Newtown Merchants Prepare To Pamper Mom In A Big Way

By John Voket

Whether it is flowers or fashions, a spa treatment or simple greeting card, stuffed lobster or bone china, merchants and service providers throughout Newtown are rolling out the red carpet for those seeking a special something this Mother’s Day this Sunday.

During a random canvass of Newtown merchants this week, virtually every location was doing some type of unique promotion just in time for last-minute gift givers. Anyone who is looking to pamper their mom in style can choose from unique treatments at one of several Newtown spas.

Down at Sand Hill Plaza, Avance Esthetiques will take your reservations in person Friday from 9 am to 6 pm or Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm, or you can book on line at www.avanceesthetiques.com. Owner Judy Volpe is pleased to offer a wide variety of whole body treatments as well as European facials, or manicure and pedicure specials just for mom starting at about $50.

“We are offering what we call the Full Circle, which incorporates three different types of massages: a full body therapeutic, hot stone, and reflexology massage for $160,” Ms Volpe said. Reflexology works areas of the feet that correspond to other areas of the body to promote an overall feeling of well-being, she explained.

With 15 years at the same location, Avance Esthetiques offers more than 5,000 square feet of space — plenty of room for everyone including daughters or dads who want to share the spa experience with their mom or spouse.

“We’re the only spa in town with a couples room,” Ms Volpe said. “But we also have enough space for an entire bridal party or even for a company to send their female and male employees as an incentive reward.”

Avance Esthetiques also offers a unique ayurvedic treatment, an ancient healing practice developed in India, that custom blends scents, waxes, and makeup specifically matched to the personality type of the recipient.

“We actually take the client through a questionnaire to be sure we match them with the perfect blend of treatments,” Ms Volpe said.

Ricci’s — The Spa on South Main Street will be open on Mother’s Day, but owner Daniel Riccio said spa reservations are expected to fill up, so walk-ins may only be able to take advantage of salon services. And, he said, if you are one of those kids who is really busy, you may book mom’s spa treatment on line anytime at www.riccissalon.com.

“We’re finding the website is becoming more and more popular,” Mr Riccio said. “And we also do weekly email blasts to our customers with unique specials just for them.”

Mr Riccio said he is getting more than 25 percent of his spa bookings direct from the website, but for those looking to book a treatment in person, Ricci’s will be open late Saturday evening.

One of the newest state-of-the-art services Ricci’s is offering is a microderm abrasion treatment, which as a Mother’s Day special is discounted 75 percent to just $25.

“The old treatments used to use a harsh abrasive to remove the microscopic top layer of skin, but you would be three days recovering,” he explained. “This new equipment we have uses a softer type of material so you can be in and out in an hour with the same benefits and no red skin.”

Other Mother’s Day specials at Ricci’s run from $55 for a spa manicure and pedicure, to a full-day luxury treatment that includes a hot stone and oil massage, paraffin treatment, manicure, pedicure, facial, makeup, blow dry, a light lunch, and goodie bag full of samples for about $325.

Indulgence — the Unspa at Village Square is combining a couple of mom’s favorite treatments with something every mother loves, chocolate.

“We’re offering chocolate facials,” said owner Jean Watkins. Indulgence aesthetician Lisa Dismount said the treatment combines chocolate-scented massage oils with a mask containing actual dark chocolate powder.

“Besides being a proven aphrodisiac, dark chocolate is high in antioxidants, which is very good for the skin,” Ms Dismount said. “The scent itself is said to have a very calming effect. It’s supposed to simulate the feeling of falling in love.”

Besides its regular offerings, the Indulgence one-hour Chocolate Facial is priced at $50, but it is only available for the next month, Ms Watkins said.

If it is the latest fashions your mom is craving this Mother’s Day, a quick stop at Style on South Main Street can accommodate. Co-owner Karen Bauer said besides gift certificates in any amount, her boutique has a wide variety of jewelry, including the very popular charm bracelets.

“Charm bracelets are very much the rage right now,” Ms Bauer said. “And we can get one from your child to his or her mom starting as low as $12, and going up to $150 or more.”

