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Sara Haines spends a perfect Dad's day in NYC

It was so much fun celebrating Father’s Day early with my dad. I will always remember this one, and it will be hard to top in the years to come. We are a family of mostly women, so naturally, our New York City celebration started off girly. We began our day at Crunch gym. He is active, but he's more of a golf-and-long walks guy than a step-aerobics-or-dance-class one. I LOVE classes, but this w

It was so much fun celebrating Father’s Day early with my dad. I will always remember this one, and it will be hard to top in the years to come. 

We are a family of mostly women, so naturally, our New York City celebration started off girly. We began our day at Crunch gym. He is active, but he's more of a golf-and-long walks guy than a step-aerobics-or-dance-class one. I LOVE classes, but this would be a first, sharing the studio floor with my dad. He also has rhythm, so aside from the whole group atmosphere and taking your “lefts” and “rights” as a class, I think he did a pretty good job. He just kept smiling, which made me smile. And he looked so darn cute.

Our next stop was for pedicures. Full disclosure: This was NOT my dad’s first pedicure. A couple of years ago, my mom dragged my dad to get his feet (or talons as I called them,) beautified. I don’t think he hated it, so he has been back a few times (and maybe more than that, but I am not at liberty to say). I always tell my dad that even the most perfect of guys can’t get away with nails that have gone rogue. 

The last “daughter” spot we hit was Alice’s Tea Cup. Aside from the pink décor, the ballerina tutus, and the fairy wings hanging on the walls, I think my dad really liked having tea. Well, not as much the tea as the delectable sweets. I got my sweet tooth from him.  He just wears it better than I do! The pumpkin scone was possibly one of the best things I have EVER tasted in my life (no dramatics here.) 

Since it's Father’s Day and not Daughter’s Day (which I would argue is a great idea and hopefully is in the works), we decided that we needed to add some “boy” stuff to our day of fun. Our first stop was Suit Supply, where my dad got a makeover from these adorably dressed guys straight out of GQ. When they were done with my dad, he looked just like them…all 30 years (if that!) of ‘em. I have never seen my dad doted on: I think he has spent half of his life on benches outside of stores and dressing rooms avoiding the entire shopping experience. My dad got to see what it was like on the other side of the dressing room door, and he looked great when they finished up. We took mental notes on how they rolled the pants and sleeves, so he could recreate it when he was back in Florida with my mom.

The next stop was at the Art of Shaving. I didn’t know this, but my dad had never had an old-fashioned shaving experience! And he loved it. Aside from the fact that I was chatting the entire time, it was really relaxing. I kept teasing him, but failed to register that his laughing could lead to some messy razor-meets-skin moments. Needless to say, he made it out clean-shaven without any nicks.

Our last stop was to toast our fun filled day of daughter- and dad-tivities with a martini. My dad is a martini man and, like him, I occasionally enjoy one. We drink them differently, but I love when the family is together and my dad asks what we are all drinking, then looks at me and says, “Martini, right?” And he always makes it perfectly, just the way I like it.

The day was long, but definitely an experience I will never forget. And whether we were toasting tea cups or martini glasses, I feel blessed to celebrate with him and for many years to come.

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