Mother’s Day is approaching, so it’s time to honor Mom!  If your mother loves and accepts you for who you are, there’s no better feeling in the world.  So let’s show Mom a little love.  Why not take her for a night out in Las Vegas?  Believe it or not, there are plenty of Mom-appropriate activities here in Sin City.  Here are just a few:

Let’s Start With Dinner:

Vegas is a dining destination.  From celebrity chef-owned restaurants to funky, hole-in-the-wall eateries, there’s something for everyone, and as a food writer and restaurant critic, I’ve tried some of the best.  Do you want to go old-school?  Try Hugo’s Cellar, downtown at The Four Queens.  The classic decor features exposed brick walls and warm wood accents.  Tuxedoed waiters serve up French-inspired food, along with expertly grilled steaks and seafood.  Lovely personal touches include classic desserts like Cherries Jubilee and Bananas Foster, flambéed at your table, and a long-stemmed red rose for every woman diner.  Would you prefer something with a view?  More than 800 feet above street level, on the 106th floor of the Stratosphere Tower, is Top Of The World, a sleek, elegant restaurant that revolves 360 degrees every 80 minutes, providing diners with spectacular views of the Las Vegas valley.  Add to that amazing dishes like Pan Seared Foie-Gras with Cocoa Nib Fleur De Sel, a perfect Lobster Bisque, or Rack of Lamb with Moroccan Flavors, and Mom will be suitably impressed.  How about fine Asian food served in a refined, fairy tale ballroom-like setting?  Take Mom to Jasmine, at the Bellagio!  Traditional Cantonese, Szechuan, Hunan, and Hong Kong style offerings will please your palate, and the amazing view of the Bellagio fountains make a beautiful backdrop for a Mother’s Day celebration.

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Next, a Show...

Vegas is an entertainment destination.  Headliners like Celine Dion.  Broadway-style shows like Jersey Boys.  One-of-a-kind spectacles found only in Las Vegas.  You’re sure to find something that will delight Mom and maybe even put a nostalgic smile on her face.  If Mom likes Broadway, she’ll love Steve Wynn’s ShowStoppers, a bright, shiny new revue at the Wynn Las Vegas Resort and Casino, that highlights the best of classic Broadway - numbers from Gypsy, Guys and Dolls, Cabaret, Chicago, Hello Dolly, A Chorus Line and more, presented by a cast of 66 performers backed by a 30 piece orchestra.  Want to show her something that can’t be found anywhere but Vegas?  Try one of the 8 different Cirque du Soleil shows playing on the Strip.  Over at the Bellagio, “O” is a dreamlike fantasy set in a magical water world, and still one of the hottest tickets in town, with high divers, a trapeze act in a rainstorm, and a fire act that has to be seen to be believed!  Two of the most popular Cirque offerings are Michael Jackson “ONE”, featuring four misfit kids who discover their inner powers after acquiring Michael’s iconic hat, shoes, sunglasses and glove, and The Beatles “LOVE”, a revue that mixes Cirque’s unique staging and imagery, with the Beatles’ legendary music.  High-concept French Canadian circus isn’t your thing?  Well, if you think Mom might like a bit of camp, check out Divas-Starring Frank Marino, a fun, energetic show featuring some of the best female impersonators portraying icons like Madonna, Liza, Cher, Tina Turner, Britney Spears, Lady GaGa and more.  With host Frank Marino as the legendary Joan Rivers, Mom will be dazzled - if not by Marino’s galaxy of “stars”, then certainly by the abundance of sequins on his many, many gowns!

Finally, a Cocktail!

Vegas is a cocktail destination, too!  With award winning mixologists using exotic ingredients like yuzu, elderflower liqueur, matcha powder, and various flavor-infused liquors, you’ll find amazing, hand-crafted libations at every turn.  How lovely, then, to round out the evening with Mom, over a one-of-a-kind cocktail, in a one-of-a-kind Vegas location.  One of my favorite spots is Chandelier at the Cosmopolitan Resort and Casino.  With three separate levels swathed in hundreds of strands of shimmering crystals, this gorgeous bar/lounge makes you feel as though you’re sitting inside an enormous chandelier!  The pinkish-purple lighting creates a glamorous, yet comfortable mood and the noise level never gets in the way of conversation.  Each level has it’s own specialty cocktails, and there are even a few choices that aren’t listed - if you know what to order, though, they’ll be happy to whip them up.  Try the Forbidden Fruit, the Bruce Tea, or the Verbena; an Asian take on a Margarita, garnished with a Sichuan Button - the center of a dried flower, which, when chewed, changes the drink’s flavor profile from tart, to sweet, then back again!  Science!!  Over at the Wynn Resort, you’ll find Parasol Up and Parasol Down.  With colorful curtains, bright red banquettes, and gorgeous chandeliers tucked into parasol-like, frosted glass domes, Parasol Up is a classy, quiet spot for drinking, chatting, and people watching.  To one side, this lobby bar looks out on the hotel’s garden-like entryway and casino, to the other side, over Wynn’s enchanted Lake Of Dreams.  Across the Esplanade, down a spiral escalator, is Parasol Down, where you’ll sit at quaint little tables under multi-tiered parasols, and watch as the Lake Of Dreams comes alive after dusk, with whimsical sound and light shows.  Sip on specialty drinks like the Lychee Blossom Martini, the Sinatra Smash, or their signature cocktail, the Pear-A-Sol, while a giant frog croons from atop a 40 foot waterfall.  Hey! Only in Vegas!

One last tip.  Remember that Vegas is a 24-hour town, so if you’re having fun painting the town with Mom, and you’re both out a little later than usual, you might be in need of a pick-me-up the following morning. Luckily, there are plenty of places where you’ll find nice, strong coffee... and even stronger Bloody Marys!