She also pointed out that Style has loads of spring tweeds in the bright colors that are so popular right now.

“Anything adorned with sequins or beads, even casual fashions with metallic accents, are going like crazy,” Ms Bauer said. “We’re carrying the knee-length to full-length skirts as well as the bohemian fashions including gauzy fabrics, tunics, and peasant skirts and tops that mom will love.”

If you want to give mom a gift with some continental flair, why not trip over to Lisa and Nigel Whitmore’s UK Gourmet on Mt Pleasant Road. This boutique has Mother’s Day ideas from modest to elaborate gift baskets stocked with treats and teas including the latest delivery — Royal Wedding Blend.

“It was the tea made to commemorate the wedding of Charles and Camilla,” Ms Whitmore said. “We also have more than 70 different types of chocolate bars, and some fun items like English crisps, potato chips with unique flavors like pickle and prawn cocktail.”

For those looking to splurge, the UK Gourmet has just received a limited supply of fine bone china tea services from Lane End and Crown Burslem.

“These cup and saucers go for $21 each, so a full set for four to eight with the matching china teapots can easily go for $200 to $300,” she said.

Anyone looking for a great Mother’s Day feast can call on Vito Cala at The Villa Restaurant in Sandy Hook. But don’t expect walk-in service at any of his noon, 2, 4 or 6 pm sittings unless you are very lucky.

“Last year we couldn’t accommodate any walk-ins, so I suggest they call right away for a reservation,” Mr Cala said.

The Villa will be serving Mother’s Day Specials of baked stuffed lobster, swordfish, lamb, and duck as entrées, but his regular menu and children’s specials will also be available for regular customers, he said.

If it’s a simple Mother’s Day card you’re looking for, Joy’s Hallmark in the Sand Hill Plaza had about 1,500 varieties as of Tuesday. But those will begin to dwindle as Sunday approaches, according to regional Hallmark representative Charlie Kase.

“The owners have been in business here for almost 25 years,” Mr Kase said. “So they are very familiar with the kinds of cards and gift items their local customers are looking for.”

Store manager Andrea Lupo said she is planning to open early, at 10 am, Sunday, for anyone needing a last-minute card or gift while they’re on their way to visit mom.

“I’m sure we’ll be jammed Friday and Saturday as well,” Ms Lupo said. “But it’s a very happy business. We always have something special for any occasion.”

And if you have no idea what to get for your Mom, perhaps a stop at Lexington Gardens on Church Hill Road is in order. The sprawling retail complex has everything from fresh cut or custom designed silk flower arrangements to potted plants and flowers, trees and shrubbery, gourmet food items, clothes, shoes, jewelry, and the popular Mary Frances designer handbags.

“We’ll have families shopping in here all weekend,” said manager Jackie Wiggins.

Lexington’s Gourmet Shop manager Barbara Colacurcio said her staff would be happy to assemble a fresh fruit basket, or something a little more sinful including imported Joseph Schmidt truffles flown in freshly made from San Francisco.

“If you mother enjoys cooking, we carry the trendy LeCreuset cast-iron bakeware and utensils,” she said. “They are very sturdy, and typically last long enough to pass down to your daughter if she likes to cook.”

Floral shop manager Shirley Barker said Mother’s Day is the second biggest flower day of the year after Valentine’s Day, and so she brings in plenty of fresh cut blossoms fresh off the plane from Holland.

“We get them fresh so they last longer in the vase,” Ms Barker said. “And we get plenty because we don’t want to turn anyone away disappointed.”

Children tapping the piggy bank can get a greenhouse plant for as little as $5, according to greenhouse manager Fabienne Audette. But her favorite gift idea is a custom-made planter starting at about $40 and topping out at more than $200.

“We interview the customer to find out exactly where they will keep the planter, and how often they will be able to maintain it,” Ms Audette said. “Then we find the perfect container and mix a variety of plants and flowers to create a design that is one-of-a-kind for that person.”

While it would be impossible to feature every merchant in Newtown in a story like this, anyone looking for other ideas for a perfect Mother’s Day experience can find plentiful options among advertisers in today’s special Mother’s Day edition of The Newtown Bee.