Top Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day in Chicago and Beyond
Mom always knows best, but she also deserves the best. Mother’s Day is fast approaching, and your mom deserves to be shown some love! From the best Mother’s Day brunch options, to Mother’s Day spa specials for Mom to be pampered with, we have rounded up the top specials in Chicago for locals and visitors alike to enjoy and celebrate that special woman in your life.
Let Mom Indulge in Seafood Galore and Epic City Views
Ocean Prime Chicago is excited to unveil their Mother’s Day Brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Located in the Shops at LondonHouse at the corner of North Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive, this modern American restaurant and lounge from renowned restaurateur Cameron Mitchell will serve a variety of special food and beverage items for this special holiday including Smoked Salmon on a bagel with sliced tomato, red onion, arugula, and whipped cream cheese, Lobster Toast with avocado, sweet peas, preserved lemon, and topped with a sunny side egg, Blackened Salmon Salad mixed with strawberries, grapes, cantaloupe, goat cheese, field greens, and finished with basil poppyseed dressing and candied walnuts, Braised Short Rib Surf & Turf with a crispy gouda potato cake, poached egg, hollandaise sauce, and a lobster claw, and more.
To complement the decadent brunch dishes, Ocean Prime Chicago will also serve signature cocktails including a Blood Orange Mimosa made with blood orange juice, simple syrup, Cointreau, and champagne and the restaurant’s Signature Bloody Mary made with Ocean Prime’s house made mix, choice of vodka, and jumbo shrimp.
Mom, You’re The Real MVP
Michael Jordan’s Steak House, located at 505 N Michigan, is celebrating all mothers with a special brunch menu on Sunday, May 12 from 11am to 3pm. In honor of the day, the restaurant will offer a variety of specialty menu items that include Chef Rudy’s Chilaquiles with salsa verde, crema, queso fresco, over easy Slagel Farm eggs, and the option to add steak (additional $10); Wagyu Burger with secret sauce, lettuce, pickles, onions, widmer cheddar, and a sesame seed bun; Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Waffles with Burton’s maple hot sauce, Belgian Waffle with whipped mascarpone and berries; Steak & Eggs with NY Strip, duck fat potatoes, and two Slagel Farms eggs; and Steak House Benedict with filet medallions, poached Slagel Farms eggs, hollandaise and asparagus with grilled sourdough bread.
Bottomless Brunch Paired with Bowling and Bocce
Pinstripes, 435 East Illinois Street, will serve a vast array of beautiful dishes at their Mother’s Day Bottomless Brunch on Sunday, May 12 from 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Celebrating moms, aunties, grandmas and other special women in the family, brunch will be served for $36 for adults; $15 for children aged six to 12; and children under age five eat free. Guests may start with homemade pastries and fresh fruit, working their way through signature made-to-order stations, traditional breakfast selections, and Chef Specialties. For kids, a “junior” table serving Creamy Mac & Cheese and Crispy Chicken Tenders will delight. After brunch, guests are invited to continue the celebration on one of the bocce courts or bowling lanes.
For the Science-Driven Mom, A Special Brunch and Fresh Flowers
The Albert, located at 228 E Ontario, is honoring all mothers with a special brunch on Sunday, May 12. In celebration of the day, Hotel EMC2’s contemporary restaurant will be offering a special menu from 11:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. Additionally, the restaurant will be offering mothers attending brunch a selection of flowers. Items on the a la carte menu include Garden Salad with green goddess dressing, Deviled Eggs with country ham, Smoked Salmon with dill puff pastry and poached egg, Chilaquiles with avocado and cilantro, and Strawberry Shortcake with macerated strawberry and goat’s milk ricotta.
Let Mom Indulge in Decadent Bites at one of the city’s most iconic corners
Made breakfast in bed one too many times? This Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12th, Staytion Market & Bar located at 1 W. Wacker Drive, will be offering exciting special offerings for mothers and families to celebrate. Appetizers will include delicious bites such as Tuna Poke Lettuce Wraps, Deviled Eggs, and more. The main courses for the celebration include a decadent Parmesan Crusted Sable, and a Mole Rubbed Filet. Mom will end on a sweet note with either a Hazelnut Crème Brûlée or a White Chocolate Mousse Verrine.
