DO:

Curate a creative day out together

If there are two things the Creative dad in your life loves, they’re having creative fun and spending time with you. Plan a creative day out for you and pops that involves creative spaces and activities around your city. You can also weave in his favorite lunch and dinner spots as an added bonus for him.

If you need some inspiration, part of an example day in Seattle might look like this:

• Morning coffee and a blind contour session at his favorite cafe
• Afternoon walk and coffee in the Olympic Sculpture Park
• Drinks and First Thursday Art Walk in Pioneer Square

MAKE:

A bundle of creativity-enabling additions to his tech life

Chances are your Creative dad has a fair amount of technology integrated into his life. If you’re able, gift him a folder of creative apps for his smart phone or tablet.

• Oflow - This app contains over 150 handy tips on how to infuse more creativity into different aspects of life. It even lets you set creativity reminders so you can help dad keep his brain fresh and moving every day.
• Paper - Voted App of the Year 2012, this app is simply the most elegant method of drawing, sketching, painting and more on the iPad. Set your Creative patriarch loose on this and let his creativity flow.
• Say the Same Thing – This app comes to us from OK Go – the band of treadmill fame – and is best explained in this video. It is a superb way to get the brain moving and sync up thought patterns with your Creative dad. Download it yourself and you two can keep up the creative good times long after Father’s Day ends.
• Feedly - This is the RSS reader to which many are flocking given the retirement of Google Reader, and it offers an excellent opportunity to take this gift even further: research the best blogs for his areas of interest (design, technology, etc.) and create a full, customized RSS feed ready for him to dive into. Encouraging him to make his Feedly a part of his everyday routine will help him keep up on his passions.

BUY:

Education to grow the right side of his brain

The best thing you can give your Creative dad is the ability to create even more. We’ve recommended this gift in a past gift guide, but that’s because it’s just such a brilliant, thoughtful notion for the creative type in your life. If there are any community learning organizations in your area – like the School of Visual Concepts or Luminous Works here in Seattle – gift your Creative dad a tuition gift certificate to choose his own class. If If he’s more of a reader or DIY learner, grab him one of the many amazing books dedicated to the craft of creativity, such as The Book of Doing by Allison Arden or Imagine by Jonah Lehrer.

DO:

Help him get going on a project

Has there been a project your DIY Tinkerer dad has been talking about for a while but just hasn’t been able to get started? Help him get going by researching one of his potential projects and doing what you can to gather the proper materials for him. Bundle them up and let him know you’re there to help! If it’s not your area of expertise, you can at least gift him some ‘coupons’ for time to spend together working on it.

MAKE:

An organization system he can use

The DIY Tinkerer is either impeccably organized or thrives in disorganized chaos. If your dad falls in the latter category, check out a few different ways to make his work space more organized. Whether it’s turning mason jars into an organization rack or putting his nails, screws and other small pieces into easy-to-access baby food jars at his work bench, there are a lot of options to help make his tinkering more efficient and clean. We’d recommend giving him the gift first and letting him organize it himself; messing up his current “system”, no matter how unorganized it may seem to the naked eye, could create more work for dad.

BUY:

Time or class at a collaborative work space

Though they may not exist in every city, collaborative work spaces, like Metrix Create:Space here in Seattle, offer tools, classes and expertise in areas that you won’t find anywhere else. Would your dad dig laser cutting? 3-D printing? Learning basic electronics? Collaborative, creative work spaces like these could end up being a second home for him. Help grow his brain and take his tinkering to the next level.

DO:

Commit to compete with him

If your Athelete dad stays fit with biking, running, etc. there are plenty of opportunities available to compete with summer fast approaching. Check for local races in your area and get them on the calendar, then commit to train and race with your pops. If you’re a little behind on the fitness schedule, we’d recommend scheduling a race pretty far out in advance. Alternatively, if you’re short on time or not the athletic type, commit to simply picking up his race fees and being his best cheerleader on race day. Encouraging him to get out and do what he loves is one of the richest gifts you can give.

