Celebrating All Dads On Sunday

Regardless of lifestyles or budgets, there are lots of fun ways to celebrate Father's Day. It takes more than genetics to make a father, so don’t forget to honor special uncles and other men who have stood in as father figures in your life. 

Dads always love a little creativity or fun, so think of offbeat ways to celebrate the special guy and men in your life. You can’t go wrong with a free back rub, a shoeshine, or breakfast in bed. Never mind that the chef is only nine years old—food always tastes good if someone else cooks it. Stage a poetry reading for the family, with all of the poems honoring dad.  If your yard is looking less than stellar, have a kid's "clean-up day" while dad relaxes on the porch with his favorite beverage.  He'll definitely remember a present like that!

Moms and kids, consider reviving the lost art of the backyard car wash to surprise dad. Especially on a hot day, such as the ones we’ve experienced lately, a garden hose, soap, sponges, squeegies and buckets of water can be good, clean fun.  Even the youngest child can shine a bumper or clean the road grime on dad’s chrome wheels. 

Consider starting a new Father's Day tradition in your family. Do you have a special doorway with pencil marks, showing the growth of a child? Make this dad's job on Father's Day, to measure each child's height on the same day each year. Don't forget to record the growth in your child's baby book.   

After all of these fun family activities, there are businesses and organizations offering special programs, activities and dining options for Father's Day.  

The Eureka restaurant has a Father’s Day special:  dads accompanied by a son or daughter for lunch or dinner can get a free, snack-size Rolo shake.

suggests a membership to their Wine of the Month Club, collectible wines, wine racks, accessories, glasses, decanters and gadgets, such as the best selling Vinturi wine aerator, usually $39.99, this month just $31.99.

A Father's Day All American Baseball Tournament is being held by the Eureka Sports Association through Sunday for ages 8 to 14 years.

If you'd like to do a quick get-away, remember the variety of suggestions published by Eureka-Wildwood Patch each weekend within the Destination Diversions column. Locations have included:  , and .

, near , is hosting Father's Day-Sports Madness Weekend.

For “kids” older than 21 years, there are several great offerings from local businesses to celebrate with dad. A “Brew in the Microbrewery Tour” is being sponsored by St Louis Post-Dispatch, with a bus tour on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Go on a daylong microbrewery tour with Evan Benn, writer for the Post-Dispatch. The tour is to celebrate the release of the new book Brew in the Lou. Tour stops include Morgan Street Brewery, Urban Chestnut Brewing Company, Square One Brewery, Six Row Brewing Company and Schlafly Bottleworks. The cost is $50 per person. Call 314-340-8936 for details and reservations. 

The  in Clayton is offering a most unusual Father's Day party—a “Pig Pickin’, Crawfish Boilin’ and Beer Sampling Sunday” from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Their chefs will roast a whole pig in a China box and the pork will be used in a variety of dishes to tempt Dad’s palate.  To make things even better, every dad will receive a Schlafly beer glass to sample his way through the selection of Schlafly beers on the menu: pale ale, hefeweizen, kölsch, dry-hopped American pale ale, pilsner, oatmeal stout and summer lager. Pork is not the only item on the menu, because Ritz chefs will be making Cajun-style crawfish, caviar, smoked fish, irresistible desserts and champagne. The cost is $75 per person, $37.50 for children under 10 years. Kids 2 and younger are free. Reservations are required, so call 314-863-6300, extension 433, to hold your family’s spot! 

If your dad’s taste runs more to wine than beer, consider an outing to Missouri’s own Mount Pleasant Winery in Augusta. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Mount Pleasant executive chef Dana Liljequist will prepare a delicious barbecue. The sumptuous buffet will include smoked baby back ribs, pulled pork, braised short ribs and agave flank steak marinated in tequila, lime and cilantro. They’ll also have beer bratwursts and sauerkraut, antipasto salad with peppers, olives, garlic, cheeses and hard salami, triple mac 'n' cheese and their homemade cherry cobbler. The glorious views of the Missouri River Valley and the live music are free, but the food prices are $15 for adults and $7 for children 12 and younger.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Mosaic Modern Fusion on Washington Avenue in St. Louis is hosting a Father's Day brunch. Enjoy brunch, a bloody mary bar and the U.S. Open from the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, MD, on many 42-inch televisions. Also offered is the Schlafly Flights and Pints promotion and a build-your-own-omelet bar. 

In the Central West End, culminate a leisurely walk with Dad at the Nadoz Café’s Father’s Day Barbecue Brunch at the Coronado. Hours for the brunch at 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Served in the cafe and Grand Lobby, the brunch will feature a delicious menu of brunch and barbecue favorites with a unique country western theme. The cost for  adults is $35 and children 4 to 10 years of age pay $12, plus tax and gratuity. The cost includes valet parking.

Does your dad have one of the ugliest ties in St. Louis? If so, you might consider the Father's Day brunch at the Highway 61 Roadhouse and Kitchen in Webster Groves' charming Old Orchard neighborhood. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday you can enjoy a great brunch. If you bring in your dad's ugliest tie, dad eats free (max $12.95 value). The cost is $12.95 for adults, $6.95 for children 3 to 6 years  of age, and $1.95 for children younger than 3 years. 

If your favorite “Pop” is a classic car buff, Kirkwood’s Museum of Transportation is hosting a Father’s Day Car Show from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday at the museum. Presentations be at 12:15 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. This free Father's Day show features vehicles 25 years and older from brass cars to more modern muscle cars and it is being sponsored by the Horseless Carriage Club of Missouri. They also will provide historical trading cards.

Families interested in nature might enjoy the Father's Day "Pollinator Palooza" being held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the . With games, demonstrations and crafts, families can learn about pollinators, how the world is affected by a simple bee and how to help them survive. General admission is $6. The price is $4.50 for seniors (65 and older), $4 for children age 3 to 12. Admission is  free for children 2 and younger and free for Missouri Botanical Garden members. 

Perhaps dads simply would enjoy shopping for a new mattress, or taking in a movie at in Wildwood.

florist in Eureka has special Father's Day arrangements to order.