Pandemic pops still deserve props.
Although the city is showing its first signs of coming back since the coronavirus lockdown started, Father’s Day, which falls on June 21, still won’t involve typical traditions like a crowded family BBQ or going to a baseball game.
But that doesn’t mean you have to forgo having a fun, and socially distant, date with dad.
Gifts like a trendy Theragun massager or new tech are great, but there are also activities — online and IRL — that will make the holiday extra special.
Here’s a list of ideas to make Father’s Day 2020 one for the books.
For the swigging dad:
A virtual whiskey tasting and trivia night with Kings County Distillery.
This Brooklyn-based distillery has been offering whiskey-tasting packages ranging from three “classic” moonshine and bourbon samples for $123 to a $196 aged five-flight featuring wheat whiskey and peated bourbon. All the booze-y boxes come with some whiskey literature plus a “Tasting” notebook.
Dads who miss kibitzing with their favorite bartender will be guided through this experience with one of the distillery’s experts via Zoom. The distillery’s founder, Colin Spoelman, says he loves getting into “the history, science and culture of whiskey” in the online sessions. For five bucks, you can also test your knowledge with the distillery’s staff on Saturday night during a virtual “Trivia Smackdown.”
Visit KingsCountyDistillery.com for more information.
For the outdoors-obsessed dad:
Go kayaking, paddle boarding or boating around Manhattan.
If you’ve been stuck with your family in a cramped apartment, Father’s Day is the perfect time to get a workout in on the open water.
Manhattan Kayak, located off Pier 84 (12th Avenue and West 44th Street), is open for business, but make sure to get a reservation while there’s still availability. The water-sports company teaches kayaking and paddle-board lessons in groups, or you could opt for a private session that starts at 70 bucks per person, per hour, for two people. Manager Eric Still says it’s the perfect time to get in a paddle. “There are almost no tourists, and accordingly, the big sightseeing boats that cater to them are shut,” Still tells The Post.
For a Hudson River upgrade, look into chartering a sailboat on Sailo, a site that lets you book vessels — rates start at $300 for two hours — like you would an Airbnb.
Manhattan Kayak is located at Pier 84 Boathouse in Hudson River Park. Call 212-924-1788 or visit ManhattanKayak.com for more information and to reserve a time slot. Head to Sailo.com to reserve a bigger boat.
For the fisherman dad:
Take him on a fishing trip in the city.
Like tennis, fishing is a sport with built-in social distancing, and there’s plenty of places to drop a line in the five boroughs. While this idea requires some equipment — and a permit, which you can apply for at New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation’s site — any daring dad would love a chance to fish for the largemouth bass or white perch found in Prospect Park Lake.
The Catskills and Hudson Valley are also rife with fishing opportunities, if you decide to make a weekend out of it. A gift idea for your angler dad: a membership to the Brooklyn Fishing Club to go with your field trip.
Go to dec.ny.gov/outdoor/fishing.html to learn more about local fishing opportunities, native fish species and permits.
For the golfing dad:
Head to Jersey for a golfing day trip.
This Father’s Day won’t be par for the course, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on 18 holes. There’s plenty of public courses that are open for play, but it’s best to call ahead for a tee time to avoid getting turned away. At Seaview golf course in Galloway, NJ, prices range from $70 to $175 on the weekends for up to four golfers.
A little closer to the city is Skyway Golf Course, a nine-hole green in Jersey City with skyline views that reopened last month. And if dad’s wary of leaving the house, you could improve your game at home with the PhiGolf golf simulator.
Skyway is located at 515 Duncan Ave. in Jersey City, NJ. Call 201-763-7520 or visit SkywayGolfCourse.com for more info. Seaview Golf Club is at 401 S New York Rd, Galloway, NJ. Call 609-748-7680 or visit SeaviewGolf.com to book a tee time.
For the foodie father:
An authentic New York deli platter, or a DIY BBQ.
If your dad, like the rest of the family, misses going out to eat, you can now bring Katz’s to him. The legendary Lower East Side deli is offering a $145 package that serves up to eight people and it comes with all the fixings: a pound each of pastrami, brisket and corned beef, plus a loaf of rye bread, pickles and mustard. For Father’s Day, they’re throwing in a Katz’s hat or T-shirt to celebrate dad, and they’ll ship the goods nationwide.
If sandwiches aren’t his thing, go for the $75 steak dinner for four from Park Slope’s Palo Santo restaurant which comes with skirt steak, chimichurri sauce and sides such as pickled beets or zucchini salad.
The steak is available for local delivery in Brooklyn or for pick up, and will come raw or cooked, depending on whether your plans include firing up the grill. After they pick up their kits, customers can make a trip of it and get advice on how to grill their meat from Palo Santo’s chef Jacques Gautier, who’s been holding Mexican food cook-a-longs on Zoom.
Visit KatzsDelicatessen.com to buy packages. Head over to Palo Santo restaurant at 652 Union St. in Brooklyn to pick up dinner. Call 718-636-6311 to place order.
For the musical dad:
Treat him to virtual guitar lessons, or go to a concert (from afar).
Has dad run out of home-improvement projects to do in quarantine? Maybe it’s time to break out the old acoustic from the garage.
Fender offers lessons that start at $10 for guitar, bass and ukulele beginners. The brand also provides guided bite-sized curriculums and an app to track your progress, so you and your dad can go at your own pace. And if he’s more of a listener, drop into one of NYC’s iconic jazz clubs’ virtual concerts. The Vijay Iyer Trio will be livestreaming at the Village Vanguard on June 21, and check out the Instagram for Greenwich Village club the Blue Note for that night’s live show. On the same weekend, Ben Folds has a live concert on June 20 on YouTube.
Go to Fender.com/play to sign up for guitar lessons. Visit VillageVanguard.com to buy tickets for their jazz show. Visit @bluenotenyc to find show times for more jazz, and BenFoldsTV to watch his concert.
For the always-laughs-at-his-own-jokes dad:
Turn the living room into a comedy joint with Zoom stand-up sets.
Comedy has had to reinvent itself since the pandemic, and while a night out on the town with dad is a no-go, you can still bring the live laughs on Father’s Day. Two Brooklyn-based stand-up comics have digitized their show — it’s called “The Living Room Show” now — and all you need to do is reserve a spot with your email, and you’ll receive a Zoom link 30 minutes before curtain.
For five bucks, you can join the call for the Katie Boyle and Stephen Campbell-hosted lineup, which includes comics who have made cameos on Comedy Central and Netflix. A two-drink minimum isn’t required for this activity, although it’s highly encouraged.
Go to EventBrite.com and search for “Live From the Living Room!” to reserve your ticket for the Zoom show. You’ll get an email right before the show starts.