Don’t be Shy, Kiss Your Mom
Toni Roberts, Executive Pastry Chef at theWit Hotel, has your Mother’s Day gifting covered this year by offering an exclusive selection of chocolate kiss cookies at A Bit of theWit’s “Kiss Your Mom” Pop Up Shop. Each exclusive “Kiss Your Mom” cookie, $18 each, has its own unique flavor topped with a giant chocolate kiss. Patrons can choose between options including the Salted Chocolate Chunk Cookie with a Dark Chocolate Kiss; Peanut Butter Cookie with a Milk Chocolate Banana Kiss; or a Fudge Brownie with a Strawberry Chocolate Kiss. These sweet treats may be pre-ordered now, and will be available until May 12 at abitofthewit.com. Cookies are available for pick up at theWit Hotel, 201 N. State Street, or can be delivered directly to mom’s doorstep for the perfect Mother’s Day surprise.
For the Easy-Going Mom Looking for a Staple Brunch
Yolk, Chicago’s home for brunch, is constantly pushing the envelope with new and creative breakfasts, specialty juices and its own private label premium coffee in urban, upscale settings, perfect for the easy-going mom looking for a brunch classic. In addition to pancakes, Yolk’s menu includes signature specialty dishes like gourmet five-egg rolled omelet, eggs benedict, a wide range of skillets and scramblers, pancakes, frittatas, crepes and many more scrumptious options, along with all-star menu items from the restaurant’s inventive Test Kitchen. With several popular Chicagoland locations, Yolk delivers an experience like no other for Chicagoans and visitors alike. For more information about Yolk, its new Lincoln Park location or to make a reservation at any one of the Chicago locations, please visit www.eatyolk.com.
Pamper Mom with a Well-Deserved Massage
Geja’s Café, the Lincoln Park staple perfectly nestled in 340 W. Armitage, is celebrating Mother’s Day this year by treating all moms to a complimentary 5-minute massage, paired with a glass of bubbly, on Sunday, May 12. Moms will have the opportunity to step away from their table to receive a well-deserved relaxing chair massage in a secluded area, courtesy of a licensed massage therapist from Massage House located in Lincoln Park. Geja’s Café will open at 1 p.m. to celebrate Mother’s Day. For more information or to make your Mother’s Day reservations, please call 773-281-9101, or visit on-line at www.gejascafe.com
Make Mom Feel Flawless, From Head to Toe
Spa@theWit, located on the fifth floor of theWit Hotel, 201 N. State St., is launching special spa promotions just in time for Mother’s Day. Let mom take the day off with three unique spa treatments that will leave her relaxed and rejuvenated. These exclusive treatments are available now through Thursday, May 30.
Treatments at Spa@theWit include a Pamper her Properly full body treatment, 3 Hours of Treatment | $275; Feeling Flawless with a customizable facial and refreshing manicure and pedicure, 2 ½ Hours of Treatment | $215; and Expectant Mother, every mother-to-be dream with an invigorating prenatal massage and stress relieving pedicure., 2 Hours of Treatment | $180. Gratuity is not included and cannot be combined with any other discount or offer. Subject to availability.
Surprise Mom with Flowers and A Little Bubbly
The Ivy Hotel, a stylish hotel located in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood at 233 E. Ontario Street, is surprising all moms checking into the hotel on Mother’s Day with a flower picked just for them, along with a glass of bubbly rosé. The Ivy Hotel is home to 63 rooms, the majority of which are suites with 675 square feet of luxurious accommodations, along with a Divine Lounge lobby bar and restaurant, meeting and event space and a lively rooftop bar during the summer months.
