Last year for Father’s Day, I got my dad a book. I can’t even remember what book – I just remember that it was a book because that’s what I give him every year, because I can never think of anything awesome in enough time to ship it home by the special day. When I do think of something awesome, it’s always like a week after Father’s Day, and I’m all, “I’m totally getting that for Dad next year!” And then I forget, because I am an asshole.
This year, though, I’m determined to break the crappy gift cycle and instead celebrate my father with something thoughtful. He deserves it – this is the man who once, as a birthday present to me, had his artist friend transform a dumb story I wrote in third grade about a rat who takes karate lessons into a bound and illustrated book. We’re book people, I guess.
My parents live in Massachusetts, and they are rarely able to visit me in SF. My mother especially loves it when I bring her locally made foods and crafts. For example, I live next door to a beekeeper, so one of my go-to Christmas gifts is honey produced with nectar suckled from the flowers in my backyard. Giving my parents a literal taste of San Francisco makes them feel more connected to my city and, therefore, to me.
The perfect solution for someone like me, who has great intentions but not a lot of great or timely ideas, is a curated gift box filled with goodies that were sourced and produced in the Bay Area. Our buddies at Zaarly have teamed up with gifting network Sincerely to create A San Francisco Treat, available through Sincerely’s gifting app, Sesame. For $45, your dad (or whoever the lucky recipient is) will be treated to a collection of the coolest and most calming goodies that San Francisco artisans have to offer.
DIY Herb Basil Terrarium
Mike and Jawn of MakersKit are DIY experts, having taught workshops and classes all over San Francisco. Their mission: to give you the materials and instructions you need to complete a fun and unique project in a short amount of time. MakersKit’s Basil Herb Terrarium lets Dad plant and cultivate his own mini herb garden inside a glass vessel using moss and pebbles as decor. An accompanying step-by-step PDF and Jawn’s charming instructional video will ensure that your father can dig in without any gardening goofs.
Letterpress Journal
A handmade letterpress journal from M-square Press is ideal for Dad’s musings, scribbles, dream journaling, and secret retirement plans. Bound and stitched by hand, the lightweight book is made completely from recycled and reclaimed materials. The letterpress cover – printed using a vintage press – features an old-school VW that perfectly embodies the spirit of San Francisco. Maybe it’ll bring back fond memories for a Boomer dad who made love, not war, man. Possibly in the back seat of a Beetle.
Handmade Soap
SF’s thriving coffee culture has become an integral part of its identity. But how can you translate that into a keepsake instead of just a fleeting pour-over experience? Behold: the Coffee Scrub Soap bar from Sprightly Soap. The six-ounce bar is made using Blue Bottle coffee grinds that act as both an exfoliant and an aromatic alarm clock. Dad’s skin will be buttery soft, thanks to the olive and coconut oils used in the small-batch production. And any man who smells like coffee is, in my opinion, a man worth hanging out with. That’s right. I want to hang out with your freshly scrubbed dad. Don’t freak out about it.
So that’s it! A thoughtful Father’s Day gift that you don’t have to put too much thought into. Even the packaging has been carefully considered – each item is gift-tagged, and you can personalize the accompanying card. This box will make you look like the most appreciative kid in the world. Which, trust me, is way better than the ole “I forgot about Father’s Day, so here’s an immediately forgettable book” routine.
Do It Yourself
You can snag A San Francisco Treat gift box ($45, not including the cost of shipping) on the Sesame website or by downloading the Sesame app and using your phone to make your purchase. Expedited shipping is available. To make sure your order arrives by Father’s Day, order by the deadline for expedited delivery, Wednesday, June 12.
Visit Zaarly.com to find more of San Francisco’s handmade artisan goods and personalized services. For a larger collection of dad-related Zaarly goodies, you can also look here.
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