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By Theodore
Fischer, Sidewalk
It's not that hard
to buy a gift for Dad. Just remember that long, long ago the old man was a
young boy – and in his own mind he will always be so.
So, forget clothes (leave that to his mom) and anything connected
to labor of any kind and just go for the fun stuff. The following stores
are loaded with toys for your special big boy – whatever his peculiar
propensities may be – and staffed with people who can help you read his
mind.
Angelo's Golf Shop, 4930 Wisconsin Ave. N.W., (202) 244-5105.
Founder Angelo Provenzano is gone, but his Tenleytown store keeps playing
through. Along with clubs – which are perhaps too personal a selection
– you can pick up bags, balls, tees and golf esoterica that defy
description.
Full Metal Jacket, Zero Prince St. Alexandria, (703)
683-3795. When we said no clothes we obviously didn't mean fatigues,
helmets, combat boots, ballistic vests, flight jackets and other surplus
from the U.S., German and Soviet armies. Knives, flasks, backpacks, MREs
(meals ready to eat) are also available in this Old Town shop.
The Gentleman Hunter, 4829 Fairmont Ave., Bethesda, (301)
90-SHOOT (907-4668). Along with hunting outfits and hunting artwork,
the Gentleman Hunter has an arsenal of fine rifles and shotguns from
Beretta, Browning and AYA among others, including many previously owned
pieces. For the gentleman fisher, it carries the mid-Atlantic region's
largest selection of traditional bamboo fly rods.
Graffiti Audio Video, 1219 Connecticut Ave. N.W., (202)
296-8412; 4914 Wisconsin Ave. N.W., (202) 244-9643; Spring Center, 8639
16th St., Silver Spring, (301) 589-3444. Come here for sound and video
equipment, computer accessories and other electronic gadgetry. Smallish
stores – at least compared with the national chains – carry a huge
inventory, and laid-back, no-commission staff members can describe the
products in terms as technical as you can handle.
Orvis, 8334 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, (703) 556-8634. In the
fishing and outdoors racket since 1856, this Tysons Corner-area emporium
carries a full line of rods and reels, rod-building materials, waders,
fishing vests, outdoor furniture and sturdy outfits to wear pre- and après
fishing.
Pleasure Place, 1710 Connecticut Ave. N.W., (202)
483-3297; 1063 Wisconsin Ave. N.W., (202) 333-8570. Well, he didn't
get to be a dad by living in a monastery. This 20-year-old
"toy store for sophisticated adults" stocks a tantalizing
selection of erotic clothing, boots and shoes, books and videos, massage
products and sex toys. You pick 'em, or buy a gift certificate and let him
have the pleasure.
Restoration Hardware, 1222 Wisconsin Ave. N.W., (202) 625-2771;
1961 Chain Bridge Rd., McLean, Va., (703) 821-9655; 614 King St.,
Alexandria, Va., (703) 299-6220. The emphasis is on
"Restoration," since everything in the store – tools, indoor
and outdoor furniture, kitchen gadgets, bathroom fixtures, old-time toys
and much more – looks and works the way things did back whenever. Some
items come already gift-wrapped.
Suzie-Goose Hobbies, 718 E. Gude Dr., Rockville, (301) 279-2966.
One of the last of the great hobby shops, Suzie-Goose sells
models of everything that flies, from one-piece gliders to jumbo jets with
100-inch wingspans. In another part of his life, owner Roy Smith is a
blimp flier and builder who would be happy to make dad the first big kid
on the block with his own lighter-than-air craft.
Wide World of Wines & Cigars, 2201 Wisconsin Ave. N.W.,
(202) 333-7500. This upper Georgetown store offers the best of both
worlds – with expert staff to steer you to gifts your personal
wine/cigar snob won't sniff at. Of course, there are a lot of other wine
shops in this hard-drinking town. |
