5 Gift Ideas for Mother's Day

Mother’s Day is this Sunday. You did remember, right? Well, don’t just sit there, make some plans. Don’t panic, there’s still time and we’re here to help.

We’ve done a little scouting around and found some promising Mother’s Day treats. You could go with tried-and-true Mother’s Day staples, or try starting a new tradition. Here are a few suggestions to try:

• A diamond. Is mom a sports fan? Take her out to the ballpark. The Akron Aeros play at 1 p.m. on Mother’s Day, and as an added bonus, the Aeros feature a Breast Cancer Awareness/Pink Visor Giveaway (to the first 1,000 ladies). Canal Park is a great place to spend an afternoon: Game tickets are reasonable ($5 for bleacher seats, $9 reserved seating adults, $8 kids and seniors) and the view is hard to beat.  

• A book or album. Or get both in one package: Never a Pal Like Mother. The Observer’s Very Short List says, “Never a Pal Like Mother is a gorgeous collection of vintage songs and wistful black-and-white photographs, all of which relate, in one way or another, to the state and subject of maternity. It’s also a pitch-perfect Mother’s Day present.” The book/album has 90-plus pages of photos and two CDs containing 40 songs. It includes a foreword by Rosanne Cash. You can order online (and save it for next year) or try a local bookstore. If  Never A Pal Like Mother isn’t available locally (it wasn’t earlier this week, but it’s a brand-new release), there are plenty of other good books and CDs at the bookstore. 

• Flowers. Mother’s Day is a good time to add some color to the patio, garden or porch. How about a hanging basket of flowers? Nurseries are full of flowering plants right now. It is May, after all. Marc’s has flowering baskets for $8.97 at its 2900 State Rd. location. There's also a Mother Day planter for $12.88, geraniums for $6.77 and fruit tree saplings for $9.99. 
 
• Chocolate. Chocolate is known to have magical effects on women, especially moms. And because it’s a gift from you, the calories don’t count.  Make sure it’s good stuff. Leftover Easter candy will not do. Fannie May & Harry London Chocolates, just a straight shot down Route 8 and I-77 south in Green, has a 14-ounce assortment of gourmet chocolate for $19.99. If you really want to go hog wild, spring for the 6-pound (yes, 6 pounds) Gold Gift Tin for $108.     

• Brunch. Don’t look at this as the last-minute solution or you’ll end up doing brunch at McDonald’s. That might be a popular choice with the kids, but mom is not likely to be so impressed. Piatto Novo at the Sheraton Suites at 1989 Front St. still has some tables available. Brunch is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; $34.90 per adult, kids 3-12 $17.95, under 3 free. Call soon for reservations, though. 330-920-7530. The Chowder House on Chestnut Boulevard is serving brunch off the menu, and reservations are highly recommended. And if you don’t get around to making that call, there’s always McDonald’s.

A bonus sixth thing, just for Mother’s Day:

• Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens. Mothers get in free on Mother’s Day at Stan Hywet, the historic estate and museum of the Seiberling family. Admission prices vary depending on which tour you take. 714 N. Portage Path, 330-836-5533.