“The older I get, the smarter my father seems to get,” the late journalist and attorney Tim Russert once said. For many sons and daughters, an appreciation of a father’s wisdom and insight only grows with time.

A father’s love and care extend back in time to those days well before his children can remember. Father’s Day is a focused opportunity to show your appreciation for the father figures in your life. This year, that special day is on June 19.

A Mother’s Day sermon in 1909 inspired Sonora Louise Smart Dodd to seek a similar honor for fathers. At the time, she was a 16-year-old with five younger brothers. Her father was a widower. She would devote more than a half-century to her quest. Finally, in 1972, Father’s Day became a national holiday.

As on every Father’s Day, there are places to dine, gifts to give, and special things to do. Here are some ideas for showing Dad some love.

Dinner with Dad

Here are a few restaurant options to consider if you want to treat Dad to a special meal on Father’s Day, organized by city:

Chicago

Thinking about taking Dad to a steakhouse for Father’s Day? In Chicago, River North is rich with possibilities, from RPM Steak to Bavette’s. The latter is a French-inspired steakhouse with a speakeasy ambiance. The Gold Coast offers Maple and Ash. Michelin two-star chef Danny Grant’s menu includes a 28-day dry-aged New York strip. The fire-roasted seafood tower is something to behold.

St. Louis

Great steakhouses abound in St. Louis. In Clayton, the Capital Grille serves dry-aged steaks hand-cut on the premises. A carefully curated wine list includes 350 labels from across the continents. Or, settle into one of the signature leather booths at the 801 Chophouse, also in Clayton. Steaks are all aged USDA Grade Prime. Kurobuta pork chops and Colorado lamb chops also adorn the menu. Prefer seafood? Options include Alaska red king crab legs and a shellfish platter.

Dallas/Fort Worth

Enjoy the vintage steakhouse ambiance at Rick’s Chophouse in McKinney. Savor your selected entree beneath a pressed tin ceiling and amid leather seating and gas lamps. Select from classic steak entrees or consider a Buffalo tenderloin for a change of pace. The Ranch at Las Colinas serves Texas Kobe beef sourced from the Southern Plains. Consider the charbroiled Angus filet or a tasty Texas T-bone.A family sits around a coffee table playing chess. They are all very happy and celebrating. A quote reads: "'The older I get, the smarter my father seems to get,' the late journalist and attorney Tim Russert once said. For many sons and daughters, an appreciation of a father’s wisdom and insight only grows with time."

Memorable activities

When you spend time together on Father’s Day, you can’t go wrong. Always remember, to Dad, time spent together is a gift unto itself. Consider one of the following activities:

  • Outdoor adventures: What’s Dad’s favorite sport or outdoor activity? By mid-June, the weather is that much more amenable to outdoor adventures. Spend part of the day out on the golf course. Head to the tennis or basketball courts. Fishing or swimming are also excellent options. Alternatively, head out on a family hike and enjoy early season wildflowers along the way.
  • Indoor gatherings: A gathering in the comfort of your home is another possibility. Get those competitive juices flowing during a favorite board game or while throwing darts. Take a virtual walk on Mars, courtesy of NASA. If Dad is an appreciator of the arts, consider the fact that the Art Institute of Chicago is one of many world-famous museums offering virtual tours. If you have a smart TV, kick back and enjoy masterpieces by Picasso, Rembrandt, and others. Or, check out the Virtual Views offered by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).
  • Plan a picnic: Bring back memories of the family outings of yesteryear. Consider a picnic, indoors or out! If your apartment community has a grilling station, take advantage of it.

Father’s Day Gifts

Does Dad love his time at the grill? Keep him well-supplied for a summer of grilling with one of many mail-order meat options. Add to his seasoning options with a gift set of smoking and grilling spices. Or, consider a Pitmaster Crate, with the creatively named “Mount Rubsmore” add-on.

Personalized gifts keep on giving. Consider personalized barware from beer mugs to coasters. You can even get a favorite photo imprinted on a set of beer glasses. Or, how about one photo of each child printed on custom coasters? There is even the option of personalizing an ice bucket or chiller for Dad.

When you were young, Father’s Day may have been an occasion for handmade cards and crayon-colored artwork. What did Dad teach you along the way? How to fish or hit a baseball, perhaps, or how to handle a tennis racquet or a golf club? Why not write a memoir highlighting one of these experiences? Present your reflections in a leather folio. Add a photo or two.

Do you still play catch with your Dad? If so, extend the opportunity well into the evening with a light-up baseball. Does he enjoy golf? Consider special glasses that make golf balls that much easier to find.

Does your Dad enjoy concerts, play an instrument, or otherwise love music? If so, consider a music-themed gift. Purchase concert tickets or create a special playlist of some of his favorite tunes.

Guest Suites: A Place to Stay

Is your family visiting to celebrate Father’s Day weekend? Check to see if your community offers onsite accommodations to make Dad’s visit even more comfortable. For example, some Draper and Kramer residents can reserve guest suites. In Chicago’s South Loop, the Aspire Residences and 1130 S. Michigan offer guest suites. Gold Coast residents living at 1350-1360 Lake Shore Drive also enjoy access to guest suites.

About Draper and Kramer

Draper and Kramer is a family-owned and operated real estate services firm founded in 1893. Visit our website to browse our entire selection of luxury apartment properties today.

A family having a meal at an outdoor café. The father smiles at his son who is laughing and leaning against his mother.

Father’s Day is a focused opportunity to show your appreciation for the father figures in your life. This year, that special day is on June 19.

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