How you can still make Mother’s Day memorable — in a good way — in these strange times
Did you order your mom’s Mother’s Day gift yet?
It hasn’t arrived? Yeah, ours either. Amazon been putting a priority on shipping “essential items” first and all of that. Here are some alternatives.
You can bring her flowers
You could be like our creative friend, Miami native Victoria Picciochi, who got some flowers from her nearby Whole Foods, put an assortment of alstroemerias, charmelias, California greens and miniature sunflowers into a mason jar and tied a ribbon around it.
Voila, instant arrangement and vase. She added a Mother’s Day card and dropped it off with the receptionist at the assisted living facility where her mom lives.
It’s not the same as visiting or speaking to one’s mom — among the saddest of the enforced safety measures during the COVID-19 pandemic — but it’s something.
“I wanted to do something that had my personal touch to it,” Picciochi said.
Though the shuttering of hotels and restaurants hurt South Florida’s billion dollar-plus flower industry, flowers are available at grocers like Whole Foods, Publix, Winn-Dixie and Costco, as well as at flower shops.
“Consumers can brighten someone’s day by having flowers delivered to whomever they are thinking of, can bring some flowers home to enhance their homes or can leave flowers on someone’s doorstep to say ‘thank you’ or ‘thinking of you’ in this time of social distancing,” said Christine Boldt, executive vice president of the Association of Floral Importers of Florida.
Take her out. To the other room
Dining out isn’t an option on this Mother’s Day in these strange times.
But many South Florida restaurants are doing curbside pickup and delivery, so you may be covered that way, too. Of course, if you’re a good cook, you can whip up something beautiful yourself.
Among South Florida’s hot spots with Mother’s Day deals:
▪ 808 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen in Aventura. All orders of $65 or more at this spot famed for its pizza and rotisserie chicken come with a free bottle of Dwyane Wade’s Three by Wade Rosé on Mother’s Day.
The menu is at https://www.toasttab.com/jfc-800-degree-aventura/v3#!/ or call 305-902-4362.
▪ Grails Miami & Spanglish Craft Cocktail Bar + Kitchen: Think mom would like cured salmon avocado toast, truffle Benedict, Caribbean lobster roll or arroz con pollo with steak and eggs? Order for six or more come with a complimentary bottle of Prosecco.
Pickup at Grails is from noon to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at 2808 N. Miami Ave, Miami. To order, visit www.spanglish.bar or call 786-870-4258.
▪ La Fresa Francesa, the unexpected slice of Paris in Hialeah, has a three-course Mother’s Day menu for $30 per person. Start with a salad, choose from a short rib or duck confit entree, and finish with a guava crepe or chocolate pot de creme. Order for curbside pickup at lafresafrancesaorders@gmail.com.
Chains like Outback Steakhouse and Seasons 52 are also touting Mother’s Day offerings.
Take her out. Really out
Yes, there are social distancing rules and the wearing of masks, which will make for some real talk pieces when you look back on the photos in years to come. But some South Florida landmarks are open on Mother’s Day.
The 10-acre gardens at Vizcaya Museum & Gardens are open this Sunday, albeit with social distancing rules; the indoor exhibit remain closed. But, if it’s not raining as forecasters threaten, this Miami landmark could be the fresh air treat Mom might relish.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables also has opened with daily timed entry and other new COVID safety rules.
Zoom your way to Mom’s heart
Yes, we know Zoom, FaceTime, Facebook Live and Skype or the old-fashioned phone call are no substitute for personal interactions — and might not even be practical in your case. But if they are, and all else fails, at least let Mom know you haven’t forgotten her special day.
This story was originally published May 9, 2020 at 5:09 PM.
