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Happy Father’s Day
By Jonathon Freeman-Anderson
Dad is that special, unique man that made life what it is for each one of us in the world and always has a tendency to be a different "type" of dad pertaining to each new life experience. Whether it is the right type at the right time is debatable to each person's own life history. Regardless of dad's struggle to appear perfect in the eyes of their child everyone has a pop to celebrate their existence. Imagine how hard it must be to try to be the perfect dad. No matter how relationships are throughout the year, Father's Day offers a great opportunity and occasion to express, celebrate, discover, and thank dad for his sometimes-thankless days.
Sons and daughters may have trouble finding an interesting Father's Day activity that everyone will enjoy for their specific dad that truly says, "thank you for being" and putting up with us. Fathers come in all shapes and sizes with different jobs, hobbies, and lifestyle choices. There are fathers that consider themselves a jock, musician, businessman, artist, handyman, camper, motorist, theatergoer, movie buff, and as life goes on, fathers can grow to show qualities that may express the finer elements of a gentleman, as to whom to be, and for women, whom to be with, but ultimately, everyone wants a fun, maybe even funny, dad.
Valley Scene wants to help ease guessing the ideal Father's Day by offering some ideas that may cater exactly to Daddy-O's style. Make his day feel like you took the time to consider his absolute best interests. Surprising him with a day dedicated totally to fulfilling his heart's desires will truly show the value of your love and admiration for the man
called Dad.
Athletic Father
The Southern California area offers many fun activities for the sports-oriented dad. At the Griffith Park Golf Courses, tee off on one of two massive 18-hole courses (4730 Crystal Springs Dr., Los Angeles 90027 (323) 663-2555). For the experienced golfer visit the Calabasas Golf and Country Club, a beautiful and difficult course due to the extreme hills between holes (4515 Park Entrada Calabasas, 91302, (818) 222-3200). Consider taking dad to the incredibly cool Pinz Bowling Center. Recent touch-ups to this 32-lane alley, like the 200-foot L.A. - landmark mural, four flashy video screens, and purple carpeting, update its classic '50s charm. Many waiting to bowl grab a bite from neighboring Jerry's Deli restaurant, while the lucky ones order directly to their lane (12655 Ventura Blvd.
818-287-7582).
Of course, in Los Angeles, nothing makes for a better Father's Day adventure than watching a Dodger game and eating dodger dogs live. Dodger Stadium stands as an artifact of the recent past; a forsaken time when bigger was better. This 56,000-seat stadium nestled in Chavez Ravine honors that era beautifully. Over the next 50 years, a stadium improvement plan will transform acres of parking lots into a landscaped walkway around the perimeter of the stadium adding a tree-lined entrance leading to a grand plaza and a promenade.
For a sports look and style, the best place to take pop is Sports Clips with two store locations in the valley, Northridge and Encino. Sport Clips creates the perfect place for a guy to get a great haircut in an interesting sports-themed environment. While getting a precision haircut, check out different sports on multiple TVs, read a magazine, or purchase some memorabilia (8850 Tampa Ave.
818-772-4346).
Musician Father
Just as much as the film world, So Cal is a hot bed for many varieties of music industry professionals. Whether dad has gigs every night or just casually likes to riff on the acoustic occasionally it is always a pleasure to get a gift certificate or actually go to Guitar Center and buy an instrument special just for dad. Alternatively, though it sounds like a sales pitch, it is true, take advantage of some Guitar Center's great deals and awesome selection. Maybe the whole family will walk away happy. Start a band with the whole group. There are two stores local to the valley, one in Northridge, on Norhoff St., between Tampa and Corbin, and another on Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks.
From there, if still in the mood for creative, music fun, check out Sound Street Studios (Soundstreetstudios.com) with locations in Reseda and North Hollywood. Sound Street provides the service of fully equipped rehearsal studios in Southern California. A fully equipped rehearsal studio provides the benefit of spending the majority of rehearsal-time making music and sparing the musician the inconvenience of transporting heavy, cumbersome gear. There are a variety of studios to fit any budget, each containing a complete backline, full drum kit, amps, chords, PA, and mics. With no set up or takedown time, Sound Street offers affordable studio rentals and quality equipment to make music. (Reseda 818 -609-9972, North Hollywood 818-982-3336). 6/21 Sunday 10AM-Midnight, rooms ranging from $12-$27/hr.