MAKE:

His new favorite gameday essential

Whether it’s his alma mater or favorite pro team, your Athlete dad is a passionate fan. Add to his gameday experience with a handmade project that features his favorite team. Is he into football or baseball? Fall weather fandom calls for a cozy fleece blanket under which he can enjoy the game in person or at home. Fabric patterns for local teams can usually be found at your local fabric store. Does his weekend agenda partially involve relaxing on the couch watching sports? Buy a shirt of his favorite team and turn it into a pillow. A cozy fan is a happy fan. PS Go Hawks.

BUY:

UP, the activity tracker by Jawbone

If your Athlete dad is a mover and a shaker who trys to keep tabs on his personal fitness, helping him get even more out of his routine is a gift that truly keeps on giving. Getting him an activity tracker like UP by Jawbone - which helps track how you sleep, move and eat – can keep him continuously excited about improving his fitness as well as give him another fun gadget to keep him entertained.

DO:

Treat him to a pre-Father’s Day office lunch

Every dad expects something to go down on Father’s Day – so why not mix it up and surprise him a few days before? Do a little bit of recon and figure out what the rest of his week at work might be like, then find a day to swing by and surprise him with a pre-Father’s Day lunch date. Use your own discretion, however – your pops might be a planner and require more of a heads up, so perhaps build a bit of flexibility or take out the element of surprise when executing this plan for your dad.

MAKE:

Leather cases for his tech

The Office-ionado is a species of dad known to carry around a fair amount of technology for his job. Oh Happy Day‘s amazing Leather Laptop Case DIY is a fantastic project to create a thoughtful, classy and useful gift for his laptop, smart phone or other office tech. Whatever item you choose to make a case for, remember: measure twice, cut once! (“Make” photo credit – the ever-crafty Oh Happy Day!)

BUY:

A low-maintenance desk plant

Your dad is a hard worker, so make his day better by bringing a little more life to his office. Office plants make a workspace feel much more alive, cheery and oxygen-rich. Using Lifehacker’s guide to cubicle-friendly plants, you can find the perfect low-maintenance green match for your pops. You’ll give him a gift that keeps on growing without giving him a chore.

DO:

A progressive family night out

Though this may involve a little bill-splitting with siblings or mom, compile a list of dad’s favorite bars and restaurants and get the family together for a progressive night out. Go get appetizers and drinks at his favorite bar, move on to dinner at his favorite restaurant, then finish with an evening dessert and coffee wherever his favorite sweets live. For presentation, consider compiling branded cocktail napkins, menus, etc. and creating a mini map using each location’s logo.

MAKE:

A custom food/drink recipe book

Does your dad have a few favorite chefs he looks up to? Know any of his favorite food or cocktail bloggers? Gather up all the intel you can about your dad’s favorites, then go to town on researching food/drink recipes from his favorite chefs, blogs and mixologists and compile them into an ultimate food/drink recipe book to give him on Father’s Day. Go as big or small as you want – and there’s even a way to make your recipe book online – but either way it’s a chance to get creative and show him you know what he’s passionate about.

BUY:

A cheese of the month subscription

Satisfying both the foodie and the drink pairer type patriarchs, a cheese of the month subscription from Dobbs and Bishop – available in three, six and twelve-month periods – is a quick, easy way to mix things up for him every month. Take it a step further and dedicate one night a month to bringing the family together around cheese and drink pairings. Fancy!

DO:

Treat him to a summer of hiking

Create a list of 5 hikes you’re going to take him on this summer and present it to him on a bag of trail mix or a map of your state. Use Alltrails to explore trails and find the best hike for you and pops, then move your focus to every other detail and plan it out as much as you can. Get dates on the calendar and go!

