It’s the merry, merry month of May at the upscale Retreat at Mountain Brook apartment home community in Birmingham, Alabama, which means Mother’s Day, National Pet Month, and more!
And by more, of course we mean Star Wars Day Sunday, May 4, 2025: “May the Fourth be with you.” (If you haven’t seen the LEGO Star Wars sets, then maybe this is the year!)
Quickly followed by Cinco de Mayo, which isn’t really that big a deal in Mexico. But, hey, who are we to argue about going out for some tacos and tequila this Monday, May 5?
A Corsage For Your Mama
The Retreat at Mountain Brook team asked *the Idea Specialists™* to fill us in on the background of Mother’s Day, which is always celebrated on the second Sunday of May (May 11 of this year). They turned to the venerable Smithsonian for the goods: “The credit belongs to Anna Jarvis, who organized the first official Mother’s Day services on the morning of May 10, 1908, in her hometown of Grafton, West Virginia, and later in the afternoon in her adopted hometown of Philadelphia.” U.S. President Woodrow Wilson gave the holiday federal recognition in 1914.
It’s also because of Anna Jarvis that one of the gifts we give our mamas this month is flowers. She specifically selected her own late mother’s favorite flower, the white carnation, as the holiday’s official emblem. At many churches, particularly in the South, it became a tradition to give each female in the congregation a corsage on Mother’s Day, and not just of carnations. What mattered was the color—red or pink if your mother was still alive, and white if what remained were memories of her.
Let’s Support Our Local Merchants!
The Retreat at Mountain Brook loves being a part of the community, and always wants to support our local Magic City merchants when we can. That’s why we loved the idea of finding that perfect arrangement for mom this year at Dorothy McDaniel’s Flower Market on 3rd Avenue South—a Birmingham institution that has some breathtaking designs. They deliver, of course.
Or, if you’re in the market for something that will last a little longer, Heezie’s on Church Street has everything from mahjong mats to furniture. (The Idea Specialists™ plan to indulge in a little “Dirty Blonde” laundry detergent for their finer fabrics.)
Mummy Yummies!
And whose mom wouldn’t want to go out to eat on her special day? You can never, ever go wrong with treating her to the classic Bright Star experience. The iconic Bessemer restaurant—“where turnip greens meet Greek-style beef tenderloin”—has been in business since 1907, and with good reason! Have the fried snapper throats, so good!
Of course Birmingham is a foodie destination, so you’ve got your pick of delicious choices!
We’re A Pet-Friendly Luxury Apartment Home Community
Because we’re such a pet-friendly luxury apartment home community, of course we love celebrating National Pet Month! It was founded by the American Veterinary Medical Association in 1981 to recognize the bonds we develop with our beloved pets and promote responsible pet care through education and awareness. And, it’s anchored by National Pet Week the first full week of May.
There are an estimated 1 billion pets worldwide, and we want to pet all of them! (Well, OK, maybe not the iguanas so much.) But we do love our fur-babies, so much so that we don’t have a weight restriction, and we do have pet stations throughout the property.
The Month’s End Brings Memorial Day
Memorial Day honors those who died or suffered injuries in battle, as compared to Veterans Day on November 11, which honors all who served in the military, whether they served in peace or wartime. This year, Monday, May 26, 2025, is the date of this U.S. Federal holiday; government offices will be closed.
*The Idea Specialists™*
The Idea Specialists™ is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.
Related posts:
April Appreciations—Easter, National Library Week, The Masters & RPM Careers Week!
Fireworks & Picnics—The Magic City is Exploding with Opportunities for Fourth of July Fun!
Spend the Last Days of Your Summer Staycationing in Luxury at The Retreat at Mountain Brook—and Exploring Birmingham!
Those Little Special Somethings
