Father's Day Dilemma
The department store's favorite, emphatic Father's Day rule — This year, don't just get him a tie!!! — just won't go away. Barneys New York has it all over their display windows. JC Penney screams it at you while you're trying to watch Modern Family in peace. We imagine the only store to buck the trend is the Zegna outlet at Cabazon Outlets on the way to Palm Springs, where every business man goes to horde a lifetime supply of power ties in muted, boring prints.
That said, don't just get him a tie.
You've got 10 days to go before the big day — here are a few of our picks:
#1: South Willard Sandals
Where to get them: As far as dad-friendly gear goes, Douglas Fir has always been the go-to stop on West Third Street in Los Angeles, though we implore you to give South Willard a look. My father is definitely not the kind of guy who will ever wear a Band of Outsiders button-down or Henrik Vibskov socks, but all guys need a decent pair of leather flip-flops, and South Willard's are the best in the business.
How much: $118 for a pair that are handmade and built to last twice as long as facsimile pair from Banana Republic that you may as well throwaway at summer's end. (Sizes run big, buy half to full size smaller.)
What this purchase could lead to: A paternal pedicure. Every guy should get one summer pedicure, lest your feet look like a pathology case study in podiatry school. Chances my dad would ever agree to one? Oy; slim to none.
#2 Dockers K-1 premium khakis
We know what you're thinking: If a tie is too blase, then what does that make khakis, the article of clothing that single-handedly destroyed any sense of couth and panache in most workplaces? But Levi Strauss's Dockers line has tried hard in recent years to design khakis with a modicum of style, and with the K-1 collection, they've actually suceeded. The collection of eight styles debuted in March at American Rag.
How much: Though the limited-edition styles as seen at Am Rag cost upwards of $200, Dockers is selling its miltary-hued pants on its website for $68.
Reaction you'll get from him: Relief. He knows you're a fashionista who wishes he didn't wear dad jeans. What he doesn't know is that the cut on K-1's is more fashion forward, somewhere between J. Crew and NSF, and forgives a little paunch if he has let his gym membership slide.
#3 Gift card to Patina
Why now: The new chef, Tony Esnault, inspired veteran LA Times restaurant critic S. Irene Virbila to do something on Wednesday that she almost never does: give an L.A. restaurant four stars. "This latest iteration of Patina sneaks up and reminds the unwary and the jaded just why fine dining matters," Virbila writes. "The restaurant is a place where everything — the ambience, the service, the food and the wine work seamlessly to create a sense of occasion. It's the time to slow down, to savor the food and the company. A moment outside of the everyday, and a rare indulgence."
How much: The tasting menu is at $120, so a gift card covering you, pops, and other sundry family members won't come cheap. But it's the best way to experience a Disney Hall concert, where the restaurant is located. Splurge. You probably still owe him for paying your rent during that semester in college when five nights a week drinking seemed like a reasonable idea.
What you shouldn't miss on the menu: The creamy morels risotto. Trust us.
#4: A one-year membership to the Sierra Club
The reason why = beyond self-evident: The Sierra Club is still one of the best environmental organizations in business. Seeing a few dozen tankers' worth of oil spilling into the Gulf is enough to make us take the bus here to work after over half a decade of living in L.A.
What the membership gets you: This sweet replica of the group's original 1892 rucksack. Perfect for a Topanga Canyon hike. The group's Sierra Magazine is also a great montly enviro read (also comes with membership).
The perfect trail mix to pre-pack in aforementioned rucksack: Make it yourself--here's the best recipe on the interwebs.