This year has brought challenges and gratitude to-light in ways we haven’t previously known. From shopping for groceries on Amazon to finding inventive backyard ideas to keep the kids from driving us all crazy, our times have recently tested us all. Still, perhaps nothing has been more strained than our local businesses.
In helping stimulate the LOCAL economy, here are some great ideas and maybe a couple of reminders of phenomenal ways to treat Dad this Father’s Day!
For the brewer, foodie, or project-lover:
Great Fermentations (5127 E 65th St, Indianapolis, IN 46220): Buy Dad all the goodies for making his own beer, wine, or even Kombucha! Walking into their shop is like entering a science lab and a vineyard or barley field all-in-one. They have EVERYTHING your spouse or dad would need to make craft beverages an art form at home! Check out Great Fermentations online!
Tulip Tree Creamery (6330 Corporate Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46278): Cheese and charcuterie board classes are offered here! One of the cool aspects is that its BYOB – Dad can bring his own beverage(s) of choice, and SNACKS COME WITH THE CLASS – they advise to arrive earlier for some tasty charcuterie, and if you have ever enjoyed their delicious food at area farmer’s markets, trust me, you don’t want to miss this cheese! Tulip Tree Creamery Classes
Daniel’s Vineyard (9061 N 700 W, McCordsville, IN 46055): Great gifts – both wine and merchandise (Big A** Pizza Cutter for the dad with an outdoor pizza oven or grill) – and they deliver! You can also purchase a Cellar Club Membership for Dad, and it includes Wednesday tastings for members only as well as a Cellar Release of two white wines and two reds at the time of their new releases.
Chef JJ’s Downtown (42 W South St, Indianapolis, IN 46225): Offering classes for everything from a Father’s Day class on June 20th to events in July like a steak grilling class, even a KETO CLASS for dads watching their waistlines. Buy tickets well in advance for this one as Chef JJ’s is a popular attraction, and classes do sell out!
Maybe Dad is already a maestro on the grill! Buy him a gift card to Kincaid’s Meat Market! With two locations in Indianapolis and Fishers, this one is easy for Dad to enjoy on his own terms!
For the sports fan:
Let’s face it; dads are missing their sports! We’ve never had the luxury of the Indy 500 happening AFTER Father’s Day – make this year the year to buy Dad tickets for the late August race. It may be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to gift this to Dad in this timeline of events – BEFORE the race actually occurs. Tickets to the Indy 500
Speaking of Indy 500 and other nostalgia to Indy, The Shop is always a winner for a gift to give Dad. Right now, they have hats, cups, and shirts with logos for everything from Deer Creek to Burger Chef, to Showbiz Pizza and Marsh and O’Malia Supermarkets. Great deals! My dad loves that my son has the same Deer Creek shirt that I got both of them so that Grandpa can match his favorite little guy, and my husband Jon wears shirts from The Shop nearly every weekend all year long!
Finally, Dads have had their own hair debacles during the pandemic to overcome just like us women. So instead of Dad heading to Great Clips or a large business to get his haircut, or even just for a fun spruce up outing to treat him in the months to-come, gift Dad a boutique barber experience where they still use the old fashioned straight-edged face razors. Men deserve to be pampered in new ways too! Snag a gift card or service, and don’t forget to send Dad with a little extra to tip the barber for his new ‘do! Local featured barber: Indianapolis Monthly
Hopefully, one (hey, maybe even two) of these ideas will help you find a way to show Dad love this Father’s Day, all while stimulating the local Indy economy!
