World’s greatest dad gifts

Standard gift Another boring old tie
Upgrade When you were in grade school, this Art Tie would’ve been a crafty project that Dad appreciated, yet it would’ve been relegated to the back of his closet. But now that you’re older and have a good eye for design, use this blank tie (it comes with a “test tie,” paintbrush and five tubes of paint) to showcase your creative genius—a trait Pop no doubt passed down to you. $50 at Saks Fifth Avenue (700 N Michigan Ave, 312-944-6500).

Standard gift Fancy shaving cream
Upgrade Most dads prefer no-frills products, but that doesn’t mean you should just grab a can of drugstore-brand shaving cream and call it a day. Meet him in the middle with N8B products. The local company’s 3some is a fragrance-free shave foam, face cleanser and body wash, all packaged in a simple bottle that’s upscale without being too extravagant. $36 at N8B.com.

Standard gift Paperback crossword-puzzle book
Upgrade He loves filling out that Sudoku puzzle in the newspaper first thing every morning, so why not help Dad take the game to the next level with this gizmo? The handheld Sudoku Plus comes loaded with 2 million puzzles, meaning this is truly the gift that keeps on giving. The device is easy to use—in order to play, you simply push buttons—so even tech-novice dads can enjoy it. $28 at amazon.com.

Standard gift A book
Upgrade Giving your dad a hardback book is a great gift, but one that doesn’t last very long (unless he’s a slow reader). Make every day Father’s Day with this Sony Reader Digital Book. The paperback-size device digitally stores more than 150 books, and its battery lasts up to 7,500 continuous page turns. Take this gift up another notch by downloading a book or two from Sony’s eBook store (ebookstore.sony.com). $300 at sonystyle.com.

Standard gift A personal-training session
Upgrade As much as a personal-training session will help new poppas (and grandpas!) get back into shape, it’ll also take time away from their newborn. This Safari jogging stroller by InSTEP solves that problem, allowing dads to enjoy an outdoor run while spending quality time with the little one. $160 at joggingstroller.com.

Standard gift Grilling accessories
Upgrade The weather is perfect for grilling out right now, but let’s face it, Chicago’s grilling season really only lasts a few months. Your dad’s passion for grilling doesn’t have to end with the first snowfall, though. Hook him up with this DeLonghi indoor grill, and he’ll be “cooking out” even when he’s really cooking in. It’s a nice substitute for the real thing because burgers cooked on the DeLonghi actually taste as if they were cooked on a traditional grill, which is more than we can say for those grills designed by a certain former heavyweight champ. $80 at Macy’s (111 N State St, 312-781-1000).