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  • Benchmark in Oakland will be hosting Mother's Day from 11...

    Courtesy photo

    Benchmark in Oakland will be hosting Mother's Day from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

  • Roka Akor, San Francisco, is serving a three-course Mother's Day...

    Courtesy photo

    Roka Akor, San Francisco, is serving a three-course Mother's Day brunch alongside regular lunch and dinner menu.

  • Wine Train Mother's Day is from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. in...

    Napa Valley Wine Train

    Wine Train Mother's Day is from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. in Napa. Featuring a multi-course gourmet lunch, a complimentary glass of rose, chocolates and a journey through scenic wine country.

  • Mother's Day at the Speakeasy in San Francisco will include...

    Courtesy photo

    Mother's Day at the Speakeasy in San Francisco will include a bouquet of daisies, See's candies and bottomless mimosas for mom, plus reserved seats for the cabaret show.

  • Flor De Toloache, the all-female mariachi band, comes to SFJazz...

    JC Olivera/Getty Images

    Flor De Toloache, the all-female mariachi band, comes to SFJazz Center in San Francisco to perform May 9-12.

  • Bay Area jazz/soul singer Tiffany Austin, who is drawing big-time...

    Bill Reitzel/Courtesy of Tiffany Austin

    Bay Area jazz/soul singer Tiffany Austin, who is drawing big-time buzz, plays the Back Dancing & Dynamite Society in Half Moon Bay on Mother's Day.

  • Writer and performer Wayne Harris uses original and classic blues/gospel...

    The Marsh

    Writer and performer Wayne Harris uses original and classic blues/gospel tunes in his solo story "Mother's Milk: A Blues and Gospel Play in Three Acts" at The Marsh Berkeley.

  • The long-running satire/musical revue closes at the end of the...

    Josie Lepe/staff archives

    The long-running satire/musical revue closes at the end of the year -- so Mother's Day might be a good day to catch the popular production one last time.

  • John Hiatt is Miss Matilda Crawley and Rebekah Brockman is...

    Scott Suchman/American Conservatory Theatrer

    John Hiatt is Miss Matilda Crawley and Rebekah Brockman is Becky Sharp in Kate Hamill's stage adaptation of "Vanity Fair" at American Conservatory Theater.

  • Gabriel informs the Virgin Mary of Jesus' impending birth in...

    Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

    Gabriel informs the Virgin Mary of Jesus' impending birth in Peter Paul Rubens' "The Annunciation." The painting is part of a section on the life of Christ in a new exhibit at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco.

  • Algernon (played by Patrick Kelly Jones, left) and Jack (Mohammad...

    David Allen/Aurora Theatre Company

    Algernon (played by Patrick Kelly Jones, left) and Jack (Mohammad Shehata) are both wooing women under false pretenses in Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" at Aurora Theatre.

  • The musical revue "Spoonful of Sherman" delivers songs from and...

    John Huan/Guggenheim Entertainment

    The musical revue "Spoonful of Sherman" delivers songs from and stories about the famed songwriting family that has given us "Mary Poppins," "Jungle Book" and many other hits.

  • The grand historic estate of Filoli offers something for everyone, from tours of the lovely interior to gardens and a nature preserve.

  • Don't miss the sunken gardens at Woodside's historic Filoli estate.

  • Shu Xia Liu, of New York City, and her grandson...

    LiPo Ching/Bay Area News Group

    Shu Xia Liu, of New York City, and her grandson Antoni Deng view the daffodils at the "Daffodil Daydreams" daffodil walk at Filoli Historic House and Garden, in Woodside, California, on Saturday, February 24, 2018.

  • A visitor photographs cherry blossoms during Hakone Gardens' "Hanami at...

    Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

    A visitor photographs cherry blossoms during Hakone Gardens' "Hanami at Hakone," night cherry blossom viewing, at Hakone Gardens in Saratoga.

  • The Ruth Bancroft Garden yields lots of lovely scenery to share with your mother.

  • A grand oak tree forms a natural canopy over the...

    Dan Honda/staff archives Group

    A grand oak tree forms a natural canopy over the nursery area of the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, Calif. on Thursday, March 29, 2012. Ruth Bancroft planted her succulent garden 40 years ago this year as an example of what can be done with little water. Today, perhaps more than ever, we need to pay attention to what she accomplished as we enter yet another period of drought. Today the garden features succulent and drought resistant plants as well as a plant nursery.

  • "About Face" roses are among the attractions at the San...

    Jim Gensheimer/staff archives

    "About Face" roses are among the attractions at the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden.

  • A visitor strolls through the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden...

