Photograph: Courtesy Klezmer band
Chicago's Maxwell Street Klezmer Band
She gave birth to you, raised you, and loves you even though you don’t call enough. So the least you can do for you mom is take her out for something more than a run-of-the-mill Mother’s Day brunch this Sunday. Don’t panic, Chicago has rounded up half dozen suggestions that are far better than a bouquet of grocery store flowers.
Kirk Franklin’s Gospel Brunch at 10 and 12:30
Contemporary gospel star Franklin has teamed up with the House of Blues chain to reinvent the club’s weekly gospel brunch, which combines an all-you-can eat southern(ish) buffet with live gospel choirs. Although seating for Mother’s Day is already sold out, Franklin himself will be on hand for the June 9 brunch. House of Blues, 329 N Dearborn. Tickets $49 , $25 children, free for children under six years old. houseofblues.com
Klezmer Brunch at 10:30
Klezmer is an exuberant fusion of Jewish traditional dance music and American Jazz. Local veterans Chicago’s Maxwell Street Klezmer Band will provide the accompaniment to a brunch buffet that includes complementary fare such as challah French toast, latke, blintzes and a bagel and lox station. City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph. Tickets $30, kids $10, music only $10. citywinery.com
Numero Group Gospel Brunch at 11
The weekly Sunday brunch at indie rock club the Empty Bottle gets a spiritual twist this weekend thanks to local archival record label Numero Group, as DJs play music from three new gospel compilations and other Numero tracks. Food will be provided by neighboring Bite Café. Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western. Free, brunch and beverages a la carte. emptybottle.com
Pacifica Quartet at 3
Czech, please! The University of Chicago’s Grammy Award-winning resident ensemble will play Czech composer Bedřich Smetana's String Quartet No. 1, From My Life and countryman Leoš Janácek's Intimate Letters, and will conclude with Beethoven's String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Ludwig’s final string quartet. Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th Street. Tickets $25, $5 students with ID. chicagopresents.uchicago.edu
“Mommie Dearest” at 11:30 and 1:30
The camp classic film account of movie star Joan Crawford’s truly terrible parenting probably will make you appreciate your mom all the more. The event will include a mother-daughter matching outfit contest, audience participation (a guide will be provided) and running commentary by local troupe Camp Midnight. An optional pre-movie buffet brunch with unlimited mimosas is available at Mystic Celt, 3443 N. Southport Ave. Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave. 12 movie, $42 movie and brunch. musicboxtheatre.com
“To Mother With Love” at 3
Stars of Chicago’s Black Ensemble Theater will perform a concert of loving anthems to mom. Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street. $50. blackensembletheater.org