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Where better than St. Paul to have a relaxing day of mother-daughter shopping, brunch and more? If you’re yet to come up with a plan for Mother’s Day, we’ve compiled some great last-minute ideas for you to spend some quality time together.

BRUNCH:
Getting a table at short notice on Mother’s Day is a toughie, but we took a gander at Open Table and there’s still hope.

Award-winning Italian restaurant Pazzaluna has a ton of availability. If the weather’s warm enough, you could snag a patio seat for a great view of the historic buildings surrounding the eatery (Saint Paul Hotel and Landmark Plaza to name a couple). The house cocktails are especially delicious, as are pretty much any of their famous pizzas and fondues. (360 Saint Peter St., St. Paul, 651-223-7000, www.pazzaluna.com.)

Salut Bar Americain has some openings later in the afternoon, and located in the center of Grand Avenue’s shopping district. The welcoming French-styled brasserie offers the freshness and rich flavor of rural French cooking. (917 Grand Ave. at Milton St., St. Paul, 651-917-2345, www.salutbaramericain.com.)

Dixie’s on Grand brings Creole cooking to the Great North. Known for homemade, melt-in-your-mouth buttermilk biscuits, comfort-food mashed potatoes with cream gravy, and jambalaya like no other, Dixie’s is also a hop, skip and a jump away from plenty of shopping options. (695 Grand Ave. at St. Albans St., St. Paul, 651-222-7345, www.dixiesongrand.com.)

Located in a beautiful Victorian mansion in the lovely Irvine Park area of Downtown St. Paul, Forepaugh’s offers New American Cuisine and an expansive wine list. (276 S. Exchange St., St. Paul, 651-224-5606, www.forepaughs.com.)

Housed in the historic Dakotah Building on Cathedral Hill, W.A. Frost has the best wine selection in town, and probably the best patio. Though reservations are full for its popular Mother’s Day brunch, you might be able to get onto the waiting list. (374 Selby Ave. – St. Paul, 651-224-5715, www.wafrost.com.)

M ST. Cafe is the perfect setting for a memorable Mother’s Day Brunch. On May 9, M ST. Cafe will host a brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The menu features traditional items such as Chef-Carved Herb Crusted Striploin and a made to order omelet station. (350 Market St., St. Paul, 651-228-3855.)

SHOPPING:
After brunch (or before lunch), what better activity could you do in St. Paul on Mother’s Day than shopping? Find a gift for your mom, and buy a few things for yourself while you’re at it – these local shops and salons have deals galore in honor of the special day.

Saturday and Sunday, Grand Hand Gallery hosts San Francisco metalsmith Sarah Graham for a Jewelry Trunk Show. The designer will be on hand with a full range of new and favorite designs for this two-day event. Sarah is known for the unique color combinations she achieves with materials including blackened steel, conflict free diamonds and 18 karat gold. Her motifs often spring from her observations of the natural world: she cites one of nature’s virtues – patience – as the grounding principle of her design process as she creates her beautiful, enduring work. (10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, May 1 & noon-5 p.m. Sunday, May 2. Grand Hand Gallery, 619 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651-312-1122, www.thegrandhand.com.)

St. Paul salon FiveTwoSix is having a ton of promotions going just in time for Mother’s Day. Now through May 8, buy a $50 gift card and receive a travel bag and two free 2-oz. samples of Bumble & Bumble product. Also while supplies last, buy a Dermalogica Daily Microfolian and receive a travel size Special Cleansing Gel and Active Moist for only $50 (an $80.50 value) – and through May, receive 10 percent off all Dermalogica products. Looking to try out a new stylist on the cheap? FiveTwoSix’s stylists-in-training program offers haircuts starting at $15. Finally, for every three people you refer to your stylist, you’ll receive a free haircut – and each referred person receives a complimentary Bumble & Bumble product. (FiveTwoSix Salon Spa & Gallery, 529 Selby Ave., St. Paul. 651-222-3839, www.526salon.qwestoffice.net.)

Spend $200 or more at participating retailers and receive a $20 gift card for a restaurant at Rosedale during its Mother’s Day promotion, running through Sunday. Stores include Williams-Sonoma, lucy, Coldwater Creek, Talbots, Hot Mama, Pandora, Brighton Collectibles, Francesca’s Collections, Bare Escentuals, White House Black Market, J. Jill, Ann Taylor, Borders, rocco altobelli Salon & Spa, and Sephora. Bright receipts to Guest Services April 29 to May 9 to redeem for a gift card. (10 Rosedale Shopping Center, Roseville, 651-638-3553, www.myrosedale.com.)

RELAX:
In between dining and shopping, take in some special Mother’s Day entertainment.

The Saint Paul Civic Symphony is holding its annual Mother’s Day Concert at Landmark Center, where they’ll perform “Souvenirs from Bayreuth.” The always-popular show features music from or inspired by Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle as well as one of the winners of the 2009 WAMSO Young Artists’ Competition. (1 p.m., Free, Landmark Center’s Musser Cortile, 75 5th St. W., St. Paul, 651-292-3233, www.landmarkcenter.org.)

Also at Landmark Center, the American Association of Woodturners host a Mother’s Day tea party (not to be confused with the political party). Mothers and their families are invited to join the Woodturners for tea and baked goods as they talk about their ongoing teapot exhibit at the Landmark. (3 p.m., Free, Landmark Center’s 2nd floor Galleria, 75 5th St. W., St. Paul, 651-292-3233, www.landmarkcenter.org.)

The James J. Hill House will offer a tour of the historic house focusing on the women who lived and worked there, followed by an hour-long relaxation class, presented by the Minnesota Historical Society. (4:30 p.m. $10-12, James J. Hill House, 240 Summit Ave., St. Paul, 651-297-2555, events.mnhs.org.)

Mothers are admitted free to the Gibbs Museum when accompanied by their offspring. Tour the museum of pioneer life – and sample the Gibbs Museums’ delish homemade ice cream. (The Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakotah Life, 2097 W. Larpenteur Ave., St. Paul, 651-646-8629, www.rchs.com)

Moms also get free admission in to the Minnesota Children’s Museum, whose current exhibitions include “The Children of Hangzhou: Connecting with China” and the popular “Dinosaurs.” (10 W. 7th St., St. Paul, 651-225-6000, www.mcm.org).