Columnist Muriel Stevens: Gifts for Mom show great range

Wednesday, May 8, 2002 | 8:40 a.m.

Are you still thinking about what to get Mom for Mother's Day? Does she tell you that whatever you buy will be fine? Does she say that a card is all that's required? It's the mom thing to say, but the right gift will make her day.

So what's the right gift? Depends on the mom and how well her offspring (and spouse) listen to what she says during the year. And I don't mean when she mutters about needing a new vacuum cleaner.

A Mother's Day gift should be personal and thoughtful. It doesn't have to be costly, but a little imagination helps.

Custom candy: Candy is always dandy, so consider custom chocolates made by Bellagio's Executive Pastry Chef Jean-Philippe Maury and his staff. These exceptional chocolates can be ordered through Catering by Bellagio. Bellagio's catering department also makes gorgeous baskets that can include a variety of foods and bake shop items. Delivery service is available, too. For prices and additional information, call 693-7155.

Season tickets: A pair of tickets for an upcoming Las Vegas Philharmonic series (five concerts) would please any classical-music buff; or season tickets to Nevada Ballet Theatre or Nevada Opera Theatre.

Gift certificates: Gift certificates are always appropriate, so consider one geared to a hobby or a favorite indulgence. For women interested in wine, a wine shop certificate might be just right. Good wine shops are congenial places with owners and staff who will share information and perhaps a sampling of a featured wine. Las Vegas Wine Co., at 3050 E. Desert Inn Road (in McLeod Plaza) and 6345 S. Pecos Road (in Bella Plaza), offers wine classes and "warehouse prices"; Marche Bacchus, at 2620 Regatta Drive in Summerlin, is a bit of France.

Outlet shopping: A traveler's guide to bargain shopping in the United States can be a handy gift for a mom who lives to shop for bargains. "Factory Outlet Shopping," a paperback marvel (Roundabout Publications, $12.95), lists more than 300 factory outlet centers and 12,000 stores.

Not all factory outlets are bargains. Merchandise in many factory stores are made for the outlets only. "Factory Outlet Shopping" is a terrific source for locating the best outlets for high-end merchandise.

There is a boring sameness to the selection of stores in most outlet malls, but high-end manufacturers selectively choose their venues. One premium outlet, Woodbury Common, is one hour north of New York City. Among the many specialty outlets are Chanel, Bottega Veneta, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Frette linens, Giogio Armani, Hugo Boss, Judith Leiber, Louis Feraud Paris, Max Mara, Tumi, Space (Prado and Miu Miu), Versace and more.

Books and CDs: One of my favorite gifts was a number of books by a favorite author that I'd missed reading. I was able to read all of the books in sequence. A few CDs by a favorite artist are pleasing, too. Most CDs can be returned if they haven't been opened, so save those receipts.

Still stuck?: Take the honoree to her favorite restaurant, send her flowers or a live plant if she has a reasonably green thumb, and start thinking now about what to do for the next Mother's Day.