Your quest for the perfect present for Dad ends here.
By Halle Kaplan-Allen
With Father’s Day quickly approaching, the big question on everyone’s mind is: what kind of gift will bring a smile to dear old dad’s face? As we all know, there is no one-size-fits-all present for the number one man in our lives. But never fear, Washington Life has got you covered with gift suggestions for just about every type of dad out there.
The Philanthropist
- The IRC’s featured gift for Father’s Day is Emergency Food for Children, which can provide food to over 7,500 children in famine-stricken countries (Photo by Sven Torfinn).
For dads who love to give more than they love to get, the International Rescue Committee’s tribute gifts are the perfect present. The IRC focuses on lending their support to the world’s worst humanitarian crises. From their website, individuals can choose to finance a project in their father’s name. Projects include funding a community garden for refugees in the U.S., training a Burmese health worker or building a new classroom in Southern Sudan.
The Outdoors-y Dad
For a dad who loves spending time outside, check out Picnic Plus’ Cooladio collection, which features a variety of insulated coolers complete with built-in speakers to add a little excitement to any picnic, barbecue or tailgate. The Cooladio Music Tub Cooler, which can keep up to 72 cans or bottles cold for hours at a time, stands on its own with the help of four legs that collapse for effortless transportation and storage. The cooler also comes with two mounted speakers and a plug that is compatible with any iPod or MP3 player.
The Grill Master
Dads that love to grill will also love the newest Smokey Mountain Cooker/Smoker from Weber. Sold at Sur la Table, the Smoker can slow roast whole turkeys, hams and fish in its porcelain-enameled bowl. Equipped with a water pan underneath the durable steel cooking plates, the smoker adds steam to the cooking process so that meat remains tender.
The Traditionalist
You can never go wrong with the classic present for dad — a watch. Make your gift a little more exciting this year by exploring the latest innovations in time-telling from Jaeger LeCoultre, which can be found at the Tiny Jewel Box on Connecticut Avenue. Highlights are the AMVOX, whose design is inspired by the legendary Aston Martin sports car, and the Reverso, a reversible watch that features two clock faces of geometric symmetry inspired by the Art Deco period.
The Techie
The hassle caused by multiple remote controls is now a thing of the past – make your dad’s life easier by getting him the Beo6 universal remote from Bang and Olufsen. Instead of buttons, the remote’s hardened glass touch screen displays full menus and station logos, allowing you to manage all of your electronic devices at once. The remote also has a few basic buttons, such as volume and power controls, that apply to all of your different devices.
The Intellectual
- The Pelikan 800 Blue O’ Blue Ball Pen from Fahrney’s Pens (Photo courtesy of Fahrney’s Pens).
If your dad loves to write, give him a gift that will improve his creative experience – the Giuliano Mazzuoli Nobile Italia Chrome Ballpoint Pen and Pencil from Fahrney’s Pens in northwest Washington. The sleek shape and perfect balance of the pen is inspired by Italian explorer Umberto Nobile’s Norge air ship. And the pen is versatile – it changes from a ballpoint pen to a mechanical pencil at the touch of a button.
The Athlete
Keep your dad entertained as he works out with PowerBeats by Dr. Dre headphones. These earbuds are designed especially for athletes, with adjustable ear hooks that allow for maximum comfort and practicality – they will never fall off in the middle of a lengthy run or arduous bike ride. Best of all, Beats provide unbeatable sound quality that deliver the perfect levels of bass and detail.
The D.I.Y. Dad
If your dad has that creative gene that means he loves to make things for himself, schedule an appointment for him to brew his own beer (or soda) at the Shenandoah Brewing Company in Alexandria, Va. Located just 30 minutes outside of the heart of Washington, Shenandoah offers three-hour brewing lessons on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. You can choose from over 70 different brewing recipes, from pale ales to pilsners, with prices ranging from $140 to $235 per batch. After giving your beer time to ferment (between four and twelve weeks), return to the brewery to bottle and label your custom brew.
The Stylist
- Saks Fifth Avenue pocket square. (Photo courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue)
If your dad is interested in fashion, where better to search for a gift than Saks Fifth Avenue at Tysons Galleria. This month, the store’s shoe department will also be offering an expanded “New Look” display complete with style consultants to help create a “New Look” for dads. To top it all off, the store will be celebrating Father’s Day with complimentary shoe shines, refreshments and a photobooth from June 15-17.
