Dad might seem fussy to you but I’ve picked out gift items that any dad would love no matter his age or what his tastes are. Even the biggest “tough guy” would enjoy these picks–and most of them won’t break the bank! These choices are in no particular order:
18.21 Man Made’s Shampoo, Conditioner And Body Wash is a great gift because it’s an all-natural new product that takes the place of three products dad uses and it actually strengthens hair. It smells like sweet tobacco mixed with herbs (a very addictive scent) and the recyclable plastic bottle is a whopping 18 ounces for $24. (I guess that everything that they make in Texas is big!) I got turned onto this company at the recent Cosmoprof in New York City which was full of great natural skincare and beauty products and the old school packaging just blew me away. Everything by 18.21 smells so fresh that you want to eat it as much as use it on your skin or hair. Order this and other cool mens’ self-care products at www.1821manmade.com.
There are so many types of Bacardi that my head spins but here are three that I was recently turned onto by their pr team. Havana Club is available in both light and dark and they out being made in Cuba but in recent years have been made in Puerto Rico. They are well prices at about $23 per bottle and have been written up on liquor websites everywhere for their incredible smoothness. Bacardi Anejo Quatro was recently released to a lot of fanfare via a bug launch party in New York City that included a tasting room in a secret “speakeasy” on the Lower East Side. My friends really into Planters’ Punch have said that this is the best rum that they have found to make it with but I know gentleman who like to kick back with a cigar and a small glass straight up to end and evening personally. You will taste hints of vanilla, cloves and cinnamon and feel that is it is well worth the $30 price tag. For more information, go to www.bacardi.com. Available at liquor stores nationwide.
The blue Mizuno Wave Rider 21 sneakers pictured above are $120, light, great for running and 10 dollars of every purchase goes to BCRF, which has been rated the best breast cancer organization time and time again for covering both research and treatment of this all-too-common disease. These sneakers not only benefit a great cause but they really breathe and give your arches great support. As a matter of fact, Mizuno has Dynamotion Fit which features a breakthrough engineered mesh for breathability, movement and hold needed while running. To order, go to www.mizunousa.com. The pink version is available for mom as well, as you can see from my photo above!
Godiva has a classic Dark Chocolate Assortment that I have fallen madly in love with and I am normally a milk chocolate kind of gal! You get a big 27-piece, 10.6 ounce box for $35 and there is an incredible amount of fillings as well as solid dark chocolate pieces. Dad might not want to share this so keep a box for yourself hidden away somewhere. Only the tenderest of dads truly appreciate the really special piece in this all-dark collection–the coveted chocolate covered cherry aka the Cherry Cordial. My heart belongs to the Cappucino Truffle, however. Purchase at www.godiva.com, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s or at any Godiva boutique.
Everyone loves SodaStream because there is nothing quite as fun as making your own soda and sparkling water yourself! With a new SodaStream that came into store this week, the Fizzi One Touch, you can not only make fresh sparkling water with the touch of a button but you can customize the beverage with three levels of carbonation. Sodastream is the perfect addition to any home with its sleek design and ease of use. The machine eliminates the hassle of lugging cans and bottles back from the grocery store (and taking up shelf space in your kitchen), by carbonating water right from the tap. The Fizzi One Touch is available for $129.99 at Bed, Bath & Beyond, Amazon and www.sodastream.com. (By the way, if dad loves root beer, the Sodastream Root Beer Mix is worth purchasing to gift along with the Fizzi One Touch.)
If you have a dad who loves to bicycle (especially in the city), Hammacher Schlemmer’s Foldaway Bike Helmet is a Godsend. This cool black helmet has unique hinges that lets it fold all the way down to 8″ long by 6″ wide by 4 1/2 ” deep. Its outer shell is made of durable ABS while its inner shell is made of expandable polystyrene foam (this creates an additional layer of protection). This comfortable helmet has 14 ventilation holes, an adjustable strap and a chin protector. There’s even a pad set to help adjust the helmet’s fit. It is available in two sizes: S/M (21 1/4 – 22 3/4) and L/XL (22 3/4 – 24 1/4). Like all Hammacher items, the Foldaway Bicycle Helmet comes with a lifetime replacement guarantee and you do not even have to save the receipt. Priced at $149.99. To order, go to www.hammacher.com.
