Father's Day Gift Ideas

I like simple pleasures.

Alright, maybe not like that.  But most of you guys are relatively simple too.  We're simple men.

Chances are you already have all the stuff you think you need, and most of the stuff you want.  With that in mind, here are a few simple Father's Day gift ideas to request this year.

A beef jerky subscription from Craft Jerky Co.  Options include keto-friendly for TR, booze-infused for Whitney, hot & spicy (like "hot hot caliente") for Dave, gluten free for Marls, and paleo for rob (because he's old).

Some new sneakers.  Like these Nike Killshots for about $69 or these Nike Blazers for about $52.

A slimmed down wallet.  Like this for $40.  I made the move from billfold to card holder a few years ago and it's liberating.  You don't need to carry every membership card, collect-10-punches-get-a-free-sandwich card, car wash coupon, or receipt you've ever been handed.  All you need is some cash, your license, ATM card, a credit card, health insurance cards, and maybe a subway/rail pass.  The rest is all bullshit.

A Spotify subscription.  Then you can make contributions to Notify.

An OXO computer cleaner.  You probably spent the past 15-16 months working and living at your desk so your keyboard is full of dust and crumbs and your monitor is covered in sneeze stains and fingerprints.  This $10 widget makes all that go away really easily.

A duffel garment bag.  Like this one for $95 or this big one for $275.  This is so smart I wish I came up with it.  It's a garment bag with three flaps that fold up to form a duffel bag on one side of the garment bag, so when you have a one-day trip that requires a blazer or suit you can pack it in your carry-on.  Or you could just be like me and wad your suit into a ball, stuff it in the rollaboard and hope for the best.

A mountain glass from North Drinkware.  These guys hand-make pint glasses and tumblers with 3D reproductions of famous mountains rising from the bottom.  I can't fully explain it, you have to click on the link.  They have nifty topographical map coasters too.  And I went to high school with one of the company founders.

Now when your wife or kids ask what you want for Father's Day you don't have to lamely say "I don't know" or "Just spending the day with you is all the gift I need."

Good Shot, Mate

I've never donned short shorts and strapped tape around my dome, but I've long been a rugby fan. Partly because a number of my best friends played the game in college, and partly because it's a sport, and if it's a sport, I'm constitutionally inclined to enjoy it.

One of the great things about the game is the camaraderie and esprit de corps demonstrated by even the fiercest opponents. Some of my favorite memories of my days in Williamsburg involve sweaty, dirty men in different-colored jerseys locked arm in arm, singing and drinking post match. (Note: that sentence may need a rewrite.)

Via various Twitter sources yesterday, an example of what I mean - Northampton's Salesi Ma'afu smoked Leicester's Tom Youngs with a hard left hand during the Saints' 21-20 victory. Ma'afu was ejected, while Youngs spent time in the sin bin. But after the match, this exchange ensued:

Good on both of you.

Last Chance to Pay for Free Beer

Tickets are still available for tonight's Pints to Help Half Pints charity beer dinner at Birch & Barley in D.C. Join me, the Teej, the future Mrs. Teej, and Shlara for an evening of great suds and killer food. If this menu doesn't entice you, I fear you might not be human:

Apéritif:

Victoria 2011 -  Allagash Brewing - Maine

First:

Crudo of Hamachi

Pickled Fennel, Pomelo Beads & Mint

Beersel Mattina - Birrificio Del Ducato & Drie Fonteinen - Italy

Second:

Red Fife Ravioli

Housemade Bacon, Toasted Walnuts, Arugula & Green Peppercorns

Collaboration Not Litigation Ale - Avery Brewing & Russian River Brewing - Colorado

Third:

Grilled Ribeye of Beef

Confit Fingerlings, Black Trumpet Mushrooms & Butter-Braised Turnips

Smoke - Surly Brewing - Minnesota

Cheese:

Cave-Aged Valencay with Bergamot Marmalade

Without You I’m Nothing - Evil Twin (at Amager Bryghus) - Denmark

Pastore with Port-Glazed Figs

More Brown Than Black - Stone Brewing, The Alchemist & Ninkasi Brewing - California

Cave-Aged Colston Bassett Stilton with Honeyed Walnuts

Calva Reserva 2010 – Brouwerij ‘t Smisje - Belgium

Dessert:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Parfait, peanut crunch ice cream, chocolate curl

Backwoods Bastard 2011 – Founders Brewing Company – Michigan

Digestif:

Idjit! -  Dugges Ale & Porterbryggeri - Sweden

Executive Chef – Kyle Bailey

Pastry Chef – Tiffany MacIsaac

Beer Director – Greg Engert