Last-Minute Mother’s Day Ideas

Your mother deserves more than a phone call and a picture frame made of Popsicle sticks on Mother’s Day. A card and flowers are a nice start. But there are also some mom-friendly gifts and activities to consider this weekend.

For the crafty mother: The first day of the Ballston Arts & Crafts Market (in Welburn Square, between N. 9th and N. Stuart Streets) is on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Expect plenty of delightful, handmade gifts that will impress your mother much more than anything YOU could have put together at the last minute.

For the musical mother: The Opera Guild of Northern Virginia is holding a benefit concert for the children of Haiti from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday at the NRECA Building (4301 Wilson Blvd).  The music will range from arias to swing and there will also be an art sale — a great opportunity to show that your mother raised a charitable, thoughtful son or daughter.

For the hungry mother: The Sunday brunch at Eatbar (2761 Washington Blvd), featuring popular G-rated movies on the restaurant’s big screen, is a local family favorite. Instead of breakfast in bed (so clichéd), mom can be watching The Incredibles, eating some eggs Benedict, and drinking mimosas as you reminisce about your childhood.

For the green thumb mother: Don’t want to buy flowers? Crystal City is holding its very intensely-named “Floral Frenzy Bulb Blitz” on Friday. From 9:00 and 11:00 a.m., the fine folks at Crystal City BID will provide you with a trowel so you can dig up tulip bulbs from the area between the 2100 and 2200 blocks of Crystal Drive. Several thousand bulbs must be removed to make way for new landscaping. Why not take ’em home and plant them around mom’s house?

For the outdoorsy mother: Sunday is supposed to be sunny and gorgeous.  Take your mother out for a picnic or a walk at one of Arlington’s many parks. It’s not just a great opportunity to spend quality time with your mother, it’s also FREE.

For the really, really last-minute gift: Modern Companies, which owns a day spa and a number of local nail salons, is holding a contest for Mother’s Day. Anyone who follows Modern Companies on Twitter or Facebook over the next four days could win a $100 manicure/spa gift card.  The only downside is that you find out whether you win the gift card ON Mother’s Day.  (We suggest a backup gift, just to be on the safe side.)

Photo by Dr. Case.