914-488-5141; brothersfishnchips.com) to complete the British Invasion theme.
â– Eco-Friendly—So your mom has a green thumb? Take her to the two-day plant sale at Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining (914-762-2912; teatown.org) on May 11 and May 12. Planting season starts around Mother’s Day, after all.
â– Springy—If your mom blossoms when the sun shines, on May 13, take her to Pinkster, a celebration of spring at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow (914-631-8200; hudsonvalley.org). Pinkster takes its inspiration from colonial, traditionally African American festivals, and it includes drumming and traditional dance, African folktales, and, of course, music, dancing, and food—but still no brunch in sight.
â– A Foodie—You can take your mom out for fine dining any night, but how often do you get to treat her to a historic, period meal? On May 12, take Mom to the St. Paul’s Church Historic Dinner in Mount Vernon (914-667-4116; nps.gov/sapa). The theme of the evening is 1912, so expect hearty American cooking in the style of your great-grandmother. As a bonus, Duane Tananbaum, professor of history at Lehman College, gives a lecture about the landmark presidential election of 1912.
â– A Newbie—If this is an inaugural Mother’s Day, the new mom in your life might be uniquely positioned to appreciate “Writing Birth,” a reading sponsored by the Hudson Valley Writers’ Center and Slapering Hol Press (914-332-5953; writerscenter.org). Poet Rachel Zucker (Home/Birth: A Poemic), Kristin Kovacic (Birth: A Literary Companion), and Australian poet Laura Jan Shore read poems and stories about the personal and political implications of giving birth.
Creative Ways to Celebrate Mother's Day in Westchester
Instead of taking your mom out for brunch on Mother’s Day, try one of these less traditional—but more exciting—events for every type of mom.
