June is the month that marks the beginning of the summer season and with it comes many celebrations:  graduations, weddings, Flag Day—and a special day set aside to honor dads. In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge declared the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. Later, in 1972, President Richard Nixon signed a presidential proclamation establishing a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. Here are some great ways to let your dad, grandfather, godfather, uncle, brother or special man in your life know how much you love and appreciate him. Whether he enjoys the arts, sports, or a meal at a top-notch restaurant, we’ve put together some great ideas to give him a day he’ll always remember:

Barnes and Noble Smith Haven Mall
Father’s Day Storytime and Craft
600 Smith Haven Mall
Lake Grove, NY
631-724-0341
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
10 a.m.
Free

Barnes and Noble invites children to read a story and make a craft with dad. Pre-school and younger, young elementary.

 

Father’s Day Picnic – What’s Cooking
30 East Main Street
Oyster Bay, NY
516-922-2665
Thursday, June 14, 2012
5–7 p.m.
$49

Celebrate dad at What’s Cooking with a two-hour workshop filled with tasty delights and a take-home treat especially for him. The Father’s Day menu includes sliders, oven baked steak fries, cornbread, sports sugar cookies, root beer float and take-home “Dad’s Day Dessert Tie.”

 

Designing for Dad
Long Island Children’s Museum
11 Davis Avenue
Garden City, NY
516-224-5800
Saturday, June 16, 2012
1-3 p.m.
$11 museum admission

Create your own one-of-a kind picture frame as Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes its newest traveling exhibit Framed: Step into Art. Bring out your inner artist as you experiment with a variety of exciting materials to make a creative masterpiece for your dad.

 

Celebrating Family : Father’s Day
Heckscher Museum of Art
2 Prime Avenue
Huntington, NY
631-351-3250
Sunday, June 17, 2012
11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
$6, students 10 and over: $6, under 10: Free

In recognition of Father’s Day, fathers and grandfathers are invited to visit the Heckscher Museum of Art admission-free on their special day.

 

Gypsy - the Musical
Temple B’nai Torah
2900 Jerusalem Avenue and Oakfield Avenue
Wantagh, NY
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Saturdays 7:30 p.m. / Sundays at 3 p.m.

Gypsy follows a mom whose biggest dream is to raise two daughters to perform onstage. The show points to the glitter of show business, but it clearly presents the flip side of hardship and struggle. Temple B’nai Torah admits fathers free on Father’s Day.

 

Father’s Day Karaoke with DJ Phil
Martha Clara Vineyards
6025 Sound Avenue
Riverhead, NY
631-298-0075
Sunday, June 17, 2012
1-4 p.m.
Free

Sing to your dad on his special day at Martha Clara Vineyards—something he will always remember!

 

Father’s Day at the Hatchery
Cold Spring Fish Hatchery and Aquarium
1660 Route 25A
Cold Spring Harbor, NY
516-692-6788
Sunday, June 17, 2012
10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
$6, Ages 3-12: $4, Dads and Children under two: Free

Have family fun on Father’s Day at the Cold Spring Fish Hatchery and Aquarium and enjoy fishing, feeding the trout and viewing the two indoor aquariums. Picnic tables available on a first-come basis.

 

Here are a few of Long Island’s eateries offering specials on Sunday, June 17^th in honor of Father’s Day:

 

Ben’s Deli
Carle Place and Woodbury Locations
Sunday, June 17, 2012
9 a. m. – 9 p. m.

Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen Restaurant & Caterers is celebrating Father’s Day with a dine-in special for dads and their families in honor of Ben’s 40th anniversary—dads eat for 40 cents!

Customers may purchase one sandwich or entrée at regular price in Ben’s dining room and their father may select his sandwich or entrée of equal or lesser value for only 40 cents. This deal is not available for take-out orders and cannot be combined with any other coupon, discount or offer. And what Dad wouldn’t love a Ben’s hot pastrami sandwich, with some crispy hand-cut French fries plus all the crunchy pickles and creamy, homemade cole slaw dad can eat and a bottomless soda to wash it all down!

“We would like to invite everyone to bring their fathers to Ben’s on their special day,” said Ronnie Dragoon, Founder/Owner, Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen Restaurant & Caterers. “All of us at Ben’s encourage families to take advantage of this special deal and join us in celebrating both Father’s Day and the restaurant’s 40 years.”

Those who are looking for the perfect Father’s Day gift can also order a Ben’s Gift Card online.

 

Mitch and Toni’s American Bistro
875 Willis Avenue
Albertson, NY
516-741-7940

Mitch and Toni's, featuring seasonal and local contemporary American cuisine by Chef Mitchell Sudock, will host a special Father's Day Sunday BBQ from 1 to 8 p.m. The special menu includes ribs, brisket, burgers and pulled pork, cowboy steaks, lobster rolls and mac-n-cheese in addition to $3 pints. There will be additional dinner specials as well as the $37.95 Sunday Supper prix fixe. The regular menu will also be available.

