With Mother’s Day just days away, the pressure to find the perfect gift is high – but last-minute shoppers can still find thoughtful gifts in the form of local food and entertainment. With no shortage of homegrown restaurants, art and theater to choose from, the First Coast offers numerous options for a gift mom won’t forget.
Arts and Culture
Cummer Museum
Visit the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens Mother’s Day to explore the museum’s current exhibits and cafe. The Poetry of Landscape: The Art of Eugène Louis Charvot will be on display through Sept. 10, showcasing prints and drawings of the mundane beauty of France’s rural parts. Visitors can also enjoy brunch at the Cummer Cafe, which features a special menu of crab cake Benedict, shrimp and grits, loaded breakfast potatoes, quiche du jour and more. For more information or to make reservations, visit www.cummermuseum.org.
Alhambra Theatre & Dining
Treat mom to dinner and a show at the Alhambra Theatre & Dining. Choose from upcoming titles like “Steel Magnolias,” playing from May 24 through June 25; The musical “Annie,” playing from June 28 through Aug. 13; “The Dixie Swim Club,” playing from Aug. 16 through Sept. 24; or “The Addams Family,” playing from Oct. 4 through Nov. 12, or catch “Dream Girls” before its closing date of May 21. Call (904) 641-1212 or visit www.alhambrajax.com/ for additional information and to purchase tickets.
ABET presents “The Hallelujah Girls”
Enjoy a girls’ night out with “The Hallelujah Girls,” ABET’s production of the story by Jessie Jones, Jamie Wooten and Nicholas Hope. The Southern comedy follows the lives of a group of friends determined to shake up their lives against the backdrop of an abandoned church-turned-day-spa. The show will run May 12-14 and 19-21, with Friday and Saturday shows at 8 p.m., and Sunday shows at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 and reservations can be made at www.abettheatre.com or by calling (904) 249-7177.
Music
St. Augustine Amphitheatre
Give music-loving moms the experience of a lifetime with shows by Grammy Award-winning singers John Legend and Idina Menzel.
The St. Augustine Amphitheatre will welcome Grammy, Oscar and Golden Globe Award winning singer John Legend on Mother’s Day, May 14 at 7 p.m. This stop on Legend’s “Darkness and Light” tour will feature works from his critically acclaimed fifth studio album and an appearance by Grammy-nominated newcomer Gallant. Tickets range from $67 to $117. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
Tony Award-winning singer Idina Menzel will take the stage May 26 at 7:30 p.m. as one of 50 tour stops for her fifth studio album “Idina.” The acclaimed broadway star will perform songs from the album in addition to classic pop, musical theater favorites and other songs from her own past records. Tickets are priced between $54 and $132. Gates open at 6 p.m.
Tickets for both shows can be purchased at www.staugamphitheatre.com.
Romanza FestivaleCatch the Romanza Festivale’s last headlining performers, the Lomazov-Rackers Piano Duo, before the festival closes May 14. On Thursday, May 11, the musicians will perform at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine at 7:30 p.m. The prize-winning duo, comprised of Marina Lomazov and Joseph Rackers, both hold a doctor of musical arts degree in piano performance from the Eastman School of Music in addition to serving on the piano faculty of the University of South Caroline School of Music. Tickets for their performance are $25 for adults, $5 for students with ID and free for children 12 and under.
In addition, the festival will host a slew of chamber, orchestral and street music performances through Mother’s Day, including “Romanza Chamber Music Series: Pegge Ealum, Flute with Jazz Trio” at Ancient City Baptist Church on May 11 from noon to 1 p.m. and “Two Glorias by Vivaldi and Poulenc” by the St. Augustine Community Chorus on May 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. at The Cathedral Basilica. To learn about additional festivale offerings, visit www.romanzafestivale.com.
Dining
Bistro Aix
Bistro Aix will offer an extensive brunch menu for Mother’s Day from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., featuring items such as prosciutto wrapped dates with manchego and a balsamic reduction, lobster omelet served with roasted asparagus and tarragon Bechamel and French toast with candied figs and maple-roasted bacon. The restaurant will also offer mimosa selections, among them traditional orange juice with champagne, bellini with peach nectar and champagne, poinsettia with cranberry and champagne and mango with syrup and champagne. Items range in price from $3 to $29. Reservations are recommended and can be made via open table or by calling (904) 398-1949.Dream Girls: Photo courtesy of Alhambra
