CABIN FEVER
Joan the Shopper finds gifts for Father’s Day (June 21) in some newly opened Ocean Reef stores
By Joan Birsh
Isn’t it lovely that at Ocean Reef you can now don a mask, hop in your cart and go shopping.
Any excuse will do, and Father’s Day is a good one. If your own father is in Heaven, there is your children’s father (my sons invariably need help in finding a gift and I’m happy to oblige). And if your children are themselves fathers, then the grandsons often seek your advice (the girls never do).
So here are a few suggestions for Father’s Day gifts that can be found in some of the newly opened OR shops.
Gift Shop … If you think of the Gift Shop as just a place to buy knick knacks, you are wrong. The store carries an interesting selection of clothes for women, children and men. Example: The men’s swim trunks are exceptional. They are made of a lightweight, quickdry fabric and always sport an appropriate design like the sailfish (shown here)… Cigars and Ocean Reef wine are also contenders for a Father’s Day wrap, as is the new line of men’s polo shirts with an “only-in-Florida stone crab logo. And there are greeting cards. One says DAD in big letters.
Tennis Pro Shop … If you are shopping for a father who happens to be a tennis or pickleball player, the Tennis Pro Shop has a lot to offer. Shown on the mannequin is an excellent Lacoste shirt in navy and turquoise, that is worn with traditional white shorts (from Green) with a discreet Ocean Reef burgee… Other gift possibilities: Tervis water bottles decorated with a pickleball racquet that sports a prominent OR burgee in the center of a ball; tennis wristbands called Flag Bands that come in replicas of the flags of all nations; Maui Jim sunglasses.
MarineMax Ship Store … Lots of good Father’s Day gift catches here and you don’t have to be a fisherman to enjoy them. For instance – those 14 oz. YETI mugs will keep your papa’s coffee steaming on land or sea. Another YETI entry for a Father’s Day gift is the Yeti Sidekick Dry, a case that guarantees to “Keep Your Stuff 100% Dry“… There are also amazing long-sleeved super tees for fishing or just hanging out. The fabric is so lightweight that the red shirt (pictured) is comfortable on even the hottest summer days.
Golf Shop … While the Clubhouse is being rebuilt, the award-winning Golf Shop has been temporally relocated to an oversized trailer adjacent to the Dolphin Course. Happily, all the quality merchandise seems to have settled nicely into the new digs, so ideas for a Father’s Day gift were easy to come by… Popular with younger golfers – the new “shameless” white caps, that say ORC or REEF in big blue or black letters… If your father is more conservative, an OR tie is always a safe choice. They come in a variety of colors and are adorned with tiny Ocean Reef burgees… Or how about a best-selling traditional golf shirt from Peter Millar. Maybe the one with thin green stripes… The sale racks on the porch are also worth some browsing time.
ADDENDUM….
Member Fitness Center – Recently re-opened, this Fitness Center boutique, which features attractive, exercise clothes, is offering 40 percent off on everything currently in stock…
Dive Shop – In addition to booking charters for diving, snorkeling and sunset trips, this little shop on the Marina side of Fishing Village carries some interesting merchandise (e.g. swim suits, sandals, sunglasses). They are all made from recycled materials…
Reef Gallery – This upscale jewelry store and art gallery (located in Fishing Village) is the place to go for something really special for someone really special. The popular Ocean Reef burgees range in price from $36 for the smallest and simplest to $3,300 (14k gold with pave diamonds)…
The Burgee Shop – First store on the right in Fishing Village, this is everyone’s mandatory (Father’s Day pun intended) stop. Attractive, fun and very wearable clothes for men, as well as women and children. And they are most all branded with the OR burgee or Ocean Reef spelled out. There are also Tervis tumblers, beach towels and some lovely wine glasses.
LAST WORD: A joke told to me by a 5-year-old.
Q. Do you know when a joke becomes a Dad joke?
A. When it becomes apparent.
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