 

Library Café
274 Main Street
Farmingdale, NY
516-752-7678

Treat Dad to the Library Cafe's Father’s Day Brunch Buffet from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Rather than patrons waiting on line to fill up their plates, table service will be provided. The cost is $21.95 for adults and $10.95 for kids. Reservations are recommended. Unlimited champagne, mimosas, soda, coffee and juice are included. The regular menu will also be offered. Brunch items include:

*Fresh Fruit
*Mini Pastries and Bagels
*Texas Style French Toast
*Scrambled Eggs
*Buttermilk Pancakes
*Eggs Benedict
*Home Fries
*Assorted Desserts

 

The Garden City Hotel
45 Seventh Street
Garden City, NY
516-747-3000

Celebrate at REIN, the Garden City Hotel’s signature restaurant, with Sunday brunch specials by Belgian Master Chef Steven De Bruyn. On Father's Day Sunday, June 17, along with REIN's brunch offerings, will be a selection of local beers paired with dad's barbeque favorites including:

*House-made corned beef hash with poached eggs
*BBQ boneless chicken wings
*Smoked brisket sliders
*Long bone cowboy steak

Seatings for the award-winning brunch begin at noon. The cost is $64 plus tax and gratuity per adult; and half-price, $32, for children under 12-years-old. It includes complimentary valet and self-parking. Reservations are strongly recommended by calling 516-747-3000.

 

Cedar Creek American Bar & Grill
75 Cedar Swamp Road
Glen Cove, NY
516-656-5656

Cedar Creek will open for lunch at 12 p.m. serving both the regular menu and a special $22.95 three-course BBQ prix fixe, rain or shine, and dad's first tap beer is on the house! Menu offerings include:

Grilled Vegetable Panini - asparagus, zucchini, roasted tomatoes, spinach, Montrachet goat cheese, balsamic glaze
Tuscan Chicken Ciabatta fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, arugula, pesto mayo
Classic Cuban roasted Berkshire pork, Black Forest ham, Swiss, bread & butter pickles, yellow mustard
Crispy Tuna wakame, cold soba, shi****o peppers, lime-cilantro ponzu
Pan Seared Organic Scottish Salmon - shallot roasted cauliflower, golden sultana raisins, toasted almonds, crispy carrots, chive oil
Grilled Chicken Paillard arugula, roasted tomatoes, grilled onions, chardonnay vinaigrette
Mamas Chicken Pot Pie chicken breast, carrots, peas, potatoes, sage chicken jus, puff pastry crust

 

Macs Steakhouse
12 Gerard Street
Huntington, NY
631-549-5300

Macs offers a Father’s Day Brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and a three-course dinner prix fixe to honor dad.
Dinner Prix Fixe Menu
$35 per person
Appetizers
French Onion Soup - Caesar Salad - P.E.I Mussels - Sauteed Fresh Calamari
Entrees
Petit Filet, With garlic mashed potatoes and bearnaise sauce
Boneless Ribeye, Topped with truffle goat cheese, served with fries and truffle mayo
Marinated Sirloin, With garlic mashed potatoes and peppercorn sauce
Skirt Steak, With mashed potatoes and served with crispy onion and veal jus
Roasted Chicken, With spinach and crispy potato served with natural juices
Grilled Salmon, Served with tomato and jumbo asparagus
Dessert
Chocolate Cake or Cheesecake

 

Navy Beach
16 Navy Road
Montauk, NY
631-668-6868

Navy Beach toasts dads on Father's Day when they will receive a complimentary Bloody Mary or Budweiser beer with their meal during lunch, beginning at noon, and dinner, starting at 5:30 p.m.
 

Mirabelle Restaurant at Three Village Inn
150 Main Street
Stony Brook, NY
631-751-0555

Mirabelle presents a special Father's Day dinner menu starting at 5 p.m. Cost is $42 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are recommended. Uncorked Sundays invite patrons to bring their own bottles of wines, saved just for dad, with no corkage fee. The menu, subject to change, is as follows:
Choice of Appetizer
*Steak tartare and panisses
*Heirloom tomato salad
Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog
*Escabeche of red snapper and mussels
Choice of Entree
*Seared black sea bass - basil scented risotto, Chanterelle mushroom sauce
*Pan-roasted beef fillet - asparagus flan, potato confit, green peppercorn sauce
*Steamed lobster - baked potato, lemon butter, fennel slaw (supp. $6)
*Berkshire pork chop over mustard scented gnocchi - trumpet royal mushrooms
Choice of Dessert

 

Blackwells Restaurant
141 Fairway Drive
Wading River, NY
631-929-1800

Blackwells hosts a brunch buffet from 10:30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. Parties who reserve a table of four or more guests for the full-price brunch receives one free round of golf for Dad, valid after 10 a.m. Monday through Thursday. The cost is $34.95 per person and $14.95 for children under age 12, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are required. Dishes may include:

Freshly Prepared Omelet Station
Prime Rib Carving Station
Chicken Piccatta
Pan Seared Striped Bass
Penne alla Vodka
Assorted Breakfast Pastries, Muffins, Scones & Danish
Applewood Smoked Bacon
Breakfast Sausages
Fresh Fruit Displays
Juice, Coffee & Tea