Dad Is: The Outdoor Type
Take Him To: Clayton Williams Father’s Day Celebration
Clayton Williams Memorial Garden; 6/16, 1 p.m –4 p.m.; 303 W. 126th St., nr. Frederick Douglass Blvd.
Spend the afternoon with dear old dad (and, you know, mom too) getting your hands dirty in the garden your third-floor walk-up never had.
Dad Is: A Lover of Creatures Great and Small
Take Him To: Father’s Day at Staten Island Zoo
Staten Island Zoo; 6/17, 10 a.m.–4:45 p.m.; Staten Island; 718-442-4308
Two-for-one admission this weekend at the Staten Island Zoo means you can take in all that is furry and fluffy for less than it costs to … Oooooh, baby hedgehogs.
Dad Is: An Eater of Creatures Great and Small
Take Him To: Father’s Day at Spice Market
Spice Market; 6/17; 403 W. 13th St., nr. Ninth Ave.; 212-675-2322
Does your father only answer to “Grill Master?” If you answered yes, then it’s likely you spend a large amount of father-child bonding time surrounded by hot coals and raw meat. (Or tofu. We see you, Brooklyn dads!) As an alternative, suggest this meatpacking fave. And, bonus: Dads walk away with executive chef Anthony Ricco’s recipe for a ten-spice dry rub, as well as one of his signature grilling recipes.
Dad Is: Working on Growing His Beer Belly
Take Him To: Brooklyn Waterfront Beer Festival
6/16, 12:30 p.m.–4 p.m. and 6–9:30 p.m.; 5 N. 11th St., nr. Kent Ave., Williamsburg
Take in sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline, and watch as your dad gets absolutely sloshed at this soon-to-be Brooklyn mainstay. Because, let’s be honest: That’s why you went in the first place, isn’t it?
Dad Is: A Boozer
Take Him To: A Tour of Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn Winery, and New York Distilling Company
Williamsburg; 6/17, noon–3:30 p.m.; 347-618-8687
A tour for the bro-dad who has a palate for the finer things in life, spend the afternoon touring Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn Winery, and New York Distilling—sure to please even the most ostentatious oenophile.
Dad Is: A Geek (and Proud of It!)
Take Him To: NYSCI Celebrates National GeekDad Day
New York Hall of Science; 6/17, 11 a.m–4 p.m.; 47-01 111th St., nr. 47th Ave.
Some dads are into the great outdoors. Some are not. This option is for the latter. If your dad’s happy place involves being surrounded by a treasure chest of wires and tools, then this is the place for him. NYSCI, in conjunction with WIRED’s GeekDad day (dumb name, cool idea), is opening up their Inventor’s Workshop for all hammer-happy poppas (and kiddos!) to let out their inner mad scientists, if only for the day.
Dad Is: A Wannabe Chef
Take Him To: Father’s Day Pizza Party
Taste Buds Kitchen; 6/16, 1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.–4 p.m; 109 W. 27th St., nr. Sixth Ave.
This pizza-making class is probably the best way to spend the afternoon with dad, provided you are a little one between 2 and 8 years of age.
Dad Is: Southern
Take Him To: Fish Fry at Beer Table
Beer Table; 6/17, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; 427 Seventh Ave., nr. 14th St.; 718-965-1196
The dudes over at Park Slope’s Beer Table are serving up “a mess” of catfish and hush puppies to celebrate their Daddy Dearests. And while we’re not entirely sure what the exact definition for “a mess” is, we do know that it sounds like a whole lotta awesome.
Dad Is: Good With Knives
Take Him To: Father’s Day Pig Butchering Class
Alobar; 6/17, 5:30 p.m.; 46 Vernon Blvd., nr. 46th Ave., Long Island City, Queens; 718-752-4000
What better way to celebrate fatherhood than to spend the afternoon learning how to correctly slice up a Babe filet at Alobar’s pig butchering class. Note: With this many sharp utensils lying around, it’s probably not really father-in-law appropriate … if ya catch our drift.
Dad Is: A (Yankees) Sports Nut
Take Him To: Father’s Day at Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium, 6/17; 1 E. 161st St., at River Ave.; 718-293-4300
Indulge his ultimate boyhood fan-tasy with two tickets to the Yankee Stadium tour. Grab lunch at NYY Steak, hang out on the warning track, and snag collectibles that will probably pale in comparison to his 1961 Mickey Mantle–signed glove but will make him smile nonetheless.
Dad Is: A Bruncher
Take Him To: Father’s Day Brunch at Jimmy’s No. 43
Jimmy’s No. 43; 6/17; 43 E. 7th St., nr. Second Ave.; 212-982-3006
Head over to Jimmy’s to start the day off the way Dad taught ya—with a full belly and an hour’s worth of bottomless beer cocktails. And all for just $25? We’re in.