Here are more Father’s Day gifts you might not have thought of for the upcoming festival of dads. 1. For dads who love reading about how things work. Okay, this is book for dads to read with (mostly) little boys. It’s the David McCauley series on buildings, including Pyramid, Unbuilding, Cathedral, and Arena. David MacCauley, the artist behind the The Way Things Work books and software uses beautiful pen and ink drawings to explain how different structures are created. But he doesn’t stop there. He creates fictitious stories around each to explain the buildings using stories of how and why things may have been built as they were. For example, in Castle, he explains how the...

It’s still early enough to sift through catalogs or go online to find a fun gift for Father’s Day. Here are a few things we’ve seen in the past few months that might make a different kind of gift. 1. For golfers – Personalized golf club grips. Golf Pride, among others, makes grips in different types that can be engraved with dad’s name, or you can buy them pre-engraved to say “#1 Dad.” Golfing dads always appreciate new grips, since replacing them is a task that’s easy to put off. Personalized grips also lower the risk of losing clubs left strewn (or thrown) across the fairway. Custom engraving ranges from $61.99 to $122.99 at www.GolfPride.com . 2. For iPhone dads with little...

1. If you have the only dad in America without an iPod, the choice is easy. 2. If the dad in your life travels like a maniac, the Kindle probably should be on his list since he’s going to find himself on a trip somewhere with no magazine and no internet connection one day. The Kindle packs all that in a small package he can keep at the bottom of his carry-on. The only drawback, other than the price, is that right now the mindless airlines treat it as an electronic device and make you shut it down during take-off and landing, which kind of defeats the purpose. 3. The Tray-Bien – I’m a Francophile and am not in love with the name of this gizmo, but I do think it’s very...

Yes, dads, don’t expect quite as many ties or chocolates this Fathers Day. Your celebration is yet another victim of the recession. However, note this: while moms “get” more on Mom’s Day per capita, spending on moms in 2009 was expected to be down 10% while spending for dads only will dip about 5%. Americans are expected to spend an average of $90.89 on gifts for dad, down slightly from $94.54 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $9.4 billion. Highlights from NRF’s 2009 Father’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey include: Consumers will spend the most ($1.9 billion) on a special outing such as a dinner or even a sporting event. Clothing still ranks...

It’s getting late and maybe you’re sick and tired of yet another reason to buy more stuff. But, it’s hard to break out of this tradition. Most folks give their loved one a little something on Valentine’s Day, even if it’s a hand-written poem or a single rose. Here are a few more thoughts for meaningful gifts for February 14th. 1. Instead of a material gift, give him an “experience.” It’s amazing the kind of wild adventures there are available for sale these days. Hire a jet fighter, fly in a dirigible, take flying lessons. There’s even a place in San Francisco that gives indoor parachuting lessons, where you can give him the sensation of jumping...

Audrey Hepburn is my daughter’s favorite movie star. She has seen all her movies except for Breakfast at Tiffany’s, which we continue to think is just a little mature for her. Funny Face, however, is one of her favorites. Though there are scenes of people smoking, most of it is pretty tame, though it is the kind of love story little girls love. She has bought three books on Audrey Hepburn with her own money, very quickly realizing that they all use the same photos and have very little new to say. So if anyone is out there thinking of a great book to write for my daughter, an all-new story on Audrey Hepburn would be great. Her birthday is in March, so you have 45 days!

Just a few days left to get your shopping done. Here are some ideas if you’re short on time. 1. Go to the bookstore. Books are a great idea because you can wander the aisles and be prompted by book titles to think of the right subject for the recipient. A trip to a bookstore, even after work, or on a Sunday afternoon, is a relatively peaceful experience and you might even consider it a break in an otherwise hectic shopping day. Books also have an important advantage: they are easy to exchange or return for full refund. 2. Concert DVDs. Here’s an idea that not everyone thinks of especially for women. If you were the one to buy the 55 inch HDTV, a concert DVD is a perfect way to showcase...

Dads can be hard to be buy for, but nothing is better than getting a gift from your kids that they made themselves. Here are two simple ideas that kids can easily make in time for holidays. Not only that, but the first is energy efficient! 1. A tie snake – With cold weather seeping in through every door and window, make a snake draft blocker using a colorful old tie filled with polypropylene pellets, or even dried beans (make sure they don’t get wet). Sew up both ends and you have a very long snake. If you want to go the extra distance, make it into a snake-looking object by sewing on eyes, and gluing on a red felt tongue. 2. A silk muscle-warmer made out of a tie. Fill the...

Well, sorta… Excite Books (ExciteBooks.com) is a subscription book service that sends books monthly to your child, along with a few extra toys and goodies to keep him or her interested. Packages start at $4.95 per month and books are selected based on grade level and sex of child. ExciteBooks is the brainchild of Austin George, a commercial pilot, who has always had a commitment to education. Before founding Excite Books, George volunteered as a motivational speaker in schools, where he was often surprised at the lack of books in the school library. George created Excite Books to “add excitement and energy into a child’s reading activities by allowing the child to be an active...

1. Electric Grill Brush – $28 – Boy, do I wish I had one of these. We’d grill outside more often. Our grill is caked with who-knows-what caked over the chrome. I brush most of it away, but a lot always remains. To the hardboiled, I know that means good barbecue flavor, but I can’t get over eating burnt meat grease. 2. Laguiole 6-Piece Steak Knife set – $42 – This is a treat for steak lovers. These French knives, which look like the famous Laguiole pocket knife look great at a table set for meat. 3. Wireless talking BBQ thermometer – $49.99 We’re not saying you really need it. I mean, does anyone barbecue that much? But maybe the dad on your list...