SATURDAY CLASSIFIEDS:
Make Dad feel like a kid again with these fun, unexpected gift ideas.
Ever since Father’s Day was first conceived in the early 1900s — by the daughter of a Civil War veteran and widower who had raised six children as a single parent — there’s been a what-to-give quandary.
Here’s our advice. Just think of dads as what they are: grown-up kids. We like cool things, tasty things, daring things, things we can play with other people. Will Dad want to bring it in for showand-tell on Monday? If so, you’ve done well on Sunday.
Gifts that are games
You might want to start with gifts that Dad can share with others, especially his own kids or grandkids.
Center Field Batting Practice at Fenway Park ($7,000$11,000, with up to 24 guests) is a chance to shag fly balls (to keep) in a hallowed Red Sox outfield previously defended by Ted Williams, Jim Rice and Manny Ramirez. The experience includes a pregame tour of the Green Monster, seats in rows 1-2 of the Left Field Pavilion Section 18, and in-game eats from a private concession stand.
If you can’t beat your teens with screens, have Dad join ‘em with a Sony PS4 Playstation Pro ($399). Don’t know what games to get? Start by boosting his granddaughters with a copy of “Uncharted: The Lost Legacy” ($29.99), starring Chloe and Nadine, a treasure hunter and a mercenary; the game eschews the dated, damsels-in-distress trope. Or with World Cup 2018 kicking off in Russia over Father’s Day weekend, get a head start with “FIFA18” ($59.99).
To best view the PS4 Pro’s eye-popping 4K graphics, upgrade him to Samsung’s 75-inch Class Q9FN QLED Smart 4K UHD TV ($5,999). Bonus: It’s a next-level digital chameleon. The QLED’s ambient mode can mimic the pattern on the wall, making the entire screen disappear in virtual camouflage.
For more analog gaming, consider gifting a Jaques London Sandringham croquet set ($6,679). Six-wicket cutthroat is a classic mash-up of billiards and chess that’ll engage his gamesmanship without wearing out his knees — and it will double as a great excuse for a lawn party. The mahogany-and-brass cabinet contains everything you need for an eight-person game: powder-coated, uber-durable wickets; full-size, doublescored balls; pegs; flags; and accessories.
Gifts that are workouts
Not every dad looks great in a skinsuit, but if yours crushes his calories as a cyclist, a proper road kit is just the thing. Alé Bike Wear’s 2018 collection of jerseys ($99-$169) and hightech bibshorts ($85-$229) are light, breathable, and quick-drying for scorching temps and steep climbs, as well as ergonomically cut for racing.
No outfit is complete without shoes. On the road, Fi’zi:k Aria R3 road biking shoes ($300), are peerless: Italian engineering, a carbon fiber outsole, and a slick, webbed closure system.
Unless you’re positive Dad’s got his will all buttoned-up, with hefty largess in your name, show him you care with a light and bright Kask Mojito Cycling Helmet ($159). It’s 220 grams of snugfitting protection, with 26 air vents, antimicrobial padding and a comfortable, fauxleather chin strap.
Gifts that are drinkable
Riedel’s Nachtmann Punk Whiskey Set ($160), with an extra pair of ruby or jet-black whiskey tumblers, $19.90, is righteously heavy in the hand and adorned with glass nubs that constitute a thumb in the eye to overly formal, cut crystal.
But for true punk attitude, challenge the Father’s Day whiskey-giving cliché with a decadent, aged alternative. The 8-to-15-year-old Mount Gay XO Reserve Cask Rum ($48) is a ripe and opulent slow-sipper. If he still needs that Scotchlike smoke, there’s Sombra Mezcal ($42.99). This distillery honors tradition but takes a modern, ecominded and communitycentered approach so Dad can feel good with every sip of his smoked margarita. ( Just tell him to sub mezcal for tequila.)
After all that, keep him hydrated, too, with a water bottle that’s as low-profile as a flask. The A5 Memobottle ($36) holds 750 milliliters of H20 but is flat enough to be slipped into his briefcase without a bulge.
Gifts that are books
Taschen’s “Il Fascino Ferrari, Art Edition” is a gifting win-win. At $30,000, it’s pricey, but with only 250 signed and numbered copies, it’s also an heirloom — which means that unless you’re the spare and not the heir, it’ll end up back in your hands someday. The hand-stitched leather-bound book is enclosed in a Ferrari motor-inspired aluminum case from influential designer Marc Newson.
Much less pricey, Phaidon’s third edition of “Where Chefs Eat” ($35) now comes with an app, allowing Dad to take the 1,184-page behemoth on the road. Its 7,000 recommendations in more than 70 countries come from 650 of the world’s best chefs, such as Daniel Boulud, Massimo Bottura, David Chang and Rene Redzepi.
Gifts that are adventures
For outdoorsy dads, the Safari Condo Alto R Series Camper ($38,725) is a customizable head-turner. Its seamless, retractable roof, developed in a wind tunnel and built from a single piece of curved aluminum, creates 75 percent less aerodynamic drag than a traditional trailer, making for better gas mileage and smoother road trips. The teardrop-shaped camper sleeps four, opens/ closes with the push of a button, and is light enough to be towed by a compact car.
For fun from Dad’s yacht, hit him with the Dive X Piranha P1 Dive Scooter ($4,350). This personal propulsion system packs enough get-upand-go to survey the world below sea level for more than 2 hours, at speeds of up to 233 feet per minute (about 2.6 mph). The P1 has a builtin GoPro mount, programmable electronics and a special monofilament trap for preventing propeller mishaps with fishing line.
And if Pops still wants to share but is too analog for Instagram, consider the Lomo’Instant Wide Camera Central Park Edition ($259). From the makers of the Diana, that lo-fi film camera from the 1960s, the Lomo looks retro but is actually a modern instant camera. This package includes four colored-gel filters, two additional lenses and shooting technique cards.
Gifts that are wearable
Aquatalia’s Aiden Blue Suede Smoking Slippers ($395) are one-for-themoney, two-for-the-showstoppers: dashing, leatherpadded slides in navy, black or mushroom, with a flexible, weatherproof rubber sole that’s as comfy as his favorite easy chair.
If Dad often wears suits, he’s probably got enough matchy-matchy accessories. Instead, go for something uniquely catchy by mixing Tiffany’s Sterling Silver Word Cuff Links ($200 each): Left + Right, What + Ever, or Etc. + Etc.
Last, here’s a granddad gift for when you take the entire clan to the beach: Vilebrequin Father & Son Mini Fish Trunks ($590) is luxury, limited-edition swimwear for him and your own little ones. (Or for you and yours now, if you’re in a treat-yourself mood.) The suits feature fast-drying, embroidered fabric and strings tipped in silver, which all pack neatly into their own back pockets.