Dan's Papers - May 1, 2009 - Unique Ideas for Thanking Mom

With Mother's Day approaching, the East End has a plethora of local stores for you to check out as you search for that perfect gift for mom.

If your mother is into jewelry, then you probably want to check out Marinelli Jewelers in Eastport, which has been servicing the East End for 23 years. Specializing in all types of jewelry design and repair, Marinelli's offers custom design and diamond settings by the two jewelers it has on premises. Recently, Marinelli added Pandora's complete jewelry line to the list of brands it offers. For more information, call 631-325-1812 or go to www.marinellijewelers.com.

Robert's Jewlers in Southold, which is independently owned and operated by a local family, is another great place to check out for the Mother's Day gift you've been looking for. Robert's specializes in fine gold and gemstone jewelry, both pieces that are custom designed as well as designer jewelry and also offers the full Pandora line of jewelry. For more information, call 631-765-1061.

Another independently owned family jewelry business to consider for your Mother's Day shopping is Rose Jewelers in Southampton. Rose carries merchandise from designers such as Mona Taner, Marya Dabrowski, Lauren K, Peter Storm and Pandora, as well as the finest Swiss watches available. For more information, go to rosejewelers.net.

And, of course, what mother wouldn't want something special from Tiffany's? With a location on Main Street in East Hampton, Tiffany's should definitely on your list of places to hit as you search for the perfect Mother's Day present. For more information, call 631-324-1700 or go to www.tiffany.com.

Of course, your mother might also love a day at the spa. There are tons of places on the East End to take your mother for a relaxing day. One of them is Blue Sage Day Spa in Mattituck. Treat your mom to a tranquil and stress-free afternoon on the North Fork. Blue Sage offers a variety of spa treatments and packages, as well as detoxing, waxing and body scrubs. For more information, go to www.bluesagedayspa.com or call 631-298-4244.

There's also Ananas Spa in Southampton to consider for your mother's day of relaxation. This up-scale spa offers a variety of services and treatments, including relaxing massages and skin care for the body and face. Or you can give mom a makeover and send her to Vincent Da Silva at Gil Ferrer Salon in Bridgehampton. The salon offers everything from haircuts and coloring to manicures, pedicures, waxing and tanning. For more information, call 631-537-5805.

For a mother who is more in tune with the outdoors, go to Marders, a nursery and garden shop in Bridgehampton. Plant a special tree or plant for your mom, or peruse some of the many ornamentals that Marders has to offer. Check out www.marders.com for more information.

Another classic Mother's Day gift, if your mother has a sweet tooth, would be candy. Make sure you check out Love Lane Sweet Shoppe in Mattituck, one of the largest independent Godiva Chocolate dealers in the New York Metropolitan area, and also offers a wide selection of other candies, gourmet foods and local treats. For more information, go to www.lovelanesweets.com.

For something a little different, head down to Elegant John at Red Horse Plaza in East Hampton, which carries all kinds of interesting bed and home accessories, including gift giving staples such as candles and soaps. Pamper your mother with a luxurious Turkish terry, French terry or bamboo/cotton spa bath robe. Accompany the robe with some fragrant shea butter soaps and spa bubble baths and you have the perfect gift for that special person!

At English Country Antiques, with locations in both Southampton and Bridgehampton, you can find many elegant items for the home that your mother might enjoy. Especially keep an eye open for the entire line of Pratesi linen sheets. The shop also carries a selection of beautiful platters, birdhouses, candleholders and other items that might make a nice gift for your mom. Call 631-204-0428 or 631-537-0606 for more information.

Another great place to look for unique home accessories and gifts for your mother is Sylvester & Co. at Home in Sag Harbor. For more information, go to www.sylvesterathome.com.

And of course, Mother's Day is often associated with bringing your mom a bouquet of flowers. Two places to go for all your floral needs are Clawflowers Florist (www.clawflowers.com), in Greenport, and Mattituck Florist, in Mattituck. Clawflowers also goes above and beyond simple floral arrangements, providing a space for an art gallery as well as a boutique that sells a ton of great gift items. On the South Fork, you can order your flower arrangements from Sag Harbor Florist and Gift Shop, which also offers other gifts as well. If you're further east, then definitely go to East Hampton Florist (www.easthamptonflorist.com), specializing in unique, contemporary and traditional designs, which has Mother's Day specific bouquets ready for you to choose from.

As you can see, on the East End there's no shortage of great shops to check out as you shop for the perfect gift for your mom this Mother's Day.