It finally happened! Someone invented a device that lets you floss and brush at the same time–not surprising, it was the legendary Waterpik® company that did it. The Sonic-Fusion® is the world’s first flossing toothbrush and it has only been on shelves one month but it has gotten five star reviews across the board. How can you can brush and floss at the same time? Well, Waterpik® Water Flosser technology is built into the Advanced Sonic Toothbrush to deliver a complete cleaning in one step. Sonic-Fusion® offers three cleaning settings: Brush, Floss, or Brush + Floss. The Sonic Toothbrush thoroughly cleans the surfaces of the teeth while the water flosser in the center of the brush head cleans between teeth and below the gumline where toothbrush bristles can’t go. (And before you ask–yes, you can use the Sonic Toothbrush alone if you wish!) Sonic-Fusion is truly no muss, no fuss and comes with a three-year warranty and is accepted by the American Dental Association (ADA). Priced at $199.99 and available on Amazon as well as at www.waterpik.com.
CityPASS gives Dad nine days of unlimited fun in the major city of his choice–each booklet offers several popular options of places to visit for a very reasonable price–the New York book is only $126! Dad just shows up and lets the ticket taker rip out the stub for each attraction! He also gets to pick any nine consecutive days to use his CityPASS once he receives it (he has the period of a whole year to choose his days). No reservations are needed for any CityPASS attraction and best of all, the user often gets VIP treatment. (I personally loved that I got to skip one of the lines at the Empire State Building, which can take as many as three hours to get to the top of!) The New York CityPASS booklet includes all the must-see sites of the Big Apple like The Statue Of Liberty, The USS Intrepid, The Empire State Building, The Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise, The 911 Memorial, The Metropolitan Museum, The American Museum Of Natural History, Guggenheim Museum and Top Of The RockObservation Deck. There are even some great bonuses in the back of the CityPASS booklets like special gifts at major department stores (for instance, the New York CityPASS gives you a coupon for 15 per cent off at Macy’s and a special visitor’s shopping package when you check in at Bloomingdales). CityPASS has had a remarkable 20 million users since the company started in 1997 and has whopping 4.8 out of 5 ratings on their official website. There are now CityPASSes for over a dozen major cities! A special youth CityPASS for those ages 6-17 is available for only $104. Order at www.citypass.com (digital versions are now available, by the way).
If you have a dad who is an audiophile and have about a $400 budget, I cannot recommend Como Audio’s new SpeakEasy wireless music system enough. It was masterminded by Tom DeVesto who was the founder of Tivoli Audio and is considered the Grand Wizard of the luxury audio business. The SpeakEasy has Google Assistant built in. It is a beautifully designed wood-cased audio device, featuring room-filling deluxe stereo sound quality. (Just for the record, the popular Google as well as Amazon assistant devices on the market now are not stereo.) Existing Como Audio customers can connect their current models to SpeakEasy with Google Chromecast Audio devices to group all the units to play music together in multiple rooms. The built in Google Assistant allows owners to use voice commands for playing music as well. The SpeakEasy is runs on an 100-240V external adapter and an optional battery pack for portability; in terms of size, it is compact, measuring just 9.4” H x 5” D x 4.9” W with anodized aluminum knobs and face plate.This item can be preordered now for an October delivery at www.comoaudio.com. If you want a wonderful Como Audio item that is a favorite of luxury hotels including the NoMad in Manhattan and can be sent out in time for Father’s Day, I recommend the Amico model. You can get it for $399 on Amazon with free shipping if you are a prime member. It is a speaker that can be used indoors or out that will allow Dad to connect to a Wi-Fi network or a Bluetooth device, stream music from Spotify, listen to one of the 30,000+ Internet radio stations, check his local FM station, and play music from his own library. It has a stunning modern design and is made of real teakwood–and sized similarly to the SpeakEasy.
