Treat dad to an excursion June 16 by taking advantage of these five themed suggestions for his special day
Go Brewery Hopping: Boston and its environs have no lack of lauded craft beer makers, so the possibilities are nearly endless. The city itself is home to the acclaimed Trillium Brewing and its tri-level flagship brewery/restaurant (which recently debuted its re-tooled second floor, Headroom, a vinyl-focused cocktail lounge), as well as popular mainstay Harpoon (which hosts a Father's Day Block Party Weekend June 14–16 featuring a pickleball tournament, live music and more), both in the Seaport. Local brew icon Samuel Adams sports its original home in Jamaica Plain and a satellite pub/restaurant near Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Smaller yet no less worthy breweries include Night Shift Brewing's Lovejoy Wharf brew pub, Dorchester Brewing Company (complete with M&M BBQ), South Boston’s Castle Island Brewing, Downtown’s Democracy Brewing and Distraction Brewing in Roslindale.
Dip into a Distillery: Three award-winning liquor makers that can act as your own personal speakeasy for the day inhabit the Hub, including GrandTen in South Boston, which bottles gin, vodka, whiskey, cordials and rum that are all dished out at its house bar; Bull Boy in Roxbury (pictured), which features an outdoor cocktail garden in which to enjoy a variety of fresh, custom drinks; and Boston Harbor Distillery on Dorchester’s waterfront, which boasts its own cocktail bar where patrons can sample its whiskey, rum and gin, as well as live music.
Dine with Dad: Give pop a break from the grill for a day and take him to one of Andy Husbands’ six locales for The Smoke Shop. Savory, slow-cooked delicacies like brisket, ribs and pulled pork can be enjoyed with delectable sides like corn bread, slow-smoked beans and bacon collard greens and washed down with a cocktail or one of several dozen American whiskies on hand. There are even bocce courts adjacent to the Assembly Row location. More great Boston-area barbecue can be found in Somerville’s Davis Square, where the beloved Redbones and its “wheel of beer” for indecisive sippers reside. If pop is more into outdoor dining with a harbor view, LoLa 42 in the Seaport features two Father's Day specials—king crab tempura and lobster udon—along with the whiskey-based Butter Rye Crush cocktail.
Get Your Motor Running: If your father is a car guy, then the country’s oldest car collection on display at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum might be right up his alley. Marvel at classics from the U.S. and abroad, as well as the German Car Day lawn event on June 16 from 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Sports, Sports Sports, Sports: Even when the Olde Towne Team is struggling, Fenway Park is still one of greatest places on earth to witness a Major League Baseball game. As luck would have it, the Red Sox take on the arch rival New York Yankees on Father’s Day at 7:10 p.m. at America’s most beloved ballpark. Treat dad to a game, a Fenway Frank and the unparalleled atmosphere of the timeless and historic stadium.
