Mother’s Day is coming up this Sunday, and the current pandemic will force celebrations slightly different from other years. For example, brunch in a restaurant, a popular way to honor mothers and grandmothers, isn’t possible this May.

But local businesses are still gearing up for the day, with restaurants offering special menus and shops providing gift certificates and curated presents.

The Forest Park Chamber of Commerce reached out to some local businesses to see what they have going for Mother’s Day. Here’s a sample:

Gardening

Both McAdam Landscaping and Empowering Gardens are officially reopened for in-person shopping as of May 1, when Gov. J.B. Pritzker added landscaping and gardening centers to the list of essential businesses.

At McAdam, all people entering must wear masks, and social-distancing is required. And for those who don’t want to shop in-person, delivery and contact-free curbside pick-up are available.

“We are stocked and will continue to get new material each week,” said McAdam Landscaping on their Facebook page. “Being stuck at home doesn’t have to be so bad, so stop in to start your next garden project.”

Empowering Gardens also requires social-distancing and masks and asks that customers “be courteous to others” by limiting visits to 15 minutes or less. They suggest bringing a shopping list or doing research before shopping. They also request that only one family member per household come at a time and that customers line up so only three are allowed in at a time.

Sweets

It’s hard to go wrong with something sweet. Forest Park has several options, including La Maison de Bonbon, Brown Cow and Twisted Cookie. La Maison de Bonbon (facebook.com/LaMaisonDeBonbon) has their special French cremes in stock. Brown Cow (facebook.com/browncowicecream) offers ice cream, cakes and other tasty treats. And Twisted Cookie (facebook.com/twistedcookie) has special Mother’s Day cookie baskets.

Meals

If you don’t feel like cooking but want the nice dinner with no hassle, local restaurants have specials for the day, available for pickup or delivery since eating out isn’t an option.

At Smallbatch, a special menu includes prime rib, ham and meatloaf at smallbatchq.com/menu.

O’Sullivan’s is serving up a family pack that includes steak, veggies salad, garlic bread and more at facebook.com/osullivanspublichouseFP.

Charlie’s Restaurant on Roosevelt Road has its full brunch menu available for carry-out and curbside pickup. Check out facebook.com/charliesrestaurant.forestpark.

A complete list of restaurants currently open in Forest Park is available at the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce Facebook page at facebook.com/forestparkchamber.

Gifts

Team Blonde, not open to customers to shop in-person, has its boutique options available online and is offering a new service: concierge gifting. Owners Heidi Vance and Jayne Ertel have curated some items that would make great gifts at teamblonde-101287.square.site, including a candle sporting the phrase, “Mother of the damn year.” Yup.

A fresh haircut or color is a great way to celebrate, and even though salons aren’t open right now, Macdaddy is offering gift certificates, which can be redeemed once personal grooming services are allowed to serve clients again.

“Boy, are mom’s deserving this year,” says Macdaddy on their Facebook page. “A day to themselves and a little sprucing up when this is all over is just what they’ll need.”

And what could be more useful these days, as well as commemorative of this very different Mother’s Day, than a designer mask? You can get one from Takara, facebook.com/Takara-Designs-180511918659001.