The Fitness-Driven Mom Looking to Break Records
In a morning of record-breaking fun, Orangetheory® Fitness will present the World’s Largest HIIT Workout Saturday, May 18, featuring a 60-minute OTF-style high intensity interval training workout with music from a live DJ, exciting activations and an after party, perfect for Moms who love to work out in a fun setting. As the new official fitness partner of the Chicago Cubs, Orangetheory® Fitness will host the officially monitored Guinness Book of World Records attempt at Wrigley Field at 7 a.m. Just in time for ALS Awareness Month, Orangetheory® Fitness and thousands of community members will come together to raise more than $500,000 for Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS, an organization dedicated to fast-tracking effective treatments and an ultimate cure for the devastating disease. Participants of the World’s Largest HIIT Workout will work out at several locations inside and outside the ballpark, including the bullpens, Gallagher Way and concourses. Tickets are now available for purchase online at www.worldslargesthiitclass.com with 100% of proceeds donated to Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS.’
Amaze Mom with a Night at the Orchestra
The nation’s most diverse orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta, and Music Director Mei-Ann Chen are proud to present the finale to the illustrious 2018-2019 season with SoundSketch, a concert rooted in painting portraits in rhythm, blues and beyond. The orchestra puts its own spin on the concept of “the tribute” by highlighting musical icons throughout history in a string-centric program, with MacArthur Genius and violin virtuoso Regina Carter as a featured special guest. Chicago Sinfonietta’s performances will occur Saturday, May 11, 2019 at 8 p.m. at Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville, and on Monday, May 13, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. at Auditorium Theater, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Dr., Chicago. In celebration of prominent and iconic women in music across genres and generations following the release of its newest recording Project W, Chicago Sinfonietta will perform several pieces highlighting women visionaries, composers, musicians and conductors. Tickets to Chicago Sinfonietta’s SoundSketch range from $10 to $62 when purchased in advance online. For tickets or more information, please visit www.chicagosinfonietta.org.
For Mom, A Kingdom for a Stage
Ending its 23rd season outdoors, First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83.) presents HENRY V for its classic Shakespeare-under-the-Stars series. Directed by Hayley Rice, HENRY V focuses on one of England’s most beloved rulers as he fights to save England and prove himself the rightful heir to the French throne. Mom will thrill to the battle scenes as she experiences the play the way it was intended to be performed: outside, and follow the great Band of Brothers as Henry V leads them against an army ten times their own size at the Battle of Agincourt. One of Shakespeare’s most popular rousing adventures, HENRY V previews July 10 – 12, opens July 13 and will run through August 18, 2019. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by calling the box office at 630.986.8067 or online at www.firstfolio.org.
For the Mom that Can’t Wait for Summer to Come
Illinois’ largest waterpark dedicated to family fun for all ages, Raging Waves, 4000 N. Bridge St. in Yorkville, is excited to announce its 2019 summer programming and officially kick off its 12th season Saturday, May 25, just in time for Memorial Day weekend. Only 45 minutes southwest of Chicago, Raging Waves invites local and travelling moms and families to soak up the best moments of summer, with princess sing-a-longs, hands-on experiences with reptiles and tumbling troupes a-plenty, through September 2, 2019. The family-owned and operated destination first opened to the public in 2008, Raging Waves is the perfect place for a day trip, extended summer excursion, birthday parties, youth group outing, scout gatherings, family reunions, and more. Featuring several family-friendly attractions, including 26 water slides, a huge wave pool, three kiddie pool areas, relaxing lazy river, 37 private cabanas and more, Raging Waves has been named “Best of the Midwest,” the “Top Illinois Summer Destination,” and “Best Waterpark in Illinois.” For more information, daily operating hours, or to purchase Raging Waves tickets, visit www.RagingWaves.com or call 630.882.6575.
Roll Out the Red Carpet for Mother’s Day
Treat mom like a star this Mother’s Day with a trip to the iconic Patio Café at Sportsmen’s Lodge, 12825 Ventura Blvd. in Los Angeles, California. The nostalgic, diner-style café will be hosting a Mother’s Day celebration including special treats just for mom, complimentary confections and a $5 “Bubbly Lucy” Blood Orange juice mimosa special for the entire day on Sunday, May 12. All mothers that spend the day at Patio Café will be treated to a gorgeous flower or single stem rose upon arrival, as well as a basket of mouthwatering pastries for the whole family to enjoy. Might you be interested in sharing details of this special offering? Patio Café at Sportsmen’s Lodge will be open from 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Mother’s Day. For more information, please visit www.sportsmenslodge.com/patio-cafe.
