It’s that time of the year when we pay homage the women who raised us, dealt with diaper changes, midnight stomach aches, packing school lunches, and shuffling us to and from football/violin/cheerleading practice: our mothers. Whether your idea of the perfect gift is a day of pampering at her favorite spa, or maybe just spending quality family time together, this city presents a variety of different choices. Chicago hosts a variety of Mother’s Day-themed brunches, events, and specials, giving you plenty of options for spending an afternoon (or weekend!) spoiling mom. Here are some of our picks for celebrating the perfect Mother’s Day in Chicago:

Mother’s Day Cruise
Show mom how special she is by spending a day sipping mimosas, dining on a delicious buffet, listening to live music, and taking in the beautiful city skyline on this afternoon-long yacht cruise. There’s nothing like an afternoon spent cruising Lake Michigan, just enjoying the company and the views. Learn more here.

Brunch in the City
If mom would rather spend the day on land, there are tons of options to start the day with Chicago’s favorite meal: brunch. If you prefer to stay around Lakeshore East, take a look at restaurants like Eggy’s, an urban family diner, or III Forks, home to some of the city’s best steak and seafood. Venture just a few blocks away and there are options like River North’s Hub 51, or the Gold Coast’s Allium. No matter your craving, you’re sure to find it at one of the city’s many brunch hotspots.

Wining and Dining
Get outta town… and celebrate Mother’s Day at Maple Park’s Acquaviva Winery. Take a daytrip out to the country and take in Acquaviva’s lush 40-acre estate and winemaking facility. Cap off your afternoon with a gourmet dinner, including a complimentary slice of double chocolate cake, just for mom. Acquaviva’s Facebook page has all the details.

A Tasty Tour
If chocolate and flowers sounds right up mom’s alley, she’ll love spending the day taking the “Mother’s Day Chocolate and Flowers Tour.” All mothers will receive a flower at the start of the tour, which visits sweet spots along Michigan Avenue like Hendrickx Belgian Bread Crafters and Candyality. Learn more at Chicago Chocolate Tours’ website.

Motherhood: The Musical
If your mom is the musical-loving type, she’ll adore this theatrical tribute that covers mom-centric topics like the post-baby body, minivan-driving, becoming a grandma, and everything in between. This show promises to keep the entire family entertained, and if that’s not enough, every audience member will receive a free Dunkin Donut at the show. For more information, visit this website.

From cruises to wineries, chocolates to show tunes, these are just a few of Chicago’s many events dedicated to celebrating mom. What are your plans for Mother’s Day weekend?

April showers bring May flowers, concerts, farmers markets, and more. Everyone knows that summers in Chicago make the often-brutal winters worth the wait. Luckily we escaped this winter season relatively unscathed (knock on wood), and are eagerly anticipating the best that spring and summer in the city has to offer! Located in the epicenter of the city, Lakeshore East is a great place to live for anyone who wants convenient access to the Chicago’s noteworthy attractions. With that in mind, here are the events we’re most looking forward to this month:

NBA Playoffs
May 1 at 7:00pm (United Center, 1901 W. Madison Street)
The Bulls have officially clenched the #1 seed for the Eastern Conference, and with the Blackhawks down and out of the Stanley Cup runnings, Chicagoans are hungry for an NBA title.  After last season’s bitter loss to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, Derrick Rose and the rest of the Bulls are back with a vengeance. The Bulls are poised to take on the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs. Check out this site for the most up-to-date information about the playoffs.

Eric Church
May 11 at 7:30pm (Sears Centre, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates)
Country crooner Eric Church comes to the Sears Centre, the Windy City stop for his “Blood, Sweat, and Beers Tour.” The fun starts even before the concert does, with the Eric Church Block Party in the Sear Centre’s parking lot, which will feature grilled food, a 200 ft. zipline over the parking lot, music, and more. The concert will include opening acts Brantley Gilbert and Blackberry Smoke, and of course plenty of fan-favorite songs that earned Church recognition for being one of Rolling Stones’ best albums of 2011.

NATO Summit
May 20-21
Chicago has earned the honor of hosting this year’s NATO summit, a diplomatic forum bringing together thousands of international dignitaries to discuss the most pressing issues facing the world. Chicago earns the distinction of being the first US city aside from Washington DC to host the summit, as well as being the largest city to host the summit in almost a decade. While the summit itself isn’t open to the public, NATO and the City of Chicago are hosting a number of events open to the public. Many of Chicago’s restaurants are also celebrating the summit by offering globally inspired tasting menus, desserts, and cocktails. To learn more about public NATO-related events throughout the month, head to this website.

Farmers’ Markets
Weekly, Starting May 22 (Federal Plaza) and May 24 (Daley Plaza)
One of the best parts about living in the city is not having to give up fresh farm-to-table produce, thanks to the rise in popularity of farmers’ markets. This month marks the start of “farmers’ market season” in Chicago, with the beginning of downtown’s two biggest markets at Federal Plaza and Daley Plaza. Patrons can look forward to a wide variety of fresh staples like fruits, vegetables, meats, baked goods, flowers, and more.

Chicago Craft Beer Week
May 17-27 (various locations)
Chicago celebrates its 3^rd annual beer week, with the festivities encompassing this year’s theme “Chicago: A City of Neighborhoods.” Chicago’s celebration is a part of the larger American Craft Beer Week, which is in its sixth year and includes events in all 50 states. Chicago beer enthusiasts are invited to participate in this year’s beer week by picking up a lanyard and map from a host venue, and filling the map with stickers collected at participating venues (there are over 200 city-wide). The 11-day celebration will also feature $4 craft beer specials at all participating locations, and a closing party at Revolution Brewing’s production facility. For more information visit CCBW’s website. Cheers!