Last-Minute Father’s Day Ideas

June 19, 2009 | By | Comments (0)

It's Friday night, Father's Day is on Sunday, and you haven't gotten him a gift yet. You're not alone. 

 

I'm no stranger to the last-minute gift scramble; there's still plenty of time to go out and snag something special for the Dad in your life. It's too late to order online, but most will find one of these stores nearby (and all sites have a Store Locator tool so you can). Best of all, since we're nearing the end of June, many stores have already started to mark-down their summer items, so it's easier to get a bargain.

Here are a few Dad-specific suggestions, all under $30 (and a few that are free!):

Get Him Grilling 

Williams-Sonoma Mesh Grill Top Fry Pan, $30. He can saute all sorts of smaller, chopped-up veggies and sides in it while he grills the meat – so Dad can take charge of the entire meal for once.

 

 
Fry Pan Grill

Sur La Table Stainless Steel Herb Grill Grid - on sale for $24, and an easy way to "fancy up" grilled meats with fresh herb flavor.

 

Herb Grill

You say he doesn't have a grill? Get him one: the Weber Smokey Joe model is a good starter – small and inexpensive, it's $29 at Walmart. You can't beat that.

 

Smokey Joe

Who's Thirsty? 

Pick up a sixer of his favorite beer, and present it cold in this Six Pack Tote from Built NY – only $23, it saves you from wrapping paper and will be used for years to come. This Camo pattern would be a big hit with any huntsman (and it's manly enough to compensate for the fact that you're basically giving him an insulated man-purse for his beer…).

Beer Tote Camo

Don't know what his favorite beer is? Looking for something to sip while breaking in the new grill gear? Check out our affordable Summer Wine and Beer Suggestions, or mix-up your own specialty cocktail for Dad using Stirrings drink mixes.

 

Stirrings

They've got a line of "classic" cocktail mixers (and recipe suggestions) that are absolutely delicious; the Dark and Stormy is my personal fave. This is also a case of the no-wrap gift – the packaging/label is attractive enough that you can simply hand it over as is (note to self: also makes a great summer hostess gift).

 

Made With Love 
 

And if you don't have the time (or the money) to purchase one of these items, why not go back to basics – serve him up some breakfast in bed with a homemade card and a big hug. Pull out his favorite sections of the Sunday paper. Set the DVR to record the US Open for him. Ask if there are any things on his "to do" list that you can take care of for him. It's these little gestures that will add up to big appreciation. After all, that's what Father's Day is about – reminding Dad just how much you appreciate him.

Got any great Father's Day ideas? Share them here. 
Topics: drinks, Father's Day, gifts holidays

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