This Sunday is Father's Day. Why not give Dad something he can really enjoy, and buy it from a local business?
If he is a golfer, the shop at Kennedy Park's has shirts ($40 to $70) and golf balls ($20 a dozen), according to Charlie Webster, the golf shop pro at the greens.
Most shoppers are in quest of a tangible gift instead of buying a couple rounds of golf on the links, Webster said.
But when it comes to clubs, he said, gift certificates are a good idea so dads can get exactly what they want.
At on Main Street, dads are always hungry for barbecue accessories, according to Laura Lewis, a Shackford family member who works at the downtown icon.
The store doesn’t sell barbecue grills — but there is no shortage of grilling accessories ranging from rib racks and grilling baskets to cedar planks and smoking chips.
In recent years, Lewis said there, has been a trend toward getting dads pots and pans for cooking in the kitchen as well.
“I have a feeling (this Saturday) is going to be a very busy day for us,” Lewis said. “As will the entire week.”
She added that overall, wives and the kids don’t put off the task to the last minute, as many husbands tend to do in advance of Mother’s Day.
If Dad is an outdoorsman, on Imola Avenue has items from inexpensive fishing flies ($1.95), for the novice fisherman, to hunting bows costing as much as $800 to $900, for the experienced hunter.
“And bow hunting season is just around the corner in July,” said Tom Dudenhoeffer, a salesman at the store in the Riverpark Shopping Center.
Other dad's-day selections at Sweeney's include camouflage shirts, knives for cleaning fish, waders and fly vests, Dudenhoeffer added.
“And books about everything from fly fishing to hunting are also popular gift items,” he said.
Raymond Lawrason, manager at in Napa, said hot sellers for dad’s day this year are cookbooks by Guy Fieri, a celebrity chef on the Food Network.
Fieri’s first cookbook is a New York Times best seller.
“He’s kind of local, living in Santa Rosa,” Lawrason added.
For dads not into cooking, "Unbroken by" Laura Hildebrand, is selling well at Copperfield's right now. The focus is on a lieutenant serving during World War II.
“A humorous coffee table book popular with fathers is 'Man Cave Book,'" Lawrason said. By author Mike Yost, it features photos of tiki bars, a sports haven and everything in between.
“Awkward Family Photos” is a hilarious photo book by Mike Bender, based on a blog, Lawrason said.
Copperfield's also offers gift certificates so Dad can make his own choice.
At , store owner Kent Gardella said the ESQ watch, made by Movado, ranges from $200 to $400.
“It has been featured on ESPN and CNN TV ads. It has also been featured in men’s magazines such as GQ and Esquire,” Gardella added.
At , the tobacconist on First Street, it's no surprise to learn from owner Brenda Roberts that "we always sell a lot of cigars and accessories that go with them, such as humidors, cutters and ashtrays."
But the store is about more than smoking, she sad: Galileo indoor thermometers are among the tobacco-free choices. The shop also has a wide selection of clocks.
“Also popular are scrap metal sculptures for dad to feature in his garden or any where outside,” Roberts said. “Many of them are based on animals, such as cats, dogs, turtles and even a giraffe.”
Roberts expects to be busy all week, coming to a peak on Saturday.
“Everyone seems to procrastinate,” she said.