MAKE:

Custom trail mix with all his favorite tastes

Whether it’s hiking, fishing or another outdoor pursuit, your dad is going to need some energy. If you’ve got a good idea of his favorite tastes, mix it all up into the ultimate custom trail mix catered specifically to your dad’s taste buds. Here are 3 healthy trail mix recipes to get you started, as well as some starter tips of our own: Dad dig salt? Throw some mini pretzels in the mix. Know his favorite fruit? Dehydrate his favorite fruit that might not make a traditional trail mix. Want to change up the sweets? Sub in peanut butter chips instead of chocolate chips.

BUY:

A solid multi tool

While your dad may be the type that’s always prepared, it doesn’t hurt to update his tools every once in a while. Looking at the 5 best multi tools, you should be able to grab dad a reasonably priced gift he can integrate into his everyday life as well as his outdoor adventures. You may even be tempted to pick one up for yourself.

1. Seattle to Grow a One-of-a-Kind Food Forest

We’ve been keeping up with this project for quite some time, but it’s getting closer to a reality. The 7-acre public Food Forest, located on Seattle’s Beacon Hill, has plans to open this month and will be managed by a community of volunteers. Offering free fresh, local food to the community can cut down on carbon emissions from shipping and provide a greater focus on eating real food.

2. Airdrop Pulls Water From Air to Irrigate Plants

Irrigation can be a major problem for farmers and communities that exist in dry, arid conditions. With the Airdop, all you need is a plot of land and open air to generate water.

3. Window Socket: a Solar-Powered Plug That Sticks to Windows

The Window Socket, while only still a concept, allows you to turn any window into a solar-powered electricity outlet. Saving a little bit of energy at a time can make a big difference if this becomes a widespread reality.

4. Kinetic Energy-Harvesting Tiles Generate Power from Paris Marathon Runners

We as humans are full of energy just waiting to be expended. At this year’s Paris Maraton, Schneider Energy installed energy-harvesting tiles across part of the course which converted the steps and movements of the 40,000 runners into energy which powered displays throughout the marathon. Now, imagine Times Square in New York with this technology!

5. Indian Man Who Planted a 1,360-Acre Forest Now Plans to Plant Another

Starting in 1979, Jadav Payeng has dedicated thirty years of his life to planting a gigantic forest in his home country of India, and he’s now planning to dedicate the next thirty years to planting another. The forest he planted has provided shelter to animals displaced due to habitat loss as well as providing Payeng and his family with a place to raise cows and sell their milk. His work is an amazing testament to the difference a single person can make to the environment.

6. Microalgae Lamp Absorbs 150-200 Times More CO2 Than a Tree

While it looks like something that might turn baby turtles into crime-fighting, pizza-eating ninjas, these conceptual street lamps composed of microalgae could serve the dual purpose of sustainably lighting dark streets at night and absorbing harmful CO2 in the air. The microalgae is bioluminescent, meaning it produces light naturally and does not need electricity to run.

7. Carbon Buster: World’s First Carbon Negative Building Block Unveiled in the UK

While many organizations focus on becoming carbon neutral, Carbon Buster building blocks are made from 50% recycled material and capture more CO2 than what is emitted during their manufacturing. 

Oh Joy! Fruity Summer Striped Ice Cubes

For a while now, Joy Cho has been one of our go-to sources for inspiration in design, food, DIY and more, and this Fruity Summer Striped Ice Cubes project beautifully shows you why. Joy lays it out easily: “Simply add layers of pre-made juice, smoothies, and/or coconut milk (which I love for its color and for a creamy touch) to standard ice cube trays.” If this doesn’t get your tastebuds excited for summer, there may be something wrong with you. This is one many “why didn’t I think of this?” ideas that pop up seemingly every day on Oh Joy! Give her a follow and get inspired.

Kinetic Floor Generates Energy From People Dancing

Ever thought your footwork was so fancy that you could power a small city? Can your Dougie outwork a dam? Well, we’ve got news for you. A company in the Netherlands has created Energy Floors, a modular flooring system that harnesses the energy from the movement of people dancing atop the tiles and converts it into usable electricity. Imagine: high school dances producing sustainable energy instead of just awkwardness!

