Giant sculptures and vibrant floral arrangements pay homage to Van Gogh's artwork at the NYBG!
From touring a historic ship to listening to music in a cemetery, uncover the best ways to spend Memorial Day Weekend in NYC!
From unforgettable city adventures to page-turning reads, check out our Mother's Day gift picks!
Mother’s Day is coming up this Sunday, May 11th! Still on the hunt for the perfect gift? Don't worry—we’ve got you covered. Whether you're shopping for Mom, Grandma, a favorite aunt, or any NYC-loving maternal figure, we’ve rounded up some extra-special picks. From unforgettable city adventures to page-turning reads, here are a few gift ideas from the Untapped team:
Many of New York City's parks and gardens will let you dedicate a flower to Mom with a donation in her honor that helps to beautify the gardens. At Madison Square Park, you can choose which flower is planted from daffodils, spanish bluebells, or hydrangeas. At Central Park, you get one tulip or daffodil bulb for every dollar of your donation (with a minimum of $50). The Brooklyn Botanic Garden will even share a photo and facts about the plant you choose, whether it's a (virtual) bouquet of roses in the Cranford Rose Garden or a vibrant Japanese Tree Peony at the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. You'll brighten Mom's day and her favorite park!
It's not just flowers that you can donate to show your love. You can also dedicate a chair or table at the New York Public Library or put her name in a book. Adopt a bench or tree in an NYC Park or adopt a building from the Queens Museum's Panorama of the City of New York!
Take Mom out on the town and spend quality time together while doing something new! This Mother's Day weekend, Untapped New York's expert local guides will be ready to share the secrets of Grand Central Terminal, the Gilded Age Mansions of Fifth Ave, and the oldest coffee shops in Greenwich Village.
She can hone her photography skills with help from a professional photographer while shooting the beautiful scenes of The Green-Wood Cemetery, learn about Manhattan's music history while retracing the steps of legends like The Velvet Underground or Billie Holiday, touch remnants of Dutch New Amsterdam, and more. Not sure which experience she'll like best? Grab a gift card.
The Art Spy hits shelves on May 13th, and we can't wait! This non-fiction book tells the thrilling tale of Rose Valland, an unlikely heroine who infiltrated Nazi leadership to save the world's most treasured masterpieces. It was written by Untapped New York's Founder (and mom to two girls), Michelle Young!
Check out more New York City book recommendations from our staff, contributors, and members here!
Courtesy of Ode a La Rose and Aerangis
Local Brooklyn company, Ode À La Rose, is one of the best last-minute Mother’s Day gift ideas! This florist, founded by two Brooklyn transplants from France, makes same-day flower deliveries in New York City, Chicago, and Philadelphia. Other places in the United States can receive their arrangements via next-day delivery.
Want flowers that last a little longer? Gift Mom a bouquet of floral-scented candles from Aerangis. The Botanical Journey Gift Set comes with two candles and a limited-edition matchbook. The scents included are No. 1 The Beginning, inspired by the clean crisp scent of the Aerangis orchid, and No. 7 Seven Miles, which captures the fragrance of the velvety jasmine flower on a summer evening. Another scent New Yorkers will love is No.1882 Manhattans in Manhattan, inspired by the scent of a Manhattan cocktail. It is even topped with a bright red cherry!
New York-based founder Alicia Tsai named the company after a white, star-shaped orchid that grew in her grandfather’s garden in Taiwan and provided her first scent memory. The scents of each design-forward, cruelty-free, plant-based, non-toxic candle come from a memory. You can even design a unique scent that is truly your own.
Ode a La Rose and Aerangis are partners of The Lit Salon, an intimate candlelit literary series inside a historic Brooklyn brownstone that features the city's most fascinating authors. Bring Mom to the next cozy book discussion this summer and hear from author Michelle Young!
Treat Mom like NYC royalty at an afternoon tea! Afternoon tea was a favorite ritual of Caroline Astor, whose son John Jacob Astor IV built the St. Regis New York. This year, the illustrious hotel has partnered with patisserie Ladurée on a bespoke afternoon tea service of sweet and savory delights in the elegant and airy La Maisonette. You'll enjoy a curated selection of premium teas from Palais des Thés complemented by a delightful array of artisanal tea sandwiches, desserts, and pastries. Seatings are from 1PM – 3PM on Friday, May 9th to Sunday, May 11th and reservations can be made via OpenTable.
For a more whimsical tea experience, head to Brooklyn's Urbane Arts Club for their Wonderland: A Mother's Day Tea Party This topsy-turvy tea party hosted by the Mad Hatter will feature flowers available from Fell Flowers , a performance by Drag Queen Sara Tonin, live music, bottomless mimosas, coffee, and tea, and a buffet brimming with scones, tea sandwiches, and assorted sweets from Tealicious. Book tickets online here.
Gift your mom a key to New York City with an Untapped New York membership! As an Insider tier member, Mom will have unlimited monthly access to virtual and in-person experiences that explore the culture, history, and architecture of New York City. She will also be able to revisit 300+ past virtual experiences in our on-demand video archive, and get 50% off select Untapped New York walking tours!
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