Treat Mom to a Special Day in Avon

With Mother's Day just around the corner, it's not too late to plan something special for Mom.

And what better place to do it than right here in Avon? The city has a lot to offer residents and visitors who want to shower their moms with love and appreciation on May 8.

For those looking to surprise their mothers with presents, local floral and gift shops might have just the thing.

 has much more than just the typical flower arrangement. The floral shop offers exotic spring flowers and arrangements in baskets, corsages, and even Tiffany-style lamps. Customers can choose from fresh flowers, blooming plants, silk flowers and wreaths, and the shop also has candy, fruit baskets, and jewelry made by a local artist.

“A lot of people think of flowers (for Mother's Day), but there are so many other things you can do,” designer Joanne Gilpin said.

Flower arrangements start at $19.95. Gilpin recommended that customers order “the sooner the better to get the best choices.” The Hen 'N The Ivy will deliver until Saturday, May 7, and will be open longer hours that day, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

, located in the historic Lewis House in Olde Avon Village, is offering Mother's Day promotions on brand-name jewelry, pottery, housewares, and more. Customers will find specials on Juliska stemware and pottery from Portugal, Vera Bradley items, Trollbeads jewelry, and Mariposa servingware and giftware.

“We're gearing up for Mother's Day, because we know how important mothers are to us,” Details employee Linda Klemencic said.

 is offering specials on hanging baskets this Mother's Day weekend. On Saturday, from 7 to 9 a.m., hanging baskets will be “buy one, get one free.” For the remainder of the weekend, hanging baskets will be “buy two, get one free.”

Beginning Saturday morning and throughout the weekend, customers also will receive a free gift with a purchase for their moms, while supplies last, said store manager Ken Zawicki. For those who are making last-minute purchases, Petitti's will be open on Mother's Day, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Folks wanting to treat their moms to some local flavor will find special menus at some of Avon's restaurants and cafes.

For moms who enjoy tea time, will host Mother and Daughter High Tea on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. Cost for adults is $25 and for children eight years old and under is $18.

Mother's Day Brunch will be held on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The menu will include salads (broccoli, pasta, and tomato basil); fresh fruit; breakfast entrees like hash browns, eggs, bacon, sausage, french toast and pancakes, danishes, bagels and muffins; supper items like chicken parmesan, prime rib, scalloped potatoes, ham, green beans and pasta; and desserts like blueberry cake, strawberry shortcake and brownies. Cost for adults is $18.99, for children is $10.99, and for children under 2 years of age is $5.99. Reservations are required for the High Tea and brunch. Call 937-5830.

, located in Olde Avon Village, provides a cross between historical and contemporary Avon. Strip will host a Mother's Day Champagne Brunch at The Clifton Barn, 36840 Detroit Road, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, according to its Facebook page.

The buffet menu will include lobster bisque, roasted corn and basil chowder, crab cakes, chicken caprese, rosemary home fries, au gratin potatoes, cherry-wood bacon, maple sausage, macaroni and cheese, steak and eggs, an omelet station, and assorted desserts. Cost for adults is $39 and for children 10 years of age and under is $25. “All champagne and champagne drinks are included” in the price. Call Lauren for reservations at 934-9900.

Some local churches will honor new mothers during their Sunday services this weekend.  and New Community Baptist Church, which meets at , will have baby dedications to recognize and pray for the families.

Hope Christian Church will recognize about a dozen families this year, Pastor Rolland Bryar said.

“Typically we have a baby dedication during the service,” he said. “We get a lot of questions about baptizing babies, and we don't do that, but we do set aside time on Mother's Day to pray for the families and babies during the service and give them a gift. It's a yearly tradition.”

Hope Christian Church meets at 9:30 and 11 a.m. on Sunday.

New Community Baptist will dedicate four babies at this year's Mother's Day service at 10 a.m. Pastor Brian Gardiner said the church will present each of the families with a gift.

“We take and create a personalized prayer off the meaning of (the babies') names, write that, frame it, and present it to the parents,” Gardiner said.

At the dedication ceremony, the church will pray for the parents as they begin raising their babies. “This is a special time to recognize new mothers,” he said.