For Good Cause: Attractive Kombucha Packaging Helps Rescue Dogs Find Homes

Kombucha is generally pretty good for you, but who knew it could be good for dogs? No, we wouldn’t recommend pouring your next bottle of ‘bucha into your pooch’s water dish, but California-based KOMBUCHADOG is doing its part to help handsome shelter dogs find new homes by featuring a rotating series of dogs on each bottle’s label.

Infographic: Cocktails From Great Works of Film & Literature

Find yourself parched while enjoying your favorite novel or film? Want to emulate Don Draper but have (thankfully) come to terms with the fact that you’ll never be able to pull off the fedora? Well, pair your passion with one of the potables from this infographic and mix up the drink of choice of your favorite protagonist.

High Dining Restaurant Suspends Foodies From a Crane

High class dining just got a little higher as Dinner in the Sky combines fine cuisine with 180 feet of elevation. While it costs up to $500 to get your seat, this once in a lifetime experience could be an interesting addition to your next Europe trip. You won’t find a more perfect marriage of dinner parties and construction equipment anywhere else.

BOWSER’S AFTERNOON DELIGHT

Back Bar USA | Las Vegas, NV

Ingredients

- 1.5 oz Belvedere Vodka

- .75 oz Kiwano Fruit

- .5 oz Fresh Lemon Juice

- .5 oz Jasmin Blossom Simple Syrup (or simple syrup also works)

- 2 dashes of Fee Brothers Flavorless foam

Serve: rocks glass

Garnish: skin of Kiwano melon

Directions

- Combine all ingredients (except DRY Soda) into shaker

- Shake and double strain into rocks glass

- Top with Cucumber DRY Soda

This drink is especially refreshing after a long day of dealing with pesky Italian plumbers. Follow @BackBarUSA for more cocktail suggestions!

THE SPENCE - Atlanta, GA

A restaurant by DRY Soda’s Creative Director Richard Blais, The Spence is a full-on dining experience from the moment you sit down. You’ll get a dash of molecular gastronomy, one of Richard’s specialties, and get to experience his version of Minneapolis’ signature burger – the Juicy Lucy.

What to Get: Juicy Lucy

PS: if you’re hungrier for even more burger action, check out Richard Blais’ YouTube series Burger Lab on Tasted. There, he’ll feature a new burger each Monday that’s guaranteed to have your mouth watering.

8OZ. BURGER BAR - Seattle, WA

Borne from a collaboration between celebrity chef Govind Armstrong and Seattle’s own Kevin Chung, 8oz. Burger Bar brings a local and ingredient-driven focus to its burgers in a rustin, tavern-like setting. With many options to choose from, including burgers made from boar, turkey, lamb and the burger of the month in May featuring ground ostrich, The Madison paired with a DRY Soda keep us coming back.

What to Get: The Madison

EARLS - Denver, CO

Located in downtown Denver, Earls is the perfect blend of upscale and casual dining with a large capacity and any seating offering you can imagine. Get classy upstairs, sit casually on the patio on either level, the possibilities go on. Personally, we prefer a summertime seat on the patio with the classic Earls Bigger Better Burger and a DRY Soda.

What to Get: Earls Bigger Better Burger

ZOMBIEZ - Vashon Island, WA

Featured on Laughing Squid, Zombiez is a zombie-themed burger joint and fits in perfectly on Washington’s lovingly odd Vashon Island. Resurrected at the site formerly known as Zoomies, Zombiez’s fare is delicious and local, but unfortunately brain-free. Are you a fan of  zombies AND Quentin Tarantino? Celebrate both simultaneously and get yourself a Zombie Royale.

What to Get: Zombie Royale

CAFE FLORA - Seattle, WA

Just because you’re vegetarian doesn’t mean you have to miss out on a delicious food holiday like this. Cafe Flora is one of Seattle’s premier vegetarian restaurants and features all local and organic produce. While there are many tantalizing vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes on the menu, they’ll have you covered if you’re in the mood for a hearty vegetarian burger.

What to Get: Chipotle Black Bean Burger