Gift Ideas for Dad

We all know dads are hard to buy for. Come Fathers’ Day, it seems like you’re choosing between something unexciting he needs, like socks, or something funny but superfluous that will end up forgotten in a desk drawer. This year, break out of the Father’s Day rut with something stylish, useful, and oh-so-manly from the museum store—we’ve got something for every kind of Dad.

Art Dad
Wataru Sugiyama sculpture ($250)

This whimsical dog just arrived; we so want to take him to the park and throw a ball.

Beer Dad

Nambu bottle openers ($30-$45)

These chunky fellows won’t let Dad down when opening his beverage of choice, and they look great on the bar. A variety of designs are available.

Geek Dad

Earth Toy interlocking blocks ($35.00+)

If Dad’s the type who’s always stealing the kids’ LEGO these are the way to go. Earth Toy blocks are made from natural ingredients such as cedar bark, coffee beans, and green tea, mixed with polypropylene. Their subdued palette makes them great for the office, too.

Wine Dad

Sugahara glasses ($35-$70)

These beautiful Japanese stemless wine glasses are perfect for the dad with sophisticated tastes and a cellar to match. And we also have glasses for the whisk(e)y connoisseur.

Book Dad

If you want to go small and personal, Chin Music Press’ titles are a combination of art object and book, tactile but still great reading. The collection Kuhaku ($28.50) is an old favorite, but my first choice would be Todd Shimoda’s newest book, Subduction ($25.00) which combines science and philosophy in an intriguing mystery novel.

If you really want to impress an art dad, Phaidon’s massive The Art Museum ($200) is ideal. Compiling the entire history of art from cave painting to the present, it culls its source material from the best museums in the world (including ours). Not something you’d want to take on a bus, it’s as much a piece of furniture as book, clocking in at nearly 1,000 pages and almost 18 pounds.

My dad and I are much more likely to get into a conversation about imperialism and 19th-century politics, so Peter Hopkirk’s classic The Great Game ($18.00) is what I gave him a few years ago. This year I’m considering Dragon Fighter, the new autobiography from the Uyghur activist Rebiya Kadeer. Yeah, I think I get my history nerdism from him.

If you’re stumped for a present, drop by the museum store and take a look. The fact that Saturday is Members’ Day (double discount!) might actually reward your procrastination.