Some Ways To Celebrate Father’s Day Close To Home
With Father’s Day coming up this Sunday, June 16, how are you going to celebrate the dads in your life?
Many neighbors have honored their fathers by recording Father’s Day shout outs with Bric Arts Media at the Brooklyn Public Library. Some of these will be posted to the Bric Blog. But if you didn’t have the opportunity to record your love, we’ve rounded up other memory building Father’s Day activities.
Make it a Father’s Day Weekend!
Celebrate Brooklyn (Prospect Park Bandshell) and celebrate your father by enjoying music with influences from Africa, Mexico, Peru, and the American Southwest. (Saturday only. Gates open at 6pm, suggested $3 donation.)
Prospect Park, our communal backyard, is selling Father’s Day saplings. Electronic orders placed before noon on Friday, June 14 will be emailed a certificate in time for Father’s Day. Present the sapling certificate to dad with a plan to enjoy one of Prospect Park’s entertainments including the carousel, Lefferts Historic House, Audubon Center, or the zoo. All are open with special Father’s Day activities.
If you’re planning one of the above Prospect Park activities, consider packing a picnic lunch from one of our local food shops:
• Brancaccios Food Shop (3011 Ft Hamilton Parkway) serves up creative, delicious sandwiches and sides. I recommend the wonderful button mushrooms.
• Brooklyn Commune (601 Greenwood Ave) is just steps from the park and will pack up a free-range chicken with wholesome sides.
• Enjoy a Bento Dinner Box from Sake Sushi (328 Church Ave).
• Thai Tony’s (3019 Ft Hamilton Parkway) has a downloadable take-out menu so you can order curry and pick it up on your way to the park.
The Food Truck Rally (Grand Army Plaza, 11am to 5pm) will have a variety of tasty treats if you find yourself on the other side of the park without a picnic lunch.
Father’s Day doesn’t have to be outdoorsy. The Pavillion Theater (188 Prospect Park West), just a short F train ride away, features family-friendly films like Despicable Me 2, and also ones dad may want to watch alone like The Purge.
If dad wants to get out of the neighborhood, take the F train all the way out to the recently re-opened Coney Island to see first hand how Coney Island has recovered from Superstorm Sandy. The New York Aquarium has reopened. Luna Park is running at full tilt. And family-owned Deno’s Wonder Wheel is the perfect place to start a Father’s Day tradition.
Alternatively, Governors Island is a quiet, family-friendly oasis with museums, arts, classes, bikes, and amazing views of lower Manhattan.
Some dads prefer a quiet afternoon at the grill. The father of my children agreed to share one of his deceivingly-simple-because-it’s-so-impressive grill recipes:
Hanger Steaks on the Grill
1. Buy high quality hanger steaks from United Meat Market (219 Prospect Park West) or, what he considers the best butcher in all of Brooklyn, Romeo Brothers (7801 15th Ave).
2. Ask the butcher to butterfly the steaks.
3. At home, rub meat in olive oil, salt, and pepper.
4. Leave out to room temperature.
5. When coals are hot, grill on each side for 2-3 minutes.
Enjoy, and happy Father’s Day!