What to Do and Get for Dad This Father’s Day

If the traditional answer in your house to the question, “What do you want to do?” is, “I don’t know; what do you want to do?” not only do we feel your pain, we’ve also got you covered. This Father’s Day you won’t even have to ask, just consult our handy guide for all the food you should eat, drinks you should sip, and even a couple present ideas for that hard-to-shop-for lug in your life.
 

Food & Drink

Benjamin Steakhouse is rolling out a classic three-course prix fixe menu for Father’s Day. Guests get their choice of appetizer: organic seasonal greens, wedge salad, jumbo shrimp cocktail, lobster bisque, or crab cake; followed by either dry aged bone-in rib eye or New York strip steak, rack of lamb, or Norwegian salmon plus a side; all ending with dessert and tea or coffee. Dads will also receive a $50 gift card good for their next visit. All of this for $69. Nice.

Captain Lawrence Brewing Co. has brought back their annual Father’s Day Tap Takeover: more than a dozen limited edition beers, a few kegs of each carefully having been reserved throughout the year, will be taste-tested side by side by thirsty padres. Vote for your favorite, and it might just be the next beer to be brewed en masse, but vote wisely … many of these varieties won’t be around again any time soon!

Related: Carvel and Captain Lawrence Team Up to Make “Fudgie the Beer”

MacArthur’s Riverview Restaurant at West Point has planned an indulgent Sunday brunch with gourmet stations, complimentary champagne, and all for just $52 per person.

Armonk’s Moderne Barn is offering some solid Father’s Day brunch specials from 10:30 a.m. through 3 p.m., including stuffed French toast, the Westchester breakfast platter, biscuits and “ribs,” a blackened salmon burger, and more! They’ll also be serving their normal à la carte menu all day.

If you’re a more ‘eat with your hands’ type, we highly recommend NY Firehouse Grille in Peekskill. Traditional American pub grub pairs well with local craft beers. For some added fun, consider attempting the Waiver Wings challenge. Yes, they’re so hot you will actually have to sign a waiver to order them, but for the chance to finally beat your old man at something it’s well worth the risk. Also, firefighters, police, EMTs/paramedics, teachers, and active military receive a 10% discount!

Dads, if you were jealous of all the pampering mom got at Castle Hotel & Spa and The Ritz-Carlton New York, Westchester on her day, turn those frown lines upside-down … lines. The Ritz is offering a 60-minute rejuvenating facial and scalp massage for $165, while for $55 per person Castle will showcase beer, barbecue, and Cuban cigars, 75 of which will be distributed throughout several smoking lounges throughout the day.

Activities

For the one who gave you your first bricks, take Dad to LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester. All weekend dads get in for free (with paid accompanying child, of course, so save up that paper route money). This of course falls right in the midst of the 40^th birthday bash celebrating the Policeman minifigure, so expect festivities to be at their peak. (If purchasing tickets online, use promo code 181009.)

For the biggest kid in your family, head to Rye’s Playland on Father’s Day! Dads ride for FREE all day, and everybody else is just $15. Grab some cotton candy, hit the Dragon Coaster (preferably not in that order), and squirt some water into a clown’s mouth to win dad a prize!

For the one who bowls you over, though, Spins Bowl locations are offering a pizza, a pitcher of soda, free shoe rentals for a families up to six people, and an hour of bowling for just $29.99. Feel like sticking around? You can double that to two houre of bowling for just $39.99. “Spins-off” site — that’s a free dad joke, there — Spins Hudson in Peekskill’s Factoria complex is offering a separate deal: Buy one game of laser tag and Dads play FOR FREE! Afterwards, stick around to try out the new beers from River Outpost Brewing Co. and some dynamite eats from Fin & Brew.

Gift Ideas

All right, real talk? We vacillate back and forth between The Best Gift-Givers Ever™ and “Holy Crap I Have Four Hours to Find Dad a Gift.” There’s no shaming here. If this year you just so happen to have fallen into the last-minute camp, consider some of these locally-made and locally themed gifts to bring a smile to dad’s face this Father’s Day.

Boozehol:

There’s no going wrong with StilltheOne Distillery’s Westchester Whiskey Line. 287, Rt 1, and 9A aren’t just roads, they’re also single-malt whiskeys made right here in Westchester, distilled from Westchester grains and craft beers, bottled and aged in Westchest– oh, you get the picture. They’re hyper-local, super-cool, and frustratingly good. Even if dad’s not a whiskey guy, the distillery’s selection of vodka, gin, and other assorted concoctions will definitely have something he’ll enjoy. If you’re not sure, just sit him down in the tasting room and see what floats his boat.

Related: You Need to Try This Game-Changing Westchester Themed Whiskey Line

For His ManCave:

Help dad spruce up the den with some local flair. Strapped for time? Skip the crafts fair and head to Etsy. Yes, everyone’s favorite website for handmade goods has a pretty sizeable and well-organized Hudson Valley contingent. As just a smattering of options, we really enjoy this vintage-styled reprint of an 1851 map of Westchester County complete with homeowner names. Trace your family’s roots! Alternately, for more recently naturalized Westchesterites, you could try this typographical map of the county where each town’s area is formed from its name. Perfect for the modern, sleek mancave. It’s even printed right up in Buffalo!

For the Absent-Minded Genius:

Is dad always telling you about these great ideas he had that would have made you all millions if only he’d written it down/hadn’t forgotten about it until someone else beat him to it? Brother, have we got the perfect gift for your dad: It’s a notebook. With a butt on it! (Trust us, he’ll love it.) Plus it’s totally pocket-sized, locally made in the Hudson Valley, and cheap enough that you can buy him a few now and restock him come the winter holidays!