Downtown Middletown Small Business Owners Offer Unique Gifts for Mom's Special Day

For jewelers, flower shop owners and chocolate purveyors, the advent of Mother’s Day is an opportunity to showcase traditional gifts for mom. Downtown Middletown offers an array of items to pick up for that special day when we honor the special ladies in our lives.  

A stroll down Main Street on a sunny afternoon had us stopping into shops owned by small business owners who are offering unique ideas for Sunday. Here’s a smattering of what we found.   

Trendz A Boutique on Main Street owner Jerri Lorenson thinks like her customers, who, thanks to her keen sense of what women want, fall into a range of ages. The colorful dresses and tops she sells are one-of-a-kind and ageless — from the juicy orange airily knit sweater we fell in love with to a lovely faux jumper dress from artistic watercolor-like fabric.  

Inexpensive gifts include the highly collectible gold and silver Bella Ryan Charm Bracelet, $14.99 each, must-have HypeWipes, which stick onto the back of your smart phone and expertly buff away fingerprints from the screen, $3.95.

Just back from the trade shows, Lorenson picked up some funky iPhone cases, charger plugs and cords ($39.95 to $49.95) decorated in sparkly leopard prints and purple with silver polka dots that she guarantees will be “the next big thing.”  

And her jewelry: leather bracelets with strong magnet closures, Dee Mathura Design necklaces and earrings from semiprecious stones and Swarovski crystals ($140 to $250). Pick up a handmade Mother’s Day card and take advantage of free gift wrapping and your ready to thrill mom.  

If mom (and you) are charity-minded, the Middletown High School Vocational Agriculture center is holding a plant sale Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with annuals, perennials, herbs, hanging planters, a kids' planting table for Mother's Day gifts, dog wash and bake sale.  

New England Emporium in Main Street Market has wide range of gifts including Seed Bombs, throw and go; gourmet black and red popping corn, flavorings and old-fashioned poppers; and fat Mango Lassi handmade soaps.  

Also in Main Street Market is Pamela Roose Specialty Hand Knits, where you can pick up a kntiting kit that has all mom needs to create a scarf, hat or other project. Pamela will guide you through everything she needs.

Stella D’oro II Restaurant in Metro Square is offering a Sunday brunch for mothers and Tschudin Chocolates has tastings, tours, lessons and of course gourmet chocolates for that special woman.  

Other gift ideas include the Wesleyan Potters Spring Sale, where you can pick up handmade fiber, jewelry, pottery and other art by local artisans, take mom to the ARTFARM Shakespeare Slam and Masked Bash on Saturday night at KidCity and help out a local theater troupe; the Middlesex Hospital Vocal Chords Concert Saturday; tickets to Middletown’s mayor’s ball on June 1, or take mom to the free MiddletownRemix: Hear More, See More event Saturday which includes a flash mom, live music, dancing, gallery walk, food, and more.

For jewelry, flowers and other traditional mother's day gifts, visit the Middletown Patch business directory here.
       
What did we miss? Tell us your ideas for special gifts for mom in the comments below.