Gift Ideas For Dear Old Dad

Father's Day is just easier.

Perhaps it's because dads don't fall victim to the Hallmark hype. Or maybe it's because they're not controlled by raging hormones. Whatever the case, for most of us June 19 will be a relaxed, enjoyable day with maybe a BBQ.

Still, we can't forget the old man entirely. After all, where would we be without him? So here are some gift ideas from around town for dear old dad.

For the baseball-loving dad

When I asked my husband what he would like to do for Father's Day, he didn't want a fancy brunch or flowers. He simply asked that we go to so he could eat with his family and have a cold beer while watching the Tigers play. (The  at BWW has six flat screen televisions for dad's viewing pleasure.)

That's easy enough. If any of the other dads are Tigers fans know this: the Tigers are out of town that weekend but have games against the Rockies at 8:40 p.m. Friday, 8:10 p.m. Saturday and 3:10 p.m. Father's Day.

Other great venues for sports viewing include , , and . Now don't say dad's not easy to please!

For the wine-loving dad

has a truly cool wine holder that would rock any Man Cave. It's red and says "Made In Detroit."  It's $160 or you can have it customized for an additional charge. It's glossy and sleek, and yes, it is made in Detroit.

For the golf-loving dad

Check out 1001 Golf Holes You Must Play Before You Die at . The title is self-explanatory but I can also tell you that it's 960 pages with 650 full-color photographs — and fact boxes for each course. If you've got one of those kinds of dads, it's $34.95.

For the tailgate-loving dad

If your dad has team spirit and he's not afraid to show it, has a variety of fun gifts. Whether it's a University of Michigan ice bucket ($23.95), a Spartan coffee mug ($15.95), or, my personal favorite, a Central Michigan Sportula ($26.95), The Silk Worm has you covered.

For the grill-loving dad

has a huge selection of grill cookbooks to inspire anyone willing to take on the flame. The Silk Worm also has a collection of fun little cookbooks with 101 ideas of what to do with cheese or beer or pretzels. 

For the cowboy-loving dad

The Oscar-nominated western True Grit is out on DVD and Blu-ray. has it for $17.99. You can also get the 1969 original with John Wayne for $7 on DVD. Cowboy hats and eye-patches are optional.

For the cookie-loving dad

Every summer Oreo puts out limited-edition cookies. Don't you think dad should get some for his own? Get him a bag of the Berry Burst Ice Cream Oreo at for $2.98 and make his day. Tell him he doesn't have to share.

For the dad who has everything

It's called ProToast and it toasts your favorite team's logo on to your bread. Meijer has it in Tigers, Red Wings, University of Michigan and Michigan State. It's $29.99. It will make that Father's Day breakfast in bed just that much more special.