Father’s Day suggestions

Dear old Dad
Dear old Dad.

Father’s day is coming up this weekend and I’m wondering what the dads, kids and wives out there have in mind. Fortunately it looks like we’re not going to break triple-digits on Sunday,

There’s fancy brunch. The 4-star hotels are always nice and crowded, but maybe you’re lucky and Dad favors a greasy-spoon breakfast anyway. A certain circusy place comes to mind. Or maybe you have been enjoying the juicy cartons of blueberries at CostCo lately and could whip me up … I mean whip Dad up … some blueberry flapjacks.

I have always thought that Trails Restaurant would make a great Father’s Day destination. You know, that old school charbroilery on 21st and Broadway. I have never been, and Sunday won’t really be chowder weather but Father’s Day could probably be called “charbroiled meat day” anyway.

If you can get a seat in the shade or don’t burn easily, the River Cats are in town for a Sunday afternoon game against the hated Las Vegas 51s. All the PCL foes are hated, but the 51s are the only ones with a space alien for a mascot. For Father’s Day the Cats are offering a four-pack of lawn tickets plus a bunch of other goodies for $44.

Any other ideas out there? Good places for brunch or lunch or dinner that might be out of the way or otherwise not crowded

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Author: CoolDMZ

"X-ray vision to see in between / Where's my kimono and my time machine?"

19 thoughts on “Father’s Day suggestions”

  1. So, ladies, what’s it going to be for Father’s Day this year? Do you want to stick with the usual standbys – necktie, sporting goods, power tools – or instead, really try to knock his socks off?

    In writing “Babyproofing Your Marriage”, we talked to hundreds of dads who told us they were desperately in need of a little appreciation. Yet another addition to his sports/sock/electrical appliance collection won’t make your man feel like he’s king for the day. He’d rather have one of the Three A’s: Appreciation, Affirmation or Acknowledgement. Sound familiar? He wants the same thing you do!

    Most men told us that no matter how hard they work, they feel like it’s never enough for their wives. According to them, we only seem to notice the things they don’t do (forgetting to pick up the milk), and/or the things they don’t do right (dressing the kids for church in football jerseys). We all do it. We get caught up in the small stuff and overlook their regular acts of heroism. Sometimes, parenting can indeed be a thankless task, but Father’s Day is a chance to recognize the super-hero that is your husband.

    So this year, pick from the following “show your appreciation” list and make his day:

    1. What do You Think?

    Of course, the first (and quite possibly, only) thing he really wants – a little Dad’s-Day action. Why not? Send the kids to lunch with Grandpa and buy yourselves a couple of hours.

    2. Let Him Off the Leash.

    For a few hours anyway. Grudge-free. Most dads are just as exhausted as us moms. Give him a chance to hop off the treadmill and relax. Get the kids out of the house so he can lounge around watching reruns of the 1998 Masters or just sleep for the entire afternoon. Alternatively, drop him off at the track, golf course, spa or home improvement store and let him have at it.

    3. Give Him a Promotion.

    Many dads feel like they’re the Bottom Head on the Family Totem Pole, somewhere below the dog and above your Aunt Mildred. We don’t mean to ignore them, it’s just with work, the house and the kids, there’s often no physical or mental energy left over for them. But guys value couple time just as much as we do. He would love to hang out with you the way you did in the old days. So set aside the dishes and the bills and the soccer practice, just for a little while, and give him your full and undivided attention. You can do this at home or, better yet, at the dining establishment of his choice (unless, of course, that establishment is Hooters).

    4. Let Him Be the Dad He Wants to Be.

    Guys often feel they’ve been relegated to the demeaning and powerless role of Assistant Mom, and that they are held to ridiculous (some would call it “anal”) standards of parenting perfection. According to them, we are like the Russian Judge, ever-ready with a score of “2” as we hang over their shoulders, critiquing everything from their diaper-changing techniques to their choice of playtime activities. Father’s Day is an opportunity for us to recognize that our husbands’ different approach to parenting ultimately adds huge value to our kids’ lives. So hand over the reins and let him relate to the kids on his terms. Sure, it might feel like you’ve let the Cat in the Hat into your house; things might get dirty and knees might get scratched, but at the end of the day, who cares? Let them have fun together without micromanaging. What’s more, learning to take a step back might bring us women a little closer to that co-parenting ideal we all want.

    5. Public Commendation.

    Do you ever feel like your husband expects a gold star for performing the most menial of housekeeping and childcare chores? “Great job washing those dishes, Honey!” It’s an infuriating male trait, but awarding them an occasional medal of honor won’t kill us. And what better day than Father’s Day to do it? The more public the better. Express your appreciation for your husband in front of both him and the kids (and maybe even his parents or yours if you’re all together). Say “Isn’t your Dad wonderful!” or “Do you all know how lucky you are to have such an incredible Daddy?” He might not get all mushy the way you would, but it’ll still make him feel like a million bucks.

