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Printed From Acorn-Online.com New Canaan Advertiser
This Mother’s Day, local retailers say let Madonna off that hook and allow her to indulge in the sinful pleasures she’s happily sacrificed for motherhood.
Lust It officially ended in 2004, but “Sex and the City” lives on in syndication and the hearts of women everywhere. It liberated a generation but, perhaps more importantly, articulated a women’s right to shoes — lots of them. This Sunday, allow your favorite mother to indulge her heeled desire with a gift certificate from Plaza Too shoe boutique at 34-36 Elm Street. The bright, new space features designs by Arturo Chiang, Sigerson Morrison and Tory Burch, among others, and offers personalized service to make mom feel special. They’ll even home-deliver shoes on order.
Gluttony Bacchus was the dark Roman god of wine and other things sinful. Invoke him this Mother’s Day by skipping that traditional brunch and heading to Cava Wine Bar and Restaurant at 2 Forest Street for dinner — without the kiddies. The sleek-but-cozy Italian eatery features booths just made for tucking into with a glass of Etude Heirloom “Carneros” 2002 pinot noir — or whatever her palate desires. Mom can complement her choice with plates such as fettuccini served with broccoli rabe, homemade fennel sausage, crushed red pepper and finished with extra virgin oil and caramelized garlic. If she has room for dessert — which you should encourage her to save — she can savor some tiramisu.
Greed Let mom get greedy with her personal time with some new titles from Elm Street Books, 35 Elm Street. Sheila Weller’s “Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon — And the Journey of a Generation” is a meticulously researched and infinitely readable biography of three women who forever changed the face of music and what it means to be female in America. “Ladies of Liberty” by Cokie Roberts is a fun and informative jaunt into a hidden side of American history. Vignettes on figures from Sacajawea to Abigail Adams reveal how women have shaped American history both on their own and through the men in their lives, while still managing to save time for laughs and a bit of gossip. The family collaboration in “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life (P.S.)” by Barbara Kingsolver, Camille Kingsolver and Steven L. Hopp has yielded a fascinating exploration into what it means to get closer to one’s food, each other and the earth. Give mom her gifts in a re-usable satchel from Elm Street Books so she’s inspired to go back and get greedy on her own.
Sloth Many salons and spas greet would-be escapees of reality with the sounds of blow-dryers, ringing phones and chatter. At Aetheria Relaxation Spa, 121 Cherry Street, escape will begin once mom opens the door. The aura is one of total serenity, with blue-gray walls, sweet herbal scents and staff dedicated to giving mom some much-deserved rest. Gift certificates will allow mom to choose her pleasure — from an Aetheria signature stone facial to a soothing mint foot massage — but a Mother-Daughter Day of Pampering, which can also be used by mom and a girlfriend, could go over especially well. With twin aromatherapy foot baths, facials, massages, foot masques, scalp treatments and lunch, could it go over any other way?
Wrath Giving the gift of wrath on Mother’s Day is all about helping mom summon and channel it into an activity that will renew her. Ananda Yoga & Healing Arts Center at 16 Forest Street offers daily yoga and weekly meditation classes that will instill in mom the kind of calm she probably hasn’t felt, well, since before you were born. Ten- and 11-class cards are available for purchase, and a special 10 a.m. class on Mother’s Day is free for moms of yogis.
Envy This is the one cardinal sin mom’s not allowed to commit on Mother’s Day, as you’ll make sure there’s no need. But you can briefly summon it by brewing some sumptuous java from Zumbach’s Gourmet Coffee at 77 Pine Street, as you prepare her breakfast in bed. The staff says that hazelnut is a perennial favorite, as is the New Canaan blend.
Pride Make her a regular Jane Austen heroine with an herb garden from Gregg’s Garden Center & Landscaping next to Weed & Duryea at 21 Grove Street. Drop off a planter or pick one up at Weed’s, and have it delivered to mom so she can put it outside or in a sunny window. Or, if she likes to garden, give mom a gift certificate to pick out her own beautiful buds under a white arch with the help of super-personalized, friendly service. Truth be told, you can probably skimp on this last sin, as mom’s likely proud of you everyday. © Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers |
