Рецепт The Baker's Dozen: A Father's Day Gift Guide!
By Anne M. Raso and Finance Foodie
Father's Day is coming fast upon us and most of us wait until the last minute to pick out something for dear old dad. Here is a list that will hopefully give you a great variety to “dad pleasers” to choose from--and all brands will be happy to work with you to get your goodies in time!
L'Occitane's spicy and "outdoorsy" Cade Rich Shaving Cream ($34) and Eau De Toilette ($55) are a winning team; Cade is one of the most famous men's scents in the legendary French skincare and fragrance company's line! I love the fact that the L’Occitane folks grow their own herbs for their products in a field in Grasse. Dad will not only love the scent and having a super smooth shave but he will be amazed at how long these products last. Guys have told me that the seven-ounce jar of Cade shave cream lasts about four months with one shave a day and that the 3.4 ounce EDT lasts them more than a year applying twice per day! Both items are available at www.loccitane.com and at all L'Occitane stores. (There is free shipping on all online orders right now, BTW!)
For dads who love to golf: Mystical Golf has announced “Summer 3 Play Tee Time Card” for rounds on each of its acclaimed Myrtle Beach layouts through Sept. 3, 2014. Purchase the "Summer 3" at Mystical Golf’s three pro shops and at www.mysticalgolf.com for $118 per person (taxes not included). It features three rounds on what many call the “best 54 holes of pure golf in Myrtle Beach.” It also includes cart, complimentary lunch and two free beers. Airfare from NYC to Myrtle Beach is cheap right now (especially on Spirit Airlines where it's only $150 to $180 RT), making this a deal as sweet as Southern iced tea!
Commisso & Company Salon is located at 30 Main Street in Port Washington, NY--just a 22-minute train ride from Penn Station. They will customize a Father's Day package for you and even write it up on special gift card. Owner Dominic Commisso is a master of layering and highlighting. If your dad wants a cut that he can let dry naturally and just fall into place without even lifting a comb, Dominic is the guy to see. He is known as a "perfectionist" when it comes to cutting, and he will get rid of dad's flyaway ends and make his daily morning routine super-easy. This salon also sells Nioxin and the staff can advise you on how to use it. Dominic told me that while it won't grow hair, but it will definitely thicken what Dad already has. I've personally had my hair cut by Dominic in one of the trendy short dos (a la Anne Hathaway) and I do not have to do much more than shake my head in the morning now. For more info, go to commissoandcompany.com. Prices are in the moderate range and much cheaper than Manhattan salons--but clients get cutting edge style! Gentleman’s haircuts cost $35 to $50.
Is your dad a super foodie--or a guy that just loves a good potato chip? Grace's Marketplace's Gentlemen's Gift Basket is available in prices starting at $75 (price of basket shown in $300). The baskets are filled with local and regional high-end charcuterie, delicious shareable snacks, suds for the boys and great grilling compliments. Delivery across the US is available; just go to www.gracesmarketplace.com to order. You can also walk into their legendary store at the corner of 71st and Third on the Upper East Side and handpick items for your basket! You can't go wrong with a basket of edibles that are all things that Dad enjoys (and yes, you can get a cooler style metal bucket instead of a real basket to keep your brewskis cold in)! Virtually anything from Grace's stock that is not perishable qualifies to make it into the custom Gentlemen’ Gift Baskets and all are trimmed with Grace’s famous red and white logo ribbons.
Ideal for foodie dads who love to cook (and use a minimal amount of kitchen equipment) is the Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler, which is just $89.99 on amazon.com. Incredible enough, this 5-in-1countertop unit works as a contact grill, panini press, full grill, full griddle, and half grill/half griddle. The removable and reversible non-stick cooking plates are super easy to clean! The Griddler qualifies for Prime Membership free shipping; gift wrap is available. I don't have to tell you how fast Amazon's customer service people send out purchases so there will be no problem getting this in time for Dad's big day!
So Dad has forever dreamed of making his own beer? Maybe you should get him the Mr. Beer Premium Gold Edition Beer Kit--which includes 2-gallon fermenting keg with lid and tap assembly, two standard refill brew packs, and eight reusable plastic one-liter bottles. The keg is lightweight and shatterproof. One kit makes four gallons of home brewed beer and instructions are simple and precise! You even get labels. Only $60.74 at www.amazon.com; this product is eligible for free shipping with an Amazon Prime Membership.
Hertz is expanding its Dream Car Collection to feature the Jaguar XJL ($355 per day) and its Adrenaline Collection to feature the Corvette Stingray Hertz Edition ($250 day), so why not treat dad to one day of his dream ride? These chic cars are available at many Hertz locations nationwide, including: Miami, Orlando, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Phoenix and San Diego. Pictured here is the Corvette, which is available in Velocity Yellow or Blade Silver exterior paint. Dad will feel like a rock star in these special wheels—especially in the Vette, which can 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds! Go to www.hertz.com to book.
Bond No. 9 I Love New York For Fathers 3.4 EDP spray features the famous I Love New York logo (done in blue and white instead of red and black) on the front. The retail price is $175 but you can get it on www.fragrance.net for an incredible $113.75. This smoky sensual scent includes amber, sandalwood, geranium, lavender, juniper berry and ginger notes! It might take a bit of doing to keep mom from using it as well! This scent is addicting and easy to wear.
Dear Clark is a fantastically efficient line of handcrafted hair care products for men with natural ingredients grown in Texas. Masterminded by the stylists at the Dallas salon of the same name, the vintage apothecary-inspired Dear Clark line features five products designed around the needs of a modern urban lifestyle including Resurrecting Wash, Resurrecting Rinse, Smoothing Elixir, Thickening Balm and Finishing Salve. These products range from $22 to $24 and are used by the cast of the TV show Dallas. For more info, go to www.dearclark.com.
David & Young linen striped fedoras have been spotted on celebs such as Kellan Lutz and J. Alexander, and summer is the perfect time to sport one of these lightweight hats. They are only $35 and available in several colors at www.shopdavidandyoung.com. Flat rate shipping is only $7 and shipping is free if you spend over $50. Beware—if you buy dad only one of these, he might want to order every color!
The Dylan Dopp Kit in red and khaki by Jack + Mulligan is a practical yet stylish gift for Dad—and you can make the deal even sweeter for him by putting some of the aforementioned fragrance and hair items inside! What makes this dopp kit worth $70 is that it’s created from water repellent 18-ounce canvas; the waterproof lining protects from accidental spills. A touch of class is added with the dark brown leather accents and antique brass hardware. There are three roomy outside pockets; each kit measures 12” X 5.5” by 5.” For more info, go to www.jackandmulligan.com.
For those of you in the New York City area, treat your father to a hearty man's brunch at the newly opened West SoHo resto, Union Bar and Kitchen (UBK). Featuring New American cuisine with global influences, including
Mexican, Asian and French, its menu offers something for everyone to enjoy throughout the day. UBK is the
restaurant debut of banker turned restaurateur Jonathan Renert, who is eager to bring a union of flavors, as
well as people, together in an unpretentious, casual bar and restaurant. For more info go to www.ubknyc.com