Page 20 - Indulge November 2017

MANCAVE
for the man who has
( almost ) everything
By Patrick O’Donnell
Ithink there’s a universal truth as we get
older: time speeds up.
As a kid, I just didn’t understand
it when adults said, “I have no idea
where the time went. Christmas is
right around the corner!” I’d shake
my head and think “No, Christmas
is MONTHS away, it’s going to take
FOREVER to arrive. What are they
talking about?”
As I get closer to the big 5-0,
there’s one thing I understand:
Christmas really is right around the
corner, and I, too, have no idea where
the time went.
That means I’m past due for my
annual “what guys want” holiday wish list.
My goal is always the same: To save men
everywhere from getting yet another bad tie,
useless knick-knack or poorly conceived
gadget for the garage, kitchen or office.
(“Look, it’s a garlic press that also doubles
as a juicer, espresso maker, flashlight, tire
gauge and FEMA alert system!”)
This year I’m going off the beaten path
a bit, so bear with me.
My first suggestion is sure to bring
holiday bliss to any guy who ever wanted
to be a rock star — which is pretty
much every guy, if we’re being honest.
We all have a little Tommy Lee, Tom
Petty (RIP), Eddie Van Halen, Flea or
Pete Townshend in us. Why not make
the dream a reality? Guitar Villa has
been a Valley staple since 1988, and
carries everything for your inner rock
star. Whether it’s a new Les Paul, a
vintage 1967 Fender Bronco, lessons
or a gift certificate, this is one gift that
won’t be forgotten or relegated to the
back of the sock drawer.
20 | INDULGE LV • NOVEMBER 2017
Mackenzie Brown, a teacher and
sales associate at Guitar Villa, says the
Bethlehem store carries a wide range of
instruments — from electric to acoustic;
lead guitars to basses; amplifiers to music
stands; violins to wind instruments and
almost everything in between. This time of
year, he says, gift certificates for lessons
are one of the most popular purchases.
If your guy is more of the “listen”
rather than “play” type, vintage vinyl
might be the way to go instead. Some
nostalgia, coupled with the 21st century
benefit of better sound, could make for
the perfect gift — especially if he’s a
collector looking to check some rare items
off his list. There’s Vixen Vinyl (Vixenvinyl.
com) in Bethlehem; Double Decker
Records (doubledeckerrecords.com) in
Allentown, Easton Record Exchange (@
eastonrecordexchange on Facebook) and
many more in the Valley.
If he’s a little rough around the
edges from spending too much time in
the work shed, tickets for a little culture
infusion might be just the solution. From
Shakespeare at DeSales University to
Salt N Peppa at The Sands Bethlehem
Event Center; Rodgers and Hammerstein
at Easton’s The State Theatre to the
Bach Choir in Bethlehem, there’s enough
variety in the Valley’s 2018 performance
lineup for almost anyone to appreciate.
If he’s in need of a little pizzazz,
there’s always jewelry. Yes, jewelry
— some of us guys wear it, too, and I’m
not just talking watches. I’m partial to
leather/metal bracelets — maybe it’s
my Celtic and Nordic roots — so I
was excited to see that Susan Bella
Jewelry in Allentown has a new line
of bracelets made from materials
like leather, steel, ceramic and
more. They also carry Bulova
Accu-Swiss watches, which never
fail to impress, and an uncommon
selection of rings and cufflinks.
Sometimes, the best gifts are
those of charity. If you want to put
more reason into the season, consider
making a donation in his name (or
anonymously, if he’s the modest type)
to a cause or charity that he supports.
Locally, we have a number of great
ones, including Angel 34 (angel34.
org); the Allentown Rescue Mission
(allentownrescuemission.org); Habitat for
Humanity Lehigh Valley and so many more.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to
start my holiday shopping. At this rate,
if I don’t get moving now I’ll be late for
next year’s, too.
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