Very Last Minute Father’s Day Gift Ideas

I asked the big Stud what he wanted for Father’s Day. He was kind of busy this week with economic things….Doesn’t he know that my Livin’ Sassy readers don’t like to wait? Here is my man’s list of ideas for Father’s Day gifts. I think he was trying to drop some hints!

The following is a guest post by Steve Nivin.

I have been asked to give some ideas about last minute Father’s Day gifts for Livin’ Sassy. I am not sure how sassy they are, but here are some thoughts. Before getting to the list, though, I am a metrosexual, athletic, economist nerd who loves the arts, so you should know this list comes from that perspective. As an economist, I am also trained to make a lot of assumptions. We economists know the old adage about assumptions, but we choose to ignore it because it makes our lives easier, and we obviously don’t care if it makes us look like an a$&…witness the last economic crisis. For this list, I assume that dad gets your unconditional love and respect on a daily basis, or else that should be first. And, yes, it has to be unconditional; after all, we are men. And after all that rambling, here is the list…finally.

1. For the golfer in the family, Golfsmith recently opened its new mega golf store at 1604 and Blanco. It is a giant toy store for golfers, so a gift certificate to Golfsmith (or your golfer’s favorite store) is always a great gift. Many people think gift certificates are cop out gifts, but trust me, golfers are very particular about their equipment. It is best to let them pick their own equipment with a gift certificate.
2. Like the golfer dad, If dad is a fisherman or a hunter, a gift certificate to their favorite fishing or hunting supply store would be a great gift.
3. Time to play golf or go fishing or hunting…hopefully, after buying some new piece(s) of equipment.
4. Time to watch their favorite sporting event or television show in peace with their favorite beverage and snacks provided by their kids…and do not let them run out.
5. For the reader dad, books (old fashioned or electronic…whatever dad’s preference is) are always great gifts. You can always look at the New York Times best seller list for recommendations or just buy books by their favorite authors.
6. Time to read the Sunday New York Times with his favorite coffee (maybe from Brown Coffee) or his favorite morning beverage and some good pastries.
7. Take dad to a favorite arts event or give him time to go to the art museum, a poetry reading, or whatever art event suits his fancy.
8. Electronic gadgets are often gifts much enjoyed by dad. These could include headphones, new iPad or iPod, new laptop, or a jamming set of speakers.
9. If dad is lucky enough to have a man cave, then things for the cave could be nice gifts. If he does not have a man cave, give him the space for a man cave. You ladies have the rest of the house, giving up one room won’t kill you. And the garage does not count. Just because it is called a “cave” does not mean it should not have air conditioning. We are not trying to emulate a prehistoric cave here; this should be a modern cave with all of the modern conveniences.
10. For the clothes horse dad, clothes by his favorite designers could be nice gifts, but unless he is into ties (like me), leave the ties in the store…talk about a cop out gift.
11. Take dad to his favorite restaurant. You know the old adage: The secret to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I will agree with that.
12. Let dad have a night out with the guys…without any grief or guilt.
13. A night in a hotel with mom. Do I really need to elaborate on this one?
14. If dad is a home chef, cooking supplies are usually enjoyable gifts, but don’t just buy gadgets that will clutter the junk drawer. Good knives are always nice gifts; a cook never have too many cutting boards; and if dad is without a good food processor or mixer, those are awesome gifts.
15. Additionally, if dad is a chef wannabe, send him to a cooking class at Central Market,  or the CIA. If he is a coffee lover, Brown Coffee holds classes occasionally covering all aspects of coffee.
16. It may be a bit metrosexual, but dad is stressed, too, so a gift certificate for a massage will help relax him for a bit. Ooohh, maybe combine it with the night in a hotel room with mom. Woohoo!
17. If dad still carries a briefcase, grabbing a good bag to carry out the door on the way to a hard day at the office is always a nice way to start the day. I know a good briefcase is not cheap, but they are nice gifts and last forever.
18. Many dads collect nice pens and/or watches, so those are a good option. As a pen freak myself, I know one can never have too many nice pens. Another watch or pen may be impractical, but a collector of these items will always appreciate them.
19. I know the art of letter writing has almost disappeared, but sometimes sending a hand-written thank you note is necessary and very proper. Thus, some nice stationery for dad may be appreciated. Since this is last minute, you may not be able to get it personalized, but you can still get some nice stuff that he will enjoy writing on…maybe with a new pen.

I hope this helps. I am sure I missed many ideas, so please add yours in the comments. If none of these appeal to you, just keep in mind as you look for other gifts that men are simple creatures. I know many of you women are thinking: “Yes and simple-minded,too.” That may be true, but hey, it is Father’s Day, so let’s just go with simple. Being simple creatures, we really just want to be well-fed with good drink, have good relations with our significant others (if you know what I mean), and have the love and affection of our beloved kids.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!

Stay Sassy Ya’ll.