Puttin’ Him on a Pedestal

If it were up to Dad, he’d do nothing on Father’s Day but play golf, watch golf on TV, drink Coronas, and, if he can find the time, squeeze in a nap by the pool. And that sounds pretty good in theory; but you must remember that dads are proud, manly creatures that crave structure. If Dad had it his way, he would soon degenerate into a lethargic, if not highly relaxed, mess. We can’t have that. Today, it’s your job as Dad’s faithful progeny to get him out of the house and annoy him slightly; all while ultimately showing him you care.

Start him off with a manly staple: Gnarly animals, like the ones that will be out in force at Flamingo Gardens’ (3750 S. Flamingo Rd., Davie) Reptile Sale & Expo. Dad can peruse the many snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises, and frogs for sale and on display, while you try to convince him that you’ll totally take care of it if he buys you one. (The good news is reptile experts will be on hand to school you on the ins and outs of backing that claim up.) There’ll also be a bunch of family-friendly events, like reptile bingo, a question & answer hunt, and a kid’s corner where little guys can design gifts for pops — i.e., lots of stuff that says “World’s Best Dad” on it. Dads get in free, natch, and all other comers get a discount on regular admission. Call 954-473-2955, or visit www.flamingogardens.org.

Maybe Dad prefers his animals in heavily spiced stew form? He’s in luck, because today marks the arrival of the International Curry Festival at Central Broward Regional Park (3700 NW 11th Pl., Lauderhill). From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., you and Dad can sup on all manner of curried creatures, with preparations hailing from Asia, India, and the Caribbean. A traditional Trinidadian/Tobagan curry duck cook-off will determine whose fowl is the finest, two local teams will go head to head in a 20/20 cricket match, and a curry concert will close the festivities with performances from reggae and chutney acts like Mikey Spice and Rikki Jai. Tickets cost $10, and can be found at select Caribbean outlets across Broward County. Visit www.internationalcurryfest.com.

Finally, you wouldn’t want to end your Father’s Day without making sure Dad was in good health, right? Take him to the National Urban League’s Take Care Health Tour, a free total health screening held today from 1 to 7 p.m. at Walgreens (3099 N. State Rd. 7, Lauderdale Lakes). Expert techs will check Pop’s bone density, cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, waist circumference, and body mass; six critical tests for early disease detection and prevention that will ensure Dad is cool to finally relax a bit until next year. Visit www.walgreens.com/takecare for more info.
Sun., June 15, 2008