Saturday, June 14, 2014

I'll Love You Forever, I'll Like You For Always: My Top Picks for Father's Day

They're the guys who've looked after us all these years... the ones who read us Harry Potter and The Phantom Tollbooth every night in the hopes of getting us to be quiet, only to find us with flashlights under the covers after they thought we were fast asleep. It's time to repay the Dads in our life for raising us to be such great readers, with a couple of books, and maybe some other great gifts, as well. 

However, each Dad is his own dude... how are you supposed to pick out a present that is perfect for him? Here, for your benefit, I have assembled a sort of Dads in the Wild Field Guide of Gifts, perfect for last minute presents for Father's Day tomorrow! 

THE EDUCATION DAD
81922783573608Be it science fair projects or your every-night math homework, he was your primary source of both inspiration and coat-tail riding ("But Dad, can't you just explain it one more time? And do it slower, too"). Your DVR is full of recordings of Cosmos, your mail bin is full of National Geographic, and he was the first person you know to donate to the Reading Rainbow Kickstarter fund. He's the one who edited every paper and project, so take the time to celebrate your favorite A+ Dad.

Alphabet Juice by Roy Blount, Jr.
The Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume One
Sleek New Wristwatch

This scholastically-minded superdad will love a couple of new word-y books about words to beef up his personal library, while homemade leather bookmarks and a cool new wristwatch will up his teacher vibe in a very vintage, literary-great kind of way.


THE COOL DAD
63914434625In the style - and do we mean style - of Brad Pitt and David Beckham, is The Cool Dad. He taught us how to love Steinbeck and Faulkner, properly taste red wine, develop an appreciation for classic rock and philosophical conversation, and always knows where to get the best steaks and sushi alike in any given metropolis setting. For work, he decks up and out in button downs and sleek suits, but he'd rather buy his own ties, so you'll have to think a little outside the Brooks Brothers box on this Father's Day gift. 

Art of Shaving "Lexington" Gift Set 
The Complete Short Stories, Ernest Hemingway
Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc at Home Cookbook

Cool Dad will clean up nicely with an Art of Shaving gift set, while Hemingway's short stories pair well with a personalized flask, and with a trendy and tasty cookbook the whole family can enjoy together.


THE COMEDIAN DAD
5509515790837With a closet full of Hawaiian shirts and novelty ties galore, comes The Comedian Dad. You're, like, ninety percent sure there's a specific part of his brain reserved especially for the kind of puns that make your toes curl, and by now, you've learned to refuse taking part in any family outing that also involves karaoke. Regardless, because of this guy, you've never had to watch an episode of NBC's Community by yourself, so make sure to buy him a gift that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Gallant and Beau Printed Sock Set
Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris
Live from New York: An Uncensored History of SNL by Tom Shales and James Andrew Miller

Colorful, printed socks and a framed set of photos of you will definitely tickle his funny bone, while a book of comedian memoirs and a history of one of TV's most celebrated silly shows will give him something to chuckle about.


ACTION DAD
187751529791Equally likely to be the person who first taught you to catch a baseball, as well as how to properly nurse that baseball-shaped bruise over your eye, Action Dad is the sport-o-riffic, always-moving, adventurous and often aggravating member of the family whose predilection for getting lost on camping hikes is made up for by the fact that that's how you always found the coolest vistas. He loves adventures because he knows each and every one of them is a learning experience... and from him, you've learned a lot. 

Go Pro Chest Harness
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson
Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King

A Go Pro hands-off harness allows Dad even more ability to explore while documenting his adventures, while a #1 Dad Tumbler keeps him hydrated along the way. Funny recollections of a trip along the Appalachian trail will inspire future exploration, while a creepy new thriller will get Dad's heart rate up, without even leaving the house.


4281918505783CHEESEBURGER-IN-PARADISE DAD
A random-dancing dude who's flippin' awesome at flipping burgers, especially when fortified with his "Kiss the Chef" apron and Jimmy Buffet soundtrack, the Cheeseburger-in-Paradise Dad swears he has Seasonal Affective Disorder, which makes every day spent in the sun a day well spent. You're pretty sure he's the reason why Father's Day is celebrated after the kids have gotten off on summer vacation, because Lord knows there's no way they'd be getting to school the next morning after all the fun you're having together.

Guy on Fire: 130 Recipes for Adventures in Outdoor Cooking by Guy Fieri
Williams Sonoma "Make Your Own Beer" Kit
A Pirate Looks at Fifty by Jimmy Buffet

Cheeseburger Dad will love the sight of the sand in this shadowbox DIY, while a Guy Fieri cookbook gives him yet another excuse to break out the grill. A "make your own beer" kit crosses one more dream off the bucket-drink bucket-list, while Jimmy Buffet's bestselling memoirs give him a way to unwind.

What are you getting your Dad this Father's Day?

No comments:

Post a Comment