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  2. I would suggest staying away from Trails, that is unless Dad has lost his sense of smell and taste, or really likes ribs. The ribs are fantastic, everything else falls a bit short, especially the clam (for clam, read cornstarch) chowder.

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  3. I don’t eat meat (and I would never order clam chowder in Sacramento) so I can hardly attest to the food at Trails, but the atmosphere is great. It’s a good, old fashioned family restaurant, and I hear they have great cobbler.

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  4. I’ll second staying away from the cornstarch soup at Trails End. I’ll never forget it. 🙂 The ribs were good and so is the BBQ chicken..according to some diners I talked to one day.

    Bridges on the River has a brunch on Sunday..and Ike Turner’s daughter and her band are playing there from 2 pm to 6. Hope they have misters to keep ya cool. I wonder if Virgin Sturgeon is open yet? We are getting steaks from Taylor’s and just grillin and chillin on Sunday. The last thing Dave wants to do on a day off is having to shave and wear a shirt. Same here really.

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  6. Can’t you just enjoy the ribs at Trails and avoid the clam chowder, or is clam chowder a Father’s Day tradition of which I am unaware?

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  9. Why is Trails a focus here? If it’s a greasy dinner or breakfast you’re after, why not Lucky Cafe, Tower or Pancake Circus or even..dare I suggest it….your own kitchen/backyard? My wonderful father passed away 5 1/2 years ago and I for one will be celebrating dad via a sausage and ciabatta egg casserole in the morning, my husband’s “fizzy fuzzy” (a fuzzy navel but w/cava in lieu of vodka) and a nice nap afterwards-just like he would’ve liked it.
    Oh, and hey DMZ…Happy Dad’s Day!! On second thought…perhaps we should Eat at Dad’s tomorrow at lunch in honor of…just a thought…

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  10. My good friend Troy is taking his dad to a much better place than Trails, and one that I highly recommend, the Plaza Hof Brau on Watt & El Camino. At the ‘Brau, Dad can get fresh meat on a roll, lima bean casserole, chocolate cream pie, a bowl of pickles and might even be told how fetching he’s looking by the 300 eighty plus year old women that frequent the joint. It’s Dad approved.

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  11. Rosie: We’re talking about Trails because I have this thing where I like, have a thought, and then I type it on my blog and other people like, put what they think about it, and stuff. It’s really fun most of the time.

    You must be really really fun to watch a movie with. “Why is the Italian mafia of the 1930s a focus here? What do I care what this Corleone guy does?” And thanks for the suggestion about cooking at my own house, I think we have one of those “food-make-go-cook” machines, I might be able to turn raw comestibles into some kind of edible form with that. Never done it before, do I need to call SMUD or something? What do you think?

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  12. i have one of those hot food makers too! it’s a phone with all my take out menus taped to it (so as to not starve and not lose my phone. sort of like a beer helmet. oh man, put those two together and i’m all set.

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  13. My wife tells me we’re having biscuits and gravy at the uber fancy breakfast place, “chez nous.” After that I’m to receive a “traditional” Father’s day gift which I take to mean a necktie. This is fine, as I work in a coat and tie environment.

    The first comment is interesting, and I can identify, but numbers 4 and 5 really stick in my craw. Yes, I have a different parenting style than my wife, but *it is no worse, nor better.* The writer tries to create a safe space for mothers to hand over the reigns to fathers but all she does is insult the Y chromosome. Shame.

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  14. I have to agree with uneasy. My husband is much better at housekeeping than I am. He does the laundry much better than I.

    My son and his wife have one baby..and one on the way. He works 12 hour days and has a job that affords him 4 days on 3 days off..the next week it is 3 days on and 4 days off (Intel in Portland). She works 3 days a week, 10 hours a day. He is in charge of the baby and the housework the days she works. When they are both home, they are totally equal parenting and housekeeping partners. I am impressed with both of them. Mike always got up in the middle of the night with the baby and has changed as many diapers as my DIL.

    I am impressed with both of them…and the baby of course…and they have another on the way! Whew.

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  15. UR is right about numbers 4-5.

    While my hubby and I have no children, the notion of doing certain household chores “better” is an antiquated notion.

    With both of us working outside the home plus numerous hobbies and activities, the general thought pattern around here is, “Wow, you did that? Thanks.” Anything the other one does is awesome since we didn’t have to do it ourself.

    To put down the other person’s way of doing something is the surefire way to ensure they’re not going to lend a hand in the future.

    Conversely, to give public and overly dramatic praise is insulting, like, “Who’s my big boy laundry do-er? Awww, you’re so cute when you separate the colors!”

    Sure, he’s not as AR as I am (thankfully) about having the vacuum or lawn mower patterns go in parallel lines, but if I’m not the one doing the work, I’m a happy girl regardless of how it gets done.

    This is not like algebra where “showing your work” scores you the points — it’s the final outcome that’s important.

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  18. Thanks, TS! I’ve printed this out, laminated it, and have velcroed it to our mower so I can follow the diagram exactly.

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