10 Alternatives to Mother’s Day Brunch in New York City
Been awhile since you and your mom have done something together beyond the obligatory brunch, flowers and chocolates thing? It might just be time to re-write that script. Here are 10 alternatives to Mother’s Day brunch in New York City.
1. Attend a Wine Tasting
Rosé All Day offers a guided Mother’s Day-themed tasting. It includes a sommelier-led discussion of the history of rosé, appetizers and six samples from well-known international producers.
The annual Brooklyn Crush, the Wine & Artisanal Food Festival takes place on May 13th, 2017 (the day before Mother’s Day). More than 175 curated wines are on offer, accompanied by artisanal fare from Brooklyn’s top chefs. There are two sessions to choose from: 3:00pm – 6:00pm and 8:00pm – 11:00pm.
2. Stroll the New York Botanical Gardens
The highlight of Mother’s Day at the New York Botanical Gardens is its annual garden party. While the most spectacular spring landscape in NYC will steal the show, the day also features live music, classic lawn games, picnicking, a bird walk, a variety of tours and, yes, brunch if you wish. A fabulous destination for all ages.
3. Sail on the East and Hudson Rivers
Manhattan by Sail offers five different Mother’s Day sailing adventures including the Champagne Brunch and Sail, the Craft Beer Tasting Sail, the Wine Tasting Sail, the Daytime Statue Sail, and the Twilight Sail aboard the Clipper City Tall Ship or Shearwater Classic Schooner.
4. Take a Tour
Grand Central Terminal is a treasure trove of art, architecture, food and history, as well as being one of the world’s biggest train terminals. Daily docent-guided tours last 75 minutes and depart daily at 12:30pm from the Terminal’s main concourse. This leaves plenty of time to taste your way around Grand Central Market’s eclectic vendors.
5. Gallery Hop
Use the NYC Galleries iPhone app to take advantage’s of Chelsea’s dozens of private art galleries. Then, if your feet haven’t failed you, hop on the High Line for free public or private tours that focus on the history, construction or art of this spectacular space (or grab a seat and relax!)
6. Attend a Music Concert
Here are three distinctly different opportunities to catch some rock, gospel and classical music with your mom:
Australian rockers Midnight Oil perform at Webster Hall, New York on Mother’s Day.
Sundays are made for the Sunday Gospel Brunch with the Harlem Gospel Choir at the B.B. King Blues Club in Times Square. According to the website “The homestyle all-you-can-eat Southern buffet is guaranteed to fill the hole in your soul, and the Choir’s joyous performance will have you dancing on the stage.”
“Ethereal Soprano” Carolyn Sampson performs an evening Mother’s Day concert at Lincoln Centre, offering a gorgeous bouquet of music: “Spend a spring Sunday immersed in Britain’s pristine English roses, the whispering blooms of Strauss, Schuber and Schumann, and the lush French courtyards of Debussy, Poulence and Fauré.” Doesn’t that sound sweet?
7. Discover a Theater Production
There are a mind-numbing variety of on-and off-Broadway performances to choose from. But here are three highly-recommended shows:
Come From Away @ the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater
Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 @ the Imperial Theater
Oslo @ Lincoln Centre
8. Take in a Film with a Live Soundtrack
As part of Film Concerts Live! at Lincoln Center, Director Steven Spielberg’s heartwarming masterpiece E.T. The Extraterrestrial will be projected on a huge HD screen and accompanied by a live musical soundtrack performed by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. This marks the special 35th Anniversary Celebration of the film. (May 13th @1:00pm)
9. Get Out and Walk
Ever considered walking Broadway from top to bottom? Broadway is 13 miles long and the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in New York City. The walk takes about 7 hours (including breaks) and begins at 225th Street’s Broadway Bridge. It passes through Inwood, Harlem, Hell’s Kitchen, Gramercy, the West Village and other neighborhoods ending at Battery Park. It’s an exceptional opportunity to see less-explored – and fascinating – parts of NYC for moms who love their exploration with a side of running shoes.
10. Discover Beautiful Books and Treasures
The Morgan Library & Museum is pure eye candy. Formerly the private library of J.P. Morgan, it was designed by architectural superstar Charles McKim. The collection includes manuscripts, rare books and prints and drawings. On Mother’s Day, students from the Mannes College The New School for Music perform a variety of classical offerings from 1:00pm to 3:00pm in Gilbert Court in conjunction with the exhibition Treasures from the Nationalmuseum of Sweden: The Collections of Count Tessin.
Our Luxury Hotel Consultants Recommend:
One of the city’s most respected luxury hotels, the Lotte New York Palace personifies refined sophistication. This stunning property includes the historic Villard Mansion that houses the public spaces of the hotel, while the modern glass tower behind it contains the beautiful and contemporary guestrooms. Guests of this notable property can indulge in fine cuisine, spectacular views and timeless service.
From a distance, the 20-story glass structure that is The Standard High Line NYC looks like a book standing on end. The stunning and contemporary design of the exterior extends through the lobby and into every single modern guestroom. In addition to the alluring design, The Standard High Line NYC hosts a social scene as vibrant and sexy as the Meatpacking District in which it resides. With too-many-to-count venues on-site, guests will have no problems filling their social calendars during a stay at The Standard High Line NYC.
A distinct 1930s-inspired Art Deco hotel, The Chatwal has a rich history and a standard of service that has reached new heights of luxury. Featuring 76 perfectly-designed rooms and suites, The Chatwal provides the perfect intimate retreat in the midst of Midtown’s hustle and bustle. In a former life, this chic hotel was the original Lambs Club attracting members such as Charlie Chaplin and Fred Astaire. The Chatwal New York offers historic charm, a great pre-theater crowd, and is amongst the action without being immediately on top of it.
