May 23, 2022

Toast To The Dads and Grads

Two of our favorite groups to shop for—dads and grads—ring in their days around the same time each year. While it’s easy to go for the low-hanging fruit like cash in a card for grads (we’re not ruling it out) or new grilling gear for dads, our town’s spots and shops make it a lot easier to put that cash in a handmade card or get that grilling gear from someone who specializes in finding the perfect can’t-live-without gadget for your family’s grillmaster.

So, if you’re hoping to do something a little extra special, head downtown to celebrate your dads and grads! While graduation and Father’s Day often warrant very different giftables, there are plenty of things dads and grads have in common, so bookmark this page to prep their presents.

Grab a Gift

The Edmonds Arts Festival is on Father’s Day weekend this year (June 17-19, 10am – 7pm Friday and Saturday, 10am – 5pm Sunday) and gives you not only the chance to bond over art but also the opportunity to find something perfect for your favorite people—together. There will be over 240 artists showcasing their work at Frances Anderson, so the likelihood of finding something meaningful is exceptionally high.

The Paper Feather in Downtown Edmonds

The Paper Feather

For small giftables and gift cards around downtown, pop into The Papery, Crow, Bench & Board, Ace Hardware, or the just-opened The Paper Feather. Not only do many of these shops have beautiful, thoughtful stationary, but they’re all staffed by experts who can steer you in the right gifting direction.

Edmonds Frame Design & Atelier in Downtown Edmonds

Edmonds Frame Design & Atelier

Want something a little unexpected? Frame one of their favorite prints, pieces, or photos—or, for the grad, their diploma—at Edmonds Frame Design & Atelier. Even if they leave it behind as they venture out into the world, the framed diploma can also be a gift to you. You put in a lot of the work to get to this big day! 

Raise a Glass

Daphne's Bar in Downtown Edmonds

Daphne’s Bar

For the family members 21+, take them out for a pinky’s up cheers at ChurchKey Pub, Daphnes, Kelnero, or Vinbero. Nights out on the town are always memorable and often come with new friends! Dad a beer guy? Take him to Maize & Barley to check out what’s on their rotating taps (along with monthly food specials) or to Salish Sea Brewing Co. for his pick of fine hand-crafted ales and lagers. For the underage crowd, Salish even has craft Root Beer on tap!

Dine Out

Girardi's Osteria in Downtown Edmonds

Girardi’s Osteria

A celebratory dinner lends itself to meaningful moments. We have many wonderful restaurants in Edmonds to host a celebration: Girardi’s Osteria, Las Brisas Restaurante, Kahlo’s Cantina, Rory’s of Edmonds, and so many more. You could even make reservations at a few and host a self-guided food tour around town!

Plan a Trip

Rick Steves Europe in Downtown Edmonds

Rick Steves Europe

Grad taking a gap year? Dad wanting to check off a Europe bucket list item? Take them into Rick Steves’ Europe and set them free to browse. They can gear up while planning their trip on any budget. So many people dream of having Rick Steves in their backyard and we do! That is a gift in itself. You could even surprise them with a pre-scheduled consultation or a pre-purchased guided tour. You might feel just a titch more comfortable sending your grads across the Atlantic if you know they’re in a local hero’s seasoned and capable hands.

If they’re thinking beyond Europe, they can also dream big with laps around the aisles at the Edmonds Bookshop.

How Are You Celebrating Your Dads and Grads This Year?

Is your mind now full of ideas about how you want to celebrate your dads and grads in Edmonds? Great! We’d love to see where you land—both literally and figuratively. Tag us in your social media posts or add #loveedmonds to your caption. We’ll share your dad-ly and grad-ly hurrahs to our stories!

By Whitney Popa, photos by Matt Hulbert

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