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Arts & Entertainment

Patch Picks: Fun Places to Take Mom

We have lots of events to make Mother's Day weekend a special one for your mom.

Mother’s Day is almost here and it’s time to start planning something special to do with Mom. There are a lot of fun events coming up this weekend, which will give you a chance to show your mother how much she means to you! Check out these five ways to show Mom a good time this weekend.

BRUNCH

Brunch is a Mother’s Day tradition for many. Santa Cruz is full of fabulous restaurants, and quite a few will be serving up a delicious brunch for Mom and her family and friends. One of the premier brunches is the Coconut Grove Mother’s Day Brunch at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Besides free-flowing champagne and Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider, the amazing buffet will include prime rib, eggplant and artichoke parmesan, sea bass, chicken and mushroom crepes, salad bar, fruit and more. Reservations are accepted between 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Brunch is served from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

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GIFTS

The annual Mother’s Day Gift Sale is sponsored this year by the Art Factory in Redwood Village in Aptos. Proceeds will benefit 100+ Women Who Care Santa Cruz, an organization that raises funds for local charities. Local artists will be selling their handmade jewelry, hand-crafted soaps, garden sculptures, folk art, photography and much, much more. The sale is Saturday, May 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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ART

The 56th Annual High School Art Show at the Santa Cruz Art League will be displaying over 750 pieces of art by our local, young, very-fine artists. An artists’ reception will take place Saturday, May 7 from 3 – 5 p.m. The show runs until May 22, 2011.

At the 4th Annual Art and Chocolate Tour on May 7 and 8 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., 12 local artists in the Live Oak/Pleasure Point area will open up their studios to visitors. Besides having the opportunity to view and purchase creative paintings, sculpture and other art pieces, you’ll be munching on a different type of chocolate at each studio. Visit http://www.maggiehellmann.com/artandchocolate.html for more information.

WALK/RUN

If Mom is a runner or a walker, she might want to join one, or both, of these events.

The Human Race Walkathon and Fun Run takes place Saturday, May 7, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This event is the biggest collaborative fundraiser in Santa Cruz County. For more information, check the Human Race Santa Cruz website.

On Sunday, head up to the lovely redwoods for an organized walk in Big Basin Redwoods State Park in Boulder Creek. During the walk, you’ll learn about the spirited women who made history in the Basin area.

PLANTS

Two great plant sales are happening Mother’s Day weekend.

The 33rd Annual Cabrillo Spring Plant Sale takes place Saturday (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) at Cabrillo College. Over 1000 different plants will be available for purchase including annuals, bedding plants, herbs, natives, perennials, succulents and vines.

On Sunday, take a drive to the south end of the county to enjoy the beautiful countryside of Corralitos. Roses of Yesterday will be hosting a rose sale and offering cookies, iced tea and lemonade in honor of Mother’s Day. They feature over 230 varieties of old, rare and modern roses.

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