    A visitor strolls through the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden just as the blooms hit their peak. (Karl Mondon/Staff archives)

  • The Herb Garden at UC Botanic Garden at Berkeley includes...

    Courtesy photo

    The Herb Garden at UC Botanic Garden at Berkeley includes several kinds of herb gardens, notably, a Chinese Medicinal herb collection and a western herb collection.

  • Emily Chang and Danny Pudi star in the timely comedy...

    Center for Asian America Media

    Emily Chang and Danny Pudi star in the timely comedy "Baby Splitters," screening in Oakland and San Francisco as part of CAAMfest.

  • Genta Matsugami’s directorial debut "Demolition Girl" looks at Japan's world...

    Center for Asian American Media

    Genta Matsugami’s directorial debut "Demolition Girl" looks at Japan's world of fetishism. It screens at CAAMfest.

  • Tian Tian plays a woman who uses her mystical powers...

    Center for Asian American Media

    Tian Tian plays a woman who uses her mystical powers to get what she wants in a male-dominated society in Cai Chengjie’s fantastical feature "The Widows Witch," screening at CAAMfest.

  • "Happy Cleaners," screening at CAAMFest, looks at a Korean-American family...

    Center for Asian American Media

    "Happy Cleaners," screening at CAAMFest, looks at a Korean-American family dealing with cultural and societal changes.

  • Harry and Josh Chuck’s documentary "Chinatown Rising" looks at the...

    Center for Asian American Media

    Harry and Josh Chuck’s documentary "Chinatown Rising" looks at the behind the scenes forces shaping San Francisco's iconic neighborhood.

  • CAAMfest documentary takes a personal look at the rough and...

    Center for Asian American Media

    CAAMfest documentary takes a personal look at the rough and tumble political landscape in that country.

  • Bay Area TV personality Rick Quan's documentary "Mayor Ed Lee"...

    Center for Asian American Media

    Bay Area TV personality Rick Quan's documentary "Mayor Ed Lee" will be screened twice at CAAMfest.

  • Amy Poehler, left, and Maya Rudolph star in the comedy...

    Netflix

    Amy Poehler, left, and Maya Rudolph star in the comedy "Wine Country," which also marks Poehler's directorial debut.

  • Derek Jacobi, left, and Nicholas Hoult star in the biopic...

    Fox Searchlight Pictures

    Derek Jacobi, left, and Nicholas Hoult star in the biopic "Tolkien."

  • Lily Collins plays Edit Bratt, J.R.R. Tolkien's friend, lover, wife...

    Fox Searchlight Pictures

    Lily Collins plays Edit Bratt, J.R.R. Tolkien's friend, lover, wife and muse in the biopic "Tolkien."

  • From left, Rhea Perlman, Pam Grier, Diane Keaton and Jacki...

    STX Entertainment

    From left, Rhea Perlman, Pam Grier, Diane Keaton and Jacki Weaver star in "Poms."

  • From left, Rhea Perlman, Pam Grier, Diane Keaton and Jacki...

    Metro Goldwyn Mayer

    From left, Rhea Perlman, Pam Grier, Diane Keaton and Jacki Weaver star in "Poms."

  • Detective Pikachu (voiced by Ryan Reynolds) is on the hunt...

    Warner Bros.

    Detective Pikachu (voiced by Ryan Reynolds) is on the hunt for a missing detective in the Pokemon-based animated film "Pokemon: Detective Pikachu."

  • Oleg Ivenko stars as Rudolf Nureyev in the Ralph Fiennes-directed...

    BBC Films

    Oleg Ivenko stars as Rudolf Nureyev in the Ralph Fiennes-directed "White Crow."

  • A sign of the GoatHouse Brewing Co., is visible on...

    Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group

    A sign of the GoatHouse Brewing Co., is visible on 600 Wise Road in Lincoln.

  • Michael Johnson, co-owner and brewmaster serves a flight of beers,...

    Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group

    Michael Johnson, co-owner and brewmaster serves a flight of beers, darkside, dirty red hair, hi man, and disco lemonade inside the barn of the GoatHouse Brewing in Lincoln.

  • Michael Johnson, co-owner and brewmaster feeds his goats outside the...

    Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group

    Michael Johnson, co-owner and brewmaster feeds his goats outside the GoatHouse Brewing barn in Lincoln.

  • LINCOLN, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 21: A customer drinks a beer...

    Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group

    LINCOLN, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 21: A customer drinks a beer at the GoatHouse Brewing in Lincoln.

  • Customers Cage Craig, left, his wife Taylor Craig , of...

    Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group

    Customers Cage Craig, left, his wife Taylor Craig , of Houston, Texas, and friend Katie Ortega, of Lincoln, drink flights of beer outside the barn of the GoatHouse Brewing in Lincoln.

  • A view of Hillenbrand Farmhaus Brewery in Newcastle.

    Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group

    A view of Hillenbrand Farmhaus Brewery in Newcastle.

  • Visitors from Roseville have an array of beer flights at...

    Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group

    Visitors from Roseville have an array of beer flights at Hillenbrand Farmhaus Brewery in Newcastle.

  • Sarah Alvarado, left, and Darien Smith, both from Roseville, share...

    Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group

    Sarah Alvarado, left, and Darien Smith, both from Roseville, share a moment as they drink beer near a pond at Hillenbrand Farmhaus Brewery in Newcastle.

  • Kelly Stone, from left, Michelle Sanchez, Iliana Maravilla, Darien Smith,...

    Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group

    Kelly Stone, from left, Michelle Sanchez, Iliana Maravilla, Darien Smith, Jennifer Romano and Sarah Alvarado, all from Roseville, share a moment as they drink beer near a pond at Hillenbrand Farmhaus Brewery in Newcastle.

  • Jennifer Romano, left, Kelly Stone, Iliana Maravilla and Michelle Sanchez,...

    Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group

    Jennifer Romano, left, Kelly Stone, Iliana Maravilla and Michelle Sanchez, all from Roseville, have an array of beer flights at Hillenbrand Farmhaus Brewery in Newcastle.

  • The Dueling Dogs tasting room is pup-friendly, with Bowser Beer and doggie treats available for purchase.

  • Dueling Dogs Brewing Co. offers small batch beer, cider and mead on a 10-acre ranch in Lincoln.

  • The outdoor patio at Dueling Dogs Brewing Co is perfect for sipping crisp cider on sunny days with kids and dogs in tow.

  • Singer Margo Timmins and the Cowboy Junkies perform a series...

    Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

    Singer Margo Timmins and the Cowboy Junkies perform a series of Bay Area concerts May 8-13.

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Randy McMullen, Arts and entertainment editor for the Bay Area News Group is photographed for a Wordpress profile in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Thursday, July 28, 2016. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)Author
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First off, if you’re just finding out now that Sunday, May 12, is Mother’s Day, um … you’re welcome. And don’t sweat it, we’ve got lots of ideas for how to celebrate the holiday, or just enjoy another killer S.F. Bay Area weekend, from great brunches and dazzling gardens to a kick-butt all-female mariachi band.

(And if you’d like to get the Weekender delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday morning, just sign up here.)

1 EAT: Treat your mom to a scrumptious meal.

OK, let’s start with basics, shall we? Brunch, lunch, dinner, whichever, the Bay Area has only about a gazillion lovely restaurants to enjoy a special meal with mom. Here’s a rundown of recommended spots. Heck, even every-day joints are serving up Mother’s Day specials. Even — dare we say it — Hooters has one.

2 PLAY: See a show with mum

Moms do not live on delicious eats and tasty adult beverages alone. So we have a roundup of 16 cool shows your mother is bound to love, from a Doris Day film festival to a fierce all-female mariachi band. You’ll find all the details here.

3 STROLL: Five gorgeous gardens

Sure, you could buy roses for Mother’s Day. Or you could take Mom to one of these beautiful places — San Jose’s Municipal Rose Garden, the UC Botanical Garden and more — for a picnic. And totally win the title of #MomLovesMeBest. Here’s the rundown.

4 SEE: The best in Asian cinema

CAAMFest, the huge annual Asian-American film festival returns to San Francisco and Oakland this weekend with more than 100 movie screenings, live shows and boffo events. There is A LOT to choose from, so check out our suggestions for what you totally shouldn’t miss.

5 WATCH: Amy Poehler get soused in our own backyard

Amy Poehler is a funny, funny woman with a lot of funny, funny friends. And the Napa wine region is always fun to look at. Put them all together and you have “Wine Country.” Poehler’s new movie, dropping this weekend on Netflix, tops our rundown of new-movie options this weekend.

6 SIP: A farm-brewed ale trail

There are taprooms and breweries pretty much everywhere, but this trio of farm breweries near Auburn is different. There are adorable goats, for one thing, and ponds to picnic by. And the hops are grown right there. Consider this a must-do day trip for beer lovers.

7 HEAR: The divine Cowboy Junkies

We’re not kidding, this Canadian alt-rock/country outfit is one of the best bands going, and they keep getting better. The foursome just dropped a new album and are sweeping through the Bay Area — so you have a bunch of chances to catch them.