Amp Rehearsal Studios in North Hollywood, another great space to rehearse, also offers the opportunity to record every rehearsal. Since 1998, Amp has provided a state of the art, ultra-clean rehearsal, and recording studio affordable for every musician. Featuring high-quality, affordable hourly rehearsal and recording studios, Amp's clientele includes superstars like Roger Daltry, The Black-eyed Peas, and Good Charlotte with prices ranging from $14-$22 an hour.
Follow up the family music excursion with a live jam at a local open-mike night performing whatever gem was conceived, rehearsed, and possibly recorded. At the Left Coast Wine Bar and Gallery, there is a classy open microphone forum every Sunday welcoming poets, musicians, singers, and comics (117 E. Harvard, Glendale, 91202, (818) 507-7011). In addition, every Sunday at 6PM Mr. B's Restaurant and Steakhouse features a fun, family-friendly jam night (1333 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank, (818) 845-1800). Whether an experienced rock legend or just fooling around enjoy making this Father's Day a musical adventure with the entire family.
Artist Father
Creativity is essential for any child's growth and those fathers in the creative industry need a reminder sometimes of their greatest creation, their kids. Some great art events that the whole family can enjoy and participate begin at The Scribble Press, a great place for young dads and kids to pursue their craft skills. At the Westside Pavilion's new "printing press," encouraging the preservation and persistence of youthful creativity, children's art, and literature masterpieces can be copied, saved, and bound. No longer will parents have to save every piece of their child's artistic existence in dusty storage boxes in the back of the garage. Go in for unlimited studio time for about $10 and bind original works created at home. This place is also cool for birthdays. Supplies are provided to turn already-written stories and drawings into hard or soft cover books, notepads, note cards, or jumbo greeting cards. For a few hours of guaranteed entertainment, fill-in-the-blank books with cuddly creatures and outer space themes make for an ideal project for dads and kids to indulge in their own inventive scrap-booking pursuits (10800 Pico Blvd. Ste #219, Los Angeles, CA 90064 310-446-6170).
For San Fernando Valley locals, and Cal State Northridge alum, dad may want to take a walk back through time in an enlarged memorabilia collection titled, "Fifty and Fabulous." This exhibit, running through August 22, features photographs, yearbooks, student newspapers, and other memorabilia chronicling the university's 50-year history. In North Hollywood, at the Gallery 800, is a fascinating exhibit titled, "Spring into Summer," which features art from more than sixty local artists from various crafts. The exhibit runs through August 2 (5108 Lankershim Blvd. (818) 706-8052).
Motorist Father
For car gifts for the old man, some cool, locations cater primarily to masculine sensibilities. Instead of a tie, take dad to Porsche Design where pop can admire the sleek, state-of-the-art gadgetry that makes Porsche. With startlingly cutting-edge accessories, tools, gadgets, house wares and clothes crafted using Porsche materials (think wheels from a Turbo or Cayenne on a suitcase), the designs are as much about function as form. A $645 drill can chisel marble and cement. Briefcases possess hanging
swivels to prevent carpal tunnel. A cell phone is able to read fingerprints. Steel knives come with padding designed to cushion the palms of cutters. Glass-bottom humidors can actually fit into cars. A tita nium golf club's "headlights" are shaped like those found on the Cayenne. Key rings are constructed from engine hoses. The "dashboard" on watches can be customized to match a vehicle's paint color while actual tread and rubber line its band. Unlike some other legendary sports car apparel and accessories brands, Porsche does not emblazon its fantastic wares with its logo. The price for these items makes enough of a statement
(236 N. Rodeo Dr, Beverly Hills, 90210. 310-205-0095).
To enjoy a local test drive, check out the Auto Gallery at the authorized Porsche dealer in Woodland Hills (21301 Ventura Blvd. Woodland Hills, CA 91364, (866) 938-5381). The quality of Porsche products will leave any avid motorist dad in suspense. In addition, this particular dealer's has a commitment to excellence making this location an amazing and comfortable place to buy a car, purchase parts, or have a Porsche serviced.
Theatre Father
For the thespian father where the average entertainment just will not cut it for his finer sensibilities, maybe a few of the following suggesting can appease his critical theatrical appetite. On the campus of Cal State Northridge, at the University Student Union, in the Plaza del Sol, an event, titled Black Genius Theatre's 1st Annual Father's Day Celebration: an August Wilson Tribute will feature theatrical scenes, poems, music, singers, and art re-enacted or inspired by the work of noted, African-American playwright, August Wilson. The event will have food and fun for the whole family. Teach the kids about an American icon and inspire another young talent to become the next great theatre artist. Taking place from 2-4PM for $10 with no tickets being sold at the door, this is an entirely pre-sale ticket event available at (818) 322-8224.
The following is a listing of plays and the local theatres they are being performed at on Father's Day June 21. The Apple Tree plays at the Crown City Theatre through June 28, Over the River and Through the Woods at the Lonny Chapman Group Repertory Theatre through June 27, Tracing Sonny at Avery Schreiber Theatre through June 28, East of Berlin at the NoHo Arts Center through June 19, The Elephant Man at New Place Theatre, The Muscles in Our Toes at the El Portal Theatre through June 28, Red, Hot and Blue! At the Whitefire Theater through July 5, and Sex, Love, and Time Travel at Raven Playhouse through June 28.
The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum features William Shakespeare's complex, romantic drama, Cymbeline at 3:30PM through September 27 with tickets ranging from $10-$30 (1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga (310) 455-3723, www.theatricum.com). The outdoor amphitheater at the beautiful Theatricum Botanicum is terraced into the rustic Topanga Canyon hillside. Dress casually and enjoy a picnic before or after the performance.
All Fathers
Beyond so many other duties that are required of a father, keeping the kids fed is an important one. So make it a priority to give dad a quality meal he will truly appreciate. The following restaurants and events cover a wide variation of food, styles, and settings throughout the Los Angeles area catering specifically for father's day.
Take the big guy to Tony's, where a meal here will make dad feel like Frank Sinatra. Featuring a reasonably priced sunken bar, and a cool baby grand piano; Tony's oozes cool (8570 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood. (213) 784-1501).
Try Ciudad where on the special "Father's Day Feast" menu, à la carte options will include pork mole tamales, barbecued boneless beef short ribs, sea salt grilled flat iron steak, and a rum sampler trio (5-9 PM; 213-486-5171).
Saddle Peak Lodge is a rustic 100-yr. old carnivore haven where Ernest Hemingway once dined. Originally a place for hunters to bring their kill, it was transformed into a special-occasion favorite in the 1980s. The menu consistently provides gourmet spins on meat and fish dishes like poached line-caught Alaskan salmon, roasted elk tenderloin, and mesquite-grilled Black Angus coute de boeuf. (419 Cold Canyon Rd. Calabasas, CA 91302. (818) 222-3888).
For an Indian meal, try Picanha Churrascaria in Burbank where sandstone-colored walls set the western tone for this unique dim sum-style restaurant. Servers, dressed in traditional ranchero garb, approach tables carrying swords of grilled meats, including garlic beef, leg of lamb, pork loin, sausages and chicken, allowing customers to choose. The extensive salad bar offers sautéed eggplant, pasta, greens, and dessert. (269 E. Palm Ave. (818) 972-2100.)
Try the Odyssey's father's day special ideal for families featuring an exquisite champagne brunch serving fine American food and seafood in addition to a variety of decadent desserts(15600 Odyssey Drive Granada Hills (818) 366-6444).
Ideally, the perfect gentleman fathers would probably find it more fun and fascinating if their kids utilized their utmost potential imagination to determine who dad is and why what to do on Father's Day will help everyone learn more about dad, themselves, and still be an amazing time. Considering the variety of fathers out there, it can be difficult to determine which type of dad he could be at each different time and place. As a child, dad may have been more cautious to care about what type will specifically influence one's life, but everyone who is a father probably still wants to be themselves. As every child grows into their unique selves, dad probably will eventually step back from being particular about choosing types that affect their kids' life and start being a type that fits more for their own individual lives. The gardening dad, the mechanic dad, or the writer dad may be some types that families can learn to share and grow with dad as he grows with you.