Mother's Day Dining & Doing

P.A.L.F. (Pets Are Like Family) celebrates Mother's Day at Trader Todd's, 3216 N. Sheffield, with an appetizer buffet, manicures, goodies and drinks. Mom can even bring her other (four-legged) child, if the pooch is registered beforehand. The fun begins at 3 p.m. Call (773) 975-8383 for more information. Nearby dining options abound, but try Vines on Clark's rooftop deck, Soca or Native Foods Café.

On Saturday, May 12, the 900 North Michigan Shops kick off "A Day For Her" a day devoted to Mom at 10 a.m. Get gifts, services and 20% discounts at many of the resident shops at this shopping party and benefit for Friends of Prentice, the fundraising arm of the Prentice Women's Hospital at Northwestern Memorial. Call (312) 915-3916 for more information. There are so many dining options that you'll find something for every taste and budget, but Tony's Scalopinne and Claim Company are both great options.

If your mother's a gardener, head over to Logan Square on Saturday or Sunday, May 12-13 and check out Paseo Prairie Garden, 2612 N. Kedzie. Browse perennials, shrubs, native Illinois flowers, organic vegetable plants from Michigan and strawberry plants. Proceeds from the seventh annual sale benefit the Paseo Prairie Garden. Dining options include Longman & Eagle and Lula Café for higher end budgets and The Brown Sack and Cafe Con Leche for more inexpensive fare.

How about brunch with the animals at Brookfield Zoo? Beginning at 11 a.m. there's an all-you-can-eat brunch featuring cooked to order eggs, omelet station, chef's
carving station and unlimited champagne and wine service. It's $49 for adults, $29 for kids free for children 2 and under. Call 708.688.8000 for more information.

If you'd prefer to hit the zoo and dine elsewhere, check out Bellavia, 9022 31st for classic Italian fare (708)-485-1731, or for something a bit more inexpensive, Canton, 9409 Ogden (708) 485-1919 featuring regional Mandarin, Szechuan and Cantonese dishes.

"Andrea Martin's Final Days! Everything Must GO!!" Celebrate Mother's Day all weekend with the legendary Emmy and Tony award-winning comedienne Andrea
Martin's one-woman show. The creator of Edith Prickly and scores of other characters on "SCTV" performs Friday and Sunday at Up Comedy Club, 230 W. North. Check out
nearby O'Brien's or Fireplace Inn for dinner.

Is or was your mother a desperate housewife? Perhaps she'll appreciate the "Desperate Housewives" finale viewing party The Call. Prep Mom for the two-
hour finale and cocktails with dinner beforehand at Burger Philosophy next door or, for something a bit more upscale, but still reasonable, head a bit further down the street to Lady Gregory.

If you prefer just to take Mom for a meal, no matter your neighborhood, there are always dining options at all ends of the price spectrum. If price were no object most of us would treat our mothers like (another) queen. In the real world, our budget must often be considered. For each neighborhood listed below we offer suggestions for those with a limited budget (¢) and a luxury option ($). Remember, it's not how much you spend, but the time you spend together that matters to most mothers.

Andersonville
¢ Hamburger Mary's, Andies, Ann Sather, Hopleaf
$ Anteprima, Vincent, Jin Ju

Chinatown
¢ Joy Yee's, Chiu Quon Bakery & Cafe
$ Lao Sze Chuan, Tao Ran Ju, Moon Palace

Lakeview
¢ Pie Hole Pizza Joint, Joy's Noodle Shop, Halsted's Bar and Grill, Panino's, Horizon Café
$ Chilam Balam, Yoshi's Café, Wang's, Kit Kat Lounge

Lincoln Park
¢ Small Bar Fullerton, Stanley's, Zella
$ Sprout, Webster's: Vintage 338, Boka

Lincoln Square, North Center & Ravenswood
¢ Opart Thai House, The Bad Apple, Glenn's Diner
$ Bistro Campagne, LM Le Restaurant

Little Italy
¢ Tatsu, Three Aces, Tufano's Vernon Park Tap
$ Davanti Enoteca, Beviamo Wine Bar, Chez Joel

Pilsen
¢ Nuevo Leon, Kristoffer's
$ Decolores, Nightwood

River North
¢ Xoco, M Burger, Ed Debevic's, 451
$ Quartino, The Purple Pig, Nacional 27

South Loop
¢ Chicago Firehouse, Zapatista
$ Mercat a la Planxa

Uptown
¢ Fiesta Mexicana, Crew Bar & Grill, Tweet
$ Marigold, Azumi

West Loop
¢ Mac & Min's, Wishbone, Dodo
$ Maude's Liquor Bar, Avec, Piccolo Sogno

Wicker Park & Bucktown
¢ The Wormhole, Piece, Cumin
$ Birchwood Kitchen, Sushi Para M, The Exchange

Hyde Park/South Side
¢ Ribs n' Bibs, Medici on 57th, Zaleski & Horvath
$ Park 52, La Petite Folie, Shinju, The Cove

North Suburban
¢ Hay Caramba-Park Ridge, Slice of Life/Hy Life-Skokie, Pickwick-Park ridge
$ Cafe Central- Highland Park, Fujiyama-Northbrook, Gabriel's=Highwood
West Suburban
¢ Edelweiss-Norridge, La Hacienda-Roselle, Mykha's Restaurant-Glen Ellyn
$ Braxton Seafood Grill-Oak Brook, Cucina Paradiso-Oak Park,

South Suburban
¢ Mabenka-Burbank, Koko's Kafe-Hickory Hills, Pap Damiani's-Dolton
$ Northwoods-Flossmoor, Calyton's-Valparaiso, Mr. Benny's Steak & Lobster House-Matteson