Don’t forget the food drive this Saturday! (Courtesy http://www.nalc.org)

Some fun happenings in our area and beyond for Mother’s Day weekend:

— Food for the needy will be collected by mail carriers around the country on Saturday, May 10, during the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive. Just place nonperishable or canned goods in a bag and leave it near or in your mailbox. The letter carriers will pick them up and deliver them to local food banks and other organizations that help battle hunger. So please, reach into that pantry and fill a bag. (It’s a nice way to do some nurturing on  Mother’s Day weekend!)

— Buy Bowser a beer? Not quite. But this fundraiser for the Escondido Humane Society donates $1 of select pint sales to the EHS. Pints for Pets has been pouring since Wednesday, but continues through Sunday, May 11, at Offbeat Brewing Company, 1223 Pacific Oaks Place, Suite 101 in Escondido (760-294-4045). Bring in two or more items from the EHS Wish List (http://offbeatbrewing.com/sites/default/files/WishList_0.pdf) and get a special thank-you gift. Meet pets available for adoption from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 10. Visit http://www.offbeatbrewing.com.

— Yes, Mother’s Day is Sunday. But why wait? You can take Mom to Mother’s Day Tea at Weidners Gardens in Encinitas on Saturday and/or Sunday. “We’ll provide the tea and cookies and you bring the love,” say the folks at weidners.com. Sounds like a deal to us. The gardens are open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily at 695 Normandy Road. Call 760-436-2194.

— Among the many restaurants offering Mom a lovely day is Vincent’s at 113 W. Grand Ave. in Escondido. No, they’re not paying me to say this, but we had a wonderful meal there just last weekend (I sampled my first Negroni, and it was sublime!). A three-course prix-fixe lunch will be from noon to 4 p.m. ($34) and a four-course prix fixe dinner from 4 to 7:30 p.m. ($46). Visit vincentsongrand.com for details. Reserve to 760-745-3835.

— And coming up:  Award-winning Chef William Bradley of Addison at the Grand Del Mar will be a part of the new Bijou French Bistro opening mid-June in La Jolla at the former site of Amaya La Jolla. Bradley will serve as culinary director, while Shaun Gethin, former sous chef of Addison, will be chef de cuisine of the new spot. Bijou will serve French food with California style for lunch and dinner daily and offer live music in the lounge. Bijou French Bistro is at 1205 Prospect St. Call 858-750-3695; visit http://www.bijoufrenchbistro.com.

(c) copyright